bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suppressing Chaos for a Fractional‐Order Chaotic Chemical Reaction Model via PDζ Controller
Authors: Wang Hui
Published: February 2022

In this work, based on the earlier publications, we build a new fractional‐order chemical reaction model. Computer simulations manifest that the fractional‐order chemical reaction model presents chaotic behavior under a certain parameter condition. To eliminate the chaotic dynamical property, a suitable fractional‐order PDζ controller with time delay is designed. Regarding the time delay as a bifurcation parameter, we set up a novel delay‐independent stability and bifurcation criterion guaranteeing the stability and the creation of Hopf bifurcation of the controlled fractional‐order chemical reaction model. The influence of time delay on the stability and Hopf bifurcation of the controlled fractional‐order chemical reaction model is revealed. At last, numerical simulations are performed to sustain the rationality of the designed PDζ controller. The obtained conclusions of this work are completely novel and have immense application prospects in the chaos control of chemical reaction systems. Furthermore, the research idea can also be utilized to suppress the chaos of a lot of fractional‐order chaotic models.
Technical Potential of Biogas Technology to Substitute Traditional Fuel Sources and Chemical Fertilizers and Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Case of Arba-Minch Area, South Ethiopia
Authors: Tekle Tariku , Sime Getachew
Published: February 2022

A study was conducted in South Ethiopia with the aim of assessing the technical potential of biogas energy in replacing traditional bioenergy and chemical fertilizers and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. A household survey with both a quantitative and qualitative approach was employed for data collection. Primary data were gathered from 182 biogas adopters as well as 10 key informants and three group discussions. Secondary data were also collected from different sources. The average biogas production potential of installed biogas plants was 205 m3 per day. The average reduction in use of firewood, charcoal, dung cakes, and crop residues due to biogas adoption was 66%, 72%, 68%, and 89%, respectively. The use of bio-slurry as an organic fertilizer reduced the quantity of chemical fertilizers used by more than 50% per household per year. The reduction in the quantity of biofuel consumption reduced the volume of greenhouse gas emissions by 418 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per household per year. If the reduced firewood and charcoal use reduced the felling of live trees, this could potentially conserve 45 ha of forest per household per year. Therefore, biogas energy could help reduce the anthropogenic pressure on forest resources by addressing the major drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.
Influencing Factors of Perinatal Outcomes of Pregnant Women with Diabetes under Ultrasound Guidance Guided by Multioperator Algorithm
Authors: Liu Jie , Liu Hehua
Published: February 2022

Objective. Ultrasound images based on a multioperator algorithm were used to explore the relationship between hemodynamic parameters of pregnant women and fetuses with abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) during pregnancy and an adverse pregnancy outcome (APO). In addition, the influencing factors leading to APO were analyzed. Methods. 121 pregnant women with AGM during the third trimester of pregnancy were divided into poor prognosis group (group P, 80 cases) and good prognosis group (group G, 41 cases) according to the pregnancy outcome. Ultrasound technology based on a multioperator algorithm was used to detect the two groups of pregnant women, and the detection indexes were hemodynamic parameters of the fetus and uterus. The correlation between hemodynamic parameters and pregnancy outcome was analyzed by Logistic regression. Results. Compared with group G, the values of MCA-PI and MCA/UA in group P were dramatically decreased, while Ut-A-PI was dramatically increased

p
<
0.05

. When MCA-PI was less than 1.60, the sensitivity and specificity of MCA-PI for predicting APO reached 92.5% and 90.2%, respectively. The mean age of pregnant women, high-density lipoprotein level, family history of diabetes, and number of exercises during pregnancy in baseline data of group P were dramatically different from that of group G

p
<
0.05

. Advanced age and high-density lipoprotein level were risk factors for a poor prognosis, while MCA-PI, MCA-RI, and MCA/UA were protective factors for a good prognosis. Conclusion. The results show that color Doppler ultrasound based on the multioperator algorithm can be used to predict APO, and MCA-PI less than 1.60 was the most important predictive index and critical value.
[Retracted] Investigating Influences of Synthesizing Eco‐Friendly Waste‐Coir‐Fiber Nanofiller‐Based Ramie and Abaca Natural Fiber Composite Parameters on Mechanical Properties
Authors: Sathish T. , Mohanavel Vinayagam , Velmurugan Palanivel , Saravanan R. , Raja T. , Ravichandran M. , Alonazi Wadi B. , Sureshkumar Shanmugam , Gebrekidan Atkilt Mulu
Published: February 2022

Clean technology‐based natural fiber composite fabrication is the prime aim of this piece of research. Natural fibers highly replace metal usage in industries and automobile, marine, medical applications, and so on. Vast amounts of natural fibers are freely available in all areas. In this research, work nanofiller material such as nano form waste coir fiber is collected from used car seat. The 10 wt.% of nanofiller material is added to the preparation of natural nanocomposites (ramie and abaca fiber). Hybrid composites are fabricated with the influence of different process parameters, namely, fiber weight percentage (20 wt.%, 30 wt.%, 40 wt.%, and 50 wt.%), NaOH action % (4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%), compression pressure (9 MPa, 12 MPa, 15 MPa, and 18 MPa), and temperature (100°C, 120°C, 140°C, and 160°C). Furthermore, the strength of this hybrid composite has analyzed by conducting flexural, impact, and shore hardness tests. These tests have provided the influence of selected parameters and their effects on the results of experimental work. In the flexural analysis, 6% of NaOH action has offered maximum flexural strength of the specimens. Correspondingly in the impact test, 30 wt.% of fiber is produced higher impact strength. Finally, applying 15 Mpa of compression pressure records the maximum shore hardness.
Sum-Throughput Maximization in Backscatter Communication-Based Cognitive Networks
Authors: Li Qian
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we consider a backscatter communication (BackCom) based cognitive network that consists of one primary transmitter, one primary receiver, multiple secondary transmitters (STs), and one secondary receiver (SR). Each ST operates in the BackCom or energy harvesting model. Our goal is to jointly optimize the energy harvesting and backscatter time, the transmit power of the primary transmitter, and the power reflection coefficient of each ST to maximize the sum throughput of all the STs under a nonlinear energy harvesting model while satisfying multiple constraints, i.e., the energy causality of each ST, the Quality of Service of the primary transmitter, etc. The formulated problem is nonconvex due to the coupled variables and hard to solve. In order to address this problem, we decouple partial coupled variables by using the properties of the objective function and constructing auxiliary variables, and the remaining coupled variables are decoupled via successive convex approximation (SCA). On this basis, a SCA based iterative algorithm is developed to solve the formulated problem. Simulation results are provided to support our work.
Sharpening and Detection of Road Studs for Intelligent Vehicles at Nighttime
Authors: Siddiqi Muhammad Hameed , Alrashdi Ibrahim
Published: February 2022

Intelligent vehicles need to survive against various environments on roads such as sunlit, unclear, showery, shadowy, and inside tunnel conditions. This research designs a robust approach for detecting road studs at nighttime, which is the combination of various statistical methods. This detection approach is a unique approach developed for the detection of road lanes instead of road-painted lanes. Therefore, we detect road studs (cat eyes) instead of the painted lanes on roads at nighttime as the road studs have higher intensities at nighttime. First, we utilized Butterworth low-pass filter in order to sharpen the images. Second, we converted the image to grayscale and extracted the corresponding region of interest (ROI) from it. Then, the Canny edge detection algorithm was applied to create boundary lines in images. Finally, the Hough transform was applied to detect the desired lanes in the images, which are the road studs, and hence we successfully detected the road studs in images. We have used our own dataset for the stud’s detection, which considered most of the limitations of the previous datasets. Also, the dataset was collected in naturalistic environments at nighttime. The experimental result presents that the designed approach is accurate and robust for road stud detection against nighttime.
Research on Commercial Bank Risk Early Warning Model Based on Dynamic Parameter Optimization Neural Network
Authors: Wang Yiming
Published: February 2022

Based on the background of big data, it is necessary to study the dynamic parameter optimization of the commercial bank risk model neural network. Several customer information attribute groups that have an impact on loan customer rating are selected, and the existing customer data are used to train the network model of the attribute group and customer default rate, so that it can predict the customer’s default rate according to the newly entered loan customer information and then predict whether the customer defaults. Based on a neural network model, this article constructs the credit risk early warning model of science and technology bank, makes an empirical test, and puts forward relevant countermeasures and suggestions to control the credit risk of bank. This article establishes a warning model of commercial banks by using a neural network. Taking the bank as an empirical sample, the constructed neural network model is used. Finally, the error of the model is small and the early warning results are satisfactory. The experimental results show that the proposed risk early warning model can accurately predict the customer default rate, so as to warn the defaulting customers. In the whole process, there are few human intervention factors and a high degree of intelligence, which reduces the operational risk.
Manifestation des Susac-Syndroms während der Behandlung mit Interferon beta-1a und Glatirameracetat bei fehldiagnostizierter Multipler Sklerose: ein Fallbericht
Authors: Roskal-Wałek Joanna , Biskup Michał , Dolecka-Ślusarczyk Magdalena , Rosołowska Anita , Jaroszyński Andrzej , Odrobina Dominik
Published: February 2022

Hintergrund: Das Susac-Syndrom (SS) ist gekennzeichnet durch die Trias aus Enzephalopathie, Arterienastverschluss der Netzhaut und Innenohrschwerhörigkeit. Die Diagnose von SS ist jedoch nach wie vor schwierig, da die klinische Trias nur selten zu Beginn der Erkrankung auftritt und die Schwere der Symptome variiert. SS-Symptome deuten oft auf andere Krankheiten hin, insbesondere auf Multiple Sklerose (MS), die häufiger vorkommt. Die Fehldiagnose von SS als MS kann zu schwerwiegenden Komplikationen führen, da MS-Medikamente wie Interferon beta-1a den Verlauf von SS verschlimmern können. Dieser Fallbericht bestätigt frühere Berichte, dass die Anwendung von Interferon beta-1a im Verlauf einer fehldiagnostizierten MS zu einer Verschlimmerung der SS führen kann. Darüber hinaus zeigt unser Fallbericht, dass Glatirameracetat den Verlauf der SS auch verschlimmern kann. Soweit wir wissen, ist dies der erste berichtete Fall einer Exazerbation von SS durch Glatirameracetat. Fallvorstellung: Wir stellen einen Fallbericht einer Patientin mit der Hauptdiagnose MS vor, die während der Behandlung mit Interferon beta-1a gegen MS Symptome von SS entwickelte, die nach Absetzen der Behandlung wieder verschwanden. Nach Beginn der Glatirameracetat-Behandlung entwickelte die Patientin die vollständige klinische Trias der SS. Die Diagnose MS wurde ausgeschlossen, und die Glatirameracetat-Therapie wurde abgesetzt. Der neurologische Zustand der Patientin verbesserte sich erst nach der Anwendung einer Kombination von Kortikosteroiden, intravenösen Immunglobulinen und Azathioprin. Schlussfolgerungen: Das Zusammentreffen von SS-Anzeichen und -Symptomen mit einer MS-Behandlung, zunächst mit Interferon beta-1a und dann mit Glatirameracetat, lässt vermuten, dass diese Medikamente den Verlauf von SS beeinflussen können. Dieser Fallbericht deutet darauf hin, dass die Behandlung mit Glatirameracetat den Verlauf von SS beeinfluseen oder sogar verschlimmern kann.
Epidemiologie okulärer Manifestationen bei Autoimmunkrankheiten
Authors: Glover Katie , Mishra Deepakkumar , Singh Thakur Raghu Raj
Published: February 2022

Die weltweite Prävalenz von Autoimmunkrankheiten nimmt zu. Infolgedessen haben auch die mit Autoimmunkrankheiten verbundenen okulären Komplikationen zugenommen, die von leichten Symptomen bis hin zur Bedrohung des Sehvermögens reichen. Diese okulären Manifestationen können durch die Krankheit selbst oder durch die Behandlung zur Bekämpfung der primären Autoimmunerkrankung verursacht werden. Diese Übersicht gibt einen detaillierten Einblick in die epidemiologischen Faktoren, die die zunehmende Prävalenz von Augenkomplikationen im Zusammenhang mit verschiedenen Autoimmunerkrankungen beeinflussen.
Associations between Gestational Weight Gain Adequacy and Neonatal Outcomes in Tanzania
Authors: Perumal Nandita , Wang Dongqing , Darling Anne Marie , Wang Molin , Liu Enju , Urassa Willy , Pembe Andrea B. , Fawzi Wafaie W.
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Gestational weight gain (GWG) is associated with fetal and newborn health; however, data from sub-Saharan Africa are limited. Methods: We used data from a prenatal micronutrient supplementation trial among a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-negative pregnant women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to estimate the relationships between GWG and neonatal outcomes. GWG adequacy was defined as the ratio of the total observed weight gain over the recommended weight gain based on the Institute of Medicine body mass index-specific guidelines. Neonatal outcomes assessed were stillbirth, perinatal death, preterm birth, low birthweight, macrosomia, small-for-gestational age (SGA), large-for-gestational age (LGA), stunting at birth, and microcephaly. Modified Poisson regressions with robust standard error were used to estimate the relative risk of newborn outcomes as a function of GWG adequacy. Results: Of 7,561 women included in this study, 51% had severely inadequate (<70%) or inadequate GWG (70 to <90%), 31% had adequate GWG (90 to <125%), and 18% had excessive GWG (≥125%). Compared to adequate GWG, severely inadequate GWG was associated with a higher risk of low birthweight, SGA, stunting at birth, and microcephaly, whereas excessive GWG was associated with a higher risk of LGA and macrosomia. Conclusion: Interventions to support optimal GWG are needed and may contribute to preventing adverse neonatal outcomes.
Disaster Making in the Capitalocene
Authors: O’Lear Shannon , Masse Francis , Dickinson Hannah , Duffy Rosaleen
Published: February 2022

We live in a new normal of increasing, crosscutting, and shifting patterns of disasters fueled by large-scale environmental change, from floods to wildfires to pandemics. Our intervention in this forum piece makes the case that disasters, and responses to disasters, must be understood within the context of the global political-economic system of capitalism. We situate disasters, their making, and their politics within the Capitalocene and argue that disasters and the physical processes that underpin them are not natural: they are unevenly produced through, and exacerbated by, processes inherent in the capitalist system, with uneven consequences. We suggest that the predominantly technomanagerial approaches to disasters pursued within the neoliberal state and multilateral governance institution system reveal the tensions in addressing the causes of environmental change and the new normal of disasters under capitalism. We argue that through an engagement with the Capitalocene, environmental politics could further contribute to nuanced, critical understandings of disasters and their making in ways that foreground their in/justice implications.
Gentrification and Pioneer Businesses
Authors: Behrens Kristian , Boualam Brahim , Martin Julien , Mayneris Florian
Published: February 2022

Little is known about where hotspots of gentrification emerge within a city and the role that some types of businesses play in the process. We develop a method to detect the sectors whose presence heralds the process of gentrification in a neighborhood. We show that these sectors, mostly found in cultural and creative industries, help to anticipate neighborhood change and that their predictive power complements that of traditional gentrification determinants. We also examine mechanisms related to amenities, worker characteristics, and signaling that are consistent with these results. The analysis illustrates the importance of businesses in the sociodemographic dynamics of neighborhoods.
How to Attract Physicians to Underserved Areas? Policy Recommendations from a Structural Model
Authors: Costa Francisco , Nunes Letícia , Sanches Fabio Miessi
Published: February 2022

This paper exploits location choices of all generalist physicians who graduated in Brazil between 2001 and 2013 to study policies aimed at increasing the supply of physicians in underserved areas. We set up and estimate a supply and demand model for physicians. We estimate physicians' locational preferences using a random coefficients discrete choice model. The demand has private establishments competing for physicians with private and public facilities around the country. Policy counterfactuals indicate that quotas in medical schools for students born in underserved areas and the opening of vacancies in medical schools in deprived areas are more cost-effective than financial incentives.
History Dependence in Drug Demand: Identification and Implications for Entry Incentives
Authors: Feng Josh
Published: February 2022

I use temporal discontinuities in choice sets to identify history dependence in drug demand, finding large and long-term effects. Quasi-randomly assigning a patient to a drug today increases the probability she is taking the same drug four years later by 54 percentage points. History dependence is stronger in patients taking multiple medications and weaker in drugs that are significantly more effective than substitutes. It is also weaker in generics and line extensions, driven by switching from the reference branded drug. I use a pair-specific switching-cost model to capture these patterns and provide suggestive evidence that they affect manufacturers’ entry timing incentives.
Financial Constraints and Propagation of Shocks in Production Networks
Authors: Demir Banu , Javorcik Beata , Michalski Tomasz K. , Ors Evren
Published: February 2022

We examine the propagation of a small unexpected supply shock through a production network and the role financial constraints play in its transmission. Using data on almost all Turkish supplier-customer links, we exploit the heterogeneous impact of an unexpected import-tax increase for identification. We find that this relatively minor shock had a nontrivial economic impact on exposed firms and propagated downstream through affected suppliers. Importantly, we show that low-liquidity firms amplified its transmission.
The Effect of Information on Market Activity: Evidence from Vehicle Recalls
Authors: Bijgaart Inge van den , Cerruti Davide
Published: February 2022

We evaluate the effect of vehicle recalls on vehicle transactions in the second-hand market. Using a rich data set of Dutch vehicle registrations, we exploit the quasiexperimental variation in recalls across nearly identical cars. We find strong heterogeneities across market segments: transactions increased for cars with lower listed price or with defects, and decreased for those with higher price or no defects. Based on our theoretical model, this suggests that recalls increase sorting in low-end markets, yet exacerbate adverse selection in high-end markets. Our results shed light on the effect of information arrival in markets subject to uncertainty and information asymmetries.
School Closures during the 1918 Flu Pandemic
Authors: Ager Philipp , Eriksson Katherine , Karger Ezra , Nencka Peter , Thomasson Melissa A.
Published: February 2022

During the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic, many local authorities made the controversial decision to close schools. We use newly digitized data from newspaper archives on the length of school closures for 165 large U.S. cities during the 1918–1919 flu pandemic to assess the long-run consequences of closing schools on children. We find that the closures had no detectable impact on children's school attendance in 1920, nor on their educational attainment and adult labor market outcomes in 1940. We highlight important differences between the 1918–1919 and COVID-19 pandemics and caution against extrapolating from our null effects to modern-day settings.
Reestablishing Dicranopteris spissa (Gleicheniaceae, Polypodiopsida) from synonymy, an endemic species from Brazil
Authors: LIMA LUCAS VIEIRA , SALINO ALEXANDRE
Published: February 2022

We recognized Dicranopteris spissa (Fée) L.V.Lima & Salino comb. nov. as a segregate species distinct from Dicranopteris rufinervis and other gleichenioid ferns occurring in Brazil. This study provides taxonomic background, descriptions, images, maps, and comments regarding the morphology, ecology, and distribution of D. spissa, as well as an identification key for all Brazilian species of Dicranopteris.
Clear-Sky Direct Aerosol Radiative Forcing Uncertainty Associated with Aerosol Vertical Distribution Based on CMIP6 models
Authors: Zhang Lu , Li Jing , Jiang Zhongjing , Dong Yueming , Ying Tong , Zhang Zhenyu
Published: February 2022

The direct perturbation of anthropogenic aerosols on Earth’s energy balance [i.e., direct aerosol radiative forcing (DARF)] remains uncertain in climate models. In this study, we investigate the uncertainty of DARF associated with aerosol vertical distribution, using simulation results from 14 global models within phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The column mass loading for each aerosol species is first normalized to the multimodel average for each model, which is called the mass-normalization process. The unified radiative transfer model and aerosol optical parameter are used, so that the differences in the calculated DARF are solely attributed to the difference in aerosol vertical profiles. The global mean DARF values in 2014 with respect to 1850 before and after mass normalization are −0.77 ± 0.52 and −0.81 ± 0.12 W m−2respectively, assuming external mixing, which indicates that the intermodel difference in aerosol vertical distribution accounts for ∼20% of the total DARF uncertainty. We further conduct two separate experiments by normalizing aerosol optical depth (AOD) and aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA) profiles, respectively, and find that the vertical distribution of SSA results in larger DARF uncertainty (0.17 W m−2) than that of AOD (0.10 W m−2). Finally, compared withCALIPSOobservation, CMIP6 models tend to produce higher aerosol layers. The bias in modeled aerosol profile with respect toCALIPSOleads to stronger DARF, especially for land regions.
Divestiture: Doctrinal Development and Modern Application
Authors: Lumer Daniel
Published: February 2022

In the last several years, policymakers have increasingly pursued legislative reforms that would expand antitrust enforcement while advocating more generally for the break-up of tech companies with leading digital platforms. At least a half-dozen antitrust reforms were introduced in Congress in 2021, while federal enforcers in the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have taken an aggressive approach to enforcement under the Biden administration. These recent events have invited an assessment of the scope and limitations of divestiture, as policymakers and regulators consider the remedy’s viability under existing and prospective federal antitrust laws. To that end, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive account of the development of the doctrinal principles and application of divestiture, beginning with its origins as an equitable remedy and subsequent developments in response to legislative reforms. The paper then discusses divestiture’s primary use in the current regulatory landscape to redress violations under § 7 of the Clayton Act, followed by an examination of its historically limited application as a remedy to unilateral conduct. In its final substantive section, the paper then assesses the ongoing debate as to divestiture’s applicability to acquisitions of nascent competitors. Finally, the conclusion provides a summary of divestiture’s doctrinal principles and application, and the implications for how divestiture may be applied in the future.
Finding the Tipping Point: When Heterogeneous Evaluations in Social Media Converge and Influence Organizational Legitimacy
Authors: Illia Laura , Colleoni Elanor , Etter Michael , Meggiorin Katia
Published: February 2022

Can citizens impact the broader discourse about an organization and its legitimacy? While social media have empowered citizens to publicly question firms through large volumes of online evaluations, the high heterogeneity of their evaluations dilutes their impact. Our empirical study applying a threshold vector autoregressive model (TVAR) analysis of 2.5 million tweets and 1,786 news media articles tests the condition by which the heterogeneity of online evaluations converges and influences the broader media discourse. Although social media evaluations do not initially influence media legitimacy, they become influential after reaching a tipping point of refracted attention, which is created by high volume and convergence of individual evaluations around few aggregative frames. Thus, social media storms may influence the broader discourse about an organization when this discourse converges and reaches a tipping point, rather than merely through the massive participation of citizens.
MSX1 Drives Tooth Morphogenesis Through Controlling Wnt Signaling Activity
Authors: Lee J.-M. , Qin C. , Chai O.H. , Lan Y. , Jiang R. , Kwon H.-J.E.
Published: February 2022

Tooth agenesis is a common structural birth defect in humans that results from failure of morphogenesis during early tooth development. The homeobox transcription factor Msx1 and the canonical Wnt signaling pathway are essential for “bud to cap” morphogenesis and are causal factors for tooth agenesis. Our recent study suggested that Msx1 regulates Wnt signaling during early tooth development by suppressing the expression of Dkk2 and Sfrp2 in the tooth bud mesenchyme, and it demonstrated partial rescue of Msx1-deficient molar teeth by a combination of DKK inhibition and genetic inactivation of SFRPs. In this study, we found that Sostdc1/Wise, another secreted Wnt antagonist, is involved in regulating the odontogenic pathway downstream of Msx1. Whereas Sostdc1 expression in the developing tooth germ was not increased in Msx1−/− embryos, genetic inactivation of Sostdc1 rescued maxillary molar, but not mandibular molar, morphogenesis in Msx1−/− mice with full penetrance. Since the Msx1−/−; Sostdc1−/− embryos exhibited ectopic Dkk2 expression in the developing dental mesenchyme, similar to Msx1−/− embryos, we generated and analyzed tooth development in Msx1−/−; Dkk2−/− double and Msx1−/−; Dkk2−/−; Sostdc1−/− triple mutant mice. The Msx1−/−; Dkk2−/− double mutants showed rescued maxillary molar morphogenesis at high penetrance, with a small percentage also exhibiting mandibular molars that transitioned to the cap stage. Furthermore, tooth development was rescued in the maxillary and mandibular molars, with full penetrance, in the Msx1−/−; Dkk2−/−; Sostdc1−/− mice. Together, these data reveal 1) that a key role of Msx1 in driving tooth development through the bud-to-cap transition is to control the expression of Dkk2 and 2) that modulation of Wnt signaling activity by Dkk2 and Sostdc1 plays a crucial role in the Msx1-dependent odontogenic pathway during early tooth morphogenesis.
A vision for teachers’ emotional well-being
Authors: Stark Kristabel , Daulat Neesha , King Simon
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided educational stakeholders with an opportunity to reflect on our visions for healthy schools and how we can best organize schools to support these visions. Kristabel Stark, Neesha Daulat, and Simon King explain why teachers’ emotional well-being matters for the health of school organizations and why the nature of teachers’ emotional well-being is often misunderstood. They then share the findings of a qualitative study in which they interviewed nine educators who are leading a re-envisioning of teacher well-being in their schools and districts. They conclude with ideas for how schools can shift their organizational cultures to better support teachers’ emotional well-being.
Obtaining colored patterns on polyamide fabric with laser pretreatment and pomegranate peel dyeing
Authors: Tian Yue , Liu Qianqian , Zhang Yu , Hou Xiuliang , Zhang Yi
Published: February 2022

Increasing environmental and sustainability considerations have led to the revival of natural dyes. Even though the application of natural dyes on natural substrates has been extensively investigated, research regarding simultaneous dyeing, patterning and functional finishing of polyamide fabrics is reported to a limited extent. This paper aims at obtaining colored patterns on polyamide fabrics by laser pretreatment and dyeing with pomegranate peel dye. The most notable color difference can be obtained by using a 12 W laser and 2% (on weight of the fabric) pomegranate peel dye. The significant color difference between laser pretreated and untreated areas showed the pattern. It was then used for the further pattern design of polyamide fabrics combined with computer-aided design software. The dyed fabric had good color fastness, and no mordant was used in the dyeing process. In addition, the dyed fabrics were endowed with various functional properties by pomegranate peel dye.
Trends and characteristics of hospitalisations from the harmful use of opioids in England between 2008 and 2018: Population-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Friebel Rocco , Maynou Laia
Published: February 2022

Summary

Objective

To examine the trends and characteristics of opioid-related hospital admissions in England over 10 years, and its burden for the National Health Service and public finances.

Design

Patient-level data from the Hospital Episode Statistics database to examine all opioid-related hospitalisations from 2008 to 2018, stratified by type of opioid admission and patient demographics.

Setting

All National Health Service hospitals in England.

Participants

Patients hospitalised from the harmful use of opioids.

Main outcome measures

The number of opioid-related hospitalisations, length of stay, in-hospital mortality, 30-day readmission rate and treatment costs.

Results

Opioid-related hospitalisations increased by 48.9%, from 10,805 admissions in 2008 to 16,091 admissions in 2018, with total treatment costs of £137 million. The growth in opioid-related hospitalisations was 21% above the corresponding rate for all other emergency admissions in England. Relative changes showed that hospitalisations increased most for individuals older than 55 years (160%), those living in the most affluent areas of England (93.8%), and suffering from four co-morbidities (627.6%) or more. Hospitals reduced mean patient length of stay from 2.8 days to 1.1 days over 10 years. Mean in-hospital mortality was 0.4% and mean 30-day readmission risk was 16.6%.

Conclusion

Opioid use is an increasing public health concern in England, though hospitalisation and mortality rates are less pronounced than in other countries. There are concerns about significant rises in hospitalisations from older, less deprived and sicker population groups. Our findings should prompt policymakers to go beyond monitoring mortality statistics when assessing the impacts of harmful use of opioids.
Revised recommendations on standards and norms for palliative care in Europe from the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC): A Delphi study
Authors: Payne Sheila , Harding Andrew , Williams Tom , Ling Julie , Ostgathe Christoph
Published: February 2022

Background:

In 2009, the EAPC published recommendations on standards and norms for palliative care in Europe, and a decade later, wished to update them to reflect contemporary practice.

Aim:

To elicit consensus on standards and norms for palliative care in Europe, taking account of developments since 2009.

Design:

A Delphi technique used three sequential online survey rounds, and a final expert consultation (EAPC Board). The original 2009 questionnaire with 134 statements was updated with 13 new concepts and practices following a scoping of the literature between 2009 and 2020 (total: 147 statements).

Setting/participants:

One contact of Boards of 52 national European organisations affiliated to the EAPC were invited to participate, with subsequent rounds sent to respondees. The EAPC Board ( n = 13) approved final recommendations.

Results:

In Round 1: 30 organisations (14 organisations × two people, 16 organisations × one person, total n = 44) in 27 countries responded (response rate 58% organisations, 82% countries), Round 2 ( n = 40), Round 3 ( n = 38). 119 statements reached consensus in Round 1, 9 in Round 2, 7 in Round 3. In total 135/145 statements in five domains (terminology, philosophy, levels, delivery, services) reached consensus (defined as >75% agreement), (122) were original EAPC recommendations with 13 new recommendations included emerging specialisms: neonatal, geriatric and dementia care, and better care practices. Seven statements failed to reach consensus and four were removed as irrelevant or repetition.

Conclusions:

Most recommendations on standards and norms for palliative care in Europe remain unchanged since 2009. Evolving concepts in palliative care can be used to support advocacy.
Assessment of motion and model bias on the detection of dopamine response to behavioral challenge
Authors: Levine Michael A , Mandeville Joseph B , Calabro Finnegan , Izquierdo-Garcia David , Chonde Daniel B , Chen Kevin T , Hong Inki , Price Julie C , Luna Beatriz , Catana Ciprian
Published: February 2022

Compartmental modeling analysis of 11C-raclopride (RAC) PET data can be used to measure the dopaminergic response to intra-scan behavioral tasks. Bias in estimates of binding potential (BPND) and its dynamic changes (ΔBPND) can arise both when head motion is present and when the compartmental model used for parameter estimation deviates from the underlying biology. The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of motion and model bias within the context of a behavioral task challenge, examining the impacts of different mitigation strategies. Seventy healthy adults were administered bolus plus constant infusion RAC during a simultaneous PET/magnetic resonance (MR) scan with a reward task experiment. BPND and ΔBPND were estimated using an extension of the Multilinear Reference Tissue Model (E-MRTM2) and a new method (DE-MRTM2) was proposed to selectively discount the contribution of the initial uptake period. Motion was effectively corrected with a standard frame-based approach, which performed equivalently to a more complex reconstruction-based approach. DE-MRTM2 produced estimates of ΔBPND in putamen and nucleus accumbens that were significantly different from those estimated from E-MRTM2, while also decoupling ΔBPND values from first-pass k2′ estimation and removing skew in the spatial bias distribution of parametric ΔBPND estimates within the striatum.
Monthly triple-dose gadolinium administration: potential associations with leukopenia, hypophosphatemia, and bone marrow T1 hyperintensity
Authors: Chen Daniel , Wolansky Ivan , Imitola Jaime , Malchoff Carl , Wu Rong , Dhib-Jalbut Suhayl , Bulsara Ketan , Wolansky Leo
Published: February 2022

Objective

Monthly scanning with triple-dose gadopentetate dimeglumine has been shown to be associated with progressive increases in bone T1 hyperintensity, hypophosphatemia, and leukopenia. This study was performed to retrospectively investigate the potential associations among these phenomena.

Methods

This retrospective analysis involved patients who had received monthly triple-dose gadopentetate dimeglumine for up to 2 years as part of treatment for multiple sclerosis. Monthly magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain (n = 67) were segmented to evaluate the signal intensity in the cranial marrow. Potential associations among the marrow T1 hyperintensity, serum phosphate concentration, and white blood cell count were examined.

Results

Patients in the no leukopenia group showed a statistically significant mean monthly increase in the bone marrow signal-to-noise ratio of 0.0430/month. Patients in the leukopenia group showed a mean monthly increase in the bone marrow signal-to-noise ratio of 0.0398/month, but this was not statistically significant. Patients in the hypophosphatemia group were significantly less likely to develop leukopenia than patients who had never developed hypophosphatemia.

Conclusions

Although monthly administration of triple-dose gadopentetate dimeglumine over 13 months has been associated with progressive increases in leukopenia, hypophosphatemia, and T1 signal intensity of bone, this study showed an inverse relationship between leukopenia and hypophosphatemia.
A New Jig for Making Posted Archwires
Authors: Patil Wasu , Joshi Juhi , Kalia Ajit , Nene Salil , Hegde Ashwith , Mirdehghan Nasim
Published: February 2022

Orthodontic treatment commonly requires posted archwires for en-masse retraction, for attaching headgear and elastics. Prefabricated brass-posted archwires are popular, the main disadvantages being extended inventory and cost. Considering all these challenges, this new V-Jig has been introduced. The innovation of this jig allows freehand operation, with more precision of placement of posts on the archwire and reduces chances of loss of original wire properties. Soldering technique with jig is convenient and easy. It is a chairside apparatus to make posted archwire and other appliances with ease.
Facebook Users’ Satisfaction and Intention to Continue Using It: Applying the Expectation Confirmation Model
Authors: Khan Md Irfanuzzaman , Saleh M. Abu
Published: February 2022

The use of social media for health communication has grown enormously worldwide. Whilst research concerning the potential benefits and barriers of using social media is rich and ever expanding, only a few studies looked at the fundamental reasons why social networking users continue to use Facebook for accessing health-related support groups and communicating with the healthcare professionals. Based on the expectation confirmation model (ECM), this study aims to uncover the factors that explain users’ intention to continue using Facebook for health-related matters. A sample size of 239 respondents was collected to test the proposed theoretical framework, using thestructural equation modelling technique. Our findings indicate that the most important drivers of continuance intention of Facebook are satisfaction, perceived usefulness, information quality and social support, whilst confirmation of expectation, information quality and social support are determinants of satisfaction. This study offers new insights into the domain of post-technology adoption and health communication literature. It also provides important information for healthcare providers on how to improve the effectiveness of social network-based interactions.
To Kill and to Die: On the Joys and Sorrows of Juvenile Drug Dealers in Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Zoettl Peter Anton
Published: February 2022

This article discusses the life and death of juvenile drug dealers in the state of Bahia, Brazil, where the drug business has become omnipresent and a growing number of youths from the urban periphery are taking up a career with one of the country’s many drug gangs. The price most of them pay for their economic success as traffickers is high: they are repeatedly imprisoned under harsh conditions, suffer severe physical violence and, at times, die at young age. Drawing on the narratives of juveniles from Bahia and the writings of Bataille and Baudrillard, the youths’ approach to life is discussed as a knowingly illusory attempt to regain their sovereignty within the boundaries of consumer capitalism. It is argued that their death is not a blow of fate, but rather the premeditated consequence of their acquisition of consumer-citizenship ‘on credit’ and, ultimately, their refusal to constitute Brazil’s modern precariat.
Climate model experiments on the 4.2 ka event: The impact of tropical sea-surface temperature anomalies and desertification
Authors: Renssen Hans
Published: February 2022

The 4.2 ka event is one of the most prominent climate events of the Holocene. In this study, several climate model experiments were performed to investigate its causal mechanism. The focus in these experiments was on the impact of anomalies in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) associated with enhanced El Nino activity, as this has been proposed as an important driver for the event. Six different SST anomaly scenarios were considered, covering the tropical sectors of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. In addition, the possible impact of desertification in Northern Africa and Arabia was taken into account. The model results were evaluated against the global humidity anomaly signature for the 4.2 ka event as provided by proxy-based reconstructions from 129 different sites. It is found that a scenario with desertification and warm Pacific SSTs and cold Atlantic SSTs provides the best match with these proxies. This experiment produces significant decreases in precipitation in South Asia, West and East Africa, and increases in South America and northwest North America. These results are partly forced by the strong increase in albedo in North Africa and Arabia, leading to regional cooling and more stable atmospheric conditions, and partly by enhanced atmospheric moisture transport to South America related to an enhanced land-sea thermal contrast. Based on these results, it is proposed that the 4.2 ka event was caused by tropical SST anomalies, leading to drying in North Africa, assisted by ongoing desertification in Northern Africa and Arabia.
Preserving client autonomy when guiding medicine taking in telehomecare: A conversation analytic case study
Authors: Ilomäki Sakari , Ruusuvuori Johanna
Published: February 2022

Background: Enhancing client autonomy requires close coordination of interactional practices between nurse and client, which can cause challenges when interaction takes place in video-mediated settings. While video-mediated services have become more common, it remains unclear how they shape client autonomy in telehomecare. Research aim: To analyse how video mediation shapes client autonomy when nurses guide medicine taking remotely through video-mediated home care. Research design: This is a conversation analytic case study using video recordings of telehomecare encounters. The theoretical approach draws on ethnomethodology and empirical ethics. Participants and research context: Four home-dwelling older adults and three nurses participated in the data collection; data extracts include one client and two nurses. The study was conducted in Finland. Ethical considerations: Special attention was given to protect the rights of home care clients. An ethical statement for the study was given by the Ethics Committee of the Tampere Region Findings: Video mediation complicates interacting remotely with care-relevant artefacts because of nurses’ limited visual access to the medicine and client’s need to simultaneously engage in vocal interaction and medicine taking. This can be overcome by dividing the guidance into manageable steps which invite the client to explicate their readiness to take the medicine and situating the video-mediation equipment and medicine close together. Different interactional practices and ways of situating video-mediation equipment and medicine have consequences for client autonomy. Discussion: Understanding client autonomy in digitalised settings demands empirical examination that recognises the importance of different human and non-human aspects of care that shape client autonomy. Conclusions: To harness the benefits of video-mediated home care, communication technologies’ reliance on home space and interactional practices should be recognised. Empirical ethics research is needed in order to make normative suggestions that fit a wide variety of care situation.
Compensation and the Human Security–Insecurity Matrix in Forced Displacement. Experiences from the Tokwe Mukosi Displacement in Zimbabwe.
Authors: Nhodo Lloyd , Kanyemba Roselyn , Dube Charles , Basure Stephen Hardlife
Published: February 2022

Compensation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) is one of the most important ways in which IDPs can be cushioned against multiple forms of insecurity. If conducted timely and impartially, it can increase resilience in the wake of the sudden and often unplanned livelihood-related and social changes that are associated with internal displacement and concomitant vulnerabilities for the displacees. Yet, states have a poor reputation of delaying the compensation of displacees, sometimes indefinitely. Often, displaced communities have to engage in protracted legal and illegal battles with states to get compensation for land and for other valuable and compensable assets. Many such battles never end in the favor of the displacees as delays in compensation erode its value, particularly in countries with hyperinflation, such as Zimbabwe. In this article, we argue for thinking about compensation as a critical component of IDPs’ human security. More precisely, we conceive of compensation as one of the key means of enhancing two forms of human security: food security and housing security.
Herpesviral encephalitis associated with bortezomib use in a patient with multiple myeloma and associated light-chain amyloidosis
Authors: Garrido David , Riva Eloísa
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Bortezomib is proteasome inhibitor used in multiple myeloma treatment. The reactivation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) during bortezomib-based therapy is a well-known adverse event. Antiviral prophylaxis is mandatory. Nevertheless, reports of herpesviral encephalitis are scarce.

Case report

A 57-year-old multiple myeloma patient who during CyBorD protocol (Bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone), after a transient suspension of antiviral prophylaxis presented progressive headaches unresponsive to conventional analgesics, asthenia, fever, episodic visual hallucinations, and vesicular lesions in the right supraorbital and frontal region. Herpetic encephalitis was diagnosed after detecting herpes zoster in cerebrospinal fluid.

Management & Outcome

The patient was treated with acyclovir 500mg every 6 hours for 21 days, and subsequent valacyclovir prophylaxis achieving an excellent clinical evolution. Anti-myeloma treatment was changed to lenalidomide and dexamethasone achieving a durable complete response. Herpesviral encephalitis is a rare but severe complication associated with the use of Bortezomib, especially when patients did not receive acyclovir prophylaxis. However, a rapid detection based on the clinical suspicion, and the prompt start of treatment, may lead to overcome this adverse event.