bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Infants’ Microbiota and the Probability of Development of Allergic and Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Ebrahimi Saba , Khatami Saghi , Mesdaghi Mehrnaz
Published: December 2021

The human microbiota plays a significant role in various mechanisms of the body. The formation of a healthy microbiota, especially in early childhood, has a significant effect on maintaining human health. Since the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the disease has caused many changes in human life. According to the available information, many of these factors affect the composition and diversity of the body’s microbiota, so this pandemic may alter and disrupt the microbiota and consequently increase the incidence of other diseases such as allergic and autoimmune disorders, especially in children and infants born in this era. In this review, the probable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on body’s microbiota and its relationship with the emergence of future diseases is discussed.
New cyanobacterium Aliterella vladivostokensis sp. nov. (Aliterellaceae, Chroococcidiopsidales), isolated from temperate monsoon climate zone (Vladivostok, Russia)
Authors: ABDULLIN SHAMIL R. , NIKULIN ARTHUR YU. , BAGMET VERONIKA B. , NIKULIN VYACHESLAV YU. , GONTCHAROV ANDREY A.
Published: December 2021

A new coccoid cyanobacterium Aliterella vladivostokensis sp. nov. was described from an urban aerophytic habitat in a temperate monsoon climate (Vladivostok, Russia) using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed that our isolate was a member of the Aliterella genus clade. Aliterella species are hardly distinguishable from each other morphologically and were described from highly contrasting natural and artificial environments with only a few records from several continents. Despite high similarity of morphometric data for A. vladivostokensis and A. antarctica cells and a compensatory base change in the D1–D1′ helix shared by these species; high percent of dissimilarity (11.6±1.3) between their 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer sequences with at least 5 autapomorphic mutations in the D1–D1′ and Box-B helices, and distinct folding patterns of the Box-B helix allowed us to erect a new species.
Improving infectious TB education for foreign-born patients and family members
Authors: Bedingfield Nancy , Lashewicz Bonnie , Fisher Dina , King-Shier Kathryn
Published: December 2021

Objective:

In low tuberculosis (TB) incidence countries, linguistic and cultural dissonance between families experiencing infectious TB and TB health care providers is a barrier to effective communication and successful treatment. The purpose of this research was to explore infectious TB education and counselling from the perspective of patients and family members who are foreign-born.

Design/Setting:

One component of a multiphase, qualitative case study conducted in Calgary, a large city in western Canada.

Method:

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, chart review and field notes and analysed thematically. Eight families were represented in the 6 patient and 13 family member participants who had recently experienced infectious TB.

Results:

Three themes were generated from the data: ‘learning about TB from many sources’, ‘reassurance and connection’ and ‘missing information’. Participants described learning about TB in different ways, feeling reassured once they knew more and sharing information with others. Overall, participants expressed satisfaction with education and counselling received. However, there were indications that communication problems had occurred. Participants asked questions during the interview, described areas of lingering confusion and shared TB-related behaviours incongruent with medical understanding. Knowledge gaps often increased isolation.

Conclusion:

Gaps in infectious TB education and counselling have negative impacts on patient and family member well-being. Education and counselling can be improved using multiple modes of communication, proactively addressing common misperceptions and reducing barriers to patient participation. Improvements could empower families to better manage their own experience and share accurate TB information with their communities.
“Exemplary” teachers: The perception of prospective teachers of role model teachers and their contribution to their professional identity
Authors: Cohen-Azaria Yael , Zamir Sara
Published: December 2021

This study examined the characteristics of “exemplary” teachers according to Israeli–Arab prospective teachers, and the influence of those perceptions on their professional identity. The study is based on the qualitative paradigm using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 33 students studying education in an academic college located in the center of Israel. Findings show that their professional educational identity begins to form while still at school, with exposure to an exceptional teacher in their past. The teacher’s digression from the traditional model of pedagogy in Arab education led them to the formulation of modern mindsets as educators and agents of change.
Reinforcement-learning-based optimal trading in a simulated futures market with heterogeneous agents
Authors: Aydin Nadi Serhan
Published: December 2021

This paper simulates a futures market with multiple agents and sequential auctions, where agents receive long-lived heterogeneous signals on the true value of an asset and with a known deadline. The evolution of the amount of differential information and its impact on the distribution of overall gains and the pace of truth discovery is examined for various depth levels of the limit order book (LOB). The paper also formulates a dynamic programming model for the problem and presents an associated reinforcement learning (RL) algorithm for finding optimal strategy in exploiting informational disparity. This is done from the perspective of an agent whose information is superior to the collective information of the rest of the market. Finally, a numerical analysis is presented based on a futures market example to validate the proposed methodology for finding the optimal strategy. We find evidence in favor of a waiting strategy where agent does not reveal her signal until the last auction before the deadline. This result may help bring more insight into the micro-structural dynamics that work against market efficiency.
A Critical Review of Teaching With Virtual Lab: A Panacea to Challenges of Conducting Practical Experiments in Science Subjects Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Schools in South Africa
Authors: Shambare Brian , Simuja Clement
Published: December 2021

This paper is based on a systematic literature review of published research on the educational application of Virtual Lab. The paper focuses on the use of the mobile Virtual Lab application for learning science practicals in rural school context. This paper analyses the theoretical aspects of using VL in teaching and learning of science practical experiments. The previous studies published in national and international journals and conference proceedings on science education and technologies in education, and regarding the benefits of using VL in science education, are discussed as references for integrating VL in teaching of science practicals in the rural school context. A systematic review method was adopted in this paper to explore articles that focus on Virtual Labs and the use of Virtual labs in teaching and learning. However, the aim of this paper is to provide science teachers in rural schools and education policy makers with a better understanding of the constraints and the benefits of using VL technology in mediating learning of science practical experiments and encourage teachers to adopt the use of VL as technology for conducting science practical experiments. In addition, this paper also addresses the possible factors that may affect learners’ learning of science practical experiments using VL technology in rural school educational settings, giving educational policy makers and curriculum developers enlightenment as to the effective integration of VL technology in science education. We conclude by providing suggestions and recommendations on the use of VL in teaching and learning of science practical experiments in rural schools beyond COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 and Education in India: A New Education Crisis in the Making
Authors: Tilak Jandhyala B. G.
Published: December 2021

This article briefly reviews the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the education sector in India. Focussing on school education, it also critically examines how effective online learning, the only major way adopted during the pandemic, has been in the delivery of education and whether it is a reliable alternative method of teaching and learning in India. It also briefly outlines a few important strategies required for the recovery of loss incurred and to face emerging challenges in education in India.
The Impact of COVID-19: Democracy in the Time of a Pandemic
Authors: Hasan Zoya
Published: December 2021

The recent spread of the delta variant of the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries, though uneven, has once again set alarm bells ringing throughout the world. Nearly two years have passed since the onset of this pandemic: vaccines have been developed and vaccination is underway, but the end of the campaign against the pandemic is nowhere in sight. This drive has merely attempted to adjust and readjust, with or without success, to the various fresh challenges that have kept emerging from time to time. The pandemic’s persistence and its handling by the governments both have had implications for citizens’/peoples’ rights as well as for the systems which were in place before the pandemic. In this symposium domain experts investigate, with a sharp focus on India, the interface between the COVID-19 pandemic and democracy, health, education and social sciences. These contributions are notable for their nuanced and insightful examination of the impact of the pandemic on crucial social development issues with special attention to the exacerbated plight of society’s marginalised sections.

In India, as in several other countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected democracy. The health crisis came at a moment when India was already experiencing democratic backsliding. The pandemic came in handy in imposing greater restrictions on democratic rights, public discussion and political opposition. This note provides an analysis and commentary on how the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted governance, at times undermining human rights and democratic processes, and posing a range of new challenges to democracy.
Reimagining Otherness, Recreating the Public Space: Public Administration and the U.S.-Mexico Border
Authors: Elías María Verónica
Published: December 2021

How can public administrators tasked with enforcing immigration laws bring care and commitment to human relationships and public connections? The contemporary anti-immigrant (anti-Other) “narrative” related to immigration policy is provided as exemplary socio-political-administrative terrain for exploring this question. Considering the undocumented alien as the “other” that possess a threat to the whole is problematic for democratic immigration policy making and governance. This paper suggests that pragmatism and Hannah Arendt’s political theory of publicness offer a theoretical groundwork for understanding and overcoming the destructive dynamics of “othering.” This framework can help administrators, through reflection in action and situational awareness, make sense of their daily practice. Finally, the discussion centers on lessons for street-level bureaucrats to reconsider the border and “others” under a new light, as constitutive of the public space.
Robust attitude control of the three-dimensional unknown chaotic satellite system
Authors: Shafiq Muhammad , Ahmad Israr , Almatroud O Abdullah , Al-Sawalha M Mossa
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes a novel continuous-time robust direct adaptive controller for the attitude control of the three-dimensional unknown chaotic spacecraft system. It considers that the plant’s nonlinear terms, exogenous disturbances, and model uncertainties are unknown and bounded; the controller design is independent of the system’s nonlinear terms. These controller attributes flourish the robust performance of the closed-loop and establish smooth state vector convergence to zero. The proposed controller consists of three parts: (1) a linear controller establishes the stability of the closed-loop at the origin, (2) a nonlinear controller component that autonomously adjusts the feedback gain, and (3) a nonlinear adaptive controller compensates for the model uncertainties and external disturbances using the online estimates of bounds and model uncertainties. The output of this part remains within a given upper and lower bound. The feedback controller gain is large when the state variables are away from the origin and become small in the origin’s vicinity. This feature is novel and contributes to the synthesis of smooth control effort that establishes robust fast and oscillation-free convergence of the state variables to zero. The Lyapunov direct stability analysis assures the global asymptotic robust stability of the closed-loop. Computer simulations and comparative analysis are included to verify the theoretical findings.
Prenatal diagnosis of isolation of aortic brachiocephalic artery
Authors: Hao Xiao-yan , Zhang Ye , Zhao Ying , Liu Xiaowei , Gu Xiaoyan , Han Jian-cheng , He Yi-hua
Published: December 2021

Background

Isolated aortic brachiocephalic artery (IABA) is a rare congenital aortic arch anomaly. It is difficult to diagnose IABA prenatally and the prevalence in the prenatal population is unknown.

Purpose

To evaluate the echocardiographic characteristics and associations in fetuses with IABA.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed all cases of prenatal diagnosis of IABA from January 2012 to November 2020 and reviewed the follow-up results. Copy Number Variation Sequencing (CNV-Seq) was performed using the biological specimens of the of the fetuses and family members.

Results

Ten cases (10/45652, 0.022%) of IABA were identified in our center. The prevalence of the cases with isolated left subclavian artery (ILSCA) in the right aortic arch (RAA) population was 0.98% (6/613). The ILSCA was the most common isolated arch branch. All the isolated branches were on the opposite side of aortic arch in all the cases. The “ice stick” sign in the coronal section could be seen in most cases of IABA. Of the 10 cases, 8 (8/10, 80%) were associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Two cases of IABA were combined with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Conclusion

IABA is a rare aortic anomaly. ILSCA was the most common isolated arch branch and TOF was the most common associated intra-cardiac anomaly. The “ice stick” sign in the coronal section could indicate a diagnosis of the IABA.
Newborn hearing loss in the south of China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Yuanming , Cheng Chen , Li Chuling
Published: December 2021

Objective

Newborn hearing screening can identify congenital deafness and hearing loss. The current status of newborn hearing screening in the south of China is unclear. We aimed to assess the hearing loss of newborns in Dongguan, China.

Methods

A total of 62,545 newborns were enrolled in this retrospective, cross-sectional study between September 2015 and August 2020. The screening procedure was carried out using a two-step hearing screening. The trends were examined by the Cochran–Armitage trend test.

Results

From 2015 to 2020, the total initial newborn hearing screening rate was 98.16%, and it significantly increased over time (Z = 2.488). The initial screening pass rate of newborns was 90.08%, and no significant difference was observed in the initial screening pass rate between different years (Z = 0.845). After two-step hearing screening, the overall hearing screening pass rate of newborns was 94.65%. The overall hearing screening pass rate in normal newborns was higher than that in high-risk newborns (95.70% vs. 93.59%).

Conclusion

The initial newborn hearing screening rate increased yearly in the study period, but there was still an approximately 10% referral rate. The initial screening pass rate in China needs to be further improved.
Listeria monocytogenes at the interface between ruminants and humans: A comparative pathology and pathogenesis review
Authors: Bagatella Stefano , Tavares-Gomes Leticia , Oevermann Anna
Published: December 2021

The bacterium Listeria monocytogenes ( Lm) is widely distributed in the environment as a saprophyte, but may turn into a lethal intracellular pathogen upon ingestion. Invasive infections occur in numerous species worldwide, but most commonly in humans and farmed ruminants, and manifest as distinct forms. Of those, neuroinfection is remarkably threatening due to its high mortality. Lm is widely studied not only as a pathogen but also as an essential model for intracellular infections and host-pathogen interactions. Many aspects of its ecology and pathogenesis, however, remain unclear and are rarely addressed in its natural hosts. This review highlights the heterogeneity and adaptability of Lm by summarizing its association with the environment, farm animals, and disease. It also provides current knowledge on key features of the pathology and (molecular) pathogenesis of various listeriosis forms in naturally susceptible species with a special focus on ruminants and on the neuroinvasive form of the disease. Moreover, knowledge gaps on pathomechanisms of listerial infections and relevant unexplored topics in Lm pathogenesis research are highlighted.
The Grief and Bereavement Experiences of Informal Caregivers: A Scoping Review of the North American Literature
Authors: Skantharajah Neerjah , Barrie Carol , Baxter Sharon , Carolina Borja M. , Butters Anica , Dudgeon Deborah , Haque Ayeshah , Mahmood Iqra , Mirhosseini Mehrnoush , Mirza Raza M. , Ankita Ankita , Thrower Carly , Vadeboncoeur Christina , Wan Andrew , Klinger Christopher A.
Published: December 2021

Background: Informal caregivers are a significant part of the hospice and palliative care landscape as members of the interdisciplinary care team. Despite this, little is known about the impact this responsibility has on informal caregivers’ experiences of grief and bereavement. Objective: To address this, a scoping review of the literature was conducted to explore the current state of knowledge toward grief and bereavement of informal caregivers of adult/geriatric patients in the hospice and palliative/end-of-life care realm within North America. Methods: Using Arksey and O’Malley's 5-step framework, key electronic health care and social sciences databases (eg, CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest Sociological Abstracts, PsycINFO) alongside gray literature sources were searched and screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria. A thematic content analysis was used to identify key themes. Results: 29 articles met the final inclusion criteria with 3 central themes emerging: (1) mediators of grief, (2) grief experiences, and (3) types of grief. Discussion: Informal caregivers encounter unique grief and bereavement experiences: The range of psychosocial outcomes, both negative and positive, can be affected by various mediators such as caregiver burden, demographics, disease type of the patient being cared for, etc. Bereavement interventions must be designed with the mediators of grief in mind. Conclusions: Understanding the nuances of informal caregivers’ experiences with grief and bereavement will inform and advance practice, policy, and research. Practitioners/clinicians should be further educated on how to properly acknowledge the complexity of grief and bereavement for informal caregivers, specifically paying attention to mediators. Further research needs to consider the role of culture.
Co-delivery of the autophagy inhibitor si-Beclin1 and the doxorubicin nano-delivery system for advanced prostate cancer treatment
Authors: Hu Chuling , Gu Fenfen , Gong Chunai , Xia Qingming , Gao Yuan , Gao Shen
Published: December 2021

Resistance to apoptosis is a key mechanism underlying how cancer cells evade tumor therapy. Autophagy can prevent anticancer drug-induced apoptosis and promote tumor resistance. The purpose of this study was to improve the sensitivity and efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs through the inhibition of autophagy. Hydrophobic doxorubicin–hydrazone–caproyl–maleimide (DOX-EMCH) and autophagy-inhibiting si-Beclin1 were simultaneously delivered via the amphiphilic peptide micelle system (Co-PMs) using poly(L-arginine)–poly(L-histidine)–DOX-EMCH as the copolymer building unit. The constructed micelle system promoted the escape of si-Beclin1 from endosomes and the release of DOX into the nucleus. The Co-PMs exhibited 2.7-fold higher cytotoxicity and proapoptotic ability in PC3 cells than DOX treatment alone, demonstrating that si-Beclin1 could inhibit the autophagic activity of prostate cancer (PCa) cells by targeting the type III PI3K pathway and enhance the sensitivity of the cells to the chemotherapeutic drug DOX. In addition, the peptide micelles successfully passively targeted DOX and si-Beclin1 to the tumor tissue. Compared with DOX or si-Beclin1 treatment alone, the Co-PMs showed a 3.4-fold greater tumor inhibitory potential in vivo, indicative of a significant antiproliferative effect. Our results suggested that the Co-PMs developed in this study have the potential to combine autophagy inhibition and chemotherapy in cancer treatment, especially for PCa.
Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) Asian Americans in the United States: Experiences of Violence, Discrimination, and Family Support
Authors: Lerner Justin E. , Lee Jane J.
Published: December 2021

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) Asian Americans in the U.S. have multiple stigmatized identities, yet their experiences of violence and discrimination are not well understood. We utilized the 2015 United States Trans Survey, the largest survey to date with U.S. TGD people, to study the experiences of TGD Asian Americans. Our study included 699 TGD Asian Americans who experienced violence and discrimination in the form of unequal treatment, verbal harassment, and physical attack. We assessed how experiences differed by sociodemographic characteristics, including birthplace, income, age, education, disability, gender identity, and region. We also explored how family support was associated with experiences of violence in the sample. Bivariate analyses and multivariable regressions were used to understand how sociodemographic variables and family support are linked to experiences of violence and discrimination. Results indicated that income, age, disability, gender identity, and family support are significantly associated with violence and discrimination. As TGD Asian Americans currently experience high levels of violence and discrimination due to transphobia and a rapidly rising anti-Asian bias stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to better understand factors that may increase vulnerability and identify how family support can mitigate those experiences are imperative.
Approaches for Implementing Healthy Food Interventions in Settings With Limited Resources: A Case Study of Sodium Reduction Interventions in Emergency Food Programs Addressing Food Insecurity
Authors: Strazza Karen , Jordan Julia , Ferriola-Bruckenstein Kate , Kane Heather , Whitehill John , Teachout Emily , Yarnoff Ben
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study describes how recipients of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded Sodium Reduction in Communities Program (SRCP) worked with emergency food programs to improve access to healthy food to address chronic conditions.

Design

SRCP recipients partnered with emergency food programs to implement sodium reduction strategies including nutrition standards, procurement practices, environmental strategies, and behavioral economics approaches.

Setting

SRCP recipients and emergency food programs in Washington County and Benton County, Arkansas and King County, Washington.

Subjects

SRCP recipient staff, emergency food program staff, and key stakeholders.

Measures

We conducted semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and systematic review of program documents.

Analysis

Data were analyzed using effects matrices for each recipient. Matrices were organized using select implementation science constructs and compared in a cross-case analysis.

Results

Despite limited resources, emergency food programs can implement sodium reduction interventions which may provide greater access to healthy foods and lead to reductions in health disparities. Emergency food programs successfully implemented sodium reduction interventions by building on the external and internal settings; selecting strategies that align with existing processes; implementing change incrementally and engaging staff, volunteers, and clients; and sustaining changes.

Conclusion

Findings contribute to understanding the ways in which emergency food programs and other organizations with limited resources have implemented public health nutrition interventions addressing food insecurity and improving access to healthy foods. These strategies may be transferable to other settings with limited resources.
An Empirical Study of the Effect of Communication Visibility on Innovation Behavior
Authors: Liang Liang , Zhang Xue , Tian Guyang , Tian Yezhuang
Published: December 2021

The effect of communication visibility on employee behaviors has garnered attention for the widespread use of enterprise social media; yet, this research has rarely considered the typical employee behavior of innovation behavior. This paper explores the relationship between communication visibility and innovation behavior. In addition, the underlying mechanism and boundary conditions are examined drawing on communication visibility theory, regulatory focus theory, and voice literature. Data were collected in a field experiment from a Chinese enterprise. It was found that communication visibility was positively associated with innovation behavior, and the positive association was mediated by voice behavior. Meanwhile, the positive indirect effect of communication visibility on employee innovation behavior was strengthened by promotion regulatory focus. Our research expands our understanding of the outcome behaviors of communication visibility and provides valuable management implications by shedding light on measures to promote innovation behavior.
A novel bipartite consensus tracking scheme for unknown nonlinear multi-agent systems: Theoretical analysis and applications
Authors: Zhao Huarong , Peng Li , Wu Peiliang , Yu Hongnian
Published: December 2021

This article proposes a novel distributed data-driven bipartite consensus tracking scheme for bipartite consensus tracking problems of multi-agent systems with bounded disturbances and coopetition networks. The proposed scheme only uses the input/output data of each agent without requiring the agents’ dynamics. We obtain the equivalent dynamic linearization data model for a controlled plant using the dynamic linearization technique based on the pseudo partial derivative. Considering the cooperative and competitive interactions among agents, the proposed method ensures that agents with adversarial relationships implement bipartite consensus tracking tasks even if only a subset of agents can access the information from the virtual leader. Moreover, the strict proof process of convergence properties reveals that the tracking error coverages to a small range around the origin. We also establish a set of software and hardware platform to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed distributed data-driven bipartite consensus tracking method.
Cost-effectiveness of upper extremity dry needling in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke
Authors: Fernández Sanchis Daniel , Cuenca Zaldívar Juan Nicolás , Calvo Sandra , Herrero Pablo , Gómez Barrera Manuel
Published: December 2021

Introduction:

Dry needling (DN) has been shown to be effective for the treatment of upper extremity hypertonia in patients with stroke.

Purpose:

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DN in patients with stroke.

Methods:

A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed in a research study conducted at a Spanish public hospital where patients were classified into two groups with or without DN. Hypertonia was measured using the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), and quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the EuroQoL 5-dimension questionnaire. Data regarding the effects and costs of physiotherapy were presented by calculating the mean and 95% confidence interval. The health outcomes were evaluated considering the rate of responders to the treatment based on the MMAS. Spanish preference weights were used to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) were calculated to determine the economic value of DN.

Results:

Eighty patients with stroke in the subacute stage of recovery were selected to participate in this study. Based on the rate of responders, the ICER of the DN group was very low. Despite the sensitivity analysis performed, the results of the ICUR were not encouraging.

Discussion:

Cost-effectiveness with responder rate results were favourable for the DN group and were confirmed by the sensitivity analysis according to levels of care. In addition, our findings revealed that 4 weeks of treatment could be more cost-effective than 8 weeks. DN treatment of the upper extremity appears to be cost-effective based on the rate of responders measured using the MMAS scale.
Psychosocial Experiences That Support Positive Self-Concept in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate Adopted From China
Authors: Everhart S. A. , Cochran K. M. , Lambrou N. H. , Davies W. H. , Marik P. K.
Published: December 2021

Objective

Existing psychosocial research offers little information on the unique challenges and strengths of children adopted from China with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). The present study aimed to understand biopsychosocial factors that support positive self-concept in this population.

Design

Qualitative, semistructured interviews were conducted with children and their parents. Interpretive phenomenological analysis of transcribed interviews was utilized for data analysis.

Setting

Participants were recruited in an outpatient, pediatric multidisciplinary cleft clinic during a standard team visit.

Patients, Participants

Participants were ages 8 to 12 years with a diagnosis of isolated cleft lip-palate who were internationally adopted from China before the age of 2 years and English-speaking. Participants also included English-speaking parents.

Results

Themes reflecting data from the child and parent subsamples include: (1) child's characteristics, (2) family strengths, (3) adoption identity, (4) cultural identity, (5) coping with a cleft, and (6) social factors. Additional 2 to 3 subthemes were identified for the parent and child subsamples within each broader theme.

Conclusions

Findings from this sample suggested factors supporting positive self-concept included pride and self-efficacy in activities, family support, instilment of family values, strategies for coping with a cleft, family belonging, cultural exposure, and normalization of differences. Medical providers can support patients and families by providing education on surgeries, CL/P sequelae and outcomes, and pediatric medical stress. Mental health providers can screen for social and emotional challenges and provide psychoeducation on racial/ethnic socialization, identity development, and coping.
Family Resilience: Variations by Individual Psychological and Health Resources, Social Capital and Sociodemographic Characteristics
Authors: Duncan James M. , Betsy Garrison M. E. , Killian Timothy S. , Moon Zola K. , Way Kelly A.
Published: December 2021

The purposed of this study was to investigate variations in family resilience across individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics, psychological and health resources, and social capital. Using the Tailored Design Method, survey data were collected from rural residents in a single U. S. state which yielded 812 responses and a 30% response rate. Family resilience was measured by the 2015 Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire. The other variables were measured by prevalent existing instruments and standard survey items. A three-model regression analysis was conducted. Results indicated that 37% of the variance in family resilience was explained by the independent variables of social capital, including trust, overall health, depressive symptoms, optimism and life satisfaction, and the control variables of socioeconomic-demographic characteristics. The strongest predictor of family resilience was optimism. In almost all instances, the control variables were weaker predictors than the independent variables, particularly depressive symptoms and social capital. The study sheds light on possible ways for helping professionals to guide families in becoming more resilient and calls for a social determinants of health, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach.
Problem-Focused Coping Strategies Used by Victims of Gender Violence Across the Stages of Change
Authors: Puente-Martinez Alicia , Ubillos-Landa Silvia , Páez-Rovira Darío
Published: December 2021

This study compares the problem-focused emotion regulation strategies used by 200 female survivors of intimate partner violence (age: M = 40.16, SD  =  11.27, 18 – 66 years) to cope with violence throughout various stages of change (SOC). It examines the relationship between problem-focused coping strategies and positive and negative affect, and the impact of these variables on the different SOC. Results suggest that victims differ and are flexible in the use of strategies throughout the various SOC. During the initial stages, victims tend to use passive/maladaptive behaviors that hamper change, while in the later stages they use more active/adaptive strategies to leave the abusive relationship.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Needs and Lived Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence Survivors in the United States: Advocate Perspectives
Authors: Ragavan Maya I. , Risser Lauren , Duplessis Virginia , DeGue Sarah , Villaveces Andrés , Hurley Tammy P. , Chang Judy , Miller Elizabeth , Randell Kimberly A.
Published: December 2021

We explored the challenges and lived experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic by interviewing 53 U.S.-based IPV advocates between June and November 2020. Advocates described how the COVID-19 pandemic limited survivors’ abilities to meet their basic needs. The pandemic was also described as being used by abusive partners to perpetrate control and has created unique safety and harm reduction challenges. IPV survivors experienced compounding challenges due to structural inequities. IPV must be considered by local, state, and federal governments when developing disaster planning policies and practices, including in the context of pandemics.
Quantitative biometric cutoffs for the choice of the intraocular lens power calculation formula for a recently introduced nondiffractive extended depth-of-focus intraocular lens
Authors: Arrigo Alessandro , Gambaro Gianpiera , Fasce Francesco , Aragona Emanuela , Figini Innocente , Bandello Francesco
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to analyze biometry values cutoffs for the choice of the best intraocular lens power calculation formula for AcrySof IQ Vivity intraocular lens.

Methods

The study was designed as interventional case series with 3 months of follow-up. Intraocular lens power calculation formulas included Barrett Universal II and SRK/T. The first was adopted for the intraocular lens power choice. The quantitative analysis focused on the identification of specific biometric cutoffs considering axial length, anterior chamber depth, and corneal powers. We included only the dominant eye in the statistical analysis.

Results

One hundred and eight eyes of 54 patients (23 males; mean age 62 ± 5 years) with no ocular diseases were included. Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.3 ± 0.2 to 0.0 ± 0.0 logMAR. All the eyes reached spectacles-free far and intermediate visions; a spherical addition of + 1.0D was necessary to adjust near vision. We identified significant quantitative cutoffs based on axial length and anterior chamber depth. Barrett Universal II resulted the best formula for eyes disclosing an axial length >25 mm, whereas SRK/T turned out to be the best choice for the eyes characterized by an anterior chamber depth <2.8 mm. Our analysis disclosed an overall sensitivity of 0.8 and a specificity of 0.7 ( p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Axial length and anterior chamber depth influence the choice of Barrett Universal II and SRK/T formulas. Quantitative biometric cutoffs may be useful to discriminate the best formula to be adopted.
The Power of Universal Contextualized Protein Embeddings in Cross-species Protein Function Prediction
Authors: van den Bent Irene , Makrodimitris Stavros , Reinders Marcel
Published: December 2021

Computationally annotating proteins with a molecular function is a difficult problem that is made even harder due to the limited amount of available labeled protein training data. Unsupervised protein embeddings partly circumvent this limitation by learning a universal protein representation from many unlabeled sequences. Such embeddings incorporate contextual information of amino acids, thereby modeling the underlying principles of protein sequences insensitive to the context of species. We used an existing pre-trained protein embedding method and subjected its molecular function prediction performance to detailed characterization, first to advance the understanding of protein language models, and second to determine areas of improvement. Then, we applied the model in a transfer learning task by training a function predictor based on the embeddings of annotated protein sequences of one training species and making predictions on the proteins of several test species with varying evolutionary distance. We show that this approach successfully generalizes knowledge about protein function from one eukaryotic species to various other species, outperforming both an alignment-based and a supervised-learning-based baseline. This implies that such a method could be effective for molecular function prediction in inadequately annotated species from understudied taxonomic kingdoms.
What type of change are we seeking to do? A response to Martin Parker auto-critique
Authors: Alcadipani Rafael
Published: December 2021

In this piece, I discuss what type of critique we are seeking to do as CMS scholars as a response to Martin Parker auto-critique published earlier this year.
A journal bearing performance prediction method utilizing a machine learning technique
Authors: Rossopoulos Georgios N , Papadopoulos Christos I
Published: December 2021

A predictive analytics methodology is presented, utilizing machine learning algorithms to identify the performance state of marine journal bearings in terms of maximum pressure, minimum film thickness, Sommerfeld number, load and shaft speed. A dataset of different bearing operation states has been generated by solving numerically the Reynolds equation in the hydrodynamic lubrication regime, for steady-state loading conditions and assuming isothermal and isoviscous lubricant flow. The shaft has been modelled with four different values of misalignment angle, lying within the acceptable operating range, as defined in the existing regulatory framework. The journal bearing was modelled parametrically using generic geometric parameters of a marine stern tube bearing. The lift-off speed was estimated for each loading scenario to ensure operation in the hydrodynamic lubrication regime and the effect of shaft misalignment on lift-off speed has been evaluated. The generated dataset was utilised for training, testing and validation of several machine learning algorithms, as well as feature selection analysis, in order to solve several classification problems and identify the various bearing operational states.
A comprehensive overview of PPM1A: From structure to disease
Authors: Li Mao , Xu Xingfeng , Su Yan , Shao Xiaoyun , Zhou Yali , Yan Jianguo
Published: December 2021

PPM1A (magnesium-dependent phosphatase 1 A, also known as PP2Cα) is a member of the Ser/Thr protein phosphatase family. Protein phosphatases catalyze the removal of phosphate groups from proteins via hydrolysis, thus opposing the role of protein kinases. The PP2C family is generally considered a negative regulator in the eukaryotic stress response pathway. PPM1A can bind and dephosphorylate various proteins and is therefore involved in the regulation of a wide range of physiological processes. It plays a crucial role in transcriptional regulation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis and has been suggested to be closely related to the occurrence and development of cancers of the lung, bladder, and breast, amongst others. Moreover, it is closely related to certain autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we provide an insight into currently available knowledge of PPM1A, including its structure, biological function, involvement in signaling pathways, and association with diseases. Lastly, we discuss whether PPM1A could be targeted for therapy of certain human conditions.
Applying the Evidence We Have: Support for Having Race Conversations in White U.S. Families
Authors: Perry Sylvia P. , Skinner-Dorkenoo Allison L. , Abaied Jamie L. , Waters Sara F.
Published: December 2021

Popular press articles have advocated for parent–child conversations about race and racism to prevent children from developing racial biases, yet empirical investigations of the impact of racial socialization in White U.S. families are scarce. In an article published in Perspectives on Psychological Science in 2020, Scott et al. warned that, given the lack of empirical evidence, parents might actually do more harm than good by talking to their children about race. In this comment, we draw upon the literature on (a) racial socialization, (b) parenting and parent–child discourse, and (c) the role of nonverbal communication in parental socialization to inform our understanding of parents’ ability to engage in race-related conversations in the absence of empirical guidance. We also highlight emerging evidence of the potential benefits of these conversations (even if parents are uncomfortable). In sum, the wealth of existing literature suggests that parents can successfully navigate challenging conversations with their children—which tends to result in better outcomes for children than avoiding those conversations. Thus, although we support Scott et al.’s call for researchers to develop more empirical research, we part with the authors’ assertion that researchers need to wait for more sufficient evidence before providing recommendations to White parents—we believe that the time for White families to begin talking about race and racism is now.
Never landing drone: Autonomous soaring of a unmanned aerial vehicle in front of a moving obstacle
Authors: de Jong Chris PL , Remes Bart DW , Hwang Sunyou , De Wagter Christophe
Published: December 2021

Increasing endurance is a major challenge for battery-powered aerial vehicles. A method is presented which makes use of an updraft around obstacles to decrease the power consumption of a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle. A soaring flight controller has been developed that can autonomously soar while the unmanned aerial vehicle keeps its relative position to that of a moving object. Multiple simulations have been performed to analyse the limitations of the soaring controller under different conditions. The effect of a change in wind velocity and updraft has been analysed. The simulations showed that an increase in updraft decreases the energy consumption of the flight controller. An increase in wind velocity results in a higher updraft requirement, while a decrease in the wind velocity requires less updraft. The simulations achieved sustained flight at 0% throttle. The controller has been validated experimentally using the updraft generated by a moving ship. The practical, autonomous tests reduced the average throttle down to 4.5% in front of a ship. The method presented in this study achieved successful hovering flight using an energy control module for longitudinal positioning.
Delayed presentation of giant uterine fibroids in a Nigerian private specialist health facility
Authors: Ikechebelu Joseph Ifeanyichukwu , Okpala Boniface Chukwuneme , Eleje George Uchenna , Nwachukwu Cyril Emeka , Nwajiaku Louis Anayo , Nnoruka Mark
Published: December 2021

Giant uterine fibroids (leiomyoma or myomas) which are fibroid masses greater than 11.4 kg are very rare. Although benign in nature, it may present with symptoms that impact negatively on the quality of life and health of the patient and impose greater management challenges. We present two cases of giant uterine fibroids that were successfully managed in a private specialist hospital without complications. Case 1 was a 38-year-old nulliparous Nigerian woman who presented with giant uterine fibroids (11.6 kg) who initially had delay of surgery due to fear that after surgery she may lose her “womb” or not be able to conceive after the operation. Later, she had successful open abdominal myomectomy, with the use of Foley catheters as improvise equipment for tourniquet and abdominal drain. Anti-adhesion agent was not used. Case 2 was a 47-year-old nulliparous Nigerian teacher with giant fibroids (13.2 kg) who also initially had delayed surgery due to fear that fibroid surgery is a major operation that it may get complicated and she may die. Also, she was afraid that she may not have her womb in her next world if she gets reincarnated. She had total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without complications. For both cases, pre-surgery leiomyosarcoma assessment with computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging and anti-adhesion agent were not used due to very unaffordable high costs. These reports of giant uterine fibroids (leiomyoma or myomas) are very rare gynecological entity, and management can be successful despite overwhelming challenges in low-income countries. Cheaper, affordable and available alternatives (improvises) can be resorted to for tackling its challenges in low-income settings.