bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing Cybersickness in 360-Degree Virtual Reality
Authors: Arshad Iqra , De Mello Paulo , Ender Martin , McEwen Jason D. , Ferré Elisa R.
Published: December 2021

Despite the technological advancements in Virtual Reality (VR), users are constantly combating feelings of nausea and disorientation, the so-called cybersickness. Cybersickness symptoms cause severe discomfort and hinder the immersive VR experience. Here we investigated cybersickness in 360-degree head-mounted display VR. In traditional 360-degree VR experiences, translational movement in the real world is not reflected in the virtual world, and therefore self-motion information is not corroborated by matching visual and vestibular cues, which may trigger symptoms of cybersickness. We evaluated whether a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) software designed to supplement the 360-degree VR experience with artificial six-degrees-of-freedom motion may reduce cybersickness. Explicit (simulator sickness questionnaire and Fast Motion Sickness (FMS) rating) and implicit (heart rate) measurements were used to evaluate cybersickness symptoms during and after 360-degree VR exposure. Simulator sickness scores showed a significant reduction in feelings of nausea during the AI-supplemented six-degrees-of-freedom motion VR compared to traditional 360-degree VR. However, six-degrees-of-freedom motion VR did not reduce oculomotor or disorientation measures of sickness. No changes were observed in FMS and heart rate measures. Improving the congruency between visual and vestibular cues in 360-degree VR, as provided by the AI-supplemented six-degrees-of-freedom motion system considered, is essential for a more engaging, immersive and safe VR experience, which is critical for educational, cultural and entertainment applications.
Supply Chains, COVID-19 and the GATT Security Exception: Legal Limits of ‘Pandemic Exceptionalism’
Authors: Chieng David
Published: December 2021

The increasingly fraught relationship between trade and security has manifested through expanding conceptions of security to include notions of economic self-sufficiency. Some suggest that this trend will be accelerated by COVID-19 to permanently enshrine exceptionalism in trade (‘pandemic exceptionalism’), arguably enabling invocations of the security exception to justify potentially protectionist measures where it is considered, by an invoking WTO Member, as necessary to protect its ‘essential security interests’. This article explores the security implications of the pandemic’s disruption of international supply chains and growing calls to ‘reshore’ production in order to examine whether COVID-19 could enable an indefinite expansion of the security exception under Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. The analysis contrasts the subjective and objective elements of Article XXI(b)(iii) to highlight the role of judicial settlement and objective determination in imposing legal limits on ‘pandemic exceptionalism’.
Distribution of the genus Cocconeis (Bacillariophyceae) along the Seogwipo coast of Jeju Island, South Korea
Authors: JOH GYEONGJE
Published: December 2021

Cocconeis Ehrenberg species (Bacillariophyceae) are documented from benthic samples collected along the Seogwipo coast of Jeju Island, the southernmost region of Korea. The 25 taxa were identified from seaweeds, sand, and sediments, their morphological features are described, and the distributions of the taxa are summarized. Three groups of Cocconeis e.g., Cocconeis dirupta var. flexella, C. pseudomarginata var. intermedia, Cocconeis scutellum, and their similar taxa were dominant in this area. Many other Cocconeis that grows mainly along the coasts of warmer oceans were also identified. The floristic study reveals the existence of rare or retrieved species that were not well known until recently, and expands some of their geographical distributions; Cocconeis cf. callosa, C. conspicua, C. cyclophora var. decora, C. cyclophora var. meisteri, C. delicata, C. schmidtii, C. shikinensis, C. suzukii, C. voigtii. In this floristic study, 14 Cocconeis taxa are new records in South Korea.
Paraboeremia yungensis sp. nov., a new fungal species isolated from Las Yungas, South America, with promising tyrosinase production potential
Authors: PERALTA MARIA PATRICIA , ALIAGA JOAQUÍN , DELGADO OSVALDO DANIEL , FARIÑA JULIA INÉS , LECHNER BERNARDO ERNESTO
Published: December 2021

In the context of a bioprospection programme for tyrosinase/L-DOPA- and melanin-producing fungal strains for biotechnological purposes, a hyperproducer isolate was obtained from Las Yungas rainforest, a relevant biodiverse ecoregion in North-Western Argentina. The selected strain was preliminarily identified as Paraboeremia sp. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first native reported species of this genus in South America. Single-gene and multi-locus analyses of the internal transcribed spacer nuclear ribosomal RNA gene region (ITS), partial large subunit 28S nrDNA region (LSU), RNA polymerase II region (RPB2) and partial β-tubulin gene (TUB2) alignments were carried out to define the phylogenetic identity of this strain. As part of a polyphasic identification approach, these results were combined with morphological studies of active cultures growing on malt extract, oatmeal and potato dextrose agar plates. Incubation was performed under diverse conditions to stimulate sporulation for the subsequent micromorphological analysis. Microphotographs of pycnidia and conidia were taken with a scanning electron microscope. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses supported the location of the strain within the genus Paraboeremia, whilst morphological features allowed distinguishing it from previously described species within this genus. Based on the results herein reported, the new South-American species Paraboeremia yungensis is described and proposed.
On the Nosodendridae from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar (Coleoptera: Nosodendroidea)
Authors: LI YAN-DA , TIHELKA ERIK , DAHAN LOÏC , HUANG DI-YING , CAI CHEN-YANG
Published: December 2021

Nosodendridae is a small polyphagan beetle family with a sparse fossil record. Herein, the fossil Nosodendridae from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (ca. 99 Ma) are systematically reviewed. Nosodendron cretaceum Deng et al. is transferred into Archaenosodendron Li & Cai gen. nov., as A. cretaceum (Deng et al.) comb. nov., primarily based on the morphology of prosternum. Three new species of Archaenosodendron from Burmese amber, A. explanatum Li & Cai sp. nov., A. remotidens Li & Cai sp. nov., and A. angulare Li & Cai sp. nov., are also described and illustrated. A key to nosodendrid genera and species from Burmese amber is provided.
Taxonomical clarification of Tetrix gibberosa (Wang & Zheng), a high-backed pygmy grasshopper species from eastern PR China (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)
Authors: DING WEN-JING , DING JIAN-HUA , ZHANG HAI-JUN , ZHA LING-SHENG
Published: December 2021

Tetrix gibberosa (Wang & Zheng) is a high-backed pygmy grasshopper species from eastern PR China. Due to its reduced hind wings and pleomorphism (length changes of hind wings and the hind pronotal process, which is generally called macropterous and brachypterous morphs), the species have been described into different species which involve several taxonomically confused genera. This study clarifies its taxonomy and distribution and provides ecological information for the species. At the same time, we comment the relationships of related genera in the subfamily Tetriginae, including Tetrix Latreille, Exothotettix Zheng & Jiang, Alulatettix Liang, Aalatettix Zheng & Mao, Formosatettix Tinkham, and Formosatettixoides Zheng. Additionally, we report for the first time that nematodes can parasitize pygmy grasshoppers.

New synonyms are proposed: Tetrix gibberosa (Wang & Zheng, 1993) = Alulatettix bulbosus Zheng & Zhong, 2001, syn. nov., = Exothotettix jiangxiensis Liang & Jia, 2008, syn. nov., = Tetrix glochinota Zhao, Niu & Zheng, 2010, syn. nov., = Alulatettix nigromarginalis Zhang, Deng & Zha, 2014, syn. nov., = Alulatettix flavotibialis Zhang, Deng & Zha, 2014, syn. nov..
High-Resolution Smoke Forecasting for the 2018 Camp Fire in California
Authors: Chow Fotini Katopodes , Yu Katelyn A. , Young Alexander , James Eric , Grell Georg A. , Csiszar Ivan , Tsidulko Marina , Freitas Saulo , Pereira Gabriel , Giglio Louis , Friberg Mariel D. , Ahmadov Ravan
Published: December 2021

Smoke from the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California blanketed a large part of the region for 2 weeks, creating poor air quality in the “unhealthy” range for millions of people. The NOAA Global System Laboratory’s HRRR-Smoke model was operating experimentally in real time during the Camp Fire. Here, output from the HRRR-Smoke model is compared to surface observations of PM2.5 from AQS and PurpleAir sensors as well as satellite observation data. The HRRR-Smoke model at 3-km resolution successfully simulated the evolution of the plume during the initial phase of the fire (8–10 November 2018). Stereoscopic satellite plume height retrievals were used to compare with model output (for the first time, to the authors’ knowledge), showing that HRRR-Smoke is able to represent the complex 3D distribution of the smoke plume over complex terrain. On 15–16 November, HRRR-Smoke was able to capture the intensification of PM2.5 pollution due to a high pressure system and subsidence that trapped smoke close to the surface; however, HRRR-Smoke later underpredicted PM2.5 levels due to likely underestimates of the fire radiative power (FRP) derived from satellite observations. The intensity of the Camp Fire smoke event and the resulting pollution during the stagnation episodes make it an excellent test case for HRRR-Smoke in predicting PM2.5 levels, which were so high from this single fire event that the usual anthropogenic pollution sources became insignificant. The HRRR-Smoke model was implemented operationally at NOAA/NCEP in December 2020, now providing essential support for smoke forecasting as the impact of U.S. wildfires continues to increase in scope and magnitude.
Atlantic Coastal Sea Level Variability and Synoptic-Scale Meteorological Forcing
Authors: Pirhalla Douglas E. , Lee Cameron C. , Sheridan Scott C. , Ransibrahmanakul Varis
Published: December 2021

Anomalous sea levels along the mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic coasts of the United States are often linked to atmosphere–ocean dynamics, remote- and local-scale forcing, and other factors linked to cyclone passage, winds, waves, and storm surge. Herein, we examine sea level variability along the U.S. Atlantic coast through satellite altimeter and coastal tide gauge data within the context of synoptic-scale weather pattern forcing. Altimetry data, derived from sea level anomaly (SLA) data between 1993 and 2019, were compared with self-organizing map (SOM)-based atmospheric circulation and surface wind field categorizations to reveal spatiotemporal patterns and their interrelationships with high-water-level conditions at tide gauges. Regional elevated sea level patterns and variability were strongly associated with synergistic patterns of atmospheric circulation and wind. Recurring atmospheric patterns associated with high-tide flooding events and flood risk were identified, as were specific regional oceanographic variability patterns of SLA response. The incorporation of combined metrics of wind and circulation patterns further isolate atmospheric drivers of high-tide flood events and may have particular significance for predicting future flood events over multiple spatial and temporal scales.

Significance Statement

Mean sea level and minor to moderate coastal flood events, also called blue-sky or high-tide floods, are increasing along many U.S. coastlines. While the drivers of such events are numerous, here we identified key contributing weather patterns and environmental factors linked to increased risk of regional and local high-water conditions along the Atlantic coast. Our results indicate that the predictability of elevated sea levels and high-tide floods is highly dependent upon atmospheric drivers including wind and circulation patterns and, if applied in a tested modeling framework, may prove useful for predicting future floods at various time scales.
A Statistical Interpolation Code for Ocean Analysis and Forecasting
Authors: Srinivasan Ashwanth , Chin T. M. , Chassignet E. P. , Iskandarani M. , Groves N.
Published: December 2021

We present a data assimilation package for use with ocean circulation models in analysis, forecasting, and system evaluation applications. The basic functionality of the package is centered on a multivariate linear statistical estimation for a given predicted/background ocean state, observations, and error statistics. Novel features of the package include support for multiple covariance models, and the solution of the least squares normal equations either using the covariance matrix or its inverse—the information matrix. The main focus of this paper, however, is on the solution of the analysis equations using the information matrix, which offers several advantages for solving large problems efficiently. Details of the parameterization of the inverse covariance using Markov random fields are provided and its relationship to finite-difference discretizations of diffusion equations are pointed out. The package can assimilate a variety of observation types from both remote sensing and in situ platforms. The performance of the data assimilation methodology implemented in the package is demonstrated with a yearlong global ocean hindcast with a 1/4° ocean model. The code is implemented in modern Fortran, supports distributed memory, shared memory, multicore architectures, and uses climate and forecasts compliant Network Common Data Form for input/output. The package is freely available with an open source license from www.tendral.com/tsis/.
Comparison of Endotoxin Activity Assay and Various Biomarkers for Severity Assessment in Colorectal Perforation Patients
Authors: Matsuda Kazuhiro , Aoki Takeshi , Watanabe Makoto , Tomioka Kodai , Tashiro Yoshihiko , Tomokazu Kusano , Koizumi Tomotake , Satoru Goto , Yamazaki Kimiyasu , Otsuka Koji , Murakami Masahiko
Published: December 2021

Colorectal perforation is a serious disease with high mortality requiring emergency surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the role of the endotoxin activity assay (EAA) to assess the severity in patients admitted to the intensive care unit after emergency surgeries for colorectal perforations. Patients were divided into high (EAA ≥.4) and low (EAA <.4) groups based on the EAA levels, and the correlation between the EAA values and clinical variables related to the severity was evaluated. The SOFA scores were significantly higher in the high group than those in the low group. The high EAA value persisted even after 48 hours and extended the ICU length of stay. These results suggest that EAA may be a potential biomarker to assess severity and useful as one of the instrumental in predicting the outcomes for colorectal perforation patients.
Transmission Infrared Microscopy and Machine Learning Applied to the Forensic Examination of Original Automotive Paint
Authors: Kwofie Francis , Perera Nuwan Undugodage D. , Dahal Kaushalya S. , Affadu-Danful George P. , Nishikida Koichi , Lavine Barry K.
Published: December 2021

Alternate least squares (ALS) reconstructions of the infrared (IR) spectra of the individual layers from original automotive paint were analyzed using machine learning methods to improve both the accuracy and speed of a forensic automotive paint examination. Twenty-six original equipment manufacturer (OEM) paints from vehicles sold in North America between 2000 and 2006 served as a test bed to validate the ALS procedure developed in a previous study for the spectral reconstruction of each layer from IR line maps of cross-sectioned OEM paint samples. An examination of the IR spectra from an in-house library (collected with a high-pressure transmission diamond cell) and the ALS reconstructed IR spectra of the same paint samples (obtained at ambient pressure using an IR transmission microscope equipped with a BaF2 cell) showed large peak shifts (approximately 10 cm−1) with some vibrational modes in many samples comprising the cohort. These peak shifts are attributed to differences in the residual polarization of the IR beam of the transmission IR microscope and the IR spectrometer used to collect the in-house IR spectral library. To solve the problem of frequency shifts encountered with some vibrational modes, IR spectra from the in-house spectral library and the IR microscope were transformed using a correction algorithm previously developed by our laboratory to simulate ATR spectra collected on an iS-50 FT-IR spectrometer. Applying this correction algorithm to both the ALS reconstructed spectra and in-house IR library spectra, the large peak shifts previously encountered with some vibrational modes were successfully mitigated. Using machine learning methods to identify the manufacturer and the assembly plant of the vehicle from which the OEM paint sample originated, each of the twenty-six cross-sectioned automotive paint samples was correctly classified as to the “make” and model of the vehicle and was also matched to the correct paint sample in the in-house IR spectral library.
A Systematic Review of the Research on Gifted Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Gelbar Nicholas W. , Cascio Alexandra A. , Madaus Joseph W. , Reis Sally M.
Published: December 2021

This article includes a current research synthesis on a subpopulation of twice exceptional individuals, those who are academically talented with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This population is emerging as an increasing focus of research, as the numbers of individuals identified are increasing. A total of 32 articles were included using the study’s inclusion criteria, and of these 32 articles, 62.5% presented data, whereas the remaining 37.5% were review or conceptual articles. This review of articles published between 1996 and 2019 suggests little research is being conducted on this population. Some of the research conducted recently involve case studies, others are correlational in nature, and most are descriptive, focusing on participants’ characteristics and how they were identified. A wide range of definitions were utilized in the literature, and to date, no empirical research has been published about this population. Implications from the current research base and suggestions for future research are included.
Applications of Cryogenic Electron Microscopy in Biomineralization Research
Authors: Lei C. , Wang Y.H. , Zhuang P.X. , Li Y.T. , Wan Q.Q. , Ma Y.X. , Tay F.R. , Niu L.N.
Published: December 2021

Biological mineralization is a natural process manifested by living organisms in which inorganic minerals crystallize under the scrupulous control of biomolecules, producing hierarchical organic-inorganic composite structures with physical properties and design that galvanize even the most ardent structural engineer and architect. Understanding the mechanisms that control the formation of biominerals is challenging in the biomimetic engineering of hard tissues. In this regard, the contribution of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has been nothing short of phenomenal. By preserving materials in their native hydrated status and reducing damage caused by ion beam radiation, cryo-EM outperforms conventional transmission electron microscopy in its ability to directly observe the morphologic evolution of mineral precursor phases at different stages of biomineralization with nanoscale spatial resolution and subsecond temporal resolution in 2 or 3 dimensions. In the present review, the development and applications of cryo-EM are discussed to support the use of this powerful technique in dental research. Because of the rapid development of cryogenic sample preparation techniques, direct electron detection, and image-processing algorithms, the last decade has witnessed an exponential increase in the use of cryo-EM in structural biology and materials research. By amalgamating with other analytic techniques, cryo-EM may be used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the kinetics and thermodynamic mechanisms in which organic macromolecules participate in the transformation of mineral precursors from their original liquid state to amorphous and ultimately crystalline phases. The present review concentrates on the biomineralization of calcium phosphate mineral phases, while that of calcium carbonate, silica, and magnetite is only briefly mentioned. Bioinspired organic matrix–mediated inorganic crystallization strategies are discussed from the perspective of tissue regeneration engineering.
Handling Endogenous Regressors Using Copulas: A Generalization to Linear Panel Models with Fixed Effects and Correlated Regressors
Authors: Haschka Rouven E.
Published: December 2021

This article proposes a panel data generalization for a recently suggested instrumental variable‐free estimation method that builds on joint estimation. The author shows how the method can be extended to linear panel models by combining fixed-effects transformations with the common generalized least squares transformation to allow for heterogeneous intercepts. To account for between-regressor dependence, the author proposes determining the joint distribution of the error term and all explanatory variables using a Gaussian copula function, with the distinction that some variables are endogenous and the others are exogenous. The identification does not require any instrumental variables if the regressor–error relation is nonlinear. With a normally distributed error, nonnormally distributed endogenous regressors are therefore required. Monte Carlo simulations assess the finite sample performance of the proposed estimator and demonstrate its superiority to conventional instrumental variable estimation. A specific advantage of the proposed method is that the estimator is unbiased in dynamic panel models with small time dimensions and serially correlated errors; therefore, it is a useful alternative to generalized-method-of-moments-style instrumentation. The practical applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated via an empirical example.
Post-malaria neurological syndrome manifesting as new onset psychosis with generalized encephalopathy: an analysis of two cases in children
Authors: Agarwal Neha
Published: December 2021

Post-malaria neurological syndrome(PMNS) is a rare heterogenous syndrome heralded by the appearance of new neurological or psychiatric manifestations emerging in the post-infectious phase after clearance of malaria parasitaemia. Most cases of PMNS have been described in adults. Only seven cases have been reported in children. We describe two further cases of possible PMNS who presented with prominent psychiatric manifestations evolving into generalized encephalopathy after complete recovery from malaria. Both patients were treated with antivirals and antibiotics without clinical improvement. One patient received pulse corticosteroids and had a remarkable and rapid clinical improvement. The other recovered without specific treatment.
Dementia-Free Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Impairment Show Lower Mood and No Deficits of Spontaneous Memory Retrieval
Authors: Wereszczyński Michał , Niedźwieńska Agnieszka
Published: December 2021

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether spontaneous retrieval deficits could be found in individuals with Subjective Cognitive Impairment (SCI). The sample consisted of 52 participants over 65 years of age (mean age = 76.00; SD = 7.48) with 11 males. We asked 26 individuals with SCI and 26 individuals without SCI to perform a prospective memory (PM) task that had previously demonstrated spontaneous retrieval deficits in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment. The results did not demonstrate the expected differences in a PM task based on spontaneous retrieval [ t(50) = −.05; p = .964, d = .01]. However, participants’ mood did predict their subjective memory complaints ( β = −.51; p < .001) and their subjective assessment of their future memory performance ( r = −.38; p < .01). The findings are in line with numerous studies which have shown that SCI is more related to mood disturbance than to objective cognitive functioning.
Cultural Ethos of Primitive Tribes: Yir Yiront, Kaingang, and Auca
Authors: Baswell James O.
Published: December 2021

“If we have learned anything, it is that all parts of a culture must be understood together, that the context and interrelationships are more essential than the specific parts, no matter how well the latter are known.”1
The Helping Relationship in Missionary Work
Authors: Reyburn William D.
Published: December 2021

A relationship with others which will permit us to help them at the deepest personal level of their need requires that we accept ourselves as we are. The maintenance of distance by manner of life, by a judgmental attitude, or by an impersonal, official relationship may protect our precarious self-image, but it also projects to the other our rejection of him. A helping relationship requires that we be open enough to be vulnerable which we will be unwilling to be if we unconsciously reject ourselves.
An African Christian Looks at Christian Missions in Africa
Authors: Wambutda Daniel N.
Published: December 2021

The author, speaking out of sincere love and deep concern, examines very frankly some of the problems arising from the paternalism, racism, and insecurity of many missionaries in Africa.
Syncretism, a Specter among Philippine Protestants
Authors: Toliver Ralph
Published: December 2021

Though most Protestants in the Philippines recognize and reject the overt doctrines and practices of official Roman Catholicism, they readily and unsuspectingly fall into syncretism with features of ancient Filipino animism and the blend of animism and popular Roman Catholicism which is widespread around them. These include magic, fear of evil spirits, belief in the power of certain signs, respect for taboos, and. recourse to traditional medicine men.
Accommodation in an Iban Church Today
Authors: Wang George T. , Fowler J. Andrew
Published: December 2021

The usual attitude of missionaries to accommodation (often decried under the label “syncretism”) is to condemn it. In this paper, the authors explore a sensitive effort at positive accommodation among the animistic Iban in Sarawak. The introduction of the original article, which is not reprinted here, summarizes the experimental conditions and describes the animistic foundation of the Iban world view, on which the Gospel must take root. It is in terms of this animism that the accommodation was made. Both advantages and disadvantages of the experiment are candidly explored.
The Danger of Courtesy
Authors: Noss Philip A.
Published: December 2021

The rules of behavior which make social life possible are very important; but they differ radically from society to society. The foreigner cannot ignore the code of the people among whom he is living because this would cause offense; nor can he give up his own code and totally adopt the other, because people will be suspicious of one who abandons his own code. Rather, he should learn and apply the basic tenets of the host society in appropriate situations.
Mate Selection among the Shirishana
Authors: Peters John Fred
Published: December 2021

The Shirishana are one of many tribes which arrange marriages for young people, without always securing the consent of the prospective partners. The author argues that such a pattern should not be interfered with, as it is functional and leads to family stability among the Shirishana, whereas Western patterns of mate selection would lead to social disintegration. The Shirishana pattern in no way precludes the development of genuine conjugal love.
Developing an Indigenous Hymnody
Authors: Rice Delbert
Published: December 2021

The article describes an investigation in depth of the possibilities of using indigenous musical forms of the iKalahan people of the Philippines and even indigenous tunes for an indigenous hymnody. The various instruments and musical patterns are described first, then the forms of various types of songs: Verse forms, metrical patterns, themes, situations in which they are used, etc. The author experimented successfully with the use of such music both for the translation of metrical Psalms and for original hymnology. Previous articles on this topic are: “Developing Hymnology in New Churches,” PA Vol. 9, No. 6 (special issue, Nov.–Dec. 1962); Elaine T. Lewis, James M. Riccitelli, and William A. Smalley, “More About Developing Non-Western Hymnody,” Vol. 11, No. 1 (Jan.–Feb. 1964), pp. 35–46; Vida Chenoweth and Darlene Bee, “On Ethnic Music,” Vol. 15, No. 5 (Sept.–Oct. 1968), pp. 205–212; and Dorothy James, “Toward an Ethnic Hymnody,” Vol. 16, No. 1 (Jan.–Feb. 1969), pp. 34–38.
Religious Implications of the Social Sciences
Authors: Reynolds Harriet R.
Published: December 2021

The social sciences and religious studies in a university are interrelated. There are several reasons for this closeness, the author says. Both are concerned with persons and with society. Both are also mindful of origins, of social relations, and of goals and directions for individuals, social groups, and mankind.
Identification and the Role of the Missionary
Authors: Muldrow William F.
Published: December 2021

Christianity is in trouble in Africa, in large part because of problems with the role of the missionary. Missionaries too often disdain African culture or show respect for ulterior motives. For effective communication, identification is essential. This is not simply a physical outward conformity, but a full and sympathetic entering into the life of others in an act meaningful in itself. Barriers include ethnocentrism, fear of the loss of personal identity, withdrawal into a segregated “missionary culture,” and the dominant role of the missionary in too many relationships. Personal qualities required for identification include health, intelligence, empathy, autonomy, judgment, and creativity. The author concludes by exploring motivation and the practical implications for an effective approach. He stresses that the right attitudes must be established from the start of the missionary's career while the situation is still fluid enough to be guided.
Forms of Baptism in the African Independent Churches of Tropical Africa
Authors: Brown Kenneth I.
Published: December 2021

The sacrament of baptism is accepted as one of the great symbolic ceremonies by both the Western and the African churches. Within the African Independent Churches baptism is joyously received, deeply beloved, enhanced for their members by the respect for water and the rites of cleansing inherited from their traditional African faiths. Complete immersion is the generally accepted form.
“Green-Colored Uyghur Poet”: Religion, Nostalgia, and Identity in Contemporary Uyghur Poetry
Authors: Zelcer-Lavid Michal
Published: December 2021

There is wide consensus that Islam is an important rallying point for the Uyghurs and an essential component of their national identity. Yet despite its centrality in Uyghur culture, there is only marginal reference to religion in modern Uyghur poetry. In this article, I argue that poets such as Adil Tuniyaz, Tahir Hamut Izgil, and others, most of whom are secular and urban, choose to relate to religion through mysticism and nostalgia in reaction to the Chinese state’s characterization of Islam as identified with violent fundamentalism and terrorism. By avoiding the use of separatist symbols, these poets contribute to a broad national ethos that strengthens contemporary Uyghur identity.
The Action Chrétienne en Orient: From Missionary Society to Fellowship of Churches
Authors: van Saane Wilbert
Published: December 2021

The Action Chrétienne en Orient was founded in 1922 in order to bring relief among displaced Christians, especially Armenians, in Syria. It also supported the displaced Protestant communities in their ecclesiastical, educational and medical work. In structure the ACO resembled other Protestant missionary societies, but it had some unique features such as its trans-European character. At the time of the decolonization, the work of the ACO changed as the local Protestant churches took charge and the ACO devolved its responsibilities. In the postcolonial period the ACO gradually embraced a missiology that was focused on partnership. This led to the formation of the ACO Fellowship, a communion of churches and mission agencies.
Psilocybin microdosing does not affect emotion-related symptoms and processing: A preregistered field and lab-based study
Authors: Marschall Josephine , Fejer George , Lempe Pascal , Prochazkova Luisa , Kuchar Martin , Hajkova Katerina , van Elk Michiel
Published: December 2021

Background:

Microdoses of psychedelics (i.e. a sub-hallucinogenic dose taken every third day) can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress according to anecdotal reports and observational studies. Research with medium to high doses of psilocybin points towards potential underlying mechanisms, including the modulation of emotion and interoceptive processing.

Aims:

In this preregistered study, we investigated whether psilocybin microdoses alter self-reported interoceptive awareness and whether repeated microdosing over 3 weeks modulates emotion processing and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Methods:

We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover design. Participants completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Questionnaire 1½ h after self-administering their second dose (or placebo), and the emotional go/no-go task and the shortened Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 1½ h after self-administering their seventh dose.

Results:

Our confirmatory analyses revealed that psilocybin microdosing did not affect emotion processing or symptoms of anxiety and depression compared with placebo. Our exploratory analyses revealed that psilocybin microdosing did not affect self-reported interoceptive awareness, that symptoms of depression and stress were significantly reduced in the first block compared with baseline, that participants broke blind in the second block and that there was no effect of expectations. Further research in a substance-naïve population with clinical range anxiety and depressive symptoms is needed to substantiate the potential beneficial effects of microdosing.
Qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of intramuscular hemangioma subtypes: Diagnostic performance comparison of ESWAN and conventional MRI
Authors: Du Jun , Li Kun , Wang Wei , Jhonatan Felix Young , Zhang Weisheng , Yang Huilin , Huang Lixin
Published: December 2021

Background

Preoperative identification of intramuscular hemangioma (IMH) subtypes (capillary hemangioma, cavernous hemangioma, and mixed hemangioma) is urgently necessary. Enhanced T2*-weighted angiography (ESWAN) is sensitive to vessels and metabolites and can be used to diagnose IMH subtypes.

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic performances of ESWAN and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of IMH subtypes.

Material and Methods

In total, 23 patients with IMHs were examined using conventional MRI and ESWAN. The signal intensity ratios (SIRs) of conventional MRI and ESWAN were measured.

Results

There was no significant difference for volume among the three subtypes ( P = 0.124, P = 0.145). Various shapes and MRI signals were shown in the three subtypes of IMH. There was no significant difference for SIRs of conventional MRI ( P = 0.558, P = 0.259, P = 0.385, P = 0.347). However, there was a significant difference for SIRs of ESWAN parameters ( P = 0.050, P < 0.001, P = 0.005, P = 0.002). Capillary hemangiomas can be diagnosed when R2* SIR is <0.912 and intratumoral susceptibility signal (ITSS) percentage is <29.085%. Cavernous hemangiomas should be considered when R2* SIR is >0.912, ITSS percentage >35.226%, and phase SIR >2.536. In addition, mixed hemangiomas should be considered when T2* SIR is >0.662 and R2* SIR <1.618.

Conclusion

Conventional MRI can only display the volume, shape, and signal of IMHs. 3D-MinIP imaging of ESWAN can show the veins and minor hemorrhage. SIRs of ESWAN parameters including T2* value, R2* value, phase value, and percentage of ITSS can be used to quantitatively diagnose capillary hemangiomas, cavernous hemangiomas, and mixed hemangiomas.
A multidisciplinary collaborative model based on single-port thoracoscopy for the treatment of giant mediastinal lymph node hyperplasia: a case report
Authors: Gu Haihua , Liu Tianshu , Zhu Ling , Zhao Lufeng , Fan Junqiang
Published: December 2021

Mediastinal unicentric Castleman disease (UCD) frequently manifests as a hyper-enhancing lymph node mass and is often surgically curable. However, because of excessive vascularisation and adhesion to important surrounding structures, surgery is often associated with severe haemorrhage that is often difficult to control thoracoscopically. Therefore, thoracotomy is often preferred, which increases the trauma to the patient and affects postoperative recovery. Here, we describe the case of a 30-year-old male patient with a large upper mediastinal lymph node (7 × 5 × 4 cm) that was compressing his superior vena cava. The distribution of nutritive arteries of the mass was analysed in detail, and the main branches were embolised prior to surgery. With the assistance of preoperative isovolumetric haemodilution, we achieved complete resection through single-port thoracoscopy, with only minor haemorrhage, which enabled the patient to recover rapidly. This multidisciplinary collaborative model, based on single-port thoracoscopic surgery, may be of wide practical use for the treatment of mediastinal UCD.
Effects of perioperative dextrose infusion on preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Deng Ruiming , Huang Guiming , Liu Wenwen , Liu Xiaocheng
Published: December 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to systematically examine the literature and assess the effects of perioperative dextrose infusion on the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients following laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Studies were eligible for inclusion if they evaluated the prevention of PONV with perioperative intravenous dextrose. Studies listed in PUBMED, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases published up to December 2020 were identified. Data were extracted and analyzed independently using a fixed-effects or random-effects model according to the heterogeneity.

Results

Six RCTs involving 526 patients were included. Our results showed that perioperative dextrose infusion not only reduced the incidence of PONV (risk ratio [RR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39–0.95; I2 = 59%) but also decreased the requirement for antiemetics compared with the control (RR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.42–0.66; I2 = 32%). Furthermore, perioperative glucose infusion did not increase blood glucose levels compared with the control (mean difference [95% CI] = 74.55 [−20.64 to 169.73] mg/dL; I2 = 100%).

Conclusion

Our study reveals that perioperative dextrose infusion may reduce the risk of PONV after laparoscopic surgery. However, additional population-based RCTs are needed to confirm this finding.
PARK7/DJ-1 inhibition decreases invasion and proliferation of uveal melanoma cells
Authors: Lago-Baameiro Nerea , Santiago-Varela Maria , Camino Tamara , Silva-Rodríguez Paula , Bande Manuel , Blanco-Teijeiro Maria Jose , Pardo Maria , Piñeiro Antonio
Published: December 2021

Introduction:

PARK7/DJ-1 is an oncogene that is associated with tumorigenesis in many cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of DJ-1 in the origin and development of uveal melanoma (UM). We present an analysis of the role of the DJ-1 protein in UM cells, especially in its effect on proliferation and migration.

Methods:

UM cells from a primary tumor, Mel 270, and its liver metastasis, OMM2.5, were transfected with lentiviral-delivered shRNA against PARK7/DJ-1. Evaluation of cell migration and proliferation was performed using the xCELLigence real-time cell analyzer (RTCA). The effect of DJ-1 inhibition on the PTEN-Akt signaling pathway was also studied by immunoblotting.

Results:

The silencing of PARK7/DJ-1 oncoprotein expression produced a significant decrease of phosphorylated Akt (S473) in Mel270 and in metastatic OMM2.5 UM cells with no alteration on tumor suppressor PTEN expression. The diminution of PARK7/DJ-1 expression significantly inhibited real-time proliferation and invasion of Mel270 and OMM2.5 and the invasion potential of the metastatic cells.

Conclusion:

DJ-1 appears to play a key role on the PTEN/Akt pathway in UM. DJ-1 inhibition appears to have a negative effect on proliferation and invasion of UM cells. This suggests DJ-1 as a potential therapeutic target in UM.
The molecular tumor board: a tool for the governance of precision oncology in the real world
Authors: Incorvaia Lorena , Russo Antonio , Cinieri Saverio
Published: December 2021

Clinical oncology is going through a period of profound change. Targeted therapy, and more recently immunotherapy, have revolutionized the natural history and outcomes of many solid tumors. Clinical oncology is now indissoluble from molecular oncology, a rapidly evolving field. This profound transformation is the rationale for molecular tumor board (MTB) implementation. MTBs represent a resource for the development of precision oncology and clinical practice implementation is a complex and important challenge for the future of clinical and molecular oncology. Economic sustainability of genomic tests, access to drugs or clinical trials according to the MTB recommendation, and expanded use of existing anticancer drugs are required for MTBs to become a useful tool for the governance of precision oncology in the real world. This is an ongoing process, with establishment of MTBs the first step. Continuing to work in collaboration with scientific societies, MTBs are poised to become a homogeneous and well-structured reality that can make the care pathway of the patient with cancer more efficient, with the ultimate goal to offer personalized therapy based on the most advanced scientific knowledge.
Gravity Influences How We Expect a Cursor to Move
Authors: Brenner Eli , Houben Milan , Schukking Ties , Crowe Emily M.
Published: December 2021

We expect a cursor to move upwards when we push our computer mouse away. Do we expect it to move upwards on the screen, upwards with respect to our body, or upwards with respect to gravity? To find out, we asked participants to perform a simple task that involved guiding a cursor with a mouse. It took participants that were sitting upright longer to reach targets with the cursor if the screen was tilted, so not only directions on the screen are relevant. Tilted participants’ performance was indistinguishable from that of upright participants when the screen was tilted slightly in the same direction. Thus, the screen's orientation with respect to both the body and gravity are relevant. Considering published estimates of the ocular counter-roll induced by head tilt, it is possible that participants actually expect the cursor to move in a certain direction on their retina.
Faculty Perceptions of Mattering in Teaching and Learning: A Qualitative Examination of the Views, Values, and Teaching Practices of Award-Winning Professors
Authors: Pychyl Timothy A. , Flett Gordon L. , Long Mallory , Carreiro Elizabeth , Azil Rafik
Published: December 2021

We summarize qualitative research conducted on the mattering construct and then describe a qualitative investigation focused on mattering as a key aspect of the relational factors which influence the learning and development of students. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 professors recognized for their teaching excellence. Specifically, we assessed professors’ attitudes towards student perceptions of mattering and awareness of mattering in terms of their own self-reported beliefs, attitudes, and teaching practices that convey to students that they matter. Thematic analysis confirmed that almost all the award-winning professors interviewed recognized students’ need to matter and found effective ways to convey to students that they matter. These professors tended to be more similar than different in their approaches and attitudes. Key themes included the need for professors to show students they care about them as students and as people, seeing and treating students as individuals who are collaborators in the learning process, and the need to avoid anti-mattering micro-practices that can result in students becoming disengaged and disillusioned. We discuss these findings in terms of how an explicit focus on mattering promotion is warranted as a central attribute of effective teaching and learning, how the current findings enhance understanding of the mattering construct and how it should be assessed.
A novel method for providing scaffold: Decellularization of parathyroid capsule
Authors: Büyük Nisa İrem , Tüfekçi Kardelen , Cumbul Alev , Ayşan Erhan , Torun Köse Gamze
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to generate a novel biomatrix from the decellularized human parathyroid capsule using different methods and to compare the efficiency of decellularization in the means of cell removal, structural integrity and extracellular matrix preservation. The parathyroid capsules, which were carefully dissected from the parathyroid tissue, were randomly divided into four groups and then decellularized using three different protocols: freeze-thaw only, sodium dodecyl sulphate and Triton X-100 treatments after freeze-thawing. Quantitative DNA analysis, agarose gel electrophoresis, sulphated glycosaminoglycan assay, histological analysis, immunohistochemistry and scanning electron microscopy were used to observe the efficiency of parathyroid capsule decellularization and preservation of extracellular matrix components. Considering all the results, it can be said that only freeze-thawing is not an effective method in parathyroid capsule decellularization. When the tissue was treated with a detergent agent in addition to freeze-thawing, the amount of DNA decreased by 90% while sulphated glycosaminoglycan amount maintained 50% compared to untreated tissue. Comparing the effects of the two detergents on the preservation of extracellular matrix such as collagen and sulphated glycosaminoglycan, it was seen that the integrity of tissues treated with Triton X-100 was preserved more than tissues treated with sodium dodecyl sulphate. It is concluded that Triton X-100 treatment with freeze-thawing is the most suitable and effective method for decellularizing the human parathyroid capsule. The biomatrix obtained with this method can be applied in the transplantation of parathyroid tissue and other endocrine tissue types in the body.
Standing Intraoral Extraction of the Right Mandibular Third Molar Tooth in a Cow Utilizing Tooth Sectioning
Authors: Amitrano Fernando N. , Shaw Kelly , De Gasperi Diego , Henry Travis , Brounts Sabrina H.
Published: December 2021

A 2-year-old Holstein heifer presented to a university teaching hospital with an apical tooth infection of the right mandibular third molar. A standing oral extraction technique was attempted for tooth removal; however, the molar could not be delivered intact. A tooth sectioning technique was performed, and the affected molar was successfully delivered. Three months postextraction, the heifer had fully recovered, and the extraction site had healed. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first description of a tooth extraction in a cow using a tooth sectioning technique. This case describes an alternative technique for tooth removal in cattle with an apical tooth infection. The clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features of this case may be helpful to clinicians when they approach similar cases in the future.