bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Complete Blood Cell Count Parameters in the Diagnosis of Threatened Preterm Labor and Premature Rupture of Membranes
Authors: Eriç Horasanlı Jule , Alp Elifsena Canan , Bülbül Ramazan
Published: May 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between systemic inflammatory markers such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte monocyte ratio (LMR), threatened preterm labor (TPL), and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), using complete blood cell count (CBC) parameters. Method: The study was carried out prospectively with patients admitted to our university hospital due to preterm labor and at risk of PPROM. The cases were divided into three groups according to their pregnancy status. Group 1 consisted of 90 patients with PPROM between 24th and 36th gestational weeks; group 2, 115 patients diagnosed with TPL between 24th and 36th gestational weeks; group 3, 101 patients over 36 weeks of gestation (control) who were not in labor. In addition to the demographic data of the patients, CBC parameters (white blood cell (WBC), Hg, Hct, Plt, lymphocyte, monocyte, mean platelet volume, PLR, LMR, and NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) values were examined and compared in each of the three groups. Results: CRP and WBC values of group 1 (PPROM) were higher than group 2 (TPL) and group 3 (control) (p < 0.05 for both). Pearson correlation between the gestational age and PLR and NLR values was significant (r and p values for PLR and NLR, respectively, r = −0.18, p < 0.001; r = −0.23, p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the groups regarding PLR, NLR, LMR, platelet, monocytes, and lymphocyte counts. Conclusions: Only WBC was a valuable parameter in predicting preterm labor and PPROM. Although there was no significant difference between the groups in PLR and NLR, a negative correlation was found with gestational age at delivery. CRP value is still a helpful parameter in PPROM and TPL prediction.
Chloride and Cardiorenal Interactions in Heart Failure
Authors: Kazory Amir
Published: May 2022

The cardiorenal literature has long been dominated by a sodium-centric view. However, mechanisms affecting sodium homeostasis in patients with heart failure (HF) commonly lead to concurrent changes in the serum levels of chloride as well. There is a growing body of evidence on a strong link between low serum chloride levels and adverse outcomes in HF, which might be even more potent than that of sodium. Maladaptive neurohormonal activation and unresponsiveness to diuretics have been proposed as potential mechanisms to explain this phenomenon. In parallel with accumulating evidence on the predictive value of chloride in various HF populations, the limited available interventional studies that were aimed at increasing serum chloride levels have also shown promising results. Ongoing studies are designed to elucidate the role of chloride as a key cardiorenal connector and whether hypochloremia represents a modifiable risk factor (i.e., target of therapy) or a mere marker of disease severity and poor prognosis.
A Case of Birdshot Chorioretinopathy following Varicella Zoster Virus-Induced Progressive Retinal Necrosis in the Contralateral Eye
Authors: Fukushima Atsuki , Nagasawa Toshihiko , Tabuchi Hitoshi
Published: May 2022

Birdshot chorioretinopathy is an immune-mediated ocular inflammatory disease of the retina. We report a case of birdshot chorioretinopathy in one eye following progressive retinal necrosis caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) in the contralateral eye. A 79-year-old female patient complained of decreased vision due to anterior chamber inflammation and vitreous opacity in the left eye starting 10 days earlier. Acute retinal necrosis was suspected and polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed using the anterior chamber aqueous. VZV DNA was detected, and antiviral drugs and steroids were systemically administered together with local therapy. As retinal necrotic changes and retinal detachment gradually developed, vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade were performed. Despite these procedures, retinal necrosis gradually progressed. Eventually, extensive retinochoroidal atrophy resembling progressive outer retinal necrosis was observed. Two years and 4 months after onset, anterior chamber inflammation and white spots of the retina started to appear in the right eye. The number of white spots gradually increased all around the retina, regardless of systemic treatment with acyclovir and prednisolone. The fundus findings seemed consistent with birdshot chorioretinopathy. Diseases exhibiting white dots in the retina, such as sarcoidosis, were excluded. Ss-OCT examination revealed destruction of the layer structure mainly in the outer layers of the retina and a section of a white dot revealed that the retina appeared to be pulled into the RPE. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of birdshot chorioretinopathy in one eye after the onset of VZV-induced retinal necrosis in the contralateral eye.
Autoimmune Retinopathy Caused by Anti-Paraneoplastic Antigen MA2: A Case Study
Authors: Fukushima Atsuki , Tabuchi Hitoshi
Published: May 2022

Autoimmune retinopathy is a cause of unexplained visual impairment and visual field impairment, which are often related with life-threatening cancers. Here, we report a case of autoimmune retinopathy positive for anti-paraneoplastic antigen MA2 (PNMA2) antibody in serum. Visual acuity and field were impaired, and OCT and ERG were performed. No abnormalities were observed in OCT, but a marked decrease in pyramidal response was observed in ERG. Paraneoplastic antigen-related antibodies in the serum were tested, and PNMA2 was positive. Systemic evaluation to search for the presence of cancer was conducted by specialists treating cancer. However, cancers were not detected, but bladder and prostate cancer were identified 3 years later, and anti-PNMA2 antibodies were again positive in the serum. Although there have been no reports on PNMA2-related retinopathy, the possibility of the paraneoplastic syndrome should be kept in mind when retinopathy of unknown cause is observed.
Acute Paronychia and Onychomadesis after a “Russian” Manicure: A New, Aggressive, and Destructive Form of Manicure for Dermatologists to Recognize
Authors: Milbar Heather C. , Forrestel Amy K. , Rubin Adam Ian
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Cuticle reduction and removal techniques are commonly performed by nail technicians for nail cosmesis. However, manipulation of the nail cuticle can lead to localized infection and nail dystrophy. Case Presentation: In this case, a 20-year-old woman from the Philadelphia area in the USA presented with onychomadesis secondary to acute paronychia following a “Russian” manicure. In this technique, an electronic filer is used to completely remove the cuticle, leaving the proximal nail fold exposed and vulnerable. Conclusion: As this style of manicure is being inaccurately publicized as safe, it is important that dermatologists are aware of this technique and educate our patients about its potential for harm.
Endometriumkarzinom: Neue Option für schwierige Therapiesituation
Authors: Pölcher Martin
Published: May 2022

In die hier kommentierte Phase-III-Studie wurden Patienten mit fortgeschrittenem Endometriumkarzinom eingeschlossen. Die Patienten hatten zuvor mindesten eine platinbasierte Chemotherapie erhalten. Insgesamt 827 Patienten (697 mit pMMR-Krankheit und 130 mit Mismatch-Reparatur-defizienter Krankheit) wurden in zwei Arme randomisiert. Entweder erhielten die Patienten Lenvatinib plus Pembrolizumab (411 Patienten) oder Chemotherapie (416 Patienten). Das mediane progressionsfreie Überleben war mit Lenvatinib plus Pembrolizumab länger als mit Chemotherapie (pMMR-Population: 6,6 vs. 3,8 Monate; Hazard Ratio für Progression oder Tod, 0,60; 95% Konfidenzintervall [CI], 0,50 bis 0,72; P<0,001; insgesamt: 7,2 vs. 3,8 Monate; Hazard Ratio, 0,56; 95% CI, 0,47 bis 0,66; P<0,001). Das mediane Gesamtüberleben war mit Lenvatinib plus Pembrolizumab länger als mit Chemotherapie (pMMR-Population: 17,4 vs. 12,0 Monate; Hazard Ratio für Tod, 0,68; 95% CI, 0,56 bis 0,84; P<0,001; Gesamtüberleben: 18,3 vs. 11,4 Monate; Hazard Ratio, 0,62; 95% CI, 0,51 bis 0,75; P<0,001). Unerwünschte Ereignisse vom Grad 3 oder höher traten bei 88,9 % der Patienten auf, die Lenvatinib plus Pembrolizumab erhielten, und bei 72,7 % der Patienten, die eine Chemotherapie erhielten. Lenvatinib plus Pembrolizumab führte bei Patientinnen mit fortgeschrittenem Endometriumkarzinom zu einem signifikant längeren progressionsfreien Überleben und Gesamtüberleben als die Chemotherapie.
Epileptiform Events and Kainate Receptor Activity Changes Considerably during Entorhinal Cortex Development: An ex vivo Study
Authors: Májer Tímea , Szádeczky-Kardoss Katalin , Borbély Sándor , Szűcs Attila , Világi Ildikó
Published: May 2022

Epilepsy is a commonly diagnosed neurological disease, which often develops already in childhood. The prominent feature of this dysfunction is the strong, unprovoked hypersynchronous neuronal activity of the brain, especially in the cortex, which appears in recurrent seizures. Previous studies indicated a potential modulatory role of kainate types of glutamate receptors in this mechanism. In our experiments, we used combined hippocampal-entorhinal rat brain slices of different ages. Developing (2-, 3-, and 4-week-old), adolescent (6-week-old), and adult (3-month-old) groups were investigated. During the experiments, first, we provoked convulsions with magnesium-free perfusion solution; then, to investigate the role of kainate receptors, seizure-like events (SLEs) were suppressed by applying a specific GluK1/2 antagonist (UBP-296). Neuronal network activity was recorded by a multi-electrode array chip, and temporal features of field potentials and single-cell activity were analyzed in the different age-groups. The frequency, duration of spontaneous events, the overall seizure characteristics, and spike activities were compared. Spontaneous events were categorized into interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and SLEs on the basis of the temporal structure of activities. In 3- and 4-week-old animals, IEDs were observable, which entirely disappeared after the 4th week. The structure and the length of SLEs varied in the younger animals (3- and 4-week-old animals); however, after the 6th week, these events became more stabilized. In most groups, the count of detected spikes was significantly higher in layer II/III than in layer V. The neuronal networks started to behave like adult ones at 4 weeks of age. The length of events decreased in adult animals due to the maturation of the network, and the inhibition becomes stronger. The IEDs disappeared completely, and the SLEs became stable and stereotypic in 6-week-old animals. UBP-296 administration reduced the number of IEDs; however, this had no substantial effect on the SLEs.
Moyamoya Syndrome in a Patient with Williams Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Akimoto Taisuke , Suenaga Jun , Hayashi Tomoko , Hirokawa Daisuke , Ito Susumu , Sato Hironobu , Yamamoto Tetsuya
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Moyamoya syndrome associated with Williams syndrome is very rare but has been reported to have severe outcomes. Here, we reported a case of Williams syndrome with moyamoya syndrome that was confirmed by the presence of an RNF213 mutation. Case Presentation: A 6-year-old boy with Williams syndrome presented with right hemiparesis induced by hyperventilation. Magnetic resonance angiography and cerebral angiography showed severe stenosis of the bilateral internal carotid arteries and development of moyamoya vessels. Genetic analysis identified a heterozygous c.14576G>A (p.R4859K) mutation in RNF213. Moyamoya syndrome was diagnosed, and bilateral indirect revascularization surgery was conducted without complications and with a good postoperative course. In moyamoya syndrome associated with Williams syndrome, adequate perioperative management of both the moyamoya arteries and the cardiovascular abnormalities is important to prevent complications. Conclusion: This was the first report on a case in which moyamoya syndrome associated with Williams syndrome was confirmed by the presence of a heterozygous RNF213 mutation. Similar to the workup of moyamoya disease, confirmation of RNF213 mutation in Williams syndrome may be useful in predicting the development of moyamoya syndrome that can lead to severe complications.
Weight Gain in Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Protective Effect of Lifestyle Intervention in Children with Obesity
Authors: Lubrecht Judith , Arayess Lisanne , Reijnders Dorien , Hesselink Marijn Lotte , Velde Gabrielle ten , Janse Arieke , von Rosenstiel Ines , van Mil Edgar G.A.H. , Verweij Marjoke , Vreugdenhil Anita C.E.
Published: May 2022

Introduction: School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic affect children’s daily structure, mealtimes, physical activity, and sleeping habits, possibly exacerbating weight gain, particularly in vulnerable children with overweight and obesity. This study aimed to evaluate both perceived and objectively measured weight gain in children in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of prior lifestyle intervention. Methods: A total of 150 children of the Children, Obesity and Lifestyle during COVID-19 (COLC) study (cohort A) reported perceptions of weight change during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anthropometric data of 65 children with overweight and obesity were collected at the expertise Centre for Overweight Adolescent and Children’s Healthcare in the same period (COACH; cohort B). Results: In cohort A, 43% of children with overweight and obesity perceived weight gain during the pandemic, compared to 15% of lean children. In cohort B, the BMI z-score increased significantly (+0.065 SD) within 5 months. Participation in a lifestyle intervention for >1 year and having parents with Dutch background was associated with less weight gain, specifically in children with obesity. Discussion/Conclusion: In particular, children with overweight and obesity seem to be at risk for accelerated weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior long-term participation in a lifestyle intervention protects against this weight gain, which emphasizes the importance of strong support for vulnerable populations during health crises and pleads for wide implementation of lifestyle interventions for children.
A novel metaheuristic approach for control of SEPIC converter in a standalone PV system
Authors: Sankaralingam Dheeban Sembulingam , Natarajan Muthu Selvan Balasubramanian , Muthusamy Maheswari , Singh Sarojini Bagavath
Published: May 2022

Fossil fuels are being replaced by renewables. Most of the renewables are intermittent, to have reliable power the renewables have to be conditioned before injecting into the utility grid. The DC-DC converters are perfect power electronic devices for conditioning the renewables. The single ended primary inductor converter (SEPIC) performs the conditioning with a very high voltage transfer gain and minimum ripples. The maximum power extraction from the PV panels is required for providing good quality DC power. Intelligent controllers can make use of optimization techniques. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique can optimize the controller to extract the maximum power. The SEPIC converter duty variation is optimized and a comparative analysis with the Buck-Boost converter is done in a MATLAB/Simulink environment. The proposed SEPIC converter system performed well by improving the power tracking by 40% and the system has been analysed in a battery charging environment.
Joule heating estimation of photovoltaic module through cells temperature measurement
Authors: Yandri Erkata , Hagino Naoto
Published: May 2022

Module temperature has a role in determining a PV module's performance. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the Joule heating in a photovoltaic (PV) module by comparing during PV-On (electricity generation) and PV-Off (without electricity generation). Joule heating was less evaluated due to simplifying formulation, which is easier to implement in experimental observation as proposed in this work. The experiment collected the temperature distributions of the PV module during PV-On and PV-Off. PV module temperature distribution follows the normal distribution curve as the irradiation uniformity pattern of the solar simulator has a slight ≤0.3 oC difference between PV-On and PV-Off. Joule heating slightly increased the PV module temperature by 0.53 K/A, proportional to the irradiances. Joule heating has increased almost seven times from 2.65 W at 700 W/m2 to 18.07 W at 1000 W/m2. Joule heating might slightly increase the overall thermal conductivity and slightly decrease the thermal resistances. It might affect the heat transfer. This research may improve the procedures prediction of PV or photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collector temperature by considering Joule heating.
An algorithm to extract the maximum power from the PV-based generation systems under non-uniform weather
Authors: Smadi Issam A. , AL-Ramaden Ahmad
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a fast and simple algorithm to extract the maximum power under non-uniform weather from the photovoltaic (PV) based generation systems. The proposed algorithm’s three stages are the scanning stage, the tracking stage, the detecting and avoiding the hidden points stage. The hidden points are caused by a transition between the global maximum power point (GMPP) and a local maximum power point (LMPP) when the partial shading conditions (PSCs) are changed. This transition cannot be observed by monitoring only the power difference of the PV generation system. Simulation results with comparisons to other algorithms developed for global maximum power point tracking (GMPPT) under PSCs are provided to clarify and show the effectiveness of the proposed GMPPT algorithm. The average tracking speed of the proposed algorithm is two times faster than the compared MPPT algorithms, with about 2% more power generated with no additional cost. Moreover, the proposed GMPPT algorithm is implemented in real-time using National Instruments (NI) CompactRIO in field-programmable gate array (FPGA) mode to confirm the applicability of the proposed work.
Modeling of wind turbine based on dual DFIG generators
Authors: Mahroug Rabiaa , Matallah Mohamed , Abudura Salam
Published: May 2022

In order to investigate a viable approach to fully exploit the wind speed, the present work investigates the application of a novel wind turbine consisting of dual doubly-fed induction generators (DFIG). The model can be further used to apply in areas where the winds are high to achieve high conversion efficiency in order to produce large electric power and increase the wind turbine capacity with an economy of hardware on the one hand, and to reduce the installation cost on the other. Furthermore, this model is always guarantees the continuity of power production because if one generator fails, the second generator will keep working until the broken one is repaired. The proposed model of the wind turbine based on dual doubly-fed induction generators (WT-dual-DFIG) were using the indirect field-oriented control (IFOC) was validated by wind turbine based on single doubly-fed induction generator (WT-single-DFIG) in MATLAB/Simulink. The results of simulation show that the simulated responses of the WT-dual-DFIG increased the power by a factor of about 14.3% compared to a WT-single-DFIG due to the use of a variable speed dual-DFIG. Finally, we can say that the WT-dual-DFIG model is strongly developed and could be applied in the coming years.
Artificial neural network based DC-DC converter for grid connected transformerless PV system
Authors: Gurram Janardhan , Babu Nukala Surendra , Srinivas Gondlala Narsaiah
Published: May 2022

The transformerless photo voltaic (PV) inverter system connected to grid has created a new trend in the energy market due to its reduced space requirement, low cost and increased efficiency when compared to its counterpart i.e with transformer. Transformerless inverter system suffers from common mode leakage currents due to parasitic capacitances between PV panels and ground. However, different new inverter topologies and state of the art modulation strategies are proposed in the literature to counter it. A dc-dc converter is of more significant to maintain the constant PV output voltage at string level and extract maximum power from PV. This paper presents Artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm-based dc-dc converter to track maximum power from PV module connected to grid without transformer. It also compares the performance of ANN based algorithm with conventional perturb and Observe maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique. MATLAB/Simulink environment is used to pursue the simulation of ANN based algorithm and analyses its performance for variety of irradiance levels.
Attenuation of voltage sags effects and dynamic performance improvement of a multi-motor system
Authors: Mounir Bensaid , Ba-Razzouk Abdellfattah , Elharoussi Mustapha , Rached Bouchaib
Published: May 2022

In many continuous manufacturing processes such as paper, textile, winding and plastic extrusion, electric drives are frequently required to work in synchronization, often with high tolerances to ensure uniform product quality and avoid failure of the product. In a multi-motor system (MMS), voltage dips are the most common cause of the motor stoppage, and the transient loss of synchronism between motors can result in a complete system shutdown. This paper proposes a multi-motor system controlled by a Backstepping strategy to ensure servo-control and synchronization of induction motors. This technique includes indirect rotor field-oriented control (IRFOC), linear speed control, and mechanical tension control, of induction motors. Investigations of symmetrical voltage sag effects on speed, torque, and mechanical tension are also carried out. Simulation results obtained using Matlab®/SimulinkTM/SimPowerSystems® are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed control strategy.
Temas Específicos
Authors: Schaden Egon
Published: May 2022

Capítulo XI: Movimentos messiânicos e reações anti aculturativas; Capítulo XII: Observações sobre fatores, tendências e fases da aculturação; Capítulo XIII: Algumas consequências dos estudos de aculturação para o planejamento da política Indigenista
Resumo e Conclusão
Authors: Schaden Egon
Published: May 2022

Resumo e conclusão do ensaio publicado.
Effects of soil texture and moisture on the host searching abilities of Steinernema siamkayai against Bactrocera latifrons
Authors: Ta-oun Puping , Ehlers Ralf-Udo , Nimkingrat Prakaijan
Published: May 2022

Soil texture and moisture have significant effects on the infectivity and persistence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN). Both EPN and chili fruit flies (Bactrocera latifrons) spend most of their lifetime in soil, therefore making it possible to consider the successful use of EPN against chili fruit flies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of soil texture and moisture contents on chili fruit fly pupation and adult emergence, and on the infectivity of the EPN, Steinernema siamkayai, against this pest. The results revealed that the highest percentage of pupation occurred at a depth of 2 cm in all soil types. At a depth of 5 cm in the sandy clay loam only, no pupation of B. latifrons was observed. The adult emergence ranged from 51.9 to 82.5%, with significant differences between soil types. The horizontal movement of S. siamkayai showed that the concentration of EPN at a rate of 20 000 dauer juveniles pupa−1 yielded maximum pupae mortality (77.5-91.3%) in all soil types containing 15% moisture. In the vertical displacement test, S. siamkayai was capable of killing pupae up to a distance of 15 cm in all soil types. These results confirmed the potential of S. siamkayai to be used within pest control programmes of various soil textures, as long as the soil moisture contents allow its dispersal and host infection.
Lost and Gone: A Representational Study of Bronze Ornaments in the Ancient Dian Kingdom, China
Authors: Wu Liancai , Zhu Peng , Tian Yu , Lin Haitao
Published: May 2022

Amidst its diverse prehistoric civilizations, the Shizhaishan culture has provided evidence concerning the lives the ancient Dian people more than 2,000 years ago with its vivid and figurative excavated artifacts exhibiting exquisite craftsmanship and varied forms. One of the artifacts unearthed from Tomb M6, the “Golden Seal of the King of Dian,” matches exactly with descriptions in the Historical Records, serving as the only domestic case in which the “the dual evidence method” of historical research has been applied. Bronze ornaments embodying the sophistication of Bronze Age civilization in the Dian Kingdom have been excavated from this and subsequent large tombs, the cultural interaction between Dian and the Bronze Age plaques of the Scythians on the Eurasian steppe and the North System implies exchange between different prehistoric civilizations an issue that is still source of current academic debate. This paper provides an iconographic study of the Dian Kingdom bronze ornaments through the study of decorative motifs, inlaid materials, and the casting and gilding techniques. In this respect, we explore social production in the Dian Kingdom and contact between the civilizations of the East and the West across the “golden latitude” and connected by the “Southern Silk Road.” Our paper concludes that Bronze Ornaments are the concrete embodiment of the Ancient Chinese South-west highland and Western civilization in terms of the integration in the integration Dian culture. Therefore, this subject of is great value in terms of our understanding of both regional prehistory and cultural development.
Governing Migration and Asylum Amid Covid-19 and Legal Precarity in Turkey
Authors: Ozkul Derya
Published: May 2022

Legal status and associated rights to access state services become even more important at times of crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. By reviewing legal amendments, central government and municipalities’ policies and policymakers’ statements, this article examines the example of Turkey, which is home to around 4 million undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. The Turkish state-provided Covid-19 treatment in the ‘emergency’ scope of healthcare for all residents irrespective of their legal status. However, structural problems left undocumented migrants and refugees faced with three significant obstacles. These obstacles were the requirement to test positive for Covid-19; the requirement to access primary healthcare to be referred to hospitals and to reside in the city of registration to access that primary healthcare; and the fear of losing employment, being evicted from housing or being deported by the authorities. Additionally, growing political uncertainty and a deteriorating economic situation have contributed to growing anti-migrant movements in the country. Not only have undocumented migrants and refugees had limited access to public health provisions, but they were also at greater risk of being considered to be a threat to public health and public security. The article concludes by showing that legal precarity brings even more vulnerability at times of crisis and by suggesting future areas of research.
Investigating the Crossmodal Influence of Odour on the Visual Perception of Facial Attractiveness and Age
Authors: Chen Yi-Chuan , Spence Charles
Published: May 2022

We report two experiments designed to investigate whether the presentation of a range of pleasant fragrances, containing both floral and fruity notes, would modulate people’s judgements of the facial attractiveness (Experiment 1) and age (Experiment 2) of a selection of typical female faces varying in age in the range 20–69 years. In Experiment 1, male participants rated the female faces as less attractive when presented with an unpleasant fragrance compared to clean air. The rated attractiveness of the female faces was lower when the participants rated the unpleasant odour as having a lower attractiveness and pleasantness, and a higher intensity. In Experiment 2, both male and female participants rated the age of female faces while presented with one of four pleasant fragrances or clean air as a control. Only the female participants demonstrated a crossmodal effect, with the pleasant fragrances inducing an older rating for female faces in the 40–49-years-old age range, whereas a younger rating was documented for female faces in the 60–69-years-old age range. Taken together, these results are consistent with the view that while the valence of fragrance (pleasant versus unpleasant) exerts a robust crossmodal influence over judgements of facial attractiveness, the effects of pleasant fragrance on judgements of a person’s age appear to be less reliable. One possible explanation for the differing effect of scent in the two cases relates to the fact that attractiveness judgements are more subjective, hedonic, and/or intuitive than age ratings which are more objective, cognitive-mediated, and/or analytic in nature.
The Suitability and Characteristics Analysis of Key Science Inquiry Activities in the 2015 National Science Curriculum in Korea
Authors: Son Mi Hyun , Lim Wanchul , Son Jeongwoo , Jeong Dae Hong
Published: May 2022

The suitability and characteristics of middle school inquiry activities in the 2015 National Curriculum of Science in Korea were studied from the perspective of eight science teachers with rich experience in teaching science inquiry activities. In-depth interviews revealed problems teachers experienced while conducting inquiry classes. Problems were classified into five categories: inquiry level, method, tool, inquiry result, difficulty in guidance, and safety. Based on this analysis, strategies for an inquiry improvement plan are suggested, including that quantitative inquiry requiring numerical interpretation of data obtained from the process of inquiry should be emphasized. Concrete guidance of inquiries should be provided for non-major science teachers to help them instruct inquiries more easily. Institutional improvement is needed to develop curriculum activities and the improvement of science lab and classroom environments are necessary for conducting inquiry activities utilizing technology. The results of this study can contribute to the development of science inquiry activity programs.
The Definition and Mechanisms of Condensation (Takṯīf) in Modern Arabic Poetry. Muqāṭaʿa by Ḫalīl Muṭrān and Raʾs by Sinān Anṭūn as Examples
Authors: Sliman-Baraky Rawand
Published: May 2022

This article examines the term “condensation” (takṯīf) and its presence in Arabic poetry. It explains the meaning and importance of the term as well as its relation to the specific meanings poets seek to convey in the text. The study then searches for the mechanisms that create textual condensation, whose ratio is determined by condensation’s very presence in any given text. As a result of this study, this article will determine the factors that strengthen or weaken textual condensation in Arabic poetry.

To clarify how the mechanisms of condensation are employed in poems and how these mechanisms contribute to the meaning that we draw as readers of particular poems, we will apply our theoretical knowledge to two poems from two different periods. To obviate the effect of text length on condensation, we have chosen poems which contain a similar number of words: Muqāṭaʿa by Ḫalīl Muṭrān (1872–1949) and Raʾs by Sinān Anṭūn (born 1967). Our analysis will then determine which poem is more condensed and the reasons behind that condensation.
Conflicting signals in phylogenetic relationships and taxonomy of Anatolian endemic Silene sordida (Caryophyllaceae)
Authors: TOPRAK ZEYNEP , YILDIZ KEMAL
Published: May 2022

Silene sordida is a Southwest Anatolian endemic that shows highly contradicting signals regarding its actual classification. Using morphological, molecular, and palynological data we here investigate phylogeny and taxonomy of S. sordida. Morphological and palynological features of S. sordida are compared to the species known as very closely related to S. sordida. In addition, we generated DNA sequences of three nuclear and one plastid loci from S. sordida and some allied species belonging to several sections and analyzed these data together with the available sequence data of corresponding taxa. Our findings strongly support the unrelatedness of S. sordida with the section Atocion. The relationship between S. sordida and the section Cryptoneurae and S. odontopetala remains unstable among the four loci analyzed. Both morphological and molecular evidence suggest the recognition of a new monotypic section (here named “Sordidae”).
The Persistence of Rural Underdevelopment: Evidence from Land Reform in Italy
Authors: Albertus Michael
Published: May 2022

Patchiness in rural development remains a salient feature of many developed and developing countries that have struggled historically to overcome enormous national disparities in economic structure and well-being. This paper examines how one major, explicit rural policy ostensibly aimed at rural advancement—land reform—can impact uneven development in the countryside. It does so in Italy, where a major land reform redistributed large landholdings to individual peasant families after World War II. Based on original fine-grained data on land redistribution and a geographical regression discontinuity analysis that takes advantage of Italy’s zonal land reform approach, I find that greater land reform fueled comparative underdevelopment and precarity locally over the long term. Several related mechanisms delayed development in land reform zones: a slower transition out of agriculture, lower labor mobility, and an aging demographic. These are generalizable mechanisms that could operate in other cases of land reform beyond Italy.
Hybrid transnational social protection: The role of religious institutions and networks
Authors: Levitt Peggy
Published: May 2022

More and more people live, study, work, and retire in countries where they are not full citizens. How do they protect and provide for themselves and their families when they live for extended periods outside the places where they have citizenship rights? In this talk, I offer a framework for understanding hybrid transnational social protection developed in a forthcoming book with my colleagues Erica Dobbs, Ken Sun, and Ruxandra Paul. We argue that mobile people create resource environments that span national borders with supports they purchase through the market, obtain from the public sector, from communities, and from their social networks. I focus here on the role of religious institutions and networks as transnational social welfare providers. I draw, in particular, on research conducted with Breda Gray on the role of the Catholic Church in Italy, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Do national policies for complaint handling in English hospitals support quality improvement? Lessons from a case study
Authors: van Dael J , Reader TW , Gillespie AT , Freise L , Darzi A , Mayer EK
Published: May 2022

Objectives

A range of public inquiries in the English National Health Service have indicated repeating failings in complaint handling, and patients are often left dissatisfied. The complex, bureaucratic nature of complaints systems is often cited as an obstacle to meaningful investigation and learning, but a detailed examination of how such bureaucratic rules, regulations, and infrastructure shape complaint handling, and where change is most needed, remains relatively unexplored. We sought to examine how national policies structure local practices of complaint handling, how they are understood by those responsible for enacting them, and if there are any discrepancies between policies-as-intended and their reality in local practice.

Design

Case study involving staff interviews and documentary analysis.

Setting

A large acute and multi-site NHS Trust in England.

Participants

Clinical, managerial, complaints, and patient advocacy staff involved in complaint handling at the participating NHS Trust ( n=20).

Main outcome measures

Not applicable.

Results

Findings illustrate four areas of practice where national policies and regulations can have adverse consequences within local practices, and partly function to undermine an improvement-focused approach to complaints. These include muddled routes for raising formal complaints, investigative procedures structured to scrutinize the ‘validity’ of complaints, futile data collection systems, and adverse incentives and workarounds resulting from bureaucratic performance targets.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates how national policies and regulations for complaint handling can impede, rather than promote, quality improvement in local settings. Accordingly, we propose a number of necessary reforms, including patient involvement in complaints investigations, the establishment of independent investigation bodies, and more meaningful data analysis strategies to uncover and address systemic causes behind recurring complaints.
Letter to the Editor Regarding Eosinophilic Otitis Media
Authors: Hurst David S. , Gordon Bruce , McDaniel Alan B. , Saporta Diego
Published: May 2022

We commend Varghese et al. for “mandating a different outlook” in their recent article on eosinophilic otitis media (EOM). Their statements are supported by medical literature dating back to 1931, reported by Proetz, Shambaugh, Zhang, Draper, Doyle, Pelikan, Ojala, McMahan, Tomonaga, Nsouli, Lasisi, Nguyen, Tian, Sobol, Smirnova, Shim, Smirnova, Luong, and ourselves. Allergy causes EOM and it responds to immunotherapy.
Traumatic Stapes Luxation into the Vestibule
Authors: Lee Jeon Mi , Lee Hyun Jin
Published: May 2022

We report a rare case of traumatic stapes luxation into the vestibule. A 31-year-old female visited an emergency room with sudden onset of vertigo and conductive hearing loss after accidental penetrating injury to the right ear. Temporal bone computed tomography detected pneumolabyrinth, with a shade of whole intact stapes in the vestibule. Under exploratory tympanotomy, we observed a separated incudostapedial joint, and the stapes was depressed into the vestibule. The stapes was pulled out to the middle ear, and stapedectomy was performed; the crus were cut, the suprastructure was removed, and the fractured footplate and the long process of the incus were connected with a piston wire. The stapes footplate was sealed with soft tissue and surgical glue. Vertigo rapidly subsided after surgery, and hearing was improved to normal range. However, hearing loss at high frequencies was not recovered, probably because of inner ear damage due to the stapes depressed into the vestibule or surgical manipulation within the vestibule. Traumatic ossicular dislocation is not an uncommon occurrence in otolaryngologic practice, but stapes luxation is rare. Here, we report a rare case with successful repair. This report could serve as a basis for proper treatment in similar cases in the future.
Unusual Neurological Manifestation of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in an Adult
Authors: Achour Imen , Kharrat Ines , Hbaieb Youssef , Ben Ayed Mariam , Mnejja Malek , Hammami Bouthaina , Souissi Basma , Charfeddine Ilhem
Published: May 2022

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis is a rare disorder characterized by an abnormal proliferation of Langerhans cells in one or multiple organs. It rarely presents with a central vestibular involvement. We report a case of a multisystem Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis with mucosal, hepatic, and neurological involvement, presenting with dizziness and balance disorders. A 39-year-old woman with a histopathologically confirmed mucosal palatal Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis presented with a history of dizziness for a year. Vestibular examination revealed a saccadic eyes pursuit, an up beating spontaneous nystagmus, a bilateral gaze nystagmus and a prolonged positional nystagmus, in the supine roll test. Pure tone audiometry showed a slight left sensorineural hearing loss at the 8000 Hz frequency. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a bilateral maxillary sinus fullness and a peripheral osteosclerosis of the surrounding bony walls. Hepatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a typical hepatic involvement with a hepatomegaly with countless cysts. Temporal bone CT scan and MRI were normal. Cerebral MRI showed an hyperintense nodular signal at T2 FLAIR weighted images lateral to the right pons, at the level of the left middle cerebellar peduncle and at the left mesencephalon. Balance disorders can rarely present a sign of a degenerative neurological cerebellar involvement. Such a rare manifestation can present in different neurological disorders such as Langerhans’ cell Histiocytosis.
Weathering the Storm: Longitudinal Evidence on Women’s Changing Family Relationships During COVID-19
Authors: Lim-Soh Jeremy W. , Tan Poh Lin
Published: May 2022

The massive socioeconomic changes wrought by COVID-19 have disrupted multiple aspects of family life. However, evidence is still lacking on the sustained long-term impact of the pandemic and how families are adapting to this new normal. This article studies changes in women’s family relationships against the backdrop of evolving COVID-19 public health responses, and investigates the adverse effects of working from home, income loss, and anxiety about the virus. We survey 356 Singaporean mothers over four waves: a baseline in April–July 2018 and follow-ups in May, June, and November 2020. Results suggest that while some family relationships suffered during the early days of the crisis, most families displayed resilience in the long-term. Nevertheless, a substantial minority continued to report worsened relationships. Mother’s work from home status and father’s income loss emerged as significant predictors of change in family relationships, highlighting the gendered nature of adaptation to crisis.
Factors associated with failure of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective case series
Authors: Ma Xiao-Huan , An Meng-Meng , Yin Fang , Zhang Jie , Peng Meng-Yun , Guan Hong , Gong Ping
Published: May 2022

Objective

To identify factors associated with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy failure in patients with severe COVID-19.

Methods

We retrospectively examined clinical and laboratory data upon admission, treatments, and outcomes of patients with severe COVID-19. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were also calculated.

Results

Of 54 patients with severe COVID-19, HFNC therapy was successful in 28 (51.9%) and unsuccessful in 26 (48.1%). HFNC therapy failure was more common in patients aged ≥60 years and in men. Compared with patients with successful HFNC therapy, patients with HFNC therapy failure had higher percentages of fatigue, anorexia, and cardiovascular disease; a longer time from symptom onset to diagnosis; higher SOFA scores; a higher body temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate; more complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, myocardial damage, and acute kidney injury; a higher C-reactive protein concentration, neutrophil count, and prothrombin time; and a lower arterial partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2). However, male sex, a low PaO2/FiO2, and a high SOFA score were the only independent factors significantly associated with HFNC therapy failure.

Conclusions

Male sex, a low PaO2/FiO2, and a high SOFA score were independently associated with HFNC therapy failure in patients with severe COVID-19.
Les Soirées de Médan, the Franco-Prussian War and Naturalist Group Identity
Authors: Ashley Katherine
Published: May 2022

The Franco-Prussian War was not only a watershed in the history of Europe, it also inspired a watershed moment in French literary history: the publication of Les Soirées de Médan in 1880. The short story collection was a central text in framing a Naturalist group identity, but each of its six stories is also a scathing attack on the Franco-Prussian War and on the catastrophic French defeat. It has been argued that the myth surrounding the volume quickly eclipsed the stories themselves, but the volume's publication history shows that some of the contributors wrote their stories before a collective volume was proposed, suggesting that the critique of the war was initially as important as forming literary allegiances. This article examines the book from both angles, as a literary-historical event and as an anti-war tract. The uncomfortable relationship between the two is underscored by the many paratextual and textual absences in Les Soirées de Médan, which simultaneously conceal and draw attention to the war. It will show that the critique of the war of 1870–1871 is a necessary aspect of the public fashioning of Naturalist group identity, but that this public position-taking complicates our understanding of Naturalism as a cohesive literary movement.
A research on rubbing feature extraction based on information fusion and signal decomposition algorithm
Authors: Yu Mingyue , Cong Haonan , Chen Wangying
Published: May 2022

To effectively identify the rotor–stator rubbing fault, the paper has brought forward a method combining principal component analysis (PCA), intrinsic time-scale decomposition (ITD), and information entropy (IE). Firstly, in considering that the characteristic information of faults extracted from the information collected by single sensor is not complete or comprehensive, the approach blends the vibration signals collected from 4 different positions at the same moment based on PCA algorithm; secondly, regarding that ITD algorithm can effectively avoid the problems of poor adaptivity and end effect, blended signals are broken down based on ITD algorithm; thirdly, calculate the IE of self-correlation function of each PRC based on the fact that the smaller IE is, the less confusion system has and the easier it is to extract fault characteristics, and treat the self-correlation function of PRC related with the minimum IE as optimal component to represent fault characteristics; fourthly, characteristic extraction of rotor–stator rubbing fault and identification are done on the basis of the frequency spectrum of optimal component. To prove the availability of method, vibration signals are subjected to validation and analysis, which are collected from different rotation speeds, casing thicknesses, rubbing positions, and types. The result indicates that the proposed PCA–ITD–IE can equally and effectively extract the characteristics of rotor–stator rubbing faults of aero-engine involved in various conditions.
Climate and nature emergency: From scientists’ warnings to sufficient action
Authors: Cottey Alan
Published: May 2022

Scientists’ warnings of a climate and ecological emergency have been published recently. They have been criticised as being unattractive to non-scientists. Here, the criticisms are reviewed and comments presented. The path is long between primary research and the daily concerns of hard-to-reach people (e.g., those who are impoverished). It is enough that expert scientists express their findings accurately and intelligibly to all who are receptive. Outside the ranks of the specialist experts, there are many – intellectuals of all kinds, journalists, politicians, business people, and concerned citizens – who are well placed to contribute to the generation of a worldwide groundswell of practical action. The full range of discourse on the ecological issues is divided into four registers: used in primary research; dissemination of specialists’ thinking to non-specialists; discussion with those engaged in public affairs; and discussion with those who face obstacles to becoming engaged with the issues.