bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indian indenture: History and historiography in a nutshell
Authors: Lal Brij V.
Published: January 2022

The establishment of the academic study of Indentureship is a relatively recent development that has been led by descendants of indentured labourers from across the diaspora. This article highlights key moments in both the history and historiography of Indentureship. Looking first at the system established by the British on plantations across their colonies, it goes on to consider the variety of labourers' backgrounds and the process of social equalisation that was fostered by both voyage and plantation. Considering the injustices of the system, the author emphasises the ways in which labourers were able to disrupt the power of the plantocracy and analyses the particular perils the system held for women. The religious life of the labourers as well as the maintenance of the Panchayat and the importance of the Ramayana are also weighed. The historiography section of this article traces the attention paid to the system of indenture and the diaspora it created; from the initial attentions of missionaries and ‘benevolent’ organisations in the nineteenth century to the creation of a global network of scholars of Indentureship with roots in South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Guyana and Trinidad. It further emphasises key moments and publications during this period.
N. Ahmed,
State Propaganda in Syria: From War Crimes to Pipelines
Authors: Karadjis Michael
Published: January 2022

None
V. Canning,
Gendered Harm and Structural Violence in the British Asylum System
Authors: Parsa Amin
Published: January 2022

None
Joachim J. Savelsberg,
Representing Mass Violence: Conflicting Responses to Human Rights Violations in Darfur
Authors: Wise Louise
Published: January 2022

None
B. Morris, D. Ze'evithe,
Thirty Year Genocide: Turkey's Destruction of its Christian Minorities 1894-1924
Authors: Mehigan James
Published: January 2022

None
R. Brauman And Régis Meyran,
Humanitarian Wars? Lies and Brainwashing
Authors: Whyte Jessica
Published: January 2022

None
C. Usiskin,
America's Covert War in East Africa
Authors: Keenan Jeremy H.
Published: January 2022

None
Trabajadores de apps y pandemia
Authors: Delfino Andrea , Claussen Paulina
Published: January 2022

Este trabajo parte de considerar que la tensión entre capital y trabajo es constitutiva de las relaciones de trabajo y que en esa tensión existen dos elementos centrales que entran en disputa: el salario y las condiciones de trabajo. En esa dirección, el trabajo se detiene en analizar las acciones abiertas y manifiestas de conflictividad laboral protagonizadas por los trabajadores de las plataformas digitales de reparto en las ciudades de Rosario y Santa Fe (Argentina) durante la etapa más estricta del confinamiento. El repertorio de las acciones de conflictividad es abordado a partir de tres ejes: 1.- los paros, 2.- la carpa gremial y sanitaria en Rosario y 3.- el posicionamiento de los trabajadores ante el “apagón” de los empresarios gastronómicos. Se analiza también el tipo de respuesta construida desde las diferentes órbitas del Estado a los reclamos y acciones de los diferentes actores intervinientes.
Anti-Black Racism in Latin America
Authors: Pineda G Esther
Published: January 2022

This article address the racialization phenomenon of the African population and their descendants, born in America from a socio-historical perspective; including: their kidnapping, transfer and slavery in the American continent during the colonial period. Also the article address the construction of imaginaries and narratives that allowed their exploitation, favored rejection and resistance to the abolition of slavery, and excluded the black population from the process of construction of the emerging Latin American Nation-States. The research investigates the role of Latin American blacks in the independence processes and problematizes the phenomenon of structural racism from a critical sociological perspective, as a factor for the physical and symbolic annihilation of the black and Afro-descendant population in the past and in Latin America today.
Tendencias del humor étnico: un análisis de chistes contemporáneos en lengua rusa
Authors: Castañar Rubio Guillem
Published: January 2022

El presente artículo lleva a cabo un análisis textual y temático de chistes étnicos contemporáneos en lengua rusa aparecidos en Internet entre 2010 y 2016. Estos textos tienen un denominador común: están protagonizados por georgianos. Durante el período soviético, únicamente un grupo selecto de nacionalidades protagonizaba los textos humorísticos étnicos y los georgianos pertenecían a él. El chiste étnico atribuía a estas nacionalidades unas características físicas, discursivas e idiosincráticas estables y estereotipadas, que explotaba para provocar la hilaridad en el oyente. Con el derrumbe de la Unión Soviética y el cambio de contexto político, económico y cultural, el chiste étnico en lengua rusa sufre importantes modificaciones en su estructura y temática. Asimismo, a partir de los años noventa del siglo XX, los chistes dejan de transmitirse de forma exclusivamente oral: la libertad de prensa permite su publicación en papel y pueden publicarse también en Internet. Los personajes no escapan a estos cambios: decrece la relevancia de sus características propias; los rasgos discursivos y las peculiaridades de comportamiento no son ya determinantes en el efecto cómico del chiste. El georgiano sigue apareciendo con frecuencia en los chistes étnicos por tradición y porque permite la elaboración de un concepto positivo del yo ruso.
Языковые особенности гендерного концепта в русской и испанской культурах
Authors: Бойцов Иван , Данкер Зина , Зайнульдинов Андрей
Published: January 2022

Предлагаемая статья рассматривает одну из актуальных проблем, посвященных изучению национальных культур и их языковому выражению. В рамках современных лингвокультурологических направлений анализируются такие вопросы, как «язык и культура», «языковая картина мира», гендерные параметры социума, языковое своеобразие концептов. Представлен сравнительный план русской и испанской национальных традиций и культур. Данная статья может быть полезна филологам, занимающимся вопросами лингвокультурологии, интересующимся проблемами «концепта», языковыми возможностями представления.
Aproximación semiótica al espacio de la casa en la literatura turca y española (Estambul de Orhan Pamuk y Nada de Carmen Laforet)
Authors: Karavar Nesrin
Published: January 2022

En este trabajo analizo la casa de Nada y la casa de Estambul de la literatura de posguerra, comparando viviendas de dos culturas diferentes, con una aproximación semiótica y espacial.
The depiction of war in literature for children. An approach to the topic
Authors: Condoy Franco Inés
Published: January 2022

Last great-armed conflicts resulted in literary reactions, and after World War ii it was a huge production of children’s literature in order to approach the issue to young readers and help them to understand what happened. It can be considered the prelude of the recent politicization and introduction of different conflicts that children’s literature is nowadays experiencing. When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit (Judith Kerr 1971), Carrie’s War (Nina Bawden 1973) and Good Night Mister Tom (Michelle Magorian 1981) are part of these post-war publications and through their analysis, it is aimed to study how the historical circumstances of the World War II are approached to children. Addressing how their authors represent the conflict, the separation and the family relations that play a crucial role on these works and children literature in general. Analyzing how society of the time is portrayed trough different motifs as the journey, the female figures or the war itself. The techniques they use and how do they overcome a common conflict of displacement, what can help young readers to learn strategies to face their own problems in real life.
Para una historia transnacional de las congregaciones religiosas femeninas (siglos XIX y XX). Circulaciones misioneras y devociones espirituales
Authors: Dumons Bruno
Published: January 2022

Este estudio se centra en el análisis de los esfuerzos que se vienen realizando, en el siglo xxi, para llevar a cabo una transformación historiográfica en el ámbito del catolicismo contemporáneo. Con el propósito de desarrollar una historia transnacional y transatlántica, historiadores y grupos de investigadores europeos trabajan en esta línea. Las congregaciones religiosas femeninas son el ejemplo que nos permitirá ilustrar nuestro punto de vista sobre el valor heurístico de una historia transnacional en el campo del catolicismo contemporáneo. Se explorarán dos aspectos: las circulaciones misioneras y la influencia de las devociones espirituales.
Territorio, dueños y rogativas entre los chanés del noroeste argentino
Authors: Morando Maria Agustina
Published: January 2022

El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un acercamiento etnográfico a los modos en los que los chanés del noroeste argentino conceptualizan su territorio y a las diversas formas a través de las cuales median ritualmente con los distintos seres que lo integran. Un elemento relevante del análisis es la práctica de yerure o rogativas a los iyareta o dueños, la cual estudiaré desde un punto de vista discursivo al retomar fundamentalmente los aportes teóricos de la etnografía del habla. Más allá de sus características distintivas, la rogativa representa uno de los principales modos culturales a través de los cuales los chanés contemporáneos lidian y negocian con su entorno.
Budismo y filosofías amerindias en el Antropoceno. Seres y no humanos en la actual crisis ecológica
Authors: Tola Florencia Carmen , Restrepo Juan Pablo
Published: January 2022

Este artículo se centra en el nuevo paradigma cosmológico que representa el Antropoceno a partir del análisis de narrativas en las que los seres no humanos adquieren un lugar central. Si bien ciertas narrativas del Antropoceno permiten comprender al humano en cohabitación con otros seres, las metafísicas amerindias y el budismo, por su parte, aportan en la reflexión sobre la agencia de seres no humanos. Este artículo pretende contribuir a los debates sobre la crisis planetaria desde la lectura comparada de dos narrativas que divergen de los discursos científicos sobre el Antropoceno y amplían sus alcances.
'Este artículo es mío' : una propuesta de marco teórico de explicación para los conflictos de edición en Wikipedia
Authors: Tramullas Saz Jesús
Published: January 2022

Objetivos: el objetivo principal de este trabajo es analizar los conflictos de edición que se producen en la comunidad de editores de Wikipedia. Para ello, se plantea la necesidad de identificar diferentes tipos de estudios, así como los métodos de análisis usados y sus marcos teóricos de referencia. Finalmente, se sugiere la posibilidad de establecer un marco general de explicación que pueda fundamentar el estudio del comportamiento informacional de esta comunidad de editores.
 Metodología: el análisis se ha llevado a cabo mediante el análisis cualitativo de contenido de un conjunto de estudios científicos publicados sobre el tema objeto de estudio.
 Resultados: los resultados obtenidos permiten afirmar que existen tres tipos principales de estudios, cuyas aproximaciones teóricas y métodos de análisis resultan heterogéneos. Se propone un marco de explicación amplio, basado en la noción de propiedad psicológica, en el que se puedan combinar técnicas de análisis cuantitativas y cualitativas.
Creació de perfils institucionals a Google Scholar : nous usos en biblioteques de recerca
Authors: Capdevila Torres Marta
Published: January 2022

Trobar perfils personals d'investigadors a la xarxa és molt habitual, de fet, les mateixes institucions acadèmiques s'encarreguen de promocionar-ne les bondats, però la creació de perfils admet altres usos, com ara el perfil propi utilitzat per revistes que volen fer un seguiment dels articles que hi publiquen. En biblioteques d'institucions petites o mitjanes, els perfils institucionals també constitueixen una opció molt interessant per la gran quantitat de beneficis que se'n deriven, tot i que en aquests moments és un fet insòlit trobar perfils corporatius que aglutinin tota la producció científica de les institucions. En aquest article es presenta un cas basat en la creació d'un perfil institucional a Google Scholar. La biblioteca que ha dut a terme l'experiència pertany a la Facultat de Turisme i Direcció Hotelera Sant Ignasi que té 316 alumnes, 53 professors (PDI) i 17 membres de personal d'administració i serveis (PAS). L'objectiu de donar a conèixer aquesta experiència és transmetre els beneficis que implica comptar amb un perfil institucional per tal d'ajudar altres biblioteques petites o mitjanes que s'estiguin plantejant fer-ho.
Small and Medium Enterprises in Bolivia, a Look Back to the Future, 1900 - 2020
Authors: Alcon Vila Antonio
Published: January 2022

The main objective of this article is to analyze Bolivian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), their evolution, and their contribution to the country's economy. The globalization of markets is currently a reality to which companies are exposed for their survival, growth and development. In developing countries such as the plurinational State of Bolivia, this reality becomes more relevant due to the socioeconomic characteristics of the country, where the main economic activity is dependent on the export of non-renewable natural resources (natural gas and minerals), and to a lesser extent the export of primary products. In this context, the article shows that SMEs struggle to consolidate their position in local markets, and have a low participation in global markets. The article reviews relevant secondary and primary literature, and concludes that SMEs require public and private support to contribute to the promotion of entrepreneurial culture, enter into global production chains, develop technological and innovation capabilities, and achieve growth in a sustainable manner and with high levels of competitiveness. The research method used is the review of relevant primary and secondary bibliographic sources of information about the origins, evolution and current situation of SMEs in Bolivia, and about possible alternatives for growth and development.
A model of service-learning implementation: case of Ukrainian Catholic University
Authors: Kleban Y. , Kokoiachuk Y. , Krynytska I.
Published: January 2022

Service-learning (SL) is a relatively new approach for the Ukrainian education system. The Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) became the first in Ukraine to introduce it at the institutional level. The organization of this process requires a transparent methodology and algorithm for implementation. In this study, we consider the institutional performance of SL at UCU from the standpoint of innovation management in the educational process. The paper’s objective is to describe the SL model implementation at the UCU based on the analysis of the carried-out optimizing processes. The classic problem-based approach with interactive research and design-based research were applied to develop the model. Furthermore, the description of the results uses a process-oriented methodology as the most appropriate for the current and future research work. The success of the SL approach implementation is partly due to the technical part by which it is about the design of the work process and the internal culture of the HEI. The groups of stakeholders involved in designing and adopting the SL model and pedagogy are foundational in the applied case of the process-oriented methodology. The final goal was to identify the areas with the most significant opportunities for improvement when implementing SL in the HEI. The model of implementation of SL in the HEI, presented in this study, was created on the business process mapping principles and can be valuable for other educational institutions that want to implement this approach.
Institucionalización de la responsabilidad social universitaria como parte de la formación integral con aprendizaje-servicio
Authors: Archila G. , Estrada M.A. , Hernández G.E. , Trinidad J.R.
Published: January 2022

La Responsabilidad Social Universitaria (RSU) se torna de vital importancia en la formación de profesionales conscientes, competentes, compasivos y comprometidos. En la búsqueda de este ideal la Universidad Rafael Landívar (URL) ha trabajado durante varios años en institucionalizar el modelo de RSU como parte del marco orientador de la formación integral en la URL, planteándose tres grandes retos en la Universidad: 1) Estructurar la Responsabilidad Social por etapas de aprendizaje en las mallas curriculares con base en aprendizaje-servicio y Paradigma Pedagógico Ignaciano; 2) Implementar manuales de incorporación de la RSU en las diferentes facultades de la Universidad; 3) Formar al personal docente y administrativo en materia de Responsabilidad Social, aprendizaje-servicio y el Paradigma Pedagógico Ignaciano. Contribuyendo así a la misión institucional que busca transformar a la persona y la sociedad hacia dimensiones más humanas, justas, inclusivas y libres.
Aprendizaje-servicio en la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana seccional Bogotá, una experiencia de institucionalización en curso
Authors: Barbosa A. , García D.
Published: January 2022

En la misión y el proyecto educativo de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana se declara la construcción de una sociedad más justa, sostenible, incluyente y respetuosa de la dignidad humana a través de la formación integral y la producción de conocimiento pertinente. Aunque a lo largo de la historia de la Universidad han existido diferentes experiencias educativas cercanas al aprendizaje-servicio, este no se ha institucionalizado formalmente. En el año 2019 se empezó a considerar esta posibilidad y posteriormente, en el 2020, el Rector suscribió el acuerdo de colaboración interinstitucional con UNISERVITATE y le encargó el liderazgo y gestión del proyecto a la Oficina para el Fomento de la Responsabilidad Social Universitaria. Este artículo tiene por objetivo sistematizar la experiencia para construir una ruta de institucionalización del aprendizaje-servicio. A través de entrevistas semi-estructuradas, grupos focales, análisis documental y la técnica de la sistematización, se recogió la información con relación a los sentidos y prácticas asociados al proceso de institucionalización. Ello permitió hacer una triangulación para extraer las necesidades, potencialidades y retos que implica institucionalizar el aprendizaje-servicio en la universidad. Se plantea la necesidad de que el aprendizaje servicio tenga un respaldo institucional claro y normalizado.
Un compromiso para la transformación social: el plan UC para consolidar a A+S en América Latina
Authors: Del Valle F. , Fontana R. , Sepúlveda J.
Published: January 2022

En marzo de 2021, la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) inició su plan de acompañamiento regional en el marco del proyecto Uniservitate en América Latina. Este proyecto global pretende institucionalizar y potenciar la implementación de la metodología de aprendizaje servicio (A+S) en universidades católicas del continente, en coherencia con su misión institucional promoviendo así una educación integral que permita formar ciudadanos socialmente responsables. El objetivo del artículo es mostrar las etapas del plan de acompañamiento de la UC para las universidades Católica de Argentina, Católica de Pernambuco, Pontificia Javeriana de Bogotá y Católica de Ecuador. El plan de acompañamiento para institucionalizar el aprendizaje-servicio en el continente posee un diseño definido con elementos fuertes en la formación, el acompañamiento y la evaluación siendo estos los ejes para una primera etapa de implementación en las universidades acompañadas. El aprendizaje-servicio es una metodología que busca desarrollar una educación integral a través de la formación de la responsabilidad social en el estudiantado y su institucionalización representa una oportunidad para que las universidades profundicen su contribución a una sociedad más justa y equitativa.
Geografías populares y visiones de España durante la Guerra Civil y el primer Franquismo. El caso de Michael Huxley y The Geographical Magazine (1935-1959)
Authors: Ramón Gabriel María
Published: January 2022

Este artículo tiene el propósito de reflexionar sobre la imagen de España en The Geographical Magazine, editada en el Reino Unido por la Royal Geographical Society. El periodo de estudio de dicha imagen comprende desde 1935 hasta 1959. De tal modo que abarca la dirección editorial de Michael Huxley, fundador de la revista, y es coincidente con dos momentos significativos para la historia contemporánea de España, como fueron la Guerra Civil (1936-1939) y el primer franquismo (1939-1959). El interés de este estudio reside en destacar tanto la concepción de la geografía que tenía Huxley, como las claves principales de la imagen de España que se ofrecía en la revista británica dirigida por él.
Fiber-tip polymer filled probe for high-sensitivity temperature sensing and polymer refractometers
Authors: Gao Haitao , Xu Danping , Ye Yongyi , Zhang Yanan , Shen Jian , Li Chaoyang
Published: January 2022

A compact and robust Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) based on polymer core is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The fabrication is low-cost and has simple processes, including fusion splicing and polymer injection. Its characteristic is that the polymer fills the entire capillary core, which is easy to demodulate, and provides a good platform for the refractive index measurement of the polymer after curing. The experimental result shows a linear temperature sensitivity of 1226.64 pm/°C between 39°C and 54°C. Furthermore, we also used the Vernier effect to improve the temperature sensitivity as high as −15.617 nm/°C. The proposed FPI structure provides potential application in the research of sensors and polymer optical fibers.
Distributed multi-parameter sensing based on the Brillouin scattering effect in orbital angular momentum guiding fiber
Authors: Sheng Liwen , Huang Lin , Yan Jisong , Qiao Shan , Zhang Aiguo , Jin Hui , Yuan Ming , Qu Tianyang , Liu Zhiming
Published: January 2022

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) guiding fiber is used as a sensing element to measure strain and ambient temperature, sensing information simultaneously in a classical BOTDR configuration, due to its higher-order acoustic modes and high stimulated Brillouin threshold. The Brillouin threshold, the Brillouin gain coefficient and the Brillouin gain spectrum (BGS) of OAM fiber at 1.5 µm are characterized and demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. Taking advantage of the special acoustic properties of the peaks caused by the hard cladding-core interface in the Brillouin scattering process, the distributed multi-parameter sensing (e.g., strain and/or ambient temperature) is verified over a 1-km OAM guiding fiber, with the respective errors of strain and temperature of 18.2 µɛ and 0.93 °C, respectively.
Microbial defenses against mobile genetic elements and viruses: Who defends whom from what?
Authors: Rocha Eduardo P. C. , Bikard David
Published: January 2022

Prokaryotes have numerous mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that mediate horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between cells. These elements can be costly, even deadly, and cells use numerous defense systems to filter, control, or inactivate them. Recent studies have shown that prophages, conjugative elements, their parasites (phage satellites and mobilizable elements), and other poorly described MGEs encode defense systems homologous to those of bacteria. These constitute a significant fraction of the repertoire of cellular defense genes. As components of MGEs, these defense systems have presumably evolved to provide them, not the cell, adaptive functions. While the interests of the host and MGEs are aligned when they face a common threat such as an infection by a virulent phage, defensive functions carried by MGEs might also play more selfish roles to fend off other antagonistic MGEs or to ensure their maintenance in the cell. MGEs are eventually lost from the surviving host genomes by mutational processes and their defense systems can be co-opted when they provide an advantage to the cell. The abundance of defense systems in MGEs thus sheds new light on the role, effect, and fate of the so-called “cellular defense systems,” whereby they are not only merely microbial defensive weapons in a 2-partner arms race, but also tools of intragenomic conflict between multiple genetic elements with divergent interests that shape cell fate and gene flow at the population level.
Comparative transcriptome profiles of Schistosoma japonicum larval stages: Implications for parasite biology and host invasion
Authors: Cheng Shaoyun , Zhu Bingkuan , Luo Fang , Lin Xiying , Sun Chengsong , You Yanmin , Yi Cun , Xu Bin , Wang Jipeng , Lu Yan , Hu Wei
Published: January 2022

Schistosoma japonicumis prevalent in Asia with a wide mammalian host range, which leads to highly harmful zoonotic parasitic diseases. Most previous transcriptomic studies have been performed on this parasite, but mainly focus on stages inside the mammalian host. Moreover, few larval transcriptomic data are available in public databases. Here we mapped the detailed transcriptome profiles of fourS.japonicumlarval stages including eggs, miracidia, sporocysts and cercariae, providing a comprehensive development picture outside of the mammalian host. By analyzing the stage-specific/enriched genes, we identified functional genes associated with the biological characteristic at each stage: e.g. we observed enrichment of genes necessary for DNA replication only in sporocysts, while those involved in proteolysis were upregulated in sporocysts and/or cercariae. This data indicated that miracidia might use leishmanolysin and neprilysin to penetrate the snail, while elastase (SjCE2b) and leishmanolysin might contribute to the cercariae invasion. The expression profile of stem cell markers revealed potential germinal cell conversion during larval development. Additionally, our analysis indicated that tandem duplications had driven the expansion of the papain family inS.japonicum. Notably, all the duplicated cathepsin B-like proteases were highly expressed in cercariae. Utilizing our 3rdversion ofS.japonicumgenome, we further characterized the alternative splicing profiles throughout these four stages. Taken together, the present study provides compressive gene expression profiles ofS.japonicumlarval stages and identifies a set of genes that might be involved in intermediate and definitive host invasion.
Effects of early life adversity on immediate early gene expression: Systematic review and 3-level meta-analysis of rodent studies
Authors: Schuler Heike , Bonapersona Valeria , Joëls Marian , Sarabdjitsingh R. Angela
Published: January 2022

Early-life adversity (ELA) causes long-lasting structural and functional changes to the brain, rendering affected individuals vulnerable to the development of psychopathologies later in life. Immediate-early genes (IEGs) provide a potential marker for the observed alterations, bridging the gap between activity-regulated transcription and long-lasting effects on brain structure and function. Several heterogeneous studies have used IEGs to identify differences in cellular activity after ELA; systematically investigating the literature is therefore crucial for comprehensive conclusions. Here, we performed a systematic review on 39 pre-clinical studies in rodents to study the effects of ELA (alteration of maternal care) on IEG expression. Females and IEGs other than cFos were investigated in only a handful of publications. We meta-analyzed publications investigating specifically cFos expression. ELA increased cFos expression after an acute stressor only if the animals (control and ELA) had experienced additional hits. At rest, ELA increased cFos expression irrespective of other life events, suggesting that ELA creates a phenotype similar to naïve, acutely stressed animals. We present a conceptual theoretical framework to interpret the unexpected results. Overall, ELA likely alters IEG expression across the brain, especially in interaction with other negative life events. The present review highlights current knowledge gaps and provides guidance to aid the design of future studies.
Quantitative CT imaging features for COVID-19 evaluation: The ability to differentiate COVID-19 from non- COVID-19 (highly suspected) pneumonia patients during the epidemic period
Authors: Peng Shengkun , Pan Lingai , Guo Yang , Gong Bo , Huang Xiaobo , Liu Siyun , Huang Jianxin , Pu Hong , Zeng Jie
Published: January 2022

Objectives

COVID-19 and Non-Covid-19 (NC) Pneumonia encountered high CT imaging overlaps during pandemic. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of image-based quantitative CT features in discriminating COVID-19 from NC Pneumonia.

Materials and methods

145 patients with highly suspected COVID-19 were retrospectively enrolled from four centers in Sichuan Province during January 23 to March 23, 2020. 88 cases were confirmed as COVID-19, and 57 patients were NC. The dataset was randomly divided by 3:2 into training and testing sets. The quantitative CT radiomics features were extracted and screened sequentially by correlation analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression (LR) and backward stepwise LR with minimum AIC methods. The selected features were used to construct the LR model for differentiating COVID-19 from NC. Meanwhile, the differentiation performance of traditional quantitative CT features such as lesion volume ratio, ground glass opacity (GGO) or consolidation volume ratio were also considered and compared with Radiomics-based method. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were conducted to evaluate the predicting performance.

Results

Compared with traditional CT quantitative features, radiomics features performed best with the highest Area Under Curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the training (0.994, 0.942, 1.0 and 0.965) and testing sets (0.977, 0.944, 0.870, 0.915) (Delong test, P < 0.001). Among CT volume-ratio based models using lesion or GGO component ratio, the model combining CT lesion score and component ratio performed better than others, with the AUC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 0.84, 0.692, 0.853, 0.756 in the training set and 0.779, 0.667, 0.826, 0.729 in the testing set. The significant difference of the most selected wavelet transformed radiomics features between COVID-19 and NC might well reflect the CT signs.

Conclusions

The differentiation between COVID-19 and NC could be well improved by using radiomics features, compared with traditional CT quantitative values.
Outlier analysis: Natural resources and immigration policy
Authors: Choi Seung-Whan
Published: January 2022

This replication underlines the importance of outlier diagnostics since many researchers have long neglected influential observations in OLS regression analysis. In his article, entitled “Primary Resources, Secondary Labor,” Shin finds that advanced democracies with increased natural resource wealth, particularly from oil and natural gas production, are more likely to restrict low-skill immigration policy. By performing outlier diagnostics, this replication shows that Shin’s findings are a statistical artifact. When one outlying country, Norway, is removed from the sample data, I observe almost no significant and negative relationship between oil wealth and immigration policy. When two outlying countries are excluded, the effect of oil wealth completely disappears. Robust regression analysis, a widely used remedial method for outlier problems, confirms the results of my outlier diagnostics.
Automated selection of mid-height intervertebral disc slice in traverse lumbar spine MRI using a combination of deep learning feature and machine learning classifier
Authors: Natalia Friska , Young Julio Christian , Afriliana Nunik , Meidia Hira , Yunus Reyhan Eddy , Sudirman Sud
Published: January 2022

Abnormalities and defects that can cause lumbar spinal stenosis often occur in the Intervertebral Disc (IVD) of the patient’s lumbar spine. Their automatic detection and classification require an application of an image analysis algorithm on suitable images, such as mid-sagittal images or traverse mid-height intervertebral disc slices, as inputs. Hence the process of selecting and separating these images from other medical images in the patient’s set of scans is necessary. However, the technological progress in making this process automated is still lagging behind other areas in medical image classification research. In this paper, we report the result of our investigation on the suitability and performance of different approaches of machine learning to automatically select the best traverse plane that cuts closest to the half-height of an IVD from a database of lumbar spine MRI images. This study considers images features extracted using eleven different pre-trained Deep Convolution Neural Network (DCNN) models. We investigate the effectiveness of three dimensionality-reduction techniques and three feature-selection techniques on the classification performance. We also investigate the performance of five different Machine Learning (ML) algorithms and three Fully Connected (FC) neural network learning optimizers which are used to train an image classifier with hyperparameter optimization using a wide range of hyperparameter options and values. The different combinations of methods are tested on a publicly available lumbar spine MRI dataset consisting of MRI studies of 515 patients with symptomatic back pain. Our experiment shows that applying the Support Vector Machine algorithm with a short Gaussian kernel on full-length image features extracted using a pre-trained DenseNet201 model is the best approach to use. This approach gives the minimum per-class classification performance of around 0.88 when measured using the precision and recall metrics. The median performance measured using the precision metric ranges from 0.95 to 0.99 whereas that using the recall metric ranges from 0.93 to 1.0. When only considering the L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1 classes, the minimum F1-Scores range between 0.93 to 0.95, whereas the median F1-Scores range between 0.97 to 0.99.
An international, interlaboratory ring trial confirms the feasibility of an extraction-less “direct” RT-qPCR method for reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinical samples
Authors: Mills Margaret G. , Bruce Emily , Huang Meei-Li , Crothers Jessica W. , Hyrien Ollivier , Oura Christopher A. L. , Blake Lemar , Brown Jordan Arianne , Hester Susan , Wehmas Leah , Mari Bernard , Barby Pascal , Lacoux Caroline , Fassy Julien , Vial Pablo , Vial Cecilia , Martinez Jose R. W. , Oladipo Olusola Olalekan , Inuwa Bitrus , Shittu Ismaila , Meseko Clement A. , Chammas Roger , Santos Carlos Ferreira , Dionísio Thiago José , Garbieri Thais Francini , Parisi Viviane Aparecida , Mendes-Correa Maria Cassia , de Paula Anderson V. , Romano Camila M. , Góes Luiz Gustavo Bentim , Minoprio Paola , Campos Angelica C. , Cunha Marielton P. , Vilela Ana Paula P. , Nyirenda Tonney , Mkakosya Rajhab Sawasawa , Muula Adamson S. , Dumm Rebekah E. , Harris Rebecca M. , Mitchell Constance A. , Pettit Syril , Botten Jason , Jerome Keith R.
Published: January 2022

Reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is used worldwide to test and trace the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). “Extraction-less” or “direct” real time–reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is a transparent and accessible qualitative method for SARS-CoV-2 detection from nasopharyngeal or oral pharyngeal samples with the potential to generate actionable data more quickly, at a lower cost, and with fewer experimental resources than full RT-qPCR. This study engaged 10 global testing sites, including laboratories currently experiencing testing limitations due to reagent or equipment shortages, in an international interlaboratory ring trial. Participating laboratories were provided a common protocol, common reagents, aliquots of identical pooled clinical samples, and purified nucleic acids and used their existing in-house equipment. We observed 100% concordance across laboratories in the correct identification of all positive and negative samples, with highly similar cycle threshold values. The test also performed well when applied to locally collected patient nasopharyngeal samples, provided the viral transport media did not contain charcoal or guanidine, both of which appeared to potently inhibit the RT-PCR reaction. Our results suggest that direct RT-PCR assay methods can be clearly translated across sites utilizing readily available equipment and expertise and are thus a feasible option for more efficient COVID-19 coronavirus disease testing as demanded by the continuing pandemic.
Interclutch variability in egg characteristics in two species of rail: Is maternal identity encoded in eggshell patterns?
Authors: Johnson Emily W. , McRae Susan B.
Published: January 2022

Maternal signatures are present in the eggs of some birds, but quantifying interclutch variability within populations remains challenging. Maternal assignment of eggs with distinctive appearances could be used to non-invasively identify renesting females, including hens returning among years, as well as to identify cases of conspecific brood parasitism. We explored whether King Rail (Rallus elegans) eggs with shared maternity could be matched based on eggshell pattern. We used NaturePatternMatch (NPM) software to match egg images taken in the field in conjunction with spatial and temporal data on nests. Since we had only a small number of marked breeders, we analyzed similar clutch images from a study of Eurasian Common Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus chloropus) with color-banded breeders for which parentage at many nests had been verified genetically to validate the method. We ran 66 King Rail clutches (n = 338 eggs) and 58 Common Moorhen clutches (n = 364 eggs) through NPM. We performed non-metric multidimensional scaling and permutational analysis of variance using the best egg match output from NPM. We also explored whether eggs could be grouped by clutch using a combination of egg dimensions and pattern data derived from NPM using linear discriminant analyses. We then scrutinized specific matches returned by NPM for King Rail eggs to determine whether multiple matches between the same clutches might reveal maternity among nests and inform our understanding of female laying behavior. To do this, we ran separate NPM analyses for clutches photographed over several years from two spatially distant parts of the site. With these narrower datasets, we were able to identify four instances where hens likely returned to breed among years, four likely cases of conspecific brood parasitism, and a within-season re-nesting attempt. Thus, the matching output was helpful in identifying congruent egg patterns among clutches when used in conjunction with spatial and temporal data, revealing previously unrecognized site fidelity, within-season movements, and reproductive interference by breeding females. Egg pattern data in combination with nest mapping can be used to inform our understanding of female reproductive effort, success, and longevity in King Rails. These methods may also be applied to other secretive birds and species of conservation concern.
Further decoding the mystery of American pain: The importance of work
Authors: Blanchflower David G. , Bryson Alex
Published: January 2022

A recent paper showed that, whereas we expect pain to rise with age due to accumulated injury, physical wear and tear, and disease, the elderly in America report less pain than those in midlife. Further exploration revealed this pattern was confined to the less educated. The authors called this the ‘mystery of American pain’ since pain appears to rise with age in other countries irrespective of education. Revisiting this issue with the same cross-sectional data we show that what matters in explaining pain through to age 65 is whether one is working or not. The incidence of pain across the life-course is nearly identical for workers in America and elsewhere, but it is greater for non-working Americans than it is for non-workers elsewhere. As in other countries, pain is hump-shaped in age among those Americans out of work but rises a little over the life-course for those in work. Furthermore, these patterns are apparentwithineducational groups. We show that, if one ascribes age-specific employment rates from other OECD countries to Americans, the age profile of pain in the United States is more similar to that found elsewhere in the OECD. This is because employment rates are lower in the United States than elsewhere between ages 30 and 60: the simulation reduces the pain contribution of these non-workers to overall pain in America, so it looks somewhat similar to pain elsewhere. We conclude that what matters in explaining pain over the life-course is whether one is working or not and once that is accounted for, the patterns are consistent across the United States and the rest of the OECD.
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among Bangladeshi adults: Understanding predictors of vaccine intention to inform vaccine policy
Authors: Lee Clarice , Holroyd Taylor A. , Gur-Arie Rachel , Sauer Molly , Zavala Eleonor , Paul Alicia M. , Shattuck Dominick , Karron Ruth A. , Limaye Rupali J.
Published: January 2022

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of COVID-19 vaccine intention among Bangladeshi adults.

Methods

Secondary data from the COVID-19 Beliefs, Behaviors & Norms Survey conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Facebook were analyzed. Data were collected from 2,669 adult Facebook users in Bangladesh and was collected between February 15 and February 28, 2021. Binomial logistic regression examined the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination intent and demographic variables, risk perception, preventive behaviors, COVID-19 knowledge, and likelihood of future actions.

Results

Seventy-nine percent of respondents reported intent to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. Intent to get vaccinated was highest among females, adults aged 71–80, individuals with college or graduate-level degrees, city dwellers, and individuals who perceived that they were in excellent health. Results of the binomial logistic regression indicated that predictors of vaccination intent include age (OR = 1.39), high risk perception of COVID-19 (OR = 1.47), and intent to practice social distancing (OR = 1.22).

Discussion

Findings suggest that age, perceived COVID-19 risk, and non-pharmaceutical COVID-19 interventions may predict COVID-19 vaccination intent among Bangladeshi adults. Findings can be used to create targeted messaging to increase demand for and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Bangladesh.
Postoperative fever after liver resection: Incidence, risk factors, and characteristics associated with febrile infectious complication
Authors: Lai Hon-Fan , Chau Ivy Yenwen , Lei Hao-Jan , Chou Shu-Cheng , Hsia Cheng-Yuan , Kao Yi-Chu , Chau Gar-Yang
Published: January 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of postoperative fever (POF) after liver resection. In patients with POF, predictors of febrile infectious complications were determined.

Methods

A total of 797 consecutive patients undergoing liver resection from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively investigated. POF was defined as body temperature ≥ 38.0°C in the postoperative period. POF was characterized by time of first fever, the highest temperature, and frequency of fever. The Institut Mutualiste Montsouris (IMM) classification was used to stratify surgical difficulty, from grade I (low), grade II (intermediate) to grade III (high). Postoperative leukocytosis was defined as a 70% increase of white blood cell count from the preoperative value. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for POF and predictors of febrile infectious complications.

Results

Overall, 401 patients (50.3%) developed POF. Of these, 10.5% had the time of first fever > postoperative day (POD) 2, 25.9% had fever > 38.6°C, and 60.6% had multiple fever spikes. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for POF were: IMM grade III resection (OR 1.572, p = 0.008), Charlson Comorbidity Index score > 3 (OR 1.872, p < 0.001), and serum albumin < 3.2 g/dL (OR 3.236, p = 0.023). 14.6% patients developed infectious complication, 21.9% of febrile patients and 7.1% of afebrile patients (p < 0.001). Predictors of febrile infectious complications were: fever > 38.6°C (OR 2.242, p = 0.003), time of first fever > POD2 (OR 6.002, p < 0.001), and multiple fever spikes (OR 2.039, p = 0.019). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for fever > 38.6°C were 39.8%, 78.0%, 33.7% and 82.2%, respectively. A combination of fever > 38.6°C and leukocytosis provided high specificity of 95.2%.

Conclusion

In this study, we found that IMM classification, CCI score, and serum albumin level related with POF development in patients undergone liver resection. Time of first fever > POD2, fever > 38.6°C, and multiple fever spikes indicate an increased risk of febrile infectious complication. These findings may aid decision-making in patients with POF who require further diagnostic workup.
Diagnostic performance of oral swabs for non-sputum based TB diagnosis in a TB/HIV endemic setting
Authors: LaCourse Sylvia M. , Seko Evans , Wood Rachel , Bundi Wilfred , Ouma Gregory S. , Agaya Janet , Richardson Barbra A. , John-Stewart Grace , Wandiga Steve , Cangelosi Gerard A.
Published: January 2022

Objective

We evaluated diagnostic performance of oral swab analysis (OSA) for tuberculosis (TB) in a high HIV/TB burden setting in Kenya.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, buccal swabs and sputum were collected from 100 participants with suspected TB in outpatient clinics in Kenya at enrollment and subsequent morning visits. Buccal swabs underwent IS6110-targeted qPCR analysis. Sputum was evaluated by Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and culture. Diagnostic performance of OSA for TB diagnosis was evaluated relative to a combined reference of sputum Xpert and culture.

Results

Among 100 participants, 54% were living with HIV (PLHIV). Twenty percent (20/100) of participants had confirmed TB (19/20 [95%] culture-positive, 17/20 [85%] Xpert-positive). Overall buccal swab sensitivity was 65.0% (95% CI 40.8–84.6%) vs. sputum Xpert/culture and 76.5% (95% CI 50.1–93.2%) vs. sputum Xpert alone. Specificity was 81.3% (95% CI 71.0–89.1%) and 81.9% (95% CI 72.0–89.5%) compared to sputum Xpert/culture and Xpert alone, respectively. Sensitivity among PLHIV (n = 54) with suspected TB was 83.3% (95% CI 35.9–99.6%) vs. sputum Xpert/culture and 100% (95% CI 47.8–100.0%) vs. sputum Xpert alone. Among participants with TB, mean OSA threshold quantitation cycle (Cq) value was lower (stronger signal) at subsequent morning compared to enrolment visit (33.4 SD ± 3.7 vs. 35.2 SD ± 2.9, p = 0.009).

Conclusions

In this pilot study, results confirm M. tuberculosis DNA is detectable in oral swabs including among PLHIV with fair diagnostic performance. Further work is needed to optimize OSA and evaluate its utility in diverse settings.