bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Significance of Toegye’s Theory on “Manifestation of Principle”
Authors: Ahn Jaeho
Published: March 2021

This article aims to critique the recent claim raised in Korea that Toegye’s theory on lifa 理發(manifestation of principle) “negates the activity of li.’’ In my view, although the idea of lifa is not clearly presented by Zhu Xi and even contradicts his conception of “nonaction of li,” it recovers fundamental Confucian principle and reaffirms valuable attributes of humanity. Toegye’s notion of lifa establishes the ground for distinguishing humans from animals by emphasizing the subjective spontaneity and activity of moral rationality. To expound on this, I shall first review the concepts of li, qi, heart/mind, nature, feeling, and their relationships in Toegye’s philosophy. Then, I shall examine the significance of lifa and criticize that the claims which deny the activity of li are ungrounded.
Does Even a Rat Have Buddha-Nature? Analyzing Key-Phrase (Huatou) Rhetoric for the Wu Gongan
Authors: Heine Steven
Published: March 2021

The Wu Gongan is primarily known for its minimalist expression based on Zhaozhou’s “No” (Wu) response to a monk’s question of whether a dog has Buddha-nature. Crucial for the key-phrase (huatou) method of meditation of Dahui Zonggao, the term Wu is not to be analyzed through logic or poetry. However, an overemphasis on the nondiscursive quality overlooks sophisticated rhetoric through metaphors used for the anxiety of doubt caused by Wu undermining conventional assumptions that is compared to a cornered rat; and the experience of enlightenment generated by the power of Wu likened to a sword cutting through all delusions.
Cities Created by Modernity: A Fengshui Perspective
Authors: Paton Michael John
Published: March 2021

The 2011 tsunami had a devastating effect on the east coast of Japan. Particularly poignant were the century-old markers on hillsides warning against building anywhere below. Nevertheless, such wisdom from traditional knowledge was disregarded because of the perceived invulnerability of the modern. This paper attempts to garner such traditional empirical knowledge regarding the siting of towns and cities by considering the Chinese art/science of fengshui (wind and water) or dili (principles of the earth), the original purpose of which was to site human habitation in the most favourable places for long term survival. This knowledge is then used to consider the placement of cities created by modernity, those founded on and flourishing through the advent of globalisation, such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, St Petersburg, and Sydney.
On Place, Time, and The Roots of Confucianism
Authors: Cheng Chung-Ying
Published: March 2021

This writing addresses a direct response to as well as shares a careful reflection with Ed Casey and Bob Neville, two of my longtime good friends, whom I invited to a panel I organized for Plenary Section 1, 11th East-West Philosophers’ Conference entitled “Place”, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai’i, May 25, 2017. It starts with the question of understanding the meaning of place for humanity and human development. To understand place as the birthplace of life and humanity is essential to understanding what a place is, because a place has to link to other places and to the whole of space as a totality of places. Places are developed historically and transferred to us with their values just like our own life comes to us in the development of our histories and cultures. This leads to the idea of a place as not separable from time. I have only addressed time to some extent in this paper, but I have introduced time as an essential part of our defining characterization of humanity and its resources. This then leads to our deep understanding of humanity as the creative product of time and space, which is derived from a common life origin: creativity. Throughout, I have also elaborated my thinking on the complex issue of “deep roots” and “shallow roots” of Confucianism, in light of inspirations from Bob Neville, who has raised important questions.
Language in Zhuangzi: A Theme that Reveals the Nature of its Relativism and Skepticism
Authors: Berthel Ken
Published: March 2021

This article focuses on Zhuangzi’s discussions of language to demonstrate how they can clarify his positions on two particular philosophical issues about which there has been significant interest and debate in recent years: (1) relativism and the problem of oneness and (2) skepticism. I argue that Zhuangzi is committed to a (non-contradictory) universe composed of real, constantly transforming actualities that nevertheless always escape being captured in conventional modes of human logic and language. Examining language metaphors in the text reveals that skepticism and relativism in the Zhuangzi are better understood as rhetorical rather than philosophical strategies.
Further data on Iranian marine nematode diversity, with description of three new Desmodoridae Filipjev, 1922 (Nematoda: Desmodorida) species from the Persian Gulf
Authors: Gharahkhani Azadeh , Pourjam Ebrahim , Leduc Daniel , Pedram Majid
Published: March 2021

The Desmodoridae is a diverse and widespread family of free-living nematodes. Here, we provide the first record of the group in the Persian Gulf and describe three new species: Metachromadoroides sinuspersici sp. n., Zalonema iranicum sp. n. and Z. supplementorum sp. n. Metachromadoroides sinuspersici sp. n. is characterised by finely annulated cuticle, short and stout cephalic sensilla, amphidial fovea on cuticular thickening, pharyngeal bulb well developed and partitioned into three sections, absence of precloacal supplements, and presence of 6-8 pairs of rounded postcloacal papillae. Zalonema iranicum sp. n. is characterised by papilliform subcephalic sensilla (best observed with SEM), convex cephalic capsule, large multispiral amphidial fovea with 4-5 turns in both males and females, buccal cavity with one ventrosublateral and two dorsal teeth and posterior body of males with lateral alae extending from the last third of the body to the cloacal aperture and ventral alae extending 1395-2250 μm anterior to the cloacal aperture, and no precloacal supplements. Zalonema supplementorum sp. n. is characterised by four subcephalic sensilla 1-2 μm long, multispiral amphidial fovea with three turns in both males and females, buccal cavity with one dorsal and two ventrosublateral teeth, males with lateral alae present on each side of body from posterior half of body to cloacal aperture, ventral alae extending 942-1257 μm anterior to cloacal aperture, strongly cuticularised spicules 41-43 μm long, and 12-16 precloacal supplements. Near full length SSU and partial D2-D3 LSU sequences are provided for M. sinuspersici sp. n. and Z. iranicum sp. n., and the COI sequence is provided for Z. iranicum. The SSU phylogeny suggests a close relationship between M. sinuspersici sp. n. and Metachromadora and Metachromadoroides species and the monophyly of Zalonema (after currently available data). The LSU phylogeny suggests an affinity between Metachromadoroides and Zalonema with Spirinia and Acanthopharynx, respectively.
Nematode isolation from nitidulid beetles with proposal of Sheraphelenchus heterophallus n. comb.
Authors: Kanzaki Natsumi
Published: March 2021

The nematode associations of two nitidulid beetles, Epuraea ocularis and Lasiodactylus pictus, and their habitat (substrate) were examined in an experimental stand in Kyoto, Japan. Beetles were collected in October 2020 using banana traps. Molecular and morphological identification recognised two nematode species: Sheraphelenchus sucus and Chylorhabditis epuraeae. Sheraphelenchus sucus was isolated exclusively from E. ocularis, while C. epuraeae was isolated from both beetle species. Dauer juveniles (DJ) of S. sucus were isolated from the substrate, rotten banana. The typological characters of S. sucus DJ are illustrated and photo-documented, and S. heterophallus n. comb. (= Aphelenchoides heterophallus Steiner, 1934 and Parasitaphelenchus heterophallus (Steiner, 1934) Rühm, 1956), recognised during a literature survey, is proposed.
Description of Ironus telperionensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Ironidae) and two known species of Chronogaster (Nematoda: Chronogastridae) and Paraphanolaimus (Nematoda: Aphanolaimidae) from the Telperion Nature Reserve (Mpumalanga, South Africa)
Authors: Girgan Chantelle , Shokoohi Ebrahim , Marais Mariette , Fourie Hendrika , Tiedt Lourens , Swart Antoinette
Published: March 2021

A nematode survey conducted in the Telperion Nature Reserve (Mpumalanga, South Africa) resulted in a new Ironus species being described as well as two known species reported for the first time from South Africa, viz., Chronogaster aspinata and Paraphanolaimus behningi. Ironus telperionensis n. sp. is characterised by a long (1724 (1456-1864) μm) and slender body (50 times longer than mid-body diam.), long stoma (116 (87-129) μm), and a 235 (212-257) μm long tail with a ventral curl at the tip. The new species is morphologically most similar to I. ignavus and I. paludicola. However, the new species can be separated from I. ignavus based on the lower ratio c (7.3 (6.5-8.0) vs 8.0-11.0) and longer stoma (116 (87-129) vs 76-90 μm). Ironus telperionensis n. sp. can be distinguished from I. paludicola by the lower ratio a (49.2 (37.4-53.0) vs 60.0-80.0) and lower ratio c (7.3 (6.5-8.0) vs 8.0-13.0). The 18S rDNA phylogenetic analysis of I. telperionensis n. sp. placed it close to I. elegans (KC133064), whereas the 28S rDNA phylogenetic analysis placed it close to I. tenuicaudatus. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Ironus is a monophyletic group. Paraphanolaimus behningi was identified based on anteriorly bent vagina in the female, spicule length (106 or 110 μm) and number of supplements (13 or 14) in the male. Chronogaster aspinata was identified based on body length (1127 or 1203 μm), cephalic setae length (7 μm), finely rounded tail terminus without a mucron or additional spines, and no longitudinal ridges. It fits the known description of the species. Although various differences were observed between previously reported populations of these species, the morphometrics of the specimens found in Telperion widen the existing variation in these two species.
Main Contents and Comment on the Law of the DPR Korea on Space Exploration
Authors: Ro Kum-Chol , Son Yong-Nam , Sin Kwang-Il
Published: March 2021

On 1 April 2013, the Law of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on Space Exploration was enacted and promulgated by the Supreme People’s Assembly. The law is the first national legislation governing national space activities and it forms the basic law in the field of national space exploration. The enactment of this law provides a domestic legal guarantee for national space activities to the advantage of the country’s national economy and people’s livelihoods in conformity with the requirements of international space-related treaties. The paper provides a summary description and analysis of the national space legislation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with an eye to the UN resolutions concerning national space legislation and other countries’ national space laws.
Little Worlds in Motion: Mobility and Space in the Osterie of Early Modern Venice
Authors: Salzberg Rosa
Published: March 2021

The inns, or osterie, of early modern Venice were located at the heart of the city, which was one the most important hubs of mobility and travel between Europe and the Mediterranean. Close study of the locations, structures, and interiors of the inns shows how they featured centrally in both the long-range itineraries of travelers and migrants as well as smaller-scale circulations of local residents around the city. The intersection of these various trajectories in the space of the inn led to a rich array of social, economic, and cultural exchanges, but also to moments of tension and conflict. As such, a focus on the osterie illuminates the experience of being on the move in this period as well as demonstrating how mobility fundamentally shaped, and was shaped by, the early modern city and its spaces.
Does the Distribution of Ethnic Kin-Groups Explain Mediation in Territorial Conflicts?
Authors: Feinberg Ayal , Greig J. Michael
Published: March 2021

The literature on ethnic kin-groups primarily focuses on their role in perpetuating conflict. Less attention has been devoted to how ethnic kin-groups might encourage mediation in disputes affecting their kin in other nations. We argue that transborder kin-groups’ collective concern for the welfare of their fellow members in other states can motivate interstate mediation efforts. Utilizing the Ethnic Power Relations and the Issue Correlates of War datasets, we examine how transborder kin-group connections shape the likelihood of mediation, as well as who provides it. Our findings suggest that the deeper the network of transborder kin-group connections among target states of territorial disputes, the more likely mediation is to occur. Alternatively, challenger transborder kin-group connections reduce the likelihood of mediation. While transborder kin-group connections help explain the likelihood of mediation, mediation is often not provided by the connected third-party state. Instead, these connections promote mediation from international organizations, particularly regional organizations.
Hindutva Philosophy Reinforcement by the rss/bjp against Minorities and the Economic Performance of Narendra Modi’s Government in India
Authors: Kumar Rajeev Ranjan , Rizwan Muhammad
Published: March 2021

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a controversial figure and has polarised public debate for over a decade. He is criticised for the decline in growth rate and increase in unemployment rate. It has been five years since the Modi-led Bhartiya Janata Party (bjp) came to power, so analysing the economic performance and extremist religious behaviour of the Modi-led bjp/rss (Rastriya Sevak Sangh) is interesting. This article discusses the non-conventional views on the economic performance of the government in India, and the ideology of Hindutva and hatred towards religious minorities. This deep-rooted hatred of religious minorities and the lower caste is the core philosophy of Hindutva and is followed by the bjp and rss. Under the shadow of the rss, the Modi government has focused on Hindutva rather than the economy and the people, which has been the most important factor in the economic decline of India.
Relativising Atrocity Crimes: The Message of Unconditional Early Release of Perpetrators Convicted by the ICTY (1998 – 2018)
Authors: Yarnell Priyamvada
Published: March 2021

Despite being found guilty of egregious acts, crimes against humanity and war crimes, 54 of the 90 perpetrators sentenced by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (icty) were granted unconditional early release (uer). This article argues that uer did a disservice to two principal expressive purposes of punishment - moral condemnation of the crimes and the overall norm projected by the icty, the ‘universal repugnance of group-based killing’. Fundamentally, punishment of perpetrators signifies the inherent worth of victims. Interviews with key stakeholders in Bosnia and Herzegovina revealed that the interviewees largely concurred with authors who posit that punitive justice conveys valuable messages to audiences. This article complements expressivist theories by demonstrating the extent to which expressivism was negated as perpetrators were granted uer. Finally, it proposes how early release in future tribunals and courts might be tailored to counter the negation of international criminal justice’s expressive value.
The Emperor’s New Clothes: Time Bar Clauses in Construction Contracts Between Legal Tradition and Good Faith
Authors: Haloush Haitham A.
Published: March 2021

There is no clear provision in how the Jordanian Civil Code deals with the principles of good faith and freedom of contract. Interpretations can go either way, although there is a notable tendency that gravitates towards good faith. One significant aspect of the principle of good faith is that it provides a solid ground of contractual and legal interpretation of controversial construction issues such as time bar clauses. This research highlights how time bar clauses in construction contracts may affect the rights and responsibilities of Employers and Contractors under the Jordanian law. Often application of the principle of good faith produces a result similar to that under time bar clauses in FIDIC rules. As far as the author is aware, this issue has not been researched comprehensively before from technical and legal standpoints. This article represents a first attempt to examine the issues arising in this difficult and important subject.
The Rohingya Crisis, the Democratisation Discourse, and the Absence of an Atrocity Prevention Lens
Authors: Stensrud Ellen E.
Published: March 2021

This article addresses the somewhat paradoxical situation that during the reform years in Myanmar, Western optimism about democratisation existed side-by-side with increasingly dire reports about the human rights abuses against the Rohingya. In order to understand this puzzle, the article analyses the Norwegian government’s policy shift towards Myanmar, and its deepening engagement up until the landmark 2015 elections. The article argues that the widespread characterisation of the conflict in Rakhine as ‘intercommunal’, rooted in poverty and underdevelopment in Rakhine State, enabled the narrative of progress and democratisation to be upheld. This prevented actors from seeing the treatment of Rohingya through an ‘atrocity prevention lens’, and thereby from seeing Myanmar as a case where the responsibility to protect should be applied.
Controlling the Export of Digital and Emerging Technologies
Authors: Kanetake Machiko
Published: March 2021

Dual-use export control regulates the trade of items which serve both civilian and military purposes. Justification for imposing export controls has been furnished by the need for safeguarding regional and international security, especially the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The rationale for applying export controls has been subject to challenges, however. This Security and Human Rights special issue addresses the underlying justification for imposing export controls by focusing on their technological fronts. Scott A. Jones’ piece sheds light on the regulatory challenges that have arisen for the US’ control over so-called “emerging” technologies. Cindy Whang moves on to compare the US’ approach with that of the EU’s dual-use export control. Ben Wagner proposes a set of policy options for the design of export controls on digital technologies, so that they can serve as an effective vehicle for promoting the protection of human rights.
Born Orphans of the Earth: Pastoral Utopia in Contemporary Taiwanese Poetry
Authors: Skerratt Brian
Published: March 2021

In 2011, amid a string of controversies in the Taiwanese countryside surrounding industrial pollution, urban expansion, the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, and the destruction of the natural and rural environments, poet and editor Hong Hong announced ‘the last pastoral poem’, suggesting that the representation of the countryside as bucolic landscape was an out-of-date and politically impotent trope. This paper argues, contrary to Hong Hong’s polemic, that depictions of pastoral utopia remain a vital and powerful alternative to the forces of urbanisation and industrialisation in Taiwan and the larger Sinophone world. The paper analyses poetry by contemporary poet Ling Yu against the background of the tradition of utopian pastoral writing represented by the book of Genesis, Virgil, Laozi, Tao Yuanming, and Gary Snyder. The paper argues for a poetics that symbolically mediates between nature and culture, and building and dwelling, by means of slow ‘cultivation’, in both the agricultural and aesthetic senses. The paper further draws on transnational Hong Kong poet Liu Wai Tong’s concept of ‘you-topia’ to suggest a means of reconciling Chinese tradition and contemporary ecocritical discourse.
A new species of Punctularia (Punctulariaceae, Basidiomycota) from southwest China

Authors: GUAN QIAN-XIN , ZHAO WEI , ZHAO CHANG-LIN
Published: March 2021

A new wood-rotting fungal species, Punctularia bambusicola, is proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular data. The species is characterized by resupinate, lilac to purple basidiomata, pink to rose tuberculate hymenial surface, monomitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae, yellowish to brown dendrohyphidia and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 6.5–8.5 × 3.5–5 µm. Phylogenetic analyses of combining ITS and LSU nrRNA gene regions demonstrated that P. bambusicola forms a single lineage sister to P. atropurpurascens with strong statistical supports (100% BS, 100% BT, 1.00 BPP).
A new species of Erythroxylum (Erythroxylaceae) from Colombia and Panama
Authors: JARA-MUÑOZ ORLANDO ADOLFO , ÁVILA FABIO ANDRÉS
Published: March 2021

A new species of Erythroxylum from Colombia and Panamá is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to Erythroxylum acuminatum from Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia but differs from this species by its longer and caducous stipules, with two longer lateral setae, and by the underdeveloped anterior ligule of the petals.
Identity of some recently described Lepidoptera from France—re-assessed with DNA barcodes and morphology
Authors: HUEMER PETER , VAN NIEUKERKEN ERIK J.
Published: March 2021

Seventy-three species of Lepidoptera described from France since 2000, particularly by Jacques Nel and Thierry Varenne, are re-assessed from largely unpublished molecular data. We tried to obtain DNA barcode sequences from 62 holotypes, supplemented by paratypes of eight species and on one case by non-type material, whereas one previously synonymized species was not sequenced. Altogether we obtained 78 DNA barcode sequences for 65 nominal taxa while sequencing failed for six holotypes. An integrative analysis from molecular data and morphology supports the validity of the majority of species but also resulted in the re-assessment of several taxa. The following 13 new synonymies are established: Stigmella cyrneorolandi Nel & Varenne, 2013 syn. nov. of Stigmella rolandi van Nieukerken, 1990; Stigmella thibaulti Varenne & Nel, 2019 syn. nov. of Stigmella nivenburgensis (Preissecker, 1942) (Nepticulidae); Nemapogon peslieri Varenne & Nel, 2017 syn. nov. of Nemapogon inexpectata Varenne & Nel, 2017 (Tineidae); Phyllonorycter acericorsica Varenne & Nel, 2015 syn. nov. of Phyllonorycter ochreojunctella (Klimesch, 1942) (Gracillariidae); Ancylis paraobtusana Varenne, Nel, & Peslier, 2020 syn. nov. of Ancylis comptana (Frölich, 1828) (Tortricidae); Celypha paludicolella Varenne & Nel, 2017 syn. nov. of Celypha doubledayana (Barrett, 1872) (Tortricidae); Cydia oxytropidana Nel & Varenne, 2016 syn. nov. of Cydia oxytropidis (Martini, 1912) (Tortricidae); Sorhagenia orocorsa Varenne & Nel, 2016 syn. nov. of Sorhagenia janiszewskae Riedl, 1962 (Cosmopterigidae); Chionodes cerdanica Peslier, Nel & Varenne, 2020 syn. nov. of Chionodes distinctella (Zeller, 1839) (Gelechiidae); Elachista bidentata Varenne & Nel, 2019 syn. nov. of Elachista orstadii Palm, 1943; Elachista karsticola Varenne & Nel, 2018 syn. nov. of Elachista maculosella Chrétien, 1896 (Elachistidae); Scythris chablaisensis Delmas, 2018 syn. nov. of Scythris laminella ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) (Scythrididae); Epermenia pumila (Buvat & Nel, 2000) syn. nov. of Epermenia profugella (Stainton, 1856) (Epermeniidae). Finally, the status of some taxa still remains unclear due to the lack of DNA barcodes of closely related species and the absence of convincing diagnostic characters in morphology.
A study of the click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) of northwestern Iran with three new species Reitterelater prosternalis sp. n., Melanotus borumandi sp. n. and M. kurdestanicus sp. n.
Authors: NASSERZADEH HIVA , PLATIA GIUSEPPE
Published: March 2021

More than 800 specimens collected during 2015–2018 are studied from northwestern Iran. Thirty four species belonging to five subfamilies and 21 genera are listed. Reitterelater prosternalis sp. n., Melanotus borumandi sp. n. and M. kurdestanicus sp. n. are described. The genus Reitterelater and the species Pristilophus melancholicus (Fabricius) are recorded for the first time from Iran. Distributional map and climate data are presented for each species.
A new species of planthopper in the genus Patara (Hemiptera: Derbidae) on coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) from the island of Barbuda
Authors: BAHDER BRIAN W. , GORE-FRANCIS JANIL , BARTLETT CHARLES R.
Published: March 2021

The island of Barbuda was recently surveyed for the presence of Haplaxius crudus to establish the risk of Lethal Yellowing to palms on the island. After extensive collecting, H. crudus was not found on the island. A new species of Patara Westwood was found on coconut palms on the southwest portion of Barbuda. Herein, we describe the new species as Patara cooki sp. n. and provide DNA sequence data for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 18S genes for it and Patara guttata Westwood. Patara cooki differed from Patara guttata sp. n. by 1.8% for 18S and 7.8% for COI, similar to intrageneric differences reported for other taxa. A phylogenetic analysis of available Otiocerinae near Patara using found Patara cooki sp. n. nested among other Patara species. We also offer commentary regarding the interpretation of forewing venation in Patara.
Changes in the genus Beana Walker (Beaninae Zahiri & Holloway) with two new species and removing Beana nitida Tams to a new genus Beanoides (gen. nov.)
Authors: PELLINEN MARKKU J. , WAHLBERG NIKLAS
Published: March 2021

Two new Beana species (B. mutaneni sp. nov and B. penniuncus sp. nov) are described here. Based on molecular data, Beana nitida Tams is removed to its own genus Beanoides gen. nov. and placed in the subfamily Chloephorinae. Morphological characteristics and DNA barcodes are provided for the new species, with a comparison of morphological structures and genetic distances to Beana terminigera Walker. The current number of valid species in the genus is six.
Seasonal Variation of the Antarctic Slope Front Occurrence and Position Estimated from an Interpolated Hydrographic Climatology
Authors: Pauthenet Etienne , Sallée Jean-Baptiste , Schmidtko Sunke , Nerini David
Published: March 2021

The Antarctic Slope Front (ASF) is a fundamental feature of the subpolar Southern Ocean that is still poorly observed. In this study we build a statistical climatology of the temperature and salinity fields of the upper 380 m of the Antarctic margin. We use a comprehensive compilation of observational datasets including the profiles gathered by instrumented marine mammals. The mapping method consists first of a decomposition in vertical modes of the combined temperature and salinity profiles. Then the resulting principal components are optimally interpolated on a regular grid and the monthly climatological profiles are reconstructed, providing a physically plausible representation of the ocean. The ASF is located with a contour method and a gradient method applied on the temperature field, two complementary approaches that provide a complete view of the ASF structure. The front extends from the Amundsen Sea to the eastern Weddell Sea and closely tracks the continental shelf break. It is associated with a sharp temperature gradient that is stronger in winter and weaker in summer. The emergence of the front in the Amundsen and Bellingshausen sectors appears to be seasonally variable (slightly more westward in winter than in summer). Investigation of the density gradients across the shelf break indicates a winter slowdown of the baroclinic component of the Antarctic Slope Current at the near surface, in contrast with the seasonal variability of the temperature gradient.
Machine Learning for Creativity: Using Similarity Networks to Design Better Crowdfunding Projects
Authors: Wei Yanhao “Max” , Hong Jihoon , Tellis Gerard J.
Published: March 2021

A fundamental tension exists in creativity between novelty and similarity. This research exploits this tension to help creators craft successful projects in crowdfunding. To do so, the authors apply the concept of combinatorial creativity, analyzing each new project in connection to prior similar projects. By using machine learning techniques (Word2vec and Word Mover’s Distance), they measure the degrees of similarity between crowdfunding projects on Kickstarter. They analyze how this similarity pattern relates to a project’s funding performance and find that (1) the prior level of success of similar projects strongly predicts a new project’s funding performance, (2) the funding performance increases with a balance between being novel and imitative, (3) the optimal funding goal is close to the funds raised by prior similar projects, and (4) the funding performance increases with a balance between atypical and conventional imitation. The authors use these findings to generate actionable recommendations for project creators and crowdfunding platforms.
How COVID‐19 has Affected Africa's Development
Authors: Kinyondo Abel , Pelizzo Riccardo
Published: March 2021

Africa has experienced over a decade of sustained economic growth. However, since the outbreak of Ebola, there have been pertinent questions as to whether and what extent such outbreaks have developmental implications in the continent. It is in this context that this article investigates whether and to what extent the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic affects the development of Africa's economies. Using data from various international organizations, we show that the pandemic has indeed slowed down African economies, albeit in differing degrees across various regions of the continent. However, the slowdown is moderate compared with economies in high‐income countries and the world economies as a whole. We contend that while it is difficult to predict when the crisis is going to end, the continent can navigate itself out of it by leveraging on the ever‐increasing global prices of agricultural products and natural resources.
“Instrumentalizing” The United Nations: Nigeria and Its Quest for Regional Leadership in Africa
Authors: Oshewolo Segun , Nwozor Agaptus , Fayomi Femi , Oluwatuyi Motolani
Published: March 2021

This study demonstrates that Nigeria's power scheme in the United Nations (UN) clearly amounts to “instrumentalizing” the world body in favor of its hegemonic interest in Africa. Through the UN, Nigeria has employed its abundant power resources to support the dismantling of apartheid and colonialism in Africa, contribute actively to the maintenance of international peace, and promote social and economic development in the developing world, including Africa. Nigeria's exploits in the above areas have yielded notable dividends, particularly the projection of the country as a leading African power. The notable dividends notwithstanding, there have been some major setbacks such as occasional disdain for Nigeria's interest and ambition in the UN by smaller African countries, overwhelming domestic security challenges, and the consequent waning of Nigeria's role in UN‐mounted peacekeeping. The study recommends that Nigeria must urgently address these challenges to return to its position of prominence in the world body.
How Diverse Task Experience Affects Both Group and Subsequent Individual Performance
Authors: Sillito Walker Sheli D. , Bonner Bryan L.
Published: March 2021

Task demonstrability defines the criteria that, when met, facilitate the effective exchange of knowledge within a problem-solving group. The extent to which those criteria are met should vary as a consequence of the relevant experiences that members have prior to entering the group. We investigate whether group members’ ability to coordinate with one another is facilitated by their prior task-related experiences. Participants worked individually, then in groups, and then individually again to complete a series of circuit board assembly tasks. Groups in which all members had pre-task experience performed significantly better than groups with even a single member lacking task experience, or individuals. Mediation analysis showed that prior task experience helps group members coordinate by improving task demonstrability. Group experience composition also affected post-group individual performance. Groups with diverse task experience produced individuals who performed better solo but only after working on an unstructured task that allowed for greater exploration.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Proactive Vitality Management Scale: Invariance, Convergent, and Discriminant Validity of the Romanian Version
Authors: Bălăceanu Alexandra , Vîrgă Delia , Sârbescu Paul
Published: March 2021

The present research aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the Proactive Vitality Management (PVM) scale. Based on the Job Demands-Resources theory, PVM is a proactive behavior that helps employees manage energy at work. Two studies were conducted to test the reliability and validity of the PVM scale. The first study (N = 477) aimed to validate the Romanian version of PVM and test for measurement invariance related to gender. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a one-factor model and good values of the fit indices. Moreover, the indicators of measurement invariance showed no difference between men and women; both groups interpret the measure in a conceptually similar way. The second study (N = 307) cross-validated the one-factor model, tested discriminant and criterion validity between PVM and other constructs, such as psychological detachment and well-being (e.g., work engagement, health). The results indicated that PVM is indeed a one-factor construct associated with well-being indicators and unrelated to psychological detachment. From a practical perspective, the PVM scale is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing proactive energy management in organizations and developing strategies and interventions for employees to function optimally and reach their work-related well-being. The study also provides evidence of the PVM in the Job Demands-Resources theory as a proactive behavior at work, which represents a new strategy for employees to function optimally at work by deciding when and how to manage their energy.
Thermal Conductance Through the Skull Base From Endoscopic Surgery Cauterization Instruments: Cadaver and Goat Model
Authors: Su Peiyi , Wrobel Bozena B. , Zada Gabriel , Mack Wendy J. , Ge Marshall , Kim Jee‐Hong , Ference Elisabeth D.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Cauterization prevents hemorrhage and optimizes the surgical field during endoscopic sinus surgery but may cause injury to nearby structures. The objective of this study is to examine thermal conductance from cauterization equipment across the skull base.

Study Design

Cadaver and animal model.

Setting

Surgical skills laboratory of an academic tertiary medical institution.

Methods

A pilot study was conducted with a deidentified cadaver head and expanded to a goat head animal model. Endoscopic dissection was performed to expose the lamina papyracea, ethmoid roof, sphenoid roof, and frontal sinus. Cautery was applied to the frontal sinus of goat heads, and temperatures were measured via thermocouple sensors placed along the intracranial skull base. Surgical instruments studied included monopolar, bipolar, and endoscopic bipolar devices at various power settings.

Results

Temperature increase, as averaged across all cautery powers and measurement positions, was highest for the monopolar cautery (17.55 °C) when compared with the bipolar and endoscopic bipolar devices (<2 °C for bipolar, Endo‐Pen, Stammberger, and Wormald; P <. 001). Monopolar cautery reached 30.86 °C at high power when averaged over all positions (P <. 001) as compared with <3 °C for the other instruments. Temperatures rose as power of cautery was increased from low to medium and high. Temperatures decreased as the distance of the thermocouple sensor probe from the cautery origin increased.

Conclusion

Thermal conductance across the skull base varies depending on equipment and power of cautery, with monopolar resulting in the largest temperature increase. Choice and implementation of cauterization instruments have implications on inadvertent transmission of thermal energy during endoscopic sinus surgery.
Evaluation of Short‐term Outcomes of Tracheostomy Procedures in a NICU Population With High Ventilator Settings
Authors: Banks Laura , Worobetz Noah , Hamersley Erin , Onwuka Amanda , Shepherd Edward , Wiet Gregory
Published: March 2021

Objective

To investigate whether tracheostomy placement in infants requiring high ventilator pressure is safe and effective.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary children’s hospital.

Methods

Fifty ventilator‐dependent neonatal intensive care unit patients who underwent tracheotomy from 2009 to 2018 were included. Patients requiring high ventilator pressures were compared to those requiring low ventilator pressures. Demographics, comorbidities, and surgical and clinical data were recorded.

Results

Thirty‐two percent (n = 16) had low ventilator settings at the time of tracheostomy tube placement, and 68% (n = 34) had high ventilator settings. The median peak inspiratory pressure of the high ventilator group was 29.5 cm H2O, positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) was 8 cm H2O, mean airway pressure was 13 cm H2O, pressure support (PS) was 14 cm H2O, PS above PEEP was 6 cm H2O, and inspiratory time was 0.65 seconds. The high ventilator cohort had a higher median age at the time of surgery compared to the low ventilator group (P =. 02). Female patients were more likely to have high ventilator settings (P =. 02). There were no intraoperative complications or deaths within the first 7 days of tracheostomy tube placement. Pneumonia incidence and rate of mortality during admission did not vary by ventilator settings (P =. 92 and P =. 94, respectively).

Conclusion

Few differences in tracheostomy tube placement outcomes were observed for patients with high ventilator settings compared to low ventilator settings. These data demonstrate that patients requiring high ventilator pressures can benefit from tracheostomy tube placement with no additional short‐term risks.
Arousability, Personality, and Decision-Making Ability in Dissociative Disorder
Authors: Ghosh Doyel , Mukhopadhyay Pritha , Chatterjee Ishani , Roy Prasanta Kumar
Published: March 2021

Background:

There is a gap in understanding the pathogenesis of dissociative conversion disorder (DCD), despite the disorder having a strong historical root. The role of personality and neurocognitive factors are now highlighted; however, inconsistencies are reported. This study explores the personality disposition, arousability, and decision-making ability of patients with DCD, in reference to a healthy control group (HCG).

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, the sample comprised ten adult psychiatric patients with DCD. Ten participants of the HCG were matched according to age, gender, education, economic status, domicile, religious background, and handedness. The study assessed personality disposition with Temperament and Character Inventory, arousability with reaction time task, and decision-making ability with the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT PEBL version).

Results:

The DCD group differed significantly on personality disposition related to both temperament and character. There was also evidence of easy arousability and frustration along with deficit in executive function related to decision-making ability.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the presence of both temperamental and characterological factors associated with DCD. Moreover, this study identifies the role of cognitive arousability and decision-making or feedback utilization ability in the psychopathology of DCD.
Sentence comprehension in heritage language: Isomorphism, word order, and language transfer
Authors: Chrabaszcz Anna , Onischik Elena , Dragoy Olga
Published: March 2021

This study examines the role of cross-linguistic transfer versus general processing strategy in two groups of heritage speakers ( n = 28 per group) with the same heritage language – Russian – and typologically different dominant languages: English and Estonian. A group of homeland Russian speakers ( n = 36) is tested to provide baseline comparison. Within the framework of the Competition model (MacWhinney, 2012), cross-linguistic transfer is defined as reliance on the processing cue prevalent in the heritage speaker’s dominant language (e.g. word order in English) for comprehension of heritage language. In accordance with the Isomorphic Mapping Hypothesis (O’Grady and Lee, 2005), the general processing strategy is defined in terms of isomorphism as a linear alignment between the order of the sentence constituents and the temporal sequence of events. Participants were asked to match pictures on the computer screen with auditorily presented sentences. Sentences included locative or instrumental constructions, in which two cues – word order (basic vs. inverted) and isomorphism mapping (isomorphic vs. nonisomorphic) – were fully crossed. The results revealed that (1) Russian native speakers are sensitive to isomorphism in sentence processing; (2) English-dominant heritage speakers experience dominant language transfer, as evidenced by their reliance primarily on the word order cue; (3) Estonian-dominant heritage speakers do not show significant effects of isomorphism or word order but experience significant processing costs in all conditions.
Role of Periostin Expression in Canine Osteosarcoma Biology and Clinical Outcome
Authors: Alfino Lauren N. , Wilczewski-Shirai Kai C. , Cronise Kathryn E. , Coy Jonathan , Glapa Kristina , Ehrhart E. J. , Charles Joseph B. , Duval Dawn L. , Regan Daniel P.
Published: March 2021

Periostin is a matricellular protein important in regulating bone, tooth, and cardiac development. In pathologic conditions, periostin drives allergic and fibrotic inflammatory diseases and is also overexpressed in certain cancers. Periostin signaling in tumors has been shown to promote angiogenesis, metastasis, and cancer stem cell survival in rodent models, and its overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in human glioblastoma. However, the role of periostin in regulating tumorigenesis of canine cancers has not been evaluated. Given its role in bone development, we sought to evaluate mRNA and protein expression of periostin in canine osteosarcoma (OS) and assess its association with patient outcome. We validated an anti-human periostin antibody cross-reactive to canine periostin via western blot and immunohistochemistry and evaluated periostin expression in microarray data from 49 primary canine OS tumors and 8 normal bone samples. Periostin mRNA was upregulated greater than 40-fold in canine OS tumors compared to normal bone and was significantly correlated with periostin protein expression based on quantitative image analysis. However, neither periostin mRNA nor protein expression were associated with time to metastasis in this cohort. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis demonstrated significant enhancement of pro-tumorigenic pathways including canonical WNT signaling, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis in periostin-high tumors, while periostin-low tumors demonstrated evidence of heightened antitumor immune responses. Overall, these data identify a novel antibody that can be used as a tool for evaluation of periostin expression in dogs and suggest that investigation of Wnt pathway-targeted drugs in periostin overexpressing canine OS may be a potential therapeutic target.
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble: Assault in Space and Time
Authors: Kurland Justin , Hill Josh
Published: March 2021

Building on the growing literature of the spatial examination of criminality, this study examines the stability of crime related to mass gathering events over time. Specifically, we examine the impacts of baseball games on assault patterns in the Bronx and Queens, New York, using a nonparametric permutation approach to examine the spatial distribution of point patterns at the neighborhood level over multiple seasons. Findings demonstrate that Mets and Yankees game days have significant impact on the number of assaults when compared to a sample of similar non–game days providing further support for environmental criminological theories. Implications for practitioner use of the tool as well as its use as a method for researchers who seek to compare crime event patterns across several temporal bandwidths are discussed.
Resection of bone by sagittal saw: Investigation of effects of blade speed, feed rate, and irrigation on temperature rise
Authors: Shakouri Ehsan , Ghorbani Pezhman , Pourheidari Pedram , Fotuhi Saeed
Published: March 2021

Heat generation during bone cutting by sagittal saw may lead to temperature rise and possible incidence of thermal necrosis. The aim of the present research is to examine the effect of saw blade oscillation rate, blade feed rate, and irrigation by physiological saline solution on the bone temperature rise during sawing in order to determine the desired conditions for reducing the extent of thermal damage. For this purpose, empirical tests of bovine femur cutting were performed in 15 states, including five levels for the blade oscillation rate (10,000–18,000 cpm with 2000 cpm intervals) and three levels for the feed rate (10–30 mm.min−1 with 10 mm.min−1 intervals) for dry conditions; and five states, including five levels for the blade oscillation rate (10,000–18,000 cpm with 2000 cpm intervals) and one level in feed rate of 20 mm.min−1 for the irrigation conditions. The results indicated that the bone temperature rise had a direct relationship with the blade oscillation rate and an inverse relationship with its feed rate. In the state of no cooling, the minimum temperature rise (Δ T = 65.45°C) occurred at the blade speed of 10,000 cpm and feed rate of 30 mm.min−1, while in the state of sawing with irrigation, the temperature rise almost did not exceed the allowable range (Δ T ≤ 10°C). The results suggested that to lower the possibility of incidence of osteonecrosis in the bone resection by sagittal saw, cooling with physiological saline solution or application of the minimum blade oscillation rate and maximum feed rate is recommended.
Associations of Age, Gender, and Family Income with Quality of Life in Children With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Robson Piera C. , Dietrich Mary S. , Akard Terrah Foster
Published: March 2021

Background: Children with cancer often experience decreased quality of life (QOL) throughout the illness trajectory. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations of demographic characteristics with QOL in children with advanced cancer. Methods: This secondary analysis was part of a larger randomized clinical trial that evaluated the efficacy of a legacy intervention for children (7–17 years) with relapsed/refractory cancer and their primary parent caregivers. Assessments included child self-reports on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Cancer Module. Researchers used descriptive and linear regression statistical methods. Results: Children ( n = 128) averaged 10.9 years (SD = 3.0). The majority were female ( n = 68, 53%), white ( n = 107, 84%), had a hematologic malignancy ( n = 67, 52%), with family incomes of $50,000 or less ( n = 81, 63.3%). Statistically significant positive associations of both age and income level with PedsQL scores were observed ( p < .05) but not gender ( p > .05). The strongest correlations for age were with the procedural anxiety ( beta = 0.42), treatment anxiety ( beta = 0.26), and total ( beta = 0.28) scores (all p < .01). In general, there was a positive correlation between family income levels and PedsQL scores ( p < .05). The strongest correlations for income were with nausea ( R = 0.49), appearance ( R = 0.44), pain, and treatment anxiety (both R = 0.42) (all p < .01). Associations adjusted for age remained essentially the same (all p < .01). Discussion: Children with advanced cancer with lower family income and younger age are at high risk for poorer QOL. Oncology nurses should seek to identify families who may benefit from additional resources to promote QOL.