bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computer science
Authors: Yashin Vladimir , Kolodenkova Anna
Published: March 2021

The book describes the main topics of modern computer science: branch of theoretical computer science, associated with the analysis of different information models; section of computer technology, dedicated to the development of common principles of computer systems; section of programming devoted to the principles of algorithms and computer software. Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation. For students of higher educational institutions studying information technologies in the framework of the discipline "Informatics", graduate students, university teachers and anyone interested in modern information technologies.
A band of brothers: the modern trade union
Authors: Bernstein Adam
Published: March 2021

Trade unions can be associated with workplace unrest. However, employers that engage with unions often find that workplace harmony is greatly improved. Adam Bernstein elaborates.
How to … support care staff with workplace bullying
Authors: Ashurst Adrian
Published: March 2021

Senior care staff not only have a duty of care for residents, but also for their colleagues. Adrian Ashurst discusses the importance of providing staff with practical support if they experience any bullying or harassment at work.
Nano Synthesis and Characterization of Complex Derived from Silver Metal Conjugated with Midodrine Hydrochloride
Authors: Bharadwaj Namita , Kaushik Jaishri
Published: March 2021

The stability constant Kf for the complexation of Ag(Ⅰ) metal ion with Midodrine hydrochloride were determinedby spectrophotometric method at room temperature .The colored complexes were measured at 300 nm. The stability constant of the complexes were found to be 5.47 by mole ratio method. The stoichiometry of the complexes formed between the Midodrine drug and Ag (Ⅰ) metal ion are 1:1 M/L ratio. Silver conjugated Midodrine hydrochloride Nano synthesized and characterized by UV/Visible spectroscopy, SEM, XRD and FT-IR. The UV/Visible spectra of Midodrine –Ag nanoparticle in the range of 322 nm. XRD conformThe crystallite size of Midodrine - Ag (Ⅰ) nanoparticles are found to be 64.5 nmfrom Debye Scherer formula.Thecrystallinity of nanoparticles is Face centered cubic structure. SEM conform of particle size and surface morphology, FTIR analyzed involvement of -NH2 group in Midodrine is the stabilized of silver nanoparticle. This research is focuses on complexation, Nano synthesis and characterization of Drug-silver nanoparticle for antihypotention therapy.
Hemocompatibility and Surface Morphology of Vegetable Oil Based Polyurethane Eggshell Powder Nanocomposite
Authors: Jerlite K. J. Jasmine , Nevaditha N. T.
Published: March 2021

In the present work, biocompatible polyurethane (PU) and PU – based nanocomposites (PUENs) of different composition have been synthesized from hydroxylated olive oil- based polyurethane and eggshell powder as filler. The synthesized polyurethane nanocomposites are characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and XRDanalysis. The chemical resistance and biodegradability of the PUENs have been studied in different chemical environments. SEM analysis confirms the incorporation of eggshell powder into the polyurethane matrix. TheXRD study reveals that the intensity of the peak increases from 90 to 137 cts with the increase in crystallinity. The chemical resistance shows the swelling and degradation of the PUENs at higher concentration of the HCl and NaOH. Insoil burial degradation method 13 %-18% of weight loss is observed in PUEN3 and PUEN4. The hemolytic rate of PUEN4 is <2% at 10 to 40µg/ml showing non-hemolysis, implies better hemocompatibility of the sample.
Hair Cortisol and Self-Injurious Behavior Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Courtemanche Andrea B. , Black William R. , Meyer Jerrold S.
Published: March 2021

Elevated salivary cortisol levels have been documented in individuals who engage in self-injurious behavior (SIB), indicating acute physiological stress. Less is known about the chronicity of stress and SIB. We analyzed the relationship between parent ratings of problem behavior and hair cortisol concentrations (an index of chronic adrenocortical activity) in 23 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parent ratings of problem behavior were not significantly correlated with hair cortisol concentrations. When children were categorized into groups based on the frequency and severity of SIB, participants with the greatest frequency and severity of SIB had higher hair cortisol concentrations compared to children without SIB. Frequent and severe SIB may be associated with altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in children with ASD.
Displacement and strain mapping for osteocytes under fluid shear stress using digital holographic microscopy and digital image correlation
Authors: Cao Runyu , Xiao Wen , Pan Feng , Tian Ran , Wu Xintong , Sun Lianwen
Published: March 2021

Osteocytes, as the mechano-sensors in bone, are always subjected to fluid shear stress (FSS) from the surrounding matrix. Quantification of FSS-induced cellular deformation is significant for clarifying the “perceive and transmit” process of cellular mechanotransduction. In this research, a label-free displacement and strain mapping method based on digital holographic microscopy (DHM) and digital image correlation (DIC) is introduced. The method, which is termed DHM-DIC, innovatively utilizes surface features extracted from holographic phase images instead of speckles as the metric for DIC searching. Simulation results on a hemisphere validate the feasibility of DHM-DIC. Displacement and strain maps of living osteocytes under 1.5 Pa FSS are evaluated from DHM-DIC and present good agreement with our previous finite element modeling results.
Production of 23Na Bose–Einstein condensates in the F = 2 state using D2 gray molasses
Authors: Shi Zhenlian , Li Ziliang , Wang Pengjun , Sadiq Nawaz Khan , Chen Liangchao , Meng Zengming , Huang Lianghui , Zhang Jing
Published: March 2021

We report on the production of Bose–Einstein condensates of sodium atoms in the hyperfine state

|

F
=
2
,

m
F

=
2
⟩

in a crossed optical dipole trap using

D
2

gray molasses. We use the gray molasses sub-Doppler cooling technique to obtain an atomic sample of

3
×

10
8

at 56 µK. After the radio frequency (RF) evaporation cooling in an optically plugged magnetic trap, we transfer the atoms sample of

2.5
×

10
6

at 5.7 µK to a crossed optical dipole trap where a pure condensate with an atom number of

2
×

10
5

and lifetime of 6.3 s is obtained by further evaporation. We compare the cooling process of sodium atoms in the

|

2
,
2
⟩

and the

|

1
,
1
⟩

states by evaporation in the optical trap, and also observe the different three-body loss rates by the lifetime measurement.
Millijoule few-cycle pulses from staged compression for strong and high field science
Authors: Stanfield M. , Beier N. F. , Hakimi S. , Allison H. , Farinella D. , Hussein A. E. , Tajima T. , Dollar F.
Published: March 2021

Intense few-cycle laser pulses have a breadth of applications in high energy density science, including particle acceleration and x-ray generation. Multi-amplifier laser system pulses have durations of tens of femtoseconds or longer. To achieve high intensities at the single-cycle limit, a robust and efficient post-compression scheme is required. We demonstrate a staged compression technique using self-phase modulation in thin dielectric media, in which few-cycle pulses can be produced. The few-cycle pulse is then used to generate extreme ultravoilet light via high harmonic generation at strong field intensities and to generate MeV electron beams via laser solid interactions at relativistic intensities.
Super-oscillatory metasurface doublet for sub-diffraction focusing with a large incident angle
Authors: Li Zhu , Wang Changtao , Wang Yanqin , Lu Xinjian , Guo Yinghui , Li Xiong , Ma Xiaoliang , Pu Mingbo , Luo Xiangang
Published: March 2021

Based on the delicate interference behavior of light in the far field, the optical super-oscillatory phenomenon has been successfully applied in non-invasive sub-diffraction focusing and super-resolution imaging in recent years. However, the optical super-oscillatory field is particularly sensitive to the change of incident angle, leading to a limited field of view for super-resolution imaging. In this paper, a super-oscillatory metasurface doublet is proposed to achieve far-field sub-diffraction focusing with an incident angle of up to 25°. The constructed doublet, consisting of high-aspect-ratio rectangular nanopillars with high efficiency, is further demonstrated through a full-wave simulation, and the numerical results indicate that the sub-diffraction foci with about 0.75 times of the diffraction limit is achieved for different incident angles. The proposed super-oscillatory metasurface doublet may find intriguing applications in label-free super-resolution microscopy and optical precise fabrication.
Design and theoretical characterization of high speed metasurface modulators based on electro-optic polymer
Authors: Sun Xinyu , Liu Guolei , Yu Hongyan , Ban Dasai , Deng Niping , Qiu Feng
Published: March 2021

Metasurfaces have attracted extraordinary interest in achieving novel, ultrathin and compact photonic devices. To date, however, the realization of electrically tunable high-speed metasurfaces remains a great challenge. In this work, we present an electro-optic (EO) polymer/silicon hybrid metasurface modulator with an estimated 3dB modulation bandwidth up to 118 GHz. The specially designed metasurface utilizes a broken in-plane inversion symmetry structure to generate a high-Q resonance. The high-Q property enhances the EO modulation effect, so that a 16 dB extinction ratio is theoretically verified under a driving voltage V
p-p
of 4V. The pulse modulation results in an ultra-fast single-lane data rates up to 300 Gbps driven by a low RF power. The presented modulator should be applicable for high-speed and low-energy intelligent tunable metasurface, space optical communication and so on.
Dual-channel illumination surface plasmon resonance holographic microscopy for resolution improvement
Authors: Dou Jiazhen , Dai Siqing , Dong Chen , Zhang Jiwei , Di Jianglei , Zhao Jianlin
Published: March 2021

Surface plasmon resonance holographic microscopy (SPRHM), combining digital holographic microscopy with surface plasmon resonance (SPR), can simultaneously obtain the amplitude and phase distributions of the reflected beam carrying specimen information in SPR. Due to the decaying length of the surface plasmon wave as large as tens of micrometers, the spatial resolution of SPRHM is lower than that of ordinary optical microscopes. In this work, we propose a scheme to improve the spatial resolution of SPRHM by applying dual-channel SPR excitations. Through the polarization multiplexing technique, two holograms carrying the information of SPR excited in orthogonal directions are simultaneously acquired. Via a numerical reconstruction and filtering algorithm for holograms, the lateral spatial resolution of SPRHM can be effectively enhanced to reach nearly 1 µm at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. This is comparable to the resolution of traditional optical microscopes, while possessing the advantages of wide-field imaging and high measurement sensitivity of SPR.
Integrated multi-beam optical phased array based on a 4  ×  4 Butler matrix
Authors: Lu Ping , Xu Weihan , Zhu Chen , Liu Chuxin , Lu Liangjun , Zhou Linjie , Chen Jianping
Published: March 2021

We design and demonstrate the first, to the best of our knowledge, silicon-based multi-beam optical phased array (MOPA), incorporating a

4

×
4

Butler matrix beamforming network. The one-dimensional end-fire array consists of 16 emitters at a uniform pitch together with their corresponding phase shifters and is shared among the beams to realize large-scale aliasing-free beam-steering at reduced complexity. Experimental results show that the device is capable of individual beam aliasing-free operation with a field of view up to 46°. The steering envelope shows a plateau where the peak intensities fluctuate within 0.5 dB. The beamforming and beam-steering performance are also evaluated for simultaneous multi-beam operation. Our work validates the feasibility of beamforming-network-based MOPAs, which are promising for applications including light detection and ranging and free-space optical communication.
Functional innovation promotes diversification of form in the evolution of an ultrafast trap-jaw mechanism in ants
Authors: Booher Douglas B. , Gibson Joshua C. , Liu Cong , Longino John T. , Fisher Brian L. , Janda Milan , Narula Nitish , Toulkeridou Evropi , Mikheyev Alexander S. , Suarez Andrew V. , Economo Evan P.
Published: March 2021

Evolutionary innovations underlie the rise of diversity and complexity—the 2 long-term trends in the history of life. How does natural selection redesign multiple interacting parts to achieve a new emergent function? We investigated the evolution of a biomechanical innovation, the latch-spring mechanism of trap-jaw ants, to address 2 outstanding evolutionary problems: how form and function change in a system during the evolution of new complex traits, and whether such innovations and the diversity they beget are repeatable in time and space. Using a new phylogenetic reconstruction of 470 species, and X-ray microtomography and high-speed videography of representative taxa, we found the trap-jaw mechanism evolved independently 7 to 10 times in a single ant genus (Strumigenys), resulting in the repeated evolution of diverse forms on different continents. The trap mechanism facilitates a 6 to 7 order of magnitude greater mandible acceleration relative to simpler ancestors, currently the fastest recorded acceleration of a resettable animal movement. We found that most morphological diversification occurred after evolution of latch-spring mechanisms, which evolved via minor realignments of mouthpart structures. This finding, whereby incremental changes in form lead to a change of function, followed by large morphological reorganization around the new function, provides a model for understanding the evolution of complex biomechanical traits, as well as insights into why such innovations often happen repeatedly.
Biological impact of mutually exclusive exon switching
Authors: Lam Su Datt , Babu M. Madan , Lees Jonathan , Orengo Christine A.
Published: March 2021

Alternative splicing can expand the diversity of proteomes. Homologous mutually exclusive exons (MXEs) originate from the same ancestral exon and result in polypeptides with similar structural properties but altered sequence. Why would some genes switch homologous exons and what are their biological impact? Here, we analyse the extent of sequence, structural and functional variability in MXEs and report the first large scale, structure-based analysis of the biological impact of MXE events from different genomes. MXE-specific residues tend to map to single domains, are highly enriched in surface exposed residues and cluster at or near protein functional sites. Thus, MXE events are likely to maintain the protein fold, but alter specificity and selectivity of protein function. This comprehensive resource of MXE events and their annotations is available at: http://gene3d.biochem.ucl.ac.uk/mxemod/. These findings highlight how small, but significant changes at critical positions on a protein surface are exploited in evolution to alter function.
Using deep neural networks to evaluate object vision tasks in rats
Authors: Vinken Kasper , Op de Beeck Hans
Published: March 2021

In the last two decades rodents have been on the rise as a dominant model for visual neuroscience. This is particularly true for earlier levels of information processing, but a number of studies have suggested that also higher levels of processing such as invariant object recognition occur in rodents. Here we provide a quantitative and comprehensive assessment of this claim by comparing a wide range of rodent behavioral and neural data with convolutional deep neural networks. These networks have been shown to capture hallmark properties of information processing in primates through a succession of convolutional and fully connected layers. We find that performance on rodent object vision tasks can be captured using low to mid-level convolutional layers only, without any convincing evidence for the need of higher layers known to simulate complex object recognition in primates. Our approach also reveals surprising insights on assumptions made before, for example, that the best performing animals would be the ones using the most abstract representations–which we show to likely be incorrect. Our findings suggest a road ahead for further studies aiming at quantifying and establishing the richness of representations underlying information processing in animal models at large.
Short-range template switching in great ape genomes explored using pair hidden Markov models
Authors: Walker Conor R. , Scally Aylwyn , De Maio Nicola , Goldman Nick
Published: March 2021

Many complex genomic rearrangements arise through template switch errors, which occur in DNA replication when there is a transient polymerase switch to an alternate template nearby in three-dimensional space. While typically investigated at kilobase-to-megabase scales, the genomic and evolutionary consequences of this mutational process are not well characterised at smaller scales, where they are often interpreted as clusters of independent substitutions, insertions and deletions. Here we present an improved statistical approach using pair hidden Markov models, and use it to detect and describe short-range template switches underlying clusters of mutations in the multi-way alignment of hominid genomes. Using robust statistics derived from evolutionary genomic simulations, we show that template switch events have been widespread in the evolution of the great apes’ genomes and provide a parsimonious explanation for the presence of many complex mutation clusters in their phylogenetic context. Larger-scale mechanisms of genome rearrangement are typically associated with structural features around breakpoints, and accordingly we show that atypical patterns of secondary structure formation and DNA bending are present at the initial template switch loci. Our methods improve on previous non-probabilistic approaches for computational detection of template switch mutations, allowing the statistical significance of events to be assessed. By specifying realistic evolutionary parameters based on the genomes and taxa involved, our methods can be readily adapted to other intra- or inter-species comparisons.
Detection of toxoplasmic encephalitis in HIV positive patients in urine with hydrogel nanoparticles
Authors: Steinberg Hannah E. , Bowman Natalie M. , Diestra Andrea , Ferradas Cusi , Russo Paul , Clark Daniel E. , Zhu Deanna , Magni Ruben , Malaga Edith , Diaz Monica , Pinedo-Cancino Viviana , Ramal Asayag Cesar , Calderón Maritza , Carruthers Vern B. , Liotta Lance A. , Gilman Robert H. , Luchini Alessandra ,   the Toxoplasmosis working group in Peru and Bolivia
Published: March 2021

Background

Diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is challenging under the best clinical circumstances. The poor clinical sensitivity of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) forToxoplasmain blood and CSF and the limited availability of molecular diagnostics and imaging technology leaves clinicians in resource-limited settings with few options other than empiric treatment.

Methology/principle findings

Here we describe proof of concept for a novel urine diagnostics for TE using Poly-N-Isopropylacrylamide nanoparticles dyed with Reactive Blue-221 to concentrate antigens, substantially increasing the limit of detection. After nanoparticle-concentration, a standard western blotting technique with a monoclonal antibody was used for antigen detection. Limit of detection was 7.8pg/ml and 31.3pg/ml ofT.gondiiantigens GRA1 and SAG1, respectively. To characterize this diagnostic approach, 164 hospitalized HIV-infected patients with neurological symptoms compatible with TE were tested for 1)T.gondiiserology (121/147, positive samples/total samples tested), 2) qPCR in cerebrospinal fluid (11/41), 3) qPCR in blood (10/112), and 4) urinary GRA1 (30/164) and SAG1 (12/164). GRA1 appears to be superior to SAG1 for detection of TE antigens in urine. Fifty-one HIV-infected,T.gondiiseropositive but asymptomatic persons all tested negative by nanoparticle western blot and blood qPCR, suggesting the test has good specificity for TE for both GRA1 and SAG1. In a subgroup of 44 patients, urine samples were assayed with mass spectrometry parallel-reaction-monitoring (PRM) for the presence ofT.gondiiantigens. PRM identified antigens in 8 samples, 6 of which were concordant with the urine diagnostic.

Conclusion/significances

Our results demonstrate nanoparticle technology’s potential for a noninvasive diagnostic test for TE. Moving forward, GRA1 is a promising target for antigen based diagnostics for TE.
Contextualizing the think crisis-think female stereotype in explaining the glass cliff: Gendered traits, gender, and type of crisis
Authors: Kulich Clara , Gartzia Leire , Komarraju Meera , Aelenei Cristina
Published: March 2021

The glass cliff suggests that women are more likely to access leadership positions when organizations are facing a crisis. Although this phenomenon is well established, it is still largely unknown how variations in types of crises influence the strength of the think crisis-think female association, and whether female leaders and leaders with communal gendered traits are both affected by this association. We hypothesized that selection of stereotypically feminine traits (communal leaders) is specific to a relational crisis because of a fit between leader traits and traits required by the situation. We further expected that the selection of women also extends to other crisis situations because other factors such as their signaling change potential may play a role. We investigated the associations that participants made with candidates who varied across gendered traits and gender and between two crisis situations involving problems with either stereotypically feminine (e.g., an internal disharmony) or masculine (e.g., a financial problem) components, and a no crisis situation control. Results from three experimental studies (Ns = 319, 384, 385) supported our hypotheses by showing that communal leaders were most strongly associated with a relational crisis and least with a financial crisis, with the no crisis context situated in-between. This pattern was explained by higher relevance ratings for communal leadership behavior in the relational crisis versus financial crisis context, with the no crisis context situated in-between. In contrast, female leaders were most strongly associated with the relational crisis and least with the no crisis context, with the financial crisis situated in-between. Specific explanatory mechanisms related to the female-crisis association are explored and discussed. Our findings suggest that implicit motivations for valuing feminine/communal leadership and atypical leaders in crisis situations need further research.
Chronic obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction: CT assessment with Valsalva maneuver and ETS-7 score
Authors: Angeletti Diletta , Pace Annalisa , Iannella Giannicola , Rossetti Valeria , Colizza Andrea , Visconti Irene Claudia , Gulotta Giampiero , Messineo Daniela , de Vincentiis Marco , Greco Antonio , D’Ambrosio Ferdinando , Magliulo Giuseppe
Published: March 2021

Chronic obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common disorder of the middle ear. In recent years, two main diagnostic tools have become available: Eustachian tube score (ETS-7) and computed tomography (CT) combined with Valsalva maneuver. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of ETS-7 and CT in a group of patients affected by middle ear atelectasis with a strong suspicion of ETD. Three males and nine females, affected by middle ear atelectasis with retraction of the TM were enrolled. Each patient underwent to Eustachian tube dysfunction evaluation adopting the ETS-7 score and a temporal bone CT with Valsalva maneuver. The ears analyzed at steady state were divided into 2 groups: ETS<7 group and ETS≥ 7 group. The same division was applied for the ears analyzed after the Valsalva maneuver: ETS<7 group and ETS≥ 7 group. ETs were categorized as “well defined” (WD) and “not defined” (ND). The results of the analysis of the ETS-7 score in all 24 ears showed that 42% presented ETS ≥7, while 58% had ETS <7, indicating a diagnosis of ETD. In the ETS<7 group after Valsalva, ET was visualized in 33% of patients. In the ETS≥7 group it was WD in 29% after the Valsalva manoeuver. In both groups the comparison between the visualization of the ET before and after the Valsalva manoeuver did not present a statistical difference. No correlation emerged between ET evaluation with CT scan during Valsalva maneuver and ETS-7 score. It confirms that there is not a gold standard for the study of ET dysfunction.
House dust mite sensitization drives cross-reactive immune responses to homologous helminth proteins
Authors: Gazzinelli-Guimaraes Pedro Henrique , Bennuru Sasisekhar , de Queiroz Prado Rafael , Ricciardi Alessandra , Sciurba Joshua , Kupritz Jonah , Moser Matthew , Kamenyeva Olena , Nutman Thomas B.
Published: March 2021

The establishment of type 2 responses driven by allergic sensitization prior to exposure to helminth parasites has demonstrated how tissue-specific responses can protect against migrating larval stages, but, as a consequence, allow for immune-mediated, parasite/allergy-associated morbidity. In this way, whether helminth cross-reacting allergen-specific antibodies are produced and play a role during the helminth infection, or exacerbate the allergic outcome awaits elucidation. Thus, the main objective of the study was to investigate whether house dust mite (HDM) sensitization triggers allergen-specific antibodies that interact withAscarisantigens and mediate antibody-dependent deleterious effects on these parasites as well as, to assess the capacity of cross-reactive helminth proteins to trigger allergic inflammation in house dust mite presensitized mice. Here, we show that the sensitization with HDM-extract drives marked IgE and IgG1 antibody responses that cross-react withAscarislarval antigens. Proteomic analysis ofAscarislarval antigens recognized by these HDM-specific antibodies identifiedAscaristropomyosin and enolase as the 2 major HDM homologues based on high sequence and structural similarity. Moreover, the helminth tropomyosin could drive Type-2 associated pulmonary inflammation similar to HDM following HDM tropomyosin sensitization. The HDM-triggered IgE cross-reactive antibodies were found to be functional as they mediated immediate hypersensitivity responses in skin testing. Finally, we demonstrated that HDM sensitization in either B cells or FcγRIII alpha-chain deficient mice indicated that the allergen driven cell-mediated larval killing is not antibody-dependent. Taken together, our data suggest that aeroallergen sensitization drives helminth reactive antibodies through molecular and structural similarity between HDM andAscarisantigens suggesting that cross-reactive immune responses help drive allergic inflammation.
Haematological & Inflammatory Markers in Septicaemia and Its Prognostic Implications in Okhla Industrial Area
Authors: Aggarwal Juhi , Singh Swati , Huda Walia Murshida , Kumar Mayur , Dhakad Jagmohan , Yadav Yogesh
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND Sepsis remains an important cause of hospitalisation and mortality worldwide among patients admitted in intensive care units (ICU). Due to increasing mortality and morbidity of sepsis early diagnosis and treatment are essential. This can be achieved with the help of biomarkers–haematological and inflammatory i.e., C-reactive protein (CRP) and pro calcitonin (PCT). They are found to be highly sensitive and useful markers for early detection and management of sepsis. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study conducted from May 2019 to March 2020 in the Department of Biochemistry, ESI Hospital, Okhla. A total of 104 subjects were recruited for the study. Of them, 52 subjects were healthy controls, and 52 cases were ICU patients. Samples were taken to evaluate differential leucocyte count (DLC), red cell distribution width standard deviation (RDW SD), platelet count (PLT), absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and platelet crit as haematological markers whereas Creactive protein, fibrinogen and pro calcitonin indices were chosen as inflammatory. markers. RESULTS There was significant increase in the TLC (21583.51 ± 2240.36), total neutrophil count (7889.48 ± 1482.83), immature neutrophil (2.97 ± 1.67), fibrinogen levels (518.07 ± 66.74), CRP (0.048 ± 0.01) and pro calcitonin levels (0.062 ± 0.22) of the cases as compared to the healthy controls. The platelet count was observed to be higher in healthy subjects as compared to the patients in ICU. CONCLUSIONS The study results showed that clinical examination along with laboratory testing which include hematologic and inflammatory biomarkers is the most effective combination of parameters for rapidly and accurately predicting or diagnosing sepsis in a critically ill patient. KEY WORDS Sepsis, Haematological, Inflammatory, CRP, PCT, Fibrinogen
Mediation
Authors: Allport Lesley A
Published: March 2021

This article examines the place of mediation both internally and externally to the civil justice system. The growth of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and the culture of settlement within formal justice has somewhat absorbed mediation as a process by which to resolve disputes at the door of the court. Yet, it can be argued that its origins lie within the community setting where social norms have a distinct role to play and where collective as well as individual interests have a significant impact. This paper considers the application of mediation in a much wider sense than simply as a tool for settlement. It explores the concept of mediation as an educative process that supports the generation and advocation of social norms. Mediation can be understood as a form of self-regulation which relies on perceptions of fairness, justice and trust. In so doing, it can be argued that it provides a means of informal justice amounting to dispute prevention as far as its relationship to the justice system is concerned. Viewed in this way, mediation provides a genuine first choice as a means to address and resolve conflict rather than an alternative method by which to settle disputes.

Keywords: mediation; dispute resolution; dispute prevention; community norms; formal justice; informal justice; process pluralism; alternative; first choice.
Old Wines in New Bottles? Private Securities Litigation in China’s New Securities Law
Authors: Chen Ding
Published: March 2021

Private securities litigation has been very weak since the establishment of China’s stock market some 30 years ago. A new law on securities took effect in March 2020 and introduces some reformist changes to this area. This article will examine the likely effect of the new Securities Law on this form of litigation. In particular, it will examine China’s most celebrated ‘quasi-class action’ system, i.e. Special Representative Litigation. This procedure is borrowed from Taiwan’s non-profit organization model. The essay argues that, since the new Securities Law has made only limited efforts in addressing the primary reason for the weak private securities litigation, namely, lack of judicial independence, it is unlikely to make any significant changes to private securities litigation in China.

Keywords: private securities litigation; securities law; class action; cost of litigation; judicial independence.
Miscarriages of Justice and the Construction of Criminality in the People’s Republic of China
Authors: Mou Yu
Published: March 2021

Another high-profile miscarriage of justice was reported recently by the media in China, highlighting widespread issues concerning torture and other police malpractices within the Chinese criminal justice system. Drawing from analysis in my book on the Construction of Guilt in China, this Note outlines the key drawbacks of the Chinese criminal process which contribute to wrongful convictions, namely that none of the legal institutions exhibits the autonomy to check the credibility of the evidence impartially. Alongside the problems caused by miscarriages of justice, they are also indicative of the symptoms of a weak criminal justice system, thereby opening up opportunities for future reforms.

Keywords: miscarriages of justice; China; criminal justice; case construction.
Eksistensi Malala Yousafzai Dalam Mengubah Perspektif Dunia Barat Terhadap Perempuan Muslim
Authors: Niam Zainun Wafiqatun
Published: March 2021

The tragedy of the shooting of Malala Yousafzai by the Taliban army in 2012 opened the eyes of the world that the suppression of women's rights under the pretext of religion or culture must be resisted. As a Muslim women activist, Malala has contributed in the Islamic world, particularly in voicing women's rights to education and roles in the public sphere. The emergence of Malala played a role in shifting the negative stereotypes of the western world towards Islam in treating women. For a long time the western world assumed that Islam was discriminatory towards women, this is due to Western media coverage of Islam which often discusses distortions and misinterpretations of gender texts against the Qur'an and Hadith. This paper is intended to see the role of Malala Yousafzai in changing the negative view of the western world towards Islam in treating women. The method used is the phenomonological analysis of the Malala case and analysis of the literature on gender. The results of the study showed that the negative view of the western world regarding Islamic treatment of women is based on blind cynicism and religious fanaticism and the lack of dialogue on religious texts about gender. The emergence of Malala Yousafzai provided space for the world to dialogue religious texts that were considered gender biased. Basically, Islam has placed men and women in proportional equality. Historically, the rise of Islam has succeeded in elevating women to a high position.[Tragedi penembakan Malala Yousafzai oleh tentara Taliban pada tahun 2012 telah membuka mata dunia bahwa penindasan terhadap hak-hak perempuan dengan dalih agama ataupun budaya harus dilawan. Sebagai aktivis perempuan muslim, Malala telah memberikan kontribusi di dunia Islam, khususnya dalam menyuarakan hak perempuan untuk mendapatkan pendidikan dan peran di ruang publik. Kemunculan Malala berperan dalam menggeser stereotipe negatif dunia barat terhadap Islam dalam memperlakukan wanita. Sejak lama dunia barat menganggap bahwa Islam bersikap diskriminatif terhadap perempuan, hal ini dikarenakan pemberitaan media Barat tentang Islam yang sering mengalami distorsi dan kesalahan tafsir atas teks gender terhadap Al Qur'an maupun Hadis. Tulisan ini ditujukan untuk melihat peran Malala Yousafzai dalam mengubah pandangan negatif dunia barat terhadap Islam dalam memperlakukan wanita. Metode yang digunakan adalah analisis fenomonologi kasus Malala dan analisis literatur tentang gender. Hasil kajian sementara menunjukkan bahwa pandangan negatif dunia barat terkait perlakuan Islam terhadap wanita didasari sinisme dan fanatisme beragama yang buta dan minimnya dialog terhadap teks keagamaan tentang gender. Kemunculan Malala Yousafzai memberikan ruang bagi dunia untuk mendialogkan teks keagamaan yang dianggap bias gender tersebut. Pada dasarnya Islam telah menempatkan laki-laki dan perempuan dalam kesetaraan yang proporsional. Secara historis, kemunculan Islam telah berhasil mengangkat derajat wanita ke dalam kedudukan yang tinggi.]
Generalized Birch lemma and the 2-part of the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture for certain elliptic curves
Authors: Shu Jie , Zhai Shuai
Published: March 2021

In the present paper, we generalize the celebrated classical
lemma of Birch and Heegner on quadratic twists of elliptic curves over

ℚ

{{\mathbb{Q}}}

. We prove the existence of explicit infinite families of quadratic twists with analytic ranks 0 and 1 for a large class of elliptic curves, and use Heegner points to explicitly construct rational points of infinite order on the twists of rank 1. In addition, we show that these families of quadratic twists satisfy the 2-part of the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture when the original curve does. We also prove a new result in the direction of the Goldfeld conjecture.
Gerotranscendence and humor styles: the mediating role of generativity and wisdom
Authors: Brudek Paweł Jan , Płudowska Martyna , Steuden Stanisława , Sękowski Andrzej
Published: March 2021

The goal of the present study was to investigate whether generativity and wisdom played a mediating role in the relationships between gerotranscendence and humor styles among people in late adulthood. The study included 399 participants aged 60–85 years. The following measures were used: Gerotranscendence Scale Type 2 (GST2), Humor Styles Questionnaire (HSQ), Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS), and the Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale (SAWS). The analyses revealed that generativity and wisdom, taken together, were mediators in the relationship between gerotranscendence and the four styles of humor in late adulthood. The results of the survey show that gerotranscendence is a factor that protects individuals against the use of aggressive humor, at the same time predisposing them to using humor that expresses self-acceptance and strengthens interpersonal relations. An interesting result was obtained for self-defeating humor. It was shown that gerotranscendence, by increasing generativity and wisdom, increases the tendency to poke fun at oneself and to talk about one’s own weaknesses or mistakes. This tendency, as suggested by the specific character of the relationships observed, does not have to be non-adaptive. Our results demonstrate that the processes related to the shaping of humor among people in late adulthood have a unique nature.
Vagueness, Identity, and the Dangers of a General Metaphysics in Archaeology
Authors: Ribeiro Artur
Published: March 2021

Archaeology is currently bound to a series of metaphysical principles, one of which claims that reality is composed of a series of discrete objects. These discrete objects are fundamental metaphysical entities in archaeological science and posthumanist/New Materialist approaches and can be posited, assembled, counted, and consequently included in quantitative models (e.g. Big Data, Bayesian models) or network models (e.g. Actor-Network Theory). The work by Sørensen and Marila shows that archaeological reality is not that discrete, that some objects cannot be easily identified, and that perhaps reality is not always necessarily composed of discrete objects. The aim of this article is to take Sørensen and Marila’s arguments to their ultimate logical consequences: most archaeological theory today operates underthe illusion of a general metaphysics. This illusion dictates not only that all of reality is composed of discrete objects, but that since reality manifests in a certain way, there has to be a methodology that accurately represents that reality. A brief discussion on the notion of “conjecture,” as conceived in certain historical theories, is also presented.
The Production of Precarity in Denmark’s Asylum Regime
Authors: Lindberg Annika
Published: March 2021

The special issue discusses the intersections between social welfare and migration control, as well as how stratified access to welfare services is used to govern ‘unwanted’ groups. This article explores these intersections in Denmark’ deterrence-oriented asylum policy regime, analysing the discourses and practices whereby people seeking protection are constructed as ‘undeserving’ poor. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in different sites of enforcement of Denmark’s asylum regime as well as interviews with street-level workers and people who sought asylum in Denmark, I trace how the Danish deterrence approach operates through the production of poverty and precarity among people seeking protection in asylum reception camps, deportation-oriented integration programmes, and finally, deportation camps. I show how the Danish welfare state, as a result of the merging of external and internal bordering practices, produces a condition of precarity and (non)deportability that extends from the asylum camps to those awarded temporary protection status. Hence, while the deterrence-oriented Danish policy regime has not proven ‘effective’ from the point of view of immigration control, it has served to reinforced a dualised, hierarchically ordered welfare rights’ regime that gradually erodes the rights and life opportunities of unwanted noncitizen ‘others’.
At the intersection of immigration and welfare governance in the United States: State, county and frontline levels and clients’ perspectives
Authors: Lanfranconi Lucia M. , Chang Yu-Ling , Basaran Ayda
Published: March 2021

The U.S welfare reform of 1996 restricted the eligibility of immigrants and introduced a punitive and devolved workfare system. While previous studies explained state variation in the welfare eligibility rules for immigrants, few studies have examined the intersection of immigration and welfare governance within a state. We choose the Californian welfare-to-work (WTW) program as a case, most likely to be inclusive to immigrants. Analyzing statistics, documents, and interviews at the state, county, and frontline levels, however, we also reveal multiple exclusionary mechanisms at various policy levels, such as complicated processes and insufficient translations. Our analysis of immigrant clients’ interviews helps to understand why many immigrants decide not to apply for welfare and how even WTW participants with an immigration background experience fear and are especially vulnerable to unfair treatments. Thus, the implementation of the punitive workfare regime along with the restrictive immigration regime can contradict the aim of WTW-policy to lead families in poverty to selfsufficiency.
Governing Young Poor in Switzerland and Reinforcing Their Work Ethics
Authors: Bochsler Yann
Published: March 2021

The present research deals with the policies directed at young adults on social assistance (YAS) without vocational training and the way implementers themselves as well as the YAS perceive policy implementation. In Switzerland, a currently on-going strategic shift in the policy field of welfare and youth policies has renewed emphasis on vocational education and training (VET) as a first and primary integration step. This policy shift has implications for the socio-political alignment of the cantonal administration. As a guideline, the renewed emphasis on “education first” dictates an approach that follows an economic and paternalistic logic. Building on collected data within cantonal administrations (Basel-City and Geneva) and encounters with YAS, this paper discusses the underlying narratives of these policies and their moral justification patterns.
Internal communications and goal achievement: The CEO’s perspective
Authors: Chen Rita
Published: March 2021

By effectively utilizing internal communications, CEOs are able to influence organizational culture and communications, inspire employee loyalty and engagement, and build brand image at both company and personal levels.  In fact, some scholars believe that the CEO is more responsible for fostering forthright, transparent internal communications than the organization’s actual communications function.   CEOs who are successful in promoting internal communications can positively influence organizational stakeholder relationships and better achieve their strategic goals.

Through interviews with five CEOs, this paper determined that two-way internal communications was regarded by senior leadership as being necessary for organizational cohesiveness, strategy development, strategic reputation management, boundary spanning, and preemptive problem prevention.  The CEOs interviewed also considered it their responsibility to model and nurture internal communications and regarded the function as contributing to the achievement of their organization’s strategic goals.

 

Keywords: internal communications, IABC Excellence Theory, CEO, senior leadership, goal achievement
Preface
Authors: Harper Morgan
Published: March 2021

Preface
Preface
Authors: Sévigny Alex
Published: March 2021

This preface describes how this special issue of the McMaster Journal of Communication (MJC) came to be. It also briefly describes the nature of the McMaster-Syracuse Master of Communications Management program. It discusses very briefly how the arrival of social media and digital communication has transformed the practice of the practice of professional communication by expanding strategy beyond the two-way symmetrical model to a dialogical model of communication.
Acute Effects of Combining Dynamic Stretching and Vibration Foam Rolling Warm-up on Lower-Limb Muscle Performance and Functions in Female Handball Players
Authors: Chen Che-Hsiu , Chiu Chih-Hui , Tseng Wei-Chin , Wu Chun-Yen , Su Hsi-Hsun , Chang Chien-KM , Ye Xin
Published: March 2021

Chen, CH, Chiu, CH, Tseng, WC, Wu, CY, Su, HH, Chang, CK, and Ye, X. Acute effects of combining dynamic stretching and vibration foam rolling warm-up on lower-limb muscle performance and functions in female handball players. J Strength Cond Res 37(6): 1277–1283, 2023—The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of 3 warm-up protocols on knee flexor and extensor muscles performance in elite female collegiate handball players. Ten female handball players with poor hamstring flexibility completed 3 randomly sequenced experimental visits. During each visit, a different warm-up protocol (general running warm-up [GW], dynamic stretching [DS], or DS combined with vibration foam rolling [DS + VR]) was delivered before the subsequent tests: quadriceps and hamstring muscle stiffness, knee extension and flexion range of motion (ROM), knee joint position sense, knee extension and flexion isokinetic strength with hamstring-quadriceps strength ratio, and muscle endurance during fatiguing exercise. Relative to the GW, the DS + VR protocol resulted in significantly greater knee flexion ROM (mean ± SD: DS + VR = 79.4° ± 7.7°; GW = 69.3° ± 9.6°) and lower hamstring muscle stiffness (DS + VR = 253.33 ± 36.20 N·m−1; GW = 292.89 ± 24.28 N·m−1). In addition, the DS + VR protocol also yielded greater hamstring muscle endurance than the other 2 protocols did (fatigue percentage: DS + VR = 30.24% ± 10.84%; GW = 41.40% ± 8.98%; DS = 42.22% ± 9.42%). Therefore, the results of this experiment suggest that it can be more beneficial for the female handball players to warm-up with the DS + VR, rather than the GW and DS protocols.