bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blended Teaching Design of College Students’ Mental Health Education Course Based on Artificial Intelligence Flipped Class
Authors: Shan Shan , Liu Yu
Published: March 2021

The current education methods are mostly based on test-oriented education and rarely really care about the content of students’ concerns, and flipped psychological education methods have appeared in some areas. The main purpose of this thesis is to combine artificial intelligence and flipped classroom psychology. This article mainly introduces the characteristics of artificial intelligence and the definition of flipped classroom. What are the advantages of the intelligent teaching platform compared to traditional teaching? This article selects key 1 class, key 2 class, key 3 class, and key 4 class from the students of our school. Groups A1 and B1 conduct a semester of artificial intelligence combined with the concept of flipped classroom psychology. Groups A2 and B2 teach students in accordance with traditional teaching. The experimental results show that the proportion of groups A1 and B1 increased by 8.2% and 8.14%. The midterm and final average scores of groups A1 and B1 are 10.87, 7.2, 14.13, and 12.2 points higher than those of groups A2 and B2, and their scores have increased by 10.3% and 7.02%, 12.4%, and 11.9%. The mental health education course effect of artificial intelligence and flipped classroom psychology can more stimulate students’ interest and promote the improvement of students’ performance through autonomous learning.
Applying Deep Learning Methods on Time‐Series Data for Forecasting COVID‐19 in Egypt, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia
Authors: Omran Nahla F. , Abd-el Ghany Sara F. , Saleh Hager , Ali Abdelmgeid A. , Gumaei Abdu , Al-Rakhami Mabrook
Published: March 2021

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) is regarded as one of the most imminent disease outbreaks which threaten public health on various levels worldwide. Because of the unpredictable outbreak nature and the virus’s pandemic intensity, people are experiencing depression, anxiety, and other strain reactions. The response to prevent and control the new coronavirus pneumonia has reached a crucial point. Therefore, it is essential—for safety and prevention purposes—to promptly predict and forecast the virus outbreak in the course of this troublesome time to have control over its mortality. Recently, deep learning models are playing essential roles in handling time‐series data in different applications. This paper presents a comparative study of two deep learning methods to forecast the confirmed cases and death cases of COVID‐19. Long short‐term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) have been applied on time‐series data in three countries: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, from 1/5/2020 to 6/12/2020. The results show that LSTM has achieved the best performance in confirmed cases in the three countries, and GRU has achieved the best performance in death cases in Egypt and Kuwait.
Defect Detection of Pandrol Track Fastener Based on Local Depth Feature Fusion Network
Authors: Lv Zhaomin , Ma Anqi , Chen Xingjie , Zheng Shubin
Published: March 2021

There are three main problems in track fastener defect detection based on image: (1) The number of abnormal fastener pictures is scarce, and supervised learning detection model is difficult to establish. (2) The potential data features obtained by different feature extraction methods are different. Some methods focus on edge features, and some methods focus on texture features. Different features have different detection capabilities, and these features are not effectively fused and utilized. (3) The detection of the track fastener clip will be interfered by the track fastener bolt subimage. Aiming at the above three problems, a method for track fastener defects detection based on Local Deep Feature Fusion Network (LDFFN) is proposed. Firstly, the track fastener image segmentation method is used to obtain the track fastener clip subimage, which can effectively reduce the interference of bolt subimage features on the track fastener clip detection. Secondly, the edge features and texture features of track fastener clip subimages are extracted by Autoencoder (AE) and Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM), and the features are fused. Finally, the similarity measurement method Mahalanobis Distance (MD) is used to detect defects in track fasteners. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by real Pandrol track fastener images.
Enhanced Secure SWIPT in Heterogeneous Network via Intelligent Reflecting Surface
Authors: Yang Jie , Ji Xinsheng , Huang Kaizhi , Sun Xiaoli , Wang Yi
Published: March 2021

In this paper, secure transmission in a simultaneous wireless information and power transfer technology-enabled heterogeneous network with the aid of multiple IRSs is investigated. As a potential technology for 6G, intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) brings more spatial degrees of freedom to enhance physical layer security. Our goal is to maximize the secrecy rate by carefully designing the transmit beamforming vector, artificial noise vector, and reflecting coefficients under the constraint of quality-of-service. The formulated problem is hard to solve due to the nonconcave objective function as well as the coupling variables and unit-modulus constraints. Fortunately, by using alternating optimization, successive convex approximation, and sequential Rank-1 constraint relaxation approach, the original problem is transformed into convex form and a suboptimal solution is achieved. Numerical results show that the proposed scheme outperforms other existing benchmark schemes without IRS and can maintain promising security performance as the number of terminals increases with lower energy consumption.
Physicochemical Properties of Rice Flour Suspension Treated by Ultrahigh Hydrostatic Pressure
Authors: Park Ji Won , Seo Jeong Hyun , Hong Chae Young , Kim Min Young , Lee Yoon Jeong , Chun A.-Reum , Lee Youn Ri , Lee Junsoo , Jeong Heon Sang
Published: March 2021

This study investigated the physicochemical properties of rice flour suspensions under ultrahigh hydrostatic pressure (UHP) treatment. Rice flour suspensions were subjected to 200, 400, and 600 MPa of pressure for 10 min, and heat treatment was used as a control. Proximate characteristics of different rice cultivar were analyzed to amylose, damage starch content, and particle size. Changes in physicochemical properties of rice flour suspensions according to UHP treatment were analyzed to microscopic structure, iodine reaction, α-amylase hydrolysis rate, and resistant starch content. Microscopic structural analyses showed that the structures of the rice flours were altered under both heat and 600 MPa treatment conditions. Water absorption rates were highest under heat treatment (467.53–554.85%), followed by 600 MPa treatment (269.55–334.57%). Iodine reaction values increased with increasing applied pressure. α-Amylase hydrolysis rates and resistant starch contents were highest under heat treatment and increased with increasing applied pressure. Based on these results, 600 MPa treatment of rice flour suspensions was shown to be comparable to heat treatment; as a result, the development of the new rice processing method with different physicochemical properties is expected from rice cultivars treated under UHP processing methods.
Genomic Alterations in PIK3CA-Mutated Breast Cancer Result in mTORC1 Activation and Limit the Sensitivity to PI3Kα Inhibitors
Authors: Cai Yanyan , Xu Guotai , Wu Fan , Michelini Flavia , Chan Carmen , Qu Xuan , Selenica Pier , Ladewig Erik , Castel Pau , Cheng Yuanming , Zhao Alison , Jhaveri Komal , Toska Eneda , Jimenez Marta , Jacquet Alexandra , Tran-Dien Alicia , Andre Fabrice , Chandarlapaty Sarat , Reis-Filho Jorge S. , Razavi Pedram , Scaltriti Maurizio
Published: March 2021

PI3Kα inhibitors have shown clinical activity in PIK3CA-mutated estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) patients with breast cancer. Using whole genome CRISPR/Cas9 sgRNA knockout screens, we identified and validated several negative regulators of mTORC1 whose loss confers resistance to PI3Kα inhibition. Among the top candidates were TSC1, TSC2, TBC1D7, AKT1S1, STK11, MARK2, PDE7A, DEPDC5, NPRL2, NPRL3, C12orf66, SZT2, and ITFG2. Loss of these genes invariably results in sustained mTOR signaling under pharmacologic inhibition of the PI3K–AKT pathway. Moreover, resistance could be prevented or overcome by mTOR inhibition, confirming the causative role of sustained mTOR activity in limiting the sensitivity to PI3Kα inhibition. Cumulatively, genomic alterations affecting these genes are identified in about 15% of PIK3CA-mutated breast tumors and appear to be mutually exclusive. This study improves our understanding of the role of mTOR signaling restoration in leading to resistance to PI3Kα inhibition and proposes therapeutic strategies to prevent or revert this resistance.

Significance:

These findings show that genetic lesions of multiple negative regulators of mTORC1 could limit the efficacy of PI3Kα inhibitors in breast cancer, which may guide patient selection strategies for future clinical trials.
Single phase seven level Z-source cascaded H-bridge inverter for photovoltaic systems
Authors: Venkatachalam K. M. , Saravanan V , Borelessa M. A. K. , Hemapala K. T. M.U.
Published: March 2021

The Multilevel inverter (MLI) is identified as a viable power electronic unit for distributed energy conversion applications. In this paper discusses the performance of single phase seven level Z (impedance) source cascaded H-bridge inverter topology suited for solar photovoltaic systems. A modified sinusoidal pulse width modulation technique is used to control the switches of the H-bridge inverter. The simulation results are obtained interms of inverter output voltage and harmonic analysis confirm improvement in voltage boost and reduction in harmonic distortion of the suggested inverter topology. The experimental results matches with the simulation values, as verified through a scaled down prototype.
IL-6 as a Mediator of the Association Between Traditional Risk Factors and Future Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Zegeye Mulugeta M. , Andersson Jonas S.O. , Wennberg Patrik , Repsilber Dirk , Sirsjö Allan , Ljungberg Liza U.
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Studies elucidating the importance of IL (interleukin)-6 trans-signaling associated with risk of future myocardial infarction (MI) are scarce. Additionally, whether elevation in IL-6 explains part of the association between traditional risk factors and future MI has not been explored.

Approach and Results:

We conducted a nested case-control study including a total of 584 participants (292 cases and 292 controls) from Västerbotten Intervention Programme and MONICA (Multinational Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease) cohorts. At baseline, plasma cholesterol levels were measured, and clinical characteristics of participants were collected. In this study, we measured the plasma concentration of IL-6, sIL-6R (soluble IL-6 receptor), and sgp130 (soluble-glycoprotein130). To estimate extent of IL-6 trans-signaling, we estimated plasma concentration of a novel biomarker, the IL-6 binary complex. IL-6 binary complex concentration was significantly elevated in participants who experienced MI compared with those who did not. Univariate analyses showed that a 10-fold increase in IL-6 binary complex was associated with 3.6× higher risk of future MI (95% CI relative risk, 2.0–6.5,
P
<0.001). Receiver operating characteristics analyses revealed that the predictive performance of IL-6 binary complex (area under the curve, 0.614) was equivalent to that of IL-6 (area under the curve, 0.603). Furthermore, using Process mediation analyses tool, we found statistically significant indirect effect of smoking and hypertension on future MI that is mediated through increased IL-6 binary complex or plasma IL-6.

Conclusions:

IL-6 and IL-6 binary complex concentration in plasma were significantly associated with future MI. Our data additionally imply that both the elevated plasma IL-6, and the IL-6 binary complex concentration could partly explain, and, thus, might hypothetically be functionally associated with the increased risk of MI in smokers and hypertensive participants.
MicroRNA-33 Inhibits Adaptive Thermogenesis and Adipose Tissue Beiging
Authors: Afonso Milessa Silva , Verma Narendra , van Solingen Coen , Cyr Yannick , Sharma Monika , Perie Luce , Corr Emma M. , Schlegel Martin , Shanley Lianne C. , Peled Daniel , Yoo Jenny Y. , Schmidt Ann Marie , Mueller Elisabetta , Moore Kathryn J.
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Recent studies have identified key transcriptional regulators of brown adipose tissue (BAT) differentiation and function, but posttranscriptional control of this network by microRNAs remains incompletely understood. MiR-33 critically regulates genes involved in metabolic pathways, including cholesterol efflux, reverse cholesterol transport, fatty acid oxidation, and autophagy. Given its role in metabolic homeostasis, we investigated whether miR-33 participates in the regulation of BAT activity, white adipose beiging, and adaptive thermogenesis.

Approach and Results:

Using primary immortalized brown adipocytes and 10T1/2 cells, we show that miR-33 levels are reduced in brown fat differentiated cells compared with preadipocytes and in response to thermogenic activators. Furthermore, in mice exposed to cold, levels of miR-33 in BAT are rapidly downregulated consistent with a role for miR-33 in repressing adaptive thermogenesis. Using in silico prediction, we identified numerous putative miR-33 target genes in the thermogenic pathway conserved in mice and humans, including regulators of brown adipocyte differentiation and function and mitochondrial activity. We focused our investigation on transcriptional regulators of UCP1 (uncoupling protein 1) and of BAT-enriched genes and demonstrate that miR-33 represses
Zfp516
,
Dio2
, and
Ppargc1a
in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of mice with inhibitors of miR-33 increased expression of these miR-33 target genes in brown and subcutaneous white adipose tissue, upregulating expression of UCP1, and rendering mice resistant to cold challenge.

Conclusions:

Collectively, our findings demonstrate that miR-33 targets key genes involved in BAT activation and white adipose beiging and expand our understanding of how miR-33 coordinately regulates pathways involved in metabolic homeostasis.
Generation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Shen Mengcheng , Quertermous Thomas , Fischbein Michael P. , Wu Joseph C.
Published: March 2021

The developmental origin of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has been increasingly recognized as a major determinant for regional susceptibility or resistance to vascular diseases. As a human material-based complement to animal models and human primary cultures, patient induced pluripotent stem cell iPSC-derived VSMCs have been leveraged to conduct basic research and develop therapeutic applications in vascular diseases. However, iPSC-VSMCs (induced pluripotent stem cell VSMCs) derived by most existing induction protocols are heterogeneous in developmental origins. In this review, we summarize signaling networks that govern in vivo cell fate decisions and in vitro derivation of distinct VSMC progenitors, as well as key regulators that terminally specify lineage-specific VSMCs. We then highlight the significance of leveraging patient-derived iPSC-VSMCs for vascular disease modeling, drug discovery, and vascular tissue engineering and discuss several obstacles that need to be circumvented to fully unleash the potential of induced pluripotent stem cells for precision vascular medicine.
Management of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Mac Grory Brian , Schrag Matthew , Biousse Valérie , Furie Karen L. , Gerhard-Herman Marie , Lavin Patrick J. , Sobrin Lucia , Tjoumakaris Stavropoula I. , Weyand Cornelia M. , Yaghi Shadi ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Council; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Hypertension; and Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a form of acute ischemic stroke that causes severe visual loss and is a harbinger of further cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events. There is a paucity of scientific information on the appropriate management of CRAO, with most strategies based on observational literature and expert opinion. In this scientific statement, we critically appraise the literature on CRAO and provide a framework within which to consider acute treatment and secondary prevention.

Methods:

We performed a literature review of randomized controlled clinical trials, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, case reports, clinical guidelines, review articles, basic science articles, and editorials concerning the management of CRAO. We assembled a panel comprising experts in the fields of vascular neurology, neuro-ophthalmology, vitreo-retinal surgery, immunology, endovascular neurosurgery, and cardiology, and document sections were divided among the writing group members. Each member received an assignment to perform a literature review, synthesize the data, and offer considerations for practice. Multiple drafts were circulated among the group until consensus was achieved.

Results:

Acute CRAO is a medical emergency. Systems of care should evolve to prioritize early recognition and triage of CRAO to emergency medical attention. There is considerable variability in management patterns among practitioners, institutions, and subspecialty groups. The current literature suggests that treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator may be effective. Patients should undergo urgent screening and treatment of vascular risk factors. There is a need for high-quality, randomized clinical trials in this field.
A global review of life history studies on burrowing crayfish
Authors: Bloomer Caitlin C. , DiStefano Robert J. , Taylor Christopher A.
Published: March 2021

Burrowing crayfishes have historically lacked life history data due to their elusive nature and difficultly extracting them from burrows. This review provides a synopsis of current literature on burrowing crayfishes’ life histories and a quantitative analysis of published life history content. Only 69 publications covering 94 burrowing species (approx. 39%) met our criteria for a life history study. Many species had only partial life histories documented and two genera (Engaewa and Tenuibranchiurus) had no life history studies available. Size and reproductive season were the most recorded traits across studies while others such as mortality and age/size at molting events were rarely recorded. Reproductive investment, an important predictor of imperilment, was lacking in 87% of burrowing species. Our review emphasizes the need to include life history data with new species descriptions and conduct basic life history studies to effectively assess data-deficient species and protect the future of our threatened burrowing crayfishes.
Descriptive and Injunctive Incivility Norms in Political Campaigns: Differences Across Behavior Type, Candidate Gender, and Candidate Party Position
Authors: Muddiman Ashley , Flores Lynzee , Boyce Brandon
Published: March 2021

Despite evidence that a majority of people in the United States say that they want more civil politics, candidates still use incivility strategically during campaigns. Distinguishing between descriptive and injunctive norms may help explain this apparent contradiction. This study presents an experiment conducted with participants recruited at 2020 Democratic Iowa Caucus rallies that tested whether (a) individuals differ in their descriptive and injunctive normative beliefs about a variety of uncivil behaviors and (b) candidate characteristics such as gender and insider/outsider status in a party influence respondents’ normative beliefs. Findings suggest that, while descriptive and injunctive norms align for some campaign behaviors, they do not for all behaviors, such as sharing false information and using insults. Additionally, men and women candidates, as well as political insider and outsider candidates, are expected to behave differently but are held to the same injunctively normative standard when uncivil behaviors are attributed to them. Future incivility researchers should continue investigating descriptive and injunctive norms to investigate whether voters dismiss descriptively common behaviors during campaigns, even if they perceive those behaviors as inappropriate and uncivil.
The Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) Is a Poor Diagnostic Tool for Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Yim Michael T. , Orlandi Richard R. , Oakley Gretchen M. , Alt Jeremiah A.
Published: March 2021

Background:

The SNOT-22 is a validated and widely used outcomes tool in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We hypothesized that SNOT-22 scores and response patterns could be used as a diagnostic tool to differentiate between patients with CRS and those who present with CRS-like symptoms but prove not to have CRS.

Methodology/Principal:

SNOT-22 measurements were collected from 311 patients who presented with a chief complaint of sinusitis to a tertiary rhinology practice. Following a full diagnostic evaluation, patients were diagnosed with CRS or determined to have non-CRS diagnoses. A response pattern “heatmap” of the SNOT-22 scores for each group was compared. An optimal cutoff point for total SNOT-22 score in predicting CRS was sought using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results:

A total of 109 patients were diagnosed with CRS and 202 patients were assigned to non-CRS. The non-CRS SNOT-22 total score histogram had lower overall scores compared to the CRS group, although there was substantial overlap. The CRS SNOT-22 heatmaps had a distinctive pattern compared to the non-CRS group. As individual measures, 3 of the 4 cardinal symptoms of CRS (nasal congestion, loss of smell, and rhinorrhea) were found to be significantly different between the 2 groups ( P < .002). However, the ROC analysis showed the total SNOT-22 score to be a poor instrument to differentiate CRS from non-CRS patients.

Conclusions:

Our results cause us to reject our hypothesis and conclude that, while an effective outcomes tool, the SNOT-22 (using total score and response pattern) is a poor differentiator between CRS and non-CRS patients.
Flow entry conflict detection and resolution scheme for software-defined networking
Authors: Tang Lie , Fu You , Zeng Youwen , Li Zhihao , Li Shuangqing
Published: March 2021

Software-defined networking (SDN) has the ability to flexibly configure the network and is widely used in various scenarios. In SDN, different applications require the controller to deploy corresponding flow entries to maintain the effectiveness of network. However, the matching field range covered by entries of different applications may overlap, and when actions specified by these overlapping entries are inconsistent, conflicts may occur. Such conflicts may cause the flow to match the wrong entry, thereby affecting the correct expression of application functions. The scheme we proposed in this paper will be able to detect and resolve conflicts between flow entries. Firstly, we discussed the causes of conflicts, and then classified various conflict situations. This classification will help us to adopt different ways of resolving different types of conflicts and make the resolution of conflicts more targeted. Next, we propose a conflict detection algorithm based on B+ tree. This algorithm can detect different types of conflicts. According to theoretical proof, the use of B+ tree compared with other similar structures better in the performance of the time and space complexity. Finally, for the detected conflicting entries, we propose a conflict resolution scheme based on the failure degree of the flow entry according to the characteristics of SDN services tending to be more detailed. Through experimental evaluation, our scheme can effectively detect and resolve conflicts with lower overhead.
Dielectric and mechanical properties of nickel silica core-shell reinforced PMMA nanocomposites
Authors: Abulyazied DE , Abomostafa HM
Published: March 2021

This paper study the dielectric and mechanical properties of poly (methyl methacrylate)-nickel silica core-shell nanocomposite. Ni@SiO2/PMMA nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporating Ni@SiO2 nanoparticles in PMMA matrix using the solution casting method. The morphology of the prepared nanoparticles was examined through a High-resolution transition electron microscope (HRTEM), which revealed the formation of SiO2 shell at Ni magnetic nanoparticles. The dielectric properties of the nanocomposite films were studied as a function of temperature and frequency in the ranges of 30–180°C and 100 Hz – 5 MHz respectively. The incorporation of the nano Ni@SiO2 to PMMA has a positive effect on the dielectric constant ε′ of the nanocomposites, as well as, ε′ improved with increasing temperature. The real electric modulus (M′) of composites confirms the occurrence of dispersion in all composites at all temperatures. While dielectric loss tangent ε ″ and the loss part of electric modulus spectra (M) exhibit relaxation peaks which characterize possible relaxation of interfacial polarization in the interface between Ni@SiO2 core-shell and PMMA matrix, these peaks have shifted towards higher frequency with temperature. The relaxation and activation energies, Ec and Ea values decreased from 0.49 to 0.40 eV and from 0.87 to 0.70 eV respectively as Ni@SiO2 content increased. The ac conductivity of the nanocomposite films has deeply increased with increasing temperature and Ni@SiO2 content. The longitudinal modulus (L), shear modulus (G), Young's modulus (E), and bulk modulus (B) of films were studied and they increased as the filler increased from 0 to 15 wt.%.
Study of three distinct self-compacting concretes containing marble/granite powder and hooked-end steel fiber contents
Authors: Xavier Beatriz C , Gomes Amauri E , Melo Mirian LNM , Lintz Rosa C Cecche , Gachet Luísa A , Osório Wislei R
Published: March 2021

In this investigation distinctive self-compacting concretes (SCC) containing both marble + granite (MG) powder and hooked-end steel fibers (HESF) are investigated. A mixture of conventional SCC (reference), and other five samples containing MG and steel fiber (SF) contents are provided, i.e. 20MG, 20SF, 30MG + 10SF, 20SF and 30MG + 20 SF. Both the fresh and hardened properties of the modified self-compacting concretes are evaluated. Workability of the SCC samples represented by slump flow, L-box, V-funnel, J-ring and flowability T500 is examined. The properties of hardened state of the SCC samples at 7 and 28 days are also evaluated. Modulus of elasticity, water absortion, voids index (indicatig porosity), and specific mass are attained. Comparisons among specific strengths and consumptions of cement per compressive strengths are also provided. The SCC/30MG/10SF sample has a specific strength ∼50% higher than the conventional SCC sample. When a ratio involving porosity per cement consumption per tensile strength is evaluated, the SCC/30MG/10SF sample has this ratio ∼80% higher than the SCC reference. Additionally, the best result of consumption of cement (CC) per compressive strength (CS) (1.28x lower than the SCC reference) at 28 days is that of the SCC/30MG/10SF sample (5.03 kg/m3. MPa−1). This indicates that an environmentally friendly aspect associated with low relative cost, which is an important parameter to consider in future SCC mixture designing.
Correlating the Perceptions of Preservice Elementary Teachers and Social Studies in the Elementary Curriculum
Authors: Bousalis Rina
Published: March 2021

Elementary social studies is often viewed as less important than mathematics and reading. Although part of the curriculum, social studies is often overlooked by teachers due to testing demands. Therefore, it was important to investigate preservice teachers’ perceptions and attitudes about social studies upon entering their methods courses to determine what may be needed to enrich the course. The study’s findings suggest preservice teachers often hold negative views of social studies and fail to connect it to citizenship, the goal of social studies. The results have assisted educators in strengthening the methods courses to help preservice teachers teach social studies.
Research on intelligent clustering of male upper body
Authors: Cheng Pengpeng , Zeng Xianyi , Bruniaux Pascal , Wang Jianping , Chen Daoling
Published: March 2021

To study the upper body characteristics of young men, the body circumference, length, width, thickness, and angle of young men aged 18–25 and 26–35 years were collected to comprehensively characterize the concave and convex features of the front, back, and side of the human body. The Cuckoo Search-Density Peak intelligent algorithm was used to extract the feature factors of the upper body of men, and to cluster them. To verify the effectiveness of the intelligent algorithm, the clustering results of Cuckoo Search-Density Peak, Density Peak, Particle Swarm Optimization-Density Peak algorithm, Ant Colony Optimization-Density Peak algorithm, Genetic Algorithm-Density Peak algorithm, and Artificial Bee Colony-Density Peak algorithm were evaluated by Silouette and F-measures, respectively. The results show that the Cuckoo Search-Density Peak algorithm has the best clustering results and is superior to other algorithms. There are some differences in somatotype characteristics and somatotype indexes between young men aged 18–25 and 26–35 years.
A case of spastic quadriparesis secondary to enteric fever
Authors: Bhatta Ajay , Kumar Prabhat
Published: March 2021

Enteric fever is a systemic disease characterised predominantly by fever and abdominal pain, caused by dissemination of Salmonella Typhi or Salmonella Paratyphi. Enteric fever can affect many organ systems including liver, gastrointestinal tract, kidney and brain. Neurological manifestations occur in 2%–40% of patients and include meningitis, Gullian-Barré syndrome, neuritis and neuro-psychiatric symptoms. Spastic quadriparesis is a rare complication.
Teaching Students to Learn Better in Introductory Psychology: A Replication and Extension Study
Authors: Brown-Kramer Carolyn R.
Published: March 2021

Background:

Psychology courses provide a good opportunity for instructors to teach students effective learning strategies integrated with content.

Objective:

This replication and extension study explored changes in students’ self-reported use of learning strategies before and after a term paper assignment and examined the relationships between learning strategy use and academic performance.

Method:

Three hundred eighty-five introductory psychology students completed surveys on their use of 11 learning strategies at the beginning and end of the semester, read an empirical article and wrote a term paper about the learning strategy of practice testing, and completed four exams among other assessments.

Results:

Replicating prior work, students generally reported improvements in their use of learning strategies over the course of the semester, though improvements were largely attributable to grade point average (GPA). Two learning strategies—self-explanation and practice testing—were positively correlated with course performance in the second half of the semester, over and above the effects associated with GPA.

Conclusion:

Teaching students about beneficial learning strategies may increase their adoption of those strategies as well as their course performance, replicating prior research.

Teaching Implications:

In order to improve course performance, instructors may consider adapting assignments in ways that increase students’ knowledge and use of effective learning strategies.
Global Fertility Chains: An Integrative Political Economy Approach to Understanding the Reproductive Bioeconomy
Authors: Vertommen Sigrid , Pavone Vincenzo , Nahman Michal
Published: March 2021

Over the last two decades, social scientists across disciplines have been researching how value is extracted and governed in the reproductive bioeconomy, which broadly refers to the various ways reproductive tissues, bodies, services, customers, workers, and data are inserted into capitalist modes of accumulation. While many of these studies are empirically grounded in single country–based analyses, this paper proposes an integrative political economy framework, structured around the concept of “global fertility chains.” The latter articulates the reproductive bioeconomy as a nexus of intraconnected practices, operations, and transactions between enterprises, states, and households across the globe, through which reproductive services and commodities are produced, distributed, and consumed. Employing a diffractive reading of the literature on commodity chains and care chains, this unified approach scrutinizes the coproduction of value, biology, and technoscience and their governance mechanisms in the accumulation of capital by taking into account (1) the unevenly developed geographies of global fertility chains, (2) their reliance on women’s waged and unwaged reproductive labor, and (3) the networked role of multiple actors at multiple scales without losing sight of the (4) constitutive role of (supra)national states in creating demand, organizing supply, and accommodating the distribution of surplus value. We empirically ground this integrative political economy approach of the reproductive bioeconomy through collaborative, multisited fieldwork on transnational reproduction networks in Israel/Palestine, Romania, Georgia, and Spain.
Surgical approaches in juxtarenal and pararenal aortic aneurysms repair
Authors: Charchyan Eduard R , Stepanenko Anna B , Gens Andrey P , Galeev Nail A , Belov Yuri V
Published: March 2021

Background

In this study, surgical tactic features and juxtarenal and pararenal treatment immediate results were analyzed depending on the use of various surgical approaches.

Methods

Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 89 patients received surgical treatment, of which 52(58%) had juxtarenal aneurysms and 37 (42%) – pararenal aneurysms. During repairs, three types of surgical approaches were used: midline laparotomy, extended retroperitoneal approach and thoraco-phreno-retroperitoneal approach. The patients were divided into three groups accordingly.

Results

At the immediate postoperative period, mortality rate equaled 2 (2.2%). The reasons were pulmonary embolism and sepsis. Statistically reliable data were obtained, confirming the advantages of midline laparotomic approach over the lateral retroperitoneal ones, which consisted in a shorter operative time, less pronounced pain syndrome, lesser blood loss, fewer postoperative days. The disadvantages were that enteroparesis occurred more often when the midline laparotomy was used in comparison to extended retroperitoneal or thoraco-phrenoretroperitoneal approaches.

Conclusion

Thus, open repairs of juxtarenal and pararenal aortic aneurysms have some specific technical and strategical features which are associated with intraoperative renal ischemia. During open surgical intervention, it is important to first consider the possibility of repair with midline laparotomy. However, lateral retroperitoneal approaches can also be used on a case-by-case basis noting their advantages and disadvantages.
3-Year Follow-up of Lower Risk Cannabis Use Patterns: Evidence from a Longitudinal Survey
Authors: Chen Tongtong , Hassan Ahmed N. , Le Foll Bernard
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Following recommendations from the Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines, we evaluated how lower risk cannabis use (late initiation and low use frequency) was associated with the risk of developing cannabis abuse/dependence over a 3-year follow-up period compared to 12-month abstinence (controls) or higher risk cannabis use (early initiation and higher use frequency). We also explored the effect of cannabis quantity.

Methods:

Data were obtained from the U.S. nationally representative survey, National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions wave I (2001 to 2002) and wave II (2004 to 2005), which included 31,464 respondents with no lifetime history of cannabis abuse/dependence at the first interview. We applied multiple logistic regression and propensity score matching analyses to examine the association between different use patterns at wave I and cannabis abuse/dependence at wave II, adjusting for covariates. Lower risk cannabis use and the transition to higher use frequency were also assessed.

Results:

For propensity score analysis, lower risk cannabis use at wave I was associated with higher risk of cannabis use/dependence at wave II compared to controls (odds ratio [ OR]: 4.27; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.57 to 11.61); however, there was no association with use frequency increase ( OR: 2.52; 95% CI, 0.88 to 7.17). Higher risk use had a greater risk of cannabis use/dependence than controls ( OR: 6.27; 95% CI, 2.56 to 15.38) and lower risk use ( OR: 2.69; 95% CI, 1.12 to 6.47). Logistic regression analyses showed similar results, except that lower risk use was significantly associated with use frequency increase ( OR: 2.49; 95% CI, 1.22 to 5.08). For the lower risk use group, 1 to 3 joints/day of use was significantly associated with cannabis abuse/dependence.

Conclusions:

We found that following recommended use patterns can significantly lower one’s risk of cannabis abuse/dependence. However, risk of cannabis abuse/dependence is still 4 times higher than staying abstinent. Updated recommendations on safe cannabis exposure levels are needed to guide cannabis use in the general population after cannabis legalization.
Validation of a Brief Screen to Identify Persons With Dementia at Risk for Behavioral Problems
Authors: Evans Tracy L. , Kunik Mark E. , Snow A. Lynn , Shrestha Srijana , Richey Sheila , Ramsey David J. , Yusuf Zenab I. , Amspoker Amber B.
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Clinical assessment of persons with dementia should include potential causes of behavioral problems, including pain, depression, and caregiver–patient relationship quality. Many validated assessment tools are available; however, a brief screening tool is needed, as administering a battery of instruments is impractical in most clinical settings. We evaluated (a) the construct validity of brief screens for pain, depression, and relationship strain by examining their associations with validated measures and medication use and (b) the predictive validity of each screen and the screens as a set by examining their associations with frequency of disruptive behaviors.

Methods:

Patient–caregiver dyads ( n = 228) in Aggression Prevention Training for Caregivers were examined.

Results:

There was evidence of good construct validity for each screen. The relationship screen and total number of screens endorsed were significantly associated with frequency of disruptive behaviors.

Conclusion:

The brief screens show potential for use in clinical practice.
Endoderm and Hepatic Progenitor Cells Engraft in the Quiescent Liver Concurrent with Intrinsically Activated Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Fagg W. Samuel , Liu Naiyou , Patrikeev Igor , Saldarriaga Omar A. , Motamedi Massoud , Popov Vsevolod L. , Stevenson Heather L. , Fair Jeffrey H.
Published: March 2021

Stem cell transplantation to the liver is a promising therapeutic strategy for a variety of disorders. Hepatocyte transplantation has short-term efficacy but can be problematic due to portal hypertension, inflammation, and sinusoidal thrombosis. We have previously transplanted small mouse endoderm progenitor (EP) cells to successfully reverse a murine model of hemophilia B, and labeling these cells with iron nanoparticles renders them responsive to magnetic fields, which can be used to enhance engraftment. The mechanisms mediating progenitor cell migration from the sinusoidal space to the hepatocyte compartment are unknown. Here we find human EP and hepatic progenitor (HP) cells can be produced from human embryonic stem cells with high efficiency, and they also readily uptake iron nanoparticles. This provides a simple manner through which one can readily identify transplanted cells in vivo using electron microscopy, shortly after delivery. High resolution imaging shows progenitor cell morphologies consistent with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediating invasion into the hepatic parenchyma. This occurs in as little as 3 h, which is considerably faster than observed when hepatocytes are transplanted. We confirmed activated EMT in transplanted cells in vitro, as well as in vivo 24 h after transplantation. We conclude that EMT naturally occurs concurrent with EP and HP cell engraftment, which may mediate the rate, safety, and efficacy of early cell engraftment in the undamaged quiescent liver.
Book review: Ana Delgado (Ed.) (2016), Technoscience and Citizenship: Ethics and Governance in the Digital Society
Authors: Bharti Nishtha
Published: March 2021

Ana Delgado (Ed.) (2016), Technoscience and Citizenship: Ethics and Governance in the Digital Society. Switzerland: Springer, 189 pp., ₹9,039, ISBN: 9783319324128 (Hardcover).
Book review: Lilly Irani (2019), Chasing Innovation: Making Entrepreneurial Citizens in Modern India
Authors: Issar Shiv
Published: March 2021

Lilly Irani (2019), Chasing Innovation: Making Entrepreneurial Citizens in Modern India. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 304 pp., 10 b/w illustrations, $29.95 (Paperback), ISBN: 9780691175140; $99.95 (Hardcover), ISBN: 9780691175133.
Scalp Necrotizing Fasciitis—A Case Report
Authors: Malik Richa , Saluja Satish , Modi Manoj , Soni Arun , Kler Neelam , Chaudhary Lalit , Kaul Dinesh
Published: March 2021

Neonatal necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an uncommon but often fatal bacterial infection of skin, fascia, and subcutaneous fat. High index of suspicion, appropriate antibiotics, supportive care, and prompt surgical intervention are the cornerstones of management. We report a term neonate with rapidly progressing NF of neck and scalp which complicated to skull osteomyelitis. The baby was managed with intravenous antibiotics and early wound debridement followed by skin grafting. The graft was taken up well and currently the baby is thriving.
Is there still a need for abortion-specific laws? The capacity of the health framework to regulate abortion care
Authors: Dwyer Judith , Rankin Mark , Ripper Margie , Cations Monica
Published: March 2021

After prolonged periods of criminalisation, 20th and 21st century law reform has now moved abortion care closer to being regulated as health care in all Australian jurisdictions. However, no jurisdiction has yet tested the proposition that specific laws for abortion care are unnecessary. This article analyses the capability of health law, policy and ethics to regulate abortion comprehensively, without the need for either stand-alone laws or special provisions within health law. We examined this question in the South Australian context and concluded that the health framework provides the basis for equitable, safe and accountable abortion care that is also acceptable to the community.
Palliative Sedation, Compassionate Extubation, and the Principle of Double Effect: An Ethical Analysis
Authors: Potter Jordan , Shields Steven , Breen Renée
Published: March 2021

Palliative sedation is a well-recognized and commonly used medical practice at the end of life for patients who are experiencing refractory symptoms that cannot be controlled by other means of medical management. Given concerns about potentially hastening death by suppressing patients’ respiratory drive, traditionally this medical practice has been considered ethically justifiable via application of the ethical doctrine known as the Principle of Double Effect. And even though most recent evidence suggests that palliative sedation is a safe and effective practice that does not hasten death when the sedative medications are properly titrated, the Principle of Double Effect is still commonly utilized to justify the practice of palliative sedation and any risk—however small—it may entail of hastening the death of patients. One less common clinical scenario where the Principle of Double Effect may still be appropriate ethical justification for palliative sedation is when the practice of palliative sedation is pursued concurrently with the active withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment—particularly the practice of compassionate extubation. This case study then describes an unconventional case of palliative sedation with concurrent compassionate extubation where Principle of Double Effect reasoning was effectively employed to ethically justify continuing to palliatively sedate a patient during compassionate extubation.
Function of Nasoalveolar Molding Devices in Bilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate: A 3-Dimensional Maxillary Arch Analysis
Authors: Tankittiwat Pawinee , Pisek Araya , Manosudprasit Montien , Punyavong Pattama , Manosudprasit Amornrut , Phaoseree Natthawee , Wangsrimongkol Buddhathida , Pisek Poonsak , Manosudprasit Aggasit
Published: March 2021

Objective:

This study aimed to observe and analyze the effects of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) on maxillary arch dimensions in patients with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCLP) using 3-dimensional analyses.

Design:

Retrospective case series.

Materials and Methods:

Seventeen infants were treated using modified Khon Kaen University presurgical nasoalveolar molding devices (KKU-NAM). Dental casts were evaluated 3 dimensionally at 3 time points: pretreatment (T1), after using modified KKU-NAM for 2 weeks (T2), and before cheiloplasty (T3). Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Friedman test were used to compare the maxillary arch dimensions between time points.

Results:

Both sides of the cleft width, premaxilla deviation, and premaxilla protrusion had significantly reduced with the use of KKU-NAM. Premaxillary rotation had significantly improved, whereas the arch depth did not change significantly. Premaxilla width, posterior arch width, alveolar length, and height had significantly increased. The anterior arch width, intercanine width, and lateral sulcus width showed no significant changes. The intraclass correlation coefficient used to test the measurements indicated substantial reliability.

Conclusion:

The modified KKU-NAM is an effective device for reducing the severity of bilateral cleft deformities, especially in the premaxilla area.
Predictors of Aggression Among Sample-Specific Young Adult Offenders: Continuation of Violent Behavior Within South African Correctional Centers
Authors: Jordaan Jacques , Hesselink Anni
Published: March 2021

Offenders in South Africa face dehumanizing conditions in overcrowded correctional centers known for constant violence and corruption. These offenders need to cope and adjust to life within a correctional center. However, the majority of young adult male offenders use aggression to adjust to the correctional environment. It is, therefore, essential to identify which predictor variables predict aggression the best among incarcerated young adult male offenders. This study focused on 243 young adult male maximum-security offenders sampled through convenience sampling. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate which variable(s) or set(s) of variables explain a significant percentage of the variance of aggression. The results indicated that problem-solving, seeking social support, and avoidance, as a set of predictors, significantly predicted physical aggression, anger, and hostility. These findings seem to suggest that to decrease physical aggression, anger, and hostility among young adult offenders, it would be advisable to implement interventions that would (i) increase their problem-solving skills, (ii) improve their social support, and (iii) teach them to refrain from making use of avoidance as a coping strategy.