bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Low-Voltage Areas: A Unipolar, Bipolar, and Omnipolar Perspective
Authors: van Schie Mathijs S. , Kharbanda Rohit K. , Houck Charlotte A. , Lanters Eva A.H. , Taverne Yannick J.H.J. , Bogers Ad J.J.C. , de Groot Natasja M.S.
Published: June 2021

Background:

Low-voltage areas (LVAs) are commonly considered surrogate markers for an arrhythmogenic substrate underlying tachyarrhythmias. It remains challenging to define a proper threshold to classify LVA, and it is unknown whether unipolar, bipolar, and the recently introduced omnipolar voltage mapping techniques are complementary or contradictory in classifying LVAs. Therefore, this study examined similarities and dissimilarities in unipolar, bipolar, and omnipolar voltage mapping and explored the relation between various types of voltages and conduction velocity (CV).

Methods:

Intraoperative epicardial mapping (interelectrode distance 2 mm, ±1900 sites) was performed during sinus rhythm in 21 patients (48±13 years, 9 male) with atrial volume overload. Cliques of 4 electrodes (2×2 mm) were used to calculate the maximal unipolar, bipolar, and omnipolar voltages and mean CV. Areas with maximal bipolar or omnipolar clique voltage ≤0.5 mV were defined as LVA.

Results:

The maximal unipolar clique voltage was not only larger than maximal bipolar clique voltage but also larger than maximal omnipolar clique voltage (7.08 [4.22–10.59] mV versus 5.27 [2.39–9.56] mV and 5.77 [2.58–10.52] mV, respectively,
P
<0.001). In addition, the largest bipolar clique voltage was on average 1.66 (range: 1.0–59.0) times larger to the corresponding perpendicular bipolar voltage pair. LVAs identified by a bipolar or omnipolar threshold corresponded to a broad spectrum of unipolar voltages and, although CV was generally decreased, still high CVs and large unipolar voltages were found in these LVAs.

Conclusions:

In patients with atrial volume overload, there were considerable discrepancies in the different types of LVAs. Additionally, the identification of LVAs was hampered by considerable directional differences in bipolar voltages. Even using directional independent omnipolar voltage to identify LVAs, high CVs and large unipolar voltages are present within these areas. Therefore, a combination of low unipolar and low omnipolar voltage may be more indicative of true LVAs.
Verbal and non-verbal methods in studying social representations of happiness
Authors: Izbasarova Sofia A.
Published: June 2021

Background. The phenomenon of “happiness” is characterized by semantic indeterminacy and is mainly considered from the correlative viewpoint. The present study proceeds from the idea of relevance and potential of multimodal approach to the analysis of multilevel socio-psychological phenomena. With this perspective in mind, social representations of happiness were researched with the use of visual analysis of photographs as one of the qualitative methodology tools. The second method of collecting empirical material consisted in semi-structured interviews. Objective. The aim of the study was to describe social representations of happiness. The procedure was as follows: the sample consisted of two groups of students from 21 to 24 years old. The groups were coordinated as to their composition and socio-economic status. At the first stage of the study test subjects were asked to make a photo report consisting of five to seven photos on the topic “happiness” within a month. The data were analyzed in the light of comprehensive strategy for interpreting visual data, including hermeneutical, semiotic, structural, and discursive analyses. The scheme of photo processing and examples of empirical material are presented below. At the second stage semi-structured interviews were conducted with another group of test subjects and subsequently analyzed in the framework of thematic approach. The data obtained by different research methods were compared and subject to analysis with respect to the potential and limitations of verbal and visual methodological approaches. Results. The study revealed the core and periphery of social representations of happiness, and the corresponding structure and content were presented graphically. The results obtained by qualitative analysis of the photo material reflected those factors in the content of social representations of happiness that were considered insignificant in quantitative studies. The emotional variability of the concept under study was revealed due to its visual presentation. Conclusion. The study design presented in the paper implies both the analysis of visual data and the interview method. It has proved effective for studying complex socio-psychological phenomena. Further research could be conducted in several directions: content analysis of the phenomenon under study for other age groups; variation of study design by using other verbal methods or approaches to discourse analysis; modifying the visual data interpretation strategy for studying other multimodal phenomena.
Clinical-psychological elaboration of discourse with regard to behavioural reactions typical of children and adolescents in the situation of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Burlakova Natalia S.
Published: June 2021

Background. The present state of COVID-19 pandemic has made the society face new challenges; it has created a number of crisis situations that regard both adults and children and that need prompt clinical-psychological solutions. Psychological data concerning children and adolescents in the pandemic context are notably few. Objectives. The analysis of how different age strata react to the situation, with special attention to how children and adolescents react to the measures introduced to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Subsequent specification of directions in which clinical-psychological approach could help to develop the corresponding medical-sanitary discourses. Results. It was found that whenever the population reacts and fulfils the corresponding recommendations in an inefficient way it can be explained by the fact that medical-sanitary discourse is not sufficiently elaborated in clinical-psychological terms. It is shown that there is a need for further analysis and development of constructive clinical-psychological approach to informing different age groups and for completing the existing medical-sanitary discourses on the basis of constructive clinical-psychological approach. The study singles out new system characteristics of a more productive medical-psychological approach to informing the public and influencing people’s behaviour in the present situation. Thus, it is shown that the informational-psychological characteristics of the discourse in question must be: exactness, credibility, systematic nature, teleological and behaviourial meaningfulness, as well as acceptability in terms of mental hygiene. It is extremely important to take into account that different age groups, such as children and adolescents, correspondingly, should be approached in different ways when informing them about the correct behaviour in the pandemic conditions. Apart from the mental hygiene issues, one should bear in mind the developmental aspects of construing information for children and adolescents. The clinical-psychological task here is to use the development of pandemic awareness in children and adolescents as an opportunity to create a new situation of psychic development, to form an impulse that not only could prevent them from developing a number of psychic disorders but could also favour their personality growth in the circumstances they find themselves in. Conclusion. The study singled out the directions for developing a new constructive trend in clinical-psychological studies, namely, in child and adolescent clinical psychology.
The Morphology of Adjectives in the Neo-Aramaic Dialects of ʿAqra
Authors: Al-Zebari Aziz Emmanuel Eliya
Published: June 2021

The present article presents a synchronic description of the morphology of adjectives in the highly endangered Neo-Aramaic dialects of ʿAqra in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. It discusses the morphology of adjectives in these dialects as used in the sixties of the last century. In particular, the article highlights adjectival patterns, inflectional features, and the adaptation of loanwords from Kurdish, Arabic, and Turkish. The article contributes to the description of the grammar of some 150 North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic (NENA) dialects in the Kurdistan region that are gradually falling into disuse, due to internal disputes, wars, economic crises, and globalisation.
On the identity, nomenclatural status and authorship of Coluber monticolus Cantor, 1839 (Reptilia: Serpentes)
Authors: TILLACK FRANK , NARAYANAN SURYA , DEEPAK V.
Published: June 2021

Currently, Coluber monticolus Cantor is considered a junior synonym of the Common kukri snake, Oligodon arnensis Shaw. In this work, we analyzed long time disregarded, unpublished original drawings and manuscripts concerning South Asian snakes. Additionally we recall the hitherto little-noticed contact and exchange between B. H. Hodgson and T. E. Cantor. We correct erroneous assumptions regarding the authorship and identity of C. monticolus and, in accordance with Art. 23.9 of the “Code” (ICZN 1999), we declare Dipsas multifasciata Blyth a nomen protectum with priority over Coluber monticolus Hodgson in Cantor (nomen oblitum).
The National Weather Service–North Carolina State University Internship Course: Impacts and Success over a Generation
Authors: Green Thomas A. , Leins Daniel , Lackmann Gary M. , Morrow James , Blaes Jonathan
Published: June 2021

Nearly 100 North Carolina State University (NCSU) students have participated in a unique, highly structured internship course conducted by the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Raleigh, North Carolina. Here, we explore the impact that this course has had on their professional development and career trajectories. As of this writing, the course has been running for 17 years; this paper provides an update on how the course has changed over time, and information concerning participant outcomes. Changes include a reduction in class size to allow for more individualized mentoring, and the addition of experiences outside of the WFO. The course serves as a compelling selling point in student recruiting for the Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences (MEAS), and participation also helps to ensure that the curriculum is adequately preparing students for positions in the NWS. The NWS benefits from a pool of potential employees that will require less spin-up time if hired; additionally, some NCSU graduates have participated in similar student volunteer programs at their respective offices once hired.
A Common Base Mode of Asian Summer Monsoon Variability across Timescales
Authors: Wang Xudong , Xie Shang-Ping , Guan Zhaoyong , Wang Minyang
Published: June 2021

The summer intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) is characterized by a northward-moving rainband in the Indo–western Pacific warm pool region. The physical origin of the ISO is not fully understood, as it is masked by strong interaction of convection and circulation. This study examines intraseasonal to interannual variability during June–August over the Indo–western Pacific warm pool region. The results show that the tropical northwest Pacific anomalous anticyclone (NWP-AAC) is a fundamental mode on both intraseasonal and interannual time scales, destabilized by the monsoon mean state, specifically through barotropic energy conversion and convective feedback in the low-level confluence between the monsoon westerlies and easterly trade winds. On the interannual time scale, the NWP-AAC shows a biennial tendency, reversing phase from the summer of El Niño to the summer that follows; the AAC in post–El Niño summer is excited indirectly through sea surface temperature anomalies in the Indo–NWP. On the intraseasonal time scale, the column-integrated moisture advection causes the NWP-AAC-related convection to propagate northward. Our results provide a unifying view of multiscale Asian summer monsoon variability, with important implications for subseasonal to seasonal prediction.
Longitudinal Stability of Work–Family Enrichment and its Association With Well-Being and Personality Traits
Authors: Kim Shin Ye , Shigemoto Yuki , Neduvelil Ashley , Grzywacz Joseph G.
Published: June 2021

Are higher levels of work–family enrichment a consequence or manifestation of certain personality traits and individuals’ psychological functioning? Using random intercept cross-lagged panel models, we examined the hypothesized stability of work-to-family enrichment (WFE) and family-to-work enrichment (FWE) over two 10-year intervals, and the extent to which the within-person changes of WFE and FWE are associated with personality traits, psychological well-being, and possible gender differences. In this 20-year, longitudinal data analysis of employed adults ( N = 535), results indicated the robust nature of the stability of WFE and FWE. Our results suggest that personality traits are not associated with within-person change for either WFE or FWE, but psychological well-being is associated with within-person change. Theoretically and conceptually, our findings provide strong evidence that work–family enrichment is not simply an “optimistic worldview” created by personality and well-being. The within-person results lend strong evidence that interventions that improve psychological well-being will also enhance work–family enrichment.
Mammalian species identification using ISSR-HRM technique
Authors: Kriangwanich Wannapimol , Nganvongpanit Korakot , Buddhachat Kittisak , Siengdee Puntita , Chomdej Siriwadee , Ponsuksili Siriluck , Thitaram Chatchote
Published: June 2021

Wildlife trading and the illegal hunting of wildlife are contributing factors to the biodiversity crisis that is presently unfolding across the world. The inability to control the trade of animal body parts or available biological materials is a major challenge for those who investigate wildlife crime. The effective management of this illegal trade is an important facet of wildlife forensic sciences and can be a key factor in the enforcement of effective legislation surrounding the illegal trade of protected and endangered species. However, the science of wildlife forensics is limited by the absence of a comprehensive database for wildlife investigations. Inter-simple sequence repeat markers (ISSR) coupled with high resolution melting analysis (HRM) have been effectively used for species identification of 38 mammalian species. Six primers of the ISSR markers were chosen for species identification analysis. From six ISSR primers resulting in a range of accuracy of 33.3%–100% and 100% in terms of precision in every primer. Furthermore, 161 mammalian samples were 100% distinguished to the correct species using these six ISSR primers. ISSR-HRM analysis was successfully employed in determining mammal identification among varying mammalian species, and thus could serve as an effective alternative tool or technique in the species identification process. This option would offer researchers a heightened level of convenience in terms of its performance and the ease with which researchers or field practice veterinarians would be able to interpret results in effectively identifying animal parts at wildlife investigation crime scenes.
A Question of Human Rights: Transnational Targeting of Environmental Justice Communities
Authors: Wright Beverly , Nance Earthea , King Denae , Semien Joy
Published: June 2021

The paper describes, in historical and international perspective, the ongoing struggles of several communities in Louisiana and South Africa whose environment and public health have been damaged by the operations of the same transnational corporations. Previous research has tended to assess environmental injustice one community at a time. Missing from past research is an international perspective which exposes the ties between communities that host the same transnational corporations. For each of our case study communities, we illustrate the national and international policy gaps that have allowed powerful companies to systematically target vulnerable communities for profit. Because of the international dimensions of this problem, resolving it by local or national action alone is impractical. We argue that one of our case study communities represented a turning point in the international movement for environmental justice. The community of Mossville, Louisiana formally asked the United Nations for relief from years of environmental assault on the basis that their human rights had been violated. The paper shows how the decision of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, which recognized the human rights of Mossville residents, came closer than ever before to realizing environmental human rights for people around the world.
Subzero balance - simple modified ultrafiltration (SBUF-SMUF) technique for pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Bierer Joel , Henderson Mark , Stanzel Roger , Sett Suvro , Horne David
Published: June 2021

The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) can be associated with significant hemodilution, coagulopathy and a systemic inflammatory response for infants and children undergoing cardiac surgery. Intra-operative ultrafiltration has been used for decades to ameliorate these harmful effects. The novel combination of a continuous and non-continuous form of ultrafiltration, Subzero Balance Simple Modified Ultrafiltration (SBUF-SMUF) here described, seeks to enhance recovery from pediatric cardiac surgery and CPB.
Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver: a case report
Authors: Sun Yu , Jin Guangyu
Published: June 2021

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver is extremely rare, very difficult to diagnose, and carries an extremely poor prognosis. In this study, we discuss the imaging features of a patient with primary hepatic squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was admitted to hospital owing to discomfort in the right upper abdominal quadrant and a loss of appetite. He had no previous risk factors associated with hepatic squamous cell carcinoma and no history of systemic squamous cell carcinoma. We diagnosed primary hepatic squamous cell carcinoma by pathological analysis. Primary hepatic squamous cell carcinoma is rare, and its histological features are controversial, which makes the clinical and imaging diagnosis difficult. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the understanding of this disease in clinical practice to avoid misdiagnosis, and to identify the best treatment. This case provides a basis for the clinical diagnosis of primary hepatic squamous cell carcinoma.
Evaluation of a New Intersection Design, “Shifting Movements”
Authors: Al-Omari Ma’en Mohammad Ali , Abdel-Aty Mohamed
Published: June 2021

Several unconventional designs have been suggested to enhance traffic operation and safety at intersections. However, the operational benefits of implementing some of them are achieved only under certain traffic conditions. For instance, the operational performance of the restricted crossing U-turn (RCUT) intersection design manifests only under highly unbalanced traffic conditions. The RCUT intersection outperforms conventional intersections that are subjected to high major traffic and light minor traffic volumes, while its operational performance fades at intersections with moderate to heavy minor road traffic. In this technical paper, a new innovative four-leg intersection design has been proposed to replace the RCUT intersection under moderate and heavy minor road traffic volumes. The new intersection design which has been named the “Shifting Movements” (SM) intersection has a low number of conflict-points compared with conventional intersections, but similar to the RCUT intersection. Therefore, similar safety benefits are expected to be achieved by the implementation of the SM intersection. Operational evaluations and comparisons between conventional, RCUT, and SM intersections have been conducted in the microscopic simulation environment. Different traffic volume levels and left-turn proportions have been assumed to represent the peak hour with moderate to high left-turn traffic. The results indicate that the SM intersection design significantly outperforms conventional and RCUT intersections that are subjected to high traffic volumes in average control delay and throughput.
Marketing Healthy Food in an African City: Consumer Motivations for Adopting Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato in Maputo, Mozambique
Authors: Brouwer Roland
Published: June 2021

Since the late 1990s, the International Potato Center has promoted orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) cultivars in Mozambique as a healthy food, emphasizing its capacity to reduce the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among mothers and young children. This article seeks to reveal why consumers in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique, adopt or reject OFSP looking at the role of food systems and consumer characteristics in access and acceptance of healthy food and at the positioning of OFSP on the market in terms of lifestyle and need satisfaction.

The results of 255 street interviews confirm that OFSP is widely known. Information reaches people mainly via informal channels (relatives and retailers). Nonadoption is the result of the positioning of OFSP as food for young children and sick people. The OFSP appeals most to the hedonistic and conservative lifestyle segments. Adoption is associated with the perception of OFSP as a source of vitamins that builds up muscles and improves physical appearance and self-fulfillment. While women are typically responsible for domestic tasks, male adopters emphasize the role of OFSP in family health and well-being more than female adopters. This first attempt to understand the marketing of healthy food in Mozambique exposes many similarities between the urban consumers in Maputo and those in developed countries. The results indicate that future marketing should exploit informal channels such as vendors and emphasize its nutritious value for all consumers instead of focusing on mothers and young children.
Understanding the Role of Race and Procedural Justice on the Support for Police Body-Worn Cameras and Reporting Crime
Authors: Lawrence Timothy Ikenna , Mcfield Ariel , Freeman Kamilah
Published: June 2021

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) among police officers have garnered mixed support among community members. On the one hand, proponents of BWCs contend that there are benefits of BWCs such as reduction of complaints, increase legitimacy, decrease unlawful shootings, and increase transparency. On the other, certain community members maintain less support for BWCs, citing that while police officers wear BWCs, it violates police–citizen interaction privacy. Although there is mixed support for BWCs among community members, little is known as to whether race plays a role in support for BWCs and whether confidence in the police relates to reporting crime/procedural justice, leading to support for BWCs. The current study used two mediation moderation analyses to examine whether race moderated the relationship between confidence in the police and reporting crime/procedural justice, leading to support for BWCs while controlling for police legitimacy and effectiveness. The first model suggests that race moderated the relationship between confidence in the police and reporting crime but not the relationship between reporting crime and support for BWCs. The second model revealed that race did not moderate the relationship between confidence in the police and procedural justice. Also, race did not moderate the relationship between procedural justice and support for BWCs. Implications are discussed.
Storage facilities reclamation using dredged sediments from waterways: Growing media formulation for plants according to the EU Ecolabel requirements
Authors: Zouch Afef , Mamindy-Pajany Yannick , Abriak Nor-Edine , Ksibi Mohamed
Published: June 2021

Dredged sediments display a great potential for growing media applications; however, there are few studies about their beneficial reuse for the waste storage reclamation. This research study aims at checking the agronomic values and environmental impacts of three growing media based on waterways sediments (WSs) and green waste (GW) according ecolabel requirements. For this purpose, three growing media named GW0, GW25, and GW50 were prepared at field pilot scale by co-composting WS and GWs during 12 months. Samples were submitted to ecolabel analyses package. Following to the ecolabel requirements, the growing media comply with criteria like pH, electrical conductivity, trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contents, chlorides, and pathogens, whereas they are not in compliance with the EU Ecolabel guidelines for propagules, organic matter, and zinc contents. Results of laboratory leaching tests performed according to NF EN 12457-2 for GW0, GW25, and GW50 have shown that sulfates, soluble fraction exceed limit for inert waste storage. Lysimeter tests at pilot scale were performed during 6 months to check the leaching potential of pollutants from growing media under real field conditions, including a European ecolabel product. Results demonstrate that Ba, Mo, Sb, Zn, Se, and Sb are higher in GW0, GW25, and GW50 than in the European ecolabel. As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and F− are more soluble in the commercial product compared to other growing media. This study allowed to demonstrate that main characteristics are fulfilling for reusing these growing media in the specific field of waste storage reclamation.
Barriers to Bystander Interventions for Sexual Assault: Impact of Personal History of Sexual Victimization
Authors: Kistler Tylor , Stuart Gregory L. , Cornelius Tara L.
Published: June 2021

Bystander intervention programs have consistently demonstrated a positive change in communitywide norms regarding sexual assault. However, much of the extant research is limited by the failure to measure the prevalence of opportunities to intervene relative to actual intervention behavior and the failure to examine how bystander behaviors may be affected by a personal history of sexual victimization. The current study aims to determine the relationship between a bystander’s previous history of sexual victimization, perceived barriers to intervention, observed opportunities to intervene, and actual intervention behavior in a range of high-risk, low-risk, and post-assault bystander opportunities in undergraduate students. Male and female undergraduate students ( N = 591) completed retrospective measures of their opportunities for and intervention in a range of bystander behaviors and perceived barriers to intervention. They also reported on their personal history of sexual victimization. The results indicated that those with a history of sexual victimization tended to perceive greater barriers to intervention than those without such history. Notably, individuals with a victimization history reported that they were less likely to notice a risky situation and to identify the situation as dangerous. However, noticing or intervening did not vary across different types of bystander intervention situations. In terms of gender differences, although men reported perceiving greater barriers due to the diffusion of responsibility and fewer barriers related to audience inhibition and skill deficits when compared to women, there were no significant gender differences in intervention behavior. Data were situated within current empirical and theoretical models of sexual and intimate partner violence, and implications of these findings for bystander intervention programs and directions for future research are discussed.
Inauthentic Newsfeeds and Agenda Setting in a Coordinated Inauthentic Information Operation
Authors: Ehrett Carl , Linvill Darren L. , Smith Hudson , Warren Patrick L. , Bellamy Leya , Moawad Marianna , Moran Olivia , Moody Monica
Published: June 2021

The 2015–2017 Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA)’s coordinated information operation is one of the earliest and most studied of the social media age. A set of 38 city-specific inauthentic “newsfeeds” made up a large, underanalyzed part of its English-language output. We label 1,000 tweets from the IRA newsfeeds and a matched set of real news sources from those same cities with up to five labels indicating the tweet represents a world in unrest and, if so, of what sort. We train a natural language classifier to extend these labels to 268 k IRA tweets and 1.13 million control tweets. Compared to the controls, tweets from the IRA were 34% more likely to represent unrest, especially crime and identity danger, and this difference jumped to about twice as likely in the months immediately before the election. Agenda setting by media is well-known and well-studied, but this weaponization by a coordinated information operation is novel.
The Importance of Education for Middle- and Old-Age Mortality in Chile: Estimates From Panel Data Linked to Death Records
Authors: Sandoval Moisés H. , Turra Cássio M. , Luz Luciana
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To examine the association between education and mortality by age and gender in Chile.

Methods

We drew data from 10,147 adults aged 40 years and over from the Chilean Social Protection Survey linked to the national death records. We specify five Cox regression models to estimate the main and interaction effects for education levels, age, sex, and mortality.

Results

The hazard ratios reduce with increasing education. Secondary and tertiary education levels are associated, respectively, with 34% and 41% lower hazard rates than 0–4 years of schooling. Also, the educational gradient in mortality is significantly weaker at older ages, and it does not differ by gender.

Discussion

Our findings endorse the negative association of formal education with adult mortality, uncovering Chile’s structural problems despite the economic improvements underway. It also corroborates the importance of novel longitudinal data for mortality analyses in Latin America.
Blame avoidance, scapegoats and spin: Why Dutch politicians won’t evaluate ZBO-outcomes
Authors: van Thiel Sandra
Published: June 2021

Despite high expectations about the results of agencification and a legal obligation to evaluate executive agencies, ministers and MPs seem not very interested in evaluating agencies’ results. Hood’s theory on blame avoidance is used to explain the lack of evaluation in the case of the Dutch ZBOs. Only one in seven ZBOs is evaluated as frequently as mandated. Findings show that ZBO evaluations are more an administrative than a political process. Reports do not offer hard evidence and are seldom used in parliamentary debates. There are no clear patterns as to which ZBOs are evaluated more, or less, often.
In vitro toxicological assessment of flumethrin’s effects on MCF-7 breast cancer cells
Authors: Kara-Ertekin S , Yazar S , Erkan M
Published: June 2021

Pyrethroid pesticides are frequently used for household insect control of insects and in agriculture and livestock. Flumethrin is a pyrethroid that is used against ectoparasites in many animals. The goal of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic, apoptotic, genotoxic, and estrogenic effects of flumethrin on the mammalian breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Compared with control groups, a dose-dependent decrease was observed in cell viability at concentrations of 100 µM and higher. The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects detected by LDH assay and AO/EtBr staining increased significantly at a concentration of 1000 µM. The expression of BCL2, which is an anti-apoptotic gene, significantly decreased, whereas BAX, TP53, and P21 expression significantly increased. The results of a comet assay indicated that flumethrin significantly changed tail length, tail % DNA, tail moment, and Olive tail moment in concentrations above 1 and 10 µM. In addition, a 0.1 µM concentration of flumethrin affected ERα receptor mediated cell proliferation and increased transcription of estrogen-responsive pS2 (TFF1) and progesterone receptor (PGR) genes. As a result, flumethrin-induced apoptosis and cytotoxicity at a high concentration, while induced genotoxicity even at lower concentrations. Flumethrin is an endocrine disrupting insecticide with estrogenic effects at very low concentrations.
A Human Reliability Assessment of Marine Engineering Students through Engine Room Simulator Technology
Authors: Kandemir, Cagatay , Celik Metin
Published: June 2021

Background

It is widely accepted that the simulators are important technological instruments which can be utilized as an effective assessment tool in various domains Developing technologies allow the functionality levels of simulators to increase behavioural realism. For this reason, students in higher educations are involved in various useful practices using simulators.

Purpose

In this respect, simulators can also provide great opportunities to conduct analysis through human error on which this study conceptualized.

Model

In this context, this study proposes a human error evaluation approach through simulator technology whilst taking advantage of the SOHRA (Shipboard Operation Human Reliability Analysis) method. As a case study, the proposed approach was applied to a simulator environment with the involvement of marine engineering students. Throughout this case, the students were challenged with various error producing conditions (EPCs) while their performances were observed.

Results

The attendees were achieved good practice when confronted with EPC23 (unreliable instruments), EPC17 (inadequate checking), and EPC5 (spatial & functional incompatibility). However, the points open for improvement are found on EPC2 (time shortage), EPC24 (absolute judgments required), EPC18 (objectives conflict) and EPC9 (technical unlearning).

Conclusion

This framework can be utilized in simulator-based training activities to increase operational awareness of marine engineering students. The recent developments in simulator technology can boost the effectiveness of the proposed framework.
Assessment of Risk Factors and Consequences of Mental Health Problems Among Mental Health Patients Admitted in Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Authors: Yasegnal Awgchew Shimelash
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Mental health problem is a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning.

Objective

To assess the risk factors and consequence of mental health problems among patients admitted in Felege Hiwot Referal Hospital in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methodology: Phenomenological research design was used to conduct this study. Using available sampling, a total of 10 participants were involved. Interview was used as a means of collecting the data. The data was analyzed by thematic and narration techniques of analysis.

Result

Early life experience, social crises, economic problem, biological causes like brain damage and injury, heredity, drug use, and traditional believes such as sin, curse, witchcraft, evil spirit, herbal medicine are found to be the risk factors. Low self esteem, loneliness, hopelessness, economic problem, suicidal attempt, unable to detect the need of the patients, history taking challenge, low level of patience, low drug adherence, and counter transference are found to be the consequence of mental health problem.

Conclusion

People with mental health problem in the long run are highly prone to suicidal attempt and commitment as a result mental health problem. Recommendations: Concerned government bodies/Health Bureau/and the people shall work on the problems proactively and minimize the consequences through intensive follow up of people with mental health problems.
Practice Strategies and Considerations to Promote Maintenance and Generalization
Authors: Taylor Jonté C. , Riden Benjamin S.
Published: June 2021

Performing newly acquired skills over time (i.e., maintenance) and across settings and stimuli (i.e., generalization) is central to what students need to accomplish in preparation for life beyond the classroom. Students, including those with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), need opportunities to practice for the purposes of maintaining and generalizing skills. With practice, students develop the ability to perform skills adequately under appropriate conditions. This article details ways to teach and get students with EBD to practice generalization and maintenance of newly acquired skills.
Evaluation of Bleeding Rate and Time in Therapeutic Range in Patients Using Warfarin Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic—Warfarin Treatment in COVID-19
Authors: Emren Zeynep Yapan , Şenöz Oktay , Erseçgin Ahmet , Emren Sadık Volkan
Published: June 2021

The treatment process of patients using warfarin is expected to be hindered during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore we investigated whether the time in therapeutic range (TTR) and bleeding complications were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. 355 patients using warfarin were included between March 2019 to March 2021. Demographic parameters, INR (international normalized ratio), and bleeding rates were recorded retrospectively. The TTR value was calculated using Rosendaal’s method. The mean age of the patients was 61 ± 12 years and 55% of them were female. The mean TTR value during the COVID-19 pandemic was lower than the pre-COVID-19 period (56 ± 21 vs 68 ± 21, P < 0.001). Among the patients, 41% had a lack of outpatient INR control. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 71 (20%) patients using VKA suffered bleeding. Among patients with bleeding, approximately 60% did not seek medical help and 6% of patients performed self-reduction of the VKA dose. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TTR values have decreased with the lack of monitoring. Furthermore, the majority of patients did not seek medical help even in case of bleeding.
Acquired acoria and iris pearls in leprosy: Case report
Authors: Morais Luciana Negrão Almeida , David Joacy Pedro Franco , Peres Lima João Victor , Demachki Samia , Diniz Daniel Guerreiro , Almeida Edmundo Frota de
Published: June 2021

Purpose:

To describe a case of a patient presenting with acquired acoria and iris pearls, a rare eye manifestation and pathognomonic finding for leprosy; to reinforce clinical, histopathological, and therapeutic aspects of ocular involvement in leprosy.

Methods:

Case report.

Case description:

A 62-year-old male presenting with acquired acoria and iris pearls in both eyes due to leprosy also had anterior uveitis and cataract. Histopathological diagnosis of iris pearls was confirmed by the presence of Hansen’s bacilli. Ophthalmological examination revealed improvement of the visual acuity after iridectomy and extracapsular cataract extraction.

Conclusions:

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of acquired acoria in a leprosy patient. It led to impaired vision and reversible blindness. Proper diagnosis and ophthalmological treatment of patients with these conditions are essential for the maintenance of a good quality of life.
A Computational-Based Drug Repurposing Method Targeting SARS-CoV-2 and its Neurological Manifestations Genes and Signaling Pathways
Authors: Sepehrinezhad Ali , Rezaeitalab Fariborz , Shahbazi Ali , Sahab-Negah Sajad
Published: June 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as a global concern involves infections in multiple organs. Much of the research up to now has been descriptive on neurological manifestations followed by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Despite considerable efforts on effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, novel therapeutic options for COVID-19 comorbidities are warranted. One of the fast ways to introduce possible effective drugs for clinical trials is bioinformatics methods. We have conducted a comprehensive enrichment analysis of genes involved in SARS-CoV-2 and neurological disorders associated with COVID-19. For this purpose, gene sets were extracted from the GeneWeaver database. To find out some significant enriched findings for common genes between SARS-CoV-2 and its neurological disorders, several practical databases were used. Finally, to repurpose an efficient drug, DrugBank databases were used. Overall, we detected 139 common genes concerning SARS-CoV-2 and their neurological disorders. Interestingly, our study predicted around 6 existing drugs (ie, carvedilol, andrographolide, 2-methoxyestradiol, etanercept, polaprezinc, and arsenic trioxide) that can be used for repurposing. We found that polaprezinc (zinc l-carnosine) drug is not investigated in the context of COVID-19 till now and it could be used for the treatment of COVID-19 and its neurological manifestations. To summarize, enrichment and network data get us a coherent picture to predict drug repurposing to speed up clinical trials.
TSH Mediated the Effect of Iodized Salt on Child Cognition in a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Mohammed Husein , Marquis Grace S , Aboud Frances , Bougma Karim , Samuel Aregash
Published: June 2021

Objectives:

This study examines the hormonal mediators of the effect of iodized salt in pregnancy on child cognition.

Methods:

Sixty districts across 6 zones in the Amhara region of Ethiopia were randomly allocated to a control or intervention arm of early market access to iodized salt. Twenty-two villages per arm were randomly selected for this sub-study. A total of 1220 pregnant women who conceived after the intervention began were enrolled and assessed for their iodine and iron status. Data were collected once on the household socio-demographic status and iodized salt use, and maternal urinary iodine during pregnancy. Then, infants’ diet, urinary iodine level, cognitive development (Bayley III), serum hormonal levels, iron status, and inflammation markers were measured between 2 and 13 months of age.

Results:

The median maternal urinary iodine concentration was adequate and significantly higher in the intervention mothers than that of the controls (163 vs 121 µg/L, P < .0001). Intervention children compared to the control children had lower thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (mean: 2.4 ± 1.0 µIU/mL vs 2.7 ± 1.0 µIU/mL, effect size = 0.18, P < .01) and thyroglobulin (Tg) (41.6 ± 1.0 ng/mL vs 45.1 ± 1.0 ng/mL, effect size = 0.14, P < .05). There was an interaction between the intervention and iron stores such that cognition was higher with iron (effect size = 0.28, 100 vs 94 IQ points). TSH was a partial mediator (12%) of the effect of the intervention on child cognition (Sobel z-score = 2.1 ± 0.06, P < .05).

Conclusion:

TSH partially mediated the effect of the iodized salt intervention on child cognition.
The Application and Development of Deep Learning in Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Huang Danju , Bai Han , Wang Li , Hou Yu , Li Lan , Xia Yaoxiong , Yan Zhirui , Chen Wenrui , Chang Li , Li Wenhui
Published: June 2021

With the massive use of computers, the growth and explosion of data has greatly promoted the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The rise of deep learning (DL) algorithms, such as convolutional neural networks (CNN), has provided radiation oncologists with many promising tools that can simplify the complex radiotherapy process in the clinical work of radiation oncology, improve the accuracy and objectivity of diagnosis, and reduce the workload, thus enabling clinicians to spend more time on advanced decision-making tasks. As the development of DL gets closer to clinical practice, radiation oncologists will need to be more familiar with its principles to properly evaluate and use this powerful tool. In this paper, we explain the development and basic concepts of AI and discuss its application in radiation oncology based on different task categories of DL algorithms. This work clarifies the possibility of further development of DL in radiation oncology.
Analysis of 565 thrombectomies for anterior circulation stroke: A Brazilian registry
Authors: Fornazari Vitor Rodrigues , Castro-Afonso Luís Henrique de , Nakiri Guilherme Seizem , Abud Thiago Giansante , Monsignore Lucas Moretti , Dias Francisco Antunes , Pontes-Neto Octávio Marques , Abud Daniel Giansante
Published: June 2021

Introduction

The benefits of mechanical thrombectomy in the treatment of patients with acute stroke due to large vessel occlusions (LVOs) have been extensively demonstrated by randomized trials and registries in developed countries. However, data on thrombectomy outside controlled trials are scarce in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy, and to investigate the predictors for good and poor outcomes of thrombectomy for treatment of AIS due to anterior circulation LVOs in Brazil.

Materials and Methods

This was a single center registry of thrombectomy in the treatment of stroke caused by anterior circulation LVOs. Between 2011 and 2019, a total of 565 patients were included.

Results

the mean baseline NIHSS score on admission was 17.2. The average baseline ASPECTS was 8, and 91.0% of patients scored ≥6. Half of the patients received intravenous thrombolysis. The mean time from symptom onset to arterial puncture was 296.4 minutes. The mean procedure time was 61.4 minutes. The rates of the main outcomes were recanalization (TICI 2b-3) 85.6%, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) 8,1%, good clinical outcome (mRS=0-2) 43,5%, and mortality 22.1% at three months.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy for treatment of patients with AIS of the anterior circulation in real-life conditions under limited facilities and resources. The results of the present study were relatively similar to those of large trials and population registers of developed countries.
Effect of school reopening on SARS-CoV-2 incidence in a low-prevalence region: Prospective SARS-CoV-2 testing in healthcare workers with primary school-attending children versus without children living at home
Authors: Frie Melvin , Havinga Lisa M , Wiersema-Buist Janneke , Veldman Charlotte G , de Vries Marjan JT , Rurenga-Gard Lilli , Friedrich Alex W , Knoester Marjolein
Published: June 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often presents asymptomatically or milder in children compared to adults. The role of young children in the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains largely unknown. In the Netherlands, the first action of loosening the partial lockdown that had been implemented to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission was the reopening of primary schools on 1 May 2020. We subsequently conducted a prospective cohort study among healthcare workers (HCWs) with primary school-attending children versus HCWs without children living at home. We tested each HCW three times for SARS-CoV-2 from May 20 to June 15 2020 at 1-week intervals. In total, 832 nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from 283 HCWs with primary school-attending children living at home and 864 nasopharyngeal swabs from 285 HCWs without children living at home. All nasopharyngeal swabs tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. In our region with a low population density and low SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, reopening of primary schools did not lead to an increase in infections. The results of this study may serve as an example for the implementation of regional strategies to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in countries with large variations in both population density and SARS-CoV-2 prevalence.