bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fiscal Deficits, Current Account Deficits and Short Term Capital Inflow: The experience of Selected Emerging Market OECD Economies
Authors: Raji Rahman olanrewaju
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this study is to find the causal relationship among fiscal deficit, current account deficit and short term capital inflow and also to determine further the validity of the twin deficit hypothesis. The empirical model is estimated for the selected ten emerging market OECD economies during the period between 2000 and 2016 using annual data. The findings show that there is short term and long term bi-directional causality among the current account deficit, the fiscal deficit and the short term capital inflow except a uni-directional causal relationship from short term capital inflow to current account deficit in the short run. This implies that short term foreign capital inflows is a source of financing means for the current account deficit, its economic consequence may lead to balance of payments problems due to adverse effects on current account and authorities should design a fully fiscal discipline policy that should ensure drastic curtailment of fiscal deficit and at the time create conducive environment to attract foreign remittances and also foreign investment which would help to generate healthy external balances
A Comparative Analysis on Public Private Partnership Investment in BRICS Nations
Authors: Dawra Aarti
Published: December 2020

Public Private Partnerships (PPP) have emerged as one of the major approaches for delivering infrastructure projects effectively and efficiently.  In recent years it has created various success stories whether it is infrastructure sector, agriculture, education or health care sector in various countries. Various developed countries have implemented numerous projects via PPP in the development of infrastructure. Investors are now keen in investing in the developing nations like India, Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, which is showing good track record in the last few years with respect to the trade and GDP. This paper has shown how investment and PPP projects are affecting the GDP of BRICS countries and the paper has also shown various infrastructure indicators of these five countries as well. A panel data has been taken for the analysis for last 22 years for BRICS countries and with the help of panel regression models the significant results are shown with the help of Eviews.
The Macro Economic Management Challenges of Foreign Aid in Developing Countries
Authors: Arabi U , Nagendra -
Published: December 2020

Foreign aid is one of the most powerful weapons in the war against poverty.Â  Many people equate aid with charity as one way act of generosity directed from high income countries to their low income counterparts. Foreign aid is indispensable for the development of less developed countries. It flows in the form of loans, assistance outright grants from various governmental and international organizations. It spreads the benefits of global integration and shared prosperity by enabling poor people and countries to overcome the health, education and economic resources barriers that keep them in poverty. There is an international consensus that human development should be the primary objective. Hence aid budgets are raising despite the several fiscal and public debt problems facing some of the donor countries.
Horticulture Development Scenario in Karnataka
Authors: Jayasheela - , Hans V. Basil , Kiran Kumar P
Published: December 2020

Karnataka, which ranks 2nd in installation of drip irrigation, has vast potential for growth and export of horticulture crops of different variety. Horticulture in Karnataka contributes 40 per cent of the combined income from agricultural sector and its share in state GDP is about 17 per cent, both of which are significant for the growth of Karnataka economy in general and its agricultural sector in particular. This paper therefore, tries to revisit the domain of Karnataka horticulture in order to examine its growth and development in terms of area, productivity, output, export potential and income derived.Â  The primary objective of the authors herein is to highlight the horticultural development experience of the state in terms of the above mentioned variables so as to draw lessons for further progress of horticulture both in Karnataka and the rest of India. Such a study when viewed in a macro perspective is of immense value in todayâ€™s need for a globally integrated and locally sustainable agriculture.
Microfinance Intervention In Poverty Alleviation And Development
Authors: Shanthi A. , Dhanabhakyam M.
Published: December 2020

Poverty is one of the conspicuous features of the developing economies in Africa. It is more sever in Eritrea where the size of its economy is small, significant economic growth and transformation may take place if Eritrea exploits all opportunities for export of goods and services and is open to foreign investment and can curtail the rampant poverty. No economy can develop without the right mix of educated, experienced and skilled labor.Â  Skill itself isnâ€™t adequate without the right attitude, hope and enthusiasm among the labor force. This indicates that there are other factors which affect poverty of a household in conjunction with education. There is a need for providing complementary factors along side with education so as to alleviate poverty. These results suggest labour market policies as potential instruments for tackling poverty in Eritrea. It is possible that because of the war situation and aging population most of those who are poor and unemployed may turn out to be non employable.Â
Emerging Trends of Derivative Trading In India
Authors: Rajkumar - , Sharma Priyanka
Published: December 2020

Derivatives markets generally are an integral part of capital markets in developed as well as in emerging market economies. These instruments assist business growth by disseminating effective price signals concerning exchange rates, indices and reference rates or other assets and thereby render both cash and derivatives markets more efficient. These instruments also offer protection from possible adverse market movements and can be used to manage or offset exposures by hedging or shifting risks particularly during periods of volatility thereby reducing costs. By allowing for the transfer of unwanted risk, derivatives can promote more efficient allocation of capital across the economy, increasing productivity in the economy. Though the commodity features trading has been in existence since 1953 and certain OTC derivatives such as Forward Rate Agreements (FRAs) and Interest Rate Swaps (IRSs) were allowed by RBI through its guidelines in 1999, the trading in "securities" based derivatives on stock exchanges was permitted only in June 2000. The discussion that follows is mainly focused on "securities" based derivatives on stock exchanges.
The Nature of Poverty and Its Prospects: Pakistan Evidence
Authors: Herani Gobind M. , Wasim Pervez , Rajar Allah Wasayo , Shaikh Riaz Ahmed
Published: December 2020

Livelihood depends upon development, which directly or indirectly needs intervention of Government, NGOs and Community Organizations, etc. Diversification widens peopleâ€™s options, encourages spatially diverse transactions, increases cash in circulation in rural areas, and enhances human capital by providing those who diversify with new skills and experiences. People living in country are highly skilled can transform the available resources into something usable for consumption. Microcredit programmes have brought the vibrancy of the market economy to the poorest villages and the people of the World. This business approach to alleviation of poverty has allowed millions of individuals to work their way out of poverty with dignity. The contribution made by livelihood diversification to rural livelihoods is a significant one, which has often been ignored by policy makers. As Pakistan is also a developing country, that is why, we need to identify reasons. To keep these things in mind attempt has been made to identify the reasons of poverty as special objective; and to identify strategies made by country for the reduction of poverty and its consequences. This study is an exploratory research.
Study of Consumersâ€™ perceptions about Malls and Traditional Retail Outlets
Authors: Sachdeva J K
Published: December 2020

Cooperative marketing is not new to India. To get the economies of scale, Indian craftsmen and traders made shrenies or groups of similar products and trade during 6th and 7th centuries. This was the basis of caste system. The villages during medieval and British period grew with cooperative trade. Cooperative marketing is just an extension and application of the philosophy of cooperation in the area of agricultural marketing. It is a process of marketing through a cooperative society, formed for the producers, by the producers. It seeks to eliminate the middlemen between the producer and the consumer, thus getting the maximum price for their produce. Kirana shops are traditional retail outlets in India. However with the advent of new cooperative marketing with modern all-facility malls, there is general perception that retails consumers are getting skewed towards malls and consequently Kirana stores are experiencing tough competition to retain their customers. This paper is an attempt to know consumersâ€™ perception of Malls and Kriana stores.
Export Prospects of Tea from India: Untapped Potential
Authors: Kiran Kumar P , Jayasheela -
Published: December 2020

Certain geological and climatic factors have facilitated steadfast growth of tea industry in India. Today India is the largest producer of tea in the world. It accounts for 19 percent of the total area under tea cultivation in the world, 28 percent of world production, 22 percent of global tea consumption and 15 percent of total global exports. Tea is grown in 15 states of India. Predominantly it is North Indian states that have larger share of land under cultivation and tea production. They command a 77 percent share in tea production of India and balance by South India. Whereas state-wise, Assam is top of the league with 50.7 percent followed by West Bengal with 22.1 percent, Tamil Nadu with 15.9 percent and Kerala with 8.3 percent.
An Engineering Theory of Evolution
Authors: Castle Simeon , Grierson Claire , Gorochowski Thomas
Published: December 2020

Biological technologies are fundamentally unlike any other because biology evolves. Bioengineering therefore requires novel design methodologies with evolution at their core. Knowledge about evolution is currently applied to the design of biosystems ad hoc. Unless we have a unified engineering theory of evolution, we will neither be able to meet evolution’s potential as a design tool, nor understand or limit its unintended consequences on our designs. Our concept of the evotype offers a conceptual framework for engineering the evolutionary potential of biosystems. We show how a biosystem’s evolutionary properties might be rationally designed by engineering aspects of genetic variation, designed function, and natural selection. This idea could apply to all biosystems – from individual proteins to communities of whole-cells or even entire ecosystems – whether the goal is to direct evolution in the design process, or to limit its impacts during application. These principles could even be used beyond the realm of bioengineering to design entirely synthetic evolving auto-adaptive technologies.
Effect of Helix Angle on the Performance of Helical Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
Authors: Divakaran Unnikrishnan , Ramesh Ajith , Mohammad Akram , Velamati Ratna Kishore
Published: December 2020

The global energy crisis has lead researchers explore other sources of energy like wind, resulting in a wide acceptance of wind turbines. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) more suitable for small scale application in urban conditions than their horizontal-axis counterparts. A Helical bladed VAWT would reduce the ripple effect when compared to Straight bladed VAWT. The effect of the blade helix angle on the aerodynamic performance of VAWT using 3D numerical simulations is studied. Turbulence modelled using 4-Equation transition SST k-w model. Three different helix angles of 60, 90 and 120 of a 3 bladed VAWT operating across different tip speed ratios were studied. The 60 helical bladed VAWT was found to perform better than all other helical bladed and straight bladed VAWT. Standard deviation of the moment coefficient generated by a blade plotted against 360 of azimuth rotation revealed that the ripple effect on the shaft produced by cyclic loading of the straight blade is considerably reduced upon introduction of helix angle, with 120 helical blade giving lowest standard deviation. The analysis has been done for the percentage of power generated by each quartile of flow and the contribution of each section of the blade. A comparative study was also conducted between different helical bladed VAWT and straight bladed VAWT. Flow feature analysis also revealed the reasons behind secondary peaks and the performance improvement when tip speed ratio increases. Wake structure analysis and flow contours were also studied for a better understanding of the flow field.
THE GENERALIZED OTOC FROM SUPERSYMMETRIC QUANTUM MECHANICS: Study of Random Fluctuations from Eigenstate Representation of Correlation Functions
Authors: Choudhury Sayantan
Published: December 2020

The concept of out-of-time-ordered correlation (OTOC) function is treated as a very strong theoretical probe of quantum randomness, using which one can study both chaotic and non-chaotic phenomena in the context of quantum statistical mechanics. In this paper, we define a general class of OTOC, which can perfectly capture quantum randomness phenomena in a better way. Further we demonstrate an equivalent formalism of computation

using a general time independent Hamiltonian having well defined eigenstate representation for integrable supersymmetric quantum systems. We found that one needs to consider two new correlators apart from the usual one to have a complete quantum description. To visualize the impact of the given formalism we consider the two well known models viz. Harmonic Oscillator and one dimensional potential well within the framework of supersymmetry. For the Harmonic Oscillator case we obtain similar periodic time dependence

but dissimilar parameter dependences compared to the results obtained from both microcanonical and canonical ensembles in quantum mechanics without supersymmetry. On the other hand, for one dimensional potential well problem we found significantly different time scale and the other parameter dependence compared to the results obtained from non-supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Finally, to establish the consistency of the prescribed formalism in the classical limit, we demonstrate the phase space averaged version of the classical version of OTOCs from a model independent Hamiltonian along with the previously mentioned these well cited models.
A Naked-Eye Visible Colorimetric and Ratiometric Chemosensor Based on Schiff Base for Fluoride Anion Detection
Authors: Yang Liu , Liu Yu-Long , Liu Cheng-Guo , Fu Ying , Ye Fei
Published: December 2020

A dual-platform colorimetric and ratiometric chemosensor, namely 6-(2-hydroxynaphthalen)-N-n-butyl-naphthalimide (HNA), based on Schiff base constructed from N-n-butyl-4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde has been designed and fabricated for detecting fluoride anion (F−) in DMSO solution. HNA is a colorimetic and ratiometric probe with superior selectivity and sensitivity. The color changes of HNA from yellow to purple was observed by the naked eyes in the presence of F−. The absorbance in the UV-Vis spectra of HNA was decreasing in 422 nm, while gradually increasing in 583 nm by adding F−. The limit of detection (LOD) of HNA for detecting F− is low to 0.61 μM and the binding model of HNA and F− is in 3:2 stoichiometry. Meanwhile, HNA can be used to detect F− in real samples. Finally, the mechanism of HNA for the detection of F− was investigated. The present work indicated that HNA would be a superior potential chemosensor in monitoring F− selectively and sensitively.
Evidence-Based Management of Gout - A Systematic Search and Review
Authors: Siddiq Md Abu Bakar
Published: December 2020

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. Hyperuricaemia is the pre-requisite for gout and is influenced by variable modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Clinical features unique for gout are due to deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal in articular and extra articular tissues. Among various treating agents, anti-inflammatory drugs and urate lowering therapies (ULT) are used widely and successfully, however, non-medicinal means are also effective in the disorder. In their updated guidelines, ACR (2012) and EULAR (2016) recommended both medicinal and non-medicinal approaches that could be used in treating gout, though some of the recommendations are based on lower level of evidence. Moreover, researchers’ continued effort in finding new gout managing agents appear promising, for example, role of Lesinurad in gout management (CLEAR1, CLEAR2). In this new synthesis the author is aimed to provide updated information on gout management based on a systematic review including published work within last ten years between 2008 and 2018 and for this purpose, using ‘clinical trials in gout management’ string, published worked searched in PubMed database from 1st September 2018 to 30 October 2018. Besides the recent ACR and EULAR evidence based management guidelines, the author reviewed another 91 (total 93) articles to make this new draft – 39 articles describe role of pharmacological agents and 54 describe different gout risks, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of ULT, association between raised sUA level and renal impairment, efficacy of non-pharmacological agents in reducing sUA. According to published work, anti-inflammatory agent is the most appropriate drug group in mitigating inflammatory symptoms of gout, though they often adversely affect over other vital 2 organs with impaired function. Besides ULT, uricase analogues are also found useful in non refractory gout. Since anti-inflammatory agents and ULT contraindicate in some clinical conditions, intra-articular steroid and or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are appropriate alternatives instead. However, head-to-head comparison between different NSAIDs, NSAID and prednisolone, NSAID and colchicine are yet to perform. Use of combined anti-inflammatory preparations in gout is also based on lower level of evidence. Regarding effective maximum dose and long-standing impact of ULT on vital organs we are yet to reach a conclusion. Likewise, non-medicinal approaches are widely using in achieving target sUA level, though some of them are based on biased study outcomes and or study with inadequate power, requiring further analysis. Among non-pharmacological approaches, life-style modification, restriction of purine rich diets, avoidance of gout inciting agents are important, but inconclusive. Educating patients’ about diseases, risk factors, available treatment options and side effects from them are also important in terms of achieving sUA level, nevertheless too much counseling sometimes could be worthless.
Relationship Between Chewing Ability and Nutritional Status in Japanese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Motokawa Keiko , Mikami Yurie , Shirobe Maki , Edahiro Ayako , Ohara Yuki , Iwasaki Masanori , Watanabe Yutaka , Kawai Hisashi , Kera Takeshi , Obuchi Shuichi P , Fujiwara Yoshinori , Ihara Kazushige , Hirano Hirohiko
Published: December 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between objective chewing ability and nutritional status of Japanese community-dwelling elders. Design: Cross sectional study. Participants: In total, 509 community-dwelling elders living in the Tokyo metropolitan area participated in a comprehensive survey occurring in October 2013. Measurements: Basic characteristics referred to sex, age, and body mass index. Undernutrition was examined through serum albumin levels. Chewing ability was examined through a color-changeable xylitol gum. By evaluating color changes in the chewing gum. Nutritional intake was examined through the semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results: In the poor chewing ability group, all nutrient intake levels were significantly low, except for carbohydrates and all food groups intake levels were significantly low, except for cereals, confectionery, sugars, seasonings, and spices. Additionally, after adjusting for covariates, chewing ability showed a significant association with undernutrition. Conclusion: We concluded that chewing ability was closely associated with nutrient and different food groups intake as well as undernutrition among Japanese community-dwelling elders. Thus, in order to ensure a comprehensive nutritional management, nutritionists and dentists should collaborate when treating the same patients.
Assessment of Streamflow Simulation for a Tropical Forested Catchment using Dynamic TOPMODEL – Dynamic fluxEs and ConnectIvity for Predictions of HydRology (DECIPHeR) Framework and Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE)
Authors: Umar Fadhliani , Diyana Zed , Yusuf Badronnisa , Nurhidayu Siti
Published: December 2020

Rainfall runoff modeling has been a subject of interest for decades due to a need to understand a catchment system for management, for example regarding extreme event occurrences such as flooding. Tropical catchments are particularly prone to the hazards of extreme precipitation and the internal drivers of change in the system, such as deforestation and land use change. A model framework of dynamic TOPMODEL, DECIPHeR v1 - considering the flexibility, modularity and portability - and Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) method are both used in this study. They reveal model performance for the streamflow simulation in a tropical catchment, i.e. the Kelantan River in Malaysia, that is prone to flooding and experiences high rates of land use change. 32 years' continuous simulation at a daily time scale simulation along with uncertainty analysis resulted in a Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) score of 0.42 from the highest ranked parameter set, while 25.35% of the measurement falls within the uncertainty boundary based on a behavioral threshold NSE 0.3. The performance and behavior of the model in the continuous simulation suggests a limited ability of the model to represent the system, particularly along the low flow regime. In contrast, the simulation of eight peak flow events achieves moderate to good fit, with the four peak flow events simulation returning an NSE > 0.5. Nonetheless, the parameter scatterplot from both the continuous simulation and analyses of peak flow events indicate unidentifiability of all model parameters. This may be attributable to the catchment modelling scale. The results demand further investigation regarding the heterogeneity of parameters and calibration at multiple scales.
Multi-Fading Factor and Update Monitoring Strategy Adaptive Kalman Filter Based Variational Bayesian with Inaccurate Time-Varying Process and Measure-Ment Noise Covariance Matrices
Authors: Shan Chenghao , Zhou Weidong , Yang Yefeng , Jiang Zihao
Published: December 2020

Aiming at the problem that the performance of Adaptive Kalman filter estimation will be affected when the statistical characteristics of the process and measurement noise matrix are inaccurate and time-varying in the linear Gaussian state-space model, an algorithm of Multi-fading factor and update monitoring strategy adaptive Kalman filter based variational Bayesian is proposed. Inverse Wishart distribution is selected as the measurement noise model, the system state vector and measurement noise covariance matrix are estimated with the variational Bayesian method. The process noise covariance matrix is estimated by the maximum a posteriori principle, and the update monitoring strategy with adjustment factors is used to maintain the positive semi-definite of the updated matrix. The above optimal estimation results are introduced as time-varying parameters into the multiple fading factors to improve the estimation accuracy of the one-step state predicted covariance matrix. The application of the proposed algorithm in target tracking is simulated. The results show that compared with the current filters, the proposed filtering algorithm has better accuracy and convergence performance, and realizes the simultaneous estimation of inaccurate time-varying process and measurement noise covariance matrices.
The Pharmacological Tails of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors
Authors: Das Nabangshu , Benko Colette , Gill Sean E. , Dufour Antoine
Published: December 2020

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been demonstrated to have both detrimental and protective functions in inflammatory diseases. Several MMP inhibitors, with the exception of Periostat®, have failed in Phase III clinical trials. As an alternative strategy, recent efforts have been focussed on the development of more selective inhibitors or targeting other domains than their active sites (e.g., exosites, ectosites) through specific small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies. Here, we present some examples that aim to better understand the mechanisms of conformational changes/allosteric control of MMPs functions. In addition to MMP inhibitors, we discuss unbiased global approaches such as proteomics and N-terminomics to identify new MMP substrates and achieve a better understanding of the roles of these proteases in diseases.
On Solution Existence of Mhd Casson Nanofluid Transportation Across an Extending Cylinder Through Porous Media and Evaluation of Priori Bounds
Authors: Abdal Sohaib , Hussain Sajjad , Siddique Imran
Published: December 2020

It is a theoretical exportation for mass transpiration and thermal transpiration of Casson nanofluid over an extending cylindrical surface. The Stagnation point flow through porous matrix is influenced by magnetic field of form strength. Appropriate similarity functions are availed to yield the transmuted system of leading differential equations. Existence for the solution of momentum equation is proved for various values of Casson parameter β, magnetic parameter M, porosity parameter Kp and Raynolds number Re in two situations of mass transpiration (suction/injuction). Moreover, uniqueness results are discussed and for skin friction factor are established to attain accuracy for large injection values. Thermal and concentration profiles are delineated numerically by applying Runge-Kutta method and shooting technique.
Comparing Molecular Mechanisms in Solar NH3 Production and Relations with CO2 Reduction
Authors: Mallamace Domenico , Papanikolaou Georgia , Perathoner Siglinda , Centi Gabriele , Lanzafame Paola
Published: December 2020

Molecular mechanisms for N2 fixation (solar NH3) and CO2 conversion to C2+ products in enzymatic conversion (Nitrogenase), electrocatalysis, metal-complexes and plasma-catalysis are analysed and compared. It is evidenced that differently from what present in thermal and plasma-catalysis, the electrocatalysis path requires not only the direct coordination and hydrogenation of undissociated N2 molecule, but to realize a series of features present in the Nitrogenase mechanism. There is the need of i) a multi-electron and -proton simultaneous transfer, not as sequential steps, ii) forming bridging metal hydride species, iii) generate intermediates stabilized by bridging multiple metal atoms, iv) have the capability of the same sites to be effective both in N2 fixation and in COx reduction to C2+ products. Only iron oxide/hydroxide stabilized at defective sites of nanocarbons was found to have these features. This comparison of the molecular mechanisms in solar NH3 production and relations with CO2 reduction is proposed to be a source of inspiration to develop the next generation electrocatalysts to address the challenging transition to a future sustainable energy and chemistry beyond fossil fuels.
Why Appreciation of Pulmonary Vitamin D Metabolism Should Temper Expectations for Vitamin D Supplementation to Reduce Disease Severity and Improve Clinical Outcome of COVID-19
Authors: Janssen Rob , Walk Jona , van den Ouweland Jody M.W.
Published: December 2020

Vitamin D is a nutrient with anti-inflammatory properties whose role is currently being evaluated in COVID-19. Although studies are conflicting, they seem to suggest a role for vitamin D in reducing disease susceptibility but not in improving clinical outcome. In order to understand why vitamin D does not seem to have much effect on decreasing disease severity, it is essential to appreciate pulmonary vitamin D metabolism. To reach the pulmonary compartment, vascular endothelial cells would need to take up vitamin D from the blood stream, but they lack vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the activating enzyme CYP27B1. Endothelialitis – an important disease manifestation of COVID-19 – is therefore not expected to be directly affected by vitamin D. Bronchial epithelial cells are usually among the first to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. They do express both VDR and CYP27B1, but circulating vitamin D may not reach bronchial epithelial cells without transportation from the blood stream through the blood vessel wall. Inhalation therapy with vitamin D has therefore been suggested as an alternative for oral administration to bypass endothelial cells and efficaciously target bronchial epithelium. In conclusion, based on the principles of pulmonary vitamin D metabolism, it is not expected that vitamin D administration has a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. Vitamin D is more likely to reduce SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, but reaching the airways with oral supplementation will be difficult and vitamin D inhalation therapy should be considered.
Modelling and Optimization in Resource Sharing Systems: Application to Bike Sharing with Unequal Demands
Authors: Mo Xiaoting , Liu Xinglu , Chan Wai Kin (Victor)
Published: December 2020

Although the dockless bike-sharing system, which can be regarded as a typical example of the resource-sharing system, has been increasingly popular for years with people especially in China, the imbalanced distribution of shared bikes gradually becomes a major problem for both bike-sharing companies and their customers. To solve the imbalance problem, we aim to investigate the long-term performance of a system under the influence of some key factors (with an emphasis on the unequal demand between different nodes), which can guide us to discover the causes of the problem and offer several valuable suggestions to the operators. According to the fundamental principle of a dockless bike-sharing system, we propose a model reduction method to reduce the complexity of the theoretical network models, which are developed based on the Markovian queueing theory with the consideration of higher-demand nodes and lower-demand nodes. The theoretical network models provide us with steady-state probabilities of having a certain number of bikes at one node, which are used as an important part of the optimization model for solving the imbalance problem by carrying out an operator-based relocation strategy. The objective of the optimization model is to maximize the total profit and determine the optimal relocation frequency. It is found that most of the shared bikes are possible to gather at one low-demand node eventually in the long run under the influence of the different arrival rates at different nodes, but the decrease of the number of bikes at the high-demand nodes is more sensitive to the unequal demands and may cause a great loss for operators, which should be payed attention to especially when solving the relocation problems.
Comparative Analysis of the Stability of Prosthetic Screws under Cyclic Loading in Implant Prosthodontics: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Catapano Santo , Ferrari Mattia , Mobilio Nicola , Montanari Marco , Corsalini Massimo , Grande Francesco
Published: December 2020

Background: To compare the loss of preload in absence of loading and after a fixed number of ideal masticatory cycles in two different connection systems using all-on-four prosthetic model. Methods: Two equal models of an edentulous mandible rehabilitated with all-on-four technique with two types of abutment system (MUA and OT-Bridge) supporting a hybrid prosthesis, were used. Initial torque values of the prosthetic fixing screw, after ten minutes from initial screw tightening and after 400000 masticatory cycles were registered using a mechanical torque gauge. Differences between initial and final torque values were reported for each anchoring system and the two systems were finally compared. Results: No statistically significant differences regarding the loss of preload between MUA and OT-Bridge system were found after 400000 masticatory cycles; however, in MUA system it was found between anterior and posterior implant screws. A significant difference in preload loss was found only for MUA system comparing the initial screw torque to that measured after 10 minutes from the tightening in absence of cyclic loadings. Conclusions: MUA and OT-Bridge are reliable prosthetic anchoring systems able to tolerate repeated masticatory cycles also on distal cantilever in all-on-four rehabilitation model without any significant loss of preload in screw tightening
Cost-Effectiveness of Open Versus Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release
Authors: Barnes James I. , Paci Gabrielle , Zhuang Thompson , Baker Laurence C. , Asch Steven M. , Kamal Robin N.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common upper-extremity nerve compression syndrome. Over 500,000 carpal tunnel release (CTR) procedures are performed in the U.S. yearly. We estimated the cost-effectiveness of endoscopic CTR (ECTR) versus open CTR (OCTR) using data from published meta-analyses comparing outcomes for ECTR and OCTR.

Methods:

We developed a Markov model to examine the cost-effectiveness of OCTR versus ECTR for patients undergoing unilateral CTR in an office setting under local anesthesia and in an operating-room (OR) setting under monitored anesthesia care. The main outcomes were costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). We modeled societal (modeled with a 50-year-old patient) and Medicare payer (modeled with a 65-year-old patient) perspectives, adopting a lifetime time horizon. We performed deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSAs).

Results:

ECTR resulted in 0.00141 additional QALY compared with OCTR. From a societal perspective, assuming 8.21 fewer days of work missed after ECTR than after OCTR, ECTR cost less across all procedure settings. The results are sensitive to the number of days of work missed following surgery. From a payer perspective, ECTR in the OR (ECTROR) cost $1,872 more than OCTR in the office (OCTRoffice), for an ICER of approximately $1,332,000/QALY. The ECTROR cost $654 more than the OCTROR, for an ICER of $464,000/QALY. The ECTRoffice cost $107 more than the OCTRoffice, for an ICER of $76,000/QALY. From a payer perspective, for a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/QALY, OCTRoffice was preferred over ECTROR in 77% of the PSA iterations. From a societal perspective, ECTROR was preferred over OCTRoffice in 61% of the PSA iterations.

Conclusions:

From a societal perspective, ECTR is associated with lower costs as a result of an earlier return to work and leads to higher QALYs. Additional research on return to work is needed to confirm these findings on the basis of contemporary return-to-work practices. From a payer perspective, ECTR is more expensive and is cost-effective only if performed in an office setting under local anesthesia.

Level of Evidence:

Economic and Decision Analysis Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
A Novel Surgical Technique for Glenoid Reconstruction in the Trauma Setting With a Distal Tibia Allograft
Authors: Harrison James , Sanderson Galen , Crickard Colin V. , Hammond James
Published: December 2020

Case:

A 21-year-old woman presented with a chronic fracture dislocation of her left shoulder after striking a submerged tree during a watersport activity. She was initially treated at an outside hospital, where she underwent open reduction and internal fixation of her posterior scapula. She presented 8 weeks after index procedure with pain and severely decreased range of motion. Her comminuted and displaced fracture comprising 70% of the anterior superior glenoid was surgically reconstructed using a distal tibia allograft (DTA), resulting in a functional shoulder.

Conclusion:

A DTA is a feasible option to reconstruct the glenoid surface in fracture dislocations of the shoulder with a significant loss of the articular surface.
Infectious Rice Body Formation in a Patient with Anti-aminoacyl-t RNA Synthetase Syndrome
Authors: Kitagawa Atsushi , Nakamura Tomoko , Hashimoto Yasushi
Published: December 2020

Case:

An adult woman with anti-aminoacyl-t RNA synthetase syndrome developed pain and swelling of both hands and her left forearm, initially diagnosed as seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. Surgical exploration revealed multiple “rice bodies,” and the specimen grew Mycobacterium intracellurale. She subsequently received antibiotic therapy.

Conclusion:

In the diagnosis of rice body formation in musculoskeletal tissues, it is necessary to consider not only rheumatic diseases but also mycobacterial infection.
Complications and Controversies in the Management of 5 Common Pediatric Sports Injuries
Authors: Striano Brendan M. , Aoyama Julien T. , Ellis Henry B. , Kocher Mininder S. , Shea Kevin G. , Ganley Theodore J.
Published: December 2020

» Growing participation in sports among children, along with increasingly intense training regimens, has contributed to an increasing rate of sports-related injuries.

» Despite the similarities to adult sports injuries, pediatric patients have distinctive injury patterns because of the growing physis and therefore necessitate unique treatment algorithms.

» Caring for these injured children requires in-depth knowledge of not only pediatric injury patterns, but also the scope of age-specific treatments, the associated complications, and the controversies.

» When treating motivated pediatric athletes, one must be able to strike a delicate balance between patients’ eagerness to return to sport and the need to ensure their long-term health and function.

» Knowledge of controversies and complications will help both patients and physicians make informed decisions about how best to restore pediatric athletes back to health.
Graduate employability skills through online internships and projects during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Australian example.
Authors: Gill Robert Joseph
Published: December 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic many students undertaking professional placements and internships had to leave their physical place of employment due to restrictions. Some students doing professional experiences lost their placement, while others entered work arrangements where they worked online remotely. This paper investigates the potential advantage from their experiences in terms of now being more capable in online work skills due to remote working, as the professional world potentially moves to a more flexible working arrangement that may include a remote working environment mixed with an office environment. It investigates, through a case study methodology analysing assessment content from student experiences, the type of new professional purpose that may evolve as a result of a changing workforce environment.
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Versus Quantitative Computer Tomography and Anthropometry for The Assessment of Body Composition Parameters in China
Authors: Qin Qian , Yang Yang , Chen Jingfeng , Jiang Yaojun , Li Ang , Huang Meng , Dong Yihan , Wang Shoujun , Ding Suying
Published: December 2020

Objectives: The study evaluated the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device against the body composition parameters measured by anthropometry and quantitative computer tomography (QCT) to assess its reliability and accuracy among Chinese adults.Methods: Body composition parameters (waist circumstance [WC], body weight, body mass index [BMI] and visceral fat area [VFA]) were measured in 1,379 subjects (20-81 years old), both manually and by BIA, and in 1,317 of 1,379 subjects by QCT. The correlation coefficients were calculated between these measurements. Linear regression models were used to estimate each parameter based on the BIA measurements. Multivariate linear regression models were applied to calculate the correlation among VFA, WC and BMI. The concordance correlation coefficient from the Bland-Altman plots were calculated for VFA between QCT and BIA. Results: High correlation was observed for WC, weight and BMI (adjusted R2=0.78, 0.99 and 0.99) between BIA and anthropometry, and for VFA between BIA and QCT in both sex (adjusted R2=0.549 and 0.462). The multivariate regression models were established for the accurate prediction of QCT-VFA using WC and BMI (adjusted R2=0.603). In addition, a strong consistency of VFA measurement was found between BIA and QCT.Conclusion: Body composition parameters could be accurately determined in clinic using simple measurements of BIA. WC is more reliable as a predictor of visceral fat in the metabolic syndrome. Being non-invasive, accurate and free of radiation, BIA can be used as a safe and convenient tool in scientific research and clinical practice for the quick measurement of anthropometric parameters.
The effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the corneal endothelium and central corneal thickness
Authors: Kim Tae Gi , Kim Yoo Jin
Published: December 2020

Aim of this study is to evaluate the differences in corneal endothelial cell morphology and corneal thickness in patients with and without type 2 diabetes related to age, disease duration, and HbA1c percentage. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 511 type 2 diabetes patients (1022 eyes) and 900 (1799 eyes) non-diabetic patients. The endothelial cell density (ECD), variation in endothelial cell size (CV), percentage of hexagonal cells, and central corneal thickness (CCT) were analyzed using a noncontact specular microscope and a Pentacam Scheimpflug camera. We also examined the correlation between the corneal parameters and the duration of diabetes. Blood HbA1c results in DM patients were used within 2 months of ophthalmic examination. The controls had no diabetes confirmed by blood tests. For all ages, the subjects with type 2 diabetes showed significantly lower ECD, hexagonality, higher CV, and thicker CCT than the control group. This difference was more pronounced in patients with long-standing DM (≥10 years) and high HbA1c (≥7 %). When stratified by age group, from the 60s group, corneal endothelial cell parameters showed a statistically significant difference between DM and control groups. The duration of diabetes was inversely correlated with ECD (r=-0.167; P=0.000), but HbA1c was not correlated with ECD. These findings suggest that diabetes affects corneal endothelial cell in older age and those with long-standing DM and higher HbA1c. Regular corneal endothelial examinations are required in diabetic patients.
Gender Disparities and Long-Term Changes of HIV/AIDS Incidence Rate in China and the U.S. From 1994-2019: Age-period-cohort Analysis
Authors: Ma Yudiyang , Cui Yiran , Hu Qian , Yu Chuanhua
Published: December 2020

Background: HIV/AIDS is a serious sexually transmitted disease with poor prognosis. So statistical data on burden of HIV/AIDS incidence and epidemic characteristics are valuable for policy making and reducing healthcare costs. This study aims to explore gender disparities of HIV/AIDS incidence and relative risks of HIV/AIDS incidence by gender and age groups in China and U.S. Methods: We extracted data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study and compared epidemic characteristic and gender disparities between China and U.S. Then we employed APC model to estimate age-period-cohort effect of HIV/AIDS incidence in both countries. Results: ASIR in China kept growing between 1994 and 2004 then fell to the level of mid-1990s but in U.S. ASIR increased in the past decade. There existed a huge and continuous expanding gender gap in U.S. while it came to widen in China before 2005 then shrunk during 2005-2019. APC analysis showed the age effect and period effect were consistent to the result of incidence comparison between male and female: gender disparities increased with progress of time in both countries and men had higher incidence of HIV/AIDS when they became old in China. Cohort effect indicated later birth groups bear relatively higher risks of incidence than earlier birth groups. Conclusions: large gender disparities could worsen the HIV epidemic situation. In the U.S., disparities continuously expanded meanwhile incidence of HIV/AIDS was increasing, while gap was under control in China and incidence curbed. Analyzing by APC model, besides younger age groups exposed to high risks of HIV/AIDS incidence in both countries, elder citizens in China faced higher risks which implies aging of population may lead another wave of HIV/AIDS epidemic. Therefore, both young and old age groups deserve to be noticed by police-makers and narrow gender disparities should put on agenda.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on students’ performance in a problem-based learning system: comparative study between face-to-face-and virtual learning.
Authors: Shaibani Tarik Al , Naguib Yahya , Razzak Rima Abdul , Ali Fouad
Published: December 2020

Background

Amongst all other educational institutions, medical schools suffered the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical education requires a great deal of interaction between instructors and students, and in the final years, patients as well. In response to the pandemic, the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences at the Arabian Gulf University has applied virtual teaching/learning since March 2020 as an alternative to face-to-face teaching. The college used Moodle and Zoom as online methods for education. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual medical education by comparing students’ performance in final exams in face-to-face and virtual settings.
Methods

Following the college's ethical approval, this longitudinal study was performed on 183 medical students. Those students experienced 2 different successive methods of teaching/learning; Unit V as face-to-face followed by Unit VI as virtual settings. Students' performance in the final exams of both units was analyzed and compared.
Results

There was no significant difference in student performance between Units V and VI. Students' performance in the physiology part was equally effective in both units, while the difficulty index of both exams was insignificantly different.
Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that students’ performance in final exams could serve as an objective parameter when comparing different educational settings. Our results also support the idea that, in certain aspects, virtual is equal to face-to-face medical education strategies.