bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognition and Cortical Thickness in Heavy Cannabis Users
Authors: Wittemann Miriam , Brielmaier Jule , Rubly Mathias , Kennel Jennifer , Werler Florian , Schmitgen Mike M. , Kubera Katharina M. , Hirjak Dusan , Wolf Nadine D. , Reith Wolfgang , Wolf Robert Christian
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Acute and long-term adverse effects of heavy cannabis use (HCU) on neurocognitive function have been suggested, as much as regional changes of brain volume. However, little is known about the relationship between impaired cognition and brain structure in individuals with HCU. Objective: Here, we investigated associations between cognition and cortical thickness (CT) in males with HCU and male controls. Methods: Twenty-six individuals with HCU and 20 controls were examined using a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and high-resolution structural MRI at 3T. CT was calculated using the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT12). Results: Individuals with HCU differed from controls with respect to verbal learning performance and verbal working memory only. Individuals with HCU showed reduced CT in medial temporal, orbitofrontal, and cingulate regions, as well as in areas of the middle temporal and fusiform cortex (peak voxel family-wise error-corrected p < 0.001, followed by empirically determined correction for spatial extent) compared to HC. Verbal learning performance was associated with right entorhinal and left orbitofrontal CT reductions. Entorhinal CT was also significantly associated with amount and frequency of current weekly cannabis use. Conclusions: The data support the notion of domain-specific cognitive impairment in individuals with HCU and provide a neuromechanistic understanding of such deficits, particularly with respect to abnormal CT in brain areas associated with long-term memory processing.
Tempeh Consumption and Cognitive Improvement in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Handajani Yvonne Suzy , Turana Yuda , Yogiara Yogiara , Widjaja Nelly Tina , Sani Tara Puspitarini , Christianto Geovannie Audrey Moniqe , Suwanto Antonius
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Tempeh consumption has been linked to the improvement of cognitive function in older people. However, to what extent the amount of microorganism or the size of tempeh serving consumed per day influences the benefit to cognitive functions has not yet been studied. Methods: This experimental study involved a total of 90 respondents, who were divided into 3 groups: group A (consuming 100 g of Tempeh A/day), group B (consuming 100 g of Tempeh B/day), and group C (control). Intervention was given for 6 months. Cognitive assessments were done before and after the intervention. Blood uric acid level was checked at the end of intervention to examine the effect of tempeh consumption on this. The inclusion criteria were respondents aged 60 years or over with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who agreed not to consume other fermented food during the study period. Respondents with diabetes were excluded. Results: There were 84 subjects at the end of the study, majority being female (71.4%) and aged over 65 years (72.6%). An increase in global cognitive scores was found in both groups A and B. The increase in language domain scores was found only in group A. Conclusion: Both Tempeh A or Tempeh B consumption for 6 months appeared to be beneficial in improving global cognitive function of older people with MCI. Consuming Tempeh A, which had a lower number of microorganisms, was also associated with an improvement in the language domain.
Contemporary Management of Benign Parapharyngeal Lesions Using Minimally Invasive Techniques: Case Discussion and Review of the Literature
Authors: Peng Hwa Tiffany , Cheng Michael , Sadoughi Babak
Published: October 2020

Branchial anomalies can present in the parapharyngeal space, creating unique challenges in management. Historically, this approach warranted an open approach, including transcervical, transparotid with total parotidectomy and retromandibular dissection, or transmandibular dissection with mandibulotomy. However, the advent of minimally invasive transoral techniques and laser resection have allowed for successful resection of masses in this anatomical region without an external approach. We illustrate these advancements with the case of a 30-year-old man with globus sensation and throat discomfort, found to have a mass of the right posterolateral oropharynx causing severe airway obstruction. Imaging showed a parapharyngeal mass with extension to the carotid sheath and retropharyngeal space, which was successfully resected with potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser using a minimally invasive transoral approach with no major complications. Transoral excision offers decreased morbidity and a cosmetically favorable outcome compared to transcervical excision. KTP laser may be safely used for transoral excision of a benign parapharyngeal mass.
Parental Acceptance Rate of Testicular Tissue Cryopreservation in Danish Boys with Cryptorchidism
Authors: Hildorf Simone , Cortes Dina , Gül Murat , Dong Lihua , Kristensen Stine G. , Jensen Christian F.S. , Clasen-Linde Erik , Fedder Jens , Andersen Claus Y. , Hoffmann Eva R. , Sønksen Jens , Fossum Magdalena , Thorup Jørgen
Published: October 2020

Despite orchidopexy within the first year of life, 20-25% of boys with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism may risk infertility according to histological and hormonal data obtained during surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptance rate of testicular tissue cryopreservation among parents of prepubertal boys with cryptorchidism. Fourteen boys with cryptorchidism and high infertility risk were offered cryopreservation as an additional procedure after orchidopexy based on abnormal histopathological findings at primary surgery, whereas 27 boys with bilateral cryptorchidism were offered cryopreservation at the initial orchidopexy. A total of 90% of parents (37/41, 13/14, and 24/27) gave consent to perform cryopreservation, despite being well-informed that the procedural efficacy is largely unproven and may only be needed in about 20% of cases. The number of germ cells per tubule cross-section was 0.03-1.70 (median 0.37) and 22 boys (54%, 22/41) had a value below the lower range. Twelve boys (29%, 12/41) had no type A dark spermatogonia in their biopsy. Cryopreservation of testicular tissue is the first step to introduce spermatogonial stem cell-based therapy into clinical male infertility treatment. At the time of orchidopexy, a testicular biopsy can be collected to ascertain the infertility risk, and it may be an option for boys with bilateral cryptorchidism to have spermatogonial stem cells frozen as a fertility reserve.
Automated Visual Acuity Evaluation Based on Preferential Looking Technique and Controlled with Remote Eye Tracking
Authors: Vrabič Nika , Juroš Bor , Tekavčič Pompe Manca
Published: October 2020

Objective: To establish an automated visual acuity test (AVAT) for infants, based on preferential looking technique and controlled with remote eye tracking. To validate the AVAT in a group of healthy children. To compare AVAT visual acuity (VA) values with corresponding VA values acquired with standard tests (ST). Methods: ST, adapted for age (Keeler Acuity Cards in preverbal children and LEA symbols in verbal children), was performed to obtain monocular VA in a group of 36 healthy children. During AVAT, 9 different stimuli with grating circles that matched spatial frequencies of 9 Keeler Acuity Cards (ranging between 0.29 and 14.5 cycles per degree) were projected on a screen. Three repetitions of each stimulus were shown during 9-s intervals, interchanging with an attention grabber. The remote eye tracker was used to evaluate the proportion of time a child spent looking at each grating circle compared to a homogeneous gray background that matched the grating stimuli in average luminance. From this proportion of time, child’s binocular VA was evaluated. Results: Ninety-seven percent (35/36) of healthy children successfully completed ST and AVAT. There was an agreement between the results of an ST and AVAT, with Lin’s concordance coefficient being 0.53 (95% CI = 0.31–0.72). A tendency was observed toward VA overestimation on AVAT for children with VA >0.4 logMAR on ST and toward VA underestimation on AVAT for children with VA ≤0.4 logMAR on ST. Conclusions: AVAT requires a minimally skilled investigator. The evaluation of better eye monocular VA on ST and binocular VA on AVAT was comparable for healthy children.
Anterior Scleral Thickness in Myopic Eyes and Its Association with Ocular Parameters
Authors: Sung Mi Sun , Ji Yong Sok , Moon Hyun Sik , Heo Hwan , Park Sang Woo
Published: October 2020

Purpose: This study was designed to determine whether the anterior scleral thickness is affected by axial elongation and to investigate the association between anterior scleral thickness and various ocular parameters in myopic eyes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 79 healthy myopic participants. Anterior scleral thickness was measured in 8 meridians (superior-nasal, superior, superior-temporal, temporal [T], inferior-temporal, inferior [I], inferior-nasal, and nasal [N]) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO) area, width of β-parapapillary atrophy with and without Bruch’s membrane (PPA+BM and PPA−BM), and the global peripapillary and subfoveal choroidal thickness were additionally measured. Age- and sex-adjusted partial correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were performed to examine the effects of axial length and various ocular parameters on anterior scleral thickness in myopic eyes. Results: The mean age of the included participants was 27.03 ± 2.70 years. Overall, the anterior scleral thickness varied topographically according to the meridians and distance from the scleral spur. In the partial correlation analysis controlled for the effect of age and sex, increasing axial length was related to anterior scleral thinning at several measurement points along the T, I, and N meridians. Among the several ocular parameters, multivariate linear regression analysis with age, sex, and axial length as covariates revealed that central corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and BMO area were significantly associated with anterior scleral thickness. Conclusion: In conclusion, there was a close relationship between the anterior scleral thickness and several ocular parameters in myopic eyes. These features should be taken into consideration when managing myopia, and our results might have important implications for understanding the pathogenesis of scleral changes during axial elongation.
Risk Factors for Mortality and Circulatory Outcome Among Neonates Prenatally Diagnosed With Ebstein Anomaly or Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Freud Lindsay R. , McElhinney Doff B. , Kalish Brian T. , Escobar‐Diaz Maria C. , Komarlu Rukmini , Puchalski Michael D. , Jaeggi Edgar T. , Szwast Anita L. , Freire Grace , Levasseur Stéphanie M. , Kavanaugh‐McHugh Ann , Michelfelder Erik C. , Moon‐Grady Anita J. , Donofrio Mary T. , Howley Lisa W. , Selamet Tierney Elif Seda , Cuneo Bettina F. , Morris Shaine A. , Pruetz Jay D. , van der Velde Mary E. , Kovalchin John P. , Ikemba Catherine M. , Vernon Margaret M. , Samai Cyrus , Satou Gary M. , Gotteiner Nina L. , Phoon Colin K. , Silverman Norman H. , Tworetzky Wayne
Published: October 2020

Background

In a recent multicenter study of perinatal outcome in fetuses with Ebstein anomaly or tricuspid valve dysplasia, we found that one third of live‐born patients died before hospital discharge. We sought to further describe postnatal management strategies and to define risk factors for neonatal mortality and circulatory outcome at discharge.

Methods and Results

This 23‐center, retrospective study from 2005 to 2011 included 243 fetuses with Ebstein anomaly or tricuspid valve dysplasia. Among live‐born patients, clinical and echocardiographic factors were evaluated for association with neonatal mortality and palliated versus biventricular circulation at discharge. Of 176 live‐born patients, 7 received comfort care, 11 died <24 hours after birth, and 4 had insufficient data. Among 154 remaining patients, 38 (25%) did not survive to discharge. Nearly half (46%) underwent intervention. Mortality differed by procedure; no deaths occurred in patients who underwent right ventricular exclusion. At discharge, 56% of the cohort had a biventricular circulation (13% following intervention) and 19% were palliated. Lower tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity (odds ratio [OR], 2.3 [1.1–5.0], 95% CI, per m/s;
P
=0.025) and lack of antegrade flow across the pulmonary valve (OR, 4.5 [1.3–14.2];
P
=0.015) were associated with neonatal mortality by multivariable logistic regression. These variables, along with smaller pulmonary valve dimension, were also associated with a palliated outcome.

Conclusions

Among neonates with Ebstein anomaly or tricuspid valve dysplasia diagnosed in utero, a variety of management strategies were used across centers, with poor outcomes overall. High‐risk patients with low tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity and no antegrade pulmonary blood flow should be considered for right ventricular exclusion to optimize their chance of survival.
Active Learning for Level Set Estimation Under Input Uncertainty and Its Extensions
Authors: Inatsu Yu , Karasuyama Masayuki , Inoue Keiichi , Takeuchi Ichiro
Published: October 2020

Testing under what conditions a product satisfies the desired properties is a fundamental problem in manufacturing industry. If the condition and the property are respectively regarded as the input and the output of a black-box function, this task can be interpreted as the problem called level set estimation (LSE): the problem of identifying input regions such that the function value is above (or below) a threshold. Although various methods for LSE problems have been developed, many issues remain to be solved for their practical use. As one of such issues, we consider the case where the input conditions cannot be controlled precisely—LSE problems under input uncertainty. We introduce a basic framework for handling input uncertainty in LSE problems and then propose efficient methods with proper theoretical guarantees. The proposed methods and theories can be generally applied to a variety of challenges related to LSE under input uncertainty such as cost-dependent input uncertainties and unknown input uncertainties. We apply the proposed methods to artificial and real data to demonstrate their applicability and effectiveness.
Associated Learning: Decomposing End-to-End Backpropagation Based on Autoencoders and Target Propagation
Authors: Kao Yu-Wei , Chen Hung-Hsuan
Published: October 2020

Backpropagation (BP) is the cornerstone of today's deep learning algorithms, but it is inefficient partially because of backward locking, which means updating the weights of one layer locks the weight updates in the other layers. Consequently, it is challenging to apply parallel computing or a pipeline structure to update the weights in different layers simultaneously. In this letter, we introduce a novel learning structure, associated learning (AL), that modularizes the network into smaller components, each of which has a local objective. Because the objectives are mutually independent, AL can learn the parameters in different layers independently and simultaneously, so it is feasible to apply a pipeline structure to improve the training throughput. Specifically, this pipeline structure improves the complexity of the training time from [Formula: see text], which is the time complexity when using BP and stochastic gradient descent (SGD) for training, to [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the number of training instances and [Formula: see text] is the number of hidden layers. Surprisingly, even though most of the parameters in AL do not directly interact with the target variable, training deep models by this method yields accuracies comparable to those from models trained using typical BP methods, in which all parameters are used to predict the target variable. Consequently, because of the scalability and the predictive power demonstrated in the experiments, AL deserves further study to determine the better hyperparameter settings, such as activation function selection, learning rate scheduling, and weight initialization, to accumulate experience, as we have done over the years with the typical BP method. In addition, perhaps our design can also inspire new network designs for deep learning. Our implementation is available at https://github.com/SamYWK/Associated_Learning .
An EM Algorithm for Capsule Regression
Authors: Saul Lawrence K.
Published: October 2020

We investigate a latent variable model for multinomial classification inspired by recent capsule architectures for visual object recognition (Sabour, Frosst, & Hinton, 2017 ). Capsule architectures use vectors of hidden unit activities to encode the pose of visual objects in an image, and they use the lengths of these vectors to encode the probabilities that objects are present. Probabilities from different capsules can also be propagated through deep multilayer networks to model the part-whole relationships of more complex objects. Notwithstanding the promise of these networks, there still remains much to understand about capsules as primitive computing elements in their own right. In this letter, we study the problem of capsule regression—a higher-dimensional analog of logistic, probit, and softmax regression in which class probabilities are derived from vectors of competing magnitude. To start, we propose a simple capsule architecture for multinomial classification: the architecture has one capsule per class, and each capsule uses a weight matrix to compute the vector of hidden unit activities for patterns it seeks to recognize. Next, we show how to model these hidden unit activities as latent variables, and we use a squashing nonlinearity to convert their magnitudes as vectors into normalized probabilities for multinomial classification. When different capsules compete to recognize the same pattern, the squashing nonlinearity induces nongaussian terms in the posterior distribution over their latent variables. Nevertheless, we show that exact inference remains tractable and use an expectation-maximization procedure to derive least-squares updates for each capsule's weight matrix. We also present experimental results to demonstrate how these ideas work in practice.
Psychological Distress Among Non-Human Animal Rescue Workers: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Murphy Raegan , Daly Shaunagh Louise
Published: October 2020

To better understand the psychological effects on humans of working with distressed non-human animals, I set out to understand the professional quality of life experienced by this group of workers. Measures included compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. An online survey-based cross-sectional correlational design was employed to survey 340 animal rescue workers. The survey consisted of items assessing demographic information (gender, age, geographic location), type of work performed (single or multiple caring roles), exposure to euthanasia, in-home fostering of animals, and whether the work was salaried or voluntary. The results of the present study may prove useful for both animal rescue organizations and animal rescue workers who may be experiencing distress as a result of their work. Recommendations for future research include a focus on the effects of exposure to euthanasia and the home fostering of rescue animals.
The Underappreciated Role of Advance Directives: How the Pandemic Revitalises Advance Care Planning Actions
Authors: Chan Hui Yun
Published: October 2020

Covid-19 continues to alter our way of living and dying. Much attention has focused on how to resolve pressing issues surrounding resource allocation and competing public health ethics. While these are important discussions, the legal and ethical dilemmas of treatment decisions remain highly critical. The urgency to ensure that life and death affairs are in order is magnified due to the possibility of becoming infected with Covid-19. However, many people continue to face challenges in organising their future medical care and treatment. This article explores how the pandemic affects advance care planning through the lenses of law and ethics. The range of Covid-19 implications on advance care planning demonstrates a paradigm shift from a primarily elective function to an essential role in healthcare delivery. This renewed appreciation to advance care planning offers the opportunity to support and sustain the important role that it could play during ordinary and extraordinary times.
DNA barcoding for wood identification: global review of the last decade and future perspective
Authors: Jiao Lichao , Lu Yang , He Tuo , Guo Juan , Yin Yafang
Published: October 2020

DNA barcoding technology has emerged as one of the most promising tools available to identify timber at the species level, contributing to the monitoring of the timber trade and the conservation of forestry sources. This paper reviews the progress, challenges, and existing problems in the development of DNA barcoding for wood identification in the last ten years. There is a focus on the optimization of DNA extraction methods for processed or ancient wood, the strategy of screening high-resolution DNA barcodes suitable for wood identification, the development of a wood DNA reference database especially for priority taxa, and the comparison and comprehensive application of sequence analytical methods to achieve accurate identification. In addition to DNA barcoding, the feasibility of other genetic methods for wood identification is also discussed. Furthermore, future research orientation and strategy of wood DNA barcoding are presented. We argue that wood DNA barcoding integrated with other methodologies including wood anatomy can offer an effective approach and a new perspective to promote legal logging for timber trade custody and global biodiversity conservation.
Religions by Continent
Authors: Johnson Todd M. , Crossing Peter F.
Published: October 2020

This article offers analysis of religious affiliation for 18 categories of religion for the globe and six continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Northern America, and Oceania. Estimates of religious affiliation are made for four dates, 1970, 2000, 2020, and projections for 2030. Annual average growth rates are provided for two 30-year periods, 1970–2000 and 2000–2030. These global and continental tables are aggregated from country data in the World Religion Database.
Gender Violence and the Price of Virginity: Theory and Evidence of Incomplete Marriage Contracts
Authors: Chen Daniel L.
Published: October 2020

This paper builds and tests a model of marriage as an incomplete contract that arises from asymmetric virginity premiums and examines whether this can lead to social inefficiencies. Contrary to the efficient households hypothesis, women cannot prevent being appropriated by men once they enter marriage if they command lower marriage market opportunities upon divorce. Because men cannot or do not commit to compensating women for their lower ex post marriage market opportunities, marriage is an incomplete contract. Men may seek to lower women’s ex ante “market wages” in order to induce entry into joint production. Inefficient or abusive marriages are less likely to separate. Equalizing virginity premiums may reduce domestic and non-domestic violence.

Female circumcision and prices women pay doctors to appear virgin before marriage in many countries suggest asymmetric virginity premiums continue to exist. Evidence from China and the US suggest asymmetric virginity premiums persist over economic development. Asymmetric virginity premiums are strongly positively correlated with female but not male virginity premiums. I use variation in religious upbringing to help estimate the effect of virginity premiums on gender violence in the US. The OLS relationship between virginity premiums and female reports of forced sex may be biased downwards if shame is associated with abuse and this shame is greater for women with higher virginity premiums. But the OLS relationship for males might not be biased downwards. Asymmetric virginity premiums are positively correlated with men forcing sex on women and paying women for sex. The model complements a growing empirical literature on inefficient households and human rights abuses, visible manifestations of female appropriability across time and space.
A Pilot Forecasting System for Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma in Southeastern Australia
Authors: Bannister Tony , Ebert Elizabeth E. , Williams Ted , Douglas Philip , Wain Alan , Carroll Maree , Silver Jeremy , Newbigin Ed , Lampugnani Edwin R. , Hughes Nicole , Looker Clare , Mulvenna Vanora , Csutoros Danny , Jones Penelope J. , Davies Janet M. , Suphioglu Cenk , Beggs Paul J. , Emmerson Kathryn M. , Huete Alfredo , Nguyen Ha
Published: October 2020

In November 2016, an unprecedented epidemic thunderstorm asthma event in Victoria, Australia, resulted in many thousands of people developing breathing difficulties in a very short period of time, including 10 deaths, and created extreme demand across the Victorian health services. To better prepare for future events, a pilot forecasting system for epidemic thunderstorm asthma (ETSA) risk has been developed for Victoria. The system uses a categorical risk-based approach, combining operational forecasting of gusty winds in severe thunderstorms with statistical forecasts of high ambient grass pollen concentrations, which together generate the risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma. This pilot system provides the first routine daily epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecasting service in the world that covers a wide area, and integrates into the health, ambulance, and emergency management sector. Epidemic thunderstorm asthma events have historically occurred infrequently, and no event of similar magnitude has impacted the Victorian health system since. However, during the first three years of the pilot, 2017–19, two high asthma presentation events and four moderate asthma presentation events were identified from public hospital emergency department records. The ETSA risk forecasts showed skill in discriminating between days with and without health impacts. However, even with hindsight of the actual weather and airborne grass pollen conditions, some high asthma presentation events occurred in districts that were assessed as low risk for ETSA, reflecting the challenge of predicting this unusual phenomenon.
Administering DVT Prophylaxis Sooner Than 48 Hours Does Not Increase Failure of Nonoperative Management of High-Grade (Grades III-V) Splenic Injuries
Authors: Griffard Jared , Sappington Bethany , Griffard Megan , Bollig Reagan , McMillen James , McKinney Amanda , Smith Lou , Daley Brian
Published: October 2020

Splenic injuries are mostly treated with nonoperative management (NOM) with observation to monitor for continued hemorrhage and holding early chemical DVT prophylaxis to reduce the risk of NOM failure. Eberle et al demonstrated chemoprophylaxis prior to 72 hours didn’t increase failure rate of NOM. We chose to extrapolate this finding and compare outcomes in high-grade splenic injuries (HGSI) with chemoprophylaxis before and after 48 hours. From January 2013 to December 2017, 104 patients with HGSI received chemoprophylaxis with unfractionated heparin (UH) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) within 72 hours of diagnosis. Of these, 8 patients received chemoprophylaxis within 24 hours, 46 between 24 and 48 hours, and 50 patients between 48 and 72 hours. This population consisted of 70 males and 34 females, with an average age of 40.1 years. The average ISS was 23 and the majority (77%) were grade 3 injuries. We observed 6 failures of NOM: 1 in the <24 hour group, 3 in the 24-48 hour group, and 2 in the 48-72 hour group. There was no statistically significant difference between the <24 hour and >24 groups or between the <48 hour and 48-72 hour groups. A linear regression analysis created a model describing the time to initiation of DVT prophylaxis using age, sex, splenic injury grade, and ISS; the failure rate decreased by 0.00002% for each hour prior to giving DVT prophylaxis, with a P value of .111. We conclude a noninferiority statement that DVT prophylaxis prior to 48 hours does not increase the risk of NOM failure.
Monopsony in Labor Markets: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sokolova Anna , Sorensen Todd
Published: October 2020

When jobs offered by different employers are not perfect substitutes, employers gain wage-setting power; the extent of this power can be captured by the elasticity of labor supply to the firm. The authors collect 1,320 estimates of this parameter from 53 studies. Findings show a prominent discrepancy between estimates of direct elasticity of labor supply to changes in wage (smaller) and the estimates converted from inverse elasticities (larger), suggesting that labor market institutions may rein in a substantial amount of firm wage-setting power. This gap remains after they control for 22 additional variables and use Bayesian Model Averaging and LASSO to address model uncertainty; however, it is less pronounced for studies employing an identification strategy. Furthermore, the authors find strong evidence that implies the literature on direct estimates is prone to selective reporting: Negative estimates of the elasticity of labor supply to the firm tend to be discarded, leading to upward bias in the mean reported estimate. Additionally, they point out several socioeconomic factors that seem to affect the degree of monopsony power.
Improving learning experiences using LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots in control systems course
Authors: Zhang Meirong , Wan Yan
Published: October 2020

This paper integrates LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots into undergraduate control systems course to improve students’ learning experiences using Matlab as a development tool. This platform facilitates the students throughout teaching the course in learning the essential concepts of control systems such as modeling, stability analysis, and skill of designing controllers for the dynamic systems. The participants of the course identify the transfer function of the robot and compare it with the transfer function developed by using laws of physics. The students, then compare the identified model with the mathematical model by using stability analysis techniques, finding out that the stability range is much smaller for the experimental model than the mathematical model. After that, several types of controllers are designed and tested on the experimental model and EV3 robots, which demonstrates that there exists discrepancies between conceptual and practical designs. Finally, a comparison of students’ apprehension of a set of capabilities before and after taking the course shows the value of using EV3 robots on improving students’ learning experiences of control systems course.
Rhetorical Devices of Palestinian and Israeli Official Memory: Palestinian and Israeli History School Textbooks as a Case Study
Authors: Dridi Tarak
Published: October 2020

Oslo Accords have stringently underscored that both rivalries, the Palestinians and the Israelis, must abstain from incitement to terror and violence. Their educational systems, consequently, have to refrain from convulsive, fundamentalist, and heinous skirmishes leading to stalled reconciliation. History school textbooks are deemed, from both parties, so relevant that they inherently embody their official memories. Regarded as the representations of the past and the formal institutions of the group, official memory incarnates the true existence of one’s nation as it gives prominence to its history. To stave off potential detriments that may menace a country’s viability, official memory is deployed as a shield against enticement, incitement, and lies’ mongering. The present article indulges into a comparative rhetorical inspection of Israeli and Palestinian history school textbooks. Since it falls into the scope of argumentation and persuasion, rhetoric stands for the theoretical background of the study. The latter seeks to unveil the various rhetorical devices deployed by Palestinians and Israelis while conceiving their educational history textbooks to highlight the interconnectedness between history and official memory, on one hand, and the extent to which both school textbooks comply with Oslo Accords, on other hand.
Masculinity and Suicide in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Anisur Rahman , Ratele Kopano , Helman Rebecca , Dlamini Sipho , Makama Refiloe
Published: October 2020

Suicide is a serious but under-researched public health problem in Bangladesh. In light of this, we sought to explore the association between masculinities and suicide. We interviewed 20 family members/friends of men who died by suicide across 12 rural areas of the Jhenaidah district, Bangladesh. We found that male suicide was attributed to men’s inability to fulfil hegemonic masculine demands such as financial provision and meeting the sexual needs of their spouses. Suicide was also linked to men’s loss of self-respect and respect from others. Some participants mentioned that men committed suicide as an act of self-sacrifice, while others cited mental and physical illness. As a result of these findings, we propose that addressing socio-cultural and religious issues associated with men’s troubles may help to prevent suicide. At the same time, changing the restrictive gender roles and masculinity-related ideals is also needed to counter the problem.
Mechanical behavior and dynamic damage constitutive model of glass fiber-reinforced Vinyl Ester with different fiber contents
Authors: Duan Feiya , Zhang Runmei , Lei Jingfa , Liu Tao , Xuan Yan , Wei Zhan
Published: October 2020

Glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP) based on polymer materials are widely used in lightweight impac-resistant structure design. In the process of design and development, it is very important to clarify the mechanical behavior under dynamic load to improve the product performance. Therefore, in this paper, Quasi-stati and dynamic compression behaviors of unidirectional continuous glass fiber-reinforced vinyl ester (GF/VE) composites with five kinds of fiber contents in the fiber direction were measured by an electro-hydraulic servo experiment system and a split Hopkinson pressure bar, and damage evolution of the material is analyzed by observing the microstructure of the cross section of the material. Results show that: The content of glass fiber affects the wettability between fiber and matrix, and the failure mechanism of material at high strain rate; Under quasi-static conditions, higher glass fiber content yields greater failure strength; Under dynamic conditions, as glass fiber content increases, toughness decreases, and the peak stress first increases and then decreases. Finally, the nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model with damage evolution is derived, which can be used to predict the impact resistance of new composite structures in the product development and design stage and reduce the development cycle.
Use of Information Communication Technology by Medical Educators Amid COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Authors: Chatterjee Ipshita , Chakraborty Pinaki
Published: October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life and all forms of education. However, the impact on medical education is unique since the need for continuity of training medical students is urgent and traditionally calls for hands-on training and a physical presence. This is further compounded by the unavailability of teachers who are also serving as frontline health-care providers in the pandemic. This article discusses the role and types of information communication technology (ICT) tools in filling the gaps and ensuring educational continuity in medical education, collaboration, and learning, across the world in the current scenario. A variety of online collaboration tools and digital interventions are discussed. A comparison between the various ICT tools being used by medical educators is also presented. The potential and corresponding challenges of revamping the medical education system and incorporating ICT tools in the long run have also been discussed. Our work can serve as the basis of further studies on creating digital educational models in medical education.
Three-dimensional target tracking strategy based on guidance laws and optimal information fusion
Authors: Dong Yihua , Feng Shulin , Tai Liuchen
Published: October 2020

This paper presents a method for pursuer to track a moving target in a three-dimensional space. The method is based on the guidance laws combined with the kinematics equations of the pursuer and the target. The maneuvers of the target are prior unknown to the pursuer. Guidance laws used for tracking are the deviated pursuit and the proportional navigation, and the method presents a family of navigation laws resulting in a rich behavior for different parameters. For the three-dimensional scenario, two cases-not presenting interference and presenting interference are considered. In the absence of interference, the control strategy is proposed to implement the problem of tracking. In the presence of interference, an optimal information fusion Kalman filter weighted by scalars and guidance laws are combined to improve the trajectory tracking precision, and the combination can enrich the application range of information fusion and guidance laws. Simulations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed control strategy.
Modelling elevator traffic with social distancing in a university classroom building
Authors: Swinarski David
Published: October 2020

Social distancing standards implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic may have negative effects on vertical traffic. We describe a model and use it to predict the elevator traffic under social distancing in a university classroom building, and study the effects of four interventions aimed at improving this traffic. Discrete event-based simulation is used to study whether the lift group meets the forecasted demand when the car capacity is restricted far below its ordinary value to accommodate social distancing. Four low-cost interventions are simulated alone and in combination to quantify the improvements they offer. All four interventions show some improvement, and the combination of all four interventions gives the greatest improvement.

Practical application: Implementing social distancing standards may disproportionately lower the car capacity relative to the building population and thus negatively affect vertical traffic. Building managers seeking to implement low-cost measures to improve elevator traffic under these conditions may look to the percentage improvements described here to aid them in selecting interventions appropriate to their buildings.
Organic geochemical characteristics and comparison of the source rocks and the severely biodegradable oil sands around Karamay, China
Authors: Feng Chong , He Wenjun , Cai Hua , Zhang Jingyuan , Nie Yinlan
Published: October 2020

For the sake of explaining the organic geochemical characteristics of the hydrocarbon source rocks (SRs) around Karamay, such as thermal maturity (TM) (evidences from the temperature of maximum pyrolysis yield (Tmax), the Carbon Preference Index (CPI) and Odd to Even Preference (OEP) values, the C30 M/H versus Tm/Ts, the C29 ββ/(ββ + αα) versus C29 20 S/(20 S + 20 R)), hydrocarbon potential (HP) (evidences from total organic carbon (TOC) and rock pyrolysis (RP)), organic matter (OM) source input (evidences from n-Alkane distribution, the relative quantity of C27-C28-C29 steranes, the (C19 + C20)/C23 tricyclic terpane (TT), and the Terrigenous/aquatic ratio (TAR)) as well as paleoenvironment (evidences from the pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph) and the Gammacerane index), and in order to analyze the biodegradation degree and source of oil sand (OS) oil, 55 core samples of SRs in all were selected to measure TOC and RP. 14 core samples of SRs and 3 OS samples were selected for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. 11 core samples of SRs and 3 OS samples were used for organic carbon isotope (OCI) analysis. The results indicate that except the SR from Fengcheng formation (P1 f) which is in the stage of high or over evolution, the other SRs are in mature stage. OM type of Carboniferous (C) SRs are type Ⅱ kerogen, with the largest abundance. OM type of the SRs in Wuerhe formation (P2 w) and Jiamuhe formation (P1 j) are type Ⅲ kerogen with good and medium OM abundances. Almost all SRs were formed in the reduction environment of high salinity, and the main OM source input is the lower aquatic plants. Karamay formation (T2 k) and Badaowan formation (J1 b) oil sands (OSs) around Karamay have undergone serious biodegradation. It is suggested that OS oil are mainly from P1 f SRs (evidences from the tricyclic terpanes (TT), triarysteranes, pregnane, homopregnane and OCI).
Measuring peer influence susceptibility to alcohol use: Convergent and predictive validity of a new analogue assessment
Authors: Duell Natasha , Clayton Matthew G. , Telzer Eva H. , Prinstein Mitchell J.
Published: October 2020

Research on peer socialization rarely examines individual differences in adolescents’ susceptibility to peer influence, perhaps because few theories or methods have elucidated how susceptibility is operationalized. This study offers a new analogue measure of peer influence susceptibility in adolescence that is adapted from sociological theory. A preliminary examination of this new paradigm included the study of individual differences in susceptibility to peer influence, convergent validity correlates, and predictive validity by examining decision-making on the task as a moderator of the prospective association between friends’ and adolescents’ engagement in one form of real-world risk-taking. Participants included 714 adolescents (54% female; 46.1% White, 20.9% Black, 24.2% Hispanic/Latinx, 6.2% mixed race or other) aged 15–18 years ( M = 16.1). Participants completed the Peer Analogue Susceptibility Task, peer nominations, and self-report measures at Time 1 and repeated an assessment of their own alcohol use 1 year later. Participants’ friends also reported their own alcohol use. Results indicated concurrent associations with peer influence susceptibility, rejection sensitivity, perceived importance of peer status, peer-nominated popularity, and self-reported resistance to peer influence. Furthermore, among adolescents demonstrating average and high levels of peer influence susceptibility on the task, greater perceived alcohol use among friends was associated with their own alcohol use 1 year later. Findings offer preliminary evidence for the convergent and predictive validity of a new approach to study peer influence susceptibility.
Undesirable social relations as risk factors for loneliness among 14-year-olds in the UK: Findings from the Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: Yang Keming , Petersen Kimberly J. , Qualter Pamela
Published: October 2020

In the current study, data collected from Wave 6 of the Millennium Cohort Study ( n = 11,872), a nationally representative sample survey of youth aged 14 years in the UK, are used to examine the prevalence of loneliness among this age-group, investigate the feelings associated with the experience of loneliness among youth, explore the risk factors for loneliness among young people, and learn how they coped with loneliness. Given recent findings that youth are vulnerable to loneliness, the study assesses the prevalence of loneliness among adolescents across some important sociodemographic characteristics, such as nation of residence, gender, and ethnicity. We also identify the kinds of social experiences that accompany loneliness during adolescence, exploring friendship, relations with parents, social support, and bullying. Our key finding is that, in addition to the absence of desired social relationships, which has been typically identified as the ultimate source of loneliness, the presence of undesirable and even harmful social relationships is a major source of loneliness. This study uniquely brings together psychological and sociological perspectives to understand the experience of youth loneliness.
Ultrasound Localization and Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation of the Hypoglossal Nerve and Ansa Cervicalis
Authors: Kent David T. , Schwartz Alan R. , Zealear David
Published: October 2020

Objective

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be effective for appropriately selected patients, but current patient selection criteria are complex and still result in a proportion of nonresponders. Ansa cervicalis stimulation of the infrahyoid cervical strap muscles has recently been proposed as a new form of respiratory neurostimulation (RNS) therapy for OSA treatment. We hypothesized that percutaneous stimulation of both nerves in humans with temporary electrodes would make testing of the physiologic response to different RNS strategies possible.

Study Design

Nonrandomized acute physiology study.

Setting

Tertiary care hospital.

Methods

Fifteen participants with OSA underwent ultrasonography and placement of percutaneous electrodes proximal to the medial division of the hypoglossal nerve and the branch of the ansa cervicalis innervating the sternothyroid muscle (ACST). Procedural success was documented in each participant, as were any failures or procedural complication.

Results

The hypoglossal nerve was successfully localized in 15 of 15 (100%) participants and successfully stimulated in 13 of 15 (86.7%). The ACST was successfully localized in 15 of 15 (100%) participants and successfully stimulated in 14 of 15 (93.3%). Stimulation failure of the hypoglossal nerve was due to suboptimal electrode placement in 1 participant and electrode displacement in the other 2 cases. No complications occurred.

Conclusions

The hypoglossal nerve and ACST can be safely stimulated via percutaneous electrode placement. Larger trials of percutaneous stimulation may help to identify responders to different RNS therapies for OSA with temporary or permanent percutaneous electrodes. Techniques for electrode design, nerve localization, and electrode placement are described.
Ideas and Innovations to Improve the Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Residency Application and Selection Process
Authors: Salehi Parsa P. , Heiser Alyssa , Salehi Pauniz , Manes R. Peter , Judson Benjamin L. , Azizzadeh Babak , Lee Yan Ho
Published: October 2020

Objective

To (1) summarize strategies proposed in the recent otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OTO‐HNS) literature for improving the residency application and selection process, (2) evaluate the effects of recently implemented changes to the OTO‐HNS match, and (3) discuss recommendations for future changes to the OTO‐HNS residency application and selection process.

Data Sources

PubMed, Medline Ovid database, and article reference lists.

Review Methods

A structured literature search was performed to identify current English language articles relating to the objectives of this study using the aforementioned data sources, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was limited to submissions published between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2020.

Conclusions

Numerous proposals have been made for improving the otolaryngology residency application and selection process and addressing the competitive nature of the Match. These proposals include but are not limited to mandating a secondary essay, implementing consortia and early match processes, using a signaling system, conducting regional and web‐based interviews, offering early engagement with interest groups, instituting a hard cap on applications, increasing costs of applying, counseling self‐restraint to prospective applicants, and creating application filters.

Implications for Practice

As the volume of literature surrounding the OTO‐HNS Match continues to increase, this review aims to provide a summary of past proposals and serve as a guide for possible future innovations. We propose 3 initiatives that may improve the residency application and selection process for both program and resident, with minimal impact to the current National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match structure.