bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reprinting the Colonial Past: Compilation, Inter‐visuality, and Argumentative Strategy in John Smith’s Generall Historie of Virginia☆
Authors: Winchcombe Rachel
Published: March 2021

John Smith’s Generall Historie of Virginia (1624) was produced at a time when the English settlements in Virginia were in a perilous position. The English colonists were still reeling from an Indigenous attack in 1622 which had left hundreds of colonists dead and a number of settlements destroyed. Smith, while ostensibly producing a history of the early English settlements, also sought to provide a remedy to the dire circumstances his fellow Englishmen and women found themselves in. This article examines Smith’s argumentative strategy, arguing that it is reliant on recasting the colonial past both textually and visually. Moving beyond the current scholarship that has largely focused on narrow sections of the text, this article demonstrates the productive power of print in the early modern period, illustrating how the Generall Historie provoked new ideas about Indigenous people, their character, and how they should be approached by English colonists.
How do the intended and unintended beneficiaries respond to the Philippines' conditional cash transfer program?
Authors: Quimbo Stella A. , Kraft Aleli D. , Molato‐Gayares Rhea M. , Tan Carlos Antonio R. , Capuno Joseph J.
Published: March 2021

We distinguish the effects of the Philippines’ conditional cash transfers (CCT) between the intended (poor) and unintended (nonpoor) beneficiaries. We use a proxy means test similar to what was officially used and apply it on a nationally representative sample of households to identify some poor households who are excluded and nonpoor households included in the program on account of inherent leakages in program implementation. To evaluate the CCT’s impact, we matched the poor beneficiaries with poor households excluded from the program and nonpoor beneficiaries with nonpoor households outside CCT. For the poor households, we find a reduction in wages of working children who presumably now spend more time in school in compliance with the program's conditionalities, indicating less child labor. For nonpoor households, we find some indication that program participation led to moral hazard as evidenced by lower income from salaries and wages. Since the reduction in income is greater than the increase in transfers received by nonpoor households, their savings declined.
Deregulation, quality and access—The case of legal professionals in Poland
Authors: Białowolski Piotr , Masior Michał
Published: March 2021

This article provides a comprehensive assessment of changes in the quality of legal services in Poland. From 2005 to 2015, changes in the regulatory framework facilitated access to legal professions in Poland, providing a space for employment growth. Our analysis showed that an increase in the number of legal professionals following deregulation did not lead to a decline in the quality of legal services in any dimensions. However, it coincided with improved access to legal services. The results were based on a comprehensive survey conducted among consumers of legal services. The survey used the SERVQUAL approach previously adopted by the Legal Services Consumers Panel in England and Wales and focused principally on the process and outcome measures to capture the changes in quality of legal services. The mostly negative results pointing to no significant changes were confirmed by the secondary analysis based on a survey of judges, a group of professionals capable of objectively assessing the quality of lawyers' work. Their reports supported the claim of the lack of decline in legal service quality following the reduction in barriers to entry to legal professions.
Serologic characteristics of oxaliplatin antibodies in 15 patients with drug‐induced immune hemolytic anemia
Authors: Nguyen Tan Ngoc , Maenulein Elodie , Fihman Valentine , Vinatier Isabelle , Moh Klaren Julia
Published: March 2021

Background

Oxaliplatin, a third‐generation platinum derivative is commonly used in combination treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Since 2008, it is the second most common cause of drug‐induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) investigated in our laboratory.

Study Design and Methods

Samples from fifteen patients including nine (60%) with intravascular hemolysis, suspected of having DIIHA were studied for the presence of anti‐oxaliplatin. Direct antiglobulin tests (DATs) and tests with oxaliplatin‐treated red blood cells (RBCs) or untreated and enzyme‐treated RBCs in the presence of oxaliplatin were performed. A pool of normal AB sera with no unexpected antibodies was used as a control for nonimmunologic protein adsorption (NIPA).

Results

Eleven (73%) of the fifteen patients had antibodies to oxaliplatin that reacted with drug‐treated RBCs and untreated RBCs in the presence of drug by tube and/or gel method. Lower‐titer reactivity (<20) obtained with four patients' sera and the corresponding pooled normal sera was most likely due to NIPA. Eighty seven percent (13/15) of the patients had positive DAT either with anti‐IgG only (33%), IgG + C3d (40%), or C3d only (13%). Two patients had a negative DAT. No directly agglutinating antibody was observed with the pools of normal donor's sera in the presence of oxaliplatin.

Conclusion

Anti‐oxaliplatin can cause severe intravascular hemolysis. Complement can usually be detected on the patient's RBCs and anti‐oxaliplatin can be detected in the patient's serum. RBC‐bound albumin detection with anti‐human albumin needs to be performed to confirm NIPA which could have contributed to the patient's hemolytic anemia.
Reproducibility of serum testing for environmental allergen‐specific IgE in dogs in Europe
Authors: Baumann Katja N. , Gedon Natalie K.Y. , Boehm Teresa M.S.A. , Udraite‐Vovk Laura , Mueller Ralf S.
Published: March 2021

Background

Serum testing for allergen‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E is commonly employed to identify allergens used for allergen‐specific immunotherapy in dogs, yet the reliability of results has been a matter of debate.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of serum tests for environmental allergen‐specific IgE in three European laboratories.

Animals/Methods

Serum was obtained from 33 client‐owned dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, divided into three aliquots and sent to the laboratories under different names. Two aliquots were sent simultaneously to one of the laboratories on the first day; the third sample was then sent to the same laboratory on the subsequent day. The laboratory for each patient was chosen according to a predetermined randomization list. The agreement between different samples from the same dog for each of the laboratories was calculated with a Cohen’s Kappa test. Spearman's rank coefficients (rsp) as well as the coefficients of variation (CV) additionally were calculated.

Results

The intra‐ and interassay agreements for laboratories A, B and C were 0.79 and 0.75, 0.92 and 0.90, and 0.90 and 0.85, respectively. The CVs were 18.92% and 22.95%, 14.43% and 18.79%, and 15.38% and 18.75% (respectively) and thersp0.73 and 0.68, 0.95 and 0.92, and 0.82 and 0.74 (respectively).

Conclusion and clinical relevance

The differences in reproducibility between laboratories complicate test interpretation and underline the importance of interpreting results of serum testing for allergen‐specific IgE in the context of the patient's clinical history.
Clinical and videofluoroscopic outcomes of laparoscopic treatment for sliding hiatal hernia and associated gastroesophageal reflux in brachycephalic dogs
Authors: Mayhew Philipp D. , Balsa Ingrid M. , Marks Stanley L. , Pollard Rachel E. , Case J. Brad , Culp William T.N. , Giuffrida Michelle A
Published: March 2021

Objective

To describe a laparoscopic technique for treatment of sliding hiatal hernia (SHH) and associated gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in brachycephalic dogs and document clinical and videofluoroscopic outcomes postoperatively.

Study design

Prospective clinical trial.

Animals

Eighteen client‐owned dogs.

Methods

A three‐port laparoscopic approach was used. Intracorporeal suturing was used for hiatal plication and esophagopexy, and left‐sided laparoscopic or laparoscopic‐assisted gastropexy was performed. A standardized canine dysphagia assessment tool (CDAT) questionnaire was completed by owners pre‐ and postoperatively. Videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) were used to evaluate esophageal function, and impedance planimetry was used to assess lower esophageal sphincter geometry preoperatively and in a subset of dogs postoperatively.

Results

Median age was 27.5 (range 5–84) months. Conversion to open surgery was necessary in 1 (5.5%) of 18 dogs. Regurgitation after eating, and associated with activity/exercise, improved significantly when comparing pre‐ and postoperative CDAT assessments. Hiatal hernia and GER severity scores improved significantly between pre‐ and postoperative VFSS assessments, whereas SHH and GER frequency scores did not. One dog developed pneumothorax intraoperatively, underwent cardiopulmonary arrest, and died. Minor complications included splenic (n = 6) and hepatic lacerations (n = 3) that did not require specific therapy.

Conclusion

A laparoscopic approach to treatment of SHH and GER led to improvements in clinical and VFSS indices in the majority of brachycephalic dogs. However, a subset of dogs still demonstrated some clinical signs postoperatively.

Clinical relevance

In experienced hands, laparoscopic treatment of SHH and GER offers a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery.
Percepción y análisis de las políticas públicas de la producción de maíz en el centro oriente de Puebla, México
Authors: Velázquez López Juan , Juárez Sánchez José Pedro , Ramírez Valverde Benito
Published: March 2021

En esta investigación se evaluaron los efectos de las políticas agrícolas en el centro oriente de Puebla, México, así como la percepción de los productores sobre la implementación y sus resultados. Para cumplir con lo anterior, se realizó un cuestionario a 95 productores de maíz y se aplicó la matriz de análisis de políticas. Según los resultados obtenidos, se encontró un déficit en la relación costo de producción /ingresos por ventas. La relación costo privado y relación costo de los recursos internos demostraron que el maíz es eficiente y no redituable y que ,con incentivos a la producción, este producto podría ser competitivo. Por su parte, el análisis de percepción demostró que los precios de
venta y las políticas públicas no fomentan la competitividad. En este sentido, una política realmente eficiente debe enfocarse en mejorar los precios de venta.
Load Distribution of Reduction Gears
Authors: Lewis Frank M.
Published: March 2021

A simple method of determining the load distribution in reduction gears, based on the relaxation process, has been used by the author for several years. In view of the analysis of Poritsky, Sutton, and Pernick, its publication appears desirable. In order to facilitate comparison of the methods the numerical examples of Poritsky, Sutton, and Pernick have been used to illustrate the application of the relaxation method.
The Effect of Triaxiality on the Technical Cohesive Strength of Steels
Authors: Sachs George , Lubahn J. D.
Published: March 2021

This paper describes the fundamental metal characteristics revealed by means of extensive notched tensile tests. The effects of the three major factors, triaxiality, plastic strain, and stress concentration, can be separated by means of systematic tests covering the dependence of notch strength characteristics upon numerous variables, such as notch radius, notch depth, and hardness (of heat-treated steels). The characteristic strength values supplied by notched-bar tensile tests appear to be of considerably greater practical significance than those obtainable by means of regular tensile tests. The investigations on notched tensile-test bars also furnish an example of a practical approach to a complex fundamental problem which can be solved only by means of correlated and carefully controlled experimentation covering the effects of all pertinent variables.
Average Wall Radiative Heat Transfer Characteristic of Isothermal Radiative Medium in Inner Straight Fin Tubes
Authors: Wenping Peng , Min Xu , Xiaoxia Ma , Xiulan Huai
Published: March 2021

Wall radiative heat transfer in inner straight fin tubes is very complex considering the coupling of heat conduction in fins and radiative heat transfer of medium with solid surfaces, influenced by a number of factors such as fin parameters, radiative properties and run conditions. The method of simulation is very inconvenient to design the heat exchanger involving the enhancement of inner straight fins on wall radiative heat transfer in tube, such as ascension pipe heat exchanger and radiant syngas cooler. In this study, a simplified method is used. The average radiative heat transfer between radiative medium and solid surfaces is first studied by simulation with fins supposed have a constant temperature. Then an approximate correlation of this radiative heat transfer coefficient is proposed using the traditional radiative heat transfer calculation method with a view coefficient, which has a little error within 15%. A calculation method of average wall radiative heat transfer coefficient is further derived based on fin theory with an average temperature of fin surface used to consider the varying of the temperature along the fin when the conductivity of fins is finite. Using the predicting method proposed, a method for design calculation of fins in tubes to optimize wall radiative heat transfer is also given with three dimensionless numbers of π/n, 2H/D, and nt/πD representing the structural properties of fins defined. Three cases of (ks = 43 W/(m•K), ɛw = 0.7, Tg = 1073.15 K, Tw = 573.15 K, D = 0.66 m, κD = 1.32), (ks = 162 W/(m•K), ɛw = 0.7, Tg = 1073.15 K, Tw = 573.15 K, D = 0.66 m, κD  = 1.32) and (ks = 43 W/(m•K), ɛw = 0.3, Tg = 973.15 K, Tw = 673.15 K, D = 0.66 m, κD = 0.66) are analyzed in detail based on the design calculation method. It is verified that the radiative heat transfer could be enhanced twice by introducing fins. Under the same h0, conductivity and emissivity are two important factors that should be considered to choose the material for fins. The microfins or the special treatments on the tube wall are a best choice for the fin material having a relatively small conductivity.
Numerical Study of Turbulent Convective Heat Transfer of Aviation Kerosene in Coiled Pipes
Authors: Fan Wenhui , Zhong Fengquan
Published: March 2021

Turbulent flow and convective heat transfer of kerosene in coiled pipes with different wall boundary conditions and curvature radii of coiled pipes are numerically studied. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations are solved by finite volume method and the realizable k–ε model is applied for turbulence modeling. The fluid media is aviation kerosene with an inlet supercritical pressure of 3 MPa and an inlet temperature of 400 K. The present results provide temperature and velocity fields as well as distributions of turbulence kinetic energy and streamlines at different axial locations along the flow direction. The Nusselt number at the outer side of the pipe wall is higher than that at the inner side by 75%. Compared to a straight pipe with the same pipe radius of 6 mm and inlet flow conditions, the coiled pipe with a curvature radius of 192.5 mm can increase the averaged heat transfer coefficient by 28.5%. Meanwhile, it is found that when the curvature ratio increases, the effect of secondary flow in the cross section of pipe is more significant and the heat transfer effect at different locations of the pipe wall also changes significantly. In addition, the present results also reveal that heat transfer deterioration takes place for the kerosene flow in coiled pipe with an increased wall heat flux due to the state change of kerosene from liquid to supercritical.
A Heuristic for Designing Hybrid Compact Heat Exchangers for Nuclear Applications
Authors: Saranam Venkata Rajesh , Carter Peter , Rozman Kyle A. , Doğan Ömer N. , Paul Brian K.
Published: March 2021

Hybrid compact heat exchangers (HCHEs) are a potential source of innovation for intermediate heat exchangers in nuclear industry, with HCHEs being designed for generation IV nuclear power applications. Compact heat exchangers are commonly fabricated using diffusion bonding (DB), which can provide challenges for HCHEs due to resultant nonuniform stress distributions across hybrid structures during bonding, leading to variations in joint properties that can compromise performance and safety. In this paper, we introduce a heuristic for determining whether a feasible set of DB conditions exist for producing HCHE designs capable of meeting regulatory requirements under nuclear boiler and pressure vessel codes. A DB model was used to determine DB parameters for predicting percent bonded area, which determines the lower threshold of DB parameters. Structural analysis was performed on the heat exchanger design for 316 stainless steel to determine higher threshold on the DB parameters to avoid failure modes due to creep, buckling, and yield in the HCHE structure during DB. A set of DB conditions were identified and validated experimentally by producing various test coupons for evaluating bond strength, ductility, porosity, grain size, creep rupture, creep fatigue, and channel deviation. A five-layer hybrid compact heat exchanger structure was fabricated and tensile tested demonstrating that the bonding parameters satisfy all criteria in this paper for DB HCHEs with application to the nuclear industry.
Evaluation of the Effect of a Rear Operator Guard on the Overall Safety for Operators of Standup Lift Trucks
Authors: Rodowicz Kathleen , Campolettano Eamon T. , Bruno Alexander G. , Schimpf Nicole , Rogers Michael W.
Published: March 2021

Standup high lift trucks have an open operator compartment designed to allow for easy egress from the truck in the event of an off-dock, off-trailer, or tip-over accident. The open compartment design also protects the operator during nontip-over collision accidents, provided the operator maintains him or herself within the compartment before impact. However, it has been suggested that an additional rear operator guard would better protect operators during nontip-over collision accidents. This study aimed to investigate operator injury potential and kinematics during off-dock and off-trailer accidents where the presence of a rear operator guard prevents the operator from exiting the truck and to evaluate the potential for an operator to restrain him or herself within the operator compartment of a standup lift truck during an off-dock or off-trailer accident. An instrumented anthropomorphic test device (ATD) was subjected to a series of off-dock accidents and a single off-trailer accident utilizing three different standup lift trucks. The kinematics and loads experienced by the ATD were quantified and correlated to human injury potential. Additionally, this study examined the potential for a rear operator guard to impede operator egress during an off-dock or off-trailer accident. Testing demonstrated the potential for serious or greater injury to an operator subjected to an off-dock or off-trailer accident. The authors conclude that a rear guard would negatively impact the overall safety of a standup lift truck in most working environments.
Detection on a distributed network using information geometry
Authors: Brooker D. J. , Finette S. , Mignerey P. C.
Published: March 2021

A passive detection scheme based on information geometry is tested on underwater acoustic field data acquired through multiple sensors from the Distributed Network Consensus experiment. These detectors use a signal discovery method wherein a target is detected when the statistics of that signal are sufficiently different from those in a broadband background. The signal excess is viewed here as the non-Euclidean distance between two probability distributions interpreted as points in a Riemannian manifold. The SNR is artificially lowered to create a low SNR scenario and it is shown that in spite of this, the geometric detectors perform quite well.
Observations of acoustic noise bursts accompanying nonlinear internal gravity waves on the continental shelf off New Jersey
Authors: Katsnelson Boris G. , Godin Oleg A. , Zhang Qianchu
Published: March 2021

Anomalously large, transient fluctuations of acoustical noise intensity, up to 4–5 orders of magnitude above the background, were observed with single-hydrophone receiver units (SHRUs) and on the L-shaped horizontal and vertical line array of hydrophones (HVLA) in the Shallow Water 2006 experiment on the continental shelf off New Jersey. Here, temporal and spatial properties of these noise bursts are investigated. As tidally generated nonlinear internal waves (NIWs) move across the site of the experiment from the shelf break toward the coast, they form trains of localized, soliton-like waves with up to 25–35 m displacement of isopycnal surfaces. The NIW trains consecutively cross the positions of five SHRUs and HVLA that are located about 5–8 km from each other along a line perpendicular to the coast. The noise bursts were observed when a NIW train passed through locations of the corresponding acoustic receivers. Turbulence of the water flow, saltation, and bedload of marine sediments were the dominant causes of the acoustic noise bursts caused by NIWs at different frequency bands. On near-bottom hydrophones, the most energetic part of the observed noise bursts is attributed to collisions of suspended sediment particles with each other, the sensor, and the seafloor.
Novice Versus Expert Intertester Reliability of Two-Dimensional Squatting Kinematics in Females With and Without Patellofemoral Pain
Authors: Doozan Melissa , Bazett-Jones David M. , Glaviano Neal R.
Published: March 2021

Two-dimensional assessments of the lower extremity and trunk are becoming more common in the sports medicine community. However, there is little evidence evaluating expert versus novice reliability or agreement of these measurements in healthy or pathological populations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate expert versus novice reliability and agreement of two-dimensional squatting kinematics in females with and without patellofemoral pain. There was good–excellent reliability and acceptable agreement in squatting kinematics when comparing healthy and patellofemoral pain participants between the two assessors. Minimal training is required for novice assessors to measure two-dimensional squatting kinematics in healthy or pathological patients.
Inhibitory Effect of Host Ocular Microenvironmental Factors on Chlorhexidine Digluconate Activity
Authors: Chen Chun-Hsien , Wang Yu-Jen , Huang Jian-Ming , Huang Fu-Chin , Lin Wei-Chen
Published: March 2021

Acanthamoeba
spp. are free-living protozoans that cause a serious human eye disease called
Acanthamoeba
keratitis (AK). Several new and effective medical therapies for AK patients remain highly debated, and therefore, chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) is still considered one of the first lines of treatment for AK patients.
Potency of Olorofim (F901318) Compared to Contemporary Antifungal Agents against Clinical Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates and Review of Azole Resistance Phenotype and Genotype Epidemiology in China
Authors: Su Huilin , Zhu Min , Tsui Clement Kin-Ming , van der Lee Henrich , Tehupeiory-Kooreman Marlou , Zoll Jan , Engel Tobias , Li Li , Zhu Junhao , Lu Zihan , Zhang Qiangqiang , Verweij Paul E. , Deng Shuwen
Published: March 2021

Triazole resistance in
Aspergillus fumigatus
is an increasing worldwide problem that causes major challenges in the management of aspergillosis. New antifungal drugs are needed, with novel targets, that are effective in triazole-resistant infection.
Design of Proxy Indicators Estimating the Appropriateness of Antibiotics Prescribed by French Dentists: a Cross-Sectional Study Based on Reimbursement Data
Authors: Simon Maïa , Pereira Ouarda , Guillet-Thibault Julie , Hulscher Marlies E. J. L. , Pulcini Céline , Thilly Nathalie
Published: March 2021

The literature shows that the prescription of antibiotics in dental care is often unnecessary or inappropriate. Indicators estimating the appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed by dentists based on routine databases are, however, not available in the literature.
Performance of national COVID-19 ‘symptom checkers’: a comparative case simulation study
Authors: Mansab Fatma , Bhatti Sohail , Goyal Daniel
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Identifying those individuals requiring medical care is a basic tenet of the pandemic response. Here, we examine the COVID-19 community triage pathways employed by four nations, specifically comparing the safety and efficacy of national online ‘symptom checkers’ used within the triage pathway.

Methods

A simulation study was conducted on current, nationwide, patient-led symptom checkers from four countries (Singapore, Japan, USA and UK). 52 cases were simulated to approximate typical COVID-19 presentations (mild, moderate, severe and critical) and COVID-19 mimickers (eg, sepsis and bacterial pneumonia). The same simulations were applied to each of the four country’s symptom checkers, and the recommendations to refer on for medical care or to stay home were recorded and compared.

Results

The symptom checkers from Singapore and Japan advised onward healthcare contact for the majority of simulations (88% and 77%, respectively). The USA and UK symptom checkers triaged 38% and 44% of cases to healthcare contact, respectively. Both the US and UK symptom checkers consistently failed to identify severe COVID-19, bacterial pneumonia and sepsis, triaging such cases to stay home.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that whilst ‘symptom checkers’ may be of use to the healthcare COVID-19 response, there is the potential for such patient-led assessment tools to worsen outcomes by delaying appropriate clinical assessment. The key features of the well-performing symptom checkers are discussed.
Being a woman, being a soldier, being a mother: a qualitative analysis of perceptions of pregnancy on working lives of women in the Spanish Armed Forces
Authors: Hossain-López Sheima , Ruiz-Berdún D
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Thirty-two years after Spain first allowed women to join the armed forces, 12% of active troops are women, although there are no data on how many of them are mothers. There is a lack of research related to the impact of motherhood on their careers and the challenges they face as well. Previous quantitative research, within North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces, has focused on the increased vulnerability and reduced performance of women returning to service after childbirth. However, no study to date has examined the narratives of these women.

Methods

A qualitative, cross-sectional study was carried out by means of individual interviews which were subsequently analysed employing the interpretative approach of hermeneutic phenomenology. All the interviews were conducted by videoconference, being recorded for subsequent transcription and analysis with MAXQDA v.2018.

Results

Servicewoman reported experiencing fear of informing their command chain of their pregnancy. Many women described feelings of constantly having to prove their worth, and thus perceived the physical restrictions associated with pregnancy and/or postpartum as a threat to their previous achievements. This sometimes led to behaviours that posed a risk to the health of mothers and babies, or eventually resulted in both acute and chronic conditions.

Conclusions

Some restrictions put in place to protect them during their pregnancies become a source of additional anxiety. Returning to active service, we found that women’s desire to fulfil their duties can cause long-term damage to their physical and psychological health. The attitudes servicewomen perceive towards pregnant women and mothers seems to exert a strong influence on the risks they are willing to assume. Understanding and addressing the needs of servicewomen after childbirth, either now, as active members of the Armed Forces, or in the foreseeable future, as veterans, is crucial to both military and civilian healthcare providers.
Professional footballers have a limited understanding of the precompetition medical assessment and the possible outcomes including disqualification: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Chin Thomas J , Lee Arier C L , Fulcher Mark L
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To determine professional footballers’ level of understanding of the purpose of the precompetition medical assessment (PCMA) and to evaluate their knowledge of potential outcomes following a PCMA, including disqualification.

Methods

Professional footballers from the Australasian A-League and Westfield W-League were asked to complete a 25-question survey. The relationship between dichotomised outcomes and explanatory variables was analysed with multivariate logistic regression; p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 212 players participated (response rate=48.8%). Most respondents selected ‘To detect medical conditions that may affect performance’ and ‘To detect current injuries’ (n=137, 64.6%; n=130, 61.3%) as the purpose of a PCMA. Approximately one-third (n=74, 38.1%) were neutral or believed that a normal PCMA prevented cardiac arrest. Receiving more PCMAs (p<0.0003) and receiving an explanation during their PCMA (p=0.0175) led to greater awareness of the assessment’s limitations. Most participants did not know the definitions of syncope (n=181, 93.3%) or Marfan syndrome (n=183, 94.3%). Fifty players (28.1%) did not know that disqualification was a possible outcome of a PCMA, and younger players were less aware of this possible outcome (p=0.0216).

Conclusion

Professional footballers appear to have a limited understanding of the purpose of a PCMA, emphasising the musculoskeletal system and performance. They also appear unfamiliar with the components of the PCMA and medical terms. Finally, many are unaware that disqualification can result from an abnormal PCMA. Player health knowledge must be improved; the informed consent process appears an ideal time to provide this education.
Psychometric properties of the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire among Chinese parents of children with ADHD or ASD
Authors: Yang Runxu , Zhou Huizhi , Liu Jin , Wang Yufeng , Zhang Yan , Wang Yanjiao , Liu Ruixiang , Cao Xia , Han Dong , Yang Shuran , Yang Jianzhong , Kang Chuanyuan
Published: March 2021

Background

There is an urgent need in clinical practice to measure the stress of parenting. The Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CGSQ) was found to be useful to measure parenting stress, but it has not been validated among the Chinese population.

Aims

To assess the reliability and construct validity of the Chinese version of CGSQ among Chinese parents.

Methods

From 2016 to 2017, 266 parents (patient group) with a child having DSM-5–defined attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (n=107) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (n=159) and 268 parents of healthy children (control group) were recruited to the present study in Kunming, Yunnan province. All the parents were asked to fill out the Chinese version of CGSQ. We conducted exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to verify construct validity of CGSQ in both patient and control groups. Cronbach’s α coefficient as an index of internal consistency was assessed for each subscale. Fourteen days later, 23 subjects filled out the scale again. Intra-class correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the test–retest reliability.

Results

(1) Cronbach’s alpha of the global scale was 0.901 for the control group and 0.952 for the patient group. The test–retest reliability for the whole scale was 0.890; (2) CFA indicated that the three-factor model had better fitting indices compared with the two-factor model in both groups. Besides, the fitting indices in the patient group were more favourable than those of the control group, with χ2/df=1.564, Goodness-of-Fit Index=0.841, Comparative Fit Index=0.954, and root mean square error of approximation=0.065 for the patient group at three-factor model; (3) The caregiver strain of ASD parents was statistically higher than that of ADHD parents, and caregiver strain of ADHD parents was higher than that of control group.

Conclusion

These findings provide initial evidence to support the construct validity and reliability of CGSQ as a parenting stress measurement tool for Chinese parents, especially for parents of children with ADHD or ASD.
Significantly super-Chandrasekhar mass-limit of white dwarfs in noncommutative geometry
Authors: Kalita Surajit , Mukhopadhyay Banibrata , Govindarajan T. R.
Published: March 2021

Chandrasekhar made the startling discovery about nine decades back that the mass of compact object white dwarf has a limiting value once nuclear fusion reactions stop therein. This is the Chandrasekhar mass-limit, which is [Formula: see text] for a nonrotating non-magnetized white dwarf. On approaching this limiting mass, a white dwarf is believed to spark off with an explosion called type Ia supernova, which is considered to be a standard candle. However, observations of several over-luminous, peculiar type Ia supernovae indicate the Chandrasekhar mass-limit to be significantly larger. By considering noncommutativity among the components of position and momentum variables, hence uncertainty in their measurements, at the quantum scales, we show that the mass of white dwarfs could be significantly super-Chandrasekhar and thereby arrive at a new mass-limit [Formula: see text], explaining a possible origin of over-luminous peculiar type Ia supernovae. The idea of noncommutativity, apart from the Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, is there for quite sometime, without any observational proof however. Our finding offers a plausible astrophysical evidence of noncommutativity, arguing for a possible second standard candle, which has many far-reaching implications.
Fuzzy Constrained Shortest Path Problem for Location-Based Online Services
Authors: Sori Ali Abbaszadeh , Ebrahimnejad Ali , Motameni Homayun , Verdegay Jose Luis
Published: March 2021

One of the important issues under discussion connected with traffic on the roads is improving transportation. In this regard, spatial information, including the shortest path, is of particular importance due to the reduction of economic and environmental costs. Here, the constrained shortest path (CSP) problem which has an important application in location-based online services is considered. The aim of this problem is to find a path with the lowest cost where the traversal time of the path does not exceed from a predetermined time bound. Since precise prediction of cost and time of the paths is not possible due to traffic and weather conditions, this paper discusses the CSP problems with fuzzy cost and fuzzy time. After formulating the CSP problem an efficient algorithm for finding the constrained optimal path is designed. The application of the proposed model is presented on a location-based online service called Snap.
Research Perception Towards Copy-Move Image Forgery Detection: Challenges and Future Directions
Authors: Chalamalasetty Sai Pratheek , Giduturi Srinivasa Rao
Published: March 2021

In digital images, Copy-Move Forgery is a general kind of forgery techniques. The process of replicating one part of the image within the same image is termed as copy-move forgery. An effective and reliable approach needs to be developed for identifying these forgeries for restoring the image trustworthiness. The main intent of this paper is to sort out the diverse copy-move image forgery detection models. This survey makes an effective literature analysis on a set of literal works from the past 10 years. The analysis is focused on categorizing the models based on transformation models, machine learning algorithms, and other advanced techniques. The main contribution and limitations of the works are clearly pointed out. In addition, the types of datasets and the simulation platforms utilized by different copy-move forgery detection (CMFD) models are analyzed. The performance measures evaluated by different contributions have been observed for making a concluding decision. The utilization of optimization algorithms on copy-move image forgery detection has also been studied. Finally, the research gaps and challenges with future direction are discussed, which is helpful for researchers in developing an efficient CMFD that could attain high performance.
On factorizations into coprime parts
Authors: Just Matthew , Lebowitz-Lockard Noah
Published: March 2021

Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be the number of unordered and ordered factorizations of [Formula: see text] into integers larger than one. Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] have the additional restriction that the factors are coprime. We establish asymptotic bounds for the sums of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] up to [Formula: see text] for all real [Formula: see text] and the asymptotic bounds for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for all negative [Formula: see text].
Financial performance analysis of MSME sector: An empirical study
Authors: Das Kishore Kumar , Mahapatra Rupsa
Published: March 2021

The MSME sector is the most demanded, vibrant and dynamic sector which contributes highly to country’s manufacturing output, employment and exports. As this sector contains more than 80% of the total enterprises of the economy, its labor intensity is much higher than that of any other large enterprise. MSME is an important pillar of Indian economy as this sector is continuously contributing greatly to the growth and development of Indian economy by creating around 70 million employment, manufacturing more than 6000 products, contributing about 45% of manufacturing production and 40% from exports. Presently, the MSME sector is mostly dominated by microenterprises. This signifies that this sector is inviting and giving opportunities to new people for earning and being independent through its available schemes. Therefore, this paper is focused on the financial performance analysis of MSME sector.
The impact of the ECB’s monetary policy on corporate borrowing costs
Authors: Bouzgarrou Houssam , Afia Siwar Ben , Derbali Abdelkader
Published: March 2021

This paper examines the impact of the ECB’s monetary policy on corporate borrowing costs. We use an event study method to assess and compare the effects of both conventional and unconventional monetary policy on Germany and French corporate bond market (credit spreads). The sample of our research consists of daily data collected during the period from 04 January 1999 to 27 February 2015. This period spans the pre-crisis which begins when the ECB has launched the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and became responsible for the monetary policy in the euro area. We find significantly negative relation between conventional surprise and corporate credit spreads. Moreover, we find that a raise in German non-financial credit spreads and French credit spreads domestic in response to the SMP announcement. The OMT lowers the German non-financial credit spreads, while it raises German bank credit spreads and French corporate credit spreads both domestic and bund for two sectors. Finally, the LTROs are associated with a raise in corporate credit spreads. Our findings are confirmed in robustness checks by changing the non-standard monetary policy announcements with monetary policy event dummies used as one variable.
A High-Voltage, Multi-Metal LiNi0.35Cu0.1Mn1.45Fe0.1O4 Spinel Cathode for Lithium Batteries
Authors: Wei Shuangying , Di Lecce Daniele , Hassoun Jusef
Published: March 2021

A LiNi0.35Cu0.1Mn1.45Fe0.1O4 spinel cathode exploiting the multi-metal approach and operating in a lithium battery at 4.7 V is prepared by co-precipitation of metal oxalates followed by annealing. Our investigation demonstrates that the designed electrode formulation including Ni, Cu, Mn and Fe may actually ensure suitable structural and morphological characteristics, as well as an extended stability in cells operating at 25 °C and 55 °C. Indeed, the LiNi0.35Cu0.1Mn1.45Fe0.1O4 cathode shows reversible capacities of 108 mAh g−1 at 0.75C and 91 mAh g−1 at 1.5C (where 1C is 147 mA g−1), with a retention between 84% and 80% after 200 cycles and coulombic efficiency values of about 99%. Notably, optimal cathode composition in terms of metals nature and content avoids material degradation upon cycling and enables stable operation in the lithium cell even at a temperature higher than 25 °C, with satisfactory retention of the initial capacity of 110 mAh g−1, i.e., 77%, after 200 cycles at 0.5C. Therefore, the strategy adopted herein is considered adequate for allowing practical battery application of the high-voltage spinel cathode.
A First-Principles Investigation on the Electronic and Mechanical Properties of 1T TiSe2 Multilayers for Energy Storage
Authors: Antonio J. E. , Cervantes J. M. , Rosas-Huerta J. L. , Pilo J. , Carvajal E. , Escamilla R.
Published: March 2021

In this work, the electronic and mechanical properties of bulk TiSe2 were studied, and the effects of confinement on the compound, into mono-, bi-, and tri-layered systems, on the electronic and mechanical properties using DFT-based calculations within the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) using Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange-correlation functional. Lithium atoms were placed at different adsorption sites of the TiSe2 monolayer to study the consequences on the electronic and mechanical properties and to identify the most favourable adsorption site for Li in the TiSe2 systems. Mono -, bi-, and tri-layered systems have associated a metallic behaviour, similar to the bulk material. Young’s modulus for mono-, bi-, and tri-layered systems show similar behaviour to the bulk case. On the other hand, monolayers with Li are metallic when Li atoms are placed at the surface; and this behaviour could be favourable to facilitate electronic transport by the monolayer. Finally, the mechanical properties analysis supported that the better adsorption sites are those labelled as Top and Hollow.
From the Editor: Spreading the Message
Authors: Rajeshwar Krishnan
Published: March 2021

When Western Union announced that it would stop its 145-year old telegram service on January 27, 2006, it perhaps signaled the end of an era. It was with a tinge of sadness that I read this newspaper story.
Pennington Corner: The Boys of Summer
Authors: Calvo Roque J.
Published: March 2021

The United States Major League Baseball players are called the “Boys of Summer” because sports fans consider them to be the chosen or lucky few who play a great game during the best season of the year. At ECS we have our own Boys, and Girls, of Summer - it’s those outstanding graduate students fortunate enough to spend the best season of their year continuing their research on an ECS Summer Fellowship.
Substrates for the Next Generation Electronics and Photonics
Authors: Ruzyllo Jerzy
Published: March 2021

Electronic and photonic devices and systems have developed into a dominant global industry. The ever-present need in this industry, to improve device performance and reduce cost, calls for the continued modifications of silicon as well as III-V compound semiconductor manufacturing technologies.
Batteries and Electrochemical Capacitors
Authors: Scherson Daniel , Palencsar Attila
Published: March 2021

The invention of the battery can be attributed to Alessandro Volta (1745-1827) of Como, Italy, who in 1800 described an assembly consisting of plates of two different metals, such as Zn and Cu, placed alternately in a stack-like fashion separated by paper soaked in aqueous solution, such as brine or vinegar.
Electrochemical Attosyringe: Application to Solution Injection into Living Cells
Authors: Laforge Francois
Published: March 2021

The 2006 Edward G. Weston Summer Research Fellowship Summary Report
Building a Rainbow
Authors: Allred Daniel B.
Published: March 2021

The electrodeposition of materials on surfaces is a nanoscale phenomenon that proceeds within a thin boundary layer near the surface of an electrode.
Fuel Cells
Authors: Ramani Vijay
Published: March 2021

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that directly convert chemical energy to electrical energy. They consist of an electrolyte medium sandwiched between two electrodes.
Industrial Electrolysis and Electrochemical Engineering
Authors: Grotheer Morris , Alkire Richard C. , Varjian Richard , Srinivasan Venkat , Weidner John W.
Published: March 2021

The introduction of the electrical dynamo in the early 1870s made large scale, relatively inexpensive electric power available for commercial scale chemical production.
Sensors: Engineering Structures and Materials from Micro to Nano
Authors: Stetter Joseph R. , Hesketh Peter J. , Hunter Gary W.
Published: March 2021

Sensors science and engineering is relevant to virtually all aspects of life including safety, security, surveillance, monitoring, and awareness in general. Sensors are central to industrial applications being used for process control, monitoring, and safety.
Molecular mechanisms of Na,K-ATPase dysregulation driving alveolar epithelial barrier failure in severe COVID-19
Authors: Kryvenko Vitalii , Vadász István
Published: March 2021

A significant number of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that is associated with a poor outcome. The molecular mechanisms driving failure of the alveolar barrier upon severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remain incompletely understood. The Na,K-ATPase is an adhesion molecule and a plasma membrane transporter that is critically required for proper alveolar epithelial function by both promoting barrier integrity and resolution of excess alveolar fluid, thus enabling appropriate gas exchange. However, numerous SARS-CoV-2-mediated and COVID-19-related signals directly or indirectly impair the function of the Na,K-ATPase, thereby potentially contributing to disease progression. In this Perspective, we highlight some of the putative mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-driven dysfunction of the Na,K-ATPase, focusing on expression, maturation, and trafficking of the transporter. A therapeutic mean to selectively inhibit the maladaptive signals that impair the Na,K-ATPase upon SARS-CoV-2 infection might be effective in reestablishing the alveolar epithelial barrier and promoting alveolar fluid clearance and thus advantageous in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS.
Clear Cell Odontogenic Carcinoma of the Mandible Harboring EWSR1 Rearrangement: Report of a Massive Jaw Tumor and Review of Diagnostic Considerations
Authors: Owosho Adepitan A. , Okwuosa Chukwubuzor , Obi Donald I. , Okiti Robinson O. , Summersgill Kurt F.
Published: March 2021

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC) is a low-grade malignant neoplasm that affects the jaws. We report an 18 cm massive case of mandibular CCOC in a 43-year-old female. The tumor was composed of nests and cords of round to polygonal monomorphic clear cells separated by prominent stromal hyalinization. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells showed focal cytokeratin 5/6 positivity and intracytoplasmic PAS-positive granules and were negative for S100 and after diastase treatment (PAS-D). Molecularly, this case was positive for EWSR1 rearrangement by FISH. The following should be included in the histopathological differential diagnosis: hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma of the salivary gland, clear cell variant of central mucoepidermoid carcinoma, clear cell variant of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor, and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. CCOC is a rare entity, with only 79 cases reported in the mandible. This case highlights the propensity for CCOC to exhibit invasiveness, destructive nature, and facial disfigurement if left untreated.