bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the key perception points in the process of e-book selection
Authors: Xing Sisi , Peng Aidong , Mao Yihong
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to propose some suggestions for libraries and other digital reading service institutions to improve the utilization rate of e-books, based on the theoretical and empirical analysis of the perception behaviour characteristics of e-book selection under the allocation of limited cognitive resources.

Design/methodology/approach

From the perspective of key perception points, this paper studies the key perception points of selecting e-books through the experimental method and explores the influence of subject factors (users’ characteristics, users’ needs) on users’ e-book perception behaviour.

Findings

College students have selective attention in the process of selecting e-books. They will choose some important contents of e-books, such as title, book introduction, author, catalogue, reader comments, others’ recommendations, read leaderboard, to perceive and there is an obvious difference in perception intensity. Different personal traits and reading needs have a great influence on users’ perception points. Libraries and other digital reading service institutions should provide promotion information based on key perception points of e-books, develop personalized e-book service and promotion and optimize the expression of key perception points of e-books.

Originality/value

This paper presents a valuable study attempting to introduce cognitive resource theory into the field of digital reading service, which proves that users also have limited cognitive resource allocation in the process of selecting digital books.
From children to seniors: is culture accessible to everyone?
Authors: Tešin Aleksandra , Kovačić Sanja , Pivac Tatjana , Vujičić Miroslav D. , Obradović Sanja
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The main objective of the study is to analyse the perception of accessibility to cultural for different age groups (children, teenagers, adults and seniors) in the city of Novi Sad (Serbia). Additional goals were to reveal which cultural contents in the city are the most important to which particular age group and to measure the level of compatibility with their needs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study sample consisted of 170 respondents of different age groups used for comparison purposes. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and analysed by IBM SPSS Statistics (descriptive statistical analysis and ANOVA test).

Findings

The results of this research showed that a gap is evident between the current cultural offer and the needs and preferences of visitors of different age groups. One of the significant obstacles that emerged is the inadequate promotion of cultural contents in the city to different age groups of visitors (children, teenagers, adults and seniors). The study also identified the age groups of visitors to whom the cultural offer was least adapted, as well as mapping the cultural institutions which are least accessible to audiences of different ages.

Originality/value

The paper addresses the knowledge gap related to accessibility to cultural for different generations. It focuses on topics that have not been previously researched – comparison of the needs of different generations concerning the actual offer in cultural institutions, addressing the importance of certain elements of a cultural offer to different age groups and the level of accessibility of such features to different age groups.
Value-based health-care principles in health-care organizations
Authors: Salvatore Fiorella Pia , Fanelli Simone , Donelli Chiara Carolina , Milone Michele
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the value-based health-care model in defining a strategy to guide the evolution of health-care organizations toward a value-oriented model. To improve the quality of care by ensuring economic sustainability, it is necessary to redefine the concept of competition in healthcare and align it with the concept of maximizing value for patients.

Design/methodology/approach

Performance measurement is a crucial aspect of the analysis of health-care organizations. Porter developed an effective analytical technique and presented the measurement of health-care outcomes based on health conditions, the efficiency of health-care organizations and the type of service provided.

Findings

Clinical outcomes and data on the costs of care of each patient are essential to evaluate improvement in treatment value over time. Engaging in the evaluation of what happens to patients in their course of care enables the expansion of the measurement of outcomes because it measures all the health services related to it.

Originality/value

Building a health-care system based on the value and continuous improvement of care and services provided is a goal shared by many countries and international organizations. Today, the analysis of outcomes is important for making informed decisions, directing and planning clinical and organizational changes by improving the quality of care and services.
Nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding brominated flame retardants from three Croatian universities
Authors: Jakšić Krešimir , Matek Sarić Marijana , Čulin Jelena
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study explored Croatian nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding brominated flame retardants (BFRs) as indicators of their predisposition to educate future patients. The purpose of the study was to identify knowledge gaps and barriers and to propose possible remedies.

Design/methodology/approach

The cross-sectional survey was conducted on a convenience sample of 114 nursing students at undergraduate and graduate levels from three Croatian universities during the winter semester in the academic year 2018–2019. Descriptive and inferential statistical  analyses were performed using STATISTICA 13 software.

Findings

Slightly over half of the students (58.49%) were knowledgeable of BFR health effects and 45.28% showed knowledge about its presence in the environment. Only 33.02% of students identified prenatal exposure effects and 24.53% answered correctly about legislative actions. Participants expressed modest interest in the topic (M = 3.15, SD = 1.35). Although informing the public on the health consequences of BFRs was important to them (M = 4.18, SD = 1.03), they did not perceive health-care providers as primarily responsible for communicating that information.

Originality/value

There is a need to enhance related content in the curriculum to improve students' knowledge. Raising students' awareness regarding the role of nurses in clinical and policy arenas is proposed to facilitate active participation in improving environmental health.
Understanding Chinese consumers’ and Chinese immigrants’ purchase intentions toward global brands with Chinese elements
Authors: Laroche Michel , Li Rong , Richard Marie-Odile , Shao Muxin
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how consumers respond to global brands adapting to local elements. Specifically, this study identified three factors (i.e., cultural compatibility, cultural elements authenticity and cultural pride) affecting the purchase intentions (PIs) toward global brands using Chinese elements among Chinese consumers in China and Chinese immigrants in North America. Another aim is to examine the moderating role of acculturation in the relationship between cultural pride and PIs among Chinese immigrants.

Design/methodology/approach

Three studies were conducted to test the hypotheses in China and North America. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the factor structure. Hierarchical regression was used to test the main effects and moderated regression analysis was used to test the moderation effect.

Findings

Results show that cultural compatibility, cultural elements authenticity (CEA) and cultural pride positively affect the PIs toward global brands with Chinese elements for both Chinese consumers and Chinese immigrants. Further, among Chinese immigrants, acculturation moderates the relationship between cultural pride and PIs.

Originality/value

This study explored the factors influencing the PIs toward global brands using Chinese elements, filling a research gap. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine how perceived CEA affects consumers’ PIs toward global brands with Chinese elements. Further, the findings have implications for global brands that want to target Chinese consumers and Chinese immigrants in overseas markets.
Latitudinal diversity gradients for five taxonomic levels of marine fish in depth zones
Authors: Lin Han‐Yang , Corkrey Ross , Kaschner Kristin , Garilao Cristina , Costello Mark J.
Published: December 2020

Latitudinal diversity gradients (LDGs) of species richness in most marine taxa appear to be bimodal with a dip at the equator. We compared LDGs for modeled ranges of 5,619 marine fish species, and distinguished between: all, pelagic, demersal, bony and cartilaginous fish groups; five taxonomic levels of class, order, family, genus and species; and four depth zones namely whole water column, 0–200 m, 200–1,000 m, and 1,000–6,000 m; at 5° latitudinal intervals. The modality of 88 LDGs was examined visually and using Hartigan's dip statistic. We found 80 LDGs were bimodal (or not unimodal), two gradients were unimodal and six gradients were ambiguous. All species and genera, and 19 families among fish groups and depth zones had bimodal or not unimodal LDGs. The northern hemisphere mode had 2–6% greater richness from species to order richness. Overall fish, the peak of richness shifted poleward across taxonomic levels, from 25°N for species to median 48°N for class and from 10°S for genus to 35°S for class. Temperature and salinity were significantly correlated with the LDG. Our findings using fish species ranges support previous analyses using species' occurrences, namely that the LDG of marine species is bimodal, by generalizing this to all taxonomic levels and depth zones. That the LDG with a dip near the equator supports the hypothesis that it is primarily temperature driven, and that the equator is already too hot for some species.
Effect of vibration devices on pain associated with dental injections in children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Faghihian R , Rastghalam N , Amrollahi N , Tarrahi MJ
Published: December 2020

Background

Several methods including vibration have been proposed for pain control during a local anaesthetic injection. This study was aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence on vibration devices used to reduce injection pain perception in children.

Methods

The search terms were chosen according to the Medical Subject Headings MeSH and non‐MeSH. Potentially eligible studies involved the subjective or objective pain evaluation in children receiving any type of dental injection. An electronic search of published studies in English language was carried out in March 2020 on Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed databases.Of 1659 articles retrieved initially, 14 were eligible to be included in the systematic review, of which eight articles were excluded. The vibration devices used in the studies included Buzzy or DentalVibe. Four studies using Dentalvibe contributed to the meta‐analysis.

Results

The results of meta‐analysis indicated a mean difference of 0.057 for FLACC pain scores between intervention and control conditions (P‐value = 0.740). Wong–Baker Faces scores showed a mean difference of 0.009 (P‐value = 0.964), which also showed no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups.

Conclusions

The findings revealed that use of DentalVibe for Paediatric dental injections was not effective in reducing pain perception. However, use of Buzzy showed promising results.
Anatomical outcome of retinal detachment surgery comparing different surgical approach
Authors: Thylefors Joakim , Zetterberg Madeleine , Jakobsson Gunnar
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To describe the outcome of retinal detachment surgery in a population affected by rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in southern Sweden 2011–2013.

Method

All primary retinal detachments that underwent surgery at the Skåne University Hospital were registered during the period of 2011–2013. Age, sex, lens status and the different surgical methods including type of tamponade were recorded. For outcome assessment, no reoperation within 6 months was considered as primary success with one surgery except silicone oil removal.

Results

In total, 918 primary retinal detachments were recorded during the 3‐year period. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) alone was used in 618 eyes (67.3%), whereas an external approach with scleral buckling (SB) was used in 184 cases (20.0%) and a combination of PPV + SB in 116 eyes (12.6%). Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in combination with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation was performed in 169 eyes (18.4%), which was 43.6% of the phakic eyes having a PPV procedure. A total of 346 eyes (37.7%) were pseudophakic preoperatively. The success rate of one surgery was 86.9% for the entire cohort. In 120 eyes (13.1%), there was a re‐detachment during the 6‐month follow‐up time. Higher age at the primary surgery turned out to be correlated to an increased risk of primary failure (p = 0.018) but gender was not (p = 0.84). Preoperative lens status did not affect the risk of re‐detachment (p = 0.36), and there were no differences in outcome between surgeons (p = 0.27). No surgical procedure – alone or in combination – showed superior outcome as primary surgical approach.

Conclusions

There were no significant differences in anatomical outcome between the various surgical procedures in this large cohort of 918 RRD cases.
Distant cutaneous metastasis of malignant epithelioid mesothelioma
Authors: Collins Katrina , Nagarajan Priyadharsini , Aung Phyu P.
Published: December 2020

Malignant mesothelioma is a locally aggressive malignancy most commonly arising from the pleural and/or peritoneal cavity. Distant cutaneous metastasis is extremely rare. Here, we describe two cases of mesothelioma metastatic to the head and neck skin. Case 1: A 64‐year‐old man diagnosed previously with extensive thoracic and abdominal mesothelioma, developed a rapidly growing right upper lip lesion, for which a wedge resection was performed. Case 2: A 77‐year‐old woman with a history of pleural mesothelioma developed a firm, mobile subcutaneous nodule on the right lateral forehead, clinically thought to represent either an epidermal inclusion cyst or a lipoma. A punch biopsy was performed. In both cases, histopathologic evaluation revealed dermal proliferation of epithelioid cells with moderate cytologic atypia and three mitotic figures per mm2 and two mitotic figures per mm2 for Cases 1 and 2, respectively. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the lesional cells to be positive for WT1, mesothelin, D2‐40, CK5/6, while being negative for melanocytic and other keratinocytic markers, supporting a diagnosis of metastatic mesothelioma. Awareness of rare instances of cutaneous metastases from malignant mesothelioma is necessary to avoid possible misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate management.
Moral habitus: An approach to understanding embedded disrespectful practices
Authors: Subramani Supriya
Published: December 2020

The moral habitus shows how morally oriented clinical interactions through everyday social evaluations generate and sustain disrespectful attitudes and behaviours that disregard patients and family members. These attitudes and behaviours often result from the habitual nature of interaction styles and embodied bodily dispositions within particular hospital settings. By utilising the data of a qualitative study in two hospitals in the south Indian city of Chennai, I illustrate the role of moral habitus in understanding these disrespectful attitudes and behaviours. I show how the stereotyping and embodied bodily dispositions by healthcare professionals raise moral and ethical questions, such as those related to ethical value of respect for persons. I conclude that studying the moral habitus of hospital settings is significant for proposing ways to respect patients and family members of patients in practice and uphold ethical values, and to have meaningful healthcare interactions. Furthermore, the concept of moral habitus offers theoretical grounds for understanding these attitudes and behaviours in hospital settings, while engaging in ethics and patient‐centred care debates, to bridge the gap between theory and practice of respect.
Initial cracking strength and initial fracture toughness from three‐point bending and wedge splitting concrete specimens
Authors: Yao Xianhua , Li Lielie , Guan Junfeng , Zhang Min , Liu Zepeng , Han Ruicong , He Shuanghua
Published: December 2020

In this study, a concept of initial cracking strength of concrete was elaborated. A fracture model and associated methods for determining independent initial cracking strength and initial fracture toughness by the three‐point bending (3‐p‐b) and wedge splitting (WS) concrete specimens are presented. The initial cracking strength and initial fracture toughness can be simultaneously determined using a curve fitting method from the proposed fracture model. All of the initial fracture curves were obtained by the determined concrete materials. The initial loads of the 3‐p‐b and WS specimens were predicted on the basis of the curves with ±15% ranges. Furthermore, the initial cracking strength and the initial fracture toughness of concretes were directly determined by analytical functions. The determined values within ±15% ranges cover most of the initial loads of the 3‐p‐b and WS specimens.
Predator and prey events at the entrance of a surface‐oriented fish collector at North Fork Dam, Oregon
Authors: Smith Collin D. , Plumb John M. , Adams Noah S. , Wyatt Garth J.
Published: December 2020

Quantifiable estimates of predator–prey interactions and relationships in aquatic habitats are difficult to obtain and rare, especially when individuals cannot be readily observed. To overcome this observational impediment, imaging sonar was used to assess the cooccurrence of predator‐size fish and juvenile salmonids, Oncorhynchus spp., at the entrance to a floating surface collector (FSC) in the forebay of North Fork Dam on the Clackamas River, Oregon (USA). Imaging sonar can be used to transform active sound waves into visual data, making it possible to obtain continuous underwater observations on the presence and interspecific interactions between predator‐size fish and prey (juvenile salmonids). Hourly counts of smolt‐size fish tracks, diel phase, water clarity and river discharge were used as covariates within a zero‐inflated Poisson model to determine how these factors may influence the number of predators in front of the FSC. Both the number of smolt‐size fish tracks and diel phase had the strongest effects on the number of predator‐size fish tracks, with more predator‐size fish tracks observed during the daytime, and as the number of smolt‐size fish tracks increased. Additionally, the presence of predator‐size fish may affect the abundance and direction of travel of juvenile salmonids, as fewer smolt‐size fish were observed when predators were present, and a greater proportion of smolt‐size fish were observed travelling away from the FSC when predator‐size fish were present. This study provides estimates of predator and prey fish abundance in the vicinity of surface collection systems at moderate‐sized hydropower projects and could help resource managers better understand mechanisms that can influence the survival and passage behaviour of juvenile salmonids using surface collection structures at dams.
POPULAR KINEMATICS: TECHNICAL KNOWING IN THE AGE OF MACHINES
Authors: GITELMAN LISA
Published: December 2020

The history of knowledge easily includes the history of science but has a harder time including the history of technology. Although the historical profession has productively explored how technology is knowledge, the framing of this equivalence can itself be historicized, and nineteenth‐century analyses of machines offer one opportunity to do so. Taking popular illustrated representations of machine components—mechanisms—as its examples, this essay pursues a mechanic's answer to the question of how technology is knowledge. Henry T. Brown's immensely popular Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements (1868) draws on a long publication tradition to present mechanical motion as the key to understanding machines, a notion that would be revised by practitioners of the emergent science of kinematics and profession of mechanical engineering. Brown's book takes up but does not solve the problem of representing mechanical movement on the page, and it exhibits contradictory commitments to technology as ideational—invented by individuals—and technology as the cumulative expressions of human culture. Itself the product of the latest industrial printing techniques, Five Hundred and Seven Mechanical Movements represents technical knowing as a species of intuitive visualization stimulated by text‐image correlation as well as by experiencing machines themselves.
Using a kinect‐based game to teach oral hygiene in four elementary students with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Kang Ya‐Shu , Chang Yao‐Jen , Howell Stephen Richard
Published: December 2020

Background

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) may have difficulties in performing daily living tasks. Among other daily living tasks, independent oral hygiene is an essential life skill for people with ID.

Materials and Methods

Four children with intellectual disabilities (two males and two females, ages 7‐11) participated in the experiment. We employed the KinectTM V2 sensor to gamify oral hygiene skill training. Specifically, a non‐concurrent multiple baseline design was adopted to demonstrate the relation between game‐based intervention and independent oral hygiene skills.

Results

All students learned how to brush their teeth independently and maintained the skill 4 weeks later with the introduction of the game‐based training. Social validity results showed the teachers and parents considered the video game was useful.

Conclusions

The proposed Kinect‐based video game might be used for effective training of elementary students with ID to improve oral hygiene independently.
Validation of a Brief Multi‐Dimensional Assessment of Dementia Severity
Authors: Peipert John D. , Jennings Lee A. , Romero Tahmineh , Hays Ron D. , Wenger Neil S. , Keeler Emmett , Reuben David B.
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Briefer measures of symptoms and functional limitations may reduce assessment burden and facilitate monitoring populations of persons with dementia (PWD).

DESIGN

Prospective follow‐up study.

SETTING

University‐based dementia care management program.

PARTICIPANTS

1,091 PWD.

MEASUREMENTS

We assessed cognition (Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)—11 tasks), neuropsychiatric symptom severity (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire Severity Scale (NPIQ‐S)—12 items), and functional ability (Activities of Daily Living (ADL)—6 items; Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ)—10 items). Item response theory was used to select subsets of items by identifying low item discrimination (<1.50), poor item fit (χ2), local dependence (LD), and with difficulty similar to other items. We estimated correlations between original and shorter scales and compared their associations with mortality. We added two symptoms (trouble swallowing, coughing when eating) reflecting late‐stage dementia complications, created a multi‐dimensional dementia assessment composite, and examined its association with mortality.

RESULTS

Five MMSE tasks were eliminated: two with low discrimination, two with difficulty similar to other items, and one with poor fit. The remaining tasks were correlated with the full MMSE at r = 0.82. We retained three ADLs that were correlated with the total ADL set at r = 0.95 and kept five FAQ items that were not LD (correlation with full FAQ, r = 0.97). Associations with mortality were similar between the longer and shorter scales. A higher score on the composite (range 0–100) indicates worse dementia impact and was associated with mortality (hazard ratio (HR) per scale point: 1.03 (1.02–1.04)).

CONCLUSION

These brief assessments and dementia composite may reduce administration time while preserving validity.
Interest and perceived capability of self‐care in haemodialysis units
Authors: Kurtz Chava , Geron Ronit , Shadmi Efrat
Published: December 2020

Aims

To (a) assess patients' interest and perceived capability of participating in haemodialysis; (b) assess nurses' perceptions of patients’ interest and perceived capability of participating in haemodialysis; and (c) examine associations between patient characteristics and interest and perceived capability of performing haemodialysis self‐care.

Design

Cross‐sectional, questionnaire‐based study.

Methods

Data were collected from dialysis patients and their nurses between October 2018–May 2019. Patients’ interest and perceived capability of participation were assessed by a 10‐item Likert‐type scale developed and tested for this study, with responses ranging from 1 (not interested/no perceived capability) to 5 (already doing task independently). Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the relationship between patient characteristics, including age, sex, education level and severity of illness to ratings of activation level and haemodialysis self‐care scale scores. The STROBE checklist was used as a guideline for this study.

Results

Ninety‐one patients and 31 nurses participated. Overall, patients expressed interest (2.43 ± 0.93) and perceived themselves capable (2.34 ± 0.9) of participating in various haemodialysis‐related tasks. Nurses assessed lower interest (2.19 ± 0.77) than patients, but similar average capability (2.31 ± 0.8). Both greater interest and perceived capability were correlated with more years of education and higher patient activation; additionally, interest was associated with disease severity and perceived capability was associated with age.

Conclusion

Haemodialysis patients are interested and perceive themselves capable of participating in the tasks involved in dialysis care. Nurses underestimate patient interest in participation.

Relevance to clinical practice

Self‐care behaviours among haemodialysis patients are important, as they may affect quality of life and survival. Determining interest and perceived capability of participation is a first step towards evaluating the feasibility of self‐care in a supervised haemodialysis setting.
Feedback from health professionals in postgraduate medical education: Influence of interprofessional relationship, identity and power
Authors: Miles Amy , Ginsburg Shiphra , Sibbald Matthew , Tavares Walter , Watling Chris , Stroud Lynfa
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Capitalising on direct workplace observations of residents by interprofessional team members might be an effective strategy to promote formative feedback in postgraduate medical education. To better understand how interprofessional feedback is conceived, delivered, received and used, we explored both feedback provider and receiver perceptions of workplace feedback.

Methods

We conducted 17 individual interviews with residents and eight focus groups with health professionals (HPs) (two nurses, two rehabilitation therapists, two pharmacists and two social workers), for a total of 61 participants. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, data collection and analysis proceeded as an iterative process using constant comparison to identify and explore themes.

Results

Conceptualisations and content of feedback were dependent on whether the resident was perceived as a learner or a peer within the interprofessional relationship. Residents relied on interprofessional role understanding to determine how physician competencies align with HP roles. The perceived alignment was unique to each profession and influenced feedback credibility judgements. Residents prioritised feedback from physicians or within the Medical Expertise domain—a role that HPs felt was over‐valued. Despite ideal opportunities for direct observation, operational enactment of feedback was influenced by power differentials between the professions.

Discussion

Our results illuminate HPs’ conceptualisation of feedback for residents and the social constructs influencing how their feedback is disseminated. Professional identity and social categorisation added complexity to feedback acceptance and incorporation. To ensure that interprofessional feedback can achieve desired outcomes, education programmes should implement strategies to help mitigate intergroup bias and power imbalance.
Key issues in professionalizing mentoring practices
Authors: Stoeger Heidrun , Balestrini Daniel Patrick , Ziegler Albert
Published: December 2020

Mentoring has experienced a tremendous upswing over the past decades, which has only recently slowed down somewhat. One possible factor explaining mentoring's popularity are numerous case studies suggesting that it is one of the most effective ways of helping individuals to develop. Meta‐analyses indicating effect sizes for mentoring that are below what would theoretically be possible appear to contradict the success stories, however. This circumstance raises questions about the professionalization of mentoring practices. We focus on seven key issues for future efforts at professionalizing mentoring. Key issues 1 and 2 address observation of the state of the art within formal mentoring when programs are planned and implemented: the consideration of recent research and of best practices. While both areas can overlap, they provide complementary sources of pertinent information for the professionalization of mentoring. Key issues 3–6 address the need to align mentoring activities to the specific context and goals of individual mentoring programs by observing idiographic program characteristics, mentoring dynamics, the orchestration of mentoring goals, and the provision of mentoring resources. Finally, key issue 7 highlights ongoing evaluation as the basis of the effective, continuous improvement of mentoring programs.
Facing up to the Challenges in Teaching and Learning English in Polytechnics
Authors: Ahmad Zainuddin Shahiza , Kamin Yusri
Published: December 2020

The competency of English among future graduates has consistently been discussed and has become a national concern. The impact of not having competency in English contributes to the hindrance of communication. Thus, English language becomes a major factor graduates are not able to secure suitable employment or to perform at work. The Technical and Vocational Education Training providers such as polytechnics share the same concern as the other institutions. English courses are taught as compulsory course for all students and students are given opportunities to practise the language through co-curricular activities. Communicative English is offered in three semesters, to support the core subjects and complement the technical subjects. In leading towards development and preparing graduates to meet the needs of the future, it is pertinent to ensure that the outcome of English courses in polytechnics is to produce graduates with adequate language competency and ready for work. This chapter reveals the challenges faced by English and content lecturers based on teaching English in polytechnics, teaching the discipline content in English and the collaboration between both subject lecturers. Qualitative data is gathered based on interviews with the lecturers to discover the perception of lecturers from language and content disciplines. The challenges in teaching and learning English are analysed and recommendations for improvement are beneficial to be used as interventions to improve the teaching and learning of English in polytechnics.
Genetic Determinants of Receptor-Binding Preference and Zoonotic Potential of H9N2 Avian Influenza Viruses
Authors: Peacock Thomas P. , Sealy Joshua E. , Harvey William T. , Benton Donald J. , Reeve Richard , Iqbal Munir
Published: December 2020

As of 2020, over 60 infections of humans by H9N2 influenza viruses have been recorded in countries where the virus is endemic. Avian-like cellular receptors are the primary target for these viruses.
Literacy is power: structural drivers of child malnutrition in rural Liberia
Authors: Kumeh Odell W , Fallah Mosoka P , Desai Ishaan K , Gilbert Hannah N , Silverstein Jason B , Beste Sara , Beste Jason , Mukherjee Joia S , Richardson Eugene T
Published: December 2020

Background

In Liberia, an estimated 32% of children under 5 are stunted. Malnutrition and hunger worsened during the country’s civil war and were further exacerbated by the 2014–2016 outbreak of Ebola virus disease. Studies examining adherence to recommended infant and young child feeding practices frequently do so with an emphasis on the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of mothers and caregivers. Often overlooked are the structural factors that enable or constrain their agency to practise evidence-based recommendations.

Methods

Between July and December 2017, we surveyed 100 Liberian mothers to assess the sociodemographic factors associated with the risk of severe acute malnutrition in children in Maryland County, Liberia. We also conducted 50 in-depth interviews at two government health facilities to qualitatively explore mothers’ experiences, as well as health workers’ understandings of the determinants of malnutrition in the region. We applied logistic regression to analyse quantitative data and inductive content analysis to thematically interpret qualitative data.

Results

Mothers were less likely to have a child with severe acute malnutrition if they had an income greater than US$50 per month (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.14, p<0.001), were literate (aOR=0.21, p=0.009) or exclusively breast fed during the first 6 months of life (aOR=0.18, p=0.049); they were more likely to have a child with severe acute malnutrition if they were married or in domestic partnerships (aOR=8.41, p<0.001). In-depth interviews elucidated several social, economic and programmatic factors that shaped suboptimal feeding practices, as well as decisions for and against seeking formal care for malnutrition.

Discussion

The lived experiences of Liberian mothers and health workers illustrate that child malnutrition is a direct consequence of abject poverty, food insecurity, illiteracy, the precarious nature of formal and informal work, and the lack of robust social protection. Behaviour change and health education interventions that do not seek to alleviate structural barriers to compliance are unlikely to be effective.
Switching Behavior and Control Policy of Congestion: Examples from Taiwan Highway System
Authors: Siu Kwong Tai , Xu Yulin , Tai Yee Man , Choi T. S. , Michael Wong K. Y. , To Kiwing
Published: December 2020

The highway system is an important component of the modern society as it allows an efficient intercity communication. However, with the increase in the number of cars, the traffic congestion becomes a widespread problem around the world. Here, we study the traffic conditions in Hsuehshan tunnel in Taiwan. When there is traffic congestion, there is a remarkable fraction of vehicles choosing an alternative path, even if it cost more time than jamming on the highway. In addition, we evaluate through statistics and the government’s policy to improve the road condition of the tunnel.
Motivating Learning by Playing Animal Crossing New Horizons: A trending game during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lin Xi , Su Shu
Published: December 2020

The immersive and engaging nature of video games has been a promising and effective environment for learning. This study first introduces a motivational learning framework for game-based learning, then takes a recent popular video game, Animal Crossing New Horizons, as an example to further discuss the application of the motivational learning framework. It is expected that more features will be developed in the future in this game to bring more educational benefits for its players.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Reduction Policies: Progress and Promise
Authors: Krieger James , Bleich Sara N. , Scarmo Stephanie , Ng Shu Wen
Published: December 2020

Evidence showing the effectiveness of policies to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is growing. SSBs are one of the largest sources of added sugar in the diet and are linked to multiple adverse health conditions. This review presents a framework illustrating the various types of policies that have been used to reduce SSB exposure and consumption; policies are organized into four categories (financial, information, defaults, and availability) and take into consideration crosscutting policy considerations (feasibility, impact, and equity). Next, for each category, we describe a specific example and provide evidence of impact. Finally, we discuss crosscutting policy considerations, the challenge of choosing among the various policy options, and important areas for future research. Notably, no single policy will reduce SSB consumption to healthy levels, so an integrated policy approach that adapts to changing market and consumption trends; evolving social, political, and public health needs; and emerging science is critical.
[Retracted] Outcomes of Renal Stone Surgery Performed Either as Predonation or Ex Vivo Bench Procedure in Renal Grafts from Living Donors: A Systematic Review
Authors: Longo Nicola , Calogero Armando , Creta Massimiliano , Celentano Giuseppe , Napolitano Luigi , Capece Marco , La Rocca Roberto , Sagnelli Caterina , Carlomagno Nicola , Peluso Gaia , Pagano Teresa , Campanile Silvia , Dodaro Concetta Anna , Sica Antonello , Califano Gianluigi , Crocetto Felice , Fusco Ferdinando , Mangiapia Francesco , Santangelo Michele
Published: December 2020

Aims. We aimed to summarize available evidence about intraoperative and postoperative donors’ and recipients’ outcomes following stone surgery in renal grafts from living donors performed either before donation or as ex vivo bench surgery at the time of living‐donor nephrectomy. Methods. A systematic review of PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases was performed in September 2020. We included full papers that met the following criteria: original research, English language, human studies, and describing the results of stone surgery in renal grafts from living donors performed either before transplantation or as ex vivo bench surgery. Results. We identified 11 studies involving 106 patients aged between 22 and 72 years. Predonation and bench stone surgery was performed in 9 (8.5%) and 96 (90.6%) patients, respectively. Predonation stone surgery involved extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, retrograde intrarenal surgery, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy in 8, 1, and 1 patient, respectively. The overall success rate of predonation stone surgery was 78%, and the complication rate was 0%. Bench stone surgery involved ureteroscopy, pyelolithotomy, or a combination of both in 79 (82.3%), 10 (10.4%), and 7 (7.3%) cases, respectively, with an overall success rate of 95.8% and an overall complication rate of 9.37%. Conclusions. Predonation and bench stone surgery in grafts from living donors represents efficacious and safe procedures. Further studies on wider series with a longer follow‐up are required.
Stochastic Travelling Advisor Problem Simulation with a Case Study: A Novel Binary Gaining-Sharing Knowledge-Based Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Hassan Said Ali , Ayman Yousra Mohamed , Alnowibet Khalid , Agrawal Prachi , Mohamed Ali Wagdy
Published: December 2020

This article proposes a new problem which is called the Stochastic Travelling Advisor Problem (STAP) in network optimization, and it is defined for an advisory group who wants to choose a subset of candidate workplaces comprising the most profitable route within the time limit of day working hours. A nonlinear binary mathematical model is formulated and a real application case study in the occupational health and safety field is presented. The problem has a stochastic nature in travelling and advising times since the deterministic models are not appropriate for such real-life problems. The STAP is handled by proposing suitable probability distributions for the time parameters and simulating the problem under such conditions. Many application problems like this one are formulated as nonlinear binary programming models which are hard to be solved using exact algorithms especially in large dimensions. A novel binary version of the recently developed gaining-sharing knowledge-based optimization algorithm (GSK) to solve binary optimization problems is given. GSK algorithm is based on the concept of how humans acquire and share knowledge during their life span. The binary version of GSK (BGSK) depends mainly on two stages that enable BGSK for exploring and exploitation of the search space efficiently and effectively to solve problems in binary space. The generated simulation runs of the example are solved using the BGSK, and the output histograms and the best-fitted distributions for the total profit and for the route length are obtained.
Application Research of File Fingerprint Identification Detection Based on a Network Security Protection System
Authors: Wang Chunwei , Yu Lina , Chang Huixian , Shen Sheng , Hou Fang , Li Yingwei
Published: December 2020

A DLP (data loss prevention) system usually arranges network monitors at the network boundary to perform network traffic capture, file parsing, and strategy matching procedures. Strategy matching is a key process to prevent corporate secret-related documents from leaking. This paper adopts the document fingerprint similarity detection method based on the SimHash principle and customizes the KbS (Keyword-based SimHash) fingerprint, PbS (Paragraph-based SimHash) fingerprint, and SoP (SimHash of Paragraph) fingerprint, three different feature extraction SimHash algorithms for strategy matching to detect. The parsed unstructured data is stored as a file type in.txt format, and then a file fingerprint is generated. Matching the established sensitive document library to calculate the Hamming distance between the fingerprints, the Hamming distance values under different modification degrees are summarized. The experimental results reveal that the hybrid algorithmic strategy matching rules with different levels and accuracy are established. This paper has a reference role for the leakage prevention research of enterprise sensitive data.
Partnering Strategies of Organizational Networks in Complex Environment of Disaster in the Centralized Political Context
Authors: Tao Zhigang , Zhang Haibo
Published: December 2020

Organizational networks are a widely used approach to deal with the “wicked problems” of disasters. However, current studies are insufficient in examining what strategies organizations actually employ to select partners in a complex environment of disaster, particularly in the centralized administrative context. This case study uses exponential random graph models (ERGMs) to explore different partnering strategies that organizations used to form organizational networks in response to the Tianjin Port blast, a well-known disaster in China. Results demonstrate that participating organizations prefer (a) the bonding structure strategy to form “reciprocity” and “transitive clustering,” (b) the power concentration strategy to work with popular organizations, and (c) the homophily strategy to work with similar attribute organizations. However, contextual backgrounds influenced organizational attributes and strategies. This study discusses the implications of the findings and offers recommendations for enhancing collaboration among organizations.
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Are a Major Source of Wnt5A in the Melanoma Microenvironment and Depend on Wnt5A for Full Suppressive Activity
Authors: Douglass Stephen M. , Fane Mitchell E. , Sanseviero Emilio , Ecker Brett L. , Kugel Curtis H. , Behera Reeti , Kumar Vinit , Tcyganov Evgenii N. , Yin Xiangfan , Liu Qin , Chhabra Yash , Alicea Gretchen M. , Kuruvilla Rejji , Gabrilovich Dmitry I. , Weeraratna Ashani T.
Published: December 2020

Metastatic dissemination remains a significant barrier to successful therapy for melanoma. Wnt5A is a potent driver of invasion in melanoma and is believed to be secreted from the tumor microenvironment (TME). Our data suggest that myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in the TME are a major source of Wnt5A and are reliant upon Wnt5A for multiple actions. Knockdown of Wnt5A specifically in the myeloid cells demonstrated a clear decrease in Wnt5A expression within the TME in vivo as well as a decrease in intratumoral MDSC and regulatory T cell (Treg). Wnt5A knockdown also decreased the immunosuppressive nature of MDSC and decreased expression of TGFβ1 and arginase 1. In the presence of Wnt5A-depleted MDSC, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes expressed decreased PD-1 and LAG3, suggesting a less exhausted phenotype. Myeloid-specific Wnt5A knockdown also led to decreased lung metastasis. Tumor-infiltrating MDSC from control animals showed a strong positive correlation with Treg, which was completely ablated in animals with Wnt5A-negative MDSC. Overall, our data suggest that while MDSC contribute to an immunosuppressive and less immunogenic environment, they exhibit an additional function as the major source of Wnt5A in the TME.

Significance:

These findings demonstrate that myeloid cells provide a major source of Wnt5A to facilitate metastatic potential in melanoma cells and rely on Wnt5A for their immunosuppressive function.
Composition, Spatial Characteristics, and Prognostic Significance of Myeloid Cell Infiltration in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Väyrynen Sara A. , Zhang Jinming , Yuan Chen , Väyrynen Juha P. , Dias Costa Andressa , Williams Hannah , Morales-Oyarvide Vicente , Lau Mai Chan , Rubinson Douglas A. , Dunne Richard F. , Kozak Margaret M. , Wang Wenjia , Agostini-Vulaj Diana , Drage Michael G. , Brais Lauren , Reilly Emma , Rahma Osama , Clancy Thomas , Wang Jiping , Linehan David C. , Aguirre Andrew J. , Fuchs Charles S. , Coussens Lisa M. , Chang Daniel T. , Koong Albert C. , Hezel Aram F. , Ogino Shuji , Nowak Jonathan A. , Wolpin Brian M.
Published: December 2020

Purpose:

Although abundant myeloid cell populations in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) microenvironment have been postulated to suppress antitumor immunity, the composition of these populations, their spatial locations, and how they relate to patient outcomes are poorly understood.

Experimental Design:

To generate spatially resolved tumor and immune cell data at single-cell resolution, we developed two quantitative multiplex immunofluorescence assays to interrogate myeloid cells (CD15, CD14, ARG1, CD33, HLA-DR) and macrophages [CD68, CD163, CD86, IFN regulatory factor 5, MRC1 (CD206)] in the PDAC tumor microenvironment. Spatial point pattern analyses were conducted to assess the degree of colocalization between tumor cells and immune cells. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess associations with patient outcomes.

Results:

In a multi-institutional cohort of 305 primary PDAC resection specimens, myeloid cells were abundant, enriched within stromal regions, highly heterogeneous across tumors, and differed by somatic genotype. High densities of CD15+ARG1+ immunosuppressive granulocytic cells and M2-polarized macrophages were associated with worse patient survival. Moreover, beyond cell density, closer proximity of M2-polarized macrophages to tumor cells was strongly associated with disease-free survival, revealing the clinical significance and biologic importance of immune cell localization within tumor areas.

Conclusions:

A diverse set of myeloid cells are present within the PDAC tumor microenvironment and are distributed heterogeneously across patient tumors. Not only the densities but also the spatial locations of myeloid immune cells are associated with patient outcomes, highlighting the potential role of spatially resolved myeloid cell subtypes as quantitative biomarkers for PDAC prognosis and therapy.