bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shifting Paradigms of Chinese Diaspora Studies and the Changing Dynamics of Transnational Chinese Communities: a Holistic Review
Authors: WU Xiao An
Published: March 2021

This article considers the pathbreaking developments that are quickly changing the field of Chinese diaspora studies. China’s rise and its ongoing integration in the world and the concomitantly changing international position of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan launched a wave of Chinese elite students studying abroad, of nouveau riche emigrating to the West, and of returning Chinese recent emigrants. This brought forth a new discourse on the Chineseness and the Sinophone world that reshaped the meaning of how an ancestral hometown and host countries connect, and of the imagery and meaning of being Chinese, including being Chinese Overseas. Ironically, the new discourse, however sophisticated, global, and multidisciplinary, is primarily produced by non-Chinese and expatriate Chinese scholars. The challenge here is that, for many decades, political and ideological considerations worldwide have motivated the scholarship on Chinese diaspora, by both Chinese and non-Chinese scholars. A holistic approach, which frames Chinese diaspora as an integral part of world history, may help to meet this challenge.
Repositioning Taiwan: Historical Representation and Transformative Identity in Taiwanese American Literature
Authors: Hsieh Hsin-Chin
Published: March 2021

This article investigates how Taiwanese American writers represent Taiwan history in literary works with a focus on a female perspective as a way of reconstructing identities and repositioning Taiwan on a global scale. With the case studies of the first-generation Taiwanese American writer Joyce Huang’s Yangmei Trilogy (2001–2005) and the multiethnic second-generation writer Shawna Yang Ryan’s Green Island (2016), this article employs Shu-mei Shih’s “relational comparison” as a theoretical approach to analyze generational differences and transformative identities in these novels and argues that these authors’ writings on Taiwan history in the United States embody the transnational connection between the homeland and the host state. More importantly, by adopting similar historical materials and distinct narrative strategies, these novels demonstrate the involved multifaceted political meanings and cultural interventions by situating Taiwan in the related national, transnational and world histories and in doing so connect and compare Taiwan with other parts of the world.
An Adaptive Tracking Algorithm for Convection in Simulated and Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Raut Bhupendra A. , Jackson Robert , Picel Mark , Collis Scott M. , Bergemann Martin , Jakob Christian
Published: March 2021

A robust and computationally efficient object tracking algorithm is developed by incorporating various tracking techniques. Physical properties of the objects, such as brightness temperature or reflectivity, are not considered. Therefore, the algorithm is adaptable for tracking convection-like features in simulated data and remotely sensed two-dimensional images. In this algorithm, a first guess of the motion, estimated using the Fourier phase shift, is used to predict the candidates for matching. A disparity score is computed for each target–candidate pair. The disparity also incorporates overlapping criteria in the case of large objects. Then the Hungarian method is applied to identify the best pairs by minimizing the global disparity. The high-disparity pairs are unmatched, and their target and candidate are declared expired and newly initiated objects, respectively. They are tested for merger and split on the basis of their size and overlap with the other objects. The sensitivity of track duration is shown for different disparity and size thresholds. The paper highlights the algorithm’s ability to study convective life cycles using radar and simulated data over Darwin, Australia. The algorithm skillfully tracks individual convective cells (a few pixels in size) and large convective systems. The duration of tracks and cell size are found to be lognormally distributed over Darwin. The evolution of size and precipitation types of isolated convective cells is presented in the Lagrangian perspective. This algorithm is part of a vision for a modular platform [viz., TINT is not TITAN (TINT) and Tracking and Object-Based Analysis of Clouds (tobac)] that will evolve into a sustainable choice to analyze atmospheric features.
Single-dose MGTA-145/plerixafor leads to efficient mobilization and in vivo transduction of HSCs with thalassemia correction in mice
Authors: Li Chang , Goncalves Kevin A. , Raskó Tamás , Pande Amit , Gil Sucheol , Liu Zhinan , Izsvák Zsuzsanna , Papayannopoulou Thalia , Davis John C. , Kiem Hans-Peter , Lieber André
Published: March 2021

We have developed an in vivo hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy approach without the need for myelosuppressive conditioning and autologous HSC transplantation. It involves HSC mobilization and IV injection of a helper-dependent adenovirus HDAd5/35++ vector system. The current mobilization regimen consists of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) injections over a 4-day period, followed by the administration of plerixafor/AMD3100. We tested a simpler, 2-hour, G-CSF–free mobilization regimen using truncated GRO-β (MGTA-145; a CXCR2 agonist) and plerixafor in the context of in vivo HSC transduction in mice. The MGTA-145+plerixafor combination resulted in robust mobilization of HSCs. Importantly, compared with G-CSF+plerixafor, MGTA-145+plerixafor led to significantly less leukocytosis and no elevation of serum interleukin-6 levels and was thus likely to be less toxic. With both mobilization regimens, after in vivo selection with O6-benzylguanine (O6BG)/BCNU, stable GFP marking was achieved in >90% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Genome-wide analysis showed random, multiclonal vector integration. In vivo HSC transduction after mobilization with MGTA-145+plerixafor in a mouse model for thalassemia resulted in >95% human γ-globin+ erythrocytes at a level of 36% of mouse β-globin. Phenotypic analyses showed a complete correction of thalassemia. The γ-globin marking percentage and level were maintained in secondary recipients, further demonstrating that MGTA145+plerixafor mobilizes long-term repopulating HSCs. Our study indicates that brief exposure to MGTA-145+plerixafor may be advantageous as a mobilization regimen for in vivo HSC gene therapy applications across diseases, including thalassemia and sickle cell disease.
Consumer acceptance of genetic-based personalized nutrition in Hungary
Authors: Szakály Zoltán , Kovács Bence , Szakály Márk , T. Nagy-Pető Dorka , Popovics Péter , Kiss Marietta
Published: March 2021

Background

Despite the increasing number of personalized nutrition services available on the market, nutrigenomics-based level of personalization is still the exception rather than a mainstream activity. This can be partly explained by various factors of consumer acceptance of the new technology. While consumer attitudes toward genetic tests aiming to reveal the risks of a predisposition to various illnesses have already been examined by several research studies worldwide; consumer acceptance of nutrigenomics-based personalized nutrition has only been examined by a significantly lower number of papers, especially in the Central and Eastern European region.

Objective

The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer acceptance of genetic-based personalized nutrition in Hungary. Therefore a national representative survey was conducted involving 1000 individuals. The starting point of the model used is the assumption that the consumer acceptance of personalized nutrition is influenced by its consumer perceptions, which are affected by psychological processes that, in a more general sense, determine acceptance of food innovations.

Results

The results show that 23.5% of respondents accept genetic test-based personalized nutrition. Women were found to reject the new technology in a significantly smaller proportion than men. The relationship between other demographic variables (i.e. age groups, education and subjective income level) and the perception of genetic-based personalized nutrition is also significant. Our results indicate that it is perceived cost/benefit that is most strongly related to genetically based personalized dietary preferences, followed by perceived risk and subjective norms. Perceived uncertainty and perceived behavioural control, however, have only a weak relationship with genetic-based personalized dietary preferences.

Conclusions

Compared with the magnitude of the effect of socio-demographic criteria, it can be concluded that, on the whole, psychological processes in the individual have a greater influence on the development of preferences for genetic-based personalized nutrition than any socio-demographic factor. This also confirms the trend that there are more and more value-added products or value propositions (where a significant part of the value added is to be found in product innovation), for which psychological characteristics are/should be given more emphasis among the segmentation criteria.
Common bacterial causes of external ocular infections, associated risk factors and antibiotic resistance among patients at ophthalmology unit of Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ayehubizu Zimam , Mulu Wondemagegn , Biadglegne Fantahun
Published: March 2021

Background

Ocular infections are a serious public health problem in Ethiopia with increased incidence of morbidity and blindness. Empirical therapy with topical ophthalmic broad spectrum antibiotic formulations is also a prevailing practice. The aim of this study was to determine the bacterial causes of external ocular infections (EOIs), antimicrobial resistance and its associated risk factors among patients at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A hospital based cross - sectional study was conducted from 1 February to 30 April 2019. Patients with EOIs were consecutively included from 1 February to 30 April, 2019. Data were collected using structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview and complemented with patient card review. Conjunctival, eyelid margin and lacrimal sac swabs were collected aseptically. Bacterial species were identified using standard bacteriological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Binary logistic regression analysis was calculated to identify the factors associated with EOIs. P.value (p) < < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

A total of 360 patients took part in the study and majority of them were males (64.7%). The median age of study participants was 59.5 years. Overall, 208(57.8%) (95%CI = 52.6– - 62.8%) of patients had culture confirmed bacterial EOIs. The proportion of culture confirmed EOIs was 60.4% among conjunctivitis cases and 55.8% among blepharitis. Ocular trauma (P < < 0.001), ocular disease (P < < 0.001) and having eye allergy (P = 0.027) were significantly associated with EOIs. The most frequent isolates were S. aureus (37%), K. pneumoniae (13.5%), Proteus(7.2%) spp., S. pneumoniae (4.3%), Citrobacter spp. (3.4%) and P. aeruginosa (2.9%). Gram positive isolates were resistant to penicillin in 87% and ampicillin in 86.2%. Gram negative isolates were resistant to ampicillin (87.5%). P.aeruginosa isolates (85.3%) were resistant to piperacillin and 50% were resistant to tobramycin. Overall, 45.2% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. The percentage of multi-drug resistance was 80% among Enterobacter isolates and 64.3% among K. pneumoniae.

Conclusions

Bacterial external ocular infections linked with multi-drug resistance and resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline and piperacillin are high. Therefore, empirical treatment of eye infections in the study area needs to be monitored by regular antimicrobial-susceptibility testing of isolates.
Growing-rod implantation improves nutrition status of early-onset scoliosis patients: a case series study of minimum 3-year follow-up
Authors: Li Xingye , Li Zheng , Lin Youxi , Tan Haining , Chen Chong , Shen Jianxiong
Published: March 2021

Background

Early onset scoliosis (EOS) may cause malnutrition in affected patients. Growing-rod treatment has been an effective protocol for treating EOS. The objective of this study is to demonstrate whether growing-rod treatment improves nutritional status of EOS patients.

Methods

Fifty-two EOS patients who had dual growing-rod surgery was enrolled. The minimum follow-up was 3-years. Their body weights were normalized based on the data of two National Population Census of China. Z-scores were used to indicate the standard deviation from the median body weight-for-age.

Results

The median follow-up time was 6 years. Preoperatively, the prevalence of malnutrition (Z < − 2) was 21.2%, and reduced to 9.6% at the end of the follow-up. Preoperatively, the average Z-score was − 0.94, and it increased to − 0.65 at the latest follow-up (p < 0.05). Patients with preoperative Z-score below − 1 had more significant increase of Z-scores (− 2.15 vs − 1.26, p < 0.001). A significant negative correlation between the change of Z-score and the preoperative Z-score (correlation coefficient − 0.65, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The growing rod surgery and lengthening procedures significantly improves the nutrition status of EOS patients. The body weight gains are more significant in patients with lower body weights.
Towards robust and replicable sex differences in the intrinsic brain function of autism
Authors: Floris Dorothea L. , Filho José O. A. , Lai Meng-Chuan , Giavasis Steve , Oldehinkel Marianne , Mennes Maarten , Charman Tony , Tillmann Julian , Dumas Guillaume , Ecker Christine , Dell’Acqua Flavio , Banaschewski Tobias , Moessnang Carolin , Baron-Cohen Simon , Durston Sarah , Loth Eva , Murphy Declan G. M. , Buitelaar Jan K. , Beckmann Christian F. , Milham Michael P. , Di Martino Adriana
Published: March 2021

Background

Marked sex differences in autism prevalence accentuate the need to understand the role of biological sex-related factors in autism. Efforts to unravel sex differences in the brain organization of autism have, however, been challenged by the limited availability of female data.

Methods

We addressed this gap by using a large sample of males and females with autism and neurotypical (NT) control individuals (ABIDE; Autism: 362 males, 82 females; NT: 409 males, 166 females; 7–18 years). Discovery analyses examined main effects of diagnosis, sex and their interaction across five resting-state fMRI (R-fMRI) metrics (voxel-level Z > 3.1, cluster-level P < 0.01, gaussian random field corrected). Secondary analyses assessed the robustness of the results to different pre-processing approaches and their replicability in two independent samples: the EU-AIMS Longitudinal European Autism Project (LEAP) and the Gender Explorations of Neurogenetics and Development to Advance Autism Research.

Results

Discovery analyses in ABIDE revealed significant main effects of diagnosis and sex across the intrinsic functional connectivity of the posterior cingulate cortex, regional homogeneity and voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) in several cortical regions, largely converging in the default network midline. Sex-by-diagnosis interactions were confined to the dorsolateral occipital cortex, with reduced VMHC in females with autism. All findings were robust to different pre-processing steps. Replicability in independent samples varied by R-fMRI measures and effects with the targeted sex-by-diagnosis interaction being replicated in the larger of the two replication samples—EU-AIMS LEAP.

Limitations

Given the lack of a priori harmonization among the discovery and replication datasets available to date, sample-related variation remained and may have affected replicability.

Conclusions

Atypical cross-hemispheric interactions are neurobiologically relevant to autism. They likely result from the combination of sex-dependent and sex-independent factors with a differential effect across functional cortical networks. Systematic assessments of the factors contributing to replicability are needed and necessitate coordinated large-scale data collection across studies.
Stem cells and COVID-19: are the human amniotic cells a new hope for therapies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus?
Authors: Riedel Rodrigo N. , Pérez-Pérez Antonio , Sánchez-Margalet Víctor , Varone Cecilia L. , Maymó Julieta L.
Published: March 2021

A new coronavirus respiratory disease (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, surprised the entire world, producing social, economic, and health problems. The COVID-19 triggers a lung infection with a multiple proinflammatory cytokine storm in severe patients. Without effective and safe treatments, COVID-19 has killed thousands of people, becoming a pandemic. Stem cells have been suggested as a therapy for lung-related diseases. In particular, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been successfully tested in some clinical trials in patients with COVID-19. The encouraging results positioned MSCs as a possible cell therapy for COVID-19. The amniotic membrane from the human placenta at term is a valuable stem cell source, including human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) and human mesenchymal stromal cells (hAMSCs). Interestingly, amnion cells have immunoregulatory, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, hAECs and hAMSCs have been used both in preclinical studies and in clinical trials against respiratory diseases. They have reduced the inflammatory response and restored the pulmonary tissue architecture in lung injury in vivo models. Here, we review the existing data about the stem cells use for COVID-19 treatment, including the ongoing clinical trials. We also consider the non-cellular therapies that are being applied. Finally, we discuss the human amniotic membrane cells use in patients who suffer from immune/inflammatory lung diseases and hypothesize their possible use as a successful treatment against COVID-19.
Extraction of bioactive compounds from Psidium guajava leaves and its utilization in preparation of jellies
Authors: Sampath Kumar N. S. , Sarbon Norizah Mhd , Rana Sandeep Singh , Chintagunta Anjani Devi , Prathibha S. , Ingilala Satheesh Kumar , Jeevan Kumar S. P. , Sai Anvesh B. , Dirisala Vijaya Ramu
Published: March 2021

Psidium guajava L. (guava) is predominantly grown throughout the world and known for its medicinal properties in treating various diseases and disorders. The present work focuses on aqueous extraction of bioactive compounds from the guava leaf and its utilization in the formulation of jelly to improve the public health. The guava leaf extract has been used in the preparation of jelly with pectin (1.5 g), sugar (28 g) and lemon juice (2 mL). The prepared guava leaf extract jelly (GJ) and the control jelly (CJ, without extract) were subjected to proximate, nutritional and textural analyses besides determination of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. GJ was found to contain carbohydrate (45.78 g/100 g), protein (3.0 g/100 g), vitamin C (6.15 mg/100 g), vitamin B3 (2.90 mg/100 g) and energy (120.6 kcal). Further, the texture analysis of CJ and GJ indicated that both the jellies showed similar properties emphasizing that the addition of guava leaf extract does not bring any change in the texture properties of jelly. GJ exhibited antimicrobial activity against various bacteria ranging from 11.4 to 13.6 mm. Similarly, GJ showed antioxidant activity of 42.38% against DPPH radical and 33.45% against hydroxyl radical. Mass spectroscopic analysis of aqueous extract confirmed the presence of esculin, quercetin, gallocatechin, 3-sinapoylquinic acid, gallic acid, citric acid and ellagic acid which are responsible for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Anesthetic considerations for cesarean delivery in a parturient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a case report
Authors: Kamimura Yuji , Nakanishi Toshiyuki , (Boku)Sato Aiji , Kako Eisuke , Tanaka Motoshi , Sobue Kazuya
Published: March 2021

Background

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by mucocutaneous telangiectasia and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). There are some anesthetic considerations for cesarean delivery in a parturient with HHT.

Case presentation

A 27-year-old parturient with pulmonary hemorrhage was admitted to our tertiary perinatal center. She was first diagnosed with HHT and a cesarean delivery using spinal anesthesia at 37 weeks of gestation was initially planned. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 32 weeks of gestation revealed spinal AVM ranging from the thoracic to the lumbar levels. Thus, elective cesarean delivery under general anesthesia was planned. The parturient had an uneventful perioperative course.

Conclusions

HHT should be considered as a differential diagnosis when parturients develop pulmonary hemorrhage. In a cesarean delivery of parturients with HHT, spinal MRI during pregnancy can help in deciding the anesthetic procedure to be used.
Health financing for universal health coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Authors: Ifeagwu Susan C. , Yang Justin C. , Parkes-Ratanshi Rosalind , Brayne Carol
Published: March 2021

Background

Universal health coverage (UHC) embedded within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is defined by the World Health Organization as all individuals having access to required health services, of sufficient quality, without suffering financial hardship. Effective strategies for financing healthcare are critical in achieving this goal yet remain a challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This systematic review aims to determine reported health financing mechanisms in SSA within the published literature and summarize potential learnings.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted aligned with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. On 19 to 30 July 2019, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Global Health Database, the Cochrane Library, Scopus and JSTOR were searched for literature published from 2005. Studies describing health financing approaches for UHC in SSA were included. Evidence was synthesised in form of a table and thematic analysis.

Results

Of all records, 39 papers were selected for inclusion. Among the included studies, most studies were conducted in Kenya (n = 7), followed by SSA as a whole (n = 6) and Nigeria (n = 5). More than two thirds of the selected studies reported the importance of equitable national health insurance schemes for UHC. The results indicate that a majority of health care revenue in SSA is from direct out-of-pocket payments. Another common financing mechanism was donor funding, which was reported by most of the studies. The average quality score of all studies was 81.6%, indicating a high appraisal score. The interrater reliability Cohen’s kappa score, κ=0.43 (p = 0.002), which showed a moderate level of agreement.

Conclusions

Appropriate health financing strategies that safeguard financial risk protection underpin sustainable health services and the attainment of UHC. It is evident from the review that innovative health financing strategies in SSA are needed. Some limitations of this review include potentially skewed interpretations due to publication bias and a higher frequency of publications included from two countries in SSA. Establishing evidence-based and multi-sectoral strategies tailored to country contexts remains imperative.
Broadening the Scope of Community Engagement
Authors: Finn Sarah
Published: March 2021

This article explored a community-engaged, first-year writing course that partnered students with student activist groups on campus at Northeastern University in Boston. Their placement with peers connected them with the campus network and illuminated the ways that they could advocate for social justice in their new community. Students wrote in multiple genres as they attended the meetings and events of different groups involved with environmentalism, food justice, adjunct rights, and more. As students connected their social-change work to the classroom, they learned more about different genres of writing, from scholarly inquiries to multi-modal “deliverables” supporting their student groups. These final “deliverables” included posters, videos, prezis, banners, and even original music to be played at meetings or events. The fact that student worked with peers alleviated some common challenges of community-engaged learning, such as a sense of saviorhood. Instead, students felt a sense of civic investment and developed rhetorical flexibility that they implemented in the classroom and with their groups. Students found the course meaningful and valued the opportunity to get involved with campus activism. As they developed as activists and writers, students felt that the classroom and community spheres overlapped and informed each other.
Consideration of Trigger Mechanisms of Natural and Man-made Disasters in the Earth’s Geospheres
Authors: Vorob'ev A. , Dyachenko Vladimir , Vorobyev Kirill Aleksandrovich
Published: March 2021

Have been presented the trigger mechanisms of accidents emergence in different Earth's Geospheres. Has been given the definition for the trigger mechanism of initiation of changes in geosystems. The threshold value for the starting (initiating) trigger signal has been detailed. The graphic representation of work of a trigger system has been presented, and its functioning has been explained. Various ways for switching of a trigger system have been revealed. The principles of the trigger impact on the troposphere, the lower part of the Earth's atmosphere, initiation of cyclones and earthquakes, and descent of avalanches and glacial mudflows have been detailed.
Experience in Bachelor's Practice Organization at the “Ecology and Industrial Safety” Chair of Bauman Moscow State Technical University in 2019
Authors: Devisilov Vladimir , Starostin I. , Kopytov D.
Published: March 2021

The paper is a continuation of a series of publications started in 2013 on the organization and carrying out of practices at the "Ecology and Industrial Safety" chair of the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and presents experience in carrying out of practical training. The approaches to the organization and results of the production and pre-graduation practices in 2019 are considered in the paper, including field practices in the Republic of Crimea and Sakhalin.
Aquatic Antagonists: Sponge Dermatitis
Authors: Cahn Brian A , Elston Dirk M
Published: March 2021

Sponges from the phylum Porifera exist throughout the world in marine and freshwater environments. Although many encounters with humans are benign, some may lead to local dermatologic manifestations and in rare cases can cause more severe systemic reactions. Initial decontamination is of utmost importance to diminish the severity of the reaction. As contact between humans and coastal environments increases, it is important for physicians to know how to recognize and treat sponge dermatitis.
Haemorrhagic shock from solid tumours of the adrenal gland: a case of bleeding primary adrenal lymphoma
Authors: Bhattacharya P , Zakaria R , Stonelake S , Butler B , Sarma D , Maheswari M , Zaman S
Published: March 2021

Suprarenal or adrenal gland haemorrhage is an uncommon but potentially lethal condition if unrecognised. Adrenal masses rarely present with haemorrhage, but they remain an important differential aetiology for adrenal bleeding. We present a novel case of primary adrenal lymphoma with adrenal haemorrhage in a middle-aged woman who presented with right-sided abdominal pain and class 1 haemorrhagic shock. She was found to have spontaneous unilateral adrenal gland haemorrhage in the absence of any underlying previous pathology. Presenting features, diagnosis and subsequent oncological management are reported.
The hidden dangers of staying home: a London trauma unit experience of lockdown during the COVID-19 virus pandemic
Authors: Oliver-Welsh L , Richardson C , Ward DA
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in reconfiguration of the NHS. Elective services were stopped and trauma services focused on decreasing patient–clinician interactions and managing injuries nonoperatively wherever possible. The everyday life of the general public changed dramatically with the introduction of a national lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This paper looks at the experience of a South West London trauma unit.

Materials and methods

All patients reviewed in fracture clinic and by the orthopaedic on-call team between 23 March to 23 April 2020 were included. Data on the mechanism of injury and whether this was a usual activity, the injury sustained and its management were collected.

Results

A total of 167 trauma injuries were seen, compared with 735 new patients with injuries in the previous month. The number of trauma operations completed decreased by 38%; 55% of injuries occurred inside the home and 44% outside the home during daily exercise. Some 31% of injuries were secondary to a new activity taken up during lockdown. Three open fractures and two polytrauma cases were seen that would have normally been managed at the local major trauma centre.

Conclusion

Overall, both the number of injuries seen and trauma operations completed during the enforced lockdown decreased. This is probably due to a change in the way the general public are living their lives, and the reconfigurations within the NHS in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an interesting time within trauma and orthopaedic departments, as they continue to adapt to the changing injuries and working environment.
Experimental design for collection and analysis of laboratory passive infrared vapor spectra
Authors: Major Kevin J. , Sanghera Jasbinder S. , Ewing Kenneth J.
Published: March 2021

Passive infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool for the detection
and classification of chemical vapors in industrial, environmental,
and defense applications. For any application, it is critical that the
collected passive IR spectra is supported via laboratory and
calculated spectral data. Here, we demonstrate the importance of a
proper experimental setup to collect laboratory passive IR data that
replicates what is expected to be collected in the field. We show how
the type of IR detector element used affects the IR spectral results.
Finally, we demonstrate calculated spectral results that show good
agreement with the laboratory collected data, and provide a method to
model such vapor releases in external environmental scenarios.
Simulation of the influence of gain and SESAM on characteristics of mode-locked VECSELs
Authors: Zhang Yiwei , Hua Lingling , Zhuang Bihui , Tian Jinrong , Song Yanrong
Published: March 2021

Vertical external cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) have unique properties such as excellent beam quality, high average output power, and high repetition rate. Short pulses from VECSELs, especially picosecond and femtosecond, can be achieved by a passive mode-locking mechanism with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM). We theoretically simulate the pulse evolution dynamics in VECSELs and investigate the influences of different parameters of gain and SESAM on pulse characteristics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the influences of fast recovery time and two-photon absorption coefficient on pulse characteristics have been studied.
Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation of 1.14  W in a fluoroindate fiber pumped by a fast gain-switched and mode-locked thulium-doped fiber laser system
Authors: Swiderski Jacek , Grzes Pawel , Michalska Maria
Published: March 2021

We report the generation of a spectrally flat supercontinuum in a fluoroindate (

I
n
F

3

) fiber with a maximum time-averaged output power of 1.14 W and a spectrum extended to 4.75 µm. The pump source was a fast gain-switched and semiconductor saturable absorber mirror mode-locked thulium Tm-doped fiber laser followed by a cascade of two Tm-doped fiber amplifiers. The repetition rates of the gain-switched pulses and mode-locked sub-pulses were 50 kHz and 111 MHz, respectively, whereas the duration of sub-pulses recorded within a gain-switched pulse envelope was

∼

110

p
s

. This home-built pump laser system provided an output average power of 2.45 W at a central wavelength of 2 µm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper on supercontinuum generation in an

I
n
F

3

fiber pumped by a fast gain-switched and mode-locked laser system. This approach is promising for further efficient continuum generation in the mid-infrared region.
Monolithic growth of GaAs laser diodes on Si(001) by optimal AlAs nucleation with thermal cycle annealing
Authors: Ko Young-Ho , Kim Kap-Joong , Han Won Seok
Published: March 2021

A GaAs quantum-well laser diode was directly grown on silicon (001) substrate by a hybrid technique comprising AlAs nucleation and thermal cycle annealing. The hybrid technique provided the advantages of superior surface roughness, high quantum efficiency, and low threading dislocation density (TDD) of a thin buffer. The TDD was quantitatively characterized through the electron channeling contrast imaging method. Directly grown GaAs on Si exhibited a TDD of 5.45 × 107 /cm2 with small thickness of approximately 1.5 µm. The roughness and quantum efficiency of GaAs on Si was enhanced by adopting the nucleation layer of AlAs. We found that there exists an optimal thickness of AlAs nucleation to be 1.68 nm through structural and optical analysis. Based on optimized GaAs on Si, the GaAs quantum-well laser diode was directly grown with a TDD of 2.5 × 107 /cm2. Whole epitaxial layers were grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. An edge-emitting broad stripe laser diode was successfully fabricated with a cavity length and width of 1120 µm and 60 µm, respectively. The continuous-wave lasing at room temperature was realized with a threshold current density of 643 A/cm2 and maximum output power of 19.7 mW at a single facet, where a threshold current density of 317 A/cm2 was obtained under pulsed operation condition. This result would constitute a building block to realize silicon-based on-chip light sources.
Silicon Carbide: From Abrasives to Quantum Photonics
Authors: Lukin Daniil M. , Guidry Melissa A. , Vučković Jelena
Published: March 2021

Traditionally used for abrasives, LEDs and transistors, the
material may enable scalable quantum and nonlinear photonics through
direct integration of solid-state qubits into photonic circuits.
First demonstration of an on-chip quadplexer for passive optical network systems
Authors: Liu Dajian , Zhang Long , Jiang Hexin , Dai Daoxin
Published: March 2021

An on-chip quadplexer is proposed and demonstrated with four wavelength-channels of 1270, 1310, 1490, and 1577 nm. The present quadplexer consists of four cascaded filters based on multimode waveguide grating (MWG), which are composed of a two-mode (de)multiplexer and an MWG. For the fabricated quadplexer on silicon, all four wavelength channels have flat-top responses with low excess losses of

<
0.5
  
dB

as well as the desired bandwidths, which are about 16, 38, 19, and 6 nm, respectively. The cross-talk for both upstream channels and downstream channels is less than

−
24
  
dB

. Moreover, the data transmission of

10
  
Gb
/
s

of the present silicon quadplexer is also successfully demonstrated.
Application of proteomics to understand the molecular mechanisms determining meat quality of beef muscles during postmortem aging
Authors: Yang Bin , Liu Xuejun
Published: March 2021

Proteomics profiling disclosed the molecular mechanism underlying beef poor meat quality. This study aimed to identify protein markers indicating the quality of beef during postmortem storage at 4°C. Beef longissimus dorsi samples were stored at 4°C. The meat water holding capacity (WHC), pH value and moisture content were determined at different time points during the storage period. The iTRAQ MS/MS approach was used to determine the proteomics profiling at 0, 3.5 and 7 d during storage at 4°C. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to investigate the potential correlated proteins associated with meat quality. Storage at 4°C gradually decreased the pH value, WHC, and hence the moisture content. The iTRAQ proteomic analysis revealed that a cluster of glycolytic enzymes including malate dehydrogenase, cytoplasmic, L-lactate dehydrogenase, phosphoglycerate mutase and pyruvate kinase, and another cluster of proteins involved in oxygen transport and binding (myoglobin) and hemoglobin complex (including Globin A1 and hemoglobin subunit alpha) were decreased during the postmortem storage. These results suggest that the decreased glycolysis, oxygen, and heme-binding activities might be associated with the beef muscle low quality and the decline of tenderness during postmortem storage at 4°C.
Segmentation of cDNA Microarray Images using Parallel Spectral Clustering
Authors: Mouysset Sandrine , Guivarch Ronan , Noailles Joseph , Ruiz Daniel
Published: March 2021

Microarray technology generates large amounts of expression level of genes to be analyzed simultaneously. This analysis implies microarray image segmentation to extract the quantitative information from spots. Spectral clustering is one of the most relevant unsupervised methods able to gather data without a priori information on shapes or locality. We propose and test on microarray images a parallel strategy for the Spectral Clustering method based on domain decomposition with a criterion to determine the number of clusters.
An Integrated System for Disabled People Developed with the Agent Platform PANGEA
Authors: Zato Carolina , Villarrubia Gabriel , Bajo Javier , Corchado Juan Manuel
Published: March 2021

New trends in multi-agent systems call for self-adaptation and high dynamics, hence the new model of open MAS or virtual organization of agents. However, as existing agent platforms are not yet equipped to support this behavior, it is necessary to create new systems and mechanisms to facilitate the development of these new architectures. This article presents PANGEA, an agent platform to develop open multi-agent systems, specifically those including organizational aspects such as virtual agent organizations. The platform allows the integral management of organizations and offers tools to the end user. Additionally, it includes a communication protocol based on the IRC standard, which facilitates implementation and remains robust even with a large number of connections. The introduction of a CommunicationAgent and a Sniffer make it possible to offer Web Services for the distributed control of interaction. In order to test PANGEA, an integral system was developed to help the disabled, gathering a set of easily deployable and integrated services under a single architecture.
Towards Real-Time Argumentation
Authors: Julián Vicente , Navarro Martí , Botti Vicente , Heras Stella
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we deal with the problem of real-time coordination with the more general approach of reaching real-time agreements in MAS. Concretely, this work proposes a real-time argumentation framework in an attempt to provide agents with the ability of engaging in argumentative dialogues and come with a solution for their underlying agreement process within a bounded period of time. The framework has been implemented and evaluated in the domain of a customer support application. Concretely, we consider a society of agents that act on behalf of a group of technicians that must solve problems in a Technology Management Centre (TMC) within a bounded time. This centre controls every process implicated in the provision of technological and customer support services to private or public organisations by means of a call centre. The contract signed between the TCM and the customer establishes penalties if the specified time is exceeded.
Online Adapting the Magnitude of Target Birth Intensity in the PHD Filter
Authors: Li Tiancheng , Sun Shudong
Published: March 2021

Capturing new targets that spontaneously appear in the multi-target tracking (MTT) scene requires a formation of TBI (target birth intensity) item in the PHD (probability hypothesis density) equations. That is, in the particle implementation of the PHD filter, a number of new particles with a certain weight mass are added to the underlying particle set during the propagation of the PHD. In general, TBI is assumed to hold for the same magnitude at all scans. This ad-hoc option is simple but is not always desirable. In this paper, a measurement-driven adaptive mechanism is proposed that determines the magnitude of TBI in real time based on the estimated number of new-born targets, which is calculated by employing the newest measurements. Simulation demonstration of the particle PHD filter has been provided.
Macrofauna indicators in domestic sewage areas in landscape a brazilian dry tropical forest
Authors: Lima Iluliane Maria Gadelha de , Moura Débora Coelho , Marques Ailson De Lima , Souza Brenda Henrique de , Batista Regiane Farias , Costa Cássio Ricardo Gonçalves da
Published: March 2021

Esta pesquisa buscou obter e analisar indicadores sazonais da macrofauna em áreas de esgoto doméstico da Caatinga. O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, localizada na cidade de Campina Grande - Brasil. Foram analisados 3.493 indivíduos sazonalmente indicadores da macrofauna em áreas de esgoto doméstico da Caatinga capturados nas 20 armadilhas instaladas nos três pontos de amostragem e em ambos os períodos (seco e úmido). A taxonomia como bioindicador indica que há uma intensa contribuição de matéria orgânica proveniente dos efluentes. A diversidade é exuberante, mas com a bioturbação do solo comprometida, a taxa de formação do solo fica comprometida e os processos pedogênicos naturais interrompidos ou alterados. Os solos estão sendo alterados pelo efluente doméstico que fornece uma matéria orgânica não lábil à fauna do solo, e esse processo se intensifica no período das chuvas.
A Constituição Psíquica Pedofílica na Obra Lolita / The Pedophilic Psychic Constitution in the Work Lolita
Authors: Rivas Márcia Guimaraes , Barbosa Jessica Leite , Ferro Luiz Roberto Marquezi , Oliveira Aislan José
Published: March 2021

O presente trabalho aborda o tema pedofilia e sua possível constituição psíquica. À luz da psicanálise freudiana e lacaniana, a pedofilia constitui-se na estrutura psíquica perversa. Para ilustrar a estrutura psíquica perversa usaremos a obra Lolita, de Vladimir Nabokov, que conta a história do personagem Humbert, um homem de meia idade que se apaixona por Lolita, uma garota de doze anos de idade. Atualmente, o tema pedofilia é visto como um problema de saúde pública, entretanto, nem sempre foi assim, era visto como um fenômeno naturalizado na antiguidade. Com base nisso, buscamos distinguir os termos “molestador sexual” e o “pedófilo”, contextualizar a história da infância e a criminalização de fantasias sexuais. Neste trabalho a obra Lolita é apresentada como caso clínico para análise de sua constituição psíquica, relevando à importância do conhecimento da história pregressa do sujeito, assim como a importância da elaboração de traumas no sujeito pedófilo.
O Olhar do Conselho de Escola em um Estudo de Caso: A Falta de Igualdade e Equidade em Meio a Debates Sectários / The School Council's view at a Case Study: The Lack of Equality and Equity amid Sectarian Debates
Authors: Fava Gilmar José
Published: March 2021

Este artigo tem por finalidade o estudo de caso de uma reunião de Conselho de Classe que foi realizado no dia 14 de dezembro de 2020 em uma instituição Militar do estado de Santa Catarina. Nessa reunião do colegiado, houve algumas situações que se tornaram inviáveis no aspecto de entendimento da instituição Conselho de Classe, porque não se fez presente as normas legais e porque se confundiu essa instituição, no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, como instituição, simplesmente, homologatória de decisões que já são levadas para os membros do grupo, sem qualquer debate amplo sobre a situação acadêmica dos alunos que lá chegam para uma (re)análise ampla. Além disso, há a questão de omissão de fases e oportunidades de recuperação desses alunos em momentos oportunos no decorrer do ano letivo, tal como fases de conselho de classes bimestrais/trimestrais e exames/recuperações finais, limitando-se as (re)análises ao resumo de uma situação aritmética, como se o conhecimento pudesse ser mensurado por valores numéricos de uma régua de medir. Também há o descaso na composição do grupo colegiado que as instituições promovem para escamotearem os resultados com a(s) inclusão(ões) do(s) membro(s) do(s) núcleo(s) pedagógico(s) da(s) instituição(ões) que se somam aos professores que integram o grupo colegiado. É preciso observar a legislação e ter como meta o que difere o aspecto técnico do aspecto pedagógico e essa reflexão é feita neste artigo. O estudo de caso aqui proposto é para uma reflexão das instituições educacionais, limitar o escopo de cada departamento técnico e, efetivamente pedagógico, bem como a posição de confronto das situações de aprovação/reprovação daqueles alunos que chegam para (re)análise no final do ano letivo em curso.
Multifuncionalidade e Práticas Agroecológicas em Assentamento de Reforma Agrária: O Caso do Mandacaru, Petrolina-PE / Multifunctionality and Agricultural Practices in Agrarian Reform Settlement: The Case of Mandacaru, Petrolina-PE
Authors: Santos Marcelo Henrique Pereira dos , Santos Maurício Rosendo Leandro dos , Pereira Udnilson Soares da Silva
Published: March 2021

Resumo: Este trabalho tem como eixo central evidenciar o papel que a multifuncionalidade das atividades na zona rural assume como promotora de novas formas de solidariedade entre os agricultores, ajuda na complementação de renda e preserva o meio ambiente, garantindo o desenvolvimento sustentável para as comunidades. Entende-se por multifuncionalidade, “os dispositivos coletivos dos agricultores que asseguram, geralmente, de maneira gratuita, o manejo de recursos comuns e ou a produção de bens públicos de interesse geral” (SABOURIN, 2010). Na região Nordeste, a prática multifuncional, mediante gestão coletiva, permite “assegurar funções produtivas agropecuárias e funções sociais, ambientais e econômicas de interesse coletivo”, com isto, dispomos de práticas mercantis e não-mercantis dentro da lógica multifuncional (SABOURIN, 2010). Sendo assim, a partir das pesquisas bibliográficas e entrevistas realizadas com lideranças, objetivamos apresentar como as práticas agrícolas de caráter multifuncional aliadas à abordagem agroecológica presentes no Assentamento Mandacaru, localizado no município de Petrolina (PE), se tornam companheiras na preservação do Bioma Caatinga; além de proporcionar um envolvimento desde a juventude até a terceira idade nas atividades dentro do assentamento. Contando com áreas de plantio coletivo, turismo rural e ecológico e na produção e divulgação de outros produtos confeccionados dentro do assentamento, a pesquisa salienta que a multifuncionalidade praticada no Mandacaru parte da iniciativa dos assentados e é marcada pelo baixo apoio do poder público. Por fim, trazemos também o Assentamento Mandacaru como modelo para práticas de agricultura familiar e orgânica em contrapartida ao agronegócio presente na região. Os conflitos entre o rural e urbano, o agrícola e industrial, o “tradicional” e o “inovador”, ou atraso e a tecnologia, ou trabalho e o capital, surgem com força nesta discussão.