bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemistry, Safety, and Challenges of the Use of Organic Acids and Their Derivative Salts in Meat Preservation
Authors: Ben Braïek Olfa , Smaoui Slim
Published: February 2021

Meat industries are constantly facing new waves of changes in the consumer’s nutritional trends, food safety, and quality requirements and legislations leading to an increase in interest for meat biopreservation to respond to all of these modern socioeconomic demands. Hence, to replace synthetic and/or expensive additives, new technologies in preserving meat products from microbial contamination have been established. In this context, organic acids and their salts have been considered as the most popular examples of preservatives that offer several advantages to be applied in meat industry. Here, characteristics of organic acids/salts commonly used in meat preservation were described based on the published literature. Moreover, after outlining the challenges and advantages of their use in meat industry, their current applications as meat preservatives on various meat type matrices such as beef, pork, sheep, and poultry were quite exposed based on previous and recent research works. Then, different application types were highlighted. Besides, some potent synergistic approaches based on several combinations of organic acids/salts with different existing preservative techniques are reported with an emphasised discussion of their application as possible solution tools to mainly overcome some problems linked to organic acids/salts when used solely, thus contributing to ensure the overall safety and improve the quality of meats. Finally, despite their usefulness in meat preservation, organic acids/salts may possess detrimental traits. In this context, a detailed discussion on their limits of use in meat products was provided in the last section of this paper.
Gegen Qinlian Decoction Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats via Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and the NLRP3 Signal Axis
Authors: Ying Yuqi , Zhang Haitao , Yu Dian , Zhang Wei , Zhou Dongling , Liu Shuangchun
Published: February 2021

Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), a classic Chinese herbal formula, has been widely used in Chinese clinic for centuries and is well defined in treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanism action of GQD on NAFLD is still rarely evaluated. The present study aims to investigate the effect of GQD on treatment of NAFLD in rats and to further explore the underlying mechanism. The rat NAFLD model established by high-fat-diet feeding was used in the research. Our results exhibited the liver lesions and steatosis was significantly alleviated in NAFLD rats treated with GQD via Oil Red O and H&E staining. Body weight and liver index in GQD groups were reduced significantly (

P
<
0.05

). Moreover, the biochemical analyzer test results showed that GQD significantly decreased blood lipid levels total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and liver injury indicators alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), while it increased the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (

P
<
0.05

). The levels of interferon-β (IFN-β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and malondialdehyde (MDA) after the GQD treatment were significantly lower, and then interleukin-2 (IL-2), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels were lifted significantly (

P
<
0.05

). Further, GQD blocked the expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 mRNA, and proteins in the liver tissues significantly (

P
<
0.05

). These findings indicated that GQD can ameliorate the hepatic steatosis and injury of NAFLD. Its possible mechanism involves the modulation of inflammatory cytokines and antioxidative stress and the inhibition of NLRP3 signal axis activation. The results support that GQD may be a promising candidate in the treatment of NAFLD.
Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion and Hydrological Responses in Ethiopia
Authors: Negese Ajanaw
Published: February 2021

Land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics, in general, and the conversion of the natural vegetation cover into cultivated land, in particular, are major human-induced problems in Ethiopia, which have played a significant role in increasing the rate of soil erosion and altering the hydrological balance in the country. The main aim of this review was to view previous studies in Ethiopia that quantify the change in the rate of soil erosion and hydrological responses as a result of the change in land use and land cover in the country. From the past researches reviewed in this paper, the expansion of cultivated land at the expense of forest land, shrubland, and grassland in Ethiopia has increased the mean rate of soil erosion, sediment yield, surface runoff, mean wet monthly flow, and mean annual stream flow in the last four decades. On the other hand, the change has reduced the dry average monthly flow, groundwater recharge and groundwater flow, and evapotranspiration (ET) in the country. Future research works should pay more attention to the investigation of the impacts of land use and land cover change on groundwater hydrology and the prediction of future soil loss and hydrological imbalance under the changing land use and land cover in the country since little information is available from past researches on these issues. Research works are also required in lowland arid and semiarid areas in Ethiopia to effectively manage soil and water resources in all parts of the country.
Two-Stage Robust Counterpart Model for Humanitarian Logistics Management
Authors: Yang Feng
Published: February 2021

In the early stages of a major public emergency, decision-makers were troubled by the timely distribution of a large number of donations. In order to distribute caring materials reasonably and efficiently, considering the transportation cost and time delay cost, this paper takes the humanitarian logistics management as an example to study the scheduling problem. Based on the actual situation of insufficient supply during the humanitarian logistics management, this paper using optimization theory establishes a two-stage stochastic chance constrained (TS-SCC) model. In addition, due to the randomness of emergency occurrence and uncertainty of demand, the TS-SCC model is further transformed into the two-stage robust counterpart (TS-RC) model. At the same time, the validity of the model and the efficiency of the algorithm are verified by simulations. The result shows that the model and algorithm constructed are capable to obtain the distribution scheme of caring materials even in worst case. In the TS-BRC (with box set) model, the logistics service level increased from 89.83% to 93.21%, while in the TS-BPRC (with mixed box and polyhedron set) model, it increases from 90.32% to 94.96%. Besides, the model built in this paper can provide a more reasonable dispatching plan according to the actual situation of caring material supply.
Field Measurement and Numerical Simulation of Train‐Induced Vibration from a Metro Tunnel in Soft Deposits
Authors: Huang Qiang , Li Pan , Zhang Dongming , Huang Hongwei , Zhang Feng
Published: February 2021

Train‐induced vibration is increasingly attracting people’s concern nowadays. In the coastal areas, many metro tunnels are built in the soft deposits, so the train‐induced vibration effect is more serious. Nevertheless, the existing research studies mainly focus on the dynamic responses in the tunnel or on the ground surface while vibration characteristics in the ground are seldom studied. In this paper, a comprehensive field measurement was performed by installing accelerometers in the tunnel and soil layers and on the ground surface to capture the response characteristics of the track‐tunnel‐ground system. Elastoplastic numerical simulation considering the soil‐water coupling was conducted to reveal the responses of acceleration, dynamic displacement, and excess pore water pressure using FE code DBLEAVES. Measurement results indicate that high‐frequency contents (>500 Hz) attenuate rapidly in the propagation process; the dominant frequency of the rail concentrates in the middle‐ and high‐frequency bands, about 25–400 Hz and 1000–1500 Hz, while the frequencies of the track bed, soil layers, and ground surface drop to below 400, 200, and 100 Hz, respectively. The vertical ground acceleration decreases like an arc in the transverse direction while there is transverse acceleration amplification phenomenon at a distance from the upper haunch and lower haunch of the tunnel. Overall, the area affected by train vibration in the soft deposits is about 30 m away from the metro tunnel. Numerical simulation based on soil‐water coupled analysis is feasible to model the vibration characteristics in the soft deposits and confirms that there is acceleration amplification in the ground. Moreover, numerical results indicate that excess pore water pressure can be accumulated during each train vibration, so the train‐induced settlement will be a potential problem in the long term for the metro tunnel.
The Diagnostic Capability of Swept Source OCT Angiography in Treatment-Naive Exudative Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Ahmed Daniel , Stattin Martin , Haas Anna-Maria , Kickinger Stefan , Gabriel Maximilian , Graf Alexandra , Krepler Katharina , Ansari-Shahrezaei Siamak
Published: February 2021

Purpose. To evaluate the capability of swept source-optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) in the detection and localization of treatment-naive macular neovascularization (MNV) secondary to exudative neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Methods. In this prospective, observational case series, 158 eyes of 142 patients were diagnosed with exudative nAMD using fluorescein (FA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and evaluated by SS-OCTA in a tertiary retina center (Rudolf Foundation Hospital Vienna, Austria). The main outcome measure was the sensitivity of SS-OCTA compared to the standard multimodal imaging approach. Secondary outcome measure was the anatomic analysis of MNV in relation to the retinal pigment epithelium. Results. En-face SS-OCTA confirmed a MNV in 126 eyes (sensitivity: 79.8%), leaving 32 eyes (20.2%) undetected. In 23 of these 32 eyes (71.9%), abnormal flow in cross-sectional SS-OCTA B-scans was identified, giving an overall SS-OCTA sensitivity of 94.3%. Eyes with a pigment epithelium detachment (PED) ≥ 300 μm had a smaller probability for correct MNV detection (

p
=
0.015

). Type 1 MNV showed a trend (

p
=
0.051

) towards smaller probability for the correct detection compared to all other subtypes. Other relevant factors for the nondetection of MNV in SS-OCTA were image artifacts present in 3 of 32 eyes (9.4%). SS-OCTA confirmed the anatomic localization of 93 in 126 MNVs as compared to FA (sensitivity: 73.8%). There was no influence of age, gender, pseudophakia, visual acuity, central foveal thickness, or subfoveal choroidal thickness on the detection rate of MNV. Conclusions. SS-OCTA remains inferior to dye-based angiography in the detection rate of exudative nAMD consistent with type 1 MNV and a PED ≥300 µm. The capability to combine imaging modalities and distinguish the respective MNV subtype improves its diagnostic value.
Analytical Bound State Solutions of the Klein-Fock-Gordon Equation for the Sum of Hulthén and Yukawa Potential within SUSY Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Ahmadov A. I. , Aslanova S. M. , Orujova M. Sh. , Badalov S. V.
Published: February 2021

The relativistic wave equations determine the dynamics of quantum fields in the context of quantum field theory. One of the conventional tools for dealing with the relativistic bound state problem is the Klein-Fock-Gordon equation. In this work, using a developed scheme, we present how to surmount the centrifugal part and solve the modified Klein-Fock-Gordon equation for the linear combination of Hulthén and Yukawa potentials. In particular, we show that the relativistic energy eigenvalues and corresponding radial wave functions are obtained from supersymmetric quantum mechanics by applying the shape invariance concept. Here, both scalar potential conditions, which are whether equal and nonequal to vector potential, are considered in the calculation. The energy levels and corresponding normalized eigenfunctions are represented as a recursion relation regarding the Jacobi polynomials for arbitrary

l

states. Beyond that, a closed form of the normalization constant of the wave functions is found. Furthermore, we state that the energy eigenvalues are quite sensitive with potential parameters for the quantum states. The nonrelativistic and relativistic results obtained within SUSY QM overlap entirely with the results obtained by ordinary quantum mechanics, and it displays that the mathematical implementation of SUSY quantum mechanics is quite perfect.
Effect of a Copaiba Oil-Based Dental Biomodifier on the Inhibition of Metalloproteinase in Adhesive Restoration
Authors: Araújo Eliane Avany Malveira , Lima Geisy Rebouças , Santos de Melo Luciana Aleixo dos , Sousa Leilane Bentes de , Vasconcellos Marne Carvalho de , Conde Nikeila Chacon de Oliveira , Toda Carina , Hanan Simone Assayag , Alves Filho Ary de Oliveira , Bandeira Maria Fulgência Costa Lima
Published: February 2021

Aim. This study sets out to evaluate the antiproteolytic activity of copaiba oil-based emulsion at the resin/dentin adhesive interface union formed with conventional and self-etching adhesives systems. Methods. At in situ zymography, 30 teeth were sectioned 2 mm below the enamel-dentin junction; a smear layer was standardized and subdivided into four groups. Gelatin conjugated with fluorescein was used and taken to the fluorescence microscope for evaluation. In cytotoxicity, the Trypan Blue method was used at four different time points. The tested groups were (G1) control with distilled water; (G2) 2% chlorhexidine (CLX); (G3) emulsion based on copaiba oil (EC) 10% + X; (G4) 10% EC + Y; and (G5) EC 10% alkaline. The zymographic assay used the same groups described, but in 30 seconds and 10 and 20 minutes. HT1080 cells were incubated and submitted to electrophoresis. The gel was analyzed using ImageJ software. Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used in the statistical analysis (

p
<
0.05

). Results. ECs showed higher cell viability in the cytotoxicity test and showed a significant difference in 10 and 20 minutes. In the zymographic assay, alkaline EC reduced 67% of MMP-2 activity and 44% of MMP-9 compared to 2% chlorhexidine. At in situ zymography in qualitative evaluation, all groups tested showed inhibition of activity in metalloproteinases. Conclusion. EC showed activity in the inhibition of metalloproteinases in vitro and in situ, especially the alkaline one. The survey shows the possibility of using ECs, a product from Amazonian biodiversity, as a biomodifier in dentistry.
Distant Supervision for Relation Extraction with Sentence Selection and Interaction Representation
Authors: Chen Tiantian , Wang Nianbin , Wang Hongbin , Zhan Haomin
Published: February 2021

Distant supervision (DS) has been widely used for relation extraction (RE), which automatically generates large‐scale labeled data. However, there is a wrong labeling problem, which affects the performance of RE. Besides, the existing method suffers from the lack of useful semantic features for some positive training instances. To address the above problems, we propose a novel RE model with sentence selection and interaction representation for distantly supervised RE. First, we propose a pattern method based on the relation trigger words as a sentence selector to filter out noisy sentences to alleviate the wrong labeling problem. After clean instances are obtained, we propose the interaction representation using the word‐level attention mechanism‐based entity pairs to dynamically increase the weights of the words related to entity pairs, which can provide more useful semantic information for relation prediction. The proposed model outperforms the strongest baseline by 2.61 in F1‐score on a widely used dataset, which proves that our model performs significantly better than the state‐of‐the‐art RE systems.
Impact of Sedimentation on Water Seepage Capacity in Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Authors: Iradukunda Parfait , Nyadawa Maurice O.
Published: February 2021

Accumulation and deposition of sediments in waterbody affect the seepage capacity that could lead to improper water balance and results in the water level rise. This study analysed the influence of sedimentation on seepage capacity in Lake Nakuru and the impact of sediment characteristics to the water seepage and the flow rate formation at the lake bed level. The study was performed by sampling and analysing the sediment cores from two locations in the lake. The sediment hydraulic properties, i.e., moisture and porosity, particle sizes, and hydraulic conductivity, were determined using the oven-drying method, sieve analysis, hydrometer analysis, and falling head tests, respectively. The results showed that the lake sediment sample from location P1 had an average ratio of 39.38% for silty soil, 34.00% for clayey sediment, and 26.63% for fine-sand sediment particles with the maximum permeability coefficient of

3.37
∗

10

−
5

 cm/s, while the one from location P2 had an average ratio of 63.17% for sand, 20.17% for fine particles, and 16.67% for gravels with the maximum permeability coefficient of 0.010793 cm/s. The hydraulic conductivity of sediment sample from location P1 and P2 increased along the core depth. This could lead to the rise of water level due to the decreases of water movement induced from the sediment cementation in the top layers under the waterbody. Sedimentation affects Lake Nakuru water volume and water balance; hence, there is a need to control the inflow of sediment resulting from anthropogenic activities in the watershed.
Analysis of Vehicle Platform Vibration Based on Empirical Mode Decomposition
Authors: Shen Chengwu , Wang Zhiqian , Liu Chang , Li Qinwen , Li Jianrong , Liu Shaojin
Published: February 2021

Vehicle platform vibration (VPV) directly affects the measurement accuracy of precise measuring instrument (PMI) fixed on it. In order to reduce the influences of VPV on measurement accuracy, it is necessary to perform vibration isolation between vehicle platform and PMI. Analysis of vibration characteristics is a prerequisite for vibration isolation. However, empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) reveal that there is obvious mode mixing phenomenon in the collected VPV signals. In this paper, a noise stretch ensemble empirical mode decomposition (NSEEMD) method is proposed to suppress mode mixing, and the specific operation process of NSEEMD is expounded. By NSEEMD, mode mixing of the collected platform vibration data is well suppressed, and the principal component of platform vibration can be obtained.
Opportunistic Behavior Governance in PPP Projects: An Analysis Based on Trust Networks
Authors: Wang Xiang , Yin Yilin , Deng Jiaojiao , Xu Zhichao
Published: February 2021

Stakeholders of PPP projects may induce opportunistic behaviors in long‐term cooperation. Existing studies emphasized the inhibitory effect of trust on opportunistic behaviors, but most of them simplified the trust relationship into a two‐subject perspective. From the perspective of social network analysis, this research constructs a network‐level trust relationship between the stakeholders of PPP projects. The index analysis of the trust network shows that the PPP project stakeholders have obvious centrality and there are structural holes in the networks. From the perspective of the stakeholder alliance, different forms of alliances differ in the degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality of the trust network. On this basis, the analysis results of different trust network indicators match the corresponding preventive measures of opportunistic behavior, and this research provides comprehensive suggestions for project management.
Master’s Graduates as State-Licensed Psychotherapists, Both a Challenge and an Opportunity: Practical University Teaching Concepts in Clinical Psychology
Authors: Wilhelm Marcel , Rief Winfried , Haberkamp Anke , von Blanckenburg Pia , Glombiewski Julia Anna
Published: February 2021

Psychotherapeutic training in Germany is about to be changed soon: master’s graduates in clinical psychology will be able to become state-licensed psychotherapists. It is therefore mandatory to teach basic psychotherapeutic skills at the universities. This article presents examples of application-oriented courses in clinical psychology, which have been tried and tested at the Philipps University of Marburg for years. During the practical exercises “Interventions in practice 1 and 2“, students gain initial experiences with psychotherapeutic techniques on personally relevant problems. In the case seminar, the students apply their acquired skills to treat an actual outpatient case, while translating basic psychological knowledge into an individualized treatment plan. The seminar “Different approaches to psychotherapy in practice“ offers the opportunity to explore 6 different patients coming from a variety of treatment settings. The courses are evaluated regularly. An overview of cumulated evaluations shows a high degree of student satisfaction with the course concepts. The described courses meet several requirements of the new licensing regulations, especially regarding job-qualifying and self-reflection. Necessary adjustments and additional requirements are discussed, and possible solutions are presented accordingly. If the licensing regulations are implemented as demanded, receiving a state license after the master’s degree seems justified.
Adaptation and Validation of the Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination in Dementia in Arabic Speakers in Egypt
Authors: Qassem Tarik , Khater Mohamed S. , Emara Tamer , Rasheedy Doha , Tawfik Heba M. , Mohammedin Ahmed S. , Tolba Mohammad F. , Saber Heba G. , Aly El-Gabry Dina , Abdel Aziz Karim
Published: February 2021

Background: The mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (m-ACE) is a brief cognitive battery that assesses 5 subdomains of cognition (attention, memory, verbal fluency, visuospatial abilities, and memory recall). It is scored out of 30 and can be administered in under 5 min providing a quick screening tool for assessment of cognition. Objectives: We aimed to adapt the m-ACE in Arabic speakers in Egypt and to validate it in dementia patients to provide cutoff scores. Methods: We included 37 patients with dementia (Alzheimer’s disease [n = 25], vascular dementia [n = 8], and dementia with Lewy body [n = 4]) and 43 controls. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) on the total m-ACE score between dementia patients (mean 10.54 and standard deviation [SD] 5.83) and controls (mean 24.02 and SD 2.75). There was also a statistically significant difference between dementia patients and controls on all sub-score domains of the m-ACE (p < 0.05). Performance on the m-ACE significantly correlated with both the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III). Using a receiver operator characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff score for dementia on the m-ACE total score was found to be 18 (92% sensitivity, 95% specificity, and 94% accuracy). Conclusions: We adapted the m-ACE in Arabic speakers in Egypt and provided objective validation of it as a screening tool for dementia, with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Authors: Hilgendorf Inken , Bergelt Corinna , Bokemeyer Carsten , Kaatsch Peter , Seifart Ulf , Stein Alexander , Langer Thorsten
Published: February 2021

Background and Summary: Thanks to increasing cure rates to currently >80%, children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) survive their cancer much more frequently today than decades ago. Due to their long life expectancy, CAYA cancer survivors are at a particular risk of long-term sequelae from the cancer itself or the therapy applied; this requires specific follow-up, and preventative or even therapeutic interventions. Thus, compared to the normal population, morbidity and mortality may be significantly increased. In 2 of 3 survivors, the cancer and the respective treatment can lead to late effects, even after 30 years, which require specific therapy; in about one-third of these cases, these effects are classed as severe. Applying structured follow-up could identify these late effects at an early stage and initiate immediate treatment. In 2018, a working group dealing with long-term survival after cancer detected <40 years of age was founded within the framework of the National Cancer Plan of the German Federal Ministry of Health.
One Stop Service Public Innovation in The Non TPI Class I Immigration Office, Serang City, Indonesia
Authors: Ningrum Kartika Shania , Berthanilla Rethorika , Sururi Ahmad
Published: February 2021

This study aims to determine the extent of implementation of the in-novation one stop service at the Kantor Imigrasi Kelas I Non TPI Se-rang. This research uses descriptive method with qualitative ap-proach. The technique of taking informants using snowball sampling technique combined with accidental sampling. This research was conducted at the Kantor Imigrasi Kelas I Serang from April 22, 2019 until August 27, 2019. The data were collected by observation, inter-view and documentation. Based on the results of this study concluded 1) innovation that run was good enough, 2) services provided when running the innovation was already good. While that is a contributing factor in the implementation of this innovation is 1) a queue at the immigration quota is not too much so as to sum up the work of immi-gration officers, 2) Immigration Office adequate facility for the com-munity. Then the inhibiting factor is the lack of clear information dis-semination to the public.
Nudging
Authors: Taleb Ahmad S. , Talib Ameen
Published: February 2021

Several challenges and rising costs are facing the healthcare industry today. Some of these health costs are a direct consequence of lifestyle choices such as unhealth diets, obesity and smoking. These challenges can be managed if policy makers have the tools to influence and alter people’s behaviour. The conventional tools used for influencing be-haviour include legislation, regulation and information provision. Re-cently, interest has been shown in policies that ‘nudge’ people in par-ticular directions.
Finding Sanctuary in the Occupational Choice of Animal Shelter Work
Authors: O’Connor Anne
Published: February 2021

This paper examines the occupational choice of animal shelter work. While the Human-Animal Studies (HAS) literature tends to implicitly assume shelter entry to be based on loving nonhuman animals, this study finds evidence that loving them is a necessary but insufficient antecedent. I understand and explain my respondents’ choice as processual; early experiences and influence of significant others, serendipitous events or changes in the life course, and alienation from previous workplaces combine to precede shelter entry. In terms of the decision to stay, shelter work appears to offer sanctuary to human actors as well as to the animals in their care. My respondents have found an alternative experience of the economy, one which is not isolated from, but embedded in, their values and moral rationalities. Shelter work offers sanctuary from the market economy in nature, as embodied by other animals.
Two new species of Labidocera (Copepoda, Calanoida) from Bali and the Gag Islands, Indonesia
Authors: Mulyadi
Published: February 2021

Two new species of Labidocera from Indonesian waters are herein described. Labidocera baliensis n. sp. is distinguishable in the female by the posterior corners of Pdg5 being rounded and equipped with a sub-posterior spine, the left side of Ur1 with a stout spine-like process, and the form of the P5; in the male by the Ur1 smooth and the very slender shape of P5. Labidocera gagensis n. sp. is distinguishable in the female by having 7 spine-like processes on Ur1, the structure of 6 spine-like processes on the posterior end of Ur2 and the form of P5; in the male by the long spine at the right posterior part of Ur1; and the 5 spine-like processes on the right posterior corner of Pdg5 as well as the form of P5.

The relationships between the “detruncata” and “kroyeri” groups are discussed and defining characterizations of the species and of the species groups are provided.
Species of Euryplacidae (Brachyura) in western Mexico
Authors: Hendrickx Michel E.
Published: February 2021

Two species of Euryplacidae were collected in western Mexico. Trizocarcinus dentatus (12 localities) and Euryplax polita (4 localities) were both found in the Gulf of California. In the case of E. polita 11 specimens (5 males, 5 females, one ovigerous female) were obtained, while in the case of T. dentatus 42 specimens (25 males, 10 females, 7 ovigerous females) were collected. The northern distribution limit of E. polita is extended to the northern Gulf of California (28°16′N 111°36′W). Environmental data for both species are provided, including depth range, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and sediment composition.
The Soil Information System of Rwanda: A Useful Tool to Identify Guidelines Towards Sustainable Land Management
Authors: Verdoodt Ann , Van Ranst Eric
Published: February 2021

The soil information system of Rwanda: a useful tool to identify guidelines towards sustainable land management.

On the steep lands of Rwanda, overpopulation and degradation of the land resources are acute problems, especially against the background of present and future populations, food and agricultural demands, and opportunities and constraints. The ability of the land to produce is limited with the limits to production being set by climate, soil and landform conditions, and the use and management applied. Knowledge of the soils, their properties and their spatial distribution, is indispensable for the agricultural development of Rwanda as it opens opportunities for a more rational management of the land resources. The necessary input data for this agricultural research mainly became available through the realization and updating of a soil information system. Geographic information science and relational database software were combined to capture the spatial as well as the numerical and descriptive data gathered during the national, traditional soil survey that was finalized in 1989. The database was further extended with topographic and climatic data and has been used to characterise the physical production environment that farmers face in the different agricultural regions of the country. Several land evaluation tools, adapted to the Rwandan environment, have subsequently been developed, evaluating the options for stronger crop regionalisation, the strategies for more rational regional land use planning, and the possibilities for further intensification of the crop production.
Mechanisms of Constitutional Control: A Preliminary Observation of the Ethiopian System
Authors: Kassa Getahun
Published: February 2021

Mechanisms of Constitutional Control: A preliminary observation of the Ethiopian system

The present mechanism of constitutional adjudication in Ethiopia demonstrates unique features. The mechanism does not belong to any of the constitutional adjudication models operating in other countries. However, a well-developed system of constitutional adjudication is lacking in actual practice. The federal and regional state organs that exercise the power of constitutional control, i.e. the Council of Constitutional Inquiry and the House of Federation at the federal level and the Constitutional Interpretation Commissions, Council of Nationalities and Councils of Constitutional Inquiry at the regional level, are not functioning fully and, moreover, are not moving at equal pace. In some regional states, the institutions competent for constitutional control, though mentioned in the regional constitutions, are not even established yet. In other regions, these institutions have been established, but are not operating in practice. Besides, a challenge of judicial overlap is likely to emerge when the regional organs start to execute their task of constitutional control. Since no mechanism is devised to delimit the respective competences of the federal and state organs, overlap between federal and state institutions is inevitable. Furthermore, there is no clear guidance with regards to the role of the judiciary on matters that involve determination of constitutionality.
Muscari inundatum (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from southern Anatolia
Authors: EKER İSMAİL , YILDIRIM HASAN
Published: February 2021

A new species, Muscari inundatum (Asparagaceae) from Turkey, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to M. neglectum and M. adilii, but differs mainly by its shouldered fertile flowers with erect to slightly recurved lobes at maturity. In this study, a comprehensive description, diagnostic characters, original photographs, detailed illustration, geographical distribution, conservation assessment, identification key, and taxonomic comments on the new species are presented.
Description of two new Cymbella (Bacillariophyta) species from Sakarbaşı spring, Turkey
Authors: SOLAK CÜNEYT NADIR , BALKIS-OZDELICE NESLIHAN , YILMAZ ELIF , DURMUS TURGAY , BLANCO SAÚL
Published: February 2021

The descriptions of the new species Cymbella balkii sp. nov. and C. yerlii sp. nov. were given in this study. The species were found in a karstic limnocrene spring which is one of the most important sources of Sakarya River. Cymbella balkii sp. nov. is very similar to C. pervarians, C. simonsenii, C. percymbiformis, C. perparva, C. alpestris and C. vulgata. Among them, C. pervarians is the most similar taxon however, the former has higher stigmata number and larger valve than the latter. Cymbella yerlii sp. nov. is very similar to C. parva, C. perparva and C. parviformis are similar taxa. Among them, C. parva is the most similar taxon in all related ones with similar outline. However, length/width ratio is higher in C. yerlii than the other taxa.
Recent Intensified Influence of the Winter North Pacific Sea Surface Temperature on the Mei-Yu Withdrawal Date
Authors: Li Hua , He Shengping , Fan Ke , Liu Yong , Yuan Xing
Published: February 2021

The mei-yu withdrawal date (MWD) is a crucial indicator of flood/drought conditions over East Asia. It is characterized by a strong interannual variability, but its underlying mechanism remains unknown. We investigated the possible effects of the winter sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Pacific Ocean on the MWD on interannual to interdecadal time scales. Both our observations and model results suggest that the winter SST anomalies associated with the MWD are mainly contributed to by a combination of the first two leading modes of the winter SST in the North Pacific, which have a horseshoe shape (the NPSST). The statistical results indicate that the intimate linkage between the NPSST and the MWD has intensified since the early 1990s. During the time period 1990–2016, the NPSST-related SST anomalies persisted from winter to the following seasons and affected the SST over the tropical Pacific in July. Subsequently, the SST anomalies throughout the North Pacific strengthened the southward migration of the East Asian jet stream (EAJS) and the southward and westward displacement of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), leading to an increase in mei-yu rainfall from 1 to 20 July. More convincingly, the anomalous EAJS and WPSH induced by the SST anomalies can be reproduced well by numerical simulations. By contrast, the influence of the NPSST on the EASJ and WPSH were not clear between 1961 and 1985. This study further illustrates that the enhanced interannual variability of the NPSST may be attributed to the more persistent SST anomalies during the time period 1990–2016.
Lessons Learned From an Early Hotspot During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Chapman Brett M. , Fuhrman George M.
Published: February 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has provided challenges for surgical residency programs demanding fluid decision making focused on providing care for our patients, maintaining an educational environment, and protecting the well-being of our residents. This brief report summarizes the impact of the impact on our residency programs clinical care and education. We have identified opportunities to improve our program using videoconferencing, managing recruitment, and maintaining a satisfactory caseload to ensure the highest possible quality of surgical education.
Contemporary Management of Traumatic Duodenal Injuries
Authors: Butano Vincent , Napolitano Michael A. , Pat Vivien , Wahrenbrock Taylor , Lin Paul , Quintana Megan T. , Kartiko Susan , Sarani Babak , Estroff Jordan M.
Published: February 2021

Background

Traumatic duodenal injury is a rare, potentially devastating condition with challenging management decisions. Contemporary literature on operative management of duodenal injury is lacking. The purpose of this study is to assess optimal management strategies based on outcomes of patients with traumatic duodenal injury at a single trauma center.

Methods

A retrospective study of patients with traumatic duodenal injury from 2013-2020 at a level 1 trauma center was performed. Patient demographics, grade of injury as noted on CT scan or intraoperatively, surgical procedure(s) performed, and resultant outcomes were extracted.

Results

After excluding one patient due to death on arrival, 23 patients met inclusion criteria. Injuries consisted of grade 1 (n = 7), grade 2 (n = 2), grade 3 (n = 12), and grade 5 (n = 2); there were no grade 4 injuries. Patients were predominantly male (83%) with a median age of 30 years old. Nineteen patients (82%) underwent surgery. Four of nine patients (44%) with grade 1/2 injuries had hematomas and were managed non-operatively. The remaining five patients (56%) with grade 1/2 injuries underwent operation, which included primary repair (n = 3), duodenal exclusion (n = 1), and periduodenal drainage (n = 1). Of 12 patients with grade 3 injury, 6 underwent primary repair and 6 underwent resection. Three patients who underwent primary repair and one who underwent resection developed a duodenal leak. All patients with grade 5 injury (n = 2) underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Conclusion

Grade 1 and 2 duodenal hematomas can be managed non-operatively, while lacerations require operative repair. Outcomes may be better following resection in patients with grade 3 injury.
Dissociachotic: Seeing the Nonpsychosis We Share
Authors: Ball Matthew , Picot Sharon
Published: February 2021

The potential for growth within a relationship between individuals experiencing “psychotic” and “nonpsychotic” realities is based in acceptance of a shared human vulnerability. Through the human-to-human relationship, acceptance of the mutual experience of ontological insecurity and fear of nihilation can facilitate the emergence of a “nonpsychotic” reality. Interconnectedness, that occurs through the process of growth within a loving, nongoal–orientated relationship, leads to a negation of the need for an altered state to exist to defend the threat of nihilation in the person experiencing “psychosis,” and the person in a “nonpsychotic” state to resist the attempt to change the legitimate reality the other person is experiencing. The ensuing changes to the liminal space occupied by a person said to be in a “psychotic” state, when being together in a coexisting same experience, can lead to mutual growth and the evaporation of the so labelled “psychotic” state. This demonstrates the “psychotic” experience is more consistent with a dissociative response to threat in relationship and could be reframed as a “Dissociachotic”—a form of dissociation that has been mislabelled as a unique condition of “psychosis” due to its specific representation of creating safety for a person experiencing threat in relationship.
High Rates of COVID-19 Infection Among Indigenous Maya at a US Safety-Net Health System in California
Authors: Foo Patricia K. , Perez Berenice , Gupta Neha , Lorenzo Gerardo Jeronimo , Misa Nana-Yaa , Gutierrez Brissa Santacruz , Madison Olivia , B. Swift U. Mini , Anderson Erik S.
Published: February 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disproportionately and negatively affected communities of color in the United States, especially Black, Latinx, and Indigenous populations. We report a cluster of COVID-19 cases among the Maya in Alameda County, California, most of whom were misclassified in public health data as nonindigenous Spanish-speaking people. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all COVID-19 tests performed from April 1 through May 31, 2020, at Alameda Health System. A total of 1561 tests from 1533 patients were performed, with an overall test positivity rate of 17.0% (N = 265). We used the language field from the electronic health record to identify 29 patients as speaking an indigenous Mayan language; by medical record review, we identified 52 additional Maya patients. Maya patients had a test positivity rate of 72.8% as compared with 27.1% ( P < .001) for nonindigenous Latinx patients and 8.2% ( P < .001) for all other patients. In our sample, 39.6% of patients who had a positive test result for COVID-19 were hospitalized, 11.3% required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and 4.9% died of COVID-19. Maya patients had lower rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, and 30-day in-hospital mortality than non-Maya patients. We shared our data with the county health department to inform responses for education, testing, and isolation for Maya patients in Alameda County. Ongoing COVID-19 public health efforts should assess the community prevalence of COVID-19 in the Maya community and other indigenous communities and implement interventions that are linguistically and culturally appropriate.
Two-Sided Messages Promote Openness for Morally Based Attitudes
Authors: Xu Mengran , Petty Richard E.
Published: February 2021

This research demonstrates that two- versus one-sided counterattitudinal messages can encourage people with a strong moral basis for their attitudes to be more open to contrary positions. Studies 1A/B demonstrated that the interaction between moral basis and message sidedness was present not just for a controversial issue with balanced views in society but also for a topic with a majority opinion. In Study 2, the relative effectiveness of two- over one-sided messages for people with a moral attitude basis was shown to occur only when the two-sided message respectfully acknowledged the recipient’s side. In Study 3, the effect was replicated in a preregistered experiment. Furthermore, moral bases provided unique predictive power beyond alternative attitude strength indicators. Across all studies, perceived appreciation of the speaker acknowledging the recipient’s view mediated the impact of the independent variables on openness.
Federalism in a Time of Coronavirus: The Trump Administration, Intergovernmental Relations, and the Fraying Social Compact
Authors: Daguerre Anne , Conlan Tim
Published: February 2021

This article examines Trump administration social welfare policies in order to better understand their implications for American federalism and the evolving welfare state. We focus particularly on the use of waivers and other administrative tools to promote work requirements and benefit restrictions in the two largest means tested spending programs: Medicaid and SNAP. These policies are accelerating the fragmentation of America’s welfare state and continued movement toward variable speed, “fend for yourself” federalism. This hyper-partisan, polarized, variegated model of federalism is resulting in increasingly diverse patterns of state implementation of national policies.
Complications in Pediatric Acute Mastoiditis: HCUP KID Analysis
Authors: Favre Nicole , Patel Vijay A. , Carr Michele M.
Published: February 2021

Objective

A small proportion of children with otitis media develop acute mastoiditis, which has the potential to spread intracranially and result in significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and management of complications related to pediatric acute mastoiditis using a national database.

Study Design

Retrospective review of 2016 Kids’ Inpatient Database, part of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project.

Setting

Academic, community, general, and pediatric specialty hospitals in the United States.

Methods

International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification code H70.XXX was used to retrieve records for children admitted with a diagnosis of mastoiditis. Data included patient demographics, intracranial infections, procedures (middle ear drainage, mastoidectomy, and intracranial drainage), length of stay (LOS), and total charges.

Results

In total, 2061 children aged ≤21 years were identified with a diagnosis of acute mastoiditis. Complications included subperiosteal abscess (6.90%), intracranial thrombophlebitis/thrombosis (5.30%), intracranial abscess (3.90%), otitic hydrocephalus (1.20%), encephalitis (0.90%), subperiosteal abscess with intracranial complication (0.60%), petrositis (0.60%), and meningitis (0.30%). Children with intracranial abscesses were more likely (P <. 001) to undergo myringotomy ± ventilation tube insertion (63.7%), mastoidectomy (53.8%), mastoidectomy with ventilation tube or myringotomy (42.5%), intracranial drainage procedure (36.3%), or all 3 key procedures (15.0%). Children with any type of intracranial complication had a significantly longer LOS (P <. 001) and higher total charges (P <. 001). Both a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis and undergoing an intracranial drainage procedure (P <. 001) contributed significantly to LOS and total charges.

Conclusion

Patients with intracranial complications are more likely to undergo surgical procedures; however, there is still wide variability in practice patterns, illustrating that controversies in the management of otitis media complications persist.
Comparative assessment of overweight/obesity among rural and urban reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: Evidence from a cross-sectional 2016 national survey
Authors: Dagnew Gizachew Worku , Asresie Melash Belachew
Published: February 2021

Background:

Overweight/obesity has become a global health problem for both developed and developing regions. Nowadays, overweight/obesity among childrearing-age women has become rapidly increasing in both urban and rural areas.

Aim:

This study aimed to assess the variation of overweight/obesity among urban and rural reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.

Methods:

For this study, the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data were used. The survey was a community-based cross-sectional study, which used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique to select the participants. A total of 13,451 reproductive-age women were included in the analysis. Both descriptive and analytical analysis was performed. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used as the measure of statistical significance.

Results:

The prevalence of overweight/obesity among urban reproductive-age women was statistically higher ( p = 21.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 18.2–25.1) than the rural women ( p = 3.5%; 95% CI: 2.9%–4.2%). Women who attend secondary or above education, women in the age groups 25–34 and ≥ 35 years, and high wealth index (rich) had higher odds of overweight/obesity in both urban and rural women. Moreover, women who were married, who had a large family size, and who have a history of alcohol intake had higher odds of overweight/obesity among urban women.

Conclusions:

Overweight/obesity among reproductive-age women is a public health problem in Ethiopia, especially for women who are living in urban settings. Therefore, it is important to establish targeted overweight reduction programs with particular emphasis on urban, older aged, educated, and married women. Additionally, encouraging the limitation of the number of family size and alcohol intake can reduce women’s overweight/obesity.