bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
[Retracted] Process Optimization for Development of Guar Gum‐Based Biodegradable Hydrogel Film Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Aman Junaid , Shahi Navin Chandra , Lohani Umesh Chandra , Balodhi Divya , Singh Rajat , Kumar Naveen , Bhat Mohd Ishfaq , Kumar Avvaru Praveen
Published: August 2022

In the current study, a guar‐gum‐based biodegradable hydrogel film was prepared using an initiator (potassium persulfate), crosslinker (N‐N methyl bis acrylamide), and plasticizer (glycerol) for packaging of fruits and vegetables. The effect of independent variables (initiator, crosslinker, and plasticizer) on the biodegradation (% wt. loss), color difference (ΔE), hardness (N), swelling index (%), and transparency (%) of the film was studied using Box–Behnken design, random surface methodology (RSM). The results showed significant effects on all the abovementioned parameters, and it was observed that the developed model was accurate, with a prediction error of only −3.19 to 2.99%. The optimized formulation for the preparation of hydrogel film was 0.15% initiator, 0.02% crosslinker, and 2.88% plasticizer exhibiting satisfactory biodegradability, color difference, hardness, swelling index, and transparency. Results showed that a guar‐gum‐based biodegradable hydrogel film has adequate physical, optical, and biodegradable properties and can be successfully utilized in the food packaging industry.
Exploration and Practice of the Acquisition Path of Spoken English for Special Purposes with the Blockchain Technology
Authors: Ruan Yali
Published: August 2022

With the increasing trend of globalization, English, as the most widely used language in the world, has become a subject that many people must learn. English for special purposes is mainly applied to some specialized occupations or English in specific professional skill fields. Due to the increasing national demand for professional compound talents, the status of English for special purposes is also getting higher and higher. However, there are still many problems in the curriculum setting of English for special purposes, for example, outdated teaching mode, lack of oral language skills training, lack of students’ ability to cope with actual situations, weak teaching awareness of teachers, and lack of analysis of students’ needs for English for special purposes, resulting in poor students’ enthusiasm for learning and so on. With the support of blockchain technology, combined with consensus algorithm, hash function algorithm, and smart contract, this paper analyzes English for special purposes, establishes an ESP management system and a corpus of spoken English for special purposes, and analyzes the integrity of the corpus data. The test found that when the number of error data blocks is 10, the total number of damaged data blocks and verification accuracy data blocks is about 4% in order to achieve 99% accuracy. Therefore, the integrity of the system is higher when the damage ratio is lower. The system integrity test finds that, with the number of wrong data being larger, when the wrong data block is at 100, 50% of the data blocks of the system integrity are about 1%. The database is complete, which is more helpful for students to study systematically.
Construction of Accounting Internal Control Management Platform Based on IoT Cloud Computing
Authors: Song Li
Published: August 2022

The Internet of Things is a network that interconnects all items on the Internet through radiofrequency identification, infrared sensors, global positioning systems, laser scanners, and other sensing equipment according to the agreed communication protocol to achieve intelligent identification, positioning, analysis, monitoring, and management. Internal accounting control is an accounting measure established for the enterprise to identify and analyze the operating conditions and to be responsible for the enterprise assets. Accounting internal control is the core of internal control, and the rational use of internal control theory is conducive to promoting the healthy development of enterprises. According to the control object, it can be divided into financial risk control, operational risk control, human resource risk control, strategic risk control, and information distortion control. This paper is aimed at studying the construction of an accounting internal control management platform based on the Internet of Things cloud computing. How the internal accounting control system adapts to the development of the socialist market economy is the current research focus. In view of the current development status of the control system, this paper combines the internal control with the accounting information system and explores the enterprise management from the strategic management level and the operational management level. This paper mainly builds an accounting big data analysis platform based on cloud computing and believes that the platform should have the function of financial comprehensive analysis. The experiment in this paper found that the actual management cost of the company in 2017 was 2630 million yuan, and the predicted management cost was 2600 million yuan. The gap between the predicted data and the actual data is getting closer and closer, indicating that the prediction platform is effective.
Noninvasive Imaging of a Vasoproliferative Retinal Tumor Treated with Cryopexy
Authors: Tanimukai Tetsuya , Noda Kousuke , Hirooka Kiriko , Kase Satoru , Ishida Susumu
Published: August 2022

Optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) has emerged as a rapid, noninvasive imaging modality to visualize the vascular networks in the retina and choroid. Here, we report the clinical findings in a case of primary vasoproliferative retinal tumor (VPRT) observed by the wide-field swept-source OCTA. A 74-year-old male patient with central vision loss and metamorphopsia in his left eye was referred to our hospital. At the first visit, the best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 OD and 20/40 OS. Fundus examination revealed the presence of the epiretinal membrane and inferotemporal reddish retinal tumor in the left eye. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) showed leaky characteristics and sharply defined structure of vessels in the retinal tumor, respectively. The patient was diagnosed with the VPRT with secondary epiretinal membrane and underwent pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling, retinal photocoagulation, and triple freeze and thaw procedure using cryopexy. Whereas wide-field swept-source OCTA preoperatively depicted the flow signals as distinctive vascular structures similar to ICGA, the tumor color turned out to be ischemic white, and the flow signals detected by wide-field OCTA disappeared after the surgery, indicating that the freezing effect of transscleral cryopexy sufficiently reached the surface of the tumor. In sum, wide-field swept-source OCTA is a useful imaging modality that can be noninvasively and repetitively performed to determine the treatment effect in cases of peripheral retinal tumors such as VPRT.
Utilization Large Animal Research as an Adjunct for Surgical Education Increases Perceived Resident Confidence
Authors: Crudeli Connor , Kooragayala Keshav , Lou Johanna , Zilberman Brian , Williams Jennifer , DeLong Alex , Carpenter Jeffrey P. , Shersher David D.
Published: August 2022

Surgical education has evolved over time to incorporate supplemental modalities of training beyond the operating room. Even with the utility of simulation software and didactic education, there is still a need to provide surgical residents with experience in live tissue dissection and tissue handling while maintaining patient safety. In our program, after two clinical years, residents participate in a year of translational research which uses porcine models for complex open abdominal procedures. During the porcine surgeries, our residents are guided by the supervising attending to perform key portions of the procedure typically reserved for those more senior trainees. We found in a survey that research residents after two clinical years found this experience with large animal surgeries helped them better navigate anatomic structures and would recommend this to future trainees. We believe this dual-purpose research-training model provides a valuable resource that can be adapted to other programs.
Automated Electronic Frailty Index is Associated with Non-home Discharge in Patients Undergoing Open Revascularization for Peripheral Vascular Disease
Authors: Stutsrim Ashlee E. , Brastauskas Ian M. , Craven Tim E. , Callahan Kathryn E. , Pajewski Nicholas M. , Davis Ross P. , Corriere Matthew A. , Edwards Matthew S. , Goldman Matthew P.
Published: August 2022

Background

Frailty is associated with adverse surgical outcomes including post-operative complications, needs for post-acute care, and mortality. While multiple frailty screening tools exist, most are time and resource intensive. Here we examine the association of an automated electronic frailty index (eFI), derived from routine data in the Electronic Health Record (EHR), with outcomes in vascular surgery patients undergoing open, lower extremity revascularization.

Methods

A retrospective analysis at a single academic medical center from 2015 to 2019 was completed. Information extracted from the EHR included demographics, eFI, comorbidity, and procedure type. Frailty status was defined as fit (eFI≤0.10), pre-frail (0.100.21). Outcomes included length of stay (LOS), 30-day readmission, and non-home discharge.

Results

We included 295 patients (mean age 65.9 years; 31% female), with the majority classified as pre-frail (57%) or frail (32%). Frail patients exhibited a higher degree of comorbidity and were more likely to be classified as American Society of Anesthesiologist class IV (frail: 46%, pre-frail: 27%, and fit: 18%, P = 0.0012). There were no statistically significant differences in procedure type, LOS, or 30-day readmissions based on eFI. Frail patients were more likely to expire in the hospital or be discharged to an acute care facility (31%) compared to pre-frail (14%) and fit patients (15%, P = 0.002). Adjusting for comorbidity, risk of non-home discharge was higher comparing frail to pre-frail patients (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.40-6.48).

Discussion

Frail patients, based on eFI, undergoing elective, open, lower extremity revascularization were twice as likely to not be discharged home.
Incompatibility Influences Cursor Placement When Pointing to Images of Cups
Authors: Phillips James G. , Van Gemmert Arend W. A. , Hughes Barry
Published: August 2022

Objective

As images are used within graphical user interfaces to signify menu selection, it is important to understand how image properties can influence cursor placement online.

Background

Objects have multiple dimensions that create potential ambiguity and Stroop-like confusions for the operator if a previously habitual response conflicts with the required response.

Methods

To examine the impact of compatibility and other contextual factors, 41 participants used a computer Mouse or touch screen to place the cursor upon images of full or empty cups that varied in size, and direction of handle.

Results

Cursor placements took longer using the Mouse than touch screen. Although participants were placing the cursor on images, the size of the cup, whether it was empty or full, and the handle orientation interacted in their effects upon response duration and cursor placement. The effects of cup size reversed for empty cups or those with incompatible handles.

Conclusion

Context can influence cursor placement. Perceived spillability influenced precision requirements, and the cup handle can serve as target or a flanking distractor.

Application

Image content can influence screen hotspots. As performance can change with cup spillability, this bodes well for attempts to detect intent from cursor trajectories.
Surface properties and flame retardancy of polyacrylonitrile fabric modified with nitrilase and vinyl phosphate
Authors: Dai Shujiao , Liu Yanchun , Bai Gang
Published: August 2022

Flame-retardant finishing is essential for polyacrylonitrile fabric because of the restriction in application caused by poor flammability. Flame-retardant polyacrylonitrile fabric treated with nitrilase and vinyl phosphate was successfully prepared in this study. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index, KES fabric style instrument, air permeability, moisture permeability, thermal resistance, and moisture resistance tests were conducted to characterize the treated polyacrylonitrile fabrics. The results showed that carboxyl groups were introduced after nitrilase treatment, which efficiently improved the adsorption and combination of vinyl phosphate on polyacrylonitrile fibers. The sample prepared with nitrilase/vinyl phosphate treatment exhibited a high limiting oxygen index value of 27.5%. The air permeability and moisture permeability of the treated fabric decreased while moisture resistance increased.
An analytical approach to study the loading behavior of hollow fibers under negative pressure and atmospheric pressure
Authors: Tang Kwai Hing , Cheung Tin Wai , Zhao Fuwang , Tao Yifei , Li Li
Published: August 2022

Hollow fibers have been widely used as important components of membranes for drug delivery in the medical field. However, their usages in environmental and agricultural aspects have not been commonly unearthed. In our previous research, a new drug delivery system was established by utilizing hollow fiber as a carrier to convey medical substances in different phases, respectively. Our current research aims to expand the application of hollow fibers apart from medicine. In this study, the loading efficiency of the liquid under standard atmospheric pressure (nonvacuum) and negative pressure (vacuum) were further examined to achieve a higher loading system. The physical properties and the loading abilities of the three types of hollow fibers including original short crimped fibers, fibers from roving yarns, and fibers from spun yarns were studied and discussed. In-depth investigations of loading efficiency, wicking performance, water absorption, and thermal conductivity were conducted. Higher loading efficiency was observed by adopting the method of vacuum under negative pressure resulting from all experiments of which the result was at least 15 times higher than the nonvacuum-loaded methods. It was also at least 0.25% greater in moisture content, almost two times larger in the water absorption rate for yarn samples, and 35% higher for fabric samples. The differences in thermal conductivity within the two conditions were 0.00016 W/cm°C. Using the vacuum approach can improve the overall performance of precise liquid loading, increasing the efficiency and thereby reduce the production costs. It is believed to bring high-value advantages in agricultural aspects such as for sustainable pest control and crop growth.
Perceived Injustice and Psychological Well-Being in Couples Seeking Fertility Treatment
Authors: Bourget Frédérique , El Amiri Sawsane , Brassard Audrey , Péloquin Katherine
Published: August 2022

Infertility and its treatment are associated with a host of negative emotions, including perceived injustice. However, no quantitative study has examined the link between perceived injustice and psychological difficulties in couples seeking fertility treatment. This study examined the associations between perceived injustice and both partners’ psychological well-being and investigated possible differences in perceived injustice based on sex or cause of infertility. Both partners of 103 couples seeking fertility treatment completed the Injustice Experience Questionnaire—Infertility, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Fertility Quality of Life Tool. Perceived injustice was associated with one’s own and one’s partner’s higher depressive symptoms and lower infertility-related quality of life, as well as one’s own higher anxiety symptoms. Women also perceived more injustice than men. The cause of infertility was unrelated to perceived injustice. Findings suggest that perceived injustice could represent an intervention target to reduce psychological distress in infertile couples.
Multivariate Bayesian Arm-Based Network Meta-Analysis of Pharmacological Interventions for the Treatment of Acute Bipolar Mania in Adults
Authors: Malo Palash Kumar , Bhaskarapillai Binukumar , Kesavan Muralidharan
Published: August 2022

Background:

In a network meta-analysis (NMA), multiple treatments can be compared simultaneously by aggregating pieces of evidence from direct as well as indirect treatment comparisons in different randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Conventional NMA are performed using a normal approximation approach and can be applied for arm-level binary outcome data as well. This study aimed to estimate the treatment effects within a Bayesian framework using a binomial likelihood for a multivariate NMA model.

Methods:

The dataset consists of 57 RCTs comparing the effect of ten pharmacological drugs and a placebo for acute bipolar mania in adults. The binary outcomes of interest were treatment response and all-cause dropouts measured three weeks from the baseline. Binomial distribution was adopted for the number of events and the probability of event occurrence modeled on the logit scale. Jeffrey’s Beta prior was considered for the heterogeneity and inconsistency of standard deviation (SD) parameters. Cholesky and spherical decomposition strategies were adopted for the between-study variance–covariance matrix. Deviance information criterion (DIC) indices were computed to determine the model fit. All results pertaining to Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations and all analyses were carried out in WinBUGS software.

Results:

The estimated common heterogeneity SDs were similar, and the DIC values did not provide any evidence for superiority between the two decomposition strategies. The correlation (95% credible interval) between the outcomes was estimated as −0.31 (−0.71, −0.02) and −0.37 (−0.73, −0.03) for the Cholesky and spherical decompositions, respectively. Gelman–Rubin convergence statistics were stable, and Monte Carlo errors for all the parameters were around 0.005. Overall, olanzapine, paliperidone, and quetiapine were both significantly more effective and acceptable than a placebo when both the study outcomes were considered simultaneously.

Conclusions:

The findings favoring olanzapine, paliperidone, and quetiapine possess an excellent concordance with the one adopted in clinical practice, and the Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists guidelines recommend these as first-line drugs for treating bipolar disorder.
A meta-analysis on the predictive validity of English language proficiency assessments for college admissions
Authors: Ihlenfeldt Samuel Dale , Rios Joseph A.
Published: August 2022

For institutions where English is the primary language of instruction, English assessments for admissions such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) give admissions decision-makers a sense of a student’s skills in academic English. Despite this explicit purpose, these exams have also been used for the practice of predicting academic success. In this study, we meta-analytically synthesized 132 effect sizes from 32 studies containing validity evidence of academic English assessments to determine whether different assessments (a) predicted academic success (as measured by grade point average [GPA]) and (b) did so comparably. Overall, assessments had a weak positive correlation with academic achievement ( r = .231, p < .001). Additionally, no significant differences were found in the predictive power of the IELTS and TOEFL exams. No moderators were significant, indicating that these findings held true across school type, school level, and publication type. Although significant, the overall correlation was low; thus, practitioners are cautioned from using standardized English-language proficiency test scores in isolation in lieu of a holistic application review during the admissions process.
Openness to Experience Mediates the Relation Between Fantasy Proneness and Creative Thinking
Authors: Taylor Bunce Louise , Boerger Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2022

Fantasy proneness has recently been related to creative thinking. To try and explain this link, we examined whether the relation was mediated by Openness to Experience (openness) because fantasy proneness and openness involve an imaginative thinking style. Study 1 assessed fantasy proneness (Creative Experiences Questionnaire), openness, and creative (divergent) thinking in 87 undergraduates (77% women, mean age 21 years). Study 2 replicated the method with museum visitors of similar age (58% women, mean age 23 years). Our hypotheses received partial support: although fantasy proneness did not directly predict creativity in either study, bivariate correlations in both studies revealed that fantasy proneness positively predicted openness, and openness positively predicted creativity. In addition, openness mediated the relation between fantasy proneness and creativity, but only in Study 2. These findings reveal potentially useful relations between fantasy proneness, openness, and creativity, and show that findings from student populations are not necessarily generalizable.
Racial Fairness in Precision Medicine: Pediatric Asthma Prediction Algorithms
Authors: Pennington Jordan , Rasnick Erika , Martin Lisa J. , Biagini Jocelyn M. , Mersha Tesfaye B. , Parsons Allison , Khurana Hershey Gurjit K. , Ryan Patrick , Brokamp Cole
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Quantify and examine the racial fairness of two widely used childhood asthma predictive precision medicine algorithms: the asthma predictive index (API) and the pediatric asthma risk score (PARS).

Design

Apply the API and PARS and evaluate model performance overall and when stratified by race.

Setting

Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Subjects

A prospective birth cohort of 590 children with clinically measured asthma diagnosis by age seven.

Measures

Model diagnostic criteria included sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV).

Analysis

Significant differences in model performance between Black and white children were considered to be present if the P-value associated with a t-test based on 100 bootstrap replications was less than .05.

Results

Compared to predictions for white children, predictions for Black children using the PARS had a higher sensitivity (.88 vs .57), lower specificity (.55 vs .83), higher PPV (.42 vs .33), but a similar NPV (.93 vs .93). Within the API and compared to predictions for white children, predictions for Black children had a higher sensitivity (.63 vs .53), similar specificity (.81 vs .80), higher PPV (.54 vs .28), and lower NPV (.86 vs .92).

Conclusions

Overall, racial disparities in model diagnostic criteria were greatest for sensitivity and specificity in the PARS, but racial disparities existed in three of the four criteria for both the PARS and the API.
Care Needs and Arrangements of Aging Immigrants in the United States
Authors: Ansari-Thomas Zohra
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To examine the need for and arrangements pertaining to personal care assistance among individuals 65 and older, and how life stage at migration impacts nativity differences in aging-related care.

Methods

Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (2001, 2004, and 2008), I examine the odds of needing care assistance, who provides care assistance, and the duration of time care assistance is needed, comparing U.S.-born individuals to migrants who arrived before age 50 (“earlier-life migrants”) and those who arrived after age 50 (“later-life migrants”).

Results

While earlier-life migrants showed similar patterns to U.S.-born, later-life migrants showed higher care needs, were more likely to receive care from an adult child, and were particularly likely to need care for longer durations compared to U.S.-born.

Discussion

Aging later-life migrants have strikingly distinct care needs and arrangements, with implications for individual and family well-being, especially considering their barriers to public support.
Transient-extracting transform based on non-convex sparse regularization: A useful scheme for bearing fault feature enhancement
Authors: Ma Yubo , Lv Yong , Yuan Rui , Lv Site
Published: August 2022

Periodic transient shocks of vibration signals often reflect the failure of mechanical components. With the time-frequency (TF) distribution (TFD), Transient-extracting transform (TET) can descript and extract the fault-related transient component effectively. Nevertheless, vibrations collected from practical sources are always contaminated by strong background noise, thus the transient shocks are often submerged by noise components. Therefore, how to effectively extract the weak transient component from noise is an important task to achieve the bearing fault diagnosis. Considering the above issue, this paper developed a generalized mini-max concave (GMC) penalty based TET (GMCTET) for bearing fault feature enhancement. Specifically, the GMC penalty based-sparse regularization is firstly applied to the raw signal. Benefiting from the good ability of GMC penalty-based sparse regularization in both sparsity and signal fidelity. The transient shocks are initially presented, and the loss of energy amplitude of the raw signal during the processing is reduced simultaneously. Next, TET can well characterize these transient shocks via a highly readable TFD, and the transient component is extracted based on the TF coefficients. The shock structures in transient component are further highlighted after TET treatment. Finally, the bearing fault frequencies are identified through the spectrum of the extracted transient component. The effectiveness of GMCTET is verified from the comparative analysis results of the simulation and experimental studies.
Assessment of Volatility Contagion Effect Between Major Financial Markets During COVID-19 Pandemic Catastrophes
Authors: Rai Pratibha , Gupta Priya , Chauhan Ajay , Bhawna
Published: August 2022

Across the globe, the havoc of the pandemic known to be a black swan event has brought miseries, deaths, uncertainty, loss of lives and jobs holding the humanity in a state of despair. The financial markets have been equally hit by the pandemic due to on-going uncertainty and hopelessness among the masses. The aim of this study is to examine the volatility contagion and dynamic conditional correlations between eight stock indices during the gloomy period to validate that there is a scope for revisiting the investment portfolio, create natural hedge in the investment portfolio by using exponential generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (EGARCH) and dynamic conditional correlation generalised autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (DCC-GARCH) approach. We conducted an in-depth analysis of capturing volatility among stock indices ranging from tracking the volatility followed by estimating persistence and multivariate volatility contagion of major stock indices of developed and developing economies during turbulent times of the pandemic when the globe was reeling under the taxing consequences of the first and second wave of COVID-19. There are very few studies that have conducted an in-depth analysis of capturing volatility of stock indices ranging from tracking the asymmetric volatility followed by estimating persistence and multivariate volatility contagion of major stock indices of developed and developing economies during turbulent times of the pandemic when the globe was reeling under the taxing consequences of the first and second wave of COVID-19.
Body Image Dissatisfaction, Depression, and Health-Related Quality of Life Amongst Indian Obese School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Pothiraj Pitchai , Shamal Chopade , Krishnan Vijaya
Published: August 2022

Background:

Obesity is a growing health problem across the globe. Obesity and psychological well-being have been explored in the Indian adolescent and adult population. However, their association has not been explored in Indian obese school children.

Aims:

The primary objective of this study is, therefore, to analyze body image dissatisfaction (BID), depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in obese and normal-weight children and to compare these factors between the 2 groups.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, 100 obese and 100 normal-weight children from Mumbai, between 10 and 12 years of age were recruited by simple random technique. The BID was assessed using Stunkard’s Silhouette Figure Rating Scale. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire: Short Version and HRQOL was examined using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS statistical software version 24 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL USA).

Results:

The mean body mass index of the normal-weight children was 15.76 ± 1.4 kg/m 2 and 26.62 ± 3.1 kg/m 2 for obese. All obese children demonstrated BID, 54% were depressed and only 33% demonstrated a very good HRQOL. Intergroup analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in the obese group for BID, depression, and HRQOL, where P < .05.

Conclusion:

Obese school children are more prone to BID, higher depressive symptoms, and poor HRQOL than normal-weight school children. Thus, it demands a multimodal approach in preventing chronic psychological related problems in obese children.
Novel Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Adolescents with Early Recovery Stage of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome or Catatonia
Authors: Koparde Vinayak , Pradeep Arul , Shivakumar Venkataram , Bose Anushree , Chhabra Harleen , Sagar K. J. Vijay , Venkatasubramanian Ganesan , Girimaji Satish Chandra
Published: August 2022

There are limited options to treat psychotic symptoms during early recovery stage of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) and catatonic symptoms in adolescents because of restrictions on the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Add-on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatment twice daily for five consecutive days showed improvement in auditory–visual hallucinations and cognitive and bio-social functioning during early recovery stages of NMS in an adolescent. The use of tDCS in another adolescent diagnosed with severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms and catatonia showed improvement in staring, mutism, rigidity, and interaction with add-on tDCS. The improvement observed lasted for a short duration and tDCS treatment was well tolerated without any severe adverse effect.
Differential Treatment of Sexual Assault Cases by US Army Law Enforcement Personnel
Authors: Carpenter Eric R.
Published: August 2022

Using data received through the Freedom of Information Act, this observational study explores whether Army law enforcement personnel do not find probable cause in sexual assault cases at higher rates than in other serious crimes. The study compares sexual assaults, homicides, robberies, and assaults in the Army from 2008 to 2014 and July 2015 to 2017. For the first period, the study finds that the odds are 5.30 times greater that Army law enforcement will not find probable cause in a sexual assault case when compared to other crimes, and for the second period the odds are 4.39 times greater.
Doubly Marginalized: Addressing the Minority Stressors Experienced by LGBTQ+ Researchers Who Do LGBTQ+ Research
Authors: Veldhuis Cindy B.
Published: August 2022

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and nonbinary, and queer people (LGBTQ+) experience significantly higher levels of stressors due to discrimination, stigma, and marginalization than do cisgender heterosexual people. These high levels of stressors have impacts on health and well-being as well as career impacts. Limited research suggests that within higher education LGBTQ+ faculty experience bullying, discrimination, and harassment within the workplace. There is also data to suggest that research on marginalized populations is perceived to be less objective and valuable than research on majority populations. Research on the challenges of being a member of a marginalized population who conducts research on the same population suggests potentially negative career and personal impacts. To my knowledge, there has been little to no research on the double marginalization related to being an LGBTQ+ researcher doing research within the LGBTQ+ community. To describe the potential impacts of being an LGBTQ+ researcher who does LGBTQ+ research, I apply the extant literature on marginalized researchers who do research among marginalized populations to LGBTQ+ researchers. I also describe the potential minority stressors that LGBTQ+ researchers may face and how that may impact careers. Finally, I offer multiple recommendations for improvements for our research community and argue that senior faculty, leadership, and mentors can take specific actions to lessen stressors for LGBTQ+ researchers studying LGBTQ-related topics.
Walk in my shoes: How perspective-taking and VR enhance telepresence and empathy in a public service announcement for people experiencing homelessness
Authors: Wang Yanyun (Mia) , Chen Chen (Crystal) , Nelson Michelle R , Sar Sela
Published: August 2022

This research explored how a virtual reality (VR) public service announcement (PSA) in a first-person perspective (vs non-VR PSA scripts: first-person perspective-taking, non-perspective-taking) impacted attitudes toward the PSA and attitudes toward people experiencing homelessness. Participants first reported their attitudes toward people experiencing homelessness. Seven days later, participants watched or read a PSA about the life of a person experiencing homelessness and reported their attitudes toward the people experiencing homelessness and the PSA. We explored how psychological processes (telepresence, empathy, reactance) related to persuasion. Results showed viewing or reading any of the PSAs led to more favorable attitudes toward the target group. The VR PSA was the most likely format to induce telepresence and empathy and the least likely to induce reactance. Attitudes toward the VR PSA were more positive than toward the script PSAs. Overall, our study provides insights into the effectiveness of VR and narrative formats for persuasion.
The passion of aging: The representation of localism in spiritual eldercare of Naxi in Lijiang
Authors: He Wenzhen
Published: August 2022

As concepts of place, locality, and localism have been abundantly discussed separately but seldom juxtaposed, the close examination of the divergence and complementarity among Place, Locality, and Localism will be the theoretical and methodological basis for the current research. In this article, I argue that diverse self-organized group activities of Lijiang Naxi elders in southwest China are prospered by the orchestration of their local identity, ethnic identity and the personal pursuit of aesthetic of skills. All these forms of belonging based on localism are constructed within the local sphere, facilitating a passionate and positive eldercare pattern in the small city. By juxtaposing the concepts of locality and localism in the local context, the creative agency and spirituality of the elders in Lijiang alternatively serve as a possible lens to seek elders’ positive involvement and delicate positionality in local cultural dynamics.
Assessment of offshore wind power including effects of sea surface roughness using observed wind statistics
Authors: Myrhaug Dag , Lader Pål F
Published: August 2022

The paper addresses how the offshore wind power can be assessed based on observed wind statistics at an offshore location. Results are exemplified for a Pierson-Moskowitz wave amplitude spectrum together with mean wind speed statistics from 11 sites in the North Sea and the North Atlantic. The ambient turbulence level, for example relevant for design of the wind turbine blades, is also estimated by adopting a wind gust spectrum. The sea surface roughness is specified using a formula given in terms of significant wave height and spectral wave steepness. The present method should be useful for making initial assessments of available wind power and ambient turbulence level at offshore sites based on wind statistics.
Compensating Differentials for the Risk of Reinjury – Lessons from Professional Boxing
Authors: Anderson Peter
Published: August 2022

A neglected area in the compensating-differential literature is how wages compensate workers for the risk of reinjury, specifically the risk of a subsequent mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). Using a new, unbalanced panel of 1,211 professional boxers, this paper finds that boxers' purses price for the risk of knockout reinjury risk while those that have never lost by knockout earn economically and statistically insignificant knockout-risk premiums. These results are consistent across three measures of previous knockout loss and three robustness tests, implying that current values of a statistical injury (VSI) underestimate previously injured workers' willingness to pay for safety.
Treatment with b-AP15 to Inhibit UCHL5 and USP14 Deubiquitinating Activity and Enhance p27 and Cyclin E1 for Tumors with p53 Deficiency
Authors: Jiang Zong-Yuan , Hong Jiang , Zhang Ju-Hua , Wang Xiao-Feng , Ma Yu-Shui , Xiong Zhang-Xia , Sun Hao-Ran , Cheng Cong , Xie Bang-Zhu , Liu Ji-Bin , Ouyang Yang-Gang , Fu Da
Published: August 2022

Background: TP53 protein is lost or mutated in about half of all types of human cancers and small molecules to regulate mutant p53 repair, or interrupt ubiquitination degradation of p53 induced by E3-ubiquitin ligase Mdm2 have a potential application in clinical application. Methods: To inhibit the deubiquitinase activity of 19S proteasome and restore the p53 protein level, in this study, we utilized p53 knockout mice to test the anti-cancer effect of a specific USP14 and UCH37 inhibitor b-AP15. Results: Our results show that UCHL5, USP14 and COPS5 are upregulated in p53-related tumors, and higher expression of these genes results in a shorter overall survival in patients with p53 deficiency. Treatment with b-AP15, a UCHL5 and USP14 deubiquitinating activity inhibitor in 19S regulatory subunit, induces tumor regression and prolong the survival period of tumor-loaded mice through down-regulation of COPS5 and its downstream AP-1 and E2F1, and up-regulation of the cell cycle-related proteins p27 and Cyclin E1. Conclusions: Thus, our results suggested that inhibition of UCHL5 and USP14 deubiquitinating activity in 19S proteasome may contribute an extensive approach to preventing tumor progress due to p53 deficiency.
Examining Teachers’ Culturally Responsive Classroom Management Self-Efficacy
Authors: Santiago-Rosario María Reina , McIntosh Kent , Whitcomb Sara A.
Published: August 2022

This study examined the self-reports of 33 Grades K–6 teachers from the Culturally Responsive Classroom Management Self-Efficacy Scale (CRCMSE) in relation to observed classroom management practices (praise, opportunities to respond, and reprimands) and classroom-level student outcomes (correct academic responses, disruptive behavior, and office discipline referrals). Additionally, we explored the relation between CRCMSE ratings, observed classroom management practices, and racial equity in school discipline. Results showed that on average, teachers rated their culturally responsive competencies moderately high. There were no significant associations between CRCMSE ratings and observed classroom practices or racial equity in discipline. However, the delivery of praise statements was strongly associated with racial equity. Possible implications for measuring cultural responsiveness using self-report are also discussed.
Understanding the international student’s experiences in a multilingual university context from a sociolinguistic perspective
Authors: Sung Chit Cheung Matthew
Published: August 2022

This paper takes a sociolinguistic perspective in understanding the international student’s experiences in a multilingual university context. Drawing on a narrative inquiry approach, the present qualitative case study investigates a Brazilian Chinese international student’s lived experiences of studying in a Hong Kong university, with particular attention to his identity construction in both in-class and out-of-class contexts and the role of language in shaping his dynamic identity construction. The findings suggest that the international student’s language (in)competence appears to be closely intertwined with his identity construction in situated contexts, intersecting with his inclusion/exclusion and empowerment/marginalisation. The findings also reveal that multiple language ideologies mediate the impact of the international student’s language (in)competence on his identity construction in various situated contexts. Taken together, the findings call attention to the complex and dynamic interaction between identity construction, language (in)competence and language ideology in advancing our understanding of the international student’s experiences in a multilingual university context.
A study on ski groups size and their relationship to the risk of injury
Authors: Delibašić Boris , Radovanović Sandro , Jovanović Miloš Z , Obradović Zoran , Suknović Milija , Lojić Ranko
Published: August 2022

This paper addresses a novel topic in ski injury research - how a ski group size indicates the risk of ski injury. There is evidence in research literature that people ski in groups. However, the relationship between group size and the risk of injury has remained unexplored. Based on ski lift entrance data, we use the density-based clustering algorithm OPTICS to identify groups of skiers and discuss the advantages of using this algorithm. We show that the ski group size can be used to improve the identification of skiers who experience ski injury. The results of the identification of ski groups at Mt. Kopaonik Ski Resort in Serbia show that skiing alone is most susceptible to ski injury, while skiing in couples or in bigger groups reduces the risk of injury by 46%. In addition, it is confirmed that ski injuries are an early failure event phenomena. Based on the CHAID decision tree analysis, spending a small amount of time at the ski resort and skiing alone are associated with the: 6 times greater ski injury risk than the average ski injury risk.
Expression of PD-L1 as a predictive marker of sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer
Authors: Kim Hongsik , Kim Ryul , Jo Hyunji , Kim Hye Ryeon , Hong Joohyun , Ha Sang Yun , Park Joon Oh , Kim Seung Tae
Published: August 2022

Background:

Expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been reported to correlate with response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in various tumor types. However, there are few data on the role of PD-L1 expression as a predictive and prognostic biomarker of sensitivity to ICIs in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC).

Objectives:

We evaluated the role of PD-L1 expression as a predictive and prognostic biomarker of response to ICIs in patients with advanced BTC.

Design:

We retrospectively analyzed data from 83 advanced BTC patients who received ICIs as second- or third-line treatment between February 2018 and April 2021.

Methods:

All patient data analysis included evaluation of PD-L1 expression by the combined positive score (CPS).

Results:

Among 83 patients, 56 (67.5%) had PD-L1 positivity (CPS ⩾ 1). The objective response rate (ORR) to ICIs was significantly higher in advanced BTC patients with PD-L1 expression compared to those without PD-L1 expression (17.8% versus 0%, p = 0.026). However, there were no significant differences in median progression-free survival (PFS; 2.9 versus 2.6 months, p = 0.330) and median overall survival (OS; 8.1 versus 6.3 months, p = 0.289) as a response to ICIs between patients with and without PD-L1 expression. Also, there were no significant differences in ORR, PFS, and OS as a response to ICIs in conjunction with a response to a prior gemcitabine plus cisplatin regimen ( p = 0.654, p = 0.278, and p = 0.302, respectively).

Conclusions:

The present study suggests that the expression of PD-L1 alone was not sufficient as a novel marker to select advanced BTC patients who might benefit from ICIs. Additional comprehensive studies of biomarkers that can assist in predicting BTC patient responses to pembrolizumab and/or nivolumab therapy are required.
Acute effects of exercise on pain symptoms, clinical inflammatory markers and inflammatory cytokines in people with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic literature review
Authors: Balchin Christopher , Tan Ai Lyn , Golding Joshua , Bissell Lesley-Anne , Wilson Oliver J. , McKenna Jim , Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou Antonios
Published: August 2022

Background:

Exercise is advocated in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, uncertainty around the acute effects of exercise on pain and inflammation may be stopping people with RA from exercising more regularly.

Objectives:

To determine the acute effects of exercise on pain symptoms, clinical inflammatory markers, and inflammatory cytokines in RA.

Design:

A systematic review of the literature.

Data sources and methods:

Five databases were searched (PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Scopus and SPORTDiscus); inclusion criteria were studies with acute exercise, a definite diagnosis of RA and disease characteristics assessed by clinical function (i.e., disease activity score, health assessment questionnaire and self-reported pain), clinical markers associated with inflammation (i.e., c-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)), and inflammatory cytokines (i.e., interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)).

Results:

From a total of 1544 articles, initial screening and full text assessment left 11 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. A total of 274 people were included in the studies (RA = 186; control = 88). Acute bouts of aerobic, resistance, and combined aerobic and resistance exercise did not appear to exacerbate pain symptoms in people with RA.

Conclusion:

Post-exercise responses for pain, clinical inflammatory markers and inflammatory cytokines were not different between people with or without RA. Exercise prescription was variable between studies, which limited between-study comparisons. Therefore, future investigations in people with RA are warranted, which combine different exercise modes and intensities to examine acute effects on pain symptoms and inflammatory markers.

Registration:

The PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews – CRD42018091155.