bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emotionen im Rettungsdienst
Authors: Völker Juliane , Flohr-Devaud Mira E. F.
Published: August 2021

Hintergrund

Rettungskräfte müssen im Notfalleinsatz häufig mit emotional belastenden Situationen und ihren eigenen Reaktionen auf menschliches Leid umgehen. Wir untersuchten Rettungskräfte hinsichtlich ihrer Empathie und emotionalen Reaktivität sowie Strategien zur Emotionsregulation und Bewältigung schwieriger Situationen und stellten Zusammenhänge zum chronischen Stresserleben her. Zum Vergleich diente eine studentische Vergleichsstichprobe, welche keine medizinischen Berufserfahrungen vorwies.

Methode

Stress, Empathie, Emotionsregulation und Bewältigungsstrategien wurden mittels einer Fragebogenbatterie erfasst. Emotionale Reaktivität wurde experimentell mit normiertem Bildmaterial zur Erzeugung von Ekel, Trauer, Angst und Freude untersucht, welches auf einer mehrstufigen Skala von angenehm bis unangenehm beurteilt wurde.

Ergebnisse

Rettungskräfte (n = 161) erlebten weniger Stress, waren weniger empathisch und machten seltener oder ähnlichen Gebrauch von Strategien zur Emotionsregulation und Bewältigung wie Studierende (n = 56). Sie empfanden zudem ekel- und trauerauslösende Bilder weniger unangenehm. Mehr Reaktivität auf Ekelbilder, mehr Empathie, Emotionsunterdrückung und vermeidende Bewältigungsstrategien waren mit mehr Stress assoziiert.

Konklusion

Eine verminderte, jedoch nicht niedrige Empathie könnte im Einsatz hilfreich zur emotionalen Abschirmung sein, während nach dem Einsatz eine aktive Auseinandersetzung mit eigenen Emotionen und erlebten kritischen Situationen adaptiv zum Schutz vor Stress erscheint.
Digital and competing information sources: Impact on environmental concern and prospects for international policy cooperation
Authors: Udalov Vladimir , Welfens Paul J. J.
Published: August 2021

The environmental concern of people in industrialized and developing countries is analyzed. Using the 2010–2014 wave of the World Value Survey (WVS), the main purpose of our analysis is to investigate the effect of different information sources on the affective, conative and behavioral components of the environmental concern of people in the developed and developing countries. As independent variables, we use a set of economic data as well as information-related variables, including the internet, mobile phones, TV, radio and newspapers. The digital variables of the internet and mobile phones turn out to have a highly significant impact on environmental concern so that digital modernization of countries should have pro-environmental impacts as a side effect of internet and mobile phone services expansion. With the developing countries catching-up vis-à-vis the OECD countries in the field of mobile phone density and internet density, respectively, one may expect better prospects for cooperation between developed and developing countries since attitudes/the environmental concern of people in developed and developing countries will become more similar. For international green cooperation and climate change policy progress, the new findings presented herein are crucial.
Prescription patterns of direct oral anticoagulants and concomitant use of interacting medications in the Netherlands
Authors: Harskamp R. E. , Himmelreich J. C. L. , Wong G. W. M. , Teichert M.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

To describe the prevalence, temporal and regional trends in prescribing direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in conjunction with interacting medications.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of pharmacy dispensing data in the Foundation for Pharmaceutical Statistics (SFK) registry on patients who have had a prescription for a DOAC filled at one of 831 randomly selected pharmacies in the Netherlands between Jan 2014–Jan 2019.

Results

We identified 99,211 patients who had a first DOAC prescription filled. Mean age was 71.6 ± 10.9 years, 58% were male. In 2014, 8,293 patients were treated with DOACs, in 2018, 35,415 were newly started on a DOAC. In 2018, the use of apixaban was most common (52%) in the Eastern region, whereas rivaroxaban was most frequently prescribed (32–48%) in the other regions. At time of first prescription, the vast majority (99.3%) used ≥ 1 concomitant interacting drug, and 3.2% used ≥ 3 interacting medications. Most common were digoxin (37.8%), atorvastatin (31.5%), verapamil (13.7%) and amiodarone (9.7%). While the number of interacting medications remained unchanged over time (median 1, interquartile range 1–1), there was a notable decrease in antiarrhythmic medications and an increase in non-cardiovascular interacting medications (e.g. dexamethasone from 0.9% to 7.1%, antiepileptic drugs from 2.5% to 3.8%, and haloperidol from 0.5% to 2.2% in 2014 and 2018, respectively).

Conclusion

DOAC use has quadrupled in Dutch clinical practice over the 5‑year period from 2014 to 2018. While the number of patients who take interacting medications remained stable, the profile of interacting medications has changed over time from cardiovascular to medications affecting other organ systems.
Experimental noise source identification in a fuselage test environment based on nearfield acoustical holography
Authors: Ungnad S. , Sachau D. , Wandel M. , Thomas C.
Published: August 2021

A major challenge in the subject of noise exposure in airplanes is to achieve a desired transmission loss of lightweight structures in the low-frequency range. To make use of appropriate noise reduction methods, identification of dominant acoustic sources is required. It is possible to determine noise sources by measuring the sound field quantity, sound pressure, as well as its gradient and calculating sound intensity by post-processing. Since such a measurement procedure entails a large amount of resources, alternatives need to be established. With nearfield acoustical holography in the 1980s, a method came into play which enabled engineers to inversely determine sources of sound by just measuring sound pressures at easily accessible locations in the hydrodynamic nearfield of sound-emitting structures. This article presents an application of nearfield acoustical holography in the aircraft fuselage model Acoustic Flight-Lab at the Center of Applied Aeronautical Research in Hamburg, Germany. The necessary sound pressure measurement takes one hour approximately and is carried out by a self-moving microphone frame. In result, one gets a complete picture of active sound intensity at cavity boundaries up to a frequency of 300 Hz. Results are compared to measurement data.
Traffic Impact Assessment for the Stadiums Hosting FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar: A Case Study
Authors: Tahmasseby Shahram , Reddipalayam Palaniappan Subramania Padmanaban
Published: August 2021

The State of Qatar has made extensive preparation to successfully host the upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup, a tournament that will be held for the first time in the Middle East and the North Africa region. In preparation for this tournament, a wide-ranging operational strategy is being developed for each of the stadiums separately. This paper looks into the preparation stages of master planning and transport strategy for one of the hosting venues, which is located in Al Rayyan, Qatar. An overview of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) tournament, its assumptions, spatial planning, traffic modeling, Temporary Traffic Management, and the required mitigations from the transport operations perspective alongside the lessons learned are discussed in the paper.
Development and Implementation of a Rotating Nanoimprint Lithography Tool for Orthogonal Imprinting on Edges of Curved Surfaces
Authors: Supreeti Shraddha , Schienbein Ralf , Feßer Patrick , Fern Florian , Hoffmann Martin , Sinzinger Stefan
Published: August 2021

Uniform molding and demolding of structures on highly curved surfaces through conformal contact is a crucial yet often-overlooked aspect of nanoimprint lithography (NIL). This study describes the development of a NIL tool and its integration into a nanopositioning and nanomeasuring machine to achieve high-precision orthogonal molding and demolding for soft ultraviolet-assisted NIL (soft UV-NIL). The process was implemented primarily on the edges of highly curved plano-convex substrates to demonstrate structure uniformity on the edges. High-resolution nanostructures of sub-200-nm lateral dimension and microstructures in the range of tens of microns were imprinted. However, the nanostructures on the edges of the large, curved substrates were difficult to characterize precisely. Therefore, microstructures were used to measure the structure fidelity and were characterized using profilometry, white light interferometry, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Regardless of the restricted imaging capabilities at high inclinations for high-resolution nanostructures, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging of the structures on top of the lens substrate and at an inclination of 45° was performed. The micro and nanostructures were successfully imprinted on the edges of the plano-convex lens at angles of 45°, 60°,and 90° from the center of rotation of the rotating NIL tool. The method enables precise imprinting at high inclinations, thereby presenting a different approach to soft UV-NIL on curved surfaces.
Modelling evaporation in electron-beam physical vapour deposition of thermal barrier coatings
Authors: Chevallier Julie , Isern Luis , Almandoz Forcen Koldo , Chalk Christine , Nicholls John R.
Published: August 2021

This work presents computational models of ingot evaporation for electron-beam physical vapour deposition (EB-PVD) that can be applied to the deposition and development of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). TBCs are insulating coatings that protect aero-engine components from high temperatures, which can be above the component’s melting point. The development of advanced TBCs is fuelled by the need to improve engine efficiency by increasing the engine operating temperature. Rare-earth zirconates (REZ) have been proposed as the next-generation TBCs due to their low coefficient of thermal conductivity and resistance to molten calcium-magnesium alumina-silicates (CMAS). However, the evaporation of REZ has proven to be challenging, with some coatings displaying compositional segregation across their thickness. The computational models form part of a larger analytical model that spans the whole EB-PVD process. The computational models focus on ingot evaporation, have been implemented in MATLAB and include data from 6 oxides: ZrO2, Y2O3, Gd2O3, Er2O3, La2O3 and Yb2O3. Two models (2D and 3D) successfully evaluate the evaporation rates of constituent oxides from multiple-REZ ingots, which can be used to highlight incompatibilities and preferential evaporation of some of these oxides. A third model (local composition activated, LCA) successfully predicts the evaporation rate of the whole ingot and replicates the cyclic change in composition of the evaporated plume, which is manifested as changes in compositional segregation across the coating’s thickness. The models have been validated with experimental data from Cranfield University’s EB-PVD coaters, published vapour pressure calculations and evaporation rate formulas described in the literature.
Uncovering knowledge on travel behaviour during COVID-19: a convergent parallel mixed-methods study in the context of Italy
Authors: Del Chiappa Giacomo , Bregoli Ilenia , Atzeni Marcello
Published: August 2021

Against the background of uncertainty and crisis generated by COVID-19, academics and practitioners have struggled to envision how travelling behaviour will be transformed by the pandemic and when it will resume. Despite its relevance to both theory and practice, current research devoted to this research strand is still in its early stages. This study, reliant on Protection Motivation Theory, was conducted in order to assess the ways in which travellers’ preferences are changing as a result of the coping strategies they adopt to protect themselves from the health crisis. To do this, a convergent parallel mixed method approach (data validation variant) was applied to a sample of 4,539 completed questionnaires, collected in Italy, which included 1,577 usable qualitative answers. A factor-cluster analysis was carried out on the quantitative data. Two factors driving destination choice emerged, namely: “Personal protective equipment, sanitation, and physical distancing” and “Outdoor and under-crowded tourism attractions and destinations”. The cluster analysis divided individuals into three groups: “All-round concerned tourists”, “Middle-concerned tourists”, and “Outdoor-driven tourists”. Finally, a series of chi-square and F-tests revealed that significant differences existed between the clusters, based on socio-demographics and travel-related characteristics (i.e., preferred accommodation facilities and means of transport, geographical scale of travelling, and travel companions). Quantitative results were then merged with qualitative results, allowing us to further deepen our understanding of travel behaviours during the pandemic and the related coping strategies. Contributions to this body of knowledge and managerial implications are discussed and suggestions for further research are given.
Are Mastery-Oriented College Students Better Time Managers?
Authors: Romero Miriam , Juola James F. , Casadevante Cristina , Hernández José Manuel , Santacreu José
Published: August 2021

Goal orientation and time management have been major components of most self-regulated learning models. They are also especially relevant for adaptative outcomes in the field of education. Goal orientation and time management have traditionally been measured through self-reports, and, although few studies have explored both variables, a positive and significant relation between them has been reported. However, it has been questioned whether people can provide accurate information about their own behavior. Therefore, there is a need for new and less subjective measures to assess these variables. In the present work, we administered objective tests to study goal orientation and time management to expand upon previous findings. Results indicated that goal orientation and time management measured objectively show a positive and significant relation. Mastery-oriented students manage their time more efficiently. Performance-oriented students tend to complete activities with lower values and initiate more task interruptions, resulting in less efficient time management.
Mechanical and thermal stability of retained austenite in plastically deformed bainite-based TRIP-aided medium-Mn steels
Authors: Kozłowska Aleksandra , Grajcar Adam , Janik Aleksandra , Radwański Krzysztof , Krupp Ulrich , Matus Krzysztof , Morawiec Mateusz
Published: August 2021

Advanced medium-Mn sheet steels show an opportunity for the development of cost-effective and light-weight automotive parts with improved safety and optimized environmental performance. These steels utilize the strain-induced martensitic transformation of metastable retained austenite to improve the strength–ductility balance. The improvement of mechanical performance is related to the tailored thermal and mechanical stabilities of retained austenite. The mechanical stability of retained austenite was estimated in static tensile tests over a wide temperature range from 20 °C to 200 °C. The thermal stability of retained austenite during heating at elevated temperatures was assessed by means of dilatometry. The phase composition and microstructure evolution were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques. It was shown that the retained austenite stability shows a pronounced temperature dependence and is also stimulated by the manganese addition in a 3–5% range.
Roles of small RNAs in crop disease resistance
Authors: Tang Jun , Gu Xueting , Liu Junzhong , He Zuhua
Published: August 2021

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are a class of short, non-coding regulatory RNAs that have emerged as critical components of defense regulatory networks across plant kingdoms. Many sRNA-based technologies, such as host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), artificial microRNA (amiRNA) and synthetic trans-acting siRNA (syn-tasiRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi), have been developed as disease control strategies in both monocot and dicot plants, particularly in crops. This review aims to highlight our current understanding of the roles of sRNAs including miRNAs, heterochromatic siRNAs (hc-siRNAs), phased, secondary siRNAs (phasiRNAs) and natural antisense siRNAs (nat-siRNAs) in disease resistance, and sRNAs-mediated trade-offs between defense and growth in crops. In particular, we focus on the diverse functions of sRNAs in defense responses to bacterial and fungal pathogens, oomycete and virus in crops. Further, we highlight the application of sRNA-based technologies in protecting crops from pathogens. Further research perspectives are proposed to develop new sRNAs-based efficient strategies to breed non-genetically modified (GMO), disease-tolerant crops for sustainable agriculture.
Laparoscopic appendectomy with left lateral tilt in pregnant women in the second and third trimesters: A clinical case series in a single Vietnam centre
Authors: Hoc Tran Hieu , Son Tran Que , Long Vu Duc , Tung Tran Thanh , Huong Tran Thu , Quyet Nguyen Chien , Vu Quang Nguyen , Panha Lun
Published: August 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The presentation of acute appendicitis during pregnancy may cause diagnostic and therapeutic difficulty. Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is widely accepted as a minimally invasive procedure for acute appendicitis. However, LA during the second and third trimesters is associated with problems, including technical difficulty, a risk of foetal loss and preterm delivery.

Method:

Clinical data were retrospectively collected and analysed between April 2016 and April 2021. A telephone questionnaire was administered in cases of missing data. The clinical information obtained included a detailed medical and obstetric history; preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data; complications; and pregnancy outcomes.

Results:

There were a total of eighteen patients in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters who had undergone emergent laparoscopic appendectomy with a left lateral tilt of 70–90°. The gestational age at the time of surgery ranged from 20 to 35 weeks. The time to complete the first trocar for the camera ranged from 3 to 6 min, the operation time ranged from 30 to 60 min, and the length of hospital stay was 2–8 days. There were 5 procedures performed in the 3rd trimester. None of the cases required conversion to an open procedure, and all were without postoperative complications. Only one miscarriage complication was reported among a total of 4 patients with peritonitis.

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrated that urgent laparoscopic surgeries are feasible and can be safely performed with minimal risk for patients and foetuses in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Larger prospective studies are required to validate these findings.

Highlights
Surgical Therapy After Failed Feminizing Genitoplasty in Young Adults with Disorders of Sex Development: Retrospective Analysis and Review of the Literature
Authors: Ellerkamp Verena , Rall Kristin Katharina , Schaefer Juergen , Stefanescu Diana , Schoeller Dorit , Brucker Sara , Fuchs Joerg
Published: August 2021

Background

Secondary vaginal stenosis may occur after reconstruction of genital malformations in childhood or after failed vaginal aplasia repair in adults.

Aim

This study focusses on the results of the surgical treatment of these patients in our multidisciplinary transitional disorders/differences of sex development team of pediatric surgeons and gynecologists.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was carried out on adult and female identified disorders/differences of sex development patients with vaginal stenoses treated between 2015 and 2018 in a single center with revision vaginoplasty. The underlying type of malformation, the number and surgical techniques of vaginoplasties in infancy, techniques of revision of the stenotic vagina, vaginal length and caliber, possibility of sexual intercourse, and temporary vaginal dilatation. A review of literature with regard to recommended surgical techniques of revision vaginoplasties was accomplished.

Outcomes

To describe the surgical technique, the main outcome measures of this study are vaginal calipers after revision vaginoplasty as well as ability for sexual intercourse.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients presented with vaginal stenosis with a median age of 19 years (range 16–31). All patients had one or more different types of vaginoplasties in their medical history, with a median age at first vaginoplasty of 15 months (0–233). Underlying anatomical conditions were urogenital sinus (n = 8), vaginal agenesis (n = 2), persistent cloacae (n = 2), and cloacal exstrophy (n = 1). The main symptoms were disability of sexual intercourse in 13 patients due to stenotic vaginal tissue. The most frequently performed surgical technique was partial urogenital mobilization with a perineal or lateral flaps (n = 10), followed by bowel vaginoplasty (n = 2), in 1 patient a revision vaginoplasty failed due to special anatomical conditions. In a median follow-up of 11 months, all but one patient presented with physiological vaginal length and width, and normal sexual intercourse in those with a partnership.

Clinical Implications

Perineal flap with partial urogenital mobilization should be considered as a treatment of choice in severe cases of distal vaginal stenosis and after multiple failed former vaginoplasties, while bowel vaginoplasty should be reserved only for cases of complete cicatrization or high located stenosis of the vagina.

Strengths & Limitations

The strength of this study is the detailed description of several cases while the retrospective character is a limitation.

CONCLUSION

In patients after feminizing genital repair, perineal flap with partial urogenital mobilization provides a normal anatomical outcome and allows unproblematic sexual intercourse.
Dinosaurs
Authors: Fastovsky David E. , Weishampel David B. , Sibbick John
Published: August 2021

The ideal textbook for non-science majors, this lively and engaging introduction encourages students to ask questions, assess data critically and think like a scientist. Building on the success of previous editions, Dinosaurs has been thoroughly updated to include new discoveries in the field, such as the toothed bird specimens found in China and recent discoveries of dinosaur soft anatomy. Illustrations by leading paleontological illustrator John Sibbick and new, carefully-chosen photographs, clearly show how dinosaurs looked, lived and their role in Earth history. Making science accessible and relevant through clear explanations and extensive illustrations, the text guides students through the dinosaur groups, emphasizing scientific concepts rather than presenting endless facts. Grounded in the common language of modern evolutionary biology – phylogenetic systematics – students learn to think about dinosaurs the way that professional paleontologists do.
Introduction to Complex Variables and Applications
Authors: Ablowitz Mark J. , Fokas Athanassios S.
Published: August 2021

The study of complex variables is beautiful from a purely mathematical point of view, and very useful for solving a wide array of problems arising in applications. This introduction to complex variables, suitable as a text for a one-semester course, has been written for undergraduate students in applied mathematics, science, and engineering. Based on the authors' extensive teaching experience, it covers topics of keen interest to these students, including ordinary differential equations, as well as Fourier and Laplace transform methods for solving partial differential equations arising in physical applications. Many worked examples, applications, and exercises are included. With this foundation, students can progress beyond the standard course and explore a range of additional topics, including generalized Cauchy theorem, Painlevé equations, computational methods, and conformal mapping with circular arcs. Advanced topics are labeled with an asterisk and can be included in the syllabus or form the basis for challenging student projects.
ON COMPLEX ECONOMIC SCENARIO GENERATORS: IS LESS MORE?
Authors: Bégin Jean-François
Published: August 2021

This article proposes a complex economic scenario generator that nests versions of well-known actuarial frameworks. The generator estimation relies on the Bayesian paradigm and accounts for both model and parameter uncertainty via Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. So, to the questionis less more?, we answer maybe, but it depends on your criteria. From an in-sample fit perspective, on the one hand, a complex economic scenario generator seems better. From the conservatism, forecasting and coverage perspectives, on the other hand, the situation is less clear: having more complex models for the short rate, term structure and stock index returns is clearly beneficial. However, that is not the case for inflation and the dividend yield.
Promises Made to Be Broken: Performance and Performativity in Digital Vaccine and Immunity Certification
Authors: MILAN Stefania , VEALE Michael , TAYLOR Linnet , GÜRSES Seda
Published: August 2021

Digital vaccination certification involves making many promises, few of which can realistically be kept. In this paper, we demonstrate how this phenomenon constitutes various forms of theatre – immunity theatre, border theatre, behavioural theatre and equality theatre – doing so by drawing on perspectives from technology regulation, migration studies and critical geopolitics. Technological theatre and political theatre often serve valid functions, but these forms are problematic for several reasons. First, they involve real-world infrastructures that, while unlikely to accomplish the task at hand, will nevertheless last a long time and be repurposed. They therefore constitute governance by data infrastructure, diverting action and control away from elected legislators to for-profit contractors. Second, vaccine certification effectively legitimises inequalities between countries and people by formalising ways to distinguish between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated and to exclude the latter, thus reinforcing both mobility and connectivity divides. It serves as a way to (further) close borders and to regulate, through code and infrastructure, access to public goods such as employment and public space. Finally, the project of certification displaces a more important action, namely addressing the radical inequality in countries’ ability to combat the pandemic.
Stability and the transition to turbulence in the flow through conduits with compliant walls
Authors: Kumaran V.
Published: August 2021

The mechanisms of destabilisation of the flow through soft-walled channels/tubes are qualitatively different from those in rigid-walled conduits. The stability depends on two dimensionless parameters, the Reynolds number

$(\rho _f V_f h_f/ \mu _f)$

and

$\varSigma = (\rho _f G h_f^{2}/\mu _f^{2})$

, where

$\rho _f$

and

$\mu _f$

are the fluid density and viscosity,

$h_f$

and

$V_f$

are the fluid length and velocity scale and

$G$

is the wall elasticity modulus. There is an instability at zero Reynolds number when the dimensionless parameter

$\varGamma = (\mu _f V_f / h_f G)$

exceeds a critical value. The low-Reynolds-number instability of the Couette flow past a compliant surface is well understood, and has been confirmed in experiments, but that in a pressure-driven flow is not completely understood. Two modes of instability at high Reynolds number have been predicted: the inviscid mode with an internal viscous layer, for which the transition Reynolds number scales as

${Re}_t \propto \varSigma ^{1/2}$

; and the wall mode instability with a viscous layer at the wall, for which

${Re}_t \propto \varSigma ^{3/4}$

. The wall mode instability has been observed in experiments at Reynolds number as low as 300 in a soft-walled tube and as low as 100 in a channel with one compliant wall, though the scaling of the transition Reynolds number differs from the theoretical prediction due to substantial wall deformation. Though the flow after transition shares many of the characteristics of hard-wall turbulence, it differs in significant ways, suggesting that soft-wall turbulence is a separate class distinct from hard-wall turbulence.
A Mathematical Description of the Agricultural Fields of the Acolhua Codices Vergara and Santa María Asunción
Authors: Jorge María del Carmen , Garza-Hume Clara Eugenia , Chávez Ramiro
Published: August 2021

We carry out a mathematical analysis of the quadrilateral fields from Codex Santa María Asunción and compare it with similar previous results from Codex Vergara, as well as analyze fields with more than four sides from both codices. We also provide a computational tool to draw all the possible shapes of the fields. Finally, we use the concept of maximum area to test the feasibility of the areas recorded in the codices and conclude that the Acolhua were very good surveyors.
The (mis)conception of average Quaternary conditions
Authors: Spagnolo Matteo , Rea Brice R. , Barr Iestyn
Published: August 2021

The concept of Quaternary average conditions has gained popularity over the past few decades, especially with studies of long-term landscape evolution. In this paper, we critically assess this concept by analyzing the marine isotope record (LR04 δ18O stack) relative to the Quaternary. This shows that the frequency and amplitude of climate glacial-interglacial cycles are not constant throughout the Quaternary, with a clear change during the Middle Pleistocene Transition (MPT), and that many minor oscillations exist within each cycle. For this reason, the identification of pre- and post-MPT most-frequent and, cumulatively, longest-lasting (rather than average) conditions is recommended. The most-frequent pre-MPT δ18O value of 3.725 ± 0.025‰ last occurred during 11.31–11.47 ka, while the most-frequent post-MPT δ18O value of 4.475 ± 0.025‰ last occurred during 14.81–15.04 ka. However, many other δ18O values were almost as frequent throughout the Quaternary and we present geomorphological reasons as to why it is unlikely that the present-day landscape reflects Quaternary average or, indeed, most-frequent conditions. Collectively, our results indicate that extreme caution should be taken when attempting to infer long-term landscape evolution processes (including the buzzsaw hypothesis) based on average Quaternary conditions.
Magnetic resonance non-echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging accuracy in detecting cholesteatoma in comparison with clinical and surgical findings
Authors: Al Zuhir N , Zammit-Maempel I , Yates P , Dixon J
Published: August 2021

Objective

Magnetic resonance imaging utilising non-echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging is known to have high sensitivity and specificity in detecting cholesteatoma.

Method

Data was retrospectively collected from patients who had undergone non-echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2016. The ratio of average pixel grey-scale values between the middle-ear lesion, pons and temporal lobe was used to quantify the degree of restricted diffusion and assess the statistical significance to detect cholesteatoma.

Results

A total of 107 patients had non-echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging during the study period. Non-echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging shows good specificity and sensitivity with an excellent positive predictive value and accuracy. Analysis of the grey-scale pixel ratio for cholesteatoma detection showed statistically significant results.

Conclusion

Non-echo planar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is accurate for cholesteatoma assessment. When the middle-ear lesion non-echo planar diffusion-weighted imaging intensity is higher than the ipsilateral temporal lobe, it is highly suggestive of a cholesteatoma formation.
Game theoretic modeling of economic denial of sustainability (EDoS) attack in cloud computing
Authors: Lalropuia KC , Khaitan (nee Gupta) Vandana
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we develop a novel game theoretic model of the interactions between an EDoS attacker and the defender based on a signaling game that is a dynamic game of incomplete information. We then derive the best defense strategies for the network defender to respond to the EDoS attacks. That is, we compute the perfect Bayesian Nash Equilibrium (PBE) of the proposed game model such as the pooling PBE, separating PBE and mixed strategy PBE. In the pooling equilibrium, each type of the attacker takes the same action and the attacker's type is not revealed to the defender, whereas in the separating equilibrium, each type of the attacker uses different actions and hence the attacker's type is completely revealed to the defender. On the other hand, in the mixed strategy PBE, both the attacker and the defender randomize their strategies to optimize their payoffs. Numerical illustration is also presented to show the efficacy of the proposed model.
The First Readers of Lyndwood's Provinciale
Authors: Cavill Paul
Published: August 2021

The Provinciale (1430) is among the most significant and long-lived works of English ecclesiastical law. It edited and commented upon the legislation of the Province of Canterbury. This article explores the work's initial dissemination and early readership. It is based on an examination of the surviving manuscripts. The first owners of these manuscripts were almost all secular and religious clergy. Differences in content between the copies show how Lyndwood's work was modified. In particular, his edition became detached from his commentary. The manuscripts also reveal readers’ responses to the work. Marginal annotations indicate the individual, collective and academic ways in which early users engaged. Manuscripts were kept up to date through the addition of new laws, but not consistently or for very long. They continued to be consulted alongside the first printed editions of the work. Study of these manuscripts establishes the wide reception and influence of the Provinciale in pre-Reformation England.
‘Crude’ Alliance – Economic Decolonisation and Oil Power in the Non-Aligned World
Authors: Spaskovska Ljubica
Published: August 2021

The article examines Yugoslavia's and by extension the Non-Aligned Movement's relations with the Middle East, reflecting more broadly on the developmental hierarchies and inner divides between the oil producing and non-oil producing countries within the Movement. The ‘energy shocks’ of the 1970s had a dramatic impact on non-OPEC developing countries and sowed long-lasting rifts in the non-aligned/developing world. The article embeds these events within the debates about the ‘New International Economic Order’ (NIEO), economic decolonisation and the nationalisation of energy resources in the 1970s, but also seeks to provide a longer-term overview of the economic and political relations that non-aligned Yugoslavia sought to forge with the Middle East, in particular with other non-aligned partners such as Egypt, Iraq, Libya and Kuwait. New forms of Cold War developmental multilateralism emerged as a consequence of the energy crisis – the supply of Arab oil to areas which had traditionally relied on Soviet energy not only foreshadowed the emergence of a new hierarchical and dependent relationship between Yugoslavia and the Middle East, it also engendered new forms of economic cooperation and strategic economic multi-alignment through the pooling of resources and expertise from non-aligned, Eastern Bloc states and the United Nations, illustrated here through the Adria Oil Pipeline built in the 1970s and co-financed by Yugoslavia, Kuwait, Libya, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the World Bank.
Adjuvant radiotherapy in primary cardiac sarcoma: case report and literature review
Authors: Al-Hajri Thuraiya , Al-Madailwi Khadija , Hadi Amani
Published: August 2021

Background:

Primary cardiac sarcoma (PCS) is a rare malignancy, and intimal cardiac sarcoma is the rarest. The prognosis is poor with mean survival of 3–12 months even with complete radical resection. There has been no randomised controlled trial or standard guidelines for management of cardiac sarcomas. Treatment is extrapolated from case reports and series.

Case presentation:

A 59-year-old male diagnosed with primary intimal cardiac sarcoma underwent wide local excision with positive margins. Adjuvant radiotherapy to a total dose of 60 Gray (Gy) was given with good tolerance.

Conclusions:

Intimal cardiac sarcoma is rare. The risk of local recurrence is high, and efforts must be made to elucidate the role and usefulness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in these tumours.
The prevalence of arm lymphedema after radiation treatment in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Sueangamiam Kamonrat , Rongsriyam Kanisa
Published: August 2021

Aim:

To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of arm lymphedema in patients with breast cancer.

Materials and methods:

Between 2006 and 2017, we investigated patients with breast cancer after breast surgery who received adjuvant radiotherapy at the breast or chest wall, and/or adjuvant radiotherapy at regional lymph nodes, and standard systemic chemotherapy depending on disease stage and risk factors. We assessed arm lymphedema using arm circumference measurement differences on the treated side compared with the opposite arm (≥2 cm measurements at any one position). Associations between arm lymphedema and potential risk factors were identified using statistical analysis.

Results:

In 308 patients, arm lymphedema prevalence was 6·2%. Patients having ≥20 lymph nodes removed (hazard ratio (HR) = 3·29; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1·12–8·87), undergoing regional lymph node irradiation (HR = 1·81; 95% CI: 1·09–13·28), and no arm and shoulder exercises after treatment (HR = 3·16; 95% CI: 1·89–5·26) had a higher risk of arm lymphedema.

Findings:

Arm lymphedema is a serious breast cancer complication and is a preventable morbidity. Planning arm and shoulder exercises in line with adjuvant treatments and increasing clinical awareness of early indications could help lower the risk of occurrence.
Toward a genealogy of the police idea in imperial Japan: a synthesis
Authors: Ward Max
Published: August 2021

This paper explores how Japanese officials and others conceptualized police power at particular junctures in imperial Japanese history (1868–1945). It does so by synthesizing prior scholarship on the Japanese police into a broader genealogy of the police idea in prewar Japan, beginning with the first translations and explanations of police in the Meiji period, the changing perceptions of the police in the 1910s, and the evolution from the “national police” idea in the 1920s to the “emperor's police” in the late 1930s. The essay proposes that the police idea in Japan (and elsewhere) can be read as a boundary concept in which the changing conceptions of police power demarcate the shifting relationship between state and society. Indeed, it is the elusiveness of this boundary that allows for police power – and by extension, state power – to function within society and transform in response to social conditions. Approached in this way, the essay argues that the different permutations of the police idea index the evolving modality of state power in prewar Japan, and thus allows us to reconsider some of the defining questions of imperial Japanese history.
The Lived Experiences of Pregnancy and Motherhood in Bosnian Women During COVID-19
Authors: Draganović Selvira , Bosankić Nina , Ramic Jasmina
Published: August 2021

Abstract. Introduction: Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal period result in series of psychological, physical, relational and emotional changes and adjustments while during the pandemic pregnant women and mothers of young children must also cope with the fear of themselves, their fetuses, or children being infected. Aim: The aim of study was to explore the lived experiences of pregnant women and mothers living in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 30 Bosnian women, 15 of whom were pregnant and 15 who are mothers that gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic were conducted. Participants were recruited through two local women’s associations. The data was analyzed utilized inductively using an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The study results indicate that both pregnant women and mothers alike described negative and positive feelings about pregnancy and motherhood during the COVID-19 pandemic such as fear and hope. The lived experiences of anxiety and adaptation through two core concepts: trapped in the fear of the unknown and adapting and embracing uncertainty. Discussion: The main themes that emerged from the interviews reveal grounded fear but also adaptability. Even though people have amazing abilities to adapt to adverse life conditions, as women in our study demonstrate, many aspects of the pandemic’s impacts on vulnerable populations are still unexplored. Tailor-made public health strategies such as an online counseling platform should be created to accommodate specific needs and issues of this population.
A Shelter in the Storm – Acceptability and Feasibility of a Brief Clinical Intervention for Suicidal Crisis
Authors: Mansfield Yolanda , Hamilton Sarah , Argus Julie , Wyder Marianne , Macready Rachel , James Bridie , Stewart Coralie , Meehan Tom
Published: August 2021

Abstract. Background: People attending the emergency department (ED) for suicidal crisis are at significantly higher risk of taking their own lives in the week following discharge. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of implementing a brief clinical aftercare intervention provided through Allied Health Brief Therapies (AHBTs) Clinics. Method: Consecutive referrals ( n = 149) to the clinics following assessment in the ED for suicidal crisis formed the study group. This article details participant engagement and retention, service provision, therapeutic alliance, and participant satisfaction with the program. Suicidal ideation and ED utilization 3 months pre-/postintervention were used to assess short-term impact. Results: The study supports the feasibility of implementing a brief aftercare intervention for those presenting to the ED for suicidal crisis. High rates of therapeutic alliance and satisfaction with the clinic intervention were reported by participants. Impact assessments pointed to a significant reduction in both suicidal ideation and ED utilization following the intervention. Limitations: A substantial number of participants had missing follow-up data. Given this and the absence of a control group, findings must be interpreted with caution. Conclusion: The study supports the acceptability and feasibility of implementing AHBT Clinics as a potential adjunct in the aftercare of people in suicidal crisis.
Mere Exposure Effect Is Sometimes Insensitive to Mood Inductions
Authors: Molet Mikael , Craddock Paul , Osroff Alana J. , Li Patty , Livingston Tessa L. , Miller Ralph R.
Published: August 2021

Abstract. The mere exposure effect (MEE) is defined as repeated exposures to a stimulus enhancing affective evaluations of that stimulus ( Zajonc, 1968 ). The three prominent explanations of the MEE are Zajonc's “neophobia” account, the uncertainty reduction account, and the perceptual fluency approach. Zajonc's “neophobia” account posits that people have an inherent low level of fear of novel objects and exposure to the objects partially extinguishes this novelty-based fear. The uncertainty reduction account asserts that people find uncertainty aversive and habituation reduces uncertainty. The fluency account postulates that people “like” representations of things with which they are fluent. In four experiments, we induced positive and negative moods before or after target exposures. In addition to assessing the MEE in each condition, we assessed the mood induction. The central hypothesis assessed in this series was that there would be an interaction between mood and the MEE. Although the three accounts of the MEE generated divergent predictions, none of the accounts were well supported by the data. Tests for mood induction demonstrated the efficacy of the induction procedures and the MEE was consistently observed, but Bayesian analysis indicated that at least in the present preparation mood had no effect on the MEE.
Deriving Tropospheric Transit Time Distributions Using Airborne Trace Gas Measurements: Uncertainty and Information Content
Authors: Chelpon Sofia M. , Pan Laura L. , Luo Zhengzhao J. , Atlas Elliot L. , Honomichl Shawn B. , Smith Warren P. , Wang Siyuan , Ullmann Kirk , Hall Samuel R. , Apel Eric C. , Hornbrook Rebecca S.
Published: August 2021

This study investigates the use of airborne in situ measurements to derive transit time distributions (TTD) from the boundary layer (BL) to the upper troposphere (UT) over the highly convective tropical western Pacific (TWP). The feasibility of this method is demonstrated using 42 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measured during the Convective Transport of Active Species in the Tropics (CONTRAST) experiment. Two important approximations necessary for the application are the constant chemical lifetimes for each compound and the representation of the BL source by the local CONTRAST data. To characterize uncertainties associated with the first approximation, we quantify the changes in derived TTDs when chemical lifetimes are estimated using conditions of the BL, UT, and tropospheric average. With the support of a trajectory model study in a companion paper, we characterize the BL source region contributing to the transport to the sampled UT. In addition to the TTDs derived using a regional average, we analyze the potential information content in locally averaged measurements to represent the dynamical variability of the region. Around 150 TTDs, derived using measurements on a ∼100 km spatial scale, show a distribution of mean and mode transit times consistent with the wide range of convective conditions encountered during the campaign. Two extreme cases, with the shortest and the near‐longest TTD, are examined using the dynamical background of the measurements and back trajectory analyses. The result provides physical consistency supporting the hypothesis that sufficient information can be obtained from measurements to resolve dynamical variability of the region.