bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of automated oxygen control on clinical outcomes in preterm infants: a pre- and post-implementation cohort study
Authors: Salverda H. H. , Oldenburger N. J. , Rijken M. , Pauws S. C. , Dargaville P. A. , te Pas A. B.
Published: February 2021

Several studies demonstrated an increase in time spent within target range when automated oxygen control (AOC) is used. However the effect on clinical outcome remains unclear. We compared clinical outcomes of preterm infants born before and after implementation of AOC as standard of care. In a retrospective pre-post implementation cohort study of outcomes for infants of 24–29 weeks gestational age receiving respiratory support before (2012–2015) and after (2015–2018) implementation of AOC as standard of care were compared. Outcomes of interest were mortality and complications of prematurity, number of ventilation days, and length of stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A total of 588 infants were included (293 pre- vs 295 in the post-implementation cohort), with similar gestational age (27.8 weeks pre- vs 27.6 weeks post-implementation), birth weight (1033 grams vs 1035 grams) and other baseline characteristics. Mortality and rate of prematurity complications were not different between the groups. Length of stay in NICU was not different, but duration of invasive ventilation was shorter in infants who received AOC (6.4 ± 10.1 vs 4.7 ± 8.3, p = 0.029).

Conclusion: In this pre-post comparison, the implementation of AOC did not lead to a change in mortality or morbidity during admission.

What is Known:• Prolonged and intermittent oxygen saturation deviations are associated with mortality and prematurity-related morbidities.• Automated oxygen controllers can increase the time spent within oxygen saturation target range.What is New:• Implementation of automated oxygen control as standard of care did not lead to a change in mortality or morbidity during admission.• In the period after implementation of automated oxygen control, there was a shift toward more non-invasive ventilation.
Verbesserung des Recyclings von Elektrokleingeräten bei Erstbehandlern und Steigerung der Metallausbeute durch Einsatz des Magnetabscheiders
Authors: Borowski Christian , Glimm Andreas , Pieplow Michael
Published: February 2021

In den vergangenen Jahren hat sich die Nutzung von Wertstoffen aus Elektroaltgeräten auf Grund von Quotenregelungen erhöht. Die Verbesserung der Ausbringung von Wertstoffen ist ein Ziel, mit dem sich die hier beschriebenen Forschungsvorhaben beschäftigen. Untersucht wurden Möglichkeiten zur verbesserten Separierung von Metallen aus Elektrokleingeräten bei Erstbehandlern durch den Einsatz marktverfügbarer und kostengünstiger Aufbereitungstechnik und Optimierungspotentiale unter Verwendung eines entwickelten Multimetallseparators. Auftretende Probleme sowie Aspekte einer repräsentativen Beprobung von zerkleinertem Elektroschrott < 8 mm wurden ebenso betrachtet.
Mycelial culture extracts of selected wood-decay mushrooms as a source of skin-protecting factors
Authors: Sułkowska-Ziaja Katarzyna , Grabowska Karolina , Apola Anna , Kryczyk-Poprawa Agata , Muszyńska Bożena
Published: February 2021

Objectives

This study analyzed the content of substances with cosmetologic properties in the extracts obtained from the mycelial cultures of Ganoderma applanatum, Laetiporus sulphureus, and Trametes versicolor. The effect of these extracts on the inhibition of tyrosinase and hyaluronidase was determined, and their values of sun protection factor (SPF) were calculated.

Results

The total amount of phenolic acids in the extracts ranged from 2.69 (G. applanatum) to 10.30 mg/100 g dry weight (T. versicolor). The total amount of sterols was estimated at 48.40 (T. versicolor) to 201.04 mg/100 g dry weight (L. sulphureus), and that of indoles at 2.90 (G. applanatum) to 16.74 mg/100 dry weight (L. sulphureus). Kojic acid was determined in the extracts of L. sulphureus and G. applanatum. It was observed that L. sulphureus extract caused dose-dependent inhibition of hyaluronidase, while all the extracts inhibited tyrosinase. The extract of G. applanatum exhibited an SPF value of ~ 9.

Conclusions

The results showed that the mycelial cultures of the studied species may be used as an alternative source of substances used in cosmetology.
Diagnostic value of echocardiography in paracardiac cystic lesions: 43 cases from one single medical center
Authors: Liu Jinfeng , LV Qing , Wang Jing , Zhang Li , Xie Mingxing , Yang Yali
Published: February 2021

Paracardial cystic lesions (PCLs) are rare, benign lesions and may occur in any part surrounding the heart. It covers a variety of pathological types, including pericardial cysts, thymic cysts, bronchogenic cysts and so on. The aim of this study was to summarize the diagnostic value of echocardiography in different pathological types of the PCLs. Echocardiographic features of 43 consecutive PCL patients treated at the Union Hospital from January 2002 to December 2017 were compared and analyzed with their surgical and pathological findings retrospectively. The PCLs included 19 pericardial cysts, 12 thymic cysts, 7 bronchogenic cysts, 3 cystic teratomas, 1 enteric cyst and 1 lymphangioma. Among them, 29 cases (67.4%) were accurately diagnosed by echocardiography and 14 cases (32.6%) were missed the diagnosis. All diagnosed cysts were showed as thin-walled, monolocular, echo-free structures without blood flow signals in echocardiographic images. 4 patients had compression of the heart and great vessels caused by cysts. In addition, 4 intracardiac lesions were diagnosed by echocardiography and the results were further confirmed in surgery. Echocardiography is of great value in the diagnosis of paracardiac cystic lesions as well as combined intracardiac lesions. Differential diagnosis could be mainly made based on the location of the lesions.
The European committee for the prevention of torture and the gendered experience of imprisonment
Authors: O’Connell Ciara , Aizpurua Eva , Rogan Mary
Published: February 2021

The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) is a supranational prison oversight body tasked with carrying out visits to places of detention across Europe. Prisons fall within the remit of the CPT, and much like prisons themselves, CPT prison visits tend to focus on the male experience of imprisonment. However, the experience of imprisonment is inherently gendered and, as such, the experiences, treatment and needs of cisgender men do not necessarily represent those of cisgender women and transgender people in prison. Therefore, it follows that a different approach is also required when it comes to prison monitoring activities carried out by the CPT. This paper introduces CPT standards and the international legal framework on gender and imprisonment. It reflects on analysis of three years of CPT reporting to explore how the CPT considers the gendered experience of imprisonment. To this end, the paper considers the potential impact of the gender composition of CPT delegations, as well as provides a descriptive content analysis of CPT reports to determine how the CPT accounts for gender-specific treatment and conditions in prison. This paper poses questions and provides suggestions around how gender can be made more central across all human rights monitoring bodies operating in the penal field, both internationally and domestically.
“Alexa, who am I?”: Voice Assistants and Hermeneutic Lemniscate as the Technologically Mediated Sense-Making
Authors: Kudina Olya
Published: February 2021

In this paper, I argue that AI-powered voice assistants, just as all technologies, actively mediate our interpretative structures, including values. I show this by explaining the productive role of technologies in the way people make sense of themselves and those around them. More specifically, I rely on the hermeneutics of Gadamer and the material hermeneutics of Ihde to develop a hermeneutic lemniscate as a principle of technologically mediated sense-making. The lemniscate principle links people, technologies and the sociocultural world in the joint production of meaning and explicates the feedback channels between the three counterparts. When people make sense of technologies, they necessarily engage their moral histories to comprehend new technologies and fit them in daily practices. As such, the lemniscate principle offers a chance to explore the moral dynamics taking place during technological appropriation. Using digital voice assistants as an example, I show how these AI-guided devices mediate our moral inclinations, decisions and even our values, while in parallel suggesting how to use and design them in an informed and critical way.
Examining the reliability of Adaptive Comparative Judgement (ACJ) as an assessment tool in educational settings
Authors: Kimbell Richard
Published: February 2021

Conventional approaches to assessment involve teachers and examiners judging the quality of learners work by reference to lists of criteria or other ‘outcome’ statements. This paper explores a quite different method of assessment using ‘Adaptive Comparative Judgement’ (ACJ) that was developed within a research project at Goldsmiths University of London between 2004 and 2010. The method was developed into a tool that enabled judges to distinguish better/worse performances not by allocating numbers through mark schemes, but rather by direct, holistic, judgement. The tool was successfully deployed through a series of national and international research and development exercises. But game-changing innovations are never flaw-less first time out (Golley, Jet: Frank Whittle and the Invention of the Jet Engine, Datum Publishing, Liphook Hampshire, 2009; Dyson, Against the odds: an autobiography, Texere Publishing, Knutsford Cheshire, 2001) and a series of careful investigations resulted in a problem being identified within the workings of ACJ (Bramley, Investigating the reliability of Adaptive Comparative Judgment, Cambridge Assessment Research Report, UK, Cambridge, 2015). The issue was with the ‘adaptive’ component of the algorithm that, under certain conditions, appeared to exaggerate the reliability statistic. The problem was ‘worked’ by the software company running ACJ and a solution found. This paper reports the whole sequence of events—from the original innovation, through deployment, the emergent problem, and the resulting solution that was published at an international conference (Rangel Smith and Lynch in: PATT36 International Conference. Research & Practice in Technology Education: Perspectives on Human Capacity and Development, 2018) and subsequently deployed within a modified ACJ algorithm.
Identification of model uncertainty via optimal design of experiments applied to a mechanical press
Authors: Gally Tristan , Groche Peter , Hoppe Florian , Kuttich Anja , Matei Alexander , Pfetsch Marc E. , Rakowitsch Martin , Ulbrich Stefan
Published: February 2021

In engineering applications almost all processes are described with the help of models. Especially forming machines heavily rely on mathematical models for control and condition monitoring. Inaccuracies during the modeling, manufacturing and assembly of these machines induce model uncertainty which impairs the controller’s performance. In this paper we propose an approach to identify model uncertainty using parameter identification, optimal design of experiments and hypothesis testing. The experimental setup is characterized by optimal sensor positions such that specific model parameters can be determined with minimal variance. This allows for the computation of confidence regions in which the real parameters or the parameter estimates from different test sets have to lie. We claim that inconsistencies in the estimated parameter values, considering their approximated confidence ellipsoids as well, cannot be explained by data uncertainty but are indicators of model uncertainty. The proposed method is demonstrated using a component of the 3D Servo Press, a multi-technology forming machine that combines spindles with eccentric servo drives.
C3G Regulates STAT3, ERK, Adhesion Signaling, and Is Essential for Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Vishnu Vijay V. , Muralikrishna Bh. , Verma Archana , Nayak Sanjeev Chavan , Sowpati Divya Tej , Radha Vegesna , Shekar P. Chandra
Published: February 2021

C3G (RAPGEF1), engaged in multiple signaling pathways, is essential for the early development of the mouse. In this study, we have examined its role in mouse embryonic stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. C3G null cells generated by CRISPR mediated knock-in of a targeting vector exhibited enhanced clonogenicity and long-term self-renewal. They did not differentiate in response to LIF withdrawal when compared to the wild type ES cells and were defective for lineage commitment upon teratoma formation in vivo. Gene expression analysis of C3G KO cells showed misregulated expression of a large number of genes compared with WT cells. They express higher levels of self-renewal factors like KLF4 and ESRRB and show high STAT3 activity, and very low ERK activity compared to WT cells. Reintroduction of C3G expression in a KO line partially reverted expression of ESRRB, and KLF4, and ERK activity similar to that seen in WT cells. The expression of self-renewal factors was persistent for a longer time, and induction of lineage-specific markers was not seen when C3G KO cells were induced to form embryoid bodies. C3G KO cells showed poor adhesion and significantly reduced levels of pFAK, pPaxillin, and Integrin-β1, in addition to downregulation of the cluster of genes involved in cell adhesion, compared to WT cells. Our results show that C3G is essential for the regulation of STAT3, ERK, and adhesion signaling, to maintain pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells and enable their lineage commitment for differentiation.

Graphical abstract
Anal squamous cell carcinoma in a high HIV prevalence population
Authors: Brogden Danielle R. L. , Khoo Christopher C. , Kontovounisios Christos , Pellino Gianluca , Chong Irene , Tait Diana , Warren Oliver J. , Bower Mark , Tekkis Paris , Mills Sarah. C.
Published: February 2021

Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ASCC) is a rare cancer that has a rapidly increasing incidence in areas with highly developed economies. ASCC is strongly associated with HIV and there appears to be increasing numbers of younger male persons living with HIV (PLWH) diagnosed with ASCC. This is a retrospective cohort study of HIV positive and HIV negative patients diagnosed with primary ASCC between January 2000 and January 2020 in a demographic group with high prevalence rates of HIV. One Hundred and seventy six patients were included, and clinical data was retrieved from multiple, prospective databases. A clinical subgroup was identified in this cohort of younger HIV positive males who were more likely to have had a prior diagnosis of Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (AIN). Gender and HIV status had no effect on staging or disease-free survival. PLWH were more likely to develop a recurrence (p < 0.000) but had a longer time to recurrence than HIV negative patients, however this was not statistically significant (46.1 months vs. 17.5 months; p = 0.077). Patients known to have a previous diagnosis of AIN were more likely to have earlier staging and local tumour excision. Five-year Disease-Free Survival was associated with tumour size and the absence of nodal or metastatic disease (p < 0.000).
Testing the Validity of a Link Function Assumption in Repeated Type-II Censored General Step-Stress Experiments
Authors: Bedbur Stefan , Seiche Thomas
Published: February 2021

In step-stress experiments, test units are successively exposed to higher usually increasing levels of stress to cause earlier failures and to shorten the duration of the experiment. When parameters are associated with the stress levels, one problem is to estimate the parameter corresponding to normal operating conditions based on failure data obtained under higher stress levels. For this purpose, a link function connecting parameters and stress levels is usually assumed, the validity of which is often at the discretion of the experimenter. In a general step-stress model based on multiple samples of sequential order statistics, we provide exact statistical tests to decide whether the assumption of some link function is adequate. The null hypothesis of a proportional, linear, power or log-linear link function is considered in detail, and associated inferential results are stated. In any case, except for the linear link function, the test statistics derived are shown to have only one distribution under the null hypothesis, which simplifies the computation of (exact) critical values. Asymptotic results are addressed, and a power study is performed for testing on a log-linear link function. Some improvements of the tests in terms of power are discussed.
$$v_c$$-Noetherian domains and Krull domains
Authors: Chang Gyu Whan
Published: February 2021

Let D be an integrally closed domain, $$\{V_{\alpha }\}$$

{

V
α

}

be the set of t-linked valuation overrings of D, and $$v_c$$

v
c

be the star operation on D defined by $$I^{v_c} = \bigcap _{\alpha } IV_{\alpha }$$

I

v
c

=

⋂
α

I

V
α

for all nonzero fractional ideals I of D. In this paper, among other things, we prove that D is a $$v_c$$

v
c

-Noetherian domain if and only if D is a Krull domain, if and only if $$v_c = v$$

v
c

=
v

and every prime t-ideal of D is a maximal t-ideal. As a corollary, we have that if D is one-dimensional, then $$v_c = v$$

v
c

=
v

if and only if D is a Dedekind domain.
Artificial intelligence-based predictive model of nanoscale friction using experimental data
Authors: Perčić Marko , Zelenika Saša , Mezić Igor
Published: February 2021

A recent systematic experimental characterisation of technological thin films, based on elaborated design of experiments as well as probe calibration and correction procedures, allowed for the first time the determination of nanoscale friction under the concurrent influence of several process parameters, comprising normal forces, sliding velocities, and temperature, thus providing an indication of the intricate correlations induced by their interactions and mutual effects. This created the preconditions to undertake in this work an effort to model friction in the nanometric domain with the goal of overcoming the limitations of currently available models in ascertaining the effects of the physicochemical processes and phenomena involved in nanoscale contacts. Due to the stochastic nature of nanoscale friction and the relatively sparse available experimental data, meta-modelling tools fail, however, at predicting the factual behaviour. Based on the acquired experimental data, data mining, incorporating various state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) numerical regression algorithms, is therefore used. The results of the numerical analyses are assessed on an unseen test dataset via a comparative statistical validation. It is therefore shown that the black box ML methods provide effective predictions of the studied correlations with rather good accuracy levels, but the intrinsic nature of such algorithms prevents their usage in most practical applications. Genetic programming-based artificial intelligence (AI) methods are consequently finally used. Despite the marked complexity of the analysed phenomena and the inherent dispersion of the measurements, the developed AI-based symbolic regression models allow attaining an excellent predictive performance with the respective prediction accuracy, depending on the sample type, between 72% and 91%, allowing also to attain an extremely simple functional description of the multidimensional dependence of nanoscale friction on the studied variable process parameters. An effective tool for nanoscale friction prediction, adaptive control purposes, and further scientific and technological nanotribological analyses is thus obtained.
Physical Methods for the Decontamination of Meat Surfaces
Authors: Albert Thiemo , Braun Peggy G. , Saffaf Jasem , Wiacek Claudia
Published: February 2021

Purpose of Review

The market for minimally processed products is constantly growing due to consumer demand. Besides food safety and increased shelf life, nutritional value and sensory appearance also play a major role and have to be considered by the food processors. Therefore, the purpose of the review was to summarize recent knowledge about important alternative non-thermal physical technologies, including both those which are actually applied (e.g. high-pressure processing and irradiation) and those demonstrating a high potential for future application in raw meat decontamination (e.g. pulsed light UV-C and cold plasma treatment). The evaluation of the methods is carried out with respect to efficiency, preservation of food quality and consumer acceptance.

Recent Findings

It was evident that significantly higher bacterial reductions are achieved with gamma-ray, electron beam irradiation and high pressure, followed by pulsed light, UV-C and cold plasma, with ultrasound alone proving the least effective. As a limitation, it must be noted that sensory deviations may occur and that legal approvals may have to be applied for.

In summary, it can be concluded that physical methods have the potential to be used for decontamination of meat surfaces in addition to common hygiene measures. However, the aim of future research should be more focused on the combined use of different technologies to further increase the inactivation effects by keeping meat quality at the same time.
On the x-coordinates of Pell equations that are sums of two Padovan numbers
Authors: Ddamulira Mahadi
Published: February 2021

Let $$ (P_{n})_{n\ge 0} $$

(

P
n

)

n
≥
0

be the sequence of Padovan numbers defined by $$ P_0=0 $$

P
0

=
0

, $$ P_1 = P_2=1$$

P
1

=

P
2

=
1

, and $$ P_{n+3}= P_{n+1} +P_n$$

P

n
+
3

=

P

n
+
1

+

P
n

for all $$ n\ge 0 $$

n
≥
0

. In this paper, we find all positive square-free integers d such that the Pell equations $$ x^2-dy^2 = N $$

x
2

-
d

y
2

=
N

with $$ N\in \{\pm 1, \pm 4\} $$

N
∈
{
±
1
,
±
4
}

, have at least two positive integer solutions (x, y) and $$(x^{\prime }, y^{\prime })$$

(

x
′

,

y
′

)

such that both x and $$x^{\prime }$$

x
′

are sums of two Padovan numbers.
Horizontal and vertical log-concavity
Authors: Heim Bernhard , Neuhauser Markus
Published: February 2021

Horizontal and vertical generating functions and recursion relations have been investigated by Comtet for triangular double sequences. In this paper we investigate the horizontal and vertical log-concavity of triangular sequences assigned to polynomials which show up in combinatorics, number theory and physics. This includes Laguerre polynomials, the Pochhammer polynomials, the D’Arcais and Nekrasov–Okounkov polynomials.
Investigating impact of land-use and land cover changes on hydro-ecological balance using GIS: insights from IIT Bombay, India
Authors: Srivastava Aman , Chinnasamy Pennan
Published: February 2021

The present study, for the first time, examined land-use land cover (LULC), changes using GIS, between 2000 and 2018 for the IIT Bombay campus, India. Objective was to evaluate hydro-ecological balance inside campus by determining spatio-temporal disparity between hydrological parameters (rainfall-runoff processes), ecological components (forest, vegetation, lake, barren land), and anthropogenic stressors (urbanization and encroachments). High-resolution satellite imageries were generated for the campus using Google Earth Pro, by manual supervised classification method. Rainfall patterns were studied using secondary data sources, and surface runoff was estimated using SCS-CN method. Additionally, reconnaissance surveys, ground-truthing, and qualitative investigations were conducted to validate LULC changes and hydro-ecological stability. LULC of 2018 showed forest, having an area cover of 52%, as the most dominating land use followed by built-up (43%). Results indicated that the area under built-up increased by 40% and playground by 7%. Despite rapid construction activities, forest cover and Powai lake remained unaffected. This anomaly was attributed to the drastically declining barren land area (up to ~ 98%) encompassing additional construction activities. Sustainability of the campus was demonstrated with appropriate measures undertaken to mitigate negative consequences of unwarranted floods owing to the rise of 6% in the forest cover and a decline of 21% in water hyacinth cover over Powai lake. Due to this, surface runoff (~ 61% of the rainfall) was observed approximately consistent and being managed appropriately despite major alterations in the LULC. Study concluded that systematic campus design with effective implementation of green initiatives can maintain a hydro-ecological balance without distressing the environmental services.
Good patriotism, social consideration, environmental problem cognition, and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors: a cross-sectional study of Chinese attitudes
Authors: Hamada Tomomi , Shimizu Makoto , Ebihara Tsuyoshi
Published: February 2021

Recent studies have indicated a positive association between patriotism and environmentalism; however, the correlation between them has not yet been quantitatively verified. Additionally, differences in “good” versus “blind” patriotism have been ignored in environmental behavior studies; thus, theoretical concepts related to their effects on environmentalism have not been empirically tested. The present study aims to reveal the effects of good patriotism and social consideration on pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors, and the mediating effect of social consideration on the relationship between patriotism and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors, while removing national or political prejudice or ideology from the measurement of patriotism. Data collected using a self-report questionnaire were analyzed for Chinese university students and workers. Results of multiple hierarchical linear regression analysis of five pro-environmental attitudes/behaviors estimation models showed that patriotism was correlated with pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors, and this correlation was completely mediated by individual social consideration, which was strongly and positively correlated with both patriotism and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. Our findings show that patriotism encourages people to focus on societal structures and environmental problems. The effect of good patriotism on individual pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors is clearly different from that of blind nationalism, as shown in previous literature. The present study highlights implications for future policy-making and education on patriotism and environmentalism in China.
New non-edible Allanblackia parviflora seed oil as an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production and characterization of the fuel
Authors: Takase Mohammed , Essandoh Paul Kwame , Kipkoech Rogers
Published: February 2021

This study is aimed at producing biodiesel from Allanblackia parviflora seed oil as a new non-edible alternative resource. The amount of oil extracted from the seeds was approximately 49% and was mainly composed of linoleic acids (66.68). The Allanblackia parviflora methyl esters (APME) were prepared using NaOH as a homogeneous base-catalyst for the transesterification. The rate of conversion of the triglycerides to methyl esters was determined using Gas Chromatograph with an optimum yield of 97.1%. The conditions under which this maximum yield (97.1%) was obtained include methanol to Allanblackia parviflora oil ratio of 6:1, reaction temperature of 60 ℃, NaOH concentration of 1% and reaction time of 2 h. The properties of the methyl esters were comparable to fuel properties of conventional diesel using ASTM and European Union standards. The seeds of Allanblackia parviflora can be described as promising non-edible resource.
Ambient air quality and the risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease among Metro Manila Development Authority traffic enforcers in Metro Manila: An exploratory study
Authors: Seposo Xerxes , Arcilla Audrey Lynn A. , De Guzman Jose Guillermo N. , Dizon Enrico Miguel S. , Figuracion Andrea Nova R. , Morales Christina Micaela M. , Tugonon Pauleena Katriona A. , Apostol Geminn Louis C.
Published: February 2021

Background

Air pollution and poor ambient air quality are significantly related to multiple health risks. One associated disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a preventable disease with several contributing factors and one of the leading causes of morbidity/mortality locally and globally. A potentially high‐risk population are traffic enforcers who are constantly exposed to air pollution. In the Philippines, the MMDA has the widest coverage in traffic management. The study determined the risk of COPD among Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcers in relation to ambient air quality level, as well as identified other factors that increase the risk of developing COPD.

Methods

Fifty‐two MMDA traffic enforcers deployed in PM2.5 air quality sensor areas in Metro Manila from 2016 to 2018 were recruited through stratified sampling. The International Primary Airways Guidelines (IPAG) questionnaire was utilized to measure risk of COPD. Respiratory health and working history were obtained through questionnaires. Department of environment and natural resources provided PM2.5 ambient air quality data which aided in the construction of the Exposure‐Month Index. Ordinal logistic regression was used to examine the association of PM2.5 together with the relevant factors and the risk of COPD.

Results

We found statistically significant associations between PM2.5 and COPD among high risk category [odds risk (OR): 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–1.44]. Age (Moderate, OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.98–1.38 and High, OR: 10.06, 95% CI: 4.02–25.17) and chest pain (Moderate, OR: 68.65, 95% CI: 1.71–2.75 × 103) were potential risk factors, whereas body mass index (BMI) (OR: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01–0.53) exhibited protective effect.

Conclusions

Exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of COPD among high‐risk category MMDA traffic enforcers. Age and chest pain were potential risk factors to risk of COPD, whereas BMI exhibited a potential protective effect. Results of this study can be used for clinical management of high‐risk populations, such that of MMDA traffic enforcers.
Prophylactic efficacy of intravenous atropine with crystalloid co-loading for hemodynamic stability in parturient undergoing cesarean delivery at Dilla University Referral Hospital. A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Aweke Zemedu , Mola Simeneh , Solomon Fistum , Ayalew Nugusu , Hailu Sleshi , Neme Derartu , Tilahun Abere , Abiy Sileshi
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACT

Background:

The main objective of this study is to assess the prophylactic efficacy of intravenous atropine for the prevention of hypotension after spinal anesthesia in a parturient who underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.

Method:

A randomized controlled trial study was conducted at Dilla University hospital. Pregnant women scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomized to either atropine prophylaxis (n = 33) or active prophylaxis (n = 33) for prevention of post-spinal hypotension. Sample sizes were calculated using a G-power version 3.1.9.2 getting a total of 66 participants. Intraoperative blood pressure, heart rate, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were assessed. Paired sample t-test was used to compare each group change from baseline. Independent t-test and Manny Whitney tests were used based on the distribution of data. A statistically significant difference was determined at a p-value of ≤05.

Result:

Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure declined from the baseline in both groups after spinal anesthesia. Atropine didn't prevent a decline in blood pressure from the baseline during the first 60 min of initiation of spinal anesthesia (p > 0.05). Heart rates at the 15th and 20th minute were higher in the atropine group (p < 0.05). There is no statistically significant difference between groups regarding mean Apgar score, and neonatal outcome. The total crystalloid fluid given during the perioperative period is higher in the active prophylaxis group with a mean of 2151.5 ml compared to 1651.52 ml in the atropine group p = 0.002. The incidence of intraoperative nausea and vomiting was higher in the active prophylaxis group compared to the atropine group but the difference is not statistically significant p > 0.05 as it was shown in the figure below.

Conclusion:

Prophylactic administration of atropine didn't prevent a decline in blood pressure from baseline. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was lower in the atropine group with no statistically significant difference.
Same-Sex Marriage in Japan: Prospects for Change
Authors: UPHAM Frank K.
Published: February 2021

This article examines why Japan is a prominent exception to the global trend towards recognition of same-sex marriage and evaluates the prospects for change. It does so through an analysis of five cases brought on Valentine's Day – 14 February 2019. Unlike many jurisdictions where religious opposition to same-sex relationships has been intense and sometimes violent, Japan has a history of relative tolerance towards LGBT individuals. Nonetheless, despite the creation of civil partnership ordinances in some localities, national legislation seems unlikely, and a group of lawyers filed suit in five district courts across Japan. The litigation was brought under the State Redress Act and is based on tort rather than directly on constitutional doctrine. It claims that marriage equality is constitutionally required and that the failure of the government to recognize same-sex marriage constitutes a tort that has harmed the LGB plaintiffs and entitles them to compensation. This article analyzes the nature of the cause of action founded on the State Redress Act, and examines the arguments, which are based more on the plaintiffs’ suffering than on their desire for self-expression. Subsequently, it presents and evaluates the possible outcomes
Cost minimization analysis of outpatient parenteral/oral antibiotic therapy at a trauma hospital: Public health system
Authors: Loesch Gustavo Henrique , Cruz June Alisson Westarb , Gasparetto Juliano , Oliveira Dayana dos Santos , Telles Joao Paulo , Tuon Felipe Francisco
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) on a public hospital in a middle-income country.

Design:

A retrospective, observational study analyzing the economic data retrieved on the dehospitalization of patients on antibiotic therapy.

Setting:

Public university trauma hospital.

Patients:

Data were collected from June 2017 to May 2020. Antibiotic cost, hospital length of stay, and risk of multidrug-resistant (MDR) infection or colonization were reviewed, along with the break-even point at which a balance occurs between OPAT antimicrobial costs and all in-hospital costs. A cumulative risk curve was constructed showing the incidence of MDR during the review period.

Results:

In total, 225 patients were studied. The implementation of OPAT resulted in a reduction of $156,681 (49.6%), which is equivalent to an average of $696 per patient, as well as a shortened length of stay, from 33.5 to 15.7 days. OPAT reduces the risk of acquiring infection by MDR bacteria by having the final treatments administered outside of the hospital environment. The breakeven curves, comparing the duration of the OPAT to daily medication costs, allowed for the prediction of the time and dollar costs of antibiotic therapy.

Conclusions:

OPAT presented a significant cost savings, shortened length of stay, and reduced risk of contamination of patients by MDR.
Biostratigraphy and taxonomy of fusulinid foraminifera across the Upper Mississippian (upper Serpukhovian)–Lower Pennsylvanian (Bashkirian) successions from the Hadim Nappe, Central Taurides, southern Turkey
Authors: Akbaş Melikan , Okuyucu Cengiz
Published: February 2021

The Hadim Nappe, which is one of the allochthonous tectonic units in the Tauride Belt, in southern Turkey, includes a continuous stratigraphic succession from the Middle(?)–Late Devonian to Late Cretaceous. A relatively complete succession of the upper Serpukhovian to Bashkirian is exposed in the Central Taurides, where two sections (Yassıpınar and Gölbelen) have been selected for detailed biostratigraphic investigations. The Mississippian-Pennsylvanian boundary in these sections was determined by the first appearance datum of thePlectostaffella jakhensisand located in the oolitic limestone facies indicating a shallow-water depositional environment. The uppermost Serpukhovian and regional Bashkirian substages (Syuranian, Akavasian, Askynbashian, and Arkhangelskian) were determined by index taxa, namelyPlectostaffella jakhensis,P.bogdanovkensis,P.varvariensis,Pseudostaffella antiqua,Staffellaeformes staffellaeformis,Tikhonovichiella tikhonovichi, andVerella spicata. Fifty fusulinid species belonging to fourteen genera were determined in two sections, in which two species are new:Depratina turaniAkbaş new species andTikhonovichiella praetikhonovichiAkbaş new species. The taxonomic positions of two fusulinid species (Depratina convolutan. comb. andStaffellaeformes parva robustan. comb.) are revised. The studied fusulinid assemblages correlate with fusulinid assemblages from the southern Urals, Russian Platform, Donetz Basin, Darvaz, Spain, central Iran, and some other regions of the Tethyan Realm.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/bcbb6c72-f6f9-4e77-9cf9-3572bd731ff3
Holocene ice wedge formation in the Eureka Sound Lowlands, high Arctic Canada
Authors: Campbell-Heaton Kethra , Lacelle Denis , Fisher David , Pollard Wayne
Published: February 2021

Ice wedges are ubiquitous periglacial features in permafrost terrain. This study investigates the timing of ice wedge formation in the Fosheim Peninsula (Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands). In this region, ice wedge polygons occupy ~50% of the landscape, the majority occurring below the marine limit in the Eureka Sound Lowlands. Numerical simulations suggest that ice wedges may crack to depths of 2.7–3.6 m following a rapid cooling of the ground over mean winter surface temperatures of −18°C to −38°C, corresponding to the depth of ice wedges in the region. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC)/Cl molar ratios suggest that the DOC in the ice wedges is sourced from snowmelt and not from leaching of the active layer. Based on 3214CDOCmeasurements from 15 ice wedges, the wedges were likely developing between 9000–2500 cal yr BP. This interval also corresponds to the period of peat accumulation in the region, a proxy of increased moisture. Considering that winter air temperatures remained favorable for ice wedge growth throughout the Holocene, the timing of ice wedge formation reflects changes in snowfall. Overall, this study provides the first reconstruction of ice wedge formation from a high Arctic polar desert environment.
EXACT LOWER BOUND ON AN ‘EXACTLY ONE’ PROBABILITY
Authors: PINELIS IOSIF
Published: February 2021

We obtain the exact lower bound on the probability of the occurrence of exactly one of n random events each of probability p.
Educational inequality in the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diet in the UK: evaluating the mediating role of income
Authors: Patel Linia , Alicandro Gianfranco , Bertuccio Paola , La Vecchia Carlo
Published: February 2021

Apparent differences in the adoption of the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet have been reported between less and more educated individuals. However, the mediating role of income has not been clarified. In this study, we aimed at quantifying the mediating effect of income on the relationship between education and the DASH score in the UK population. We analysed data on 4864 subjects aged 18 years and older collected in three waves of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2016). The DASH score was calculated using sex-specific quintiles of DASH items. We carried out a counterfactual-based mediation analysis to decompose the total effect of education on DASH score into average direct effect and average causal mediation effect mediated by income. We found that the overall mediating effect of income on the relationship between education and the DASH score was only partial, with an estimated proportion mediated ranging between 6 and 9 %. The mediating effect was higher among females (11·6 %) and younger people (17·9 %). Further research is needed to investigate which other factors may explain the socio-economic inequality in the adoption of the DASH diet in the UK.
The Comparative Legislators Database
Authors: Göbel Sascha , Munzert Simon
Published: February 2021

Knowledge about political representatives' behavior is crucial for a deeper understanding of politics and policy-making processes. Yet resources on legislative elites are scattered, often specialized, limited in scope or not always accessible. This article introduces the Comparative Legislators Database (CLD), which joins micro-data collection efforts on open-collaboration platforms and other sources, and integrates with renowned political science datasets. The CLD includes political, sociodemographic, career, online presence, public attention, and visual information for over 45,000 contemporary and historical politicians from ten countries. The authors provide a straightforward and open-source interface to the database through an R package, offering targeted, fast and analysis-ready access in formats familiar to social scientists and standardized across time and space. The data is verified against human-coded datasets, and its use for investigating legislator prominence and turnover is illustrated. The CLD contributes to a central hub for versatile information about legislators and their behavior, supporting individual-level comparative research over long periods.
“Inexpressible horror”: The Devil and Baptist Life Writing in Cromwellian Ireland
Authors: Gribben Crawford
Published: February 2021

The Baptist movement in Cromwellian Ireland displayed a number of distinctive features. Adherents of the movement regularly claimed to have heightened spiritual experiences, which in a number of cases included firsthand encounters with the devil. This article observes the political contexts in which these claims were made while analyzing attempts by Baptist leaders to promote a more critical spirituality and counter illegitimate claims to supernatural experience. It argues that these unusual experiences, reflective more of their geographical than their denominational context, were rhetorically enabled, and Baptist leaders would struggle to both sustain and contain claims to spiritual experience.
The Chrysanthemum and the “Saint”: Kagawa's Statue in the Washington National Cathedral
Authors: Tao Bo
Published: February 2021

This article takes as its central site of interrogation the stone sculpture of Kagawa Toyohiko (1888–1960) in the Washington National Cathedral, asking how a statue of a Japanese Christian leader came to be constructed inside one of America's most important religious institutions. At first glance, the statue appears to be a simple instance of commemoration for an individual who dedicated his life to helping the poor and spreading the gospel within his native country of Japan. What emerges from a close examination of the National Cathedral's archives, however, is the story of a religious leader whose international standing and reputation underwent a significant shift over the course of his career. By tracing the construction of Kagawa's image as a globally renowned Christian pacifist during the interwar period, and the challenges to this image brought on by his subsequent wartime activities, this study seeks to place the Cathedral's building of the statue into historical context. In doing so, it illuminates the politics of national representation inherent in this project of cross-cultural commemoration, while also highlighting the lessons it offers about the rise and fall of Christian internationalism in the mid-twentieth century.
Factors Influencing Health Care Workers’ Willingness to Respond to Duty during Infectious Disease Outbreaks and Bioterrorist Events: An Integrative Review
Authors: Murray Eleanor J. , Mason Matt , Sparke Vanessa , Zimmerman Peta-Anne P.
Published: February 2021

Background:

Infectious disease emergencies are increasingly becoming part of the health care delivery landscape, having implications to not only individuals and the public, but also on those expected to respond to these emergencies. Health care workers (HCWs) are perhaps the most important asset in an infectious disease emergency, yet these individuals have their own barriers and facilitators to them being willing or able to respond.

Aim:

The purpose of this review was to identify factors affecting HCW willingness to respond (WTR) to duty during infectious disease outbreaks and/or bioterrorist events.

Methods:

An integrative literature review methodology was utilized to conduct a structured search of the literature including CINAHL, Medline, Embase, and PubMed databases using key terms and phrases. PRISMA guidelines were used to report the search outcomes and all eligible literature was screened with those included in the final review collated and appraised using a quality assessment tool.

Results:

A total of 149 papers were identified from the database search. Forty papers were relevant following screening, which highlighted facilitators of WTR to include: availability of personal protective equipment (PPE)/vaccine, level of training, professional ethics, family and personal safety, and worker support systems. A number of barriers were reported to prevent WTR for HCWs, such as: concern and perceived risk, interpersonal factors, job-level factors, and outbreak characteristics.

Conclusions:

By comprehensively identifying the facilitators and barriers to HCWs’ WTR during infectious disease outbreaks and/or bioterrorist events, strategies can be identified and implemented to improve WTR and thus improve HCW and public safety.
Single Conversations Expand Practitioners’ Use of Research: Evidence from a Field Experiment
Authors: Levine Adam Seth
Published: February 2021

Many people seek to increase practitioners’ use of research evidence in decision making. Two common strategies are dissemination and interaction. Dissemination can reach a wide audience at once, yet interactive strategies can be beneficial because they entail back-and-forth conversations to clarify how research evidence applies in a particular context. To date, however, we lack much direct evidence of the impact of interaction beyond dissemination. Partnering with an international sustainability-oriented NGO, I conducted a field experiment to test the impact of an interactive strategy (i.e., a single conversation) on practitioners’ use of research evidence in a pending decision. I find that the conversation had a substantial impact on research use relative to only receiving disseminated materials, which likely was due to increased self-efficacy. I also provide practical guidance on how researchers can apply this finding close to home by strengthening linkages with local decision makers.