bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Late Gadolinium Enhancement Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Post–Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Esophageal Thermal Injury Across the Spectrum of Severity
Authors: Marashly Qussay , Gopinath Chaitra , Baher Alex , Acharya Madan , Kheirkhahan Mobin , Hardisty Benjamin , Aljuaid Mossab , Tawhari Ibrahim , Ibrahim Mark , Morris Alan K. , Kholmovski Eugene G. , Wilson Brent D. , Marrouche Nassir F. , Chelu Mihail G.
Published: March 2021

Background

Esophageal thermal injury (ETI) is a byproduct of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using thermal sources. The most severe form of ETI is represented by atrioesophageal fistula, which has a high mortality rate. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows identification of ETI. Hence, we sought to evaluate the utility of LGE‐MRI as a method to identify ETI across the entire spectrum of severity.

Methods and Results

All AF radiofrequency ablations performed at the University of Utah between January 2009 and December 2017 were reviewed. Patients with LGE‐MRI within 24 hours following AF ablation as well as patients who had esophagogastroduodenoscopy in addition to LGE‐MRI were identified. An additional patient with atrioesophageal fistula who had AF ablation at a different institution and had MRI and esophagogastroduodenoscopy at the University of Utah was identified. A total of 1269 AF radiofrequency ablations were identified. ETI severity was classified on the basis of esophageal LGE pattern (none, 60.9%; mild, 27.5%; moderate, 9.9%; severe, 1.7%). ETI resolved in most patients who underwent repeat LGE‐MRI at 3 months. All patients with esophagogastroduodenoscopy‐confirmed ETI had moderate‐to‐severe LGE 24 hours after ablation MRI. Moderate‐to‐severe LGE had 100% sensitivity and 58.1% specificity in detecting ETI, and a negative predictive value of 100%. Atrioesophageal fistula was visualized by both computed tomography and LGE‐MRI in one patient.

Conclusions

LGE‐MRI is useful in detecting and characterizing ETI across the entire severity spectrum. LGE‐MRI exhibits an extremely high sensitivity and negative predictive value in screening for ETI after AF ablation.
Representing Africa: Colonial Anthropology Revisited
Authors: Burton John W.
Published: March 2021

There are suggestions in the recent literature that since professional anthropology grew enormously during the colonial period, anthropologists of the time implicitly advanced the interests of colonial production and hegemony. A careful examination of relevant sources results in a contrary interpretation. In the course of demonstrating the mythical existence of “colonial anthropology,” this paper also raises questions about the present anthropological engagement with “development” wherein anthropologists are explicitly advancing the aims and interests of capitalistic transformation.
The Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14–30)
Authors: Porter Phillip
Published: March 2021

There is an unresolved tension between the parable of the Talent’s Matthean literary arrangement and readings proposed by modern scholars using socio-historical research to assess the parable’s reception by a first century audience. Drawing on metaphor theory and incorporating insights from the main interpretive trajectories found in modern scholarship on this parable, the author here proposes a new literary-critical reading that resolves this tension. He argues the parable’s rhetorical function within the Matthean narrative is to prepare the Matthean disciples to lead the universal expansion of the mission of the Matthean Jesus in the post-Easter period.
Connecting the Dots Backwards, What Did Ruiz Zambrano Mean for EU Citizenship and Fundamental Rights in EU Law?
Authors: van Eijken Hanneke
Published: March 2021

What was the added value of the Ruiz Zambrano judgment of the Court of Justice of the EU for the development of EU citizenship? And how does that affect the national level? In this contribution the case of Ruiz Zambrano and the subsequent case law of the Court of Justice and the Dutch courts is assessed to reveal its impact on EU citizenship and the protection of fundamental rights. The contribution shows that Ruiz Zambrano could be called a revolution, in the sense that irrespective of the exercise of free movement, nationals of the Member States can invoke their status of being an EU citizen. That has consequences for family reunification, and the right to reside as a family in the EU. However, the line of case law is still very limited and can be restricted on grounds of public policy and security (and public health; so far there is no case law on restriction on public health and Article 20 TFEU, but in the context of Covid-19 that might be different in the near future). Moreover, the fundamental rights narrative in the cases on Article 20 TFEU became more prominent. However, the implementation of this line of case law lies at the national level and the Dutch case law on Article 20 TFEU is therefore analysed as an example.
Institutions and HIV Prevalence Puzzle in Dodoma Region
Authors: Mwendah Hadija K.
Published: March 2021

The implementation of the HIV and AIDS public policy response under the current institutional framework is reported to have made notable strides. Available data indicates that the prevalence of HIV in Tanzania has stabilized at about 5% since 2007. However, despite increased policy implementation to prevent HIV infections, the results have varied across the regions in the country. In some regions, the prevalence remains very high, in others it is increasing, and in some the rates have remained very low throughout. Dodoma represents a case where HIV prevalence has been low (below 5%) and declining. Interestingly though, the region has high HIV prevalence among men. The prevalence among men is 3.7% and women 2.1%. This pattern is contrary to that in many other regions in Tanzania, where that of women is greater. This study analyses institutional factors that explain the HIV prevalence puzzle in Dodoma region.
Political Corruption in Africa: Revisiting Kwame Gyekye’s Moral Solution
Authors: Olanipekun Olusola Victor
Published: March 2021

The paper examines Kwame Gyekye’s defense of commitmental moral revolution as a solution to the problem of political corruption in postcolonial Africa. In his book; Tradition and Modernity, Gyekye argues that the problem of political corruption in Africa can mainly be solved by commitmental moral revolution. However, there is a fundamental worry about the applicability of this proposal. The worry is that despite Gyekye’s suggested solution, why is it that the problem of political corruption still persists in Africa on a large-scale? Is this persistence of political corruption in postcolonial Africa not a refutation of Gyekye’s main claim? This paper provides answers to these questions. The paper identifies the reason why Gyekye’s suggested solution may be ineffective in postcolonial Africa. It argues that the problem of political corruption in Africa (Nigeria to be specific) is a function of social acceptability of the phenomenon. Primarily, the paper intends to achieve two main objectives. First, to critically assess Gyekye’s commitmental moral revolution, and also, to argue that failure to address the question of social acceptability of corruption in Africa, Gyekye’s suggested solution to corruption may continue to be of no effect. The paper concludes that commitmental moral revolution is necessary but not sufficient in addressing the problem of political corruption in postcolonial Africa.
Women Tobacco Farmers in Tanzania: Comparing Actual and Potential Earnings
Authors: Kidane Asmerom , Dungumaro Esther William , Lee Anita , Hu Teh Wei
Published: March 2021

This study attempts to measure women tobacco farmers’ labour input in Tanzania. A comparison is made with two other crops - maize and vegetables. For the coffee production cycle, women farmers’ output share was estimated to be 1.97 million Tanzanian shillings. Assuming alternative employment were available at a minimum wage, women tobacco farmers would earn 5.7 million Tanzanian shillings, almost a three fold increase if they did work other than farm tobacco. Besides this, 72.58% of total women’s labour for the period was earmarked for tobacco growing, while only 35.58% of total earnings are generated from tobacco production. 20.68% of women’s labour was earmarked for maize growing; on the other hand 39.20% of total revenue is generated from maize production. Only 6.74% of womens’ labour was earmarked for growing vegetables; whereas a substantial 25.22% of total revenue is generated from production of vegetables A Cobb Douglas type production was estimated, where output was regressed on labour input and acreage. While the returns from extra one-acre input were substantial and significant, returns from an extra one unit of labour yielded insignificant results. In other words, besides being hazardous to health, planting tobacco is not a worthwhile undertaking. Alternative employment should be sought.
Stakeholders’ involvement in Corporate Social Responsibility: The Mining Sector in Tanzania
Authors: Mbirigenda Shukrani Kassian
Published: March 2021

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects that do not involve communities where they are based stand a greater chance of either failing from reaching their objectives or being rejected by their intended beneficiaries. Community involvement is not just about being nice; it is a central pillar in the business of CSR. Some external secondary stakeholders in Tanzania are rejecting or ignoring local CSR projects affecting them, which raises a question of whether they have been consulted at all in the relevant decision making. Using the experience of communities in the area of the Geita Gold Mine (GGM) in Tanzania and stakeholder theory, this qualitative study analyses the relationship between CSR and involvement of non-consumer stakeholders in decision making processes and their outcomes. The study used a combination of questionnaires, interviews with key informants, and focus groups to obtain information, opinions and perceptions of company administrators, business people, government actors and local community members so as to fill analytical gap between claims on CSR success stories made by companies and the experience of people on the ground. The study found out that key leaders in the local communities who were neglected in the CSR decision making process were led to view the projects as redundant or irrelevant. The study recommends that for an autonomous, robust and sustainable CSR project, a company needs to be inclusive, by integrating local key representatives at every stage of the CSR project’s life. In addition, the study recommends that for CSR projects to be genuinely appreciated, and to meet the goals it sets with communities as the beneficiaries of transformation, the CSR projects need to be monitored carefully and audited regularly.
The Pandora’s box: Morphological diversity within the genus Amphiglena Claparède, 1864 (Sabellidae, Annelida) in the Mediterranean Sea, with description of nine new species
Authors: GIANGRANDE ADRIANA , PUTIGNANO MATTEO , LICCIANO MARGHERITA , GAMBI MARIA CRISTINA
Published: March 2021

We report the description of nine new taxa of sabellid polychaetes belonging to the genus Amphiglena, of which diversity in the Mediterranean Sea has been widely underestimated. Examined material derived from both new collections along the Italian coast, including four CO2 vents/hydrothermal systems, and from a re-examination of older material previously attributed to A. mediterranera (Leydig, 1851) which was so far the only species of the genus reported for the Mediterranean area. The analysis revealed the presence of different taxa also consistent with a previous molecular analysis conducted on material from the Gulf of Naples and the Salento coast (Ionian Sea). This led to an increase in the number of species in the genus and to highlight the occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea of a high diversity within the genus. A key to the Mediterranean Sea species of Amphiglena is also provided. Some taxa, however, remain for the moment undescribed due to the poor preservation of the old material, and the lack of the type material for this taxon. A major revision of all the Mediterranean material previously attributed to A. mediterranea from both morphological and molecular points of view is needed.
Molecular phylogenetics, PCA, and MFA recover a new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from an isolated sandstone massif in northwestern Cambodia
Authors: GRISMER L. LEE , GEISSLER PETER , NEANG THY , HARTMANN TIMO , WAGNER PHILIPP , POYARKOV NIKOLAY A.
Published: March 2021

The integrated results of maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses, principal component analyses (PCA), and a multiple factor analysis (MFA) recover a new, widely allopatric species of the Cyrtodactylus intermedius species group. Cyrtodactylus kulenensis sp. nov is endemic to the Phnom Kulen sandstone massif of the Phnom Kulen National Park, Siem Reap Province, in the lowlands of northwestern Cambodia. A phylogenetic analysis from a short read (275 base pairs) of the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) from C. kulenensis sp. nov. was aligned with 1449 base pairs from all other species in the intermedius group.  The analysis recovered C. kulenensis sp. nov. as the sister species to a lineage composed of populations from the widely separated hilly regions of Sa Keao and Sakaerat in eastern Thailand. Multivariate (PCA, DAPC, and MFA) and univariate analyses (ANOVA) using combinations of meristic (scale counts), mensural (morphometric), and categorical (color pattern and morphology) characters from 52 specimens encompassing all species of the intermedius group clearly demonstrate C. kulenensis sp. nov. is significantly different and discretely diagnosable from all other species in the intermedius group. This new discovery further highlights the herpetological diversity and high levels of range-restricted endemism in basin-habitat-island landscapes throughout Indochina and the continued need for field work in the landscapes that remain unsurveyed.
Evaluation of the Degradation Rates and Biocompatibility of Magnesium Pins with Different Compositions, and Processing Techniques for Oral Staplers In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Liang Shanshan , Li Wenjun , Zhang Xinyue , Ma Zhongying , Li Hongxiang , Yuan Fusong
Published: March 2021

Oral sutures are common and in high demand for oral treatments, and invariably increase physicians' workload. Herein, we examined the degradation of magnesium alloy pins with different elemental compositions and processing technologies both in vivo and in vitro, and analyzed
their cytocompatibilities to verify the feasibility of their use as oral tissue suture materials. The results showed that Mg–Zn–Ca–4Ag, which completely degraded in less than a week in vitro, exhibited large areas of corrosion, local fractures within two weeks, and
degraded almost completely within a period of four weeks in vivo. The other magnesium alloy pins studied herein showed no distinct degradation even after two months, with small amounts of pitting corrosions found on the surface. The cytocompatibility test revealed that Mg–Zn–Ca–4Ag
showed good biocompatibility and promoted cell growth when the Mg concentration was 50 g/mL. Therefore, Mg–Zn–Ca–4Ag can be biocompatible, while degrading within a month. Therefore, by further optimizing the processing technology and composition, magnesium alloys are expected
to emerge as new materials for oral sutures. Moreover, staplers are expected to emerge as a new method for oral, soft-tissue suturing.
A Novel Energy Band Match Method and a Highly Efficient CuO–Co3O4@SiO2 Catalyst for Dimethyl Carbonate Synthesis from CO2
Authors: Zhang Meng
Published: March 2021

The present research on dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesis from CO2 was short of effective theoretical guidance and catalyst design was also blind. A kind of regular relationship was found from catalyst structure calculation and activity experiments. Therefore, a novel energy
band matching method was proposed. After substantial verification experiments, it was proved to be correct. Whether one certain catalyst has catalytic activity can be judged predictably according to this novel method. Novel and efficient catalysts can be designed or selected on the basis of
designer's wishes. Based on this method, three efficient catalysts were prepared and CuO–Co3O4@SiO2 catalyst had the best catalytic performance. In a word, once it is applied in catalysts research, there will be a huge progress in catalysis and materials
science fields.
Evidence for an increasing role of ocean heat in Arctic winter sea ice growth
Authors: Ricker Robert , Kauker Frank , Schweiger Axel , Hendricks Stefan , Zhang Jinlun , Paul Stephan
Published: March 2021

We investigate how sea ice decline in summer and warmer ocean and surface temperatures in winter affect sea ice growth in the Arctic. Sea ice volume changes are estimated from satellite observations during winter from 2002 to 2019 and partitioned into thermodynamic growth and dynamic volume change. Both components are compared to validated sea ice-ocean models forced by reanalysis data to extend observations back to 1980 and to understand the mechanisms that cause the observed trends and variability. We find that a negative feedback driven by the increasing sea ice retreat in summer yields increasing thermodynamic ice growth during winter in the Arctic marginal seas eastward from the Laptev Sea to the Beaufort Sea. However, in the Barents and Kara Seas, this feedback seems to be overpowered by the impact of increasing oceanic heat flux and air temperatures, resulting in negative trends in thermodynamic ice growth of -2 km3month-1yr-1 on average over 2002-2019 derived from satellite observations.
Uncertainty in SPI Calculation and its Impact on Drought Assessment in Different Climate Regions over China
Authors: Wang Wen , Wang Jingshu , Romanowicz Renata
Published: March 2021

Uncertainty in the calculation of a Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) attracted growing concerns in the hydrometeorology research community in the last decade. This issue is addressed in the present study from the perspective of candidate probability distributions, the data record length, the cumulative timescale and the selection of a reference period with the bootstrap and Monte Carlo methods using daily precipitation data observed in four climate regions across China. The impacts of the uncertainty in an SPI calculation on drought assessment are also investigated. Results show that the Gamma distribution is optimal in describing the cumulative precipitation in China; among the four timescales investigated in the present study, the minimal timescale appropriate for SPI calculation is 20 days for the humid region, 30 days for the semi-humid/semi-arid region and Tibetan Plateau (mostly its eastern part), and 90 days for the arid region. The uncertainty in SPI calculation decreases with the increase of timescale and record length, essentially as a consequence of the decrease of the confidence interval width of Gamma distribution parameters with the increase of timescale and record length. But there is little improvement for the parameter estimation with record length longer than 70 years. There is greater uncertainty for high absolute SPI values than for small ones, consequently there is greater uncertainty in assessing extreme droughts than moderate droughts. Reference period selection has large impacts on drought assessment, especially in the context of climate change. The uncertainty of the SPI calculation has large impacts on categorizing droughts, but no impact on assessing the temporal features of drought variation.
On the non-geostrophic appearance of some mean surface velocity observations in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: STURGES WILTON
Published: March 2021

A previous study of currents in the Gulf of Mexico by the author used long-term means from three independent data sources. Ship-drift results are in good agreement with surface drifters, but these two do not agree with satellite sea-surface heights (SSH). The agreement between the first two suggested the possibility that there could be errors in the SSH or that the mean surface flow is not in geostrophic balance. The present results, using the addition of a fourth long-term mean from hydrographic data, which agrees with the SSH, resolves the issue. The lack of agreement between different long-term means is from inadequate coverage in space and time in data from ship drifts and drifters.
Backward and in Converse: Artful Political Communication; How the Biden/Harris Presidential Ticket Reverses the 2-for-1 Campaign
Authors: Pye Danee , Taylor Mary Anne
Published: March 2021

This article critically examines the visual and mediated communication of vice presidential candidate and now vice president, Kamala Harris, and Harris’s political surrogates leading up to the 2020 presidential election. As a launching point, we build on our 2016 election retrospective, where we analyzed “Hillary Through Time” and found that political women were not only primed to “take advantage of the democratization of visual rhetorical presentations” but also, political women could challenge normative coverage “through a mediated image of her own making.” Fast forward 4 years, we offer such agency through the visual communication of Kamala’s campaign-mediated image. Drawing from the philosophy of Susanne K. Langer, we argue that Kamala Harris intentionally advances “artful political communication” as a method for challenging gendered aesthetic tropes of political women; ultimately shifting the narrative of “2 for the price of 1” from deferential to empowered.
The Gendered Politics of Pandemic Relief: Labor and Family Policies in Denmark, Germany, and the United States During COVID-19
Authors: Bariola Nino , Collins Caitlyn
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified families’ struggles to reconcile caregiving and employment, especially for working mothers. How have different countries reacted to these troubling circumstances? What policies have been implemented to alleviate the pernicious effects of the pandemic on gender and labor inequalities? We examine the policies offered in Denmark, Germany, and the United States, three countries that represent distinct welfare regimes. We find important differences among the policy solutions provided, but also in the “cultural infrastructures” that allow policies to work as intended, or not. In Denmark, a social-democratic welfare state, robust federal salary guarantee programs supplemented an already strong social safety net. The country was among the first to lock down and reorganize health care—and also among the first to reopen schools and child care facilities, acknowledging that parents’ employment depends on child care provisioning, especially for mothers. Germany, a corporatist regime, substantially expanded existing programs and provided generous subsidies. However, despite an ongoing official commitment to reduce gender inequality, the cultural legacy of a father breadwinner/mother caregiver family model meant that reopening child care facilities was not a first priority, which pushed many mothers out of paid work. In the U.S. liberal regime, private organizations—particularly in privileged economic sectors—are the ones primarily offering supports to working parents. Patchwork efforts at lockdown and reopening have meant a lengthy period of limbo for working families, with disastrous consequences for women, especially the most vulnerable. Among such varied “solutions” to the consequences of the pandemic, those of liberal regimes seem to be worsening inequalities. The unprecedented nature of the current pandemic recession suggests a need for scholars to gender the study of economic crises.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Rental Market: Evidence From Craigslist
Authors: Kuk John , Schachter Ariela , Faber Jacob William , Besbris Max
Published: March 2021

Past research has demonstrated the racially and spatially uneven impacts of economic shocks and environmental disasters on various markets. In this article, we examine if and how the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the market for rental housing in the 49 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Using a unique data set of new rental listings gathered from Craigslist and localized measures of the pandemic’s severity we find that, from mid-March to early June, local spread of COVID-19 is followed by reduced median and mean rent. However, this trend is driven by dropping rents for listings in Black, Latino, and diverse neighborhoods. Listings in majority White neighborhoods experience rent increases during this time. Our analyses make multiple contributions. First, we add to the burgeoning literature examining the rental market as a key site of perpetuating sociospatial inequality. Second, we demonstrate the utility of data gathered online for analyzing housing. And third, by reflecting on research that shows how past crises have increased sociospatial inequality and up-to-date work showing the racially and spatially unequal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we discuss some possible mechanisms by which the pandemic may be affecting the market for rental housing as well as implications for long-term trends.
Scholarly Research Productivity among Otolaryngology Residency Graduates and its Relationship to Future Academic Achievement
Authors: Johnson Austin L. , Corcoran Adam , Ferrell Matthew , Johnson Bradley S. , Mann Scott E. , Villwock Jennifer A. , Ferrell Sydney , Vassar Matt
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Scholastic activity through research involvement is a fundamental aspect of a physician’s training and may have a significant influence on future academic success. Here, we explore publication rates before, during, and after otolaryngology residency training and whether publication efforts correlate with future academic achievement.

Methods:

This cross-sectional analysis included a random sample of 50 otolaryngology residency programs. From these programs, we assembled a list of residents graduating from the years in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Using SCOPUS, PubMed, and Google Scholar, we compiled the publications for each graduate, and data were extracted in an independent, double-blinded fashion.

Results:

We included 32 otolaryngology residency programs representing 249 residents in this analysis. Graduates published a mean of 1.3 (SD = 2.7) articles before residency, 3.5 (SD = 4.3) during residency, and 5.3 (SD = 9.3) after residency. Residents who pursued a fellowship had more total publications ( t247 = −6.1, P < .001) and more first author publications ( t247 = −5.4, P < .001) than residents without fellowship training. Graduates who chose a career in academic medicine had a higher number of mean total publications ( t247 = −8.2, P < .001) and first author publications ( t247 = −7.9, P < .001) than those who were not in academic medicine. There was a high positive correlation between residency program size and publications during residency ( r = 0.76).

Conclusion:

Research productivity correlated with a number of characteristics such as future fellowship training, the pursuit of an academic career, and overall h-index in this study.
‘You are free to choose . . . are you?’ Organisational punishment as a productivity incentive in the social science literature
Authors: McNamara Tom , Meloso Debrah , Michelotti Marco , Puncheva-Michelotti Petya
Published: March 2021

This article investigates the theoretical and empirical relationships between organisational punishment and productivity. We do so by highlighting the contributions of two academic fields to this topic: management and economics. We underscore the many common theoretical and empirical grounds across management and economics. We heighten, in particular, how motivation and learning theories have contributed to the development of both theoretical and empirical research on this topic. This article also argues that this debate could be significantly advanced if insights stemming from industrial relations and labour process theory were also considered, as these disciplines have traditionally focused on macro-issues such as how changes in the economic/institutional contexts may affect the likelihood that organisations will resort to punishment. In order to foster future research on this topic, three research themes were developed: (a) freedom of choice and the role of contract completeness; (b) perception of punishment, monitoring and productivity; and (c) punishment, productivity and exogenous variables.
Observation of Cells on a Simulated Titanium Surface with Transparency
Authors: Teraoka K. , Watazu A. , Sonoda T.
Published: March 2021

The main driving force of osseointegration on titanium implants is believed to be the calcification caused by cellular activity. However, owing to the opacity of bulk titanium, live cells on titanium surfaces cannot be observed using an inverted microscope. To overcome this limitation, this study proposes a transparent titanium thin layer as a simulated titanium surface that allows live-cell observation from below. The titanium layer was fabricated on a polystyrene culture dish by magnetron DC sputtering using a pure Ti(JIS1) target. The titanium layer was characterized by transparency, composition, structure, and wettability. Osteoblast-like cells were cultured in the titanium-coated dishes. The cell culture was observed periodically using an inverted microscope, and the images were compiled into time-lapse videos. Cells on the titanium layer were characterized by movement speeds and doubling times. The titanium-coated dish was transparent gray, and its transmittance profile was consistent with that of the polystyrene dish. The titanium layer showed similarities to bulk titanium surfaces in terms of composition and structure; that is, it showed an oxidized titanium outermost layer and titanium metal basal layer. The wettability of the titanium layer was hydrophilic with mean contact angles of 67.52°. Osteoblast-like cells successfully adhered to the titanium layer and proliferated to confluence. The time-lapse videos demonstrated active movement of the cells on the titanium layer, which suggested the involvement of the titanium surface in cellular motility. The cell culture on the titanium layer can be considered cell culture on a titanium surface. In short, the titanium layer enabled the acquisition of information for living cells on titanium that has either been unknown or analogically understood based on cell culture on polystyrene dishes.
Why We Suffer? Existential Challenges of Patients With Chronic Illness: A Kierkegaardian Inspired Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Authors: Andersen Aida Hougaard , Assing Hvidt Elisabeth , Huniche Lotte , Hvidt Niels Christian , Roessler Kirsten K.
Published: March 2021

To explore patients’ existential challenges when living with chronic pain or multiple sclerosis, 23 semistructured patient interviews were conducted together with an interpretative, phenomenological analysis inspired by Søren Kierkegaard. Patients experienced their illness as a “stroke of fate” resulting in despair and a profound struggle to find out, who they were, and how they could relate to themselves in their new life-situation. Becoming oneself was experienced as a long-term existential process realized by synthesizing the existential poles of necessities and possibilities through “the other,” such as relationships, nature, spirituality, or God. The different ways to respond to the existential challenges were identified as subjective choices of aesthetic, ethic, and religious life-spheres. The Kierkegaardian relational self and the life-spheres as diverse possibilities are valuable for understanding patients’ existential challenges and the complicated process of finding a new way to relate to oneself when life is fundamentally transformed by illness. To resolve the existential struggles, it seems essential to take a subjective stand in life and have a relationship to something bigger than oneself. The findings can inform clinical practice and inspire health care professionals to identify patients who would welcome a dialogue about illness-related existential struggles for the benefit of their health.
How Do Bonus Payments Affect the Demand for Auto Loans and Their Delinquency?
Authors: Jiang Zhenling , Zhang Dennis J. , Chan Tat
Published: March 2021

This article studies how receiving a bonus changes consumers’ demand for auto loans and their risk of future delinquency. Unlike traditional consumer products, auto loans have a long-term impact on consumers’ financial state because of the monthly payment obligation. Using a large consumer panel data set of credit and employment information, the authors find that receiving a bonus increases auto loan demand by 21%. These loans, however, are associated with higher risk, as the delinquency rate increases by 18.5%–31.4% depending on different measures. In contrast, an increase in consumers’ base salary will increase their demand for auto loans but not their delinquency. By comparing consumers with bonuses with those without bonuses, the authors find that bonus payments lead to both demand expansion and demand shifting on auto loans. The empirical findings help shed light on how consumers make financial decisions and have important implications for financial institutions on when demand for auto loans and the associated risk arise.
Procedural (In)Justice as Inclusivity and Marginalization: Evidence from a Longitudinal Sample of Mexican-American Adolescents
Authors: Thompson Andrew J. , Wilson Theodore
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

Treatment by law enforcement officers, as representatives of the state that interact with individual citizens, may signal to individuals their political and social inclusion within society. Hispanics, as the largest minority group in the country that oftentimes must navigate two cultural identities, may be especially sensitive to the treatment of police. We test the group engagement model’s implication that procedural justice—or lack thereof—may promote or hinder attachment to the United States and/or Mexico among Latino/a adolescents and young adults.

Methods:

Using a fixed effects panel design with a subsample of Mexican Americans from the Pathways to Desistance Study, we examine whether changes in subjective procedural justice evaluations of the police are related to changes in National identification.

Results:

Changes in procedural justice perceptions are significantly related to changes in Mexican identification, whereas procedural justice is not related to changes in Anglo identification. Although, consistent with segmented assimilation theory, the relationships between changes in procedural justice and Mexican/Anglo identification may be stronger among participants born in the United States.

Conclusions:

The findings are generally consistent with the group engagement model of procedural justice and suggest procedural injustice may alienate Hispanics.
Role of Sociocultural Pressures and Internalization of Appearance Ideals in the Motivation for Exercise
Authors: Anić Petra , Pokrajac-Bulian Alessandra , Mohorić Tamara
Published: March 2021

This study examined the mediating role of sociocultural pressures (i.e., parental, peer, significant others, and media) and the internalization of appearance ideals (i.e., thin, muscular, attractive) on the relationship of Body Mass Index (BMI) and exercise frequency to exercise motives (i.e., weight management, appearance, positive health). A total of 262 young women, age 18 to 29, participated in the study. Average BMI in this sample was 22.09 ( SD = 2.69) and ranged from 18.03 to 31.51, with 15.3% of the sample having a BMI of 25 and above, which qualifies as overweight. Participants completed Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4-Revised and Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2) along with some demographic information and questions regarding their exercise habits. The results indicated that women with higher BMI are more motivated to exercise to lose weight, and women who exercise more frequently are motivated by the aspect of positive health. Also, women with higher BMI perceive more sociocultural pressures to obtain a culturally acceptable body. The sociocultural pressures and appearance internalization mediated the relationship between BMI and the frequency of exercise with motives for exercise. The implications and future directions of research are discussed.
Teacher, Learner and Student-Teacher Identity in TESOL
Authors: Richards Jack C
Published: March 2021

In order to position the notion of identity as more central to theory and practice in TESOL, a survey is presented of how the notion of identity contributes to our understanding of the nature of the teacher self, second language learning and teacher learning in language teaching. Available theory and research is reviewed to illustrate the sources of teacher and learner identity and the multifaceted ways in which aspects of identity shape their approaches to learning and the impact identity can have on beliefs, attitudes, motivation and classroom practices as well as their use of English. Suggestions are given as to how a focus on identity can be included in teacher education courses for language teachers.
Comparison of clinical manifestations, pre-existing comorbidities, complications and treatment modalities in severe and non-severe COVID-19 patients: A systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Giri Mohan , Puri Anju , Wang Ting , Guo Shuliang
Published: March 2021

The global pandemic of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become an emergency of major international concern. We aim to assess the prevalence of clinical manifestations, pre-existing comorbidities, complications and treatment modalities in COVID-19 patients and compare incidence of these clinical data of severe patients with non-severe patients. An electronic search was performed in four databases to identify studies reporting clinical data of severe and non-severe COVID-19 patients. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) using fixed or random effect model. The analysis included 41 studies with 16,495 patients. The most prevalent clinical manifestations were fever 78.1%, cough 64.6%, fatigue 40.8%, and dyspnea 38.6%. Dyspnea (OR: 4.20, 95% CI: 3.09–5.72), cough (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.18–1.78), and fatigue (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.14–1.72) were found to be statistically significant higher in severe COVID-19 patients. We found that the most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension 32.2%, diabetes 17.1%, and cardiovascular disease 15.3%. Compared with non-severe group, proportion of hypertension (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.62–2.42), diabetes (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.67–2.50), cardiovascular disease (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 2.00–3.86), and cancer (OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.40–2.18) were statistically significant higher in severe group. 24.7% patients presented with ARDS. The pooled effect of ARDS in severe and non-severe cases was 42.69 (OR: 42.69, 95% CI: 21.62–84.31). There was significant higher incidence of antiviral drugs, antibiotics, and glucocorticoids use in severe patients. Compared with non-severe patients, symptoms such as fever, cough, dyspnea, existing comorbidities, and complications are prevalent in severe COVID-19 patients.
Application of ANN to predict performance and emissions of SI engine using gasoline-methanol blends
Authors: Ahmed Ehtasham , Usman Muhammad , Anwar Sibghatallah , Ahmad Hafiz Muhammad , Nasir Muhammad Waqar , Malik Muhammad Ali Ijaz
Published: March 2021

The deployment of methanol like alternative fuels in engines is a necessity of the present time to comprehend power requirements and environmental pollution. Furthermore, a comprehensive prediction of the impact of the methanol-gasoline blend on engine characteristics is also required in the era of artificial intelligence. The current study analyzes and compares the experimental and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) aided performance and emissions of four-stroke, single-cylinder SI engine using methanol-gasoline blends of 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, 15%, and 18%. The experiments were performed at engine speeds of 1300–3700 rpm with constant loads of 20 and 40 psi for seven different fractions of fuels. Further, an ANN model has developed setting fuel blends, speed and load as inputs, and exhaust emissions and performance parameters as the target. The dataset was randomly divided into three groups of training (70%), validation (15%), and testing (15%) using MATLAB. The feedforward algorithm was used with tangent sigmoid transfer active function (tansig) and gradient descent with an adaptive learning method. It was observed that the continuous addition of methanol up to 12% (M12) increased the performance of the engine. However, a reduction in emissions was observed except for NOx emissions. The regression correlation coefficient (R) and the mean relative error (MRE) were in the range of 0.99100–0.99832 and 1.2%–2.4% respectively, while the values of root mean square error were extremely small. The findings depicted that M12 performed better than other fractions. ANN approach was found suitable for accurately predicting the performance and exhaust emissions of small-scaled SI engines.
Self-medication Practice and Associated Factors among Private Health Sciences Students in Gondar Town, North West Ethiopia. A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Kifle Zemene Demelash , Mekuria Abebe Basazn , Anteneh Demssie Ayalew , Enyew Engidaw Fentahun
Published: March 2021

Self-medication is the most common practice worldwide and it may lead to irrational use of drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-medication practice and its associated factors among health science students. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 health science students in Gondar town. The data regarding self-medication practice and its associated factors were collected using a face-to-face interview on a structured questionnaire. SPSS −24 was used for data analysis and explained with univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the factors associated with self-medication practice (sex, age, religion, marital status, residence, department, year of study, monthly income, access to pharmacy, and peer/family pressure). A total of 554 students responded to the questionnaire with a response rate of 92.3%. Out of 554 respondents, 78.2% were practiced self-medication. Headache/fever 37.88% (n = 164) was reported as the most common complaint to practice self-medication. Among the reasons for self-medication practice, similarity of symptoms with past illness 33.49% (n = 145) was the most frequently reported. In current study, Females (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.55, 6.25), Muslim followers (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.30, 5.91), Protestant followers (AOR = 4.25, 95% CI = 1.38, 13.07), pharmacy students (AOR = 3.72, 95% CI = 1.97, 9.30), clinical nursing students (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.87, 14.48), monthly income (>500ETB) (AOR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.12, 5.56), distance of health institution (<30 min) (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.39, 5.61), and accessibility of pharmacy (AOR = 4.85, 95% CI = 2.08, 11.29) were the independent predictors of self-medication practice. Self-medication is common in health science students in Gondar town. Health professionals should educate students on the risks and benefits of self-medication to encourage responsible self-medication. National guidelines on medicine access should be developed and strong measures should be implemented to halt the selling of medications without a proper prescription.
Non-invariance? An Overstated Problem With Misconceived Causes
Authors: Welzel Christian , Brunkert Lennart , Kruse Stefan , Inglehart Ronald F.
Published: March 2021

Scholars study representative international surveys to understand cross-cultural differences in mentality patterns, which are measured via complex multi-item constructs. Methodologists in this field insist with increasing vigor that detecting “non-invariance” in how a construct’s items associate with each other in different national samples is an infallible sign of encultured in-equivalences in how respondents understand the items. Questioning this claim, we demonstrate that a main source of non-invariance is the arithmetic of closed-ended scales in the presence of sample mean disparity. Since arithmetic principles are culture-unspecific, the non-invariance that these principles enforce in statistical terms is inconclusive of encultured in-equivalences in semantic terms. Because of this inconclusiveness, our evidence reveals furthermore that non-invariance is inconsequential for the cross-cultural functioning of multi-item constructs as concerns their nomological linkages to other variables of interest. We discuss the implications of these insights for measurement validation in cross-cultural settings with large sample mean disparity.
Nonlinear disturbance observer-based fault-tolerant control for flexible teleoperation systems with actuator constraints and varying time delay
Authors: Rasouli Padideh , Moattari Mazda , Forouzantabar Ahmad
Published: March 2021

In this paper, designing a control law for teleoperation systems with flexible-link slave robots in the presence of dynamic uncertainties, disturbances, actuator faults and actuator constraints with time-varying communication delays is addressed. This study proposes a simple anti-saturation nonlinear fault-tolerant controller incorporating a disturbance observer. The attractive features of the proposed controller include the ability to cope with disturbances, avoiding actuators exceeding their usual bounds, and compensating for the actuator faults. Besides which, the controller has a simple structure, does not need a fault detection mechanism, and coordinates the master’s motion speed with the slave’s actuator. A Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is used to prove the stability and tracking performance of the teleoperation system. The feasibility and efficiency of the proposed controller are corroborated through simulation results.
Discrete-time estimation of switched stochastic polynomial systems and its application to reconstruction of induction motor variables
Authors: Hernandez–Gonzalez Miguel , Basin Michael , Stepanov Oleg
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a solution to the filtering problem for a class of stochastic discrete-time nonlinear polynomial systems with switching in the state equation over linear observations and its application to a mechatronic system. The switching in the state equation is performed between two different nonlinear functions according to a sequence of independent Bernoulli random variables that take the quantities of zero and one. The mean-square filtering solution is obtained for a general nonlinear discrete-time polynomial system and a finite-dimensional system of filtering equations is then obtained for a second degree polynomial system as a particular case. The mean-square estimates of polynomial state terms are expressed as functions of the estimate and covariance matrix. Finally, some numerical simulations are carried out to reconstruct the variable states given a vector output measurement for a linear system, a second degree polynomial system, and an induction motor model to show effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The proposed method is compared with an extended Kalman filter-based algorithm for discrete-time switched nonlinear systems.