bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimodal Medical Image Fusion of Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Nandhini Abirami R. , Durai Raj Vincent P. M. , Srinivasan Kathiravan , Manic K. Suresh , Chang Chuan-Yu
Published: April 2022

Multimodal medical image fusion is a current technique applied in the applications related to medical field to combine images from the same modality or different modalities to improve the visual content of the image to perform further operations like image segmentation. Biomedical research and medical image analysis highly demand medical image fusion to perform higher level of medical analysis. Multimodal medical fusion assists medical practitioners to visualize the internal organs and tissues. Multimodal medical fusion of brain image helps to medical practitioners to simultaneously visualize hard portion like skull and soft portion like tissue. Brain tumor segmentation can be accurately performed by utilizing the image obtained after multimodal medical image fusion. The area of the tumor can be accurately located with the information obtained from both Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Image in a single fused image. This approach increases the accuracy in diagnosing the tumor and reduces the time consumed in diagnosing and locating the tumor. The functional information of the brain is available in the Positron Emission Tomography while the anatomy of the brain tissue is available in the Magnetic Resonance Image. Thus, the spatial characteristics and functional information can be obtained from a single image using a robust multimodal medical image fusion model. The proposed approach uses a generative adversarial network to fuse Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Image into a single image. The results obtained from the proposed approach can be used for further medical analysis to locate the tumor and plan for further surgical procedures. The performance of the GAN based model is evaluated using two metrics, namely, structural similarity index and mutual information. The proposed approach achieved a structural similarity index of 0.8551 and a mutual information of 2.8059.
The Extended Laguerre Polynomials

A

q
,
n

α

x

Involving

F

q

q

,
q
>
2
Authors: Khan Adnan , Kalim Muhammad , Akgül Ali , Jarad Fahd
Published: April 2022

In this paper, for the proposed extended Laguerre polynomials

A

α

q
,
n

x

, the generalized hypergeometric function of the type

F

q

q

,
q
>
2

and extension of the Laguerre polynomial are introduced. Similar to those related to the Laguerre polynomials, the generating function, recurrence relations, and Rodrigue’s formula are determined. Some corollaries are also discussed at the end.
New Exact Solutions to the Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel Equation with Kerr Law of Nonlinearity
Authors: Peng Chen , Li Zhao , Zhao Hongwei
Published: April 2022

In this study, some new exact travelling wave solutions to the Lakshmanan–Porsezian–Daniel (LPD) equation with Kerr law of nonlinearity are retrieved by the complete discrimination system for the polynomial method. Under the travelling wave transformation, the LPD equation is reduced to an ordinary differential equation. The new exact travelling wave solutions including rational solutions, triangle function solutions, solitary wave solutions, and Jacobian elliptic function solutions are obtained and graphically illustrated using three-dimensional and two-dimensional graphs. Comparing with the previous results for LPD equation, some of new solutions in this work such as elliptical solution are not studied, which shows the complete discrimination system method is efficient.
Protective Effects of Feruloyl Oligosaccharides from Fermented Wheat Bran against Oxidative Stress in IPEC-J2 Cells In Vitro and in a Zebrafish Model In Vivo
Authors: Zhang Jia , Chen Qiuyan , Wang Yuan , Wang Ruxin , Wang Ruifang , Hao Xiran , Zheng Yue , An Xiaoping , Qi Jingwei
Published: April 2022

This study aims to evaluate the protective effects of feruloyl oligosaccharides from fermented wheat bran (FOs-FWB) against oxidative stress in IPEC-J2 cells in vitro and in a zebrafish model in vivo. Results showed that FOs-FWB effectively reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated IPEC-J2 cells while elevating glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. The real-time PCR data illustrated that FOs-FWB upregulated the mRNA expression levels of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), NAD (P) H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In the model of AAPH-stimulated zebrafish embryos, we observed that FOs-FWB suppressed cell death, ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation, along with improvements in SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities. Therefore, FOs-FWB exerted protective effects against oxidative stress in IPEC-J2 cells and zebrafish.
Stability Results of Some Fractional Neutral Integrodifferential Equations with Delay
Authors: Ben Makhlouf Abdellatif , El-hady El-sayed , Boulaaras Salah , Mchiri Lassaad
Published: April 2022

Differential equations with fractional derivative are being extensively used in the modelling of the transmission of many infective diseases like HIV, Ebola, and COVID-19. Analytical solutions are unreachable for a wide range of such kind of equations. Stability theory in the sense of Ulam is essential as it provides approximate analytical solutions. In this article, we utilize some fixed point theorem (FPT) to investigate the stability of fractional neutral integrodifferential equations with delay in the sense of Ulam-Hyers-Rassias (UHR). This work is a generalized version of recent interesting works. Finally, two examples are given to prove the applicability of our results.
The Evolution of Opportunistic Behavior of Participating Subjects during the Operation Period of PPP Projects
Authors: Peng Dan , Zeng Xiaoye
Published: April 2022

Most of the public-private partnership (PPP) projects have entered the operational period in China. Due to information asymmetry, opportunistic behavior exists in the operation period of PPP projects. The opportunistic behavior of the participating subjects is an obstacle to the success of PPP projects and one of the root causes of low project performance. To investigate the evolutionary law of this behavior, the payment matrix of the strategic interaction between the investors and the government is constructed based on evolutionary game theory. Using MATLAB to simulate the evolutionary state and through the analysis of the evolutionary behavior of the interaction process, the influence of individual strategy choice on group behavior is revealed. The results show that the path evolution system of opportunistic behavior during the operation period of PPP projects can converge in two states, “good” and “bad,” and the determining factor is the relative returns of investors under various strategies. Reasonable incentives and penalties and reduced regulatory costs can effectively discourage opportunistic behavior. By regulating the parameters, the path evolution of opportunistic behavior can be optimized, and the group behavior can be induced to a good state. The research results can provide a reference for reducing the opportunistic behavior of participating subjects and improving the success rate of the PPP projects.
[Retracted] Immunotherapy Mechanism of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with the Effect of STK11/AMPK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Xia Yang , Wang Peng , Ye Yunyao , Zhang Sihui , Sun Guangzhi , Xu Jie , Han Gaohua
Published: April 2022

This study was aimed at exploring the mechanism of serine threonine protein kinase 11 (STK11)/Adenosine 5 ′‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway after immunotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), providing basic information for the clinical treatment of ESCC. In this study, tissue specimens from 100 patients with ESCC who underwent surgical treatment in Taizhou People’s Hospital (group A) and 20 patients with recurrent or metastatic ESCC who received second‐line immunotherapy (group B) were collected. The real‐time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (RT‐qPCR) technology was used to detect the expression levels of STK11, interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the tissues. The immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the positive expression levels (PELs) of STK11 and AMPKα in the tissues, and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the PELs Teff cells (CD3 and CD8), Treg cells (CD4 and FOXP3), and neutrophils (CD68 and CD163). RT‐qPCR results showed that the expression levels of STK11 and IFN‐γ in group A were obviously lower, and those of IL‐6 and VEGF were much higher in contrast to group B (P < 0.05). The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of STK11‐ and AMPKα‐positive staining cells in group A was dramatically less than that in group B (P <0.05). The results of immunofluorescence staining revealed that the number of positive staining cells for Teff cells, Treg cells, and neutrophils in group A was also less dramatically than that in group B (P <0.05). In summary, immunotherapy can play a therapeutic effect on ESCC by regulating STK11/AMPK pathway and immune cell infiltration.
Software Development, Configuration, Monitoring, and Management of Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Tang Yongbin , Chen Xi
Published: April 2022

With the increasing demand for software systems, the software development industry is also developing rapidly. With the development of information technology, the more functions of the software, the more valuable it is, so the function design of the software becomes more complicated and difficult. The design of software system functions is increasingly large and complex. Scientific and effective use of software configuration management can well deal with collaborative work problems such as version management and change control in the software development process. In the process of software development and configuration, there will always be many problems that are difficult to detect. For example, when inputting the program code, there are not always some letter or space errors, and these errors are difficult to detect in time. For this reason, we need to establish a monitoring and management system for software development. As a computing model of human brain neural network, the artificial neural network can play the role of monitoring and management when it is applied to software development and configuration, which provides support for the security and scientificity of software development and configuration systems. This study studies the role and effectiveness of an artificial neural network in the monitoring and management of software development and configuration and validates it through experiments. The experimental results show that the artificial neural network has a strong ability to identify the problems in the software development configuration, which can improve the software development efficiency by at least 20%. It can improve the quality of software development and then improve the life cycle of software.
Real-Time Detection of Body Nutrition in Sports Training Based on Cloud Computing and Somatosensory Network
Authors: Gong Ruyao , Ge Nan , Li Jijie
Published: April 2022

With the progress of society and the improvement of living standards, sports training has gradually become an area of increasing concern for society and individuals. To more comprehensively grasp the physical function, body shape, and physical fitness of athletes, many researchers have conducted extensive research on the real-time detection of human body nutrition. This study is mainly supported by cloud computing and somatosensory network technology, and the real-time detection of human body composition in sports training is the main research object. In the experiment, two methods of human body composition detection were tested: the BIA method and the body composition analysis method based on the electrochemical sensor of body sweat. It designed a human nutrient composition detection system based on the BIA method. The error rate of the system is relatively small, which is basically maintained at about 2%. It uses a body surface sweat electrochemical sensor to detect changes in glucose concentration during human exercise. After exercising for a period of time, the test subject’s sweat glucose concentration remained around 0.5 mM.
Study on Complexity of Precast Concrete Components and Its Influence on Production Efficiency
Authors: Liu Yan , Tong Wenjing , Li Qianqian , Yao Fuyi , Li Yan , Li Hong Xian , Huang Jiaxin
Published: April 2022

Prefabricated construction has been well recognized for its benefits, including accelerated construction cycle time and improved sustainability. However, low efficiency in the production of precast concrete components due to component and production complexity has not been sufficiently addressed in previous research. This paper explores the complexity of precast concrete components by establishing complexity indices and evaluating their influence on production efficiency. First, referring to research on product complexity in the machinery manufacturing industry, we define the complexity of precast concrete components in the construction industry. Then, based on a literature review, field studies, and expert interviews, we systematically construct the complexity indices of precast concrete components using the three‐stage coding method, Grounded Theory. The overall complexity index system for precast concrete components constructed comprises 16 constituent complexity indices in three dimensions (i.e., structural complexity of the component, production complexity, and management complexity). The relationship between complexity indices and production efficiency is then explored using structural equation model analysis based on the data collected through a questionnaire survey. The results reveal that complexity indices have a significant impact on the production efficiency for precast concrete components, where the number of embedded parts, waiting time in production, operating proficiency of workers, and degree of automation of the production line are found to be the most influential complexity indices. This study provides a foundation upon which production managers improve production efficiency for precast concrete components based on an analysis of their product complexity.
Pembrolizumab Monotherapy for Previously Untreated Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Data from the Open-Label, Phase II KEYNOTE-224 Trial
Authors: Verset Gontran , Borbath Ivan , Karwal Mark , Verslype Chris , Van Vlierberghe Hans , Kardosh Adel , Zagonel Vittorina , Stal Per , Sarker Debashis , Palmer Daniel H. , Vogel Arndt , Edeline Julien , Cattan Stephane , Kudo Masatoshi , Cheng Ann-Lii , Ogasawara Sadahisa , Daniele Bruno , Chan Stephen L. , Knox Jennifer J. , Qin Shukui , Siegel Abby B. , Chisamore Michael , Hatogai Ken , Wang Anran , Finn Richard S. , Zhu Andrew X.
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

KEYNOTE-224 cohort 1 demonstrated that pembrolizumab was efficacious and tolerable in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) previously treated with sorafenib. We report results from KEYNOTE-224 (NCT02702414) cohort 2, which enrolled patients with advanced HCC and no prior systemic therapy.

Patients and Methods:

KEYNOTE-224 was an open-label, multicountry phase II trial. Eligible patients in cohort 2 had advanced HCC not amenable or refractory to locoregional therapy and not previously treated with systemic therapy. Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks for ≤2 years. Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) by central imaging review per RECIST v1.1. Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR), disease control rate (DCR), time to progression (TTP), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety/tolerability.

Results:

Between September 4, 2018, and February 20, 2019, 51 patients were allocated in cohort 2. The median time from the first dose to data cutoff (January 19, 2021) was 27 months (range, 23–29). ORR was 16% [95% confidence interval (CI), 7–29] and was similar across key subgroups. Median DOR was 16 months (range, 3–24+), and DCR was 57%. The median PFS was 4 months (95% CI, 2–8), and median TTP was 4 months (95% CI, 3–9). Median OS was 17 months (95% CI, 8–23). Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 16% of patients.

Conclusions:

In patients with advanced HCC with no prior systemic therapy, pembrolizumab provided durable antitumor activity, promising OS, and had a safety profile consistent with previous observations. These findings support further evaluation of pembrolizumab-based regimens for HCC.
Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Unveils the Clonal and Transcriptional Landscape of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas
Authors: Gaydosik Alyxzandria M. , Stonesifer Connor J. , Khaleel Alexandra E. , Geskin Larisa J. , Fuschiotti Patrizia
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

Clonal malignant T lymphocytes constitute only a fraction of T cells in mycosis fungoides skin tumors and in the leukemic blood of Sézary syndrome, the classic types of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. However, lack of markers specific for malignant lymphocytes prevents distinguishing them from benign T cells, thus delaying diagnosis and the development of targeted treatments. Here we applied single-cell methods to assess the transcriptional profiles of both malignant T-cell clones and reactive T lymphocytes directly in mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome patient samples.

Experimental Design:

Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to profile the T-cell immune repertoire simultaneously with gene expression in CD3+ lymphocytes from mycosis fungoides and healthy skin biopsies as well as from Sézary syndrome and control blood samples. Transcriptional data were validated in additional advanced-stage mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome skin and blood samples by immunofluorescence microscopy.

Results:

Several nonoverlapping clonotypes are expanded in the skin and blood of individual advanced-stage mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome patient samples, including a dominant malignant clone as well as additional minor malignant and reactive clones. While we detected upregulation of patient-specific as well as mycosis fungoides– and Sézary syndrome–specific oncogenic pathways within individual malignant clones, we also detected upregulation of several common pathways that included genes associated with cancer cell metabolism, cell-cycle regulation, de novo nucleotide biosynthesis, and invasion.

Conclusions:

Our analysis unveils new insights into mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome pathogenesis by providing an unprecedented report of the transcriptional profile of malignant T-cell clones in the skin and blood of individual patients and offers novel prospective targets for personalized therapy.
Dose- and Volume-Limiting Late Toxicity of FLASH Radiotherapy in Cats with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Nasal Planum and in Mini Pigs
Authors: Rohrer Bley Carla , Wolf Friederike , Gonçalves Jorge Patrik , Grilj Veljko , Petridis Ioannis , Petit Benoit , Böhlen Till T. , Moeckli Raphael , Limoli Charles , Bourhis Jean , Meier Valeria , Vozenin Marie-Catherine
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

The FLASH effect is characterized by normal tissue sparing without compromising tumor control. Although demonstrated in various preclinical models, safe translation of FLASH-radiotherapy stands to benefit from larger vertebrate animal models. Based on prior results, we designed a randomized phase III trial to investigate the FLASH effect in cat patients with spontaneous tumors. In parallel, the sparing capacity of FLASH-radiotherapy was studied on mini pigs by using large field irradiation.

Experimental Design:

Cats with T1-T2, N0 carcinomas of the nasal planum were randomly assigned to two arms of electron irradiation: arm 1 was the standard of care (SoC) and used 10 × 4.8 Gy (90% isodose); arm 2 used 1 × 30 Gy (90% isodose) FLASH. Mini pigs were irradiated using applicators of increasing size and a single surface dose of 31 Gy FLASH.

Results:

In cats, acute side effects were mild and similar in both arms. The trial was prematurely interrupted due to maxillary bone necrosis, which occurred 9 to 15 months after radiotherapy in 3 of 7 cats treated with FLASH-radiotherapy (43%), as compared with 0 of 9 cats treated with SoC. All cats were tumor-free at 1 year in both arms, with one cat progressing later in each arm. In pigs, no acute toxicity was recorded, but severe late skin necrosis occurred in a volume-dependent manner (7–9 months), which later resolved.

Conclusions:

The reported outcomes point to the caveats of translating single-high-dose FLASH-radiotherapy and emphasizes the need for caution and further investigations.

See related commentary by Maity and Koumenis, p. 3636
Malic Enzyme 1 Absence in Synovial Sarcoma Shifts Antioxidant System Dependence and Increases Sensitivity to Ferroptosis Induction with ACXT-3102
Authors: Brashears Caitlyn B. , Prudner Bethany C. , Rathore Richa , Caldwell Katharine E. , Dehner Carina A. , Buchanan Jane L. , Lange Sara E.S. , Poulin Neal , Sehn Jennifer K. , Roszik Jason , Spitzer Dirk , Jones Kevin B. , O'Keefe Regis , Nielsen Torsten O. , Taylor Eric B. , Held Jason M. , Hawkins William , Van Tine Brian A.
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

To investigate the metabolism of synovial sarcoma (SS) and elucidate the effect of malic enzyme 1 absence on SS redox homeostasis.

Experimental Design:

ME1 expression was measured in SS clinical samples, SS cell lines, and tumors from an SS mouse model. The effect of ME1 absence on glucose metabolism was evaluated utilizing Seahorse assays, metabolomics, and C13 tracings. The impact of ME1 absence on SS redox homeostasis was evaluated by metabolomics, cell death assays with inhibitors of antioxidant systems, and measurements of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The susceptibility of ME1-null SS to ferroptosis induction was interrogated in vitro and in vivo.

Results:

ME1 absence in SS was confirmed in clinical samples, SS cell lines, and an SS tumor model. Investigation of SS glucose metabolism revealed that ME1-null cells exhibit higher rates of glycolysis and higher flux of glucose into the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which is necessary to produce NADPH. Evaluation of cellular redox homeostasis demonstrated that ME1 absence shifts dependence from the glutathione system to the thioredoxin system. Concomitantly, ME1 absence drives the accumulation of ROS and labile iron. ROS and iron accumulation enhances the susceptibility of ME1-null cells to ferroptosis induction with inhibitors of xCT (erastin and ACXT-3102). In vivo xenograft models of ME1-null SS demonstrate significantly increased tumor response to ACXT-3102 compared with ME1-expressing controls.

Conclusions:

These findings demonstrate the translational potential of targeting redox homeostasis in ME1-null cancers and establish the preclinical rationale for a phase I trial of ACXT-3102 in SS patients.

See related commentary by Subbiah and Gan, p. 3408
Studenti sestrinstva u Sloveniji – spavaju li dovoljno?
Authors: Kelenc Marjetka , Koželj Anton , Strauss Maja
Published: April 2022

Uvod: Spavanje je važan dio našeg svakodnevnog života i vrlo je važno za naše zdravlje. Nedostatak sna u modernom svijetu velik je problem. Mnogi studenti sestrinstva diljem svijeta imaju problema sa spavanjem pa nas je zanimala situacija u Sloveniji.
Metode: U istraživanju smo upotrebljavali namjensku metodu uzorkovanja. Podaci su prikupljeni pomoću internetskog upitnika. Anketirali smo studente preddiplomskih studija sestrinstva. Upotrijebili smo Microsoft Excel i Microsoft Word za analizu i grafički prikaz podataka.
Rezultati: Studenti smatraju da im je za odmor potrebno 7 – 8 sati sna tijekom noći. Iako 67 % studenata dovoljno spava vikendom / slobodnim danima, situacija je drugačija tijekom tjedna. Ukupno njih 72 % spava manje od preporučenog broja sati. Tijekom vikenda / slobodnih dana studenti zaspe kasnije nego tijekom tjedna i kasnije se probude. Smanjeni broj sati sna predstavlja problem tijekom ispitnih rokova. Većini studenata (34 %) potrebno je do 10 minuta da bi zaspali. Gotovo polovica studenata (48,5 %) ima problema s utonućem u san nekoliko puta mjesečno. Studenti smatraju da na kvalitetu sna najviše utječe stres. Većina studenata (53,4 %) često se osjeća umorno. Više od polovice studenata (55 %) povremeno odluči spavati tijekom dana. Povremene probleme s koncentracijom prijavljuje 55 % studenata. Ukupno 92 % studenata slaže se da kvaliteta i količina sna utječu na raspoloženje tijekom dana. Čak 96 % studenata ima mobilni uređaj u spavaćoj sobi, od kojih ga 88 % upotrebljava prije spavanja. Većina studenata spava na boku (44 %). Većina također navodi zadovoljstvo svojim krevetom (85 %).
Zaključak: Važno je da studenti budu svjesni važnosti sna za njihovo zdravlje i akademski uspjeh. Tek tada će moći promijeniti svoje navike spavanja. Studenti sestrinstva budući su radnici smjenskog rada pa je posebno važno da znaju poboljšati svoje navike spavanja.
Life satisfaction and quality of life among nurses of COVID-19 hospital of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar
Authors: Franjić Darjan , Franjić Ivana
Published: April 2022

Introduction: The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic inevitably affected the mental health of nurses who directly care for people suffering from COVID-19 disease. The work environment in which nurses find themselves during a pandemic, contributes significantly to the severity of psychiatric symptoms and the reduced quality of life.
Aim: Aim is to investigate the life satisfaction and quality of life among nurses working in a COVID-19 hospital. An additional goal of this research is to analyze relationship between life satisfaction and quality of life among nurses of COVID-19 hospital.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and May 2021 at COVID-19 hospital of the University Clinical Hospital Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data were collected using the Socio-demographic questionnaire personally designed for this research, the General Life Satisfaction Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire.
Results: Of the total of respondents, 73 subjects completed and returned the questionnaires. There was a statistically significant correlation between life satisfaction and psychological well-being, social relations, and the environment domains (p < 0.01). The strongest positive correlation was observed betwe- en life satisfaction and the psychological well-being domain (r = 0.747). The psychological well-being (p < 0.001), social relations (p < 0.01), and the envi- ronment (p < 0.05) domains significantly predicted life satisfaction level.
Conclusion: The psychological, social, and environmental health domains of quality of life significantly affect the life satisfaction level among nurses working at COVID-19 hospital.
Under the Microscope: The Evolution of Surgical Loupes
Authors: Qafiti Fred N. , Marsh Amanda M. , Yi Slee , Lopez-Viego Miguel A. , Buicko Jessica L.
Published: April 2022

Fine motor movements of the surgeon’s hands are limited by the resolution of the eye. Surgical loupes have allowed the profession of surgery to surpass this threshold. This is a review of the historical milestones that lead up to the development of the modern-day loupes. We explore the Greco-Roman history of the magnifying lens, its subsequent application to corrective eyewear centuries later, and the multiple ground-breaking advancements of the compound lens microscope. Moreover, we review the development of pre-modern loupes as each iteration improved through time. The aim of this historical review is to kindle an appreciation for the millennia of development that led to such instrumental modern-day technology.
Similar gaps, different paths? Comparing racial inequalities among BA holders in Brazil and the United States
Authors: Moraes Silva Graziella , de Souza Leão Luciana , Ciocca Eller Christina , Carvalhaes Flavio , DiPrete Thomas A
Published: April 2022

In this article, we compare how racial inequalities are shaped by school-to-work transitions among bachelor’s degree (BA) holders in Brazil and the United States. Our findings reveal how distinct paths linking higher education and the job market can drive similar patterns of Black–White earnings gaps. While the distribution across fields of study matters more for racial earnings inequality in Brazil, differential returns to the same field and occupations are a stronger determinant in the United States. We also find that linked closure, that is, the exclusion of Black BA holders from occupations with high levels of linkage to the labor market, is the predominant mechanism in the United States, while a mix between linked closure and what we term unlinked closure, that is, the exclusion of Black BA holders from occupations that have weak linkages to fields of study, is more important in Brazil. By identifying variations in mechanisms leading to racial inequality, this article contributes to debates in comparative race relations and stratification.
The Epistemic Role of Children’s Questions and Teacher’s Responses in Preschool Classroom Discourse
Authors: Kaya Gökhan , Ahi Berat
Published: April 2022

This study investigates the structure of discourse children initiate by asking inquisitive questions. In total, 301 question sequences were analyzed, taking into account the discourse analysis procedure. Generally, the analysis concluded that although children were demonstrating their epistemic stance, they used different question structures than the adults. However, the teachers realized the pragmatic aspects of these questions and were able to support their epistemic domains. Finally, the study also identified how sequence closures differed from traditional classroom discourse.
Transcultural Adaptation and Psychometric Support for a Brazilian Portuguese Version of the Flow State Scale (FSS-2)
Authors: Garcia William F. , Nascimento Junior José Roberto A. , Mizoguchi Marcus V. , Brandão Maria R. F. , Fiorese Lenamar
Published: April 2022

The flow experience in sports is a construct of great interest to recreational and competitive athletes, coaches, and psychologists in pursuit of optimal performance. As there are no validated instruments for evaluating flow in the Brazilian Portuguese language, we evaluated the psychometric properties of a Brazilian version of the Flow State Scale (FSS-2) through three steps. Initially, four translators and five sports psychology specialists adapted the FSS-2 content for the Brazilian Portuguese language. Second, 371 athletes of both sexes who were engaged in group and individual sport modalities and who participated in national university sports competitions from 24 states responded to the adapted version of the FSS-2. Third, an independent sample of 34 athletes from Paraná responded to both the adapted FSS-2 and the dispositional flow scale (DFS-2) to permit analysis of the external validity and temporal stability of the adapted FSS-2. We found that the Brazilian version of the FSS-2 contains clear and pertinent items with a good content validity coefficient (CVC = 0.94) and satisfactory internal consistency (α > 0.88/CC > 0.80). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the adapted 36-item model presented adequate fit [X2 (558) = 1258.85; X2/df = 2.256; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.92; non-normed fit index (NNFI) = 0.90; Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.91; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06 (0.05–0.06); (RMSEA <0.05) =.001] with all first order factors (challenge-skills balance, action-attention fusion, clear goals, feedback, intense concentration, control, loss of self-awareness, time transformation, and autotelic experience). External validity (r > 0.344) and temporal stability (0.53 < intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) < 0.86) were satisfactory. We conclude that the Brazilian version of FSS-2 is adequate to evaluate flow states experienced by Brazilian athletes following a sports competition.
Operationalization of an Expanded Anteroom in a COVID-19–Dedicated Hospital in South Korea
Authors: Moon Kyoung Ja , Shon Soonyoung , Cho Hwasook , Sung Minseo , Kang Jin Young , Choi Younsuk
Published: April 2022

The concentration of patients in a few facilities burdens healthcare providers and the healthcare system. This study examined the operations of an extended anteroom in a COVID-19–dedicated hospital. It presents issues to consider in the deployment and operation of an extended anteroom through discussions by expert working groups. The subjects covered included efficient space, staffing, equipment management, and education. The process involved wearing personal protective equipment (personal protective equipment; in this case, Level D), and if necessary, wearing additional powered air purification respirators (PAPR), after moving from the preparation room to the dressing room, and when entering the hospital through the entrance passage. When leaving the hospital, personnel used a mandatory exit-only passage. In the dressing room, they undressed, and then went outside. The efficient spatial composition of the anteroom facilitated entry and exit, as well as the separation of contaminated and non-contaminated areas using colors and lines. As COVID-19 spread rapidly in the community, COVID-19–dedicated hospitals were established highly quickly. Therefore, there exists a limitation because sufficient discussion with external experts has not been made. In the future, the development of an operating manual for dedicated infectious disease hospitals and continued research into the improvement of care is needed. This study indicated the need to develop educational programs and use educational simulations, to address regionally spread infectious diseases.
Sampled-data-based dynamic event-triggered formation control for nonlinear multi-agent systems
Authors: Chai Xiaofeng , Wang Qing , Diao Qi , Yu Yao , Sun Changyin
Published: April 2022

This paper studies the distributed formation control of multi-agent systems with nonlinear dynamics. In view of practical digital microprocessor and limited network resources, the sampled-data-based dynamic event-triggered control strategy is developed. First, each agent synchronously samples its states and monitors the event-triggered function periodically. Each agent broadcasts its states to neighbors only when the function is triggered which can greatly reduce communication times. Meanwhile, the Zeno behavior is excluded due to periodic sampling. Moreover, the dynamic parameter in event-triggered function updates in accordance with a dynamic rule which helps achieve a trade-off between communication frequency and formation performance. The formation problem is transformed into the stability analysis of a time-delay system. Finally, numerical simulations are shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Leisure Participation and Cognitive Impairment Among Healthy Older Adults in China
Authors: Zhang Wei , Feng Qiushi , Fong Joelle H. , Chen Huashuai
Published: April 2022

Leisure participation is beneficial to various health outcomes. This study examined a comprehensive list of leisure activities in relation to incidence of cognitive impairment among healthy older adults (65+) in China. Using data from the 2002 to 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, we found that most of the leisure activities were protective of cognitive decline and three leisure activities (watching TV, doing housework, and playing cards/mah-jong) stood out as the most important ones. Additionally, our results revealed subgroup variations in the association between leisure participation and cognitive function: Leisure activities such as reading newspapers/books (not significant for the illiterate), gardening (not significant for the illiterate), and regular exercise (not significant for the rural residents) had different effects across different demographic social groups. Our findings suggest that intervention programs designed to prevent cognitive decline for older adults should consider subgroup and cultural variations in order to yield the best outcomes.
Policy paradoxes and the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme: How welfare policies impact resettlement support
Authors: Haycox Hannah
Published: April 2022

The Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) comprised the UK government's primary response to persons forcibly displaced by the Syrian civil war. Recipients were granted immediate recourse to public funds and a locally-based 12-month integration support plan, designed at the discretion of practitioners. Drawing on forty in-depth interviews with refugees and practitioners in two areas with contrasting local approaches, this article explores the tensions that emerged when broader central government policies (distinct from the VPRS), intersected with resettlement support in recipients’ lives. Two current welfare reforms are identified and evaluated as having impacted resettled families’ housing experiences: firstly; the Two-Child Limit and secondly; the Benefit Cap. The article demonstrates how the financial precarity produced by both policies undermined local practitioners’ resettlement support. In doing so, the article challenges dominant policy narratives of exceptionality, locating those resettled within the routinised systems of precarity and conditionality embedded in the welfare system.
Qatar’s Development Cooperation and Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
Authors: MH Al-Ansari Majed , Aras Bulent , Mugurtay Nihat
Published: April 2022

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the foreign aid behavior of new donors on humanitarian cooperation? The non–OECD-DAC donors, such as Qatar, try to adapt to the new environment of development and humanitarian aid under COVID-19 pandemic. Qatar has successfully used public diplomacy to deal with regional geopolitical challenges. In this sense, the current situation presents an opportunity to Qatar for opening up to new geographies. This research analyzes Qatar’s foreign aid, utilizing a novel dataset on Qatar’s foreign aid interactions before and during the pandemic. These interactions show Qatar’s main recipients of foreign aid, with which country, income group and geography it interacts more. This dataset is essential to demonstrate Qatar’s priorities in humanitarian diplomacy as well. The pandemic makes this dataset even more interesting because it is worthwhile to investigate how a global health shock might affect the aid behavior of a new donor. Our analysis shows that Qatar has increased its foreign aid interactions compared to the pre-pandemic period. Qatar’s foreign aid regime is evolving according to income group and geographical differentiation, new communications with different recipients, revealing the country’s aspirations to be a global donor. However, Qatar’s foreign aid also has many limitations that negatively affect its global status. These factors are related to Qatar’s insistence on providing aid to specific regions and countries. Although Qatar has increased its humanitarian aid interaction with underdeveloped countries and disadvantaged geographies, the country privileges certain countries and geographies. The income group diversification in Qatar’s foreign aid policy does not manifest a strong positive inclination toward LDCs.
Estimating Pedestrian Crossing Volumes and Crashes at Midblock Locations
Authors: Reddy Geedipally Srinivas
Published: April 2022

Identifying high-risk locations is typically the necessary first task that traffic authorities consider for implementation of safety countermeasures. Before implementation of any treatment, it is necessary to understand the level of pedestrian activity at a site. Although extensive data on vehicular volumes are available, pedestrian crossing volume is seldom available, at least for midblock locations. Collecting pedestrian volume is very expensive and labor intensive. The first objective of this study is to explore options for estimating pedestrian volumes at midblock locations. The second objective is to develop a safety performance function (SPF) for estimating pedestrian crashes. To accomplish the study objectives, pedestrian safety data including crossing volumes at 64 midblock locations in Houston and San Antonio, Texas, were collected. A direct demand model that effectively estimates pedestrian volumes at midblock locations is developed. The variables that were found to be significant in influencing the pedestrian crossing volumes are: posted speed limit, number of bus stops, sidewalk width, and type of area. The SPF developed for estimating the midblock pedestrian crashes showed that the variables that most influence pedestrian safety are traffic volume and pedestrian crossing volume. The study results provide important methodological tools that can be used for proactive safety planning activities, including networkwide screening and identification of hazardous midblock locations.
Laboratory Investigation on Pollutant Removal Effect of Purification Materials for Porous Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Liu Jiawen , Li Hui , Yang Bing , Xie Ning , Ning Yihuan
Published: April 2022

Purification materials have been widely applied as filter media in best management measures including wetlands, bioretention systems, and so forth, whereas their application in permeable pavement is limited and needs further research. This paper aims to explore the feasible applications of water purification materials in permeable pavement materials and structures. Based on laboratory rainfall test and static adsorption test, the possible application of three types of water purification materials, including diatomite, quartz sand, and straw biochar, in porous asphalt pavement and their pollutant removal effect were investigated. The results show that the filter layers can effectively increase the total suspended solids removal rate to 60%–80%. And when the purification materials are applied as alternative fillers in porous asphalt mixture (PA), they can enhance the removal effect of dissolved pollutants, especially heavy metals, by their special chemical properties and the positive influence on microscopic pore structures of PA. The adsorption effect of PA on pollutants is closely related to the environment temperature. The PA adsorption of nutrients and Cu increases with the increase of temperature, but the adsorption effect of Cr is better at lower temperatures. The pseudo-first-order model and the pseudo-second-order model can properly describe the adsorption process of heavy metals Cu and Cr by PA, respectively. The purification schemes that present purification effects under different runoff pollution characteristics are recommended as well.
Efficacy of supine trans-abdominal pronated shock head ESWL for treatment of distal ureteric stones: A pilot study
Authors: Sarkar Debansu , Wakle Dhansagar U , Pal Dilip Kumar
Published: April 2022

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) in supine trans-abdominal approach for distal ureteric calculi and to determine the variables that could affect the outcome results.

Materials and methods:

Between November 2019 and January 2021, 172 patients with a solitary distal ureteric calculus were treated with ESWL in supine position with a pronated shock wave head against the anterior abdominal wall. The outcome of treatment evaluated and the clinical and radiological findings, as well as stone characteristics, were reviewed and correlated with the stone-free rate (SFR).

Results:

Overall SFR was 84.84% (140/165). Those with stone clearance, 83.57% (117/140) cleared after one session and 16.42% (23/140) needed more than one session. Only three factors had a significant impact on SFR, that is stone length, stone width, stone attenuation. For stone length ⩽ 9 mm SFR was 93.44% (114/122) compared to 60.46% (26/43) for stone length of 10–12 mm ( p < 0.00001). There were statistically significant increased SFR for stones with attenuation of <0.0001 and for the mean stone width of 8.02 mm ( p < 0.00001). Stone localisation was easy with good patient comfort.

Conclusion:

Supine trans-abdominal ESWL is a new, effective and safe form of treatment for distal ureteric calculi. The stone length, stone width along with stone attenuation were the only significant predictors of stone free status in supine position.
Test of Measurement Invariance, and Evidence for Reliability and Validity of AMAS Scores in Dutch Secondary School and University Students
Authors: Schmitz Eva A. , Salemink Elske , Wiers Reinout W. , Jansen Brenda R. J.
Published: April 2022

The Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS) is commonly used to compare groups on math anxiety. Group comparisons should however be preceded by a demonstration of metric and scalar measurement invariance, which is currently only available for undergraduate students in the USA. This study tested for metric and scalar measurement invariance of AMAS scores across sexes and age groups and investigated reliability and validity evidence. Dutch secondary school students ( N = 1504) and university students ( N = 629) completed the AMAS and reported their math grades. Subsamples also completed questionnaires on related (e.g., trait anxiety) and unrelated constructs (e.g., anxiety for learning a foreign language). Results of multi-group Confirmatory Factor Analyses showed the 2-factor structure that was detected in earlier studies and supported partial metric and scalar invariance, although cross-loadings for one item were included for the female university students group to improve model fit. Reliability ranged from acceptable to good and validity was supported.