bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Reliability of the Notion of Native Signer and Its Risks
Authors: Zorzi Giorgia , Giustolisi Beatrice , Aristodemo Valentina , Cecchetto Carlo , Hauser Charlotte , Quer Josep , Sánchez Amat Jordina , Donati Caterina
Published: March 2022

Who is a native signer? Since around 95% of deaf infants are born into a hearing family, deaf signers are exposed to a sign language at various moments of their life, and not only from birth. Moreover, the linguistic input they are exposed to is not always a fully fledged natural sign language. In this situation, is the notion of native signer as someone exposed to language from birth of any use? We review the results of the first large-scale cross-linguistic investigation on the effects of age of exposure to sign language. This research involved about 45 Deaf adult signers in each of three sign languages (Catalan Sign Language, French Sign Language, and Italian Sign Language). Across the three languages, participants were divided into three groups – those exposed from birth, those between 1 and 5 years of age, and those exposed between 6 and 15 years of age – and received a battery of tests designed for each language targeting various aspects of morphosyntactic competence. In particular, the tests focused on both those morphosyntactic phenomena that are known from the spoken language literature to be good detectors of language impairment or delay (i.e.,wh-interrogatives and relative clauses) and on morphosyntactic phenomena that are sign language specific (i.e., role shift and directional verbs). The results showed a clear effect of being native, with significant differences across languages and tests between signers exposed to sign language from birth and those exposed in the 1st years of life. This confirms the life-long importance of language exposure from birth and the reliability of the notion of “nativeness”, at least for syntax. On the other hand, while in most domains the differences observed between populations might be differences in performance, for some specific constructions, signers belonging to the three groups may have different grammars. This latter finding challenges the generalized use of native signers’ grammar as the baseline for language description and language assessment.
Student–Teacher Relationship: Its Measurement and Effect on Students’ Trait, Performance, and Wellbeing in Private College
Authors: Bai Li ying , Li Zi ying , Wu Wen xin , Liu Li yue , Chen Shao ping , Zhang Jing , Zhu Julie N. Y.
Published: March 2022

Student–teacher relationships (STRs) have been examined by many studies. However, an omission still exists, the existing scales are not appropriate for studying STRs in private colleges because of the special character of these schools. This paper presents the development and validation of Private-College Student–Teacher Relationship Scale (PCSTRS), the first instrument to evaluate student–teacher relationships (STRs) in private colleges. The PCSTRS has six dimensions: trust, interaction, intimacy, care, approval, and comfort. In our main study, the validity and reliability of the six-factor PCSTRS model were demonstrated. The result of internal consistency coefficient indicated the high reliability of the scale, and the result of concurrent validity indicated the significant correlational relationships between the PCSTRS with other STR measures. In supplementary study, the PCSTRS was administered to 360 participants to confirm the applicability of PCSTRS and investigate the relation of STRs and students’ traits, performance, and wellbeing, as well as the differences between the private school and the public school in this relation; the analyses revealed that there were significant differences in trust, intimacy, and care between private and public colleges; positive correlations were found between STRs and self-esteem, self-efficacy, academic performance, extracurricular activity involvement, and subjective wellbeing. Present research firstly develops the PCSTRS, examined the reliability and validity, and provides the proposed nomological network among related constructs.
Ultra-Light Clay Intervention Improves Responsiveness and Initiates the Communication of Children With ASD
Authors: Zhang Jing , Sun Qingzhou , Liu Xue , Yang Fuyi
Published: March 2022

The barriers to responsiveness and the initiation of communication are the two key problems encountered by children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Prior interventions based on behavioral reinforcement have had an obvious effect on responsive communication but a weak effect on the initiation of communication. Based on psychological development theory, we designed ultra-light clay interventions involving hands-on production or multi-interaction around key concepts and themes, teaching children about basic concepts, relationships, and logic, making abstract knowledge concrete and experience. Two studies (Study 1: N = 3, one-to-one intervention; Study 2: N = 8, one-to-two intervention) showed that ultra-light clay intervention improved both the initiation of and response to communication among children with ASD, but that such improvements show a peer-generalization effect in initiation communication, not in responsive communication. These findings provide a set of ultra-light clay interventions for communication in children with ASD and suggest a relationship between endogenous interventions and the initiation of communication.
Long-Term Consequences of Childhood Maltreatment Among Postpartum Women—Prevalence of Psychosocial Risk Factors for Child Welfare: An Independent Replication Study
Authors: Hitzler Melissa , Bach Alexandra M. , Köhler-Dauner Franziska , Gündel Harald , Kolassa Iris-Tatjana
Published: March 2022

Introduction

As an especially burdensome experience, childhood maltreatment (CM) can have lifelong consequences on the mental health and wellbeing of an individual well into adulthood. We have previously reported that CM constitutes a central risk factor not only for the development of mental problems, but also for facing additional psychosocial risks, endangering healthy development of mother and offspring throughout life (e.g., financial problems, intimate partner violence, substance use). This study was designed to replicate these findings in a larger, independent study cohort.

Method

In this cross-sectional replication study an independent cohort of 533 healthy postpartum women was interviewed within seven days after parturition. CM experiences were assessed retrospectively using the German version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and current psychosocial risk factors for child welfare were assessed using the Konstanzer Index (KINDEX).

Results

Of all women, 16.1% experienced emotional and 10.1% physical abuse, 28.5% emotional neglect, 9.4% physical neglect and 10.3% experienced sexual abuse. Most importantly, the higher the CM load the more psychosocial stressors existed in women's life. In Particular, women with higher CM load had a higher risk for mental health problems, intimate partner violence, financial problems, and a higher postnatal stress load.

Conclusions

In an independent sample, this study replicated the previous findings that CM and psychosocial risk factors for child welfare were strongly associated in a dose-response manner. Our results emphasize the higher vulnerability of women with a CM history in the postpartum period. To avoid negative consequences for mother and child, a regular and evidence-based screening for CM and psychosocial risk factors during pregnancy and puerperium is needed to identify at-risk mothers early during pregnancy and to provide appropriate support. Hence, our findings highlight the mandatory requirement for an interdisciplinary collaboration of gynecological practices, hospitals and midwifes, along with psychologists and psychotherapists and child and youth welfare services.
Restless Legs Syndrome Prevalence and Clinical Correlates Among Psychiatric Inpatients: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Weber Franziska C. , Danker-Hopfe Heidi , Dogan-Sander Ezgi , Frase Lukas , Hansel Anna , Mauche Nicole , Mikutta Christian , Nemeth Diana , Richter Kneginja , Schilling Claudia , Sebestova Martina , Spath Marian M. , Nissen Christoph , Wetter Thomas C.
Published: March 2022

Background

There are only limited reports on the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with psychiatric disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical correlates in psychiatric inpatients in Germany and Switzerland.

Methods

This is a multicenter cross-sectional study of psychiatric inpatients with an age above 18 years that were diagnosed and evaluated face-to-face using the International RLS Study Group criteria (IRLSSG) and the International RLS severity scale (IRLS). In addition to sociodemographic and biometric data, sleep quality and mood were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). In addition to univariate statistics used to describe and statistically analyze differences in variables of interest between patients with and without RLS, a logistic model was employed to identify predictors for the occurrence of RLS.

Results

The prevalence of RLS in a sample of 317 psychiatric inpatients was 16.4%, and 76.9% of these were diagnosed with RLS for the first time. RLS severity was moderate to severe (IRLS ± SD: 20.3 ± 8.4). The prevalences in women (p = 0.0036) and in first-degree relatives with RLS (p = 0.0108) as well as the body mass index (BMI, p = 0.0161) were significantly higher among patients with RLS, while alcohol consumption was significantly lower in the RLS group. With the exception of atypical antipsychotics, treatment with psychotropic drugs was not associated with RLS symptoms. Regarding subjective sleep quality and mood, scores of the PSQI (p = 0.0007), ISI (p = 0.0003), and ESS (p = 0.0005) were higher in patients with RLS, while PHQ-9 scores were not different. A logistic regression analysis identified gender (OR 2.67; 95% CI [1.25; 5.72]), first-degree relatives with RLS (OR 3.29; 95% CI [1.11; 9.73], ESS score (OR 1.09; 95% CI [1.01; 1.17]), and rare alcohol consumption (OR 0.45; 95% CI [0.22; 0.94] as predictors for RLS.

Conclusions

Clinically significant RLS had a high prevalence in psychiatric patients. RLS was associated with higher BMI, impaired sleep quality, and lower alcohol consumption. A systematic assessment of restless legs symptoms might contribute to improve the treatment of psychiatric patients.
Escapism-Based Motivation Affected the Psychological Performances of High-Risk Internet Gaming Disorder Individuals
Authors: Wang Shuai , Li Jialing , Wang Siyu , Mi Can , Wang Wei , Xu Zhengjia , Xiong Wenjing , Tang Longxing , Li Yanzhang
Published: March 2022

Background

Escapism-based motivation (EBM) is considered as one of the diagnostic criteria for internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, how EBM affects the high risk of IGD (HIGD) population remains unclear.

Methods

An initial number of 789 college students participated in the general, internet gaming behavior, and motivation surveys. After multiple evaluations, 57 individuals were identified as HIGD (25 with EBM, H-EBM; 32 with non-EBM, H-nEBM). In addition, 51 no-gaming individuals were included as the control group (CONTR). The cohorts completed the psychological assessments and eye-tracking tests, and analyses of group differences, correlations, and influencing factors of the indicators were performed.

Results

The Barratt impulsiveness score of H-nEBM and H-EBM was significantly higher than that of CONTR (MD = 3.605, P = 0.017; MD = 3.744, P = 0.022). In addition, emotional intelligence self-emotion management ability was significantly lower in the H-EBM than in CONTR (MD = –2.038, P = 0.004). Correct rates and reaction times in the anti-saccade task differed significantly between the three groups (F = 3.525, P = 0.033; F = 4.459, P = 0.014). However, no differences were found in the comparison of the digital span test (DST), trail making test (TMT), animal verbal fluency test, Stroop test, and mental rotation test results. The anti-saccade test indicators were positively correlated with the DST results but negatively correlated with the Stroop test results (P < 0.05). Correct rates in the mental rotation test were negatively correlated with the TMT results but positively correlated with the DST results (P < 0.05). The participants with high Stroop test scores and no lover experience and who were raised by their grandparents were likely to develop EBM to engage in high risk of internet gaming disorder (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

EBM has a significantly negative effect on impulsivity, self-emotion management ability, and response inhibition in the HIGD participants.
Social Inequalities in Young People's Mental Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Do Psychosocial Resource Factors Matter?
Authors: Schoon Ingrid , Henseke Golo
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected young people aged 16–25 years and has brought about a major increase in mental health problems. Although there is persisting evidence regarding SES differences in mental health status, there is still little knowledge of the processes linking SES to young people's mental health, in particular during the current pandemic. Guided by a stress process model this study examines the role of different psychosocial resource factors in mitigating the vulnerability to mental distress among disadvantaged young people and specifies a range of possible mediating pathways. The research draws on a nationally representative longitudinal sample of 16–25 year-olds who participated in the Youth Economic Activity and Health (YEAH) online survey conducted in the UK between February and October 2021. Mental health was measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for anxiety and depression. Socio-economic disadvantage was indicated by parental education and receipt of free school meals. Experience of stress was indicated by financial strain. Psychosocial resource factors included indicators of optimism, self-efficacy, and social support. We controlled for age, gender, living arrangements, and economic activity of the young person (being in education, employment or NEET). The findings suggest sequential mediating processes where SES influences are partially mediatedviafinancial strain and the psychosocial resource factors. In addition, the psychosocial resource factors showed independent effects supporting mental health in the face of socio-economic adversity. Moreover, social support played a significant role in boosting self-efficacy and optimism, which in turn reduce mental distress. The findings highlighting the importance of specifying the assumed mediating processes, and to consider multiple resource factors instead of single aspects to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the processes linking SES to young people's mental health.
Decline in Mental Health in the Beginning of the COVID-19 Outbreak Among European Older Adults—Associations With Social Factors, Infection Rates, and Government Response
Authors: Lüdecke Daniel , von dem Knesebeck Olaf
Published: March 2022

Objective

Governments across the world have deployed a wide range of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Certain NPIs, like limiting social contacts or lockdowns, had negative consequences for mental health in the population. Especially elder people are prone to mental illnesses during the current pandemic. This article investigates how social factors, infections rates, and stringency of NPIs are associated with a decline in mental health in different European countries.

Methods

Data stem from the eighth wave of the SHARE survey. Additional data sources were used to build macro indicators for infection rates and NPIs. Two subsamples of persons with mental health problems were selected (people who reported being depressed, n = 9.240 or nervous/anxious, n = 10.551). Decline in mental health was assessed by asking whether depressive symptoms or nervousness/anxiety have become worse since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. For each outcome, logistic regression models with survey-design were used to estimate odds ratios (OR), using social factors (age, gender, education, living alone, and personal contacts) and macro indicators (stringency of NPIs and infection rates) as predictors.

Results

Higher age was associated with a lower likelihood of becoming more depressed (OR 0.87) or nervous/anxious (OR 0.88), while female gender increased the odds of a decline in mental health (OR 1.53 for being more depressed; OR 1.57 for being more nervous/anxious). Higher education was only associated with becoming more nervous/anxious (OR 1.59), while living alone or rare personal contacts were not statistically significant. People from countries with higher infection rates were more likely to become more depressed (OR 3.31) or nervous/anxious (OR 4.12), while stringency of NPIs showed inconsistent associations.

Conclusion

A majority of European older adults showed a decline in mental health since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is especially true in countries with high prevalence rates of COVID-19. Among older European adults, age seems to be a protective factor for a decline in mental health while female gender apparently is a risk factor. Moreover, although NPIs are an essential preventative mechanism to reduce the pandemic spread, they might influence the vulnerability for elderly people suffering from mental health problems.
Perceived Neighborhood Environment Impacts on Health Behavior, Multi-Dimensional Health, and Life Satisfaction
Authors: Liu Jixiang , Yang Linchuan , Xiao Longzhu , Tao Zhuolin
Published: March 2022

The impacts of perceived neighborhood environment on adults' health and life satisfaction have drawn increasing academic attention. However, previous studies usually examine multi-dimensional (physical, mental, and perceived) health and life satisfaction separately, and few studies dealt with them simultaneously. Moreover, limited research revealed the mechanisms behind the effects of perceived neighborhood environment on health and life satisfaction, as well as how such effects are moderated by socio-demographics. Therefore, employing the 2016 China Family Panel Study Dataset and using structural equation modeling, this study delves into the complicated relationships among perceived neighborhood environment, health behavior, health outcomes (i.e., body mass index, self-rated health status, and depression), and life satisfaction. Notably, it considers mediation and moderation simultaneously. It finds: (1) Better perceived neighborhood environment significantly promotes physical activity and reduces sedentary behavior, smoking, and drinking; (2) Health behavior fully mediates the effects of perceived neighborhood environment on health; (3) Perceived neighborhood environment significantly affects life satisfaction both directly and indirectly (through health behavior and health outcomes); (4) Socio-demographics moderate the above relationships. This study disentangles the complicated impacts of perceived neighborhood environment on adults' multi-dimensional health and life satisfaction, thus providing policy makers and practitioners with nuanced knowledge for intervention.
Declarative Learning-Based Programming as an Interface to AI Systems
Authors: Kordjamshidi Parisa , Roth Dan , Kersting Kristian
Published: March 2022

Data-driven approaches are becoming increasingly common as problem-solving tools in many areas of science and technology. In most cases, machine learning models are the key component of these solutions. Often, a solution involves multiple learning models, along with significant levels of reasoning with the models' output and input. However, the current tools are cumbersome not only for domain experts who are not fluent in machine learning but also for machine learning experts who evaluate new algorithms and models on real-world data and develop AI systems. We review key efforts made by various AI communities in providing languages for high-level abstractions over learning and reasoning techniques needed for designing complex AI systems. We classify the existing frameworks based on the type of techniques and their data and knowledge representations, compare the ways the current tools address the challenges of programming real-world applications and highlight some shortcomings and future directions. Our comparison is only qualitative and not experimental since the performance of the systems is not a factor in our study.
Shapley Idioms: Analysing BERT Sentence Embeddings for General Idiom Token Identification
Authors: Nedumpozhimana Vasudevan , Klubička Filip , Kelleher John D.
Published: March 2022

This article examines the basis of Natural Language Understanding of transformer based language models, such as BERT. It does this through a case study on idiom token classification. We use idiom token identification as a basis for our analysis because of the variety of information types that have previously been explored in the literature for this task, including: topic, lexical, and syntactic features. This variety of relevant information types means that the task of idiom token identification enables us to explore the forms of linguistic information that a BERT language model captures and encodes in its representations. The core of this article presents three experiments. The first experiment analyzes the effectiveness of BERT sentence embeddings for creating a general idiom token identification model and the results indicate that the BERT sentence embeddings outperform Skip-Thought. In the second and third experiment we use the game theory concept of Shapley Values to rank the usefulness of individual idiomatic expressions for model training and use this ranking to analyse the type of information that the model finds useful. We find that a combination of idiom-intrinsic and topic-based properties contribute to an expression's usefulness in idiom token identification. Overall our results indicate that BERT efficiently encodes a variety of information from topic, through lexical and syntactic information. Based on these results we argue that notwithstanding recent criticisms of language model based semantics, the ability of BERT to efficiently encode a variety of linguistic information types does represent a significant step forward in natural language understanding.
Morphing-Enabled Path Planning for Flying Tensegrity Robots as a Semidefinite Program
Authors: Savin Sergei , Klimchik Alexandr
Published: March 2022

The development of deformable drones is of high importance but presents significant challenges. Such drones can be based on tensegrity structures, which leaves open the questions of configuration-space path planning for such robots. In this paper we propose a method that takes advantage of a simplified encoding of the drone’s shape, allowing to turn the path planning into a sequence of semidefinite programs. The mapping from the simplified description and the actual tensegrity configuration is done via a data-driven method, using a pre-computed dataset of statically stable configurations and their outer Löwner-John ellipsoids, as well as eigendecompositions of the ellipsoid matrices. Together it allows rapid containment check, whose computational cost depends linearly on the number of dataset entries. Thus, the proposed method offloads computationally-intensive parts to the offline dataset generation procedure, speeding up the algorithm execution.
Statistical Analysis of Simulated Spaceborne Thermodynamics Lidar Measurements in the Planetary Boundary Layer
Authors: Whiteman David N. , Di Girolamo Paolo , Behrendt Andreas , Wulfmeyer Volker , Franco Noemi
Published: March 2022

The performance of a spaceborne Raman lidar offering measurements of water vapor, temperature, aerosol backscatter and extinction is assessed statistically by use of a lidar simulator and a global model to provide inputs for simulation. The candidate thermodynamics lidar system is envisioned to make use of a sun-synchronous, dawn/dusk orbit. Cloud-free atmospheric profiles simulated by the NASA/GSFC GEOS model for the orbit of the CALIPSO satellite on 15 July 2009 were used as input to a previously validated lidar simulator where GEOS profiles that satisfy the solar zenith angle restrictions of the dawn/dusk orbit, and are located within the Planetary Boundary Layer as defined by the GEOS model, were selected for the statistical analysis. To assess the performance of the simulated thermodynamics lidar system, measurement goals were established by considering the WMO Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review (OSCAR) requirements for Numerical Weather Prediction. The efforts of Di Girolamo et al., 2018 established the theoretical basis for the current work and discussed many of the technological considerations for a spaceborne thermodynamics lidar. The work presented here was performed during 2017–2018 under the auspices of the NASA/GSFC Planetary Boundary Layer Science Task Group and expanded on previous efforts by considerably increasing the statistical robustness of the performance simulations and extending the statistics to include those of aerosol backscatter and extinction measurements. Further work that is currently being conducted includes Observing Systems Simulation Experiments to assess the impact of a thermodynamics lidar on global forecast improvement.
Keeping an Eye on Water Quality From the Sky
Authors: Mejia Francine H. , Torgersen Christian E. , Fichot Cédric G.
Published: March 2022

You can learn a lot about rivers, lakes, estuaries, and oceans by looking down at them from the sky. Scientists use a technique called remote sensing to measure the amount of light or heat energy reflected and emitted from the Earth. Sensors can be on satellites or mounted on airplanes, helicopters, or drones. Scientists use this information to map the quality of water in the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. Remote sensing helps scientists see where and when there might be problems for human health or for the plants and animals living in the estuary.
What Is Vaping?
Authors: Kelly Shawn H. , Levy Sharon
Published: March 2022

Vaping is a modern method people use to inhale nicotine and other chemicals. Initially introduced as electronic cigarettes or “e-cigs,” these products were promoted to help reduce the health risks of smoking. Within a few years, e-cigarette manufacturers developed new designs, styles, and flavors, and vaping was born. While most kids do not vape, these sleek products have become more popular and put young people’s health at risk. While the negative health effects of smoking tobacco are well-known, many people think of vaping as harmless. Unfortunately, this is not true. This article will discuss the most important impacts from vaping on the brain, lungs, and other parts of the body.
The Leuven Gymkhana: Transdisciplinary Action Research Questioning Socially Innovative Multi-Actor Collaborations in COVID Times
Authors: Medina-García Clara , Nagarajan Sharmada , Van den Broeck Pieter
Published: March 2022

Literatures on social innovation, collective agency and multi-actor collaboration stress the importance of action research and joint problematization to research ongoing processes of collaboration and transformation to advance both theory and practice in these fields. In this paper we analyze our experience building a transdisciplinary action research (TAR) trajectory between 2020 and 2021 to investigate socially innovative multi-actor collaborations (IMACs) and urban governance innovation trajectories in the city of Leuven (Belgium). We specifically focus on (1) how we involved a wide array of researchers, stakeholders and practitioners in the TAR trajectory; (2) how we enacted joint problematization and action, ensuring that all facilitative leadership roles were taken care of; (3) the challenges that the specific COVID context posed on TAR and the innovative tools and approaches we took to adapt under such circumstances; and (4) how our TAR contributed to the ongoing IMACs in Leuven. Discussing our experience in relation to issues raised in action research literature, we summarize key dimensions, roles and tasks necessary in TAR to enable facilitative leadership and multi-actor collaboration and successfully drive joint problematization and transformative change. We conclude that our TAR trajectory in Leuven became a case study of IMAC in itself, and so learnings from our TAR directly dialogue with and inform our empirical analysis of the performance of IMACs too. Through this realization and the analysis of our experience, we get to broader question the role of action research and researchers in urban governance innovation.
Prediction of Knee Prosthesis Using Patient Gender and BMI With Non-marked X-Ray by Deep Learning
Authors: Yue Yu , Gao Qiaochu , Zhao Minwei , Li Dou , Tian Hua
Published: March 2022

Background

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is effective for severe osteoarthritis and other related diseases. Accurate prosthesis prediction is a crucial factor for improving clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction after TKA. Current studies mainly focus on conventional manual template measurements, which are inconvenient and inefficient.

Methods

In this article, we utilize convolutional neural networks to analyze a multimodal patient data and design a system that helps doctors choose prostheses for TKA. To alleviate the problems of insufficient data and uneven distribution of labels, research on model structure, loss function and transfer learning is carried out. Algorithm optimization based on error correct output coding (ECOC) is implemented to further boost the performance.

Results

The experimental results show the ECOC-based model reaches prediction accuracies of 88.23% and 86.27% for femoral components and tibial components, respectively.

Conclusions

The results verify that the ECOC-based model for prosthesis prediction in TKA is feasible and outperforms existing methods, which is of great significance for templating.
Pathophysiological Advantages of Spontaneous Ventilation
Authors: Lantos Judit , Németh Tibor , Barta Zsanett , Szabó Zsolt , Paróczai Dóra , Varga Endre , Hartmann Petra
Published: March 2022

Surgical procedures cause stress, which can induce an inflammatory response and reduce immune function. Following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), non-intubated thoracic surgery (NITS) was developed to further reduce surgical stress in thoracic surgical procedures. This article reviews the pathophysiology of the NITS procedure and its potential for reducing the negative effects of mechanical one-lung ventilation (mOLV). In NITS with spontaneous ventilation, the negative side effects of mOLV are prevented or reduced, including volutrauma, biotrauma, systemic inflammatory immune responses, and compensatory anti-inflammatory immune responses. The pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines released from accumulated macrophages and neutrophils result in injury to the alveoli during mOLV. The inflammatory response is lower in NITS than in relaxed-surgery cases, causing a less-negative effect on immune function. The increase in leukocyte number and decrease in lymphocyte number are more moderate in NITS than in relaxed-surgery cases. The ventilation/perfusion match is better in spontaneous one-lung ventilation than in mOLV, resulting in better oxygenation and cardiac output. The direct effect of relaxant drugs on the acetylcholine receptors of macrophages can cause cytokine release, which is lower in NITS. The locoregional anesthesia in NITS is associated with a reduced cytokine release, contributing to a more physiological postoperative immune function.
Surgical Treatments for Lumbar Spine Diseases (TLIF vs. Other Surgical Techniques): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wasinpongwanich Kanthika , Nopsopon Tanawin , Pongpirul Krit
Published: March 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study is to compare fusion rate, clinical outcomes, complications among transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), and other techniques for lumbar spine diseases.

Design

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources

PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL databases were searched from January 2013 through December 2019.

Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare lumbar interbody fusion with posterolateral fusion (PLF) and/or other lumbar interbody fusion were included for the review.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Two independent reviewers extracted relevant data and assessed the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Pooled risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval of fusion rate, clinical outcomes, and complications in TLIF and other techniques for lumbar spinal diseases.

Results

Of 3,682 potential studies, 15 RCTs (915 patients) were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to other surgical techniques, TLIF had slightly lower fusion rate [RR = 0.84 (95% CI = 0.72–0.97), p = 0.02, I2 = 0.0%] at 1-year follow-up whereas there was no difference on fusion rate at 2-year follow-up [RR = 1.06 (95% CI = 0.96–1.18), p = 0.27, I2 = 69.0%]. The estimated RR of total adverse events [RR = 0.90 (95% CI = 0.59–1.38), p = 0.63, I2 = 0.0%] was similar to no fusion, PLF, PLIF, and XLIF groups, and revision rate [RR = 0.78 (95% CI = 0.34–1.79), p = 0.56, I2 = 39.0%] was similar to PLF and XLIF groups. TLIF had approximately half an hour more operative time than other techniques (no fusion, ALIF, PLF, PLIF, XLIF) [MD = 31.88 (95% CI = 5.33–58.44), p = 0.02, I2 = 92.0%]. There was no significant difference between TLIF and other techniques in terms of blood loss (no fusion, PLIF, PLF) and clinical outcomes (PLF).

Conclusions

Besides fusion rate at 1-year follow-up and operative time, TLIF has a similar fusion rate, clinical outcomes, parameters concerning operation and complications to no fusion, PLF, and other interbody fusion (PLIF, ALIF, XLIF).

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42020186858.
Outcome Comparison of Endovascular and Open Surgery for the Treatment of Acute Superior Mesenteric Artery Embolism: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Li Wenrui , Cao Saisai , Zhang Zhiwen , Zhu Renming , Chen Xueming , Liu Bin , Feng Hai
Published: March 2022

Background

Few centers have adopted endovascular revascularization for the treatment of superior mesenteric artery embolism (SMAE). We sought to evaluate the efficacy of endovascular therapy for the treatment of SMAE and identify post-treatment prognostic factors.

Methods

The clinical data of 41 patients with acute SMA embolism between 2013 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with mesenteric artery thrombosis, mesenteric venous thrombosis, and who had only conservative treatment were excluded.

Results

Forty-one consecutive patients were identified with SMAE (median age, [range] 35–86 years). Endovascular therapy was initiated in 14 patients with no clinical evidence of bowel necrosis, with mainly mechanical thrombectomy, and technical success was achieved in 93%. Endovascular therapy had advantages in duration surgery time, blood loss, bowel rest time, ICU time, and ventilator use. There was no difference in bowel necrosis, length of necrotic bowel resected, or in-hospital mortality between the two groups. An initial white blood cell (WBC) count >15 × 103/dl and neutrophil count >13 × 103/dl were associated with an increased risk of bowel necrosis, and an initial WBC count, renal function, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA >3) and necrotic bowel >2 m were associated with increased mortality.

Conclusions

Endovascular treatment has altered the management of SMAE, and it may be adopted in selected patients who are not at risk for bowel necrosis. Avoidance of bowel necrosis patients and close monitoring for bowel necrosis are important.
Biological Monitoring: Evidence for Reductions in Occupational Exposure and Risk
Authors: Morton Jackie , Sams Craig , Leese Elizabeth , Garner Fiona , Iqbal Shahwaiz , Jones Kate
Published: March 2022

Aims: The aim of this publication is to explore occupational exposure trends from biological monitoring data collected over a period of more than 20 years. The data is stored within the HSE database, which holds more than 950,000 results from 120,000 workers in 8,000 companies. The data were collated for all biological monitoring results for lead, mercury, benzene, and hexamethylene diisocyanate exposures where there have been some regulatory drivers within the reported time period of the data searched.

Methods: Relevant results from sample analysed were extracted from the database and categorised by year from 1996 to the end of 2019 for individual blood lead results and individual urine results for mercury, benzene, and hexamethylene diisocyanate. Results were classed by broad occupational sector where possible. Data were reported graphically by analytical biomarker result (as 90th percentile (P90)) and number of samples per year as well as with overall summary statistics. To look at longer-term trends, results were also evaluated as P90 over 6-year periods.

Results: In the period 1996–2019, 37,474 blood lead, 11,723 urinary mercury, 9,188 urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA, benzene metabolite) and 21,955 urinary hexamethylene diamine (HDA, metabolite of hexamethylene diisocyanate, HDI) samples were analysed and reported. Over the time period the blood lead concentrations saw the P90 reduce from 53 μg/dl 1996) to 24 μg/dl in 2019; the P90 urinary mercury levels reduced from 13.7 μmol/mol creatinine to 2.1 μmol/mol creatinine and the P90 urinary SPMA levels reduced from 133.7 μmol/mol creatinine to 1.7 μmol/mol creatinine. For HDI the P90 results reduced from 2 µmol HDA/mol creatinine in 1996–2000 to 0.7 in 2005–2010 but levels have since increased to 1.0 µmol HDA/mol creatinine (2016–2019).

Conclusion: There is strong evidence of reductions in exposure of GB workers to lead, benzene and mercury from the data presented here. These reductions may reflect the impact of national, regional and global regulatory action to reduce exposures however, the loss of high exposure industries (from either GB as a whole or just this dataset i.e., samples are being sent elsewhere) and the increase in automation or substitution also need to be considered as potential factors. The results for HDI show that whilst interventions can reduce exposures significantly, such initiatives may need to be refreshed at intervals to maintain the reductions in exposure. We have observed that exposures move between sectors over time. Waste and recycling (lead, mercury) and tunnelling through contaminated land (benzene) were sectors or tasks associated with significant exposures and may be increasingly areas of concern.
Prognostic Value of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Cats With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Fries Ryan C. , Kadotani Saki , Stack Jonathan P. , Kruckman Leah , Wallace Gabrielle
Published: March 2022

Objective

To assess the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for cardiac death in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Study Design

Prospective observation study.

Animals

Ninety-six client-owned cats.

Methods

Complete blood count samples were collected from 38 healthy and 58 cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and the NLR ratios were analyzed. All cats had echocardiographic measurements performed on the same day as blood collection. Spearman rank correlation was used to assess the relationship between echocardiographic measurements and NLR. Long-term outcome data were obtained, and time to cardiac death and variables associated with cardiac death were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively.

Results

The NLR was significantly higher in cats with confirmed congestive heart failure. When evaluating HCM patients, cats in the third NLR tertile had a significantly higher risk of cardiac death with a hazard ratio of 10.26 (95% CI: 1.84–57.14;p= 0.0001) when compared with that of patients in the first tertile. NLR was significantly associated with echocardiographic measures of left atrial size, left auricular function, the presence of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (SEC), and thrombus formation.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Increased NLR is a negative prognostic indicator in cats with HCM.
A Longitudinal Study on Maternal Depressive Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Strict Lockdown Measures and Social Support
Authors: Fernandes Joana , Tavares Inês , Bem-Haja Pedro , Barros Tânia , Carrito Mariana L.
Published: March 2022

Objectives: This study examined the trajectory of perinatal depressive symptoms in Portuguese women during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of individual, relational, and contextual risk and protective factors.

Methods: This 3-wave longitudinal study followed 290 pregnant women from the third trimester of pregnancy until 6-months postpartum. Women self-reported on depressive symptoms, psychological (anxiety, perceived stress, mindfulness), relational (perceived social support, dyadic adjustment, sexual wellbeing), and contextual (lockdown status) factors.

Results: Women who were under strict lockdown presented significantly higher scores of depressive symptoms at baseline (by 1.38 EPDS points) than women who were not under strict lockdown measures. Mixed Growth Models showed that trajectories of depressive symptoms were explained by differences in women’s baseline depression. Differences in women’s depressive symptoms at baseline were mainly explained by higher anxiety and lower social support (22% and 24% for women under lockdown; 39% and 6% for women not on lockdown, respectively).

Conclusion: Preventative interventions targeted at pregnant women should aim to reduce anxiety and enhance women’s social support to prevent depression in pregnancy and postpartum during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evaluation Method of Soil Surface Roughness after Ditching Operation Based on Wavelet Transform
Authors: Liu Lichao , Bi Quanpeng , Zhang Qianwei , Tang Junjie , Bi Dawei , Chen Liqing
Published: March 2022

Soil surface roughness (SSR) is an important parameter affecting surface hydrology, erosion, gas exchange and other processes. The surface roughness of the farmland environment is directly related to the tillage process. In order to accurately characterize the random roughness (RR) parameters of the surface after ditching, a three-dimensional (3D) digital model of the surface was obtained by laser scanning under the conditions of an indoor ditching test, and the influence of oriented roughness components formed by removing ridge characteristics on the RR of the surface was analyzed by introducing the wavelet processing method. For this reason, four groups of ditching depths and two types of surface conditions (whether the surface was agglomerated or not) were designed in this paper. By comparing the root mean squared height (RMSH) and correlation length (CL) data calculated before and after wavelet processing under each group of tests, it was concluded that the RMSH values of the four groups before and after wavelet processing all change more than 200%, the change amplitude reached 271.02% under the treatment of 12 cm ditching depth, meanwhile, the average CL value of five cross-sections under each group of ditching depths decreased by 1.43–2.28 times, which proves that the oriented roughness component formed by furrows and ridges has a significant influence on the calculation of RR. By further analyzing the roughness value differences of clods and pits in different directions and local areas before and after wavelet transform, it was shown that the wavelet transform can effectively remove the surface anisotropy characteristics formed in the tillage direction and provide a uniform treatment method for the evaluation of surface RR at different ditching depths.
Separation Reliability Analysis for the Low-Shock Separation Nut with Mechanism Motion Failure Mode
Authors: Niu Lei , Tu Hongmao , Dong Haiping , Yan Nan
Published: March 2022

A functional reliability simulation method based on the Kriging model is proposed to efficiently evaluate the functional reliability of low-shock separation nuts. First, a deterministic separation function simulation model of the separation nut is established. Second, the working load, geometric dimensions and propellant combustion parameters are introduced to establish the nonlinear implicit function of the separation nut in different separation stages, and the Kriging model is used to display the function. Finally, the functional reliability simulation workflow of the separation nut is established, and reliability and sensitivity analyses are performed to quantify the importance ranking of the working load, geometric size and propellant combustion parameters. It is shown that the influence of the uncertainties can be precisely described, and the preload and the support angle between the piston and nut flap play a dominant role in the separation reliability. This can further support the detailed design of the separation nut.
Finite-Time Distributed Leaderless Cooperative Guidance Law for Maneuvering Targets under Directed Topology without Numerical Singularities
Authors: Dong Xiaofei , Ren Zhang
Published: March 2022

A new distributed leaderless cooperative guidance algorithm is suggested for multi-directional saturation strikes against maneuvering targets. First, the finite-time disturbance observer (FDO) is used to estimate the target’s unknown maneuvers. After that, the guidance laws along the line-of-sight (LOS) direction and the LOS normal direction are designed separately based on the finite-time consensus theory. The proposed guidance law could satisfy both impact time and LOS angle constraints. Numerical singularities due to feedback linearization are avoided by nonlinear stability analysis. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed cooperative guidance law is proved by numerical simulation arithmetic.
Progress in Agricultural Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Applied in China and Prospects for Poland
Authors: Wang Linlin , Huang Xinrong , Li Wanjian , Yan Kangting , Han Yifang , Zhang Yali , Pawlowski Lucjan , Lan Yubin
Published: March 2022

With the acceleration of the Belt and Road Initiative, Poland–China agricultural trade has increasingly strengthened, but there is little exchange or cooperation in agricultural machinery. China’s agricultural UAV industry has flourished over the past 7 years. In China, by using typical food crops and economic crops to control diseases and pests, agricultural drones can reduce the use of fertilizer, pesticides, and water, improve operational efficiency, open up new markets through the ‘sale + services’ mode, and reduce production costs and labor shortages. The spraying of agricultural UAVs and related pest-disease-defense services applied in China are also suitable for Poland’s decentralized, small-scale production modes. By learning from China’s development progress of precision-agriculture aviation, Poland can develop 5th-generation (5G) unmanned intelligent organic farms from traditional organic agriculture, use agricultural UAVs in the spraying of Plant Protection Products (PPPs), and carry out special protection or loss management on typical fruits. Furthermore, by building its own spraying system, aviation industry, and service team, Poland can realize resource optimization, technological empowerment, application expansion, and industrial innovation. Therefore, this paper focuses on the development experience of Chinese agricultural UAVs and discusses its enlightenment to the precision-agriculture aviation application of Poland.