bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
I feel loved when other people feel loved: Cultural congruence in beliefs on love is related to well-being
Authors: Heshmati Saeideh , Oravecz Zita
Published: August 2021

Cultural conformity in psychological constructs has been shown to play a critical role in people’s health and well-being. The more people’s individual beliefs about a construct aligns with the cultural norms, their cultural identity is more cultivated, leading to higher levels of well-being. Considering feeling loved in everyday contexts as a social construct that people indicate shared beliefs and cultural consensus for, in the current study, we explored congruency in cultural beliefs on love and its association with well-being in the United States. 495 participants in the United States evaluated everyday life scenarios in terms of whether they elicit loving feelings or not. We examined the correspondence between people’s beliefs about what makes themselves (i.e., self) feel loved compared to what they think makes others feel loved and the cultural consensus on indicators of love. We then explored how individual differences in these correspondence measures are associated with people’s well-being. We reported evidence for the lack as well as for the existence of these associations using Bayes Factors in the Bayesian statistical framework. Results indicated that both self-other and self-consensus agreements are meaningfully associated with individuals’ well-being. Furthermore, when examining disagreements in self vs. other ratings of love, we found that one type of disagreement (believing other people feel loved in scenarios that I don’t), is associated with lower levels of well-being. This meaningful relationship to well-being was not visible in the case where a person would report feeling loved in a scenario while believing that others would not. Implications for well-being interventions are further discussed.
Bradyarrhythmia and hypotension during anesthetic induction—reconsideration of nifedipine: a case report
Authors: Zhang Xuena
Published: August 2021

Cardiac events sometimes occur during anesthesia and surgery and may be severe or even life-threatening. This report describes a case of severe bradyarrhythmia during anesthetic induction with propofol, midazolam, sufentanil, and vecuronium. The patient took nifedipine sustained-release tablets on the morning of surgery as routine treatment for hypertension, and this medication may have contributed to the bradyarrhythmia. Nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker that can dilate blood vessels, depress the activity of the sinoatrial node, and delay the conduction of the atrioventricular node. Although these effects are not usually significant, they may be enhanced by anesthetics or other concomitant drugs. For patients of advanced age, especially those with autonomic disturbance or cardiac abnormalities, these effects can be remarkable, and discontinuation of nifedipine should be considered.
Safety Performance of Crossroad Ramp Terminals at Single-Point and Tight Diamond Interchanges
Authors: Torbic Darren J. , Porter Richard J. , Gooch Jeff , Kersavage Kristin
Published: August 2021

Single-point diamond interchanges and tight diamond interchanges are two alternative interchange types that are considered in urban areas where right-of-way is usually limited. The Highway Safety Manual First Edition predictive methods for freeways and interchanges are capable of estimating the safety performance of freeway mainline, freeway-ramp terminal, and ramp proper segments associated with these interchange types. However, limited research has been conducted to predict and compare the safety performance of the crossroad ramp terminals for these two alternative interchange designs, as would be necessary for a performance-based approach to interchange alternatives analysis. Planners, designers, and safety managers would benefit from having tools to compare the safety performance of these crossroad ramp terminals to make more informed decisions about their use and application in the urban environment. Research was undertaken with the objective of developing new intersection crash prediction models for crossroad ramp terminals at single-point diamond interchanges and crossroad ramp terminals at tight diamond interchanges. In general, it was found that the crash prediction models for crossroad ramp terminals at single-point diamond interchanges predicted more crashes than the models for crossroad ramp terminals at tight diamond interchanges in higher volume conditions. The differences were primarily driven by the property-damage-only crash predictions. Comparisons of the crash prediction models suggested that the two sets of models appear compatible and provide reasonable results over the range of applicable traffic volume conditions.
Perceived Parental Acceptance and Cyberbullying Perpetration among Chinese Adolescents: Moderated Mediation Models of Materialism and Insecure Attachment
Authors: Geng Jingyu , Lei Li , Wang Wei , Li Biao , Nie Jia , Xie Xiaochun , Wang Xingchao , Wang Pengcheng
Published: August 2021

Cyberbullying perpetration (CP) is a common and devastating network deviation behavior. Some parenting factors for CP have been identified, but few studies have examined the correlation between perceived maternal/paternal acceptance (PMA/PPA) and CP, and the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation are also largely unknown. Thus, by using a cross-sectional designed questionnaire survey of 4,206 adolescents ( M = 16.41 years, SD = 0.77), the current study examined the relationship between PMA/PPA and CP, as well as the mediating effect of materialism and the moderating effects of father/mother–child attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance in this relation. The results showed that PMA/PPA was protective factors of CP. The moderated mediation models showed that materialism played a partial mediation role in the relationship between PMA/PPA and CP. Moreover, the direct association of PMA/PPA with CP was exacerbated by stronger father/mother–child attachment anxiety, in contrast, it was weakened by stronger father/mother–child attachment avoidance. Besides, both father/mother–child attachment anxiety and father/mother–child attachment avoidance strengthened the direct relationship between materialism and CP, and further strengthened the indirect association of PMA/PPA with CP. This study highlighted the importance of uncovering the link between perceived parental acceptance and adolescents’ CP and emphasized the underlying mechanisms, which are of great significance for the prevention and intervention of adolescents’ CP.
Intergenerational Transmission of Violence Among Substance-Abusing Chinese Parents: Roles of Detachment and Social Support
Authors: Cao Ruixin , Li Hechun , Zhang Huiping
Published: August 2021

Despite a large population of registered people with drug addiction, child protection in substance-abusing families is a neglected issue in China. The present study aims to investigate the association between parents’ childhood abuse history and the risk of abusing their own children in substance-abusing Chinese families and also to examine the mediating role of detachment and moderating role of social support during the intergenerational transmission of abuse. A total of 173 men and 116 women were selected using cluster sampling from two compulsory drug rehabilitation centers in Jiangsu Province. Results indicated that one’s childhood abuse history was positively associated with the current perpetration of child abuse for both fathers and mothers. Detachment mediated the linkage between a history of childhood maltreatment and perpetration of child abuse in all types of abuse for both men and women except for women’s sexual abuse. Social support from family members buffered the intergenerational transmission of child abuse for fathers but not for mothers. Child maltreatment in substance-abusing families is an urgent issue that needs measures to prevent the intergenerational transmission of violence in China. Intervention programs could involve helping parents cope with their childhood abuse history through rebuilding secure attachment and facilitating social support for their parenting practices, especially for fathers.
The Development of Vocational Interests in Early Adolescence: Stability, Change, and State-Trait Components
Authors: Gfrörer Thomas , Stoll Gundula , Rieger Sven , Trautwein Ulrich , Nagengast Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Vocational interests predict major life outcomes such as job performance, college major choice, and life goals. It is therefore important to gain a better understanding of their development during the crucial years of late childhood and early adolescence, when trait-like interests are starting to develop. The present study investigated the development of vocational interests in a longitudinal sample, comprising N = 3,876 participants—assessed at four time points from ages 11 to 14. Stability, state-trait variance components, mean-level development, and gender differences in mean-levels of Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional (RIASEC) dimensions were examined. Stabilities were moderate for all dimensions, but Realistic, Investigative, Social, and Conventional interests became more stable over time. For Realistic, Artistic, Social, and Conventional interests, the trait variance increased over time. At age 14, all dimensions had substantial trait variance components. The mean-levels of Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, and Conventional interests decreased over the 3 years (–0.44 <  d < –0.24). Initial gender differences—with girls having higher Artistic and Social interests and boys having higher Realistic and Investigative interests—increased over time. By investigating the development of vocational interests in late childhood and early adolescence, we complement previous findings and provide first insights about state-trait proportions in early adolescence.
“Deal me in”: Hillary Clinton and gender in the 2016 US presidential election
Authors: Sorrentino Jasmin , Augoustinos Martha , LeCouteur Amanda
Published: August 2021

Hillary Clinton’s nomination as the first female presidential candidate to represent a major party in the 2016 US presidential election represented a key moment in US history. The focus on her gender during the campaign was intensified following the accusation by Republican Party nominee, Donald Trump, that Clinton was “playing the woman card”. The present article explores US media constructions of Clinton’s orientation to the topic of gender during the presidential campaign. Data were identified by searching the Lexis Advance® database between 4 February 2016 and 8 November 2016. Using a qualitative methodology guided by a Critical Discursive Psychology approach, we identify two discursive repertoires that were repeatedly mobilised in these media accounts: 1) a repertoire in which the principle of merit was used to undermine arguments for gender equality, and 2) a repertoire in which Clinton’s espoused version of feminism was undermined as ‘old-fashioned’. These repertoires functioned to de-legitimise Clinton as a political candidate by positioning her as seeking special treatment as a woman, who played the victim of sexism and was out of touch with the interests and concerns of female voters. We demonstrate how attempts to counter such characterisations can be problematic for female leaders.
Students’ frequency of access to school library materials in transformative times
Authors: Soulen Rita Reinsel , Tedrow Lara
Published: August 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered many school and school library closures, resulting in shifts to online and/or hybrid instruction and limited school library access. This survey of parents of PreK–12 students (aged 2–18 years) investigated students’ frequency of access to school library materials prior to (T1), during (T2), and predicted after (T3) the pandemic ( n = 230). Demographics such as age, gender, race, and ethnicity and other factors such as household income, community type, geographic location, type of school, school environment, and number of books in home were collected. Frequency of access to school library materials was compared at T1, T2, and T3 by demographic and other factors. Results demonstrate that frequency of access to school library materials differed significantly between time points. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a significant difference between T1 and T2 and between T2 and T3 but not between T1 and T3. Significant interactions were found for age and frequency of access over time, with age group 6–10 years showing the most change. Significant differences were found for all three types of school environment, with face-to-face students showing less disruption in their access than online and hybrid students. Students’ frequency of access to school library materials was negatively influenced by closures and limited access, with the expectation of a return to similar frequency of access on resumption of normal operations. Given the strong associations between access to school library resources and academic performance, these results suggest student learning may have suffered during these closures.
Meagreness of Employees Is Symptomatic to Disease: A Case on Healthcare Industry
Authors: Gupta Namita , Pandey Praveen Kumar , Pandey Prashant Kumar
Published: August 2021

The main purpose of this study is to examine the existing workplace scenario in the healthcare industry. Furthermore, it analyses the causes and also uncovers the solutions to resolve the attrition problem confronted by the healthcare industry in India. The authors have explored the attrition phenomenon through a conceptual descriptive study conducted with the support of secondary data. The variables that play their noticeable role are lack of work-life balance, the absence of the feeling of achievement among the workers, substantial outstanding burden with nearly less remuneration and furthermore much repetitiveness of work. To conquer such situations, the organisation should work upon their inward strategies including the policies formed in consensus with the employees, increased employee participation in decision making and last but not the least, the organisation ought to introduce the mentoring programme with consistency, which will manufacture the trust among the lower level workers. The results of this study will be of interest to the modern HR world, HR and healthcare students, hospital administrators and to any HR consultant or agency wishing to study and resolve the herculean issue of attrition that obstructs the walls of organisational development.
Māori theology and syncretism
Authors: Rangiwai Byron William
Published: August 2021

Syncretism will never be a word used at the dinner tables of whānau (family) or at the marae (Māori communal gathering places) for it is ingrained in a specifically theological world. However, the concept behind the word is something with which Māori are very familiar because we do it automatically. We walk in Māori and Pākehā (New Zealanders of predominantly European ancestry) worlds and our spirituality comes with us. We navigate, negotiate and traverse the syncretistic terrain every day.
European travel and leisure sector and uncertainties: A risk spillover analysis
Authors: Kumar Dilip
Published: August 2021

The study analyzes the impact of uncertainty changes on the European travel and leisure sector stocks. We use economic policy uncertainty, geopolitical uncertainty, financial market uncertainty, and crude oil price uncertainty as uncertainty variables. We also analyze the extreme risk transmission from the uncertainty variables to the European travel and leisure sector stocks using the copula-based conditional Value-at-Risk (CoVaR) approach. The findings provide evidence of a significant impact of uncertainty variables on travel and leisure stocks mainly on the lower quantiles. The findings also indicate the significant downside and upside risk spillover effect from the extreme upside and downside movements in the uncertainty variables, respectively. The findings have implications for individual investors, portfolio managers, and institutional investors.
Exploring phonetic cues to persuasive oral presentation: A study with British English speakers and English L2 learners
Authors: Banzina Elina
Published: August 2021

Persuasiveness in oral communication in English can be expressed with various vocal phonetic cues that may not be readily accessible to English second language (L2) learners whose native language may employ a different set of cues. With a goal to increase L2 learners’ perceived spoken confidence and persuasiveness, and obtain empirical evidence for phonetic adjustments that native English speakers make to influence listeners, the current study explored the use of consonant prolongation in stressed syllable onsets for emphasis by native British English speakers and English L2 learners. The native speakers’ durations of continuant consonants and voiceless stop consonant voice onset times (VOTs) in (1) neutrally-produced speech and (2) persuasively delivered motivational/shocking/emotional messages were compared to Latvian L2 English speakers’ productions. The results revealed that in persuasive speech, the British speakers’ consonantal durations, particularly those of continuants, got significantly longer relative to the vowels that followed them; for English L2 learners, the duration of consonants did not change as a factor of speech type. This is in line with our previous research with American English speakers and carries implications for L2 speech learning and teaching.
Novel tensor subspace system identification algorithm to identify time-varying modal parameters of bridge structures
Authors: Zhang Erhua , Wu Di , Shan Deshan
Published: August 2021

Subspace-based system identification algorithms have been developed as an advanced technique for performing modal analysis. We introduce a novel tensor subspace-based algorithm to identify the time-varying modal parameters of bridge structures. A new time dimension is introduced in the traditional Hankel matrix, and a mathematical model of tensor subspace decomposition is established. Combined with the stabilization diagram, tensor parallel factor decomposition is used to estimate the frequencies, mode shapes, and modal damping ratios. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated by comparing it with the classical sliding-window–based stochastic subspace algorithm on a model cable-stayed bridge dynamic test. The proposed algorithm is further applied to process the dynamic responses of a real bridge health monitoring system to identify its time-varying modal frequencies. Our results demonstrated that the proposed algorithm significantly reduces computational efforts and extends the range of solution ideas for future out-only time-varying system identification problems.
Ethical challenges for teacher educators in Myanmar due to the February 2021 coup
Authors: Saito Eisuke
Published: August 2021

On 1 February 2021, a junta launched a coup against the civilian government in Myanmar, causing strong backlash against the coup among civilians and leading the junta to suppress those who protested in an extremely aggressive way. While the citizens, including teachers, teacher educators, and student teachers, have participated in the civil disobedience movement, they have not achieved civilian sovereignty. The revival of the junta’s rule has imposed serious ethical challenges on teacher educators in Myanmar. This think piece will be a discussion of the following challenges based on the available literature: the purpose and direction of teacher education, the security of student teachers and the prospects of the teaching profession. The international fraternity of teacher educators should show solidarity by collectively thinking about these grave challenges.
Autologous stem-cell transplantation in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease: early action in selected patients rather than escalation therapy for all
Authors: Spierings J. , Chiu Y-H. , Voortman M. , van Laar J. M.
Published: August 2021

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare rheumatic disease characterised by inflammation, vasculopathy and fibrosis of skin and internal organs. A common complication and a leading cause of death in SSc is interstitial lung disease (ILD). The current armamentarium of treatments in SSc-ILD mainly includes immunosuppressive therapies and has recently been expanded with anti-fibrotic agent nintedanib. Autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) is increasingly used in progressive diffuse cutaneous SSc. This intensive treatment has been studied in three randomised trials and demonstrated to improve survival and quality of life. In the subsets of patients with SSc-ILD, SCT resulted in stabilisation and modest improvement of lung volumes and disease extent on high resolution computed tomography, but less impact was seen on diffusion capacity. Comparison of SCT outcomes with results from SSc-ILD trials is difficult though, as lung involvement per se was not an inclusion criterion in all SCT trials. Also, baseline characteristics differed between studies. The risk of severe treatment-related complications from SCT is still considerable and patients with extensive lung disease are particularly at risk of complications during transplantation. Therefore SCT should only be provided by experienced multidisciplinary teams in carefully selected patients. Future research needs to include comprehensive pulmonary evaluation and establish whether SCT early in the disease might prevent irreversible pulmonary damage and reduce treatment-related complications. Also, more insight in mechanisms of action of SCT in the lung and predictors for response will improve the use of this treatment in SSc-ILD. In this review the role of SCT in the treatment of SSc-ILD is summarised.
Development of a digital toolkit to improve quality of life of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Leung Jerik , Kloos Laura , Kim Alfred HJ , Baker Elizabeth A
Published: August 2021

Objective

The purpose of this manuscript is to detail development and initial usability testing of an e-toolkit designed to provide skills and knowledge around self-management behaviors for individuals living with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Methods

Researchers worked with a steering committee of patients and providers to (1) develop a clickable prototype of an e-toolkit and (2) conduct alpha (individuals not affiliated with an academic clinic as patient or provider) and beta (individual patients with systemic lupus erythematosus as well as members of the clinic healthcare team and individuals who work in patient advocacy organizations) usability testing through semistructured interviews.

Results

During the review of the e-toolkit, the feedback provided by participants in both alpha and beta groups centered on two overarching themes: (1) improving user interface and materials and (2) integration of information and supports between toolkit and clinical personnel.

Conclusion

Digital approaches that are tailored to individual symptom variation and integrated with a clinical system have the opportunity to enhance ongoing clinical care. These findings support movement toward integrated, team-based care models, tailored digital resources, and use of expanded virtual interaction options to ensure on-going engagement between healthcare providers and systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
Bringing Transparency to Predictive Analytics: A Systematic Comparison of Predictive Modeling Methods in Higher Education
Authors: Bird Kelli A. , Castleman Benjamin L. , Mabel Zachary , Song Yifeng
Published: August 2021

Colleges have increasingly turned to predictive analytics to target at-risk students for additional support. Most of the predictive analytic applications in higher education are proprietary, with private companies offering little transparency about their underlying models. We address this lack of transparency by systematically comparing two important dimensions: (1) different approaches to sample and variable construction and how these affect model accuracy and (2) how the selection of predictive modeling approaches, ranging from methods many institutional researchers would be familiar with to more complex machine learning methods, affects model performance and the stability of predicted scores. The relative ranking of students’ predicted probability of completing college varies substantially across modeling approaches. While we observe substantial gains in performance from models trained on a sample structured to represent the typical enrollment spells of students and with a robust set of predictors, we observe similar performance between the simplest and the most complex models.
The Unexpected Decline in Feelings of Depression among Adults Ages 50 and Older in 11 European Countries amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Van Winkle Zachary , Ferragina Emanuele , Recchi Ettore
Published: August 2021

Findings on the mental health impact of the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Europe are mixed and lack a comparative and longitudinal perspective. The authors used the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe and fixed-effects regressions to estimate within-individual change in the probability to report feelings of depression between 2005 and 2017 and directly following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 11 European countries for adults ages 50 and older. The authors found an unprecedented decline in feelings of depression between 2017 and 2020 in all countries that was larger than any previous observed change. The probability to report feelings of depression decreased by 14.5 percentage points on average, ranging from 7 to 19 percentage points in Spain and Switzerland, respectively. Moreover, there were no systematic within-country differences by socioeconomic characteristics, chronic health conditions, virus exposure, or change in activities. These findings challenge conventional wisdom about the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multiple sclerosis incidence rate in southern Iran: a Bayesian epidemiological study
Authors: Asmarian Naeimehossadat , Sharafi Zahra , Mousavi Amin , Jacques Reis , Tamayo Ibon , Bind Marie-Abèle , Abutorabi-zarchi Marzie , Moradian Mohammad Javad , Izadi Sadegh
Published: August 2021

Background

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) remains to be a public health challenge, due to its unknown biological mechanisms and clinical impacts on young people. The prevalence of this disease in Iran is reported to be 5.30 to 74.28 per 100,000-person. Because of high prevalence of this disease in Fars province, the purpose of this study was to assess the spatial pattern of MS incidence rate by modeling both the associations s of spatial dependence between neighboring regions and risk factors in a Bayesian Poisson model, which can lead to the improvement of health resource allocation decisions.

Method

Data from 5468 patients diagnosed with MS were collected, according to the McDonald’s criteria. New cases of MS were reported by the MS Society of Fars province from 1991 until 2016. The association between the percentage of people with low vitamin D intake, smoking, abnormal BMI and alcohol consumption in addition to spatial structure in a Bayesian spatio-temporal hierarchical model were used to determine the relative risk and trend of MS incidence rate in 29 counties of Fars province.

Results

County-level crude incidence rates ranged from 0.22 to 11.31 cases per 100,000-person population. The highest relative risk was estimated at 1.80 in the county of Shiraz, the capital of Fars province, while the lowest relative risk was estimated at 0.11 in Zarindasht county in southern of Fars. The percentages of vitamin D supplementation intake and smoking were significantly associated with the incidence rate of MS. The results showed that 1% increase in vitamin D supplementation intake is associated with 2% decrease in the risk of MS and 1% increase in smoking is associated with 16% increase in the risk of MS.

Conclusion

Bayesian spatio-temporal analysis of MS incidence rate revealed that the trend in the south and south east of Fars province is less steep than the mean trend of this disease. The lower incidence rate was associated with a higher percentage of vitamin D supplementation intake and a lower percentage of smoking. Previous studies have also shown that smoking and low vitamin D, among all covariates or risk factors, might be associated with high incidence of MS.
Role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of primary and recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
Authors: Zou Min-Hong , Huang Qing , Yang Ting , Jiang Ye , Zhang Luan-jing , Xie Yang , Zheng Rong-Qin
Published: August 2021

Background

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, low- to intermediate-grade sarcoma, which represents a diagnostic imaging challenge.

This study aimed to analyze the clinical and ultrasound features of primary and recurrent DFSP to improve the diagnosis.

Methods

Clinical, imaging, and pathological data from a total of 58 patients (23 patients with primary DFSP and 35 patients with recurrent DFSP) were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in age, sex, tumor size, or echogenicity between the two groups. Most of the primary DFSP lesions involved the overlying dermis and hypodermis, while most of the recurrent DFSP lesions were fixated to more deeply seated structures at the original surgical incision. Red nodules on the skin were found more frequently in the primary group. There were statistically significant differences in the type of lesion and ultrasound tumor morphology (p < 0.050). The lesions in the primary group showed more tentacle-like projections or a “claw” sign, while the lesions in the recurrent group were more commonly oval, lobulated, and irregularly shaped. Hypervascularity was common in both groups.

Conclusions

For primary DFSP, a slow-growing, red nodule on the skin involving the overlying dermis and hypodermis, more frequently a hypoechoic mass with tentacle-like projections or a “claw” sign, was observed. For recurrent DFSP, palpable subcutaneous nodules or subcutaneous masses at the original surgical incision and oval, lobulated, and irregularly shaped lesions were more commonly observed. This may be useful for improving diagnostic accuracy.
Prospective comparison of early interim 18F-FDG-PET with 18F-FLT-PET for predicting treatment response and survival in metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Su Tzu-Pei , Huang Jen-Seng , Chang Pei-Hung , Lui Kar-Wai , Hsieh Jason Chia-Hsun , Ng Shu-Hang , Chan Sheng-Chieh
Published: August 2021

Background

To compare the value of interim 18F-FLT-PET and 18F-FDG-PET for predicting treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic breast cancer after salvage therapy.

Methods

Patients with metastatic breast cancer received PET/CT using 18F-FLT and 18F-FDG at baseline, after the 1st and 2nd cycle of systemic chemotherapy. The clinical response was classified according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 based on contrast-enhanced CT after 3 months of systemic chemotherapy. The metabolic response on PET was assessed according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer criteria or PET Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST) and was correlated to the clinical response, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

Twenty-five patients entered final analysis. On 18F-FDG-PET, clinical responders after 2 chemotherapy cycles (post-2c) had a significantly greater reduction of maximal standardized uptake value (SUV) and the peak SUV corrected for lean body mass (SULpeak) of the tumor than non-responders (P = 0.030 and 0.003). Metabolic response determined by PERCIST on post-2c 18F-FDG-PET showed a high area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.801 in predicting clinical response (P = 0.011). Patients who were metabolic responders by PERCIST on post-2c 18F-FDG-PET had a significantly longer PFS (53.8% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.014) and OS (100% vs. 47.6%, P = 0.046) than non-responders. Survival differences between responders and non-responders in the interim 18F-FLT-PET were not significant.

Conclusions

18F-FLT-PET failed to show an advantage over 18F-FDG-PET in predicting the treatment response and survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Assessment of treatment outcome by interim 18F-FDG-PET may aid treatment.

Trial registration

The study was retrospectively registered on 02/06/2020 on Clinicaltrials.gov (identifier NCT04411966).
Sex differences between serum total bilirubin levels and cognition in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: He Shen , Li Yange , Li Tian , Xu Feikang , Zeng Duan , Shi Yue , Zhao Nan , Zhang Lei , Ma Yin Zhu , Wang Qiang , Yu Wenjuan , Shen Yifeng , Huang Jingjing , Li Huafang
Published: August 2021

Background

Cognitive deficits are common in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). Abnormal serum total bilirubin (TBIL) levels have been involved in cognitive deficits associated with neuropsychiatric diseases such as mild cognitive impairment and subcortical ischemic vascular disease. However, this relationship has not yet been fully investigated in patients with SCZ. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between the serum TBIL concentration and cognitive deficits in SCZ patients and to determine whether a sex difference exists in the association.

Methods

A total of 455 participants were eligible and included in this cross-sectional study. Cognition was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Serum TBIL concentration was measured with an automatic biochemistry analyzer according to the routine protocol in the hospital medical laboratory.

Results

Serum TBIL levels were lower in the cognition impairment group than in the cognition normal group in male patients. In contrast, serum TBIL levels tended to be increased in the cognition impairment group in female patients, although the difference was not significant. Further stepwise multiple regression analysis stratified by sex showed that serum TBIL was independently and positively associated with cognitive function in male patients but not in female patients. Moreover, the association between serum TBIL level and cognitive function was also identified by the propensity score matching (PSM) method in male patients, but not in female patients.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that lower serum TBIL levels may be associated with cognitive impairment in male SCZ patients.
Does heavy mental workload affect moral sensitivity among critical care unit nursing professionals? a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zahednezhad Hosein , shokrollahi Nasrin , Gheshlagh Reza Ghanei , Afshar Pouya Farokhnezhad
Published: August 2021

Background

Moral sensitivity creates the basic attitude in providing effective ethical care to patients. Heavy mental workload is a major concern of critical care nursing professionals, which could adversely affect nursing staff and patients. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of mental workload and some demographic variables on the moral sensitivity of critical care nursing professionals.

Methods

This cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study was performed on 181 nursing professionals working in the critical care units of Shahid Rajaei Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the moral sensitivity questionnaire, and the NASA-task load index to assess mental workload. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22 using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation-coefficient, and regression analysis.

Results

The results of regression analysis yielded no statistical significant relationship between heavy mental workload and moral sensitivity of the critical care nursing professionals, while clinical experience had a positive, significant association with moral sensitivity.

Conclusions

Although care nursing professionals experience a heavy mental workload in critical care units, it does not decrease their moral sensitivity. In addition, experienced nurses have higher moral sensitivity and lower mental workload. Therefore, it seems that nursing managers should pay special attention to the importance of employing experienced nurses along with younger nurses.
Ref-1 redox activity alters cancer cell metabolism in pancreatic cancer: exploiting this novel finding as a potential target
Authors: Gampala Silpa , Shah Fenil , Lu Xiaoyu , Moon Hye-ran , Babb Olivia , Umesh Ganesh Nikkitha , Sandusky George , Hulsey Emily , Armstrong Lee , Mosely Amber L. , Han Bumsoo , Ivan Mircea , Yeh Jing-Ruey Joanna , Kelley Mark R. , Zhang Chi , Fishel Melissa L.
Published: August 2021

Background

Pancreatic cancer is a complex disease with a desmoplastic stroma, extreme hypoxia, and inherent resistance to therapy. Understanding the signaling and adaptive response of such an aggressive cancer is key to making advances in therapeutic efficacy. Redox factor-1 (Ref-1), a redox signaling protein, regulates the conversion of several transcription factors (TFs), including HIF-1α, STAT3 and NFκB from an oxidized to reduced state leading to enhancement of their DNA binding. In our previously published work, knockdown of Ref-1 under normoxia resulted in altered gene expression patterns on pathways including EIF2, protein kinase A, and mTOR. In this study, single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and proteomics were used to explore the effects of Ref-1 on metabolic pathways under hypoxia.

Methods

scRNA-seq comparing pancreatic cancer cells expressing less than 20% of the Ref-1 protein was analyzed using left truncated mixture Gaussian model and validated using proteomics and qRT-PCR. The identified Ref-1’s role in mitochondrial function was confirmed using mitochondrial function assays, qRT-PCR, western blotting and NADP assay. Further, the effect of Ref-1 redox function inhibition against pancreatic cancer metabolism was assayed using 3D co-culture in vitro and xenograft studies in vivo.

Results

Distinct transcriptional variation in central metabolism, cell cycle, apoptosis, immune response, and genes downstream of a series of signaling pathways and transcriptional regulatory factors were identified in Ref-1 knockdown vs Scrambled control from the scRNA-seq data. Mitochondrial DEG subsets downregulated with Ref-1 knockdown were significantly reduced following Ref-1 redox inhibition and more dramatically in combination with Devimistat in vitro. Mitochondrial function assays demonstrated that Ref-1 knockdown and Ref-1 redox signaling inhibition decreased utilization of TCA cycle substrates and slowed the growth of pancreatic cancer co-culture spheroids. In Ref-1 knockdown cells, a higher flux rate of NADP + consuming reactions was observed suggesting the less availability of NADP + and a higher level of oxidative stress in these cells. In vivo xenograft studies demonstrated that tumor reduction was potent with Ref-1 redox inhibitor similar to Devimistat.

Conclusion

Ref-1 redox signaling inhibition conclusively alters cancer cell metabolism by causing TCA cycle dysfunction while also reducing the pancreatic tumor growth in vitro as well as in vivo.
Variability is not uncertainty; mobility is not flexibility: Clarifying concepts in pastoralism studies with evidence from Tajikistan
Authors: Gillin Kramer
Published: August 2021

As the “new rangeland paradigm” took shape in the 1990s, climatic variability in pastoral ecosystems was often discussed as “uncertainty”, and the essential mobility of pastoral systems was argued to be possible only with flexible land access rights. These context-specific principles have increasingly been globalized in analyses of diverse pastoral systems. While new understandings of the role of uncertainty and flexibility in pastoral systems have been unquestionably beneficial for particular contexts, uncertainty has been problematically embraced as intrinsically central to pastoral systems.

This paper combines a critical review of the literature and field work in Tajikistan’s Rasht Valley to bring into clear relief differences between variability and uncertainty, on the one hand, and mobility and flexibility, on the other. This allows us to see that livestock mobility is a strategy to cope with environmental variability in all pastoral contexts. Flexibility, however, is a strategy to cope with environmental uncertainty that is only present in a subset of pastoral contexts. Importantly, flexibility is not a required precondition for mobility. These realizations carry important implications for governance in pastoral settings. Due to the many challenges of building flexibility into property systems, pastoral land governance should be developed by looking for predictability, and efforts to maintain flexibility should be judicious and empirically well-justified.
Clutter cancellation in passive radar using batch-based CLEAN technique
Authors: Bai Xia , Han Jiatong , Zhao Juan , Feng Yuan , Tao Ran
Published: August 2021

Passive radar (PR) systems need to detect the presence of a target response, which is many orders of magnitude weaker than the clutter (direct signal and multipath). Indeed, the clutter cancellation is a key stage within a PR processing scheme. One of the most effective techniques in this field is using the CLEAN approach. In this paper, the batch-based CLEAN technique based on GMP and FFT has been proposed, which can speed up the computational processing and have better cancellation gain. Furthermore, segmenting operation can be applied to the signal obtained over long time. It is helpful to enhance temporal or spatial efficiency and overcome effect of time-varying clutter. Experiment results with simulated and real passive radar data verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Combination of HBIM and UAV photogrammetry for modelling and documentation of forgotten heritage. Case study: Isabel II dam in Níjar (Almería, Spain)
Authors: Martínez-Carricondo Patricio , Carvajal-Ramírez Fernando , Yero-Paneque Lourdes , Agüera-Vega Francisco
Published: August 2021

The Isabel II dam is a monumental hydraulic structure built in the middle of the nineteenth century in Spain. In this study, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry was used as a data acquisition technique to carry out a survey of the dam’s current state and its surrounding constructions. The point cloud obtained by the photogrammetric process, together with the collected historical in-formation, served as the basis to generate an historic building information model (HBIM) that is the central core containing all the graphical, structural and archaeological information. The HBIM was validated by means of the As-Built for Autodesk Revit®-FARO® plug-in, and shows the high accuracy obtained with respect to the point cloud. The results show that with this methodology it is possible to obtain models representative of reality with an accuracy of ± 0.05 m. In addition, in order to improve the visualization, texture adjustments are made to obtain a photorealistic rendering of the model.
Microbial lipid fermentation of Trichosporon cutaneum in high saline water
Authors: Sun Luhuan , Shao Shuai , Bao Jie
Published: August 2021

Fermentative production of microbial lipid requires high fresh water input. The utilization of high saline seawater or industrial wastewater is an important alternative to reduce the freshwater consumption. This study revealed that oleaginous yeast Trichosporon cutaneum was tolerant to a high salinity up to 130 g/L of NaCl after long-term adaptive evolution. Lipid fermentation of T. cutaneum in seawater achieved the lipid production of 31.7 g/L with approximately 36% greater than that in freshwater. The saline water containing phenol was also tested for lipid fermentation and 23.6 g/L of lipid was produced simultaneously with the complete biodegradation of phenol. An interesting phenomenon was also observed that the yeast cells spontaneously segregated onto the upper surface of the saline water. This study extended the lipid fermentation options with practical application potentials.
Geoecological parameters indicate discrepancies between potential and actual forest area in the forest-steppe of Central Mongolia
Authors: Klinge Michael , Dulamsuren Choimaa , Schneider Florian , Erasmi Stefan , Bayarsaikhan Uudus , Sauer Daniela , Hauck Markus
Published: August 2021

Background

Forest distribution in the forest-steppe of Mongolia depends on relief, permafrost, and climate, and is highly sensitive to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance. Forest fires and logging decreased the forest area in the forest-steppe of Mongolia. The intention of this study was to identify the geoecological parameters that control forest distribution and living-tree biomass in this semi-arid environment. Based on these parameters, we aimed to delineate the area that forest might potentially occupy and to analyse the spatial patterns of actual and potential tree biomass.

Methods

We used a combination of various geographic methods in conjunction with statistical analyses to identify the key parameters controlling forest distribution. In several field campaigns, we mapped tree biomass and ecological parameters in a study area within the Tarvagatai Nuruu National Park (central Mongolia). Forest areas, topographic parameters and vegetation indices were obtained from remote sensing data. Significant correlations between forest distribution and living-tree biomass on one hand, and topographic parameters, climate data, and environmental conditions on the other hand, were used to delineate the area of potential forest distribution and to estimate total living-tree biomass for this area.

Results

Presence of forest on slopes was controlled by the factors elevation, aspect, slope, mean annual precipitation, and mean growing-season temperature. Combining these factors allowed for estimation of potential forest area but was less suitable for tree-biomass delineation. No significant differences in mean living-tree biomass existed between sites exposed to different local conditions with respect to forest fire, exploitation, and soil properties. Tree biomass was reduced at forest edges (defined as 30 m wide belt), in small fragmented and in large forest stands. Tree biomass in the study area was 20 × 109 g (1,086 km2 forest area), whereas the potential tree biomass would reach up to 65 × 109 g (> 3168 km2).

Conclusions

The obtained projection suggests that the potential forest area and tree biomass under the present climatic and geoecological conditions is three times that of the present forest area and biomass. Forest fires, which mostly affected large forest stands in the upper mountains, destroyed 43% of the forest area and 45% of the living-tree biomass in the study area over the period 1986–2017.
Fostering equitable access to quality preschool education in India: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Rao Nirmala , Ranganathan Namita , Kaur Ravneet , Mukhopadhayay Rashi
Published: August 2021

This paper focuses on the provision of center-based preschool education for children ranging in age from 3 to 6 years in India. It estimates access rates to various services and highlights issues related to equitable access to preschool services and the quality of preschool education. While India has made great strides in improving access to preschool education, numerous challenges have to be addressed to enhance its quality. The National Educational Policy 2020 and the country’s commitment to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 4.2 by 2030 and ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality pre-primary education provide opportunities to ensure equitable access to quality preschool education. Central to meeting national targets is the enforcement of the National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Care and Education. Further, increased budget allocations to preschool education, prioritizing professional preparation of the early childhood work force and harnessing technology to monitor government programs have considerable potential to enhance the early childhood system.