bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Usage-Based Proposal for Argument Structure of Directional Verbs in American Sign Language
Authors: Hou Lynn
Published: May 2022

Verb agreement in signed languages has received substantial attention for a long time. Despite the numerous analyses about the linguistic status of verb agreement, there is little discussion about the argument structure associated with “directional verbs,” also known as agreeing/agreement or indicating verbs. This paper proposes a usage-based approach for analyzing argument structure constructions of directional verbs in American Sign Language (ASL). The proposal offers low-level constructions for reported speech, non-dedicated passive and reflexive, and stance verb constructions, which capture the patterns, abstracted from recurring usage events, that are part of users’ linguistic knowledge. The approach has potential to push the field of sign linguistics in new directions of understanding the interplay of language use and structure.
Associations Among Maternal Positivity, Negativity and Child Attachment in the Netherlands, Poland, and Turkey
Authors: Lubiewska Katarzyna , Sümer Nebi , Głogowska Karolina , Aran Özlü , de Raad Wouter
Published: May 2022

This study addresses how maternal positivity and negativity toward a child in three countries, separately and in combination are related to attachment in middle childhood. We first developed an ecologically valid emic measure of the Maternal Positivity-Negativity Scale through an interview-based study (90 mothers) and then tested our hypotheses in a separate study. The child’s attachment security (where the child uses the mother as a safe haven and secure base) and insecurity (attachment anxiety and avoidance) were assessed using standard measures. Equal numbers of mothers and their children between 8 and 12 years of age from Poland, Turkey, and the Netherlands participated in the main study (756 dyads). Results revealed that: (1) maternal positivity was more strongly associated, than maternal negativity, with child security; (2) maternal negativity was more strongly associated, than maternal positivity, with child anxiety, and its relation was stronger when maternal positivity was low; (3) maternal negativity was more strongly associated with child anxiety than with child avoidance; (4) the maternal positivity-over-negativity prevalence index was related to child attachment security and insecurity; (5) relations between maternal positivity and child attachment were moderated by culture. Results are discussed considering attachment in middle childhood and culture-related perspectives.
Pandemic or Not, Worker Subjective Wellbeing Pivots About the Living Wage Point: A Replication, Extension, and Policy Challenge in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Carr Stuart C. , Haar Jarrod , Hodgetts Darrin , Jones Harvey , Arrowsmith James , Parker Jane , Young-Hauser Amanda , Alefaio Siautu
Published: May 2022

Recent pre-pandemic research suggests that living wages can be pivotal for enhancing employee attitudes and subjective wellbeing. This article explores whether or not the present COVID-19 pandemic is impacting pivotal links between living wages and employee attitudes and subjective wellbeing, with replication indicating robustness. Twin cohorts each of 1,000 low-waged workers across New Zealand (NZ), one pre- (2018), and one present-pandemic (2020) were sample surveyed on hourly wage, job attitudes, and subjective wellbeing as linked to changes in the world of work associated with the pandemic (e.g., job security, stress, anxiety, depression, and holistic wellbeing). Using locally estimated scatter-point smoothing, job attitudes and subjective wellbeing scores tended to pivot upward at the living wage level in NZ. These findings replicate earlier findings and extend these into considering subjective wellbeing in the context of a crisis for employee livelihoods and lives more generally. Convergence across multiple measures, constructs, and contexts, suggests the positive impacts of living wages are durable. We draw inspiration from systems dynamics to argue that the present government policy of raising legal minimum wages (as NZ has done) may not protect subjective wellbeing until wages cross the living wage Rubicon. Future research should address this challenge.
A Social Norms and Identity Approach to Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake of Undergraduate Students in the United Kingdom
Authors: Fischera Wanda , van Beusekom Mara , Higgs Suzanne , Cecil Joanne E.
Published: May 2022

This study investigated the influence of descriptive norm messages that either communicated that university students eat a sufficient amount of fruit and vegetable (F&V) or that they do not, on F&V consumption, and whether or not any effects are moderated by student identification. An online 2 (Norm: “Sufficient”/“Insufficient”) × 2 (Identification: “Low”/“High”) experimental design was employed. Infographics containing “sufficient”/“insufficient” F&V intake descriptive norms were presented. An identification manipulation was employed to create “high”/“low” student identifiers. F&V intake intentions were assessed after the manipulations; self-reported F&V intake was reported at 2 days post-intervention. Undergraduate students in the United Kingdom (N = 180) reported their intake intentions, of which 112 (62%) completed the behavioral follow-up. Participants were predominantly white female students from Scottish universities, mean age 20.4 (±1.6) years. Baseline mean F&V consumption was high (4.5 ± 2.8). There were no significant main effects of Norm or Identification manipulations on F&V intentions and intake. Significant norm × identification interactions were revealed for fruit intake intentions and vegetable intake at follow-up, indicating half-portion differences (~40 g) between groups. Ironic effects were observed for “high” identifiers, who neither intended to, nor acted in accordance with group norms; “low” student identifiers intended to and followed group norms, whereby the “sufficient”/“low” group intended to consume significantly more fruit portions and consumed more vegetables than the “insufficient”/“low” group. Given the half-portion differences between groups resulting from the norm × identification interactions, future research on a larger sample of young adults with low F&V intake is warranted to further explore the conditions under which moderating effects of identification are observed and the underlying mechanisms.
Health and Human Wellbeing in China: Do Environmental Issues and Social Change Matter?
Authors: Zhao Wenjuan , Chang Miao , Yu Lei , Sohail Muhammad Tayyab
Published: May 2022

How to mitigate greenhouse gas emission and achieve human development remain major sustainability issues, particularly in China. Empirical research on the effects of climate warming and social change on human health and wellbeing is quite fragmented. This study examines the impact of environmental issues and social changes on health and human wellbeing using a time series data of China from 1991 to 2020. Findings show that environmental issues have a negative impact on health and human wellbeing in long run. While the internet is a form of social change that tends to improve health and human wellbeing in the long run. FDI exerts a positive effect on human health, but it does not improve wellbeing in the long run. In contrast, financial development does not improve human health but it has a significant positive impact on wellbeing in the long run. Our empirical insights have important implications for achieving human wellbeing through the pursuit of environmental sustainability and social change.
Sleep, Sensory Integration/Processing, and Autism: A Scoping Review
Authors: Lane Shelly J. , Leão Marco A. , Spielmann Virginia
Published: May 2022

The prevalence of sleep dysfunction is considerably higher in the autistic population than in the non-autistic. Similarly, the incidence of sensory reactivity differences in autism exceeds that in the neurotypical population. The basis of sleep disorders in autism is multifactorial, but sensory integration/processing concerns may play a role. Research that investigates this interplay for autistic individuals is limited but vital. In this scoping review, we examined literature addressing the following research question: What is the relationship between sleep and sensory integration/processing in autism? We included articles if they were peer-reviewed, English or Spanish, purposefully addressed sensory integration/processing differences, were sleep focused and included autism as the primary diagnosis or population. Articles were excluded if the language was not English or Spanish, research was conducted with animals, they were non-peer-reviewed, the primary population was not autistic, the sensory focus reflected a specific sensorineural loss (e.g., blindness, or deafness), there was not a clear inclusion of sensory integration/processing or sleep. We searched six databases and included all citations from the inception of each database through June 2021. The search strategy identified 397 documents that were reduced to 24 included articles after exclusion criteria were applied. The majority of studies we identified characterized the relation between sleep and sensory integration/processing differences in autism. Investigators found multiple sleep concerns such as bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, delayed sleep onset, night awaking, and short sleep duration in autistic individuals. Identified sensory concerns focused on reactivity, finding hyper- and hypo-reactivity as well as sensory seeking across sensory domains. Co-existence of sleep concerns and sensory integration/processing differences was frequently reported. Few intervention studies showed a clear sensory focus; those that did emphasized pressure, movement, touch, and individual sensory preferences/needs. Swimming programs and massage showed promising results. No studies were of high quality. At a minimum, there is a co-existence of sensory reactivity differences and sleep concerns in autistic children, and possibly autistic adults. The relationship between poor sleep and sensory integration/processing differences is complex and multi-faceted, requiring additional research. Interventions that purposefully include a central sensory component have not been well studied in autistic children or adults. Overall studies with greater rigor and purposeful use of sensation and sensorimotor supports as a component of intervention are needed. This study was not funded.
Using a Computer-Based Virtual Environment to Assess Social Cognition in Aging: An Exploratory Study of the REALSoCog Task
Authors: Msika Eva-Flore , Ehrlé Nathalie , Gaston-Bellegarde Alexandre , Orriols Eric , Piolino Pascale , Narme Pauline
Published: May 2022

Although previous studies have suggested that some component processes of social cognition decline in normal aging, several methodological limitations can be pointed out. Traditional sociocognitive tasks assess processes separately and lack ecological validity. In the present study, the main aim was to propose an integrative social cognition assessment in normal aging using an original computer-based task developed in non-immersive virtual reality. Forty-five young adults (YA) and 50 older adults (OA) were asked to navigate in a simulated city environment and to judge several situations that they encountered. These situations investigated social norms by displaying control or (conventional/moral) transgressions. Following each situation, the participants were asked several questions in order to assess their ability to make moral judgments, affective and cognitive theory of mind, emotional reactivity and empathy, and the propensity to act in a socially appropriate or inappropriate way. The main results showed (i) a preserved ability to detect moral and conventional transgressions with advancing age; (ii) participants’ preserved cognitive ToM abilities; (iii) an age-related decline in affective ToM, that disappeared when the victim was a senior; (iv) preserved emotional reactivity and emotional empathy in normal aging; (v) an increase in inappropriate behavioral intentions in normal aging. Offering more naturalistic conditions, this new task is an interesting integrative measure of sociocognitive functioning to better reflect social behavior in daily living.
Path Research on the Value Chain Reconfiguration of Manufacturing Enterprises Under Digital Transformation – A Case Study of B Company
Authors: Li Yuanqin , Ding Hao , Li Ting
Published: May 2022

Emerging new digital technologies speed up the pace of the layout of the digital economy in various countries. As the main body of China’s real economy, the manufacturing industry does not account for a high proportion of the digital economy. Hence, the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry has become a hot topic. From the view of value chain reconfiguration, we selected B company as the case and introduced data from the closed loop of collection, transmission, storage, processing, and feedback into the analysis of the value chain. This study deeply studies the path of value chain reconfiguration of B company in the context of digital transformation. It finds that, under the impetus of digital transformation, B company has formed a new value chain form which is connected by data nodes in the value chain link and completed the reconfiguration of value chain through value chain boost, value chain integration, and value chain bond. On this basis, the study puts forward countermeasures and suggestions for the next phase of B company’s digital transformation and the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry.
We Don't Choose Whom We Love: Predictors for Romantic Attraction to Villains
Authors: Frowijn Iris , Vos Lisa M. W. , Masthoff Erik , Bogaerts Stefan
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Why are women (not) romantically attracted to dark personalities or villains, which might be a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization? In the current study, it is opted to investigate how adult attachment, maladaptive personality traits, and acceptance of couple violence in women predict romantic attraction to heroic/villainous characters using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Method

First, a pilot study was conducted in 122 heterosexual women (aged 16–25) to select male TV characters. This resulted in the selection of six villains and 10 heroes for the main study, in which 194 other heterosexual women (aged 16–25) were asked to rate the pictures of TV characters through an online questionnaire. This was combined with self-report measures of maladaptive personality traits, acceptance of couple violence, and adult attachment. These variables were entered into a SEM model to assess model fit.

Results

Overall, women rated heroes higher on physical appearance (pilot study) and romantic attraction (main study) compared to villains. We found different direct effects of avoidant (negative) and anxious (positive) attachment styles on romantic attraction to heroes. Moreover, maladaptive personality traits fully mediated the positive effect of avoidant attachment style on romantic attraction to villains.

Discussion

Despite the limitations of the study design (e.g., low N, low notoriety of the TV characters), this study emphasizes that women are generally more romantically attracted to heroes (vs. villains). Besides, there are different predictors of romantic attraction to heroes and villains, which requires further investigation, especially in the context of IPV.
Depressive, Anxiety Symptom Frequency and Related Factors Among Prisoners During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northeastern Ethiopia, a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Birkie Mengesha , Necho Mogesie , Tsehay Mekonnen , Gelaye Habtam , Beyene Abeba , Belete Asmare , Asmamaw Amare , Tessema Zemenu Tadesse , Bogale Kassahun , Adane Metadel
Published: May 2022

Background

Among the more than 10 million people imprisoned around the world, the rate of mental illness is higher than among the general population for various reasons. Although rates of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety in this population may have changed as a response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and other factors, to our knowledge, no related studies have been conducted related to depression and anxiety in this population during the pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to assess depression, anxiety, and associated factors among Dessie City prisoners during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in October 2020. A total of 420 prisoners were selected via a systematic sampling technique. PHQ-9 depression scale, generalized anxiety disorder-7 questionnaire, Oslo 3-item social support scale, insomnia severity index, and Brief COPE scale were used. Data were entered by using Epi-Data version 3.1 and finally exported to Statistical Package for Social Science Software version 21 for analysis. We fitted a multiple binary logistic regression model. Finally, an adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was reported and factors with a p-value < 0.05 were considered as significant for depression and anxiety.

Results

This study showed that 279 (66.4%) of imprisoned people had major depressive disorder with 95% CI of (61.4, 70.6), while 281 (66.9) had generalized anxiety disorder with 95% CI of (61.9, 71.9).

Conclusion

In this study, the overall prevalence of depression and anxiety was significantly high, and was related to a number of factors including COVID-19. Therefore, designing and implementing strategies for COVID-19 prevention and control in prisons is highly recommended to reduce mental health problems among prisoners.
Long-Term Outcomes for Young People With Substance Use Problems in Outpatient Treatment: Gender-Specific Patterns
Authors: Dahlberg Mikael , Boson Karin , Anderberg Mats , Wennberg Peter
Published: May 2022

This study presents the results of a longitudinal research project focusing on long-term outcomes among young people after initiation of outpatient treatment for substance use problems (SUP) in Sweden. Young people are defined with the age group 13–25 years. A clinical sample of 451 young people (29% girls, median age 17 years) completed a structured interview at baseline and was followed using official records one, two, and 3 years after initiation of treatment. Gender-specific patterns at intake were described and bivariate associations and logistic regressions were calculated to analyse the links between risk factors at treatment start and indications of substance use problems 3 years later. Significantly more boys than girls displayed indications of continued SUP at 3-year follow-up. More specifically, 49% of the boys vs. 35% of the girls were identified through records as still having problems with substance use. Predictive risk factors also displayed gender-specific patterns. Primary drug use frequency and age at intake predicted indications of SUP among boys but not among girls. Placement in foster care/residential homes, depression, and early drug debut had significant predictive value regarding indications of SUP among females but not among males. Girls also displayed a greater psychosocial burden at treatment start, but a more favorable treatment outcome at follow-up. Youths with a heavy risk load at treatment start (i.e., over six risk factors) did not display a greater risk of SUP at 3-year follow-up, although our results suggest that this subgroup has indications of continued problems with mental health. Consequently, future studies should further explore gender-specific treatment pathways for young people with substance use problems. Since women and girls seem to have different risk factors, co-occurring psychiatric problems and more experiences of trauma compared to men, they might need multidimensional and more comprehensive treatment interventions that run over a longer period of time.
COVID-19 Pandemic in Dialysis Patients: The Swiss Experience
Authors: Guidotti Rebecca , Pruijm Menno , Ambühl Patrice M.
Published: May 2022

Background

Chronic dialysis patients are classified as patients with increased risk for COVID-19. Knowledge about the incidence and survival of chronic dialysis patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Switzerland - a high-income country with high density of relatively small dialysis centers - is scarce. We present the findings regarding incidence, survival and regional differences, compared to those of the general population in Switzerland.

Methods

Information on chronic dialysis patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between February 24, 2020 and February 28, 2022 were reported to the Swiss dialysis registry by all 94 Swiss dialysis centers. Hereafter, these results were linked with clinical characteristics from the Swiss dialysis registry.

Results

Throughout the study period 1,120 out of ~4,700 dialysis patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Switzerland: 96 cases occurred in the first wave, 472 in the second wave and 5 in between. During the first wave, Italian-speaking Ticino was most severely affected, with a 7-fold higher incidence of dialysis patients compared to the general Swiss population. In the second wave, the majority of cases were found in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, with a 2.5 times higher incidence vs. non-dialysis patients. A total of 123 deaths were recorded in the first two waves, of which COVID-19 was the main cause of death in 100 patients. This corresponds to a highly increased overall mortality rate of 17.5% compared to 1.7% in the general population. Age was identified as the only risk factor for mortality in dialysis patients. During the third, fourth and fifth wave, 61, 43 and 443 cases, respectively, were recorded, resulting in 6 (mortality rate 9.8%), 1 (mortality rate 2.3%) and 13 deaths (mortality rate 2.9%).

Conclusion

Chronic dialysis patients in Switzerland were more likely to be infected by SARS-CoV-2 during the first and second wave than the rest of the population, but an inverse trend was observed during the third, fourth and fifth wave, probably thanks to vaccination. In addition, mortality is significantly increased compared to non-dialysis patients. In Swiss dialysis patients, age is the strongest risk factor for death.
Proactive Coping and Mental Health Among Airline Pilots During China's Regular Prevention and Control of COVID-19: The Role of Perceived Stress and Social Support
Authors: Xu Quan , Wu Yaoliang , Ji Ming , Wang Mengyun , Pan Chao , Ma Jie , You Xuqun
Published: May 2022

Mental health has always been a prominent public health concern, and it has become more important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health of airline pilots plays a significant role in their occupational health and overall performance. It is also vital for ensuring the safe operation of aircrafts. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the factors that may improve the mental health of pilots. This study investigates the relationship between proactive coping, perceived stress, social support, and mental health among airline pilots during China's regular prevention and control of COVID-19. Using a sample consisting of 285 Chinese commercial airline pilots, we tested a moderated mediation model to explore whether, how, and when proactive coping affects the mental health of pilots. The results show that proactive coping has a direct and positive effect on pilots' mental health, as well as an indirect effect on mental health through its influence on perceived stress. Social support was found to weaken the relationship between perceived stress and mental health. It also weakened the indirect relationship between proactive coping and mental health through perceived stress. These findings advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that affect the mental health of pilots. It also provides empirical evidence for effective mental health interventions for airline pilots during regular prevention and control of COVID-19.
Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Sepsis in Critically Ill Post-craniotomy Patients: A Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhou Jianfang , Luo Xu-Ying , Chen Guang-Qiang , Li Hong-Liang , Xu Ming , Liu Shuai , Yang Yan-Lin , Shi Guangzhi , Zhou Jian-Xin , Zhang Linlin
Published: May 2022

Background

Data concerning the epidemiology of sepsis in critically ill post-craniotomy patients are scarce. This study aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of sepsis in this population.

Methods

This was a single-center prospective cohort study. Post-craniotomy patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were screened daily for the presence of infection and sepsis.

Results

Of the 900 included patients, 300 developed sepsis. The cumulative incidence of sepsis was 33.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), 30.2–36.4%]. Advanced age, male, hypertension, trauma, postoperative intracranial complications, and lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on the first postoperative day were independent risk factors of sepsis. Septic patients had higher hospital mortality (13.7 vs. 8.3%, P = 0.012), longer ICU length of stay (LOS) (14 vs. 4 days, P < 0.001), longer hospital LOS (31 vs. 19 days, P < 0.001), and higher total medical cost (CNY 138,394 vs. 75,918, P < 0.001) than patients without sepsis.

Conclusion

Sepsis is a frequent complication in critically ill post-craniotomy patients. Advanced age, male, hypertension, trauma, postoperative intracranial complications, and lower GCS on the first postoperative day were independent risk factors of sepsis.
Dose Variations Using an X-Ray Cabinet to Establish in vitro Dose-Response Curves for Biological Dosimetry Assays
Authors: Bucher Martin , Weiss Tina , Endesfelder David , Trompier Francois , Ristic Yoann , Kunert Patrizia , Schlattl Helmut , Giussani Augusto , Oestreicher Ursula
Published: May 2022

In biological dosimetry, dose-response curves are essential for reliable retrospective dose estimation of individual exposure in case of a radiation accident. Therefore, blood samples are irradiated in vitro and evaluated based on the applied assay. Accurate physical dosimetry of the irradiation performance is a critical part of the experimental procedure and is influenced by the experimental setup, especially when X-ray cabinets are used. The aim of this study was to investigate variations and pitfalls associated with the experimental setups used to establish calibration curves in biological dosimetry with X-ray cabinets. In this study, irradiation was performed with an X-ray source (195 kV, 10 mA, 0.5 mm Cu filter, dose rate 0.52 Gy/min, 1st and 2nd half-value layer = 1.01 and 1.76 mm Cu, respectively, average energy 86.9 keV). Blood collection tubes were irradiated with a dose of 1 Gy in vertical or horizontal orientation in the center of the beam area with or without usage of an additional fan heater. To evaluate the influence of the setups, physical dose measurements using thermoluminescence dosimeters, electron paramagnetic resonance dosimetry and ionization chamber as well as biological effects, quantified by dicentric chromosomes and micronuclei, were compared. This study revealed that the orientation of the sample tubes (vertical vs. horizontal) had a significant effect on the radiation dose with a variation of −41% up to +49% and contributed to a dose gradient of up to 870 mGy inside the vertical tubes due to the size of the sample tubes and the associated differences in the distance to the focal point of the tube. The number of dicentric chromosomes and micronuclei differed by ~30% between both orientations. An additional fan heater had no consistent impact. Therefore, dosimetric monitoring of experimental irradiation setups is mandatory prior to the establishment of calibration curves in biological dosimetry. Careful consideration of the experimental setup in collaboration with physicists is required to ensure traceability and reproducibility of irradiation conditions, to correlate the radiation dose and the number of aberrations correctly and to avoid systematical bias influencing the dose estimation in the frame of biological dosimetry.
m6A Regulator-Mediated Methylation Modification Patterns and Characteristics in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Qing Xin , Chen Qian , Wang Ke
Published: May 2022

Background

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators may be necessary for diverse viral infectious diseases, and serve pivotal roles in various physiological functions. However, the potential roles of m6A regulators in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain unclear.

Methods

The gene expression profile of patients with or without COVID-19 was acquired from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed genes was conducted. Random forest modal and nomogram were established to predict the occurrence of COVID-19. Afterward, the consensus clustering method was utilized to establish two different m6A subtypes, and associations between subtypes and immunity were explored.

Results

Based on the transcriptional data from GSE157103, we observed that the m6A modification level was markedly enriched in the COVID-19 patients than those in the non-COVID-19 patients. And 18 essential m6A regulators were identified with differential analysis between patients with or without COVID-19. The random forest model was utilized to determine 8 optimal m6A regulators for predicting the emergence of COVID-19. We then established a nomogram based on these regulators, and its predictive reliability was validated by decision curve analysis. The consensus clustering algorithm was conducted to categorize COVID-19 patients into two m6A subtypes from the identified m6A regulators. The patients in cluster A were correlated with activated T-cell functions and may have a superior prognosis.

Conclusions

Collectively, m6A regulators may be involved in the prevalence of COVID-19 patients. Our exploration of m6A subtypes may benefit the development of subsequent treatment modalities for COVID-19.
We Have Sent Ourselves to Iceland (With Apologies to Iceland): Changing the Academy From Internally-Driven to Externally Partnered
Authors: Singh Gerald G.
Published: May 2022

In Brave New World, Aldus Huxley presented a dystopic vision of the world where global despotic power was maintained, in part, through isolating academics in Iceland. Current academic accountability is based on notions of excellence that reflect prestige. In governing itself based on excellence, I argue academia has metaphorically sent itself to Iceland, which has consequences for the relevance of academia toward sustainable development. Internally-driven academies are facing their own sustainability issues, as more students are trained for too-few professor positions, and must find work in other fields with inadequate training. Academic measures of excellence attempt to reflect merit but perpetuate pre-conceived notions of prestige, which is discriminatory, contributes to intellectual gate-keeping, and distracts from research rigor and policy relevance. Measures of excellence fail to translate to real-world impact in three important ways: academic reviews that accounts for prestige lead to poor and biased predictions of outcomes of research projects; prestigious individuals are not more reliable experts than less prestigious individuals (and may be more overconfident); prestigious institutions are not more likely to contribute to sustainable development outcomes than less prestigious institutions. It is time to drop academic notions of excellence and turn toward external partnerships, where academic institutions can focus more on real-world impact, train students for diverse careers, and allow academic research to focus on quality over quantity. For academia to be relevant to society, and to serve people graduating academic institutions, academia must proactively leave Iceland and rejoin the rest of the world.
Monitoring the Impact of Rapid Urbanization on Land Surface Temperature and Assessment of Surface Urban Heat Island Using Landsat in Megacity (Lahore) of Pakistan
Authors: Farid Nasir , Moazzam Muhammad Farhan Ul , Ahmad Sajid Rashid , Coluzzi Rosa , Lanfredi Maria
Published: May 2022

The present study focused on rapid urbanization due to the change in the existing landforms which has caused substantial adverse impacts on Urban Thermal Environment. In the present study, we have acquired the Landsat data (TM and OLI) for the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 to observe the land use changes (vegetation cover, built up land, barren land, and water) in Lahore using the supervised image classification method. Later, the impact of urbanization has been examined with Land Surface Temperature (LST) and eventually the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) has been calculated. Accuracy of the classified images revealed an overall accuracy (Kappa co-efficient) of 95.3% (0.929%), 92.05% (0.870%), 89.7% (0.891%), and 85.8% (0.915%) for the years 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. It was found that vegetation cover decreased from 60.5% in 1990 to 47.7% in 2020 at the cost of urbanization. The overall built-up land increased by 23.52% from 1990 to 2020. Urbanization has influenced the LST, and it was examined that maximum LST consistently increased with increase in built-up land. The difference between urban and rural buffer reveals that SUHI has also been increasing over the years. SUHI has been raised from 1.72 C in 1990 to 2.41 C in 2020, and about 0.69 C relative change has been observed. It has also been observed that the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and LST have an inverse relationship. The research outcomes of this study are useful for urban climatologists, urban planners, architects, and policymakers to devise climate resilient policies, structure, and decisions to balance the urban green spaces for a healthy urban environment.
Bringing the Community to the Uni—Critical Reflections on Youth Recreation Partnerships in Toronto
Authors: Ali Adam Ehsan , Darnell Simon C. , Dinunzio Danielle
Published: May 2022

The focus of this paper is an evaluation of a recreation project partnership between a co-curricular university department and various youth community programs in downtown Toronto, Canada. The goal of the Hart House Youth Community Recreation Project (YCRP) is to build a bridge between the university and its neighboring communities through recreation, arts, and dialogue-based programming that responds to the needs and interests of community partners and their youth members. Informed by the understanding that university/community partnerships are often paradoxical, the study assessed understandings of the program from the perspectives of the stakeholders involved. To do so, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the following two groups: organizers and leaders from the youth community programs, and staff members coordinating the project from the co-curricular university department. The results indicate that meaningful opportunities can be created within such partnerships through the provision of access to unique resources and recreation spaces; inclusion of partners in planning and program delivery; and through forging meaningful relationships between university staff and the program participants. However, significant challenges to creating and sustaining such opportunities also exist, including structural and social inequities that result in participants feeling othered in program settings; the instability and “delicacy” of trust within partnerships; and funding structure and resources. The findings shed light on, and make recommendations about, the potential benefits that youth organizations might gain from participating in university-community recreation partnerships, as well as the paradoxical nature of delivering and maintaining these partnerships.
The Effect of Kangaroo Mother Care After Duodenal Obstruction in Neonates
Authors: Zhu Li-Bo , Xu Yan-Hua , Li Jin-Fen , Hu Xue , Lu Chun-Yan , Li Rui-Lan , Shi Cai-Ping , Yuan Mei
Published: May 2022

Objective

The present study aimed to explore the effectiveness of clinical application of kangaroo mother care (KMC) in neonates after surgery for duodenal obstruction in achieving total enteral nutrition (TEN) and shortening the length of hospital stay.

Methods

A prospective study of 60 cases of surgery for duodenal obstruction in pediatric patients in the neonatal intensive care unit of Kunming Children's Hospital between January 2018 and December 2019 was conducted. The study subjects included 15 cases with intestinal malrotation, 18 cases with circular pancreas, 10 cases with a duodenal septum, and 17 cases with duodenal atresia or duodenal stenosis. According to the single and double numbers of the operation date, the subjects were randomly divided into the control group and observation group, with 30 cases in each group. The conventional care of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) was carried out in the control group, and KMC based on ERAS conventional care was implemented in the observation group. The difference in the duration to achieve TEN and the length of hospital stay between the two groups of patients after care was compared and analyzed.

Results

The average duration to achieve TEN for neonates with duodenal obstruction in the control group was 14.23 ± 3.17 days, while that in the observation group was 12.27 ± 1.15 days. The average length of hospital stay in the control group was 17.22 ± 4.71 days, while that in the observation group was 13.34 ± 2.70 days. There was a significant difference in the duration to achieve TEN and the average length of hospital stay between the two groups (P < 0.05). The duration to achieve TEN and the length of hospital stay in pediatric patients were significantly shorter in the observation group than in the control group.

Conclusion

Kangaroo mother care has important clinical significance and application value in shortening the duration to achieve TEN and the length of hospital stay in neonates after surgery for duodenal obstruction.
Long Non-Coding RNA MAFG-AS1 as a Potential Biomarker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Linkage with Tumor Features, Markers, Liver Functions, and Survival Profile
Authors: Tian Yuanyuan , Wang Jiao , Tian Ge , Li Bing , Chen Moli , Sun Xiaoning
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Long non-coding RNAs musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene family, protein G antisense 1 (lnc-MAFG-AS1) regulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and treatment resistance in multiple ways, while its engagement in HCC clinical management remains obscure. The current study aims to explore the relationship of lnc-MAFG-AS1 with tumor features, liver function indexes, tumor markers, and prognosis in HCC patients.

Methods

One hundred and fifty-two surgical HCC patients who underwent tumor resection were retrospectively analyzed. Their tumor and adjacent tissues were acquired and then proposed to reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect lnc-MAFG-AS1 expression.

Results

Lnc-MAFG-AS1 expression was increased in HCC tumor tissue than in adjacent tissue [median (interquartile range): 2.730 (1.685–4.198) vs. 0.990 (0.703–1.468), p < 0.001], with a high area under the curve [0.889, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.854–0.924] to distinguish them via receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Tumor lnc-MAFG-AS1 was linked with multifocal nodules (p < 0.001), increased Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage (p = 0.018), and elevated China Liver Cancer (CNLC) stage (p = 0.008), which also correlated with an abnormal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level (p = 0.004), However, lnc-MAFG-AS1 was not linked with other disease conditions, tumor properties, liver function indexes, or tumor markers (all ps > 0.05). In addition, patients with a high expression of lnc-MAFG-AS1 exhibited worse overall survival than those with a low expression of lnc-MAFG-AS1 [median (95% CI): 34.0 (24.5–43.5) vs. 48.0 (41.5–54.5) months] (p = 0.011), which was further validated by univariate Cox’s analysis [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.827, p = 0.013] and multivariate Cox’s analysis (HR = 1.697, p = 0.040).

Conclusion

Lnc-MAFG-AS1 relates to multifocal nodules, increased BCLC stage, elevated CNLC stage, and abnormal AFP level and predicts pejorative prognosis in HCC patients.
Efficacy and Safety of Prostatic Artery Embolization in the Treatment of High Risk Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and its Influence on Postoperative Life Quality of Patients
Authors: Wang Kun , Chen Ming , Liu Yiqing , Xiao Weiren , Qian Yonghong , Liu Xu
Published: May 2022

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy, safety and postoperative quality of life of high risk benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients treated with prostatic artery embolization.

Methods

34 patients with high-risk BPH were selectedfrom January 2020 to June 2021 in our hospital. All patients were treated with prostatic artery embolization. The changes of international prostate symptom score (IPSS), prostate volume (PV), remaining urine (RU), maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), quality of life scale -74(GQOLI-74), time to sleep without disturbance (HUS) judgment, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were compared before operation, 1 month and 6 months after operation.

Results

Prostatic artery embolization was successful in all 34 patients, including unilateral embolization in 15 patients and bilateral embolization in 19 patients. No severe complications occurred in the postoperative patients. The IPSS, PV and RU levels of the patient one month and six months after surgery were lower than those before surgery, while the Qmax level was higher than that before surgery. Besides, the IPSS, PV and RU levels six months after surgery were significantly lower than those one month after surgery, and the Qmax level was significantly higher than that one month after surgery (p < 0.05). The GQOLI-74 score six months after surgery was significantly higher than that before surgery (p < 0.05). The HUS of the patient six months after surgery was significantly increased, and the SAS and SDS scores were significantly decreased as compared with those before surgery (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

For high-risk patients with BPH, prostate embolization is an effective and safe method, which can significantly improve the quality of life of patients after surgery and has good application prospects.
Sexually Dimorphic Accumulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Fetuses
Authors: Björvang Richelle D. , Mamsen Linn Salto
Published: May 2022

Living in an industrialized era, we are exposed to man-made chemicals including persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Previous studies have shown associations of POP exposure with adverse outcomes in humans, wildlife, and the environment, making it a global concern. Exposure during sensitive windows of susceptibility such as fetal development is of particular concern because of the potential increased risk of developing diseases in childhood and adulthood. However, there are limited studies on the sexual dimorphism of POP accumulation during the prenatal period. In this mini-review, we focus on differences in POP concentrations in the placenta and fetal tissues between males and females. We also show the sexually dimorphic adverse outcomes of prenatal exposure to POPs. Overall, our summary shows that males may accumulate higher concentrations of POPs in the placenta and fetal tissues compared to females, although studies are sparse and inconsistent. In addition, there are differences in adverse health outcomes associated to prenatal POP exposure according to sex. Hence, we highly urge researchers investigating the health effects of POP exposure to consider sexual dimorphism in their studies.
Association of all Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality With Hearing Loss Among US Adults: A Secondary Analysis Study
Authors: Cui Yiran , Yan Yan
Published: May 2022

Objectives: Previous research revealed the relationship between hearing loss (HL) and all cause mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the association between HL and all causes and cause-specific mortality based on US adults.

Methods: Data were obtained by linking National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (2004–2013) with linkage to a mortality database to 31 December 2015. HL were categorized into four groups: good hearing, a little hearing difficulty, a lot of hearing difficulty, profoundly deaf. The relationship between HL and mortality risk was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results: Compared with the reference group (Good), those who had light or moderate hearing problems were at an increased risk of mortality for all causes (A little trouble—HR: 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13 to 1.20; A lot of trouble—HR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.40–1.51); deaf—HR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.38–1.73) respectively.

Conclusion: In addition, those in the deaf category have the highest risk of death from all causes and cause-specific cancer. More older adults are associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in American adults.
Geodiversity Research at the Crossroads: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Authors: Ibáñez Juan José , Brevik Eric C.
Published: May 2022

Geodiversity research is a growing industry. However, in contrast to diversity studies in other branches of natural sciences, geodiversity specialists have only paid attention to one side of the coin. They focused on the conservation of geological heritage (geoconservation) and its role/use for economic development through geotourism. Most geodiversity experts forgot the more strictly scientific side of the coin such as the use of standard techniques to inventory georesources and analyze their spatial patterns. Furthermore, the lack of a consensual definition with universal classifications and standards to carryout inventories inhibits progress in the inventory and quantification of planetary geodiversity. Even though most definitions of geodiversity include soil resources, pedodiversity is generally ignored in geodiversity research and publications. On the other hand, pedodiversity studies tended to follow the path previously created by biodiversity experts over a period of decades, although they have not convinced policymakers to approve strategies to preserve global soil resources (parks, pedosites, reserves, etc.). Biodiversity studies paid attention to the role of diversity in the structure and function of biocenosis, ecosystems, and biomes, with preservation being placed in the hands of experts in conservation biology. The structure and dynamics of all the Earth surface systems could be analyzed using the standard mathematical tools developed for biodiversity studies and that have been applied with success in pedodiversity analyses. In fact, most of the patterns detected in biodiversity also appear in pedodiversity. According to the canons of the philosophy of science, geodiversity has not reached a paradigm shift, despite the claims of some geodiversity experts. Thus, geodiversity research is at a crossroads as it seeks to reach a genuine paradigm shift.
A Cyber-Physical Prototyping and Testing Framework to Enable the Rapid Development of UAVs
Authors: Dantsker Or D. , Theile Mirco , Caccamo Marco
Published: May 2022

In this work, a cyber-physical prototyping and testing framework to enable the rapid development of UAVs is conceived and demonstrated. The UAV Development Framework is an extension of the typical iterative engineering design and development process, specifically applied to the rapid development of UAVs. Unlike other development frameworks in the literature, the presented framework allows for iteration throughout the entire development process from design to construction, using a mixture of simulated and real-life testing as well as cross-aircraft development. The framework presented includes low- and high-order methods and tools that can be applied to a broad range of fixed-wing UAVs and can either be combined and executed simultaneously or be executed sequentially. As part of this work, seven novel and enhanced methods and tools were developed that apply to fixed-wing UAVs in the areas of: flight testing, measurement, modeling and emulation, and optimization. A demonstration of the framework to quickly develop an unmanned aircraft for agricultural field surveillance is presented.