bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Noninvasive Ventilator Assisted Ventilation Nursing Combined with Mechanical Vibration on the Level of Heart Failure Indexes in ICU Patients with Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Li Wenze , Lou Qifeng
Published: February 2022

The acute attack of acute heart failure or the continuous deterioration of cardiac function leads to a series of changes such as reduced cardiac contractility, increased cardiac load, and a sudden drop of acute cardiac output, which eventually cause pulmonary circulation congestion and acute dyspnea due to acute pulmonary congestion. To observe the impact of noninvasive ventilator-assisted ventilation nursing combined with mechanical vibration on the level of heart failure indexes in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute heart failure, 120 patients with acute heart failure who were treated in the ICU ward of our hospital from September 2018 to March 2021 were selected, and the qualified subjects were divided into two groups according to the 1 : 1 principle by a simple random method. 120 patients were given conventional symptomatic treatment and noninvasive ventilator-assisted ventilation. The control group received conventional nursing intervention, and the observation group was given noninvasive ventilator-assisted ventilation nursing and mechanical vibration intervention. The respiratory system indexes, heart rate, blood pressure, central venous pressure, N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and cardiac function indexes of the two groups of patients are recorded, and the prognosis of the two groups is compared. After intervention, the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) in the two groups were higher than those before intervention, while the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), respiration (RR), heart rate, blood pressure, and central venous pressure were lower than those before intervention (

P

 < 0.05). Compared with the control group, PaO2, SpO2, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and central venous pressure of the observation group after intervention were significantly higher, while PaCO2, RR, and heart rate were significantly lower (

P

 < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the LVEF of the observation group after intervention was significantly higher, while NT-proBNP, cTnT, LVESD, and LVEDD were markedly lower (

P

 < 0.05). The ventilation time and ICU hospitalization time in the observation group were shorter than those in the control group, and the pulmonary infection rate was lower than in the control group. The remission time of infection in patients with pulmonary infection was shorter than that in the control group. When comparing the 28d mortality rate with the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (

P

 > 0.05). Noninvasive ventilator-assisted ventilation nursing combined with mechanical vibration can improve hypoxemia symptoms and heart function, stabilize hemodynamics, shorten the course of disease and reduce the occurrence of lung infections for those patients with acute heart failure in the ICU.
Application of Esmolol to Control Heart Rate and Artificial Intelligence Reconstruction Analysis for Rapid Zero-Cooperation Emergency Coronary CTA
Authors: Ni Chenfeng , Pei Lei , Zhou Miaoping , He Xiaolong
Published: February 2022

Objective. To investigate a rapid and effective method for the examination of coronary CTA in emergency patients requiring coronary CTA examination, who have faster heart rate (≧80 bpm) or cannot cooperate with the examination due to the inability of breath holding at poor physical conditions. Methods. Before coronary CTA examination, with the ECG monitoring, intravenous injection of esmolol was given to achieve rapid heart rate reduction. Without the patient’s cooperation, coronary CTA examination was then performed in a quick and effective manner using the 640-slice high-speed CT. The diagnosis report was obtained through the subsequent reconstruction analysis using artificial intelligence software. Conclusion. Esmolol injection can rapidly reduce the heart rate of normal people during exercise and at rest, and the steady blood concentration can be reached in 2 minutes. The half-life is about 5 minutes, with short duration and fewer side effects on patients. The diagnostic rate of coronary artery segment using (excellent + good) CTA image of the patients with esmolol and artificial intelligence analysis in the experimental group was 95.4%, while the diagnostic rate was 91.1% in the control group, and there was no significant statistical difference between the two groups (

P
>
0.05

). Esmolol injection can rapidly reduce heart rate in patients with high heart rate, without holding breath or long-term preoperative preparation; the combination with the analysis of subsequent artificial intelligence reconstruction is a new method for rapid and effective coronary CTA examination in all patients.
Ensemble Deep Learning and Internet of Things‐Based Automated COVID‐19 Diagnosis Framework
Authors: Kini Anita S. , Gopal Reddy A. Nanda , Kaur Manjit , Satheesh S. , Singh Jagendra , Martinetz Thomas , Alshazly Hammam
Published: February 2022

Coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) is a viral infection caused by SARS‐CoV‐2. The modalities such as computed tomography (CT) have been successfully utilized for the early stage diagnosis of COVID‐19 infected patients. Recently, many researchers have utilized deep learning models for the automated screening of COVID‐19 suspected cases. An ensemble deep learning and Internet of Things (IoT) based framework is proposed for screening of COVID‐19 suspected cases. Three well‐known pretrained deep learning models are ensembled. The medical IoT devices are utilized to collect the CT scans, and automated diagnoses are performed on IoT servers. The proposed framework is compared with thirteen competitive models over a four‐class dataset. Experimental results reveal that the proposed ensembled deep learning model yielded 98.98% accuracy. Moreover, the model outperforms all competitive models in terms of other performance metrics achieving 98.56% precision, 98.58% recall, 98.75% F‐score, and 98.57% AUC. Therefore, the proposed framework can improve the acceleration of COVID‐19 diagnosis.
Classification and Regression Tree Models for Remote Recognition of Black and Odorous Water Bodies Based on Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhao Qichao , Dong Xuxin , Li Guohong , Jin Yongtao , Yang Xiufeng , Qu Yandan
Published: February 2022

Black and odorous water bodies represent a topic of significant interest in the field of water pollution prevention and control. Remote sensing technology is increasingly exploited for the monitoring of black and odorous water bodies because of its high efficiency and large-scale monitoring potential. In the present study, the Sentinel-2A imagery data were combined with data obtained by measuring spectral properties of black and odorous water bodies to produce a classification and regression tree (CART) model-based improved remote sensing recognition method for such water bodies. This method transforms the traditional single-feature empirical threshold segmentation algorithm to a multi-feature fuzzy decision-tree classification algorithm. The results reveal overall accuracy values of 84.78%, 92.85%, and 72.23% for the CART decision-tree algorithm, the confidence zone classification, and the fuzzy zone node classification, respectively. The method proposed in the present study enables the highly precise extraction of features representing black and odorous water bodies from satellite imagery. The characterization of confidence and fuzzy zones minimizes the need for field inspections, and it enhances the efficiency of diverse applications including engineering.
The Usefulness of Adopting the Last Planner System in the Construction Process of Addis Ababa Road Projects
Authors: Limenih Zenawi Mehari , Demisse Belachew Asteray , Haile Abenezer Tariku
Published: February 2022

Addis Ababa road construction projects fail to be executed on time, within the allocated budget, and with the desired quality. To solve this problem, a new management concept is introduced, namely, lean construction. It is known to increase productivity and minimize waste. And, to realize this solution, last planner system (LPS) is used; it is a tool of lean construction and it involves a person or group of people with the task to control the production unit. The objectives of this study are to examine the current construction process management practice in Addis Ababa city road construction projects, to identify and prioritize the expected barriers of the last planner system implementation in Addis Ababa road construction projects using the super decision model, to identify and prioritize last planner system implementation benefits to Addis Ababa road construction projects using the super decision model, and to develop a conceptual framework for the last planner system implementation to enhance the current construction management system in Addis Ababa city road construction projects. To address the problems, questioners, observations, interviews, focus group discussions, and recently published journals were employed as qualitative and quantitative data collection tools and analyzed using statistical package for the social science version 26 and super decision model version 3.2. The finding shows that the construction management process adopted in all three sites is more or less similar, as they use a push planning system and critical path method to determine the duration following the master schedule but have no weekly work plan and lookahead schedule to forecast the coming week’s duty; also, they use a push planning system, for materials. The LPS implementation expected barriers are also ranked from one to five: Labor related, internal working environment related, stakeholders related, exogenous related, and material related expected barriers, respectively. The last planner system has many benefits as agreed by different scholar. Time‐related, cost‐related, claim‐related, and quality‐related benefits are the main benefits obtained through the LPS implementation, and it is possible to conclude that LPS is useful for road construction management process. Moreover, the LPS implementation conceptual framework was also developed based on the last planner system principles.
GGT5 Is an Independent Prognostic Biomarker in Stomach Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Huang Yong , Zhou HaiLang , Zou Junwei , Wang Dong
Published: February 2022

Gastric cancer is one of the cancers with the highest incidence in the world. Gamma-glutamyltransferase 5 (GGT5) is expressed in different cancers and its role in cancers remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the value of GGT5 in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). In TCGA, patients with high GGT5 expression had poor overall survival (

P
=
0.006

). Based on GSE62254, high expression of GGT5 was associated with poor OS (

P
=
0.014

) and PFS (

P
=
0.042

). The same result was observed in GSE14210. We further discovered that GGT5 expression was associated with stage, grade, and T stage. Further prognostic analysis of GGT5 showed that GGT5 was associated with prognosis in both univariate analysis (

P
=
0.032

) and multivariate analysis (

P
=
0.029

). We used gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to explore the possible mechanism of GGT5. GSEA suggests that overexpression of GGT5 may be involved in leukocyte transendothelial migration, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and melanoma. The high-expression GGT5 group had higher concentrations of M2 macrophages, T cell regulators, and monocytes, but the contents of plasma cells and M1 macrophages were higher in the low-expression GGT5 group. The results showed that the ESTIMATEScore, ImmuneScore, and StromalScore of the high-expression GGT5 group were higher than those of the low-expression GGT5 group. PD1 and CTLA4 expression levels were higher in the high-expression GGT5 group. The high-expression GGT5 group may be more effective for immunotherapy. These results suggested that GGT5 could be a potential prognostic molecular predictor in STAD.
Distribution, diet, and trophic level of Arvicanthis abyssinicus and Tachyoryctes splendens around the area of recently extinct Ethiopian Wolf Canis simiensis on Mount Guna, northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Teressa Hirpasa , Ersino Wondimu , Alemayo Tadele
Published: February 2022

Abyssinian Grass Rats Arvicanthis abyssinicus and Common Mole Rats Tachyoryctes splendens are preyed upon by the Ethiopian Wolf Canis simiensis. The aim of this study was to assess distribution, diet and trophic level of Arvicanthis abyssinicus and Tachyoryctes splendens on Mount Guna, where wolves have recently become extinct. Rodents were captured with Sherman trap and identified, and samples were taken to Debre Tabor University for dissection and diet analysis via microscopy examination of stomach contents. 110 A. abyssinicus and 52 T. splendens were captured from the study area, and the estimated population sizes of A. abyssinicus and T. splendens in Mt. Guna computed by Peterson-Lincoln Index were 1,364 and 416, respectively. In addition, 379 burrows (203 of A. abyssinicus and 176 of T. splendens) were counted. Both species were observed to consume plants and arthropods, with plants predominant. We recommend that intensive studies should be carried out to determine the effects of rodent communities upon Mt. Guna afroalpine and subafroalpine ecosystems.
First record of Prosoponoides Millidge & Russell-Smith, 1992 (Araneae: Linyphiidae) from India, with the description of a new species
Authors: Domichan Anusmitha , K. Sunil Jose
Published: February 2022

The genus, Prosoponoides (Millidge & Russell-Smith , 1992)is recorded for the first time from India. A new species namely Prosoponoides idukkiensis sp.nov. is reported from Western Ghats, India.P. idukkiensis sp.nov. differs from other species in the arrangement  of spermatheca. Descriptions, photos and distributional maps of the new species are also provided.
Ecological niche modeling for reintroduction and conservation of Aristolochia cathcartii Hook.f. & Thomson (Aristolochiaceae), a threatened endemic plant in Assam, India
Authors: Sarma Bhaskar , Bhaben Tanti
Published: February 2022

Aristolochia cathcartii Hook.f. & Thomson is a medicinal plant species native to Assam (India). Karbi people have traditionally used the plant to treat a variety of ailments. The population stock of this species has been rapidly depleting in its natural habitats due to over-utilization, habitat fragmentation, and other anthropogenic activities. Extensive field surveys were carried out to investigate the population status of A. cathcartii in various forest areas of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. In 20 km of transects, a total of 36 quadrats were observed. A. cathcartii density, frequency of occurrence, and abundance were recorded to be 0.65, 17.8, and 3.81, respectively. Ecological niche modelling was used to identify suitable habitat for the reintroduction and conservation of this plant in Assam in order to prevent its extinction in the future. The maximum entropy distribution modelling algorithm was used to identify suitable areas and habitat for the species’ reintroduction and conservation. Primary data on the occurrence of A. cathcartii was gathered from the natural habitat of Karbi Anglong district, Assam, for modelling. The model identified various forest areas in northeastern India that have suitable climatic conditions for plant reinforcement.
Butterfly diversity and composition at Chemerong Amenity Forest, Terengganu, Malaysia
Authors: Sulaiman Muhammad Hafiz , Mohd Zaki Abdul Munir , Yap Geok Chin , Aniruddin Nur Atiqa , Chong Ju Lian
Published: February 2022

A study of butterfly species diversity was conducted in Chemerong Amenity Forest, Terengganu, Malaysia. A total of 939 individuals from 198 butterfly species were obtained using fruit-baited sweep nets and modified VanSomeren-Rydon cylinder traps. The biodiversity of butterflies in the study area was considered high, with a Shannon index (H’) of 4.1, Simpson’s index (DSimpson) of 0.042, and Margalef index (IMargalef) of 28.78. Individuals within the community were not evenly distributed among the species (EShannon= 0776). Nymphalidae was found to be the most dominant family (48.5%), and Lexias dirtea merguia was the most abundant species recorded with 114 individuals (12%). From the total of eight species protected under Malaysia legislation, one species Trogonoptera brookiana was also listed under CITES Appendix II, while only one protected species Agatasa calydonia calydonia of the family Nymphalidae (the brush-footed or four-footed) was considered rare. Other rare species found in this study included Arhopala lucida, Curetis saronis sumatrana, Miletus nymphis fictus of the family Lycaenidae (the blues, coppers, & hairstreaks), Amathusia perakana perakana, Bassarona teuta goodrichi, Elymnias saueri saueri, Elymnias nesaea, Mycalesis horsfieldi hermana, Mycalesis distanti, Ypthima pandocus tahanensis of the family Nymphalidae (the brush-footed or four-footed), Celaenorrhinus ladana,  Erionota sybirita, Matapa aria, Matapa cresta, Matapa druna, Pseudokerana fulger, Taractrocera ardonia, Taractrocera luzonensis, Telicota linna, and Unkana mytheca mytheca of the family Hesperiidae (the skippers). The dominance of family Nymphalidae may be due to several factors, including high species diversity, widespread distribution and occurrence, as well as the type of bait used in this study. Besides the Genting Highlands and Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin, butterfly species at Chemerong Amenity Forest are more diverse than other study sites in Malaysia such as Gunung Serambu, Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve, Setiu Wetlands, Kuala Lompat, Bukit Hampuan Forest Reserve, Sungai Imbak Forest Reserve, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, and Ulu Senagang Substation. Further investigation of aspects such as stratification distribution patterns, host plants and forest dwelling species are recommended for better understanding of butterfly communities in the Chemerong Amenity Forest.
Temporal changes in species richness of waterfowl (Anseriformes) community in D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Authors: Tamir Tapak , Mize Daniel
Published: February 2022

We conducted five yearly field surveys to assess long-term changes in the species richness, abundance, and composition of waterfowl populations (Anseriformes) in the D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, a significant staging area on migratory flyways with one of the largest concentrations of waterfowl in Arunachal Pradesh, especially during winter. A total of 8,040 birds belonging to 17 species of Anatidae were recorded, including two threatened species. The most abundant species were Tadorna ferruginea, Anas poecilirhnycha, and Bucephala clangula, with relative abundances of 29%, 10%, and 9.4%, respectively. Species richness was highest in winter (H’= 2.40; January H’= 2.43) and lowest in the monsoon (H’= 1.48; August, H’= 1.12). Seasonal difference in species richness was noticed for winter visitors, but not for year-round residents. We observed a major declining trend for seven species. Findings from this study can be used for further ecological assessment of the waterfowl community of the sanctuary.
New host plant records of Fig Wax Scale Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from India
Authors: Arvind Kumar  , Renu Pandey
Published: February 2022

A survey for the host plants of Fig Wax Scale Ceroplastes rusci (Linnaeus, 1758) was conducted in the Uttarakhand province, India. Among the six new host plants recorded during the study, four are new host records of C. rusci. A global check list of host plants of C. rusci was also prepared.
A checklist of dragonflies & damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) of Kerala, India
Authors: Sujith V. Gopalan  , Muhamed Sherif  , A. Vivek Chandran
Published: February 2022

A checklist of odonates of Kerala State is presented in this paper. Scientific binomen, vernacular names in Malayalam, IUCN Red List status, and endemism are also given. A total of 174 species of odonates have been recorded from Kerala till date, 65 of which are endemic to the Western Ghats, and 10 to India. Five species fall under various threatened categories of IUCN. None of the odonates occurring in Kerala is listed in the schedules of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act or the appendices of CITES.
Melastoma imbricatum Wall. ex Triana (Melastomataceae): a new addition to the flora of Manipur, India
Authors: Jashmi Devi Rajkumari , Khuraijam Deepashree , Langkan Peimichon , Thongam Biseshwori
Published: February 2022

Melastoma imbricatum Wall. ex Triana (Melastomataceae) is recorded for the first time for Manipur, India. The plant specimen was collected from Lambui (25.015N, 94.294E; 1,420 m), Ukhrul district, Manipur. Brief description and colour illustrations are provided.
Lichens and animal camouflage: some observations from central Asian ecoregions
Authors: Soofi Mahmood , Sharma Sandeep , Safaei-Mahroo Barbod , Sohrabi Mohammad , Ghorbani Organli Moosa , Waltert Matthias
Published: February 2022

Camouflage is a fitness-relevant trait that supports survival and fosters evolutionary adaptation by which animals match their body pattern to a background setting. Lichens are among the most common of these backgrounds that several animal species use for camouflage. Lichens are omnipresent and grow in wide arrays of colorations and compositions. Their composition and phenotypic diversity might facilitate cryptic coloration and habitat matching by various animal species. Here, we describe the role of lichens in providing camouflage to various animal species in central Asian and Caucasus mountain ecoregions, which are categorized as global biodiversity hotspots. Despite multiple ecological studies, no information is available on the role of this regions‘ lichen diversity in providing animal camouflage. Casual field observations of lichen camouflage are reported for four (one mammal and three reptile) species: the Persian Leopard’s Panthera pardus saxicolor body coat seems to closely match the colors and patterns of saxicolous lichens (Acarospora sp. and Circinaria sp.) in their habitat.  A similar background matching pattern was observed in both morphs of the Caucasian Rock Agama Paralaudakia caucasia upon crustose lichens: Caloplaca spp., Circinaria spp., and the Radde’s Rock Lizard Darevskia raddei to the crustose lichens Acarospora sp. and Caloplaca sp. Likewise, the Horny-scaled Agama’s Trapelus ruderatus grey matches with the color of multiple lichens (Lecanora spp., Circinaria spp., Protoparmeliopsis spp., Rinodina spp., and Anaptychia spp.). Our observations preliminarily suggest that lichens play an important role for species of different trophic levels, ensuring adaptation and survival through camouflage. We call for more field-based empirical and experimental studies in various terrestrial ecosystems in other parts of the world to test the role of lichens in local adaption and evolutionary plasticity of regional species.
Cotesia anthelae (Wilkinson, 1928) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) a natural parasitoid of Cirrochroa thais (Fabricius, 1787) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), first report from the Oriental region
Authors: Gupta Ankita , P. Manoj
Published: February 2022

Field surveys conducted during 2020–2021 in Nedumpura, Cheruthuruthy, Thrissur district of Kerala yielded Cotesia anthelae (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a gregarious larval parasitoid of a nymphalid butterfly Cirrochroa thais (Fabricius) (Tamil Yeoman) along with its hyperparasitoid Mesochorus sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). This is the first report of C. anthelae parasitizing a nymphalid butterfly, earlier reports were from a host belonging to Anthelidae (Lepidoptera: Bomycoidea). Also, this is the first report of C. anthelae from the Oriental region, earlier reports are confined to Australia. The present study provides morphological identification of C. anthelae and biological details of its host.
Seasonal composition of avian communities in different habitats of Harike Wetland, a Ramsar site in Punjab, India
Authors: Singh Jagdeep , Onkar Singh Brraich
Published: February 2022

The documentation of avifauna of Harike wetland was carried out during November, 2019 to November, 2021 in different habitats and seasons. A total of 225 bird species belonging to 18 orders and 61 families were recorded; 18 fall under the Red List of IUCN, with 11 categorized as Near Threatened, six vulnerable, and one Endangered. Order Passeriformes had the greatest number of species, and mosaic habitats with diverse vegetation showed the highest bird diversity. This study will aid future conservation measures and wetland management programs.
First photographic evidence of Asiatic Black Bear Ursus thibetanus in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, India
Authors: Borah Priyanka , Deka Jyotish Ranjan , Ahamad Mujahid , Sharma Rabindra , Badola Ruchi , Hussain Syed Ainul
Published: February 2022

The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) also known as the Himalayan black bear is a Vulnerable species. Its range is distributed throughout southern and eastern Asia. Here we report the first photographic evidence of the species in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve situated in the northeast of India. The photo-captured image of the species has unfolded various dimensions of conservation starting from preparation of baseline information to more systematic surveys in the whole landscape or across northeastern India.
Photographic record of Armillaria mellea a bioluminescent fungi from Lonavala in Western Ghats, India
Authors: Patil Swanand R. , Yadav Shubham V.
Published: February 2022

Armillaria mellea is a bioluminescent fungus from the Basidiomycota division. The previous known record of the fungus is from Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. This paper provides data and photographic evidence of Armillaria mellea in Lonavala.
First record of Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus (Aves: Passeriformes: Campephagidae) from Kashmir, India
Authors: Najar Zakir Hussain , Bhat Bilal A. , Ahmad Riyaz
Published: February 2022

The recent work has reported only Long-tailed Minivet from Kashmir. We report the first record of Small Minivet from Kashmir with photographic evidence. The species was seen in Hirpora Wildlife Sanctury, which is an important biodiversity area but least explored for birds. Regular bird surveys should be conducted to explore the birdlife of areas like Hirpora Wildlife Sanctury.
Correction to Catalogue of herpetological specimens from Meghalaya, India at the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
Authors: Karthik Pandi
Published: February 2022

NA
Conservation Kaleidoscope: People, Protected Areas and Wildlife in Contemporary India
Authors: L.A.K. Singh
Published: February 2022

NA
Akan Religious Ontology and Environmental Sustainability in Ghana
Authors: Golo Ben-Willie Kwaku , Majeed Hasskei Mohammed , Myles Nancy Oppongwaa
Published: February 2022

In this paper, using ethnographic field data from three indigenous Akan communities, we show that Akan religious ontology about the natural world provides a formidable resource and framework for managing the environmentally destructive tendencies of the human being. We further prove that while these ontologies about the natural world emerge from the intense religiosity of the Akan and the metaphysical worldview of the indigenous Akan, they contain strong environmental ethical norms and values worth resourcing for environmental sustainability in Ghana. We, consequently, argue that significant attention ought to be paid to these religious ontologies—beliefs, norms and practices—of the indigenous Akan, as an effective means of achieving environmental sustainability. We, therefore, propose the resourcing and adoption of indigenous religious ontologies on the natural world that have the potential of informing and enhancing environmental policies and initiatives towards environmental sustainability in Ghana.
Intimacies Compared: The Emotional Responses of Family Caregivers to Internal and International Migration
Authors: Chih-Yan Sun Ken , Cao Xuemei
Published: February 2022

This article takes a relational approach to studying the effects of internal and international migration on family intimacies. Drawing on interviews with adult children caring for parents back home, we examine how caregivers respond to the roles that dispersed siblings play in networks of eldercare. Using the concept of “relational comparison”—defined as how caregivers judge the efforts that different kinfolks make to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations—we argue that the impact of national borders and geographic distance on parental care should be assessed through the intimacies that multilocal families co-create. The (mis)alignment between non-migrant caregivers’ expectations and their migrant siblings’ practices generates myriad emotional responses, shaping whether they view the impact of international and internal migration on eldercare as largely similar, fundamentally different, or simply insignificant. These feelings affect who caregivers turn to when they need help, further shaping the configuration of care networks during moments of crisis.
Feasibility of In-Line Raman Spectroscopy for Quality Assessment in Food Industry: How Fast Can We Go?
Authors: Lintvedt Tiril Aurora , Andersen Petter V. , Afseth Nils Kristian , Marquardt Brian , Gidskehaug Lars , Wold Jens Petter
Published: February 2022

Raman spectroscopy is a viable tool within process analytical technologies due to recent technological advances. In this article, we evaluate the feasibility of Raman spectroscopy for in-line applications in the food industry by estimating the concentration of the fatty acids EPA + DHA in ground salmon samples (n = 63) and residual bone concentration in samples of mechanically recovered ground chicken (n = 66). The samples were measured under industry like conditions: They moved on a conveyor belt through a dark cabinet where they were scanned with a wide area illumination standoff Raman probe. Such a setup should be able to handle relevant industrial conveyor belt speeds, and it was studied how different speeds (i.e., exposure times) influenced the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the Raman spectra as well as the corresponding model performance. For all samples we applied speeds that resulted in 1 s, 2 s, 4 s, and 10 s exposure times. Samples were scanned in both heterogenous and homogenous state. The slowest speed (10 s exposure) yielded prediction errors (RMSECV) of 0.41%EPA + DHA and 0.59% ash for the salmon and chicken data sets, respectively. The more in-line relevant exposure time of 1 s resulted in increased RMSECV values, 0.84% EPA + DHA and 0.84% ash, respectively. The increase in prediction error correlated closely with the decrease in SNR. Further improvements of model performance were possible through different noise reduction strategies. Model performance for homogenous and heterogenous samples was similar, suggesting that the presented Raman scanning approach has the potential to work well also on intact heterogenous foods. The estimation errors obtained at these high speeds are likely acceptable for industrial use, but successful strategies to increase SNR will be key for widespread in-line use in the food industry.
Temporal Variations in Calls for Police Service During COVID-19: Evidence From China
Authors: Dai Mengliang , Xia Yiwei , Han Rongxu
Published: February 2022

This study examined the temporal variations in calls for service before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in China using a sample of 37,124 police service calls made from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020 to a 110 command center in a county-level city in Hubei Province. There was a significant temporal effect, and the calls for service peaked between 08:00 and 19:59 throughout the entire period. The busiest hours of the day for calls for police service were between 12:00 and 19:59, and the calls peaked between 12:00 and 15:59 during the lockdown. The distribution of calls by weekday showed no significant pattern, with the exception of traffic-related calls. The results are discussed from the perspective of routine activity theory.
Improving Youths’ Perceptions of Law Enforcement: Results From an Experimental Design in Two Cities
Authors: Sheeran Alyssa M. , Freiburger Tina L. , Knoche Victoria A.
Published: February 2022

This study examined the effectiveness of Students Talking it Over with Police (STOP) to improve youth’s perceptions of the police, perceptions of procedural justice, willingness to cooperate with police, willingness to file a police report, and knowledge about how to file a police report. An experimental design was employed in Racine, WI and St. Louis, MO and found that STOP was effective in improving perceptions of the police, perceptions of procedural justice, and willingness to cooperate with police in both locations; limited evidence was found in youth’s willingness to file and knowledge about how to file a police report. Analyses in St. Louis found that race/ethnicity and grade level were associated with knowledge about how to file a police report.
Interpreting Disaster and Culpability in the Book of Jeremiah
Authors: Graves Michael
Published: February 2022

The book of Jeremiah contains many passages condemning the people of Judah for their sins, including acts of injustice. The book also makes clear that God is punishing Judah through the coming Babylonian invasion. A theological problem that confronts the reader is that the violent actions of the Babylonian army do not correspond to the ideals of justice that are described elsewhere in the book. One solution to this problem is to find the theological significance of Jeremiah in the guidance it offers to those who have experienced any kind of communal or personal disaster, without reference to human culpability for sin. Without denying the legitimacy of this approach, this essay proposes a theological reading of Jeremiah that recognizes the gap between perfect divine justice and the horrific calamity that Babylon inflicted on Judah, and yet seeks to incorporate Jeremiah’s rhetoric of human culpability into a coherent theological framework that speaks to matters of justice and injustice. It is suggested that the book of Jeremiah interpreted the Babylonian invasion typologically as a symbol of divine justice, but as with other forms of typology, the historical type and the spiritual reality did not perfectly correspond.
Competition and Civilian Victimization
Authors: Gibilisco Michael , Kenkel Brenton , Rueda Miguel R.
Published: February 2022

Violence against civilians in civil war is widely thought of as a strategic choice by combatant groups. We argue that a common strategic logic of competition underlies diverse theories of civilian victimization. We develop a theory of strategic complements in victimization, hypothesizing that an armed group’s propensity to victimize civilians will increase with its expectation that its competitors will act likewise. We test this argument by structurally estimating a formal model of strategic interdependence between armed groups using data from the Colombian civil war. Our findings indicate that strategic expectations are responsible for a substantial amount of violence against civilians: the two major combatant groups would have systematically victimized civilians in at least 9% fewer municipalities if they had expected no violence by their rival. Examining causal mechanisms, we also find that victimization in the Colombian case was more likely aimed at controlling civilians than at influencing peace negotiations.
Dlx3 Ubiquitination by Nuclear Mdm2 Is Essential for Dentinogenesis in Mice
Authors: Zheng H. , Fu J. , Chen Z. , Yang G. , Yuan G.
Published: February 2022

Dentin is a major mineralized component of teeth. Odontoblasts are responsible for synthesis and secretion of dentin matrix. Previously, it has been demonstrated in a cell culture system that the E3 ubiquitin ligase, murine double minute 2 (Mdm2), promotes odontoblast-like differentiation of mouse dental papilla cells (mDPCs) by ubiquitinating p53 and the odontoblast-specific substrate Dlx3. However, whether Mdm2 plays an essential role in vivo in odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the in vivo functions of Mdm2 using Dmp1-Cre;Mdm2 flox/flox mice combined with multiple histological and molecular biological methods. The results showed that Mdm2 deletion in the odontoblast layer led to defects in odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation. Unexpectedly, specific inhibition of the Mdm2-p53 axis in wild-type mice by injection of a small-molecule inhibitor Nutlin-3a indicated that the role of Mdm2 in dentinogenesis was p53 independent, which was inconsistent with the previous in vitro study. In situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) showed that Mdm2 interacted with and ubiquitinated Dlx3 in the odontoblast nucleus of mouse molars. Dlx3 promoted the translocation of Mdm2 to the nucleus, and in turn, the nuclear Mdm2 mediated ubiquitination of Dlx3 and promoted the odontoblast-like differentiation of mDPCs. Dlx3 interacted with Mdm2 through its C-terminal domain. Deletion of the C-terminal domain of Dlx3 reversed the enhanced odontoblast-like differentiation and the activation of Dspp promoter mediated by overexpression of wild-type or nuclear Mdm2. Our findings suggest that nuclear Mdm2 mediates ubiquitination of the transcription factor Dlx3, which is essential for Dlx3 transcriptional activity on Dspp as well as subsequent odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation.
A Review of the Contemporary Challenges Faced by Chinese Immersion Education and Its Related Teacher Preparations in the United States
Authors: Chen Mengyao
Published: February 2022

This study reviews the emerging studies on the topic of Chinese immersion programs in the U.S. The effectiveness of Chinese immersion programs has been proved to have positive impacts on students’ language proficiency, academic performance, and cognitive development. However, challenges in curriculum and instructions, behavior management, and cross-cultural communication have been limiting the performance of Chinese language immersion programs. To address these challenges, Chinese immersion teachers should be provided with preparations and training on the knowledge of designing multi-subject curriculum in the Chinese language, utilizing instructional strategies in immersion settings, and developing cross-cultural competency.
Advances in research on the biology of the desert rodent Gerbillus tarabuli: a review
Authors: Hamidatou Khati Wissam , Souilem Ouajdi , Al Mutery Abdullah Fahad , Derbouz Rouibate Amina , Benhafri Nadir , Issad Salem Mamoun
Published: February 2022

Selection of the appropriate species and strain of laboratory animals are among the scientist’s major concerns. Tarabul’s gerbil ( Gerbillus tarabuli) is a small, seasonally breeding, desert rodent native to Africa. Despite its unique biological features, which make it an ideal model candidate for biomedical research, only a few reports have used it in research. Hence, the present review aims to provide more data about this species, covering all aspects of its biology, such as taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, ecology, wildlife biology, molecular biology, physiology, neurobiology, genetics, reproduction, development, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology, and covers current progress in exploration of G. tarabuli, discussing its valuable characteristics, which are widely useful for research in various fields. This review paper is destined for biologists, scientists, mammologists, zoologists, academics, and students.
Adaptive nonlinear control scheme for containment of COVID-19 spread
Authors: Prakash Tripathi Jay , Tripathi Richa
Published: February 2022

An early understanding of effective policy and transmission dynamics can help us prevent further outbreaks of the COVID-19. This article proposes a nonlinear adaptive control strategy based on effective policy to contain this epidemic. A mathematical model of nonlinear dynamics of the COVID-19 transmission in India is considered. The model also takes uncertainty into account. The control input calculated by the proposed controller prescribes the contact rate of the disease so that the number of infectious population converges to a desired zero value. The controller utilizes a Lyapunov theorem-based adaption law to be able to deal with modeling uncertainties, instability, and divergence. The controller performance on the nonlinear and uncertain model of the COVID-19 transmission has been investigated through a simulation study.
Understanding Disability and Cultural (Re)production: An Ethnography of Coaching Practice in High Performance Disability Sport
Authors: Townsend Robert , Cushion Christopher
Published: February 2022

This ethnographic study draws on the theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu to illustrate the production and reproduction of disability through the social practices of high performance disability sport. We illustrate how, through the pedagogic action of the coaches, disability was continually inscribed in the habitus of the athletes through a focus on structure and routine. As such, social differentiation was ever-present as a way of ordering the social space of coaching. The coaching process comprised a number of mechanisms for the exchange of cultural capital and the accumulation of social competencies through a focus on lifestyle and behaviour change. Together, these practices closely resembled the workings of symbolic violence, in particular its social reproduction of cultural reproduction function. By outlining how the socialising conditions of major institutions can naturalise systems of social differentiation, this article brings together and extends sociological theorising of the disabled body through engagement with disability sport.
Printing performances of a new nitrogen-free urea substitute in silk printing of reactive dyes
Authors: Wang Hongmei , Xian Yongfang , Wu Minghua , Wang Lili
Published: February 2022

A new printing additive, GBPA, which is composed of glycerol and 1,4-butanediol, was used in silk printing with reactive dyes. The printing performance of GBPA in the reactive printing of silk fabrics was studied and compared with those of urea. The results showed that in deep printing of Reactive Turquoise K-GL on silk satin, GBPA obtained as stable a color performance as urea at dosages ranging from 8 wt% to 10 wt% in the printing paste. Using a range of thickeners, GBPA exhibited the same color level as urea when using sodium alginate as thickener. Using reactive blue dyes of various structures and reactive dyes of different colors, the color performance of GBPA was close or even superior to that of urea. Furthermore, GBPA achieved good printing performances on different silk fabrics. By using GBPA in reactive printing, the nitrogen content in the printing wastewater greatly reduced. GBPA has great application potential as an alternative to urea in silk printing with reactive dyes.
Cultural Differences in the Perception of Daily Stress Between European Canadian and Japanese Undergraduate Students
Authors: Lee Hajin , Masuda Takahiko , Ishii Keiko , Yasuda Yuto , Ohtsubo Yohsuke
Published: February 2022

The current research examines cross-cultural differences in people’s daily stress experiences and the role of social orientations in explaining their experiences. Using a situation sampling method, Study 1 collected European Canadian and Japanese undergraduates’ examples of stressful interpersonal and non-interpersonal situations they experienced, measuring participants’ perception of the intensity and frequency of each type of situation. Studies 2 and 3 examined the effects of culture on participants’ reports of stress symptoms under the situations. Study 3 assessed the mediating effects of independence and interdependence between culture and perceived stress. These studies indicated that the situational context moderates the effect of culture on perceptions of stress, showing a different amount of stress from interpersonal situations between Japanese and European Canadian undergraduates. Mediational analyses revealed that independent orientation partially explains the relationship between culture and stress from interpersonal situations. The implications of these results for culture and daily stress are discussed.
Application of an Automated Essay Scoring engine to English writing assessment using Many-Facet Rasch Measurement
Authors: Chan Kinnie Kin Yee , Bond Trevor , Yan Zi
Published: February 2022

We investigated the relationship between the scores assigned by an Automated Essay Scoring (AES) system, the Intelligent Essay Assessor (IEA), and grades allocated by trained, professional human raters to English essay writing by instigating two procedures novel to written-language assessment: the logistic transformation of AES raw scores into hierarchically ordered grades, and the co-calibration of all essay scoring data in a single Rasch measurement framework. A total of 3453 essays were written by 589 US students (in Grades 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12), in response to 18 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) writing prompts at three grade levels (4, 8, & 12). We randomly assigned one of two versions of the assessment, A or B, to each student. Each version comprised a narrative (N), an informative (I), and a persuasive (P) prompt. Nineteen experienced assessors graded the essays holistically using NAEP scoring guidelines, using a rotating plan in which each essay was rated by four raters. Each essay was additionally scored using the IEA. We estimated the effects of rater, prompt, student, and rubric by using a Many-Facet Rasch Measurement (MFRM) model. Last, within a single Rasch measurement scale, we co-calibrated the students’ grades from human raters and their grades from the IEA to compare them. The AES machine maintained equivalence with human scored ratings and were more consistent than those from human raters.
Zero balance ultrafiltration to correct metabolic alkalosis occurring during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Blakey Adam K , Quader Mohammed A
Published: February 2022

Introduction

We describe a case report of metabolic alkalosis that occurred during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) that was corrected during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using zero balance ultrafiltration with normal saline (NS) 0.9%.

Case Report

A 67-year-old male received a heart transplant 6 days after being placed on VA ECMO. During VA ECMO the patient developed metabolic alkalosis. During CPB, zero balance ultrafiltration with NS 0.9% was used to correct metabolic alkalosis.

Discussion

Metabolic alkalosis during CPB is rare. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of the use of zero balance ultrafiltration to effectively correct metabolic alkalosis.

Conclusion

Metabolic alkalosis during CPB may be corrected using zero balance ultrafiltration with NS 0.9%.
VA-ECMO rescue therapy in propofol infusion syndrome after cardiac surgery
Authors: Martín María Plaza , Báez Gemma Pastor , Cabello Alfredo García , Stepanenko Alexander , San Román Calvar José Alberto , González Aitor Uribarri
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) is a rare entity that could lead to profound cardiogenic shock (CS). Mitochondrial toxicity and sympathetic blockade are the mechanisms leading to CS in PRIS.

Case report

We present a 22-year-old woman who developed refractory CS due to PRIS after aortic valve replacement surgery secondary to Coxiella infective endocarditis. She was rescued with VA-ECMO (veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and was discharged 2 months later with no cardiac dysfunction.

Discussion

PRIS diagnosis is difficult even though propofol is frequently used in critical care units. Abrupt refractory CS in patients with recent use of high doses of propofol (> 4 mg/Kg/h) together with rhabdomyolysis should raise the suspicion. Diagnostic confirmation is based on muscle biopsy and fat enzyme analysis.

Conclusion

Propofol withdrawal and support therapies—including VA-ECMO—are the treatment of choice in severe PRIS. VA-ECMO could increase survival as a bridge to recovery due to reversibility of PRIS.