bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perspectivas comunitarias alrededor de la desnutrición infantil en tres comunidades wayuu de la Guajira, Colombia
Authors: López-Ríos Jennifer Marcela , Cristancho-Marulanda Sergio , Posada-Zapata Isabel Cristina
Published: May 2021

Introducción: la desnutrición infantil es un problema de salud pública, que afecta la supervivencia de algunas comunidades indígenas. Varios estudios la han abordado desde la visión biomédica, pero son pocos desde la mirada de dichas comunidades. El objetivo de este artículo es comprender las perspectivas comunitarias relacionadas con la desnutrición en niños de 0-7 años en las comunidades Wayuu de Taiguaicat, Pañarrer y Limunaka del Resguardo Manaure, La Guajira, Colombia. Desarrollo: se realizó un estudio cualitativo como parte de una investigación participativa basada en la comunidad, se llevaron a cabo 21 entrevistas semiestructuradas, 3 foros comunitarios y un ejercicio de fotovoz con 12 participantes. Se analizó la información con herramientas analíticas de la Teoría Fundamentada. Los hallazgos alrededor de las perspectivas comunitarias de la desnutrición infantil se agruparon en dos categorías analíticas: las prácticas arijunas, de la pérdida de lo ancestral a la enfermedad del hambre; la enfermedad del hambre: su relación con la alimentación del binomio madre-hijo, durante y después de la gestación. Conclusiones: la desnutrición infantil en los Wayuu es un fenómeno complejo e histórico, con un trasfondo de desigualdades sociales y de estructuras de poder injustas. De acuerdo a los participantes, la supervivencia de la niñez Wayuu está siendo amenazada por la desnutrición, la cual afecta principalmente al binomio madre-hijo, ocasionada por el poco acceso y disponibilidad a los alimentos, por las inadecuadas prácticas occidentales en el territorio y por la pérdida de las prácticas tradicionales como la siembra y el pastoreo.
Advances in general surgery 50 years ago
Authors: Ellis Harold
Published: May 2021

In 1971, some of the new advances that were set to change the field of general surgery included theories about the development of peptic ulcers, new treatments for varicose veins and pioneering work in the introduction of day case surgery.
SWOT analysis for orchid conservation in a forest at Mount Sanggara, West Java, Indonesia
Authors: FARDHANI INDRA , KISANUKI HIROMITSU , PARIKESIT PARIKESIT
Published: May 2021

Abstract. Fardhani I, Kisanuki H, Parikesit. 2018. SWOT analysis for orchid conservation in a forest at Mount Sanggara, West Java, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 1: 69-74. Mount Sanggara, West Java, Indonesia, specifically in Legok Jero area has orchid diversity consisting of 46 epiphytic and four terrestrial. The diversity indexes (H’) were categorized as medium both for epiphytic and terrestrial species. The problems in Mount Sanggara are due to conversion of forest into coffee plantation and illegal logging although the forest status is protected forest. Besides, orchids are also threatened by illegal collecting. Strategic management is needed to solve these problems. The purpose of this study was to create the proper strategies to manage the forest in a sustainable way for orchid species, surrounding villages, company, and the sustainability of the orchid community itself. This paper explores internal and external factors by SWOT analysis to formulate management strategies. Data were gathered by structured and unstructured interview and questionnaire. The instruments were distributed to company as stake holder, farmer group, and local residents. From the SWOT analysis, several strategies were proposed to optimize the strengths and opportunities for the purpose of overcoming the weaknesses and to avoid the threats. Consequently, the proposed strategies can be an alternative for stakeholder to manage this forest sustainably not only for local residents but also for the orchid community itself.
Medicinal trees from home gardens of urban areas in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu, Southern India
Authors: -Shanmugam Sevugaperumal , JEYAPRABAKARAN G. , RAJENDRAN K.
Published: May 2021

Abstract. Shanmugam S, Jeyaprabakaran G, Rajendran K. 2020. Medicinal trees from home gardens of urban areas in Madurai District of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Asian J Ethnobiol 3: 10-15. Home gardens provide a diverse and stable supply of socio-economic products. They serve as conservation spots of many useful and rare medicinal plants. Present research work aims to elucidate the medicinally important trees growing in home gardens and their role in the health care of the inhabitants living in four urban areas of Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, India. Data was collected by interviewing 20 informants (14 male and 6 female) regarding the ethnomedicinal uses of plants prescribed for the treatment of several ailments in total. We recorded a total of 63 medicinal remedies prepared from 54 tree species belonging to 52 genera and 27 families used to treat 35 illnesses. It was found that the most dominant family was Apocynaceae (5 species). Leaf was the most used plant part (28.56%) and using raw material (20.64%) was the most was treating a particular disease. Phytochemical and pharmacological values of these medicinally important trees should be tested and awareness programs should also be conducted to encourage people to grow many more useful plants in their home gardens.
Digital holographic microscopy for real-time investigation of 3D microstructural dynamics of starch-kefiran-based nanocomposite
Authors: Rad Vahideh Farzam , Babaei-Ghazvini Amin , Jamali Ramin , Shahabi-Ghahfarrokhi Iman , Moradi Ali-Reza
Published: May 2021

Investigating real-time phenomena in bio-polymers has received much attention because of their increasing demands in polymer substitution. The 3D morphometry of polymer surfaces may be very impactful in such studies. Here, digital holographic microscopy (DHM) is applied for quantitative measurement of the rare morphological changes of UV-A and UV-C exposed nanocomposites during their incubation with excess water. By reconstructing the recorded successive digital holograms, the time evolution of the swelled regions of the samples is derived. Our results clearly show that the higher water swelling of UV-A irradiated starch/kefiran/ZnO may be attributed to its higher hydrophilicity.
Doppler-shift compensated spatial heterodyne spectroscopy for rapidly moving sources
Authors: Burke M. G. , Fonck R. J. , Harlander J. M. , McKee G. R.
Published: May 2021

High resolution luminosity product measurements of neutral beam emission in magnetized plasmas are severely limited by the artificial Doppler broadening inherent to the use of large diameter collection optics. In this paper, a broadening compensation method is developed for the spatial heterodyne spectroscopy interferometric technique. The compensation technique greatly reduces the artificial broadening, thereby enabling high resolution measurements at a significantly higher photon flux than previously available. Compensated and uncompensated measurements of emission generated by impact excitation of 61 keV deuterium neutrals in a tokamak plasma at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility are presented. The spectral width of the compensated measurement is

∼

0.13

n
m

, which is comparable to the instrument resolution. This width is

∼

4
×

smaller than the uncompensated width, which for the 20 cm diameter collection lens system utilized in this study is

∼

0.5

n
m

.
2D zonal integration with unordered data
Authors: Smith Greg A.
Published: May 2021

Numerical integration of two-dimensional gradient data is an important step for many slope-measuring optical instruments. However, existing methods are limited by low accuracy or data location restrictions. The zonal integration algorithm in this paper is a generalized process that works with unordered data via Taylor series approximations of finite difference calculations. This method does not require iteration, and all significant steps rely on matrix calculations for a least-squares solution. Simultaneous integration and interpolation is achieved with high accuracy and arbitrary data locations.
Experimental evaluation of control and monitoring protocols for optical SDN networks and equipment [Invited Tutorial]
Authors: Vilalta Ricard , Manso Carlos , Yoshikane Noboru , Casellas Ramon , Martínez Ricardo , Tsuritani Takehiro , Morita Itsuro , Muñoz Raul
Published: May 2021

This paper presents an experimental evaluation of network protocols for control and management of optical networks and optical network equipment as seen in current trends. This paper presents the YANG data modeling language and its associated RESTCONF/NETCONF protocols. Later, it details multiple data models used in optical networks, such as IETF TEAS, ONF Transport API, OpenROADM, and OpenConfig. It also presents multiple protocols for telemetry (i.e., YANG PUSH, gRPC, and gNMI). Later, a zero-touch SDN controller architecture for multiple standard-defining organizations (SDOs) is presented, to support the usage of multiple protocols in a zero-touch optical network. Finally, the presented protocol implementations are experimentally evaluated and compared in terms of latency and overhead. The paper explores the use of these protocols (e.g., in research, demonstrations, and open-source optical networking projects) and provides results and recommendations for their integration in equipment and networks.
Compact dual-wavelength vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser with simple elements
Authors: Zhang Peng , Mao Lin , Zhang Xiaojian , Wang Tao , Wang Lijie , Zhu Renjiang
Published: May 2021

Dual-wavelength lasers with separation from several nanometers to tens of nanometers at 1 µm waveband are attractive light sources for terahertz generation. This work reports a compact dual-wavelength vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser with simple elements. The gain chip is regularly designed and epitaxially grown, and the laser cavity is the most common straight line cavity. By the use of a blade as the tuning element in cavity, the laser wavelength can be tuned continuously, and the stable dual-wavelength oscillation can be obtained when the blade is situated at a certain position. The total output power of 85 mW, which is limited by our pump source, is produced when the laser wavelengths are at 961 nm and 970 nm. We have also analyzed the evolution mechanism and the stability of this dual-wavelength laser.
Large-scale holographic particle 3D imaging with the beam propagation model
Authors: Wang Hao , Tahir Waleed , Zhu Jiabei , Tian Lei
Published: May 2021

We develop a novel algorithm for large-scale holographic reconstruction of 3D particle fields. Our method is based on a multiple-scattering beam propagation method (BPM) combined with sparse regularization that enables recovering dense 3D particles of high refractive index contrast from a single hologram. We show that the BPM-computed hologram generates intensity statistics closely matching with the experimental measurements and provides up to 9× higher accuracy than the single-scattering model. To solve the inverse problem, we devise a computationally efficient algorithm, which reduces the computation time by two orders of magnitude as compared to the state-of-the-art multiple-scattering based technique. We demonstrate the superior reconstruction accuracy in both simulations and experiments under different scattering strengths. We show that the BPM reconstruction significantly outperforms the single-scattering method in particular for deep imaging depths and high particle densities.
Broadband mode-selective couplers based on tapered side-polished fibers
Authors: Zhang Kun , Wu Pengjun , Dong Jiangli , Du Dawei , Yang Zuoxin , Xu Cheng , Guan Heyuan , Lu Huihui , Qiu Wentao , Yu Jianhui , Chen Zhe
Published: May 2021

We propose the broadband mode-selective coupler (MSC) formed with a side-polished six mode fiber (6MF) and a tapered side-polished small core single-mode fiber (SC-SMF) or an SMF. The MSCs are designed to allow the LP01 mode in the SC-SMF and SMF to completely couple to the LP01, LP11, LP21, LP02, LP31, LP12 modes in the 6MF over a broadband wavelength range. The phase-matching conditions of the MSCs are satisfied by tapering the SC-SMF and SMF to specific diameters. The tapered fibers are side-polished to designed residual fiber thickness using the wheel polishing technique. The effective indices of the side-polished fibers are measured with the prism coupling method. The MSCs provide high coupling ratio and high mode purity. High coupling efficiencies in excess of 81% for all the higher-order modes are obtained in the wavelength range 1530–1600 nm. For the LP01, LP11, LP21, LP02, LP31, LP12 MSCs at 1550 nm, the coupling ratios are 96.2%, 99.8%, 89.5%, 85.0%, 90.9%, 96.1%, respectively, and the mode purity of the MSCs is higher than 88.0%. The loss of the MSCs is lower than 1.8 dB in the wavelength range 1530–1600 nm. This device can be applied in broadband mode-division multiplexing transmission systems.
Propagation properties of phase-locked radially-polarized vector fields array in turbulent atmosphere
Authors: Lu Lu , Wang Zhiqiang , Cai Yangjian
Published: May 2021

Owing to the increasing demand for information transmission, the information capacity of free-space optical communications must be increased without being significantly affected by turbulence. Herein, based on a radially-polarized vector field array, analytical formulae for three parameters are derived: average intensity, degree of polarization, and local states of polarization (SoPs). Propagation properties varying with propagation distance, strength of turbulence, beam waist, and beamlet number are investigated. In particular, the results show that the sign of local SoPs on different receiver planes is consistent with that of the source field, and that the SoPs remain constant at specific locations as the propagation distance increases; hence, the effect of turbulence on local SoPs is slight. Meanwhile, three different SoPs, i.e., linear, right-handed, and left-handed rotation polarizations, appear at corresponding locations, thereby enabling the channel capacity to be increased. This study may not only provide a theoretical basis for vector beam array propagation in a turbulent environment, but also propose a feasible solution for increasing the channel capacity and reliability to overcome challenges in a free-space link. Additionally, this study may benefit potential applications in laser lidar and remote sensing.
Effects of light spectrum on morpho-physiological traits of grafted tomato seedlings
Authors: Yousef Ahmed F. , Ali Muhammad M. , Rizwan Hafiz M. , Ahmed Mohamed A. A. , Ali Waleed M. , Kalaji Hazem M. , Elsheery Nabil , Wróbel Jacek , Xu Yong , Chen Faxing
Published: May 2021

It is already known that there are many factors responsible for the successful grafting process in plants, including light intensity. However, the influence of the spectrum of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on this process has almost never been tested. During the pre-grafting process tomato seedlings grew for 30 days under 100 μmol m-2 s-1 of mixed LEDs (red 70%+ blue 30%). During the post-grafting period, seedlings grew for 20 days under the same light intensity but the lightening source was either red LED, mixed LEDs (red 70% + blue 30%), blue LED or white fluorescent lamps. This was done to determine which light source(s) could better improve seedling quality and increase grafting success. Our results showed that application of red and blue light mixture (R7:B3) caused significant increase in total leaf area, dry weight (total, shoot and root), total chlorophyll/carotenoid ratio, soluble protein and sugar content. Moreover, this light treatment maintained better photosynthetic performance i.e. more effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry Y(II), better photochemical quenching (qP), and higher electron transport rate (ETR). This can be partially explained by the observed upregulation of gene expression levels of PsaA and PsbA and the parallel protein expression levels. This in turn could lead to better functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus of tomato seedlings and then to faster production of photoassimilate ready to be translocated to various tissues and organs, including those most in need, i.e., involved in the formation of the graft union.
An improved method using adaptive smoothing for GNSS tomographic imaging of ionosphere
Authors: Jia Rushang , Yu Xumin , Xing Jianping , Ning Yafei , Sun Hecheng
Published: May 2021

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is a well-established sensors in the recent ionosphere research. By comparing with classical meteorological equipments, the GNSS application can obtain more reliable and precious ionospheric total electron content (TEC) result. However, the most used GNSS ionospheric tomography technique is sensitive to a priori information due to the sparse and non-uniform distribution of GNSS stations. In this paper, we propose an improved method based on adaptive Laplacian smoothing and algebraic reconstruction technique (ALS-ART). Compared with traditional constant constraints, this method is less dependent on a priori information and adaptive smoothing constraints is closer to the actual situation. Tomography experiments using simulated data show that reconstruction accuracy of ionospheric electron density using ALS-ART method is significantly improved. We also use the method to do the analysis of real observation data and compare the tomography results with ionosonde observation data. The results demonstrate the superiority and reliability of the proposed method compared to traditional constant constraints method which will further improve the capability of obtaining precious ionosphere TEC by using GNSS.
Abuse of older adults before moving to old age homes in Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City, Nepal: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Adhikari Baral Mira , Khatri Chhetri Bhagwati , Bhandari Pramila
Published: May 2021

Introduction

The number of older individuals relocating from their homes to old age homes is increasing in Nepal. This study was conducted to assess the reasons why older people chose to move to old age homes, the status and forms of abuse they experienced, and the risk factors associated with their abuse before moving to old age homes.

Materials and methods

This study was a cross sectional study conducted among older adults currently residing in all the old age homes of Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City. Complete enumeration of the respondents was done and data was collected consecutively, using a semi-structured interview schedule, from all older adults aged 60 years and above who had been living in the homes for at least a month. The total sample size was 109. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression was used as an inferential statistics to determine the predictors of abuse.

Results

A majority of the respondents (56.0%) came to old age homes on their own volition, 24.7% reported that they came to the homes because they were physically weak and they had no one to care for them at their residence, while 11% reported that they were forcefully sent by their caregivers. Out of total respondents, 60.6% reported that they experienced some form of abuse before they came to the old age home: most frequent was caregiver neglect (34.9%) and verbal abuse (34.9%), while few experienced financial abuse (2.8%). Women were at a higher risk of abuse than men (p<0.05, OR = 4.430, CI = 1.695–11.577) prior to their transfer to old age homes.

Conclusions

A majority of the older adults who transferred to old age homes in Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan city had been earlier abused by their caregivers, mainly through neglect and verbal abuse, and women were at a higher risk for abuse than men.
Sustainability of religious communities
Authors: Jo Chulsu , Kim Doo Hwan , Lee Jae Woo
Published: May 2021

This article focuses on the relationship between church population and sustainability. We carried out the study on a sample of Presbyterian churches in South Korea, and implemented dynamic optimization of the church population based on the Susceptible–Infected–Recovered (SIR) epidemic model. In particular, System Dynamics (SD) and Agent-Based Model (ABM) simulations are performed for a prototype model with key parameters that contribute to church growth. Potential parameters reflecting sustainability for churches trigger dramatic growth in church populations. We categorized five dimensions of sustainability with various multi-dimensional indicators in order to measure the level of sustainability, and we obtained the values of the indicators by analyzing a number of news articles searched with a text mining technique. As time-dependent values of sustainability are imposed on the generic SD model for church population dynamics as sustainable potential parameters, the optimized result reproduces specific features for the church population. We discuss the roles of key parameters for sustainable church growth, and the contributions of the churches to sustainability.
Effects of fluid flow shear stress to mouse muscle cells on the bone actions of muscle cell-derived extracellular vesicless
Authors: Takafuji Yoshimasa , Tatsumi Kohei , Kawao Naoyuki , Okada Kiyotaka , Muratani Masafumi , Kaji Hiroshi
Published: May 2021

The interactions between skeletal muscle and bone have been recently noted, and muscle-derived humoral factors related to bone metabolism play crucial roles in the muscle/bone relationships. We previously reported that extracellular vesicles from mouse muscle C2C12 cells (Myo-EVs) suppress osteoclast formation in mice. Although mechanical stress is included in extrinsic factors which are important for both muscle and bone, the detailed roles of mechanical stress in the muscle/bone interactions have still remained unknown. In present study, we examined the effects of fluid flow shear stress (FFSS) to C2C12 cells on the physiological actions of muscle cell-derived EV. Applying FFSS to C2C12 cells significantly enhanced muscle cell-derived EV-suppressed osteoclast formation and several osteoclast-related gene levels in mouse bone marrow cells in the presence of receptor activator nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL). Moreover, FFSS to C2C12 cells significantly enhanced muscle cell-derived EV-suppressed mitochondria biogenesis genes during osteoclast formation with RANKL treatment. In addition, FFSS to C2C12 cells significantly enhanced muscle cell-derived EV-suppressed osteoclast formation and several osteoclast-related gene levels in Raw264.7 cells in the presence of RANKL. Small RNA-seq-analysis showed that FFSS elevated the expression of miR196a-5p and miR155-5p with the suppressive actions of osteoclast formation and low expression in mouse bone cells. On the other hand, muscle cell-derived EVs with or without FFSS to C2C12 cells did not affect the expression of osteogenic genes, alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization in mouse osteoblasts. In conclusion, we first showed that FFSS to C2C12 cells enhances the suppressive effects of muscle cell-derived EVs on osteoclast formation in mouse cells. Muscle cell-derived EVs might be partly involved in the effects of mechanical stress on the muscle/bone relationships.
Response of vegetation to submergence along Jingjiang Reach of the Yangtze River
Authors: Zhu Guoliang , Li Yitian , Sun Zhaohua , Kanae Shinjiro
Published: May 2021

This work explores the changes in vegetation coverage and submergence time of floodplains along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (i.e., the Jingjiang River) and the relations between them. As the Three Gorges Dam has been operating for more than 10 years, the original vegetative environment has been greatly altered in this region. The two main aspects of these changes were discovered by analyzing year-end image data from remote sensing satellites using a dimidiate pixel model, based on the normalized difference vegetation index, and by calculating water level and topographic data over a distance of 360 km from 2003–2015. Given that the channels had adjusted laterally, thus exhibiting deeper and broader geometries due to the Three Gorges Dam, 11 floodplains were classified into three groups with distinctive features. The evidence shows that, the floodplains with high elevation have formed steady vegetation areas and could hardly be affected by runoff and usually occupied by humans. The low elevation group has not met the minimal threshold of submerging time for vegetation growth, and no plants were observed so far. Based on the facts summed up from the floodplains with variable elevation, days needed to spot vegetation ranges from 70 to 120 days which happened typically near 2006 and between 2008 and 2010, respectively, and a negative correlation was detected between submergence time and vegetation coverage within a certain range. Thus, floods optimized by the Three Gorges Dam have directly influenced plant growth in the floodplains and may also affect our ability to manage certain types of large floods. Our conclusions may provide a basis for establishing flood criteria to manage the floodplain vegetation and evaluating possible increases in resistance caused by high-flow flooding when these floodplains are submerged.
Motivations, barriers, and communication recommendations for promoting face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic: Survey findings from a diverse sample
Authors: Vereen Rhyan N. , Lazard Allison J. , Frank Simone C. , Pulido Marlyn , Richter Ana Paula C. , Higgins Isabella C. A. , Shelus Victoria S. , Vandegrift Sara M. , Hall Marissa G. , Ribisl Kurt M.
Published: May 2021

State and local health departments have been tasked with promoting the use of face coverings to decrease the spread of COVID-19 in their respective communities. However, little is known about motivations and barriers to wearing face coverings in the context of COVID-19 prevention, particularly among communities of color who are at an increased risk of serious illness from the disease. The purpose of this study was to identify common motivations and barriers to face covering use, as well as explore perceptions of messages encouraging the use of face coverings among a racially and ethnically diverse sample. A survey was distributed electronically to North Carolina (NC) residents through NC Department of Health and Human Services listservs in July 2020. Participants self-categorized as Latino/a (33.5%), Black (39.1%), or white or another race (27.5%). The most commonly endorsed motivations for wearing face coverings were to avoid spreading COVID-19 (77%), as well as to protect people who are vulnerable (76%) and one’s community (72%). Being uncomfortable (40%) was the most commonly endorsed barrier. Messages that included a clear request (ex. please wear a face covering) and a direct benefit (ex. keep community safe) were more commonly endorsed than those that did not. Commonly endorsed motivations, behaviors, and messages differed by race and ethnicity. Increased attention to message content, message structure, and access to information and resources may aid local officials in increasing consistent use of face coverings.
Exposure to e-cigarette TV advertisements among U.S. youth and adults, 2013–2019
Authors: Duan Zongshuan , Wang Yu , Emery Sherry L. , Chaloupka Frank J. , Kim Yoonsang , Huang Jidong
Published: May 2021

Introduction

E-cigarette advertising has been shown to increase e-cigarette awareness and use. Although e-cigarette marketing in the early 2010s has been well-documented, little is known about how it has changed in recent years in response to the regulatory scrutiny from the FDA and the Congress to combat youth vaping epidemic. This study aims to examine the exposure to e-cigarette TV advertising among youth and adults in the U.S. from 2013 to 2019, overall and by media market and brand.

Methods

Quarterly data on e-cigarette TV advertising exposure, measured by target rating points (TRPs), and expenditures from 2013 to 2019 were compiled from the StradegyTM of Kantar Media. Trends of quarterly e-cigarette advertising TRPs were reported by age group, market, and brand.

Results

Over the study period, overall exposure to e-cigarette TV advertising was higher among adults than among youth. E-cigarette advertising TRPs and expenditures were relatively stable, despite intermittent fluctuations, between 2013 Q1 and 2017 Q1 except for a one-time dip in 2015 Q3, followed by a sharp decline in 2017 Q2 and stayed low till the end of 2018. A resurgence of e-cigarette advertising TRPs occurred in 2019 Q1, led by the advertising from JUUL, Blu, and Vuse, which peaked in the third quarter of 2019, with quarterly TRPs reaching 316.8 for youth and 1,701.9 for adults, and quarterly advertising expenditure totaling $31 million.

Conclusions

Significant variations, both over time and across media markets and brands, were observed for e-cigarette televised advertising between 2013 and 2019. Following a lull in TV advertising in 2017/18, major e-cigarette companies have substantially increased advertising of their products on American television since early 2019, resulting in a surge in exposure to e-cigarette advertising among both youth and adults. Our findings highlighted the importance of continued monitoring of e-cigarette advertising in the U.S.
Numerical and experimental studies on dynamic gas emission characteristics of boreholes
Authors: Lin Huaying , Tian Shixiang , Jiao Anjun , Zeng Jianhua , Jiang Zebiao , Xu Shiqing , Xie Xionggang , Tang Jun
Published: May 2021

The gas emission rate of boreholes is one of the most important indices for coal and gas outburst prediction. In this work, instantaneous gas emission velocity and environmental effects on borehole gas emission were studied. Through theoretical analysis, the mechanism of crack propagation in the coal borehole was clarified, and the effect of soft and hard coal on gas desorption and gas emission. The results of numerical simulations also indicated that the initial gas emission has a function relationship to the drilling distance and the physical characteristics of the coal seam. A novel dynamic testing technology was proposed to obtain gas emission velocity. Laboratory experiments under adsorption and desorption of CO2 and N2 were performed using coal samples from Xuehu, Fenghui, Weishe, and Wuzhong coal mines. The data of initial gas emission under different coal samples were recorded, and the fitting curves were obtained. The results show a positive correlation between initial gas emission and drilling depth. However, abnormal would occur when the drill pipe enters the soft stratification, and the maximum value of the initial gas emission of the abnormal part is 3.8 times the normal value, which indicates a high degree of sensibility to soft stratification. The results were revealed the dynamic gas emission law of boreholes.
Work-life conflict and cardiovascular health: 5-year follow-up of the Gutenberg Health Study
Authors: Hegewald Janice , Romero Starke Karla , Garthus-Niegel Susan , Schulz Andreas , Nübling Matthias , Latza Ute , Jankowiak Sylvia , Liebers Falk , Rossnagel Karin , Riechmann-Wolf Merle , Letzel Stephan , Arnold Natalie , Beutel Manfred , Gianicolo Emilio , Pfeiffer Norbert , Lackner Karl , Münzel Thomas , Wild Philipp , Seidler Andreas
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Work-life conflicts (WLC) may impact health, but few studies prospectively consider the impact of WLC on objective outcomes such as cardiovascular disease. Using data from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), we examined if WLC at baseline was associated with an increased five-year incidence of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarct, stroke, atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, sudden cardiac death). We also considered if WLC was associated with incident hypertension and arterial stiffness and if the effects of WLC on cardiovascular health differ for men and women.

Methods

A working subsample of the 15,010 GHS cohort participants completed the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, which included five "work-privacy conflict" questions at baseline and at the five-year follow-up. Relative risks for incident hypertension due to increased WLC at baseline (WLC scores exceeding 60 out of 100) were estimated with Poisson regression in the subgroup of participants without hypertension at baseline (n = 2426). Categories of WLC at baseline and follow-up were also used to examine the risk of hypertension due to chronic/recurrent WLC. In this subgroup, we also examined the association between WLC as a continuous score ranging from 0 to 100 with change to arterial stiffness after five years using linear regression. Hazard ratios were estimated for incident cardiovascular events in a larger subsample of participants without prevalent cardiovascular disease at baseline (n = 3698) using Cox regression. We used various multivariable regression models to adjust for sex, age, socioeconomic status, occupational, household, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Results

We found no association between WLC and incident hypertension or increased arterial stiffness. The fully-adjusted relative risk for WLC >60 at baseline and hypertension was 0.93 (95% 0.74–1.17). The risk of hypertension due to chronic/recurrent WLC >60 was increased but not statistically significant (RR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.83–1.54). Overall, hazard ratios for incident cardiovascular events were also not increased. However, stratifying the results by sex resulted in a hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% CI 0.54–3.98) for incident cardiovascular disease among women in the fully adjusted model.

Conclusions

Although our results were not statistically significant, they indicate that WLC is negatively impacting the cardiovascular health of women. While these results need to be confirmed with additional research and a longer follow-up, interventions to prevent WLC will promote health and could be especially beneficial for women.
Results of the Optimune trial: A randomized controlled trial evaluating a novel Internet intervention for breast cancer survivors
Authors: Holtdirk Franziska , Mehnert Anja , Weiss Mario , Mayer Johannes , Meyer Björn , Bröde Peter , Claus Maren , Watzl Carsten
Published: May 2021

Introduction

After the acute treatment phase, breast cancer patients often experience low quality of life and impaired mental health, which could potentially be improved by offering cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and addressing exercise and dietary habits. However, CBT and other behavioural interventions are rarely available beyond the acute treatment phase. Internet-based interventions could bridge such treatment gaps, given their flexibility and scalability. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), we investigated the effects of such an intervention (“Optimune”) over three months.

Methods

This RCT included 363 female breast cancer survivors (age range = 30–70), recruited from the community, who had completed the active treatment phase. Inclusion criteria were: breast cancer diagnosis less than 5 years ago and acute treatment completion at least 1 month ago. Participants were randomly assigned to (1) an intervention group (n= 181), in which they received care as usual (CAU) plus 12-month access toOptimuneimmediately after randomization, or (2) a control group (n= 182), in which they received CAU andOptimuneafter a delay of 3 months. Primary endpoints were quality of life (QoL), physical activity, and dietary habits at three months. We hypothesized that intervention group participants would report better QoL, more physical activity, and improved dietary habits after 3 months.

Results

Intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses revealed significant effects on QoL (d= 0.27, 95% CI: 0.07–0.48) and dietary habits (d= 0.36, 95% CI: 0.15–0.56), but the effect on physical exercise was not significant (d= 0.30; 95% CI: 0.10–0.51).

Discussion

These findings suggest the effectiveness ofOptimune, a new CBT-based Internet intervention for breast cancer survivors, in facilitating improvements in quality of life and dietary habits. Efforts to disseminate this intervention more broadly may be warranted.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03643640. Registered August 23rd 2018,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03643640.
Does aerial baiting for controlling feral cats in a heterogeneous landscape confer benefits to a threatened native meso-predator?
Authors: Palmer Russell , Anderson Hannah , Richards Brooke , Craig Michael D. , Gibson Lesley
Published: May 2021

Introduced mammalian predators can have devastating impacts on recipient ecosystems and disrupt native predator–prey relationships. Feral cats (Felis catus) have been implicated in the decline and extinction of many Australian native species and developing effective and affordable methods to control them is a national priority. While there has been considerable progress in the lethal control of feral cats, effective management at landscape scales has proved challenging. Justification of the allocation of resources to feral cat control programs requires demonstration of the conservation benefit baiting provides to native species susceptible to cat predation. Here, we examined the effectiveness of a landscape-scaleEradicat®baiting program to protect threatened northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus) from feral cat predation in a heterogeneous rocky landscape in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. We used camera traps and GPS collars fitted to feral cats to monitor changes in activity patterns of feral cats and northern quolls at a baited treatment site and unbaited reference site over four years. Feral cat populations appeared to be naturally sparse in our study area, and camera trap monitoring showed no significant effect of baiting on cat detections. However, mortality rates of collared feral cats ranged from 18–33% after baiting, indicating that the program was reducing cat numbers. Our study demonstrated that feral cat baiting had a positive effect on northern quoll populations, with evidence of range expansion at the treatment site. We suggest that the rugged rocky habitat preferred by northern quolls in the Pilbara buffered them to some extent from feral cat predation, and baiting was sufficient to demonstrate a positive effect in this relatively short-term project. A more strategic approach to feral cat management is likely to be required in the longer-term to maximise the efficacy of control programs and thereby improve the conservation outlook for susceptible threatened fauna.
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury affects inflammation and excitotoxic mRNA expression at acute and chronic time-points
Authors: Hiskens Matthew I. , Schneiders Anthony G. , Vella Rebecca K. , Fenning Andrew S.
Published: May 2021

The cumulative effect of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) can result in chronic neurological damage, however the molecular mechanisms underpinning this detriment require further investigation. A closed head weight drop model that replicates the biomechanics and head acceleration forces of human mTBI was used to provide an exploration of the acute and chronic outcomes following single and repeated impacts. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into one of four impact groups (control; one, five and 15 impacts) which were delivered over 23 days. Outcomes were assessed 48 hours and 3 months following the final mTBI. Hippocampal spatial learning and memory assessment revealed impaired performance in the 15-impact group compared with control in the acute phase that persisted at chronic measurement. mRNA analyses were performed on brain tissue samples of the cortex and hippocampus using quantitative RT-PCR. Eight genes were assessed, namely MAPT, GFAP, AIF1, GRIA1, CCL11, TARDBP, TNF, and NEFL, with expression changes observed based on location and follow-up duration. The cortex and hippocampus showed vulnerability to insult, displaying upregulation of key excitotoxicity and inflammation genes. Serum samples showed no difference between groups for proteins phosphorylated tau and GFAP. These data suggest that the cumulative effect of the impacts was sufficient to induce mTBI pathophysiology and clinical features. The genes investigated in this study provide opportunity for further investigation of mTBI-related neuropathology and may provide targets in the development of therapies that help mitigate the effects of mTBI.
Phenological responses to climate change based on a hundred years of herbarium collections of tropical Melastomataceae
Authors: Lima Duane F. , Mello José H. F. , Lopes Isadora T. , Forzza Rafaela C. , Goldenberg Renato , Freitas Leandro
Published: May 2021

Changes in phenological events have been vastly documented in face of recent global climate change. These studies are concentrated on temperate plants, and the responses of tropical species are still little understood, likely due to the lack of long-term phenological records in the tropics. In this case, the use of herbarium specimens to gather phenological data over long periods and wide geographic areas has emerged as a powerful tool. Here, we used four Melastomataceae species endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to evaluate phenological patterns and alterations as responses to recent climate changes. Phenological data were gathered from Reflora Virtual Herbarium specimens collected between 1920 and 2018, and analyzed with circular statistics applied to the intervals 1920–1979, 1980–1999, and 2000–2018. The effects of temperature range, average temperature, precipitation, and photoperiod on flowering and fruiting of each species were tested using multiple linear regressions. Through circular statistics, we detected changes, mostly delays, in the flowering of Miconia quinquedentata, Pleroma clavatum and P. trichopodum, and in the fruiting of M. acutiflora, P. clavatum and P. trichopodum. We also found that flowering and fruiting occurrence were related to local climatic conditions from months prior to the collections. We found marked phenological variations over the decades and also that these variations are associated to global climate change, adding up to the large body of evidence from higher latitudes. Our results also support herbarium collections as an important source for long-term tropical phenological studies. The lack of consistent patterns of responses among the four species (e.g. fruiting delayed two months in P. clavatum and advanced one month in M. acutiflora) suggests that climate change has unequal effects across tropical forests. This highlights the urgent need for further research to understand and forecast the ecological implications of these changes in global ecosystems processes.
Public Policy Public Goods and the Impact of the pandemic crisis with special respect to the case of Greece
Authors: MAVROZACHARAKIS EMMANOUIL
Published: May 2021

People expect the state to provide them with a social security net. Whatever its defects, whatever the virtues of the private sector, no structure other than the state can today provide citizens with the basic public goods. Under right-wing governments, a very active role of the state is not expected. Also, is nor expected the introduction of a serious program of public investment and demand-boosting to stimulate the national economy and enter into a virtuous circle of recovery. Today many countries like Greece, which passed the economic crisis with drastic cuts in its traditionally deficient welfare state and its chronic underinvestment in public goods in key areas such as health, have to respond directly to the pandemic crisis. This fact leads in the short term to a revival of the debate on strengthening state powers and especially in strengthening public health systems. Political polarization is expected in the period after the end of the pandemic crisis focusing on welfare state issues. This, most likely, will leave plenty of space for social democratic and Keynesian approaches. In several countries like Greece, the right-wing governance will come under pressure leading even to rifts in its hegemony.
Migration Policies, Participation and the Political Construction of Migration in Spain
Authors: Oso Laura , López-Sala Ana , Muñoz-Comet Jacobo
Published: May 2021

This article offers a state of the art of research on migration policies, participation and the political construction of immigration in Spain. It starts with an overview of migration policy, addressing the impact of the 2008 economic crisis on the configuration of the political agenda. Secondly, it addresses the political participation of immigrants in Spain and their role as “new” voters. Finally, the appearance of the extreme right political party VOX has shifted the classic debates on the attitudes of the population towards immigration and built a new anti-immigration discourse. The article argues that academic interest and scientific production have been modulated in line with the various phases of Spain’s configuration as a country of immigration. The text ends with some reflections on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, which has opened up a period of major challenge and uncertainty.
The Disruptive Regularisation Mechanism in the Spanish Law that Challenges the Reform of the Common European Asylum System
Authors: García-Juan Laura
Published: May 2021

The debate regarding the extent of EU Member States competences in immigrant integration policies was paused with the Treaty of Lisbon. European institutions took an active role in integration but did not mandate a communal approach. Consequently, each Member State instigated its own policies, which led to a wide diversity of regulations. The policy adopted by Spain stands out because of its particular approach to integration policies, which in this case are applicable to regular and irregular immigrants. A remarkable feature of the migration law in Spain is that it contains a regularisation mechanism for irregular immigrants that does not require them to have a visa in order to obtain the status of temporary residency. This mechanism is known as arraigo social (social ties). In these cases, access to regularity depends on the level of social integration that the immigrant can prove to have achieved. This article analyses the statistics on the use of this mechanism in Spain and discusses whether it could offer a path to asylum seekers looking for an official response after several years of waiting in the EU.
Elections and Segregation of the Foreign Population in Andalusia
Authors: Relinque-Medina Fernando , Fernández-Borrero Manuela Ángela , Vázquez-Aguado Octavio
Published: May 2021

The reality of migration is a global challenge to today’s societies, posing social, economic and political challenges. In recent years, a politicisation of these issues is being observed, leading to “anti-immigrant” political discourses and the defence of ethnocentric and assimilationist values. This has led to an increase in support for populist radical right political formations, which was reflected in Spain in the last elections with the irruption of VOX in April 2019, increasing their support in November 2019. Faced with this situation, the media, networks and social researchers have linked the presence of the foreign population with this fact, studying the population dynamics and segregation in their influence on the vote for right-wing parties. This paper aims to understand this type of relationship in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, doing so from a municipal territorial approach and broken down by census tracts.
caractéristiques des métiers de la communication d’entreprise au Togo
Authors: YAO – BAGLO Namoin
Published: May 2021

Les métiers de la communication d’entreprise bien qu’ayant fait leur apparition dans les années 90 au Togo restent encore méconnus dans leur complexité et richesse. Les hommes et les femmes en charge de la communication dans bon nombre d’organisations bien qu’ayant un profil atypique et des parcours professionnels hybrides proviennent majoritairement du journalisme. L’ancienne fonction « attaché de presse » devenue en 2007 « conseiller en communication » au sein des institutions de la république mérite une clarification pour éviter le flou qui l’entoure actuellement. Cet article basé sur une étude longitudinale débutée depuis 2013, en mobilisant quatre terrains, s’intéresse à ces professionnels et à leurs métiers en montrant leur particularité dans un pays comme le Togo.