bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ЗАЙЫРЛЫЛЫҚ ФЕНОМЕНІНІҢ ҒЫЛЫМИ И ДҮНИЕТАНЫМДЫҚ МАҢЫЗДЫЛЫҒЫ
Authors:   Философия, саясаттану және дінтану институты, Алматы, Қазақстан, Нұрмұратов, С. , Қасабекова, Е. ,   Философия, саясаттану және дінтану институты, Алматы, Қазақстан, Аймұратов С. ,   Х. Досмұхамедов атындағы Атырау мемлекеттік университеті, Атырау, Қазақстан
Published: May 2021

Ғылыми мақалада зайырлылық принципінің ғылыми таным процесіндегі маңыздылығы анықталып, зайырлылық ұстанымы және оның мән-мағынасы мен көрінісіне теориялық тұрғыда пайымдаулар жасалынады. Сонымен қатар зайырлылық ұғымының заманауи талаптарға сәйкес қолдану деңгейіне бағамдаулар жасалып, зайырлылық құбылысына анықтама беріледі. Авторлардың зерттеу тақырыбы бойынша шетелдік және отандық ғылыми тұжырымдамалар сарапталып, зайырлылық кұбылысының дінтанулық тұрғыдағы сипатына жан-жақты зерделенулер жасалады. Зайырлылық ұғымының өркениеттік дамудың векторын анықтайтын кең ауқымдылығы, мен терең ғылыми-танымдық мән-мағынасы бар екендігі көрсетіледі. Оқырмандарға ұсынылып отырылған мақаладағы негізгі мақсат - зайырлылық жөнінде жазылған шетелдік және отандық авторлардың ғылыми еңбектерін сыни сүзгіден өткізу және олардың көзқарастарына талдамалық шолу жасау, ғылыми танымдағы оның орны мен маңызын анықтау болып келеді. Сондықтан ғылыми жұмыста зайырлылық құбылысы қазіргі рухани жаңғыру үдерістерінің талаптарына сәйкес талдаулардан өткізіліп, қоғамдағы рухани сұхбатты қалыптастыруға қызмет ететін мағынасын анықтау боынша оларға жан-жақты сыни сипаттамалар беріледі.
Freedoms and limitations: C. S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer as a tag team
Authors: Collins C. John
Published: May 2021

I count it a great delight to contribute this essay in honor (or should I say, in honour?) of Professor Jerram Barrs, especially since he (together with his associate Ranald Macaulay), Francis Schaeffer, and C. S. Lewis have done so much to shape my own thinking and living as a Christian. To have Professor Barrs as a colleague, and a friend, is a privilege beyond my wildest imagining. And if I focus on Genesis 1–11 in this essay, consider that a tribute to my sharing the 2010 Francis A. Schaeffer lectureship with Professor Barrs on that topic.
Intelligent design and natural theology
Authors: Thorvaldsen Steinar
Published: May 2021

Natural Theology is an attempt to provide arguments for the existence of God based on reason and ordinary experience of nature. It became quite popular with both orthodox Christians and Deists between about 1650 and 1850, inspiring much of the scientific fieldwork done during that period. However, Darwin’s theory of evolution brought about a temporary decline of this Christian apologetic tradition.
Intelligent Design is a relatively new scientific research program that investigates the effects of intelligent sources, and challenges basic parts of contemporary Darwinism. Fred Hoyle first issued the ideas of Intelligent Design in modern times when he discovered the unique energy level of the carbon atom in the 1950s. On Copernicus’s 500th birthday in 1973, Brandon Carter presented the discovery that the fundamental constants of physics are fine-tuned to precise values for life permittance. In the 1990s, Michael Behe and others presented arguments for Intelligent Design in molecular biology, and irreducibly complex biochemical machines in living cells.
In this paper, we briefly present Intelligent Design and discuss its possible application within a revitalized version of Natural Theology. The paper is mainly written from a scientific perspective.
Scientific rebuttals to ‘ancient aliens’ as popular alternatives to biblical history
Authors: Williams Peter S.
Published: May 2021

Just as Christian apologists need to rebut the ‘alternative’ historical claims of The Book of Mormon, so they need to rebut claims about so-called ‘ancient aliens’. These claims offer people with a secular worldview historical counter-narratives to biblical history that draw upon the scientific respectability of astrobiology and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Rather than interacting with the specifics of ‘ancient alien’ narratives on a case-by-case basis, I argue that ‘ancient alien’ theories are intrinsically convoluted and highly ad hoc, and that multiple essential facets of such theories are disconfirmed by scientific evidence. Not only do we lack convincing evidence that extraterrestrial intelligences have visited Earth, but SETI has provided observational evidence that suggests technologically advanced aliens simply don’t exist, at least in our cosmic neighborhood. In sum, when it comes to ‘ancient aliens’, it’s those who believe in ‘ancient aliens’, not Christians, who are swimming against the scientific evidence.
‘Unraveling the mystery’: Assessing The Big Bang Theory as a secular fictional universe
Authors: Dahle Margunn Serigstad , Kro Ingvild Thu
Published: May 2021

This essay seeks to meet the need for identifying and responding to secular worldview perspectives in popular culture from a Christian apologetic perspective. The focus in this case is on naturalism, scientism, and anti-religious attitudes, with the highly popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory (season 11) as a case study. The methodological approach is a content analysis with worldview theory as the hermeneutical perspective. The findings of the analysis suggest that naturalism and weak scientism seem to be the underlying worldview perspectives in The Big Bang Theory. Supernatural beliefs are rejected as irrational, but despite that the overall trust is in science, there are moments where other sources of truth and meaning seem to be given credibility. From these conclusions we identify both points of contact and points of tension to Christian faith, representing both opportunities and challenges for Christian cultural apologetics, both in relation to science and religious faith as well as the relation between them.
De peones a campesinos. Un caso de resistencia política y territorial en el Chile central del siglo XX
Authors: Vera M. María Isabel
Published: May 2021

En este artículo examino las prácticas de resistencia que performan los sujetos en un escenario histórico de pérdida y desposesión. Para ello, analizo las narrativas biográficas de campesinos y campesinas del asentamiento Los Choapinos (ubicado a 106 kilómetros al sur de Santiago), quienes han vivido una relación de posesión y desposesión de tierras producto de fenómenos ecológicos, reformas y contrarreformas de economía política durante los últimos cincuenta años. Mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas y el análisis narrativo temático-estructural, indago en los fundamentos, hitos, sentidos y propósitos que las y los sujetos le otorgan a su historia: frente a un escenario neoliberal donde las agroindustrias se yerguen como estructura laboral hegemónica en el espacio rural, este grupo logra sostenerse como campesinos y campesinas en virtud de su repertorio de acción política, evitando así devenir en proletarios y proletarias o reconfigurarse como personas agropolitanas.
VAIKŲ JUDĖJIMO ĮGŪDŽIŲ KAITA IKIMOKYKLINIO UGDYMO ĮSTAIGŲ UGDYTOJŲ KVALIFIKACIJOS ASPEKTU [MOTOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ALTERATIONS OF PRE-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN RELATION TO QUALIFICATION OF EDUCATORS]
Authors: Gruodytė-Račienė Rita , Tamulaitė Viktorija
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate motor skills development of 5-6-year-aged children in relation to educator’s qualification.
The participants were 16 boys and 14 girls of the pre-school groups in the kindergarten. Two teachers (both females over 50 years of age) were giving their usual physical education (PE) lessons (45 min x twice a week) during the study period. Teacher of group 1 (G1; n=15) had a qualification of a general educator, and had other educational activities and duties with her group. Teacher of group 2 (G2; n=15) was a specialist of PE and had PE lessons for kids, only. The motor skills development was tested at baseline (T1) and repeated after six months (T2). To investigate children motor skill development, the battery of the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD2) was used. The testings were filmed using a digital camera for a later evaluation analysis. All testing and evaluation procedures were performed by the same exercise expert. The intra- and inter- group differences were performed using t-test where testing occasion (T1, T2) was considered as a dependent variable, and group (G1, G2) – as an independent variable. The percent analysis was used in evaluating the performance of motor skills development tasks.
Over the six month course significant and greater improvements were observed in running and object catching skills in children who had PE educator classes comparing to those who had PE classes of a general educator (p<0.05). A tendency of significant changes to be achieved in the skills such as kicking and throwing an object was also observed in G2 (p=0.06-0.07).
We may conclude that the impact of an educator, specialized in PE, for improvement of locomotive and non-locomotive motor skills development of children is greater than that of a general educator of kindergarten kids.
Keywords: pre-school children, Physical Education, locomotive skills, non-locomotive skills, TGMD2
Secure File Storage On Cloud Using Hybrid Cryptography
Authors: Nawal Aishwarya , Soni Harish , Arewar Shweta , Gangadhara Varshita
Published: May 2021

The servers that are accessed over the web and the software and databases that run on those servers are together known as "The Cloud". The amount of data needing storage is increasing every day and thus, there is a requirement for increased storage space. Cloud allows us to do the same. Storage of data on the cloud is done for various companies, colleges, for military purposes, etc. The data on the cloud is susceptible to various risks such as lack of backup services, data leakage, lack of control over your data being stored, etc. To provide a solution to these risks over cloud storage there are several ways, which include Cryptography and Steganography. Cryptography is quite popular for data security. The Cryptography technique translates original data into an unreadable form known as ciphertext. Text is converted into an unreadable form using keys. This ensures that only an authorized entity with the right key, can access the data from the cloud server. Ciphertext data is visible for everyone. There are two types of cryptography algorithms namely Symmetric Key cryptography and Asymmetric Key Cryptography. The use of a single cryptography algorithm provides basic security. In this paper, we have suggested the use of a combination of symmetric key cryptography algorithms namely: AES-GCM, Fernet, AES-CCM, CHACHA20_POLY1305 algorithm, which help to provide high-level security to the data. Here, the key is also secured using the Fernet algorithm. The file is split into N parts. Each part is encrypted simultaneously. For the file decryption purpose reverse process of encryption is applied.
A study on compliance with diet, exercise, medication and regular follow up among diabetics attending tertiary care hospital
Authors:   Department of Community Medicine, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, 577502, Karnataka, India, Mangasuli Vijayalaxmi , Amrutha A M , Gowda M R Nagendra , Bhoovanchandran  , Vijeth S B , Ganashree C P
Published: May 2021

Compliance is a key concept in health care and affects all the areas of health care including diabetes. Non-compliance can occur due to the failure of patient. To have the medication dispensed or when it is not taken as instructed. Our objective is to determine the compliance of the patient with diet, medication and follow up among the diabetics. A Cross sectional study was conducted over a period of 3 months in medicine OPD of Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital Chitradurga. Convenient sampling method was used. Semi structured questionnaire was prepared and used for the study to collect information regarding age, gender, maintenance of diet, exercise, awareness about medication and follow up. Informed consent was obtained before collecting the data. Data entered in excel sheet and analyzed statistically using SPSS software. Out of 100 people surveyed and assessed based on SDSA (summary of self-care activities measure) 70 were males and 30 were females. It was found that people belonging to the age group 40-49 were more compliant with Diet (44.6%), Exercise (59.4%) and Medication (52.6%) and Follow up (45.1%). Males had a good compliance with exercise (81.2%), diet (67.9%), medication (73.7%) and follow up (74.4%). The situation is far from ideal, especially with such a massive thrust being laid upon self-care in diabetes, these days. Information, Communication education to bring about behavioral change is the only way forward. Keywords: Diabetes; diet; exercise; medication
Congenital cavernous hemangioma of the skull - A rare case in infants
Authors:   Department of Neurosurgery, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore, Karnataka, India, Rajesh T S , Pallavi A N
Published: May 2021

Reporting a rare case of Calvarial Cavernous Hemangioma. A 2-months-oldmale baby presented with Right Frontal swelling noticed when baby was 20days old rapidly progressive in size. On examination, it was solitary 6*7cm firm irregular swelling fixed to bone which On CT/MRI showed 6*5*4cm mixed density extra axial lesion in right frontal region with bony destruction causing mass effect and mid line shift? neoplastic. Baby had no neurological deficits. CBC showed Pancytopenia. Patient was operated under GA, total excision of the lesion and margin of surrounding eroded bone was performed. Tumor was completely extradural. Histopathology showed Bony trabeculae separated by loose fibrocollagenous tissue enclosing many endothelium lined Vascular spaces. Post operative no recurrence is observed. Cavernous Hemangioma of skull is very rare in infancy and must be included in differential diagnosis of skull lesions . Untreated Cavernous Hemangiomas may show progression. A suspected Neoplastic swelling turned out to be benign lesion. Timely operative intervention prevented complications due to severe anemia because of intralesional bleed. Keywords: Calvaria; Cavernous Hemangioma; Benign
Anaesthesia management of rupture ectopic pregnancy with severe anaemia and state of shock - A case report
Authors:   Department of Anaesthesia, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, 577502, Karnataka, Shruti Ghodageri , Shivshankar B , Dharunipriya K R , Narasannavar Ashwini , Megha G H
Published: May 2021

Management of a patient with severe anemia is an important anaesthesia challenge. We have reported a case of a 24year old female who presented with a ruptured extra uterine pregnancy. Patient was having a severe anemia. The post-operative period was uneventful and patient was discharged 8 days after surgery. Here we are discussing a management and outcome of this case which was performed under general anesthesia with massive blood transfusion. The duration of surgery was 1 hour 30 min and haemostasis was achieved in this period as well. Keywords: Severe anemia; Ectopic pregnancy; Hypovolemic shock; Massive blood transfusion
Evaluation of visual acuity in drivers as studied in Kolar district
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, 577502, Karnataka, India, Padmajothi M S , Chaitra M C , Shetty Sri Archana
Published: May 2021

To assess the visual acuity, identify the cause for reduced vision & to advice patients regarding correction of vision in drivers for safe driving. Analysis of a cross-sectional study of people having a history of driving — two-wheeler, four-wheeler or autorickshaw was done. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) less than 6/6 in the better eye were selected for the study through screening camps for KSRTC bus drivers, Autorickshaw drivers and patients coming to the OPD of R L Jalappa Hospital & Research Center in Kolar district, having a history of driving a two-wheeler, four-wheeler & autorickshaw were included. Patients who have stopped driving due to reduced vision were excluded from the study. After taking an informed consent, patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination. Those patients who were identified as having decreased vision were advised regarding the necessary treatment. Out of 706 patients, 87.99 % of drivers in this study were males and majority belonged to the age group between 20-30 years. 29.17 % of patients did not have driving license though they were driving either 2 or four-wheeler vehicles or Autorickshaws. 41% of patients did not have any eye checkup prior to our examination and after our examination was done 58.9% of patients were advised spectacle correction. This highlights the need for intensified health education to encourage drivers who experience these defects to seek prompt medical help and advice. The prevalence of refractive errors among the study population also indicates the need to enforce the law on comprehensive eye examination by appropriate professionals, as enshrined in the law, rather than just measuring visual acuity prior to acquiring or renewing drivers’ licenses, as is currently the case. Keywords: Best corrected visual acuity; drivers; reduced vision; RTA
Smoldering Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease with extra ocular involvement — A case report
Authors:   Department of ophthalmology, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, 577502, Karnataka, India, Savitha D P , Padmajothi M S
Published: May 2021

To report a case of smoldering vogt-koyanagi-harada disease with extraocular involvement. A 45-years-old male presented with diminished vision in BE for one 1 — week associated with redness, pain, watering, intolerance to light with tinnitus also gives a history of similar complaints, in the past 2years. Examination revealed both eye visual acuity CF1/2 meters. Slit-lamp examination showed conjunctival ingestion, mutton fat KP’s, sluggishly reactive pupil with multiple broken posterior synechaie. Fundus showed grade 2 vitreous cells with multiple opacities, diffuse retinochoroidal thickening with disc edema. Tonometry was 16 and 29 mmhg respectively. B-scan showed multiple vitreous echo’s, diffuse retino-choroidal complex thickening with multiple shallow serous retinal detachment. After routine investigations patient was started on topical and systemic steroids. Lumbar puncture showed 82% lymphocytic pleocytosis. The patient recovered well with 6/24 vision in BE with a resolution of fundus finding at 6week followup. High index of suspicion, timely diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent vision threatening complications in VKH disease. Keywords: Vogtkoyanagiharada disease; retinochoroidal thickening; serous retinal detachment; tinnitus; CSF pleocytosis; systemic steroids
Tale of a foreign body
Authors:   Department of respiratory medicine, A.J. Institute of medical sciences and Research centre, Kuntikana, Mangalore, Karnataka, Sharma M Vishnu , Harikumar Lakshmi
Published: May 2021

Aspiration of a tooth is often overlooked in patients with road traffic accidents. Patients with facial trauma can have avulsion of teeth, which may be then aspirated. It can lead to immediate complication — airway obstruction and hypoxia which may sometimes be fatal. Delayed complications are mainly due to airway obstruction leading to chronic respiratory symptoms and recurrent respiratory infections. Hence, aspirated foreign body should be promptly recognised and should be removed. We aim to highlight this in this case report. Keywords: Aspiration; teeth; road traffic accident; risk factors; complications
Reformasi Birokrasi Lokal Berbasis Kepulauan di Kecamatan Tanimbar Selatan Ditinjau dari Dimensi Manajemen Tata Kelola Pemerintahan
Authors: Muriany Telly , Ruhunlela Victor S
Published: May 2021

Reformasi birokrasi adalah perubahan besar dan mendasar dalam paradigma dan tata kelola pemerintahan Indonesia. Berbagai gerakan reformasi birokrasi yang dialami negara-negara maju banyak diilhami oleh tekanan masyarakat akan perlunya peningkatan kualitas pelayanan publik yang diberikan pemerintah. Permasalahan birokrasi menarik untuk diperdebatkan dalam konteks administrasi publik di Kecamatan Tanimbar Selatan mengingat outcome birokrasi kurang efektif tercapai di Kecamatan tersebut. Metode Penelitian yang digunakan yaitu penelitian deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan aspek akuntabiltias aparatur dalam pelayanan publik telah diterapkan, namun masih memerlukan pembinaan, peningkatan kemampuan dan mental aparatur. Aspek monitoring dan evaluasi kurang optimal dilakukan terkait dengan mentalitas, budaya dan sifat elitis birokrasi. Penegakan hukum sudah dijalankan, namun tidak optimal membawa dampak pada penegakkan hukum baik berupa substansi kebijakan maupun prosedur. Aspek transparansi pelayanan publik sudah berjalan namun belum maksimal masih perlu ditingkatkan. Kesimpulannya dimensi manajemen dan tata kelola kepemerintahan yang baik belum optimal diterapkan khusus perilaku birokrasi yang cenderung patologis yang sudah melembaga dalam mental aparat birokrasi. Sifat prosedur dan sistem masih dianggap sebagai formalitas yang hanya eksis diatas kertas. Pemaknaan birokrasi masih berada pada kejelasan prosedur, bukan pada keseluruhan konteks governance. Pengawasan dan pengendalian hanya akan dapat terlaksana jika ada kejelasan terhadap indikator evaluasi, padahal ketidakjelasan SOP dan beban kerja sangat tidak memungkinkan menyulitkan proses evaluasi yang terukur. Mentalitas, budaya permakluman dan sifat elitis birokrasi, setidaknya membawa dampak pada penegakkan hukum baik berupa substansi kebijakan mapun prosedur.
Social and physical anhedonia in relation to grandiose and vulnerable narcissism
Authors: Linke-Jankowska Magdalena , Jankowski Konrad S.
Published: May 2021

Background

Narcissism has two different dimensions which differ in terms of social functioning. Grandiose narcissism is associated with higher extraversion, while vulnerable narcissism is associated with greater introversion. Both forms of narcissism present nu-merous forms of social maladjustment. Anhedonia (social and physical) is associated with measures of social maladjustment and is one of the core symptoms of serious mental conditions. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship be-tween social and physical anhedonia and the two forms of narcissism, grandiose and vulnerable.

Participants and procedure

A sample of 339 young adults completed the Polish version of the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, and two subscales of the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales – Short Form: the Revised Social Anhedonia Scale and the Physical Anhedonia Scale.

Results

We found a positive correlation between social anhedonia and vulnerable narcissism, and a negative correlation between social anhedonia and grandiose narcissism. Physical anhedonia was not related to any form of narcissism. Older people and men scored higher on the social anhedonia scale.

Conclusions

Vulnerable narcissistic personality is associated with social deficits, namely social anhedonia. Future research could investigate the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and schizotypy to establish whether vulnerable personality is a risk factor for developing serious mental illnesses.
Strength and balance deficits affecting patient satisfaction with total knee replacements
Authors: Alan Valenzuela Kevin , Elizabeth Schroeder Lauren , Trueblood Weinhandl Joshua , Earl Cates Harold , Zhang Songning
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Patient satisfaction with total knee replacement has been commonly assessed with self-reported surveys. Up to 19% of patients were dissatisfied with total knee replacement outcomes; however, very little is known about their objective physical abilities. Restoring knee strength is crucial for an increase in functional abilities. Improved balance is an essentialmeasure of total knee replacement success. However, it is unknown how dissatisfied patients differ from satisfied ones with respect to strength and balance abilities. The purpose of this study was to examine how knee flexor and extensor strength and balance abilities differed for dissatisfied total knee replacement patients compared with satisfied patients and healthy controls.

Methods

The study involved 9 dissatisfied and 15 satisfied total knee replacement patients and 15 healthy controls. Participants performed isokinetic knee flexion and extension tests at 60°/s and 180°/s using an isokinetic dynamometer. Bilateral and unilateral static and dynamic balance trials employed a Biodex Balance System. Stair ascent/descent tests and a chair rise test served to examine speed of activity.

Results

Dissatisfied patients showed reduced peak extension (180°/s) and flexion (60°/s) torque compared with satisfied patients. No balance differences were evident, although an increased percentage of dissatisfied patients were unable to complete the static and dynamic unilateral balance tests. Stair ascent and descent times and pain levels were increased in the dissatisfied group.

Conclusions

Strength increase may provide a more symmetrical movement pattern and better function. The inability to balance and longer functional test times indicate reduced functional ability and continuous pain.
Stress of COVID-19 and mental health outcomes
in Palestine: the mediating role of well‑being
and resilience
Authors: Veronese Guido , Mahamid Fayez , Bdier Dana , Pancake Rachel
Published: May 2021

Introduction

We tested the association between the stress of COVID-19 and mental distress manifested by anxiety, depression, and stress, and whether well-being and resilience mediate the relationship between the two variables in a population of Palestinian adults. Namely, we hypothesized that stress of COVID-19 will be positively associated with mental health problems (anxiety, depression, and stress); well-being and resilience will be negatively associated with mental health problems (anxiety, depression, and stress); and well-being and resilience will mediate the association between the stress of COVID-19 and mental health problems (anxiety, depression, and stress).

Material and methods

Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, the Resilience Scale for Adults, the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, and the COVID-19 Stress Scales were administered to 860 participants via online survey. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was applied to address the study hypothesis.

Results

Participants recorded a mild level of stress of COVID-19 and high scores for resilience and well-being. A conceptual model depicting COVID‑19 stress as a predictor, mental distress as an outcome variable, and resilience and subjective well-being as mediators was confirmed.

Conclusions

Palestinians are exposed to mental distress in an environment characterized by ongoing stressors. Conversely, the capability of Palestinians to conserve good levels of well-being and resilience protects them from mental distress even in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. On the other hand, COVID-19 can be considered a new critical event demanding and diminishing the people’s resiliency recourses in Palestine. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.
Fear of COVID-19 changes the motivation
for physical activity participation:
Polish-Chinese comparisons
Authors: Wilczyńska Dominika , Li Jianye , Yang Yin , Fan Hongying , Liu Taofeng , Lipowski Mariusz
Published: May 2021

Background

COVID-19 has brought people many negative emotions, such as fear and anxiety about the epidemic. However, when peo-ple in different countries face the COVID-19 epidemic, the impact is also different due to different cultural and sports hab-its. Therefore, this study compares China and Poland’s sports motivations in the face of COVID-19 anxiety to find out the cultural differences behind them.

Participants and procedure

In the study were N = 674 participants (female n = 407, male n = 260, other n = 4). Their average age was M = 29.86, SD = 11.03. There were n = 381 participants in the Chinese sample, and n = 293 in Polish. The scales used for the purpose of the study were the Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives (IPAO) and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS).

Results

The study results showed that the increased level of COVID-19 anxiety changed selected motives for physical activity, and different changes of motives characterized women and men as well as people of different ages. As predicted in the study model, culture was the moderator of the shifts of the selected motives.

Conclusions

The understanding of what motivates individuals to participate in sport seems to have significant value, especially for health practitioners and researchers to design appropriate interventions and programs to increase activity.
Is there any relationship between autism and pineal gland volume?
Authors: F. Görgülü Feride , S. Koç Ayşe
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Abnormalities in melatonin physiology and circadian rhythm are detected in patients with autism. Melatonin is produced predominantly in the pineal gland and the amount of melatonin released is proportional to the pineal gland volume. This study aimed to examine whether the pineal gland volume in children with autism is different from that in healthy children.

Material and methods

Brain magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 120 paediatric patients with autism and 82 control paediatric subjects were examined; pineal parenchymal volume (PPV), pineal cyst rate (PCR), and total pineal gland volume (TPGV) were measured using a multimodality viewer (MMV), but only the TPGVs were measured using a tumour tracking (TT) method. Measurements were taken by 2 separate radiologists.

Results

In patients with autism, the PPV and TPGV according to MMV, and the TPGV according to TT were significantly lower, and the PCR was significantly higher. Moreover, the ratio of PPV to TPGV was significantly lower in the autism patient group. In both groups, the TPGVs were significantly lower in the autism patient group than the controls among all age groups.

Conclusions

Our study was the first to examine TPGVs in detail in paediatric patients with autism using 2 different methods. Low PPV-TPGV and high PCR have been observed in autism. This study also provides comparable reference values for pineal gland size in healthy children or autistic children aged 2-17 years. These results show promising potential for further research to understand the relationship between autism pathogenesis and the pineal gland.
Do the quadriceps and hamstring muscles have an effect on patella stability in trochlear dysplasia?
Authors: Saad Ahmed , Iqbal Aamer , Ehiogu Uzo , James Steven , Botchu Rajesh
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Trochlear dysplasia (TD) is a condition that is characterized by the presence of either a flat or convex trochlear, which impedes the stability of the patellofemoral joint (PFJ). The PFJ function is dependent on many different structures that surround the knee joint. The aim of this study was to analyse all the muscle components around the PFJ and identify whether gross muscle imbalance could contribute to the stability of the patella in TD.

Material and methods

The average cross-sectional area (CSA) and cross-sectional area ratio (CSAR) of each muscle of the thigh region in subtypes of TD was evaluated and compared to normal knee joints. Ninety-eight patients (196 knees in total) were included in the study.

Results

Of the 196 knee joints that were reviewed, 10 cases were found to be normal. In total, 186 cases were positive for TD. The majority consisted of type C. The hamstring muscles showed variable results. The vastus medialis muscle was larger in comparison to the vastus lateralis muscle over all the different TD subtypes; however, no statistical significance was identified. There was a marked statistical significance between the quadriceps and hamstring muscles, especially when comparing this to the normal knees within our cohort.

Conclusions

This study revealed no significant difference in the effect of the thigh muscle CSA on the stability of the PFJ in TD. Further research is required to establish the roles of the different muscles around PFJ in the prevention of TD dislocation.
Metabolic bone changes after intradialytic resistive exercise in regular haemodialysis patients
Authors: Abdelnour Emad , Badr Nagwa , El-Khashab Sahier , Hamdy Elrefaey Basant
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Mineral bone disease is a crucial factor that contributes to mortality and morbidity in haemodialysis patients. Intradialytic resistance exercise training can be valuable in stimulating bone formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic bone changes after intradialytic resistive exercise training in regular haemodialysis patients.

Methods

The study involved 60 patients on regular haemodialysis, aged 20–60 years. The patients were divided into 2 groups: a high parathyroid hormone group (parathyroid hormone over 800 pg/ml) and a low parathyroid hormone group (parathyroid hormone below 200 pg/ml), both groups randomly assigned into study and control groups. They received intradialytic resistive exercise 3 times per week for 3 months. Calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone were evaluated before and after the exercise period.

Results

The training protocol proved to be effective in improving bone metabolism parameters, as there were statistically significant differences in the high parathyroid hormone exercise group. Parathyroid hormone and phosphorus decreased and calcium increased (p = 0.001, p = 0.012, and p = 0.025, respectively). In the low parathyroid hormone exercise group, phosphorus decreased significantly (p = 0.030) and calcium increased, although not significantly (p = 0.111), while parathyroid hormone non-significantly increased in the exercise group (p = 0.770), with a significant increase in the control group (p = 0.007). These results supported the positive effects of intradialytic resistive exercise in improving bone metabolism.

Conclusions

Intradialytic resistive exercise training improves bone metabolism in haemodialysis patients.
Comparison of Functional Movement Screen scores of soccer players and rowers
Authors: Arslan Serdar , Dinç Engin , Yapalı Gökmen , Caner Aksoy Cihan
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is an assessment tool used to determine skeletal asymmetry and dysfunction, especially in sports. The aim of this study was to compare the FMS scores of professional soccer players and rowers.

Methods

A total of 40 male athletes (23 soccer players and 17 rowers) were included. All participants were assessed with FMS. The demographic characteristics, percentages of asymmetry and dysfunctions, as well as total FMS scores of soccer players and rowers were compared.

Results

The mean age was 21.09 ± 2.13 years for the soccer players and 21.12 ± 2.80 years for the rowers. The total FMS score of the rowers was statistically significantly higher than that of the soccer players (p < 0.05). In addition, scores for the motor control, mobility, and reflex stability subcategories of FMS were found to be statistically significantly higher in rowers (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

It is possible to say that rowing athletes have better mobility, reflex stability, and motor control than soccer players. This points out that the movement quality of rowers is higher than that of soccer players.
Determination of isoflavones from soy-milk, masoor and mung dal soups in Bangladeshi postmenopausal women
Authors: Saleh Farzana , Begum Rokeya , Nahar Nilufar , Begum Anjuman Ara , Mosihuzzaman Mohammed , Rashid Mamunar
Published: May 2021

Background: Isoflavones daidzein and genistein generate estrogenic compounds in human without any side-effect. Aims: To measure the determinants of two isoflavones daidzein and genistein in Bangladeshi postmenopausal women consuming soy-milk and soups prepared from mung and masoor dal. Subjects and Methods: Sixteen healthy postmenopausal women (age, mean±SD, 52.5±5.8 years) were included. After an overnight fast, each participant was given freshly-prepared soy-milk (~350-mL) and soups subsequently. Soy-milk and soups were prepared from 100 g powders of soybeans, masoor and mung dal respectively. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected before (baseline) and at an interval of 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 36, and 48 hours after ingestion of milk and soups. Blood samples were centrifuged at 1200 rpm and serum (~2 mL) was immediately frozen at -20°C until analysis. Isoflavones were extracted from the defrosted serum, and the sample was cleaned using solid-phase extraction (SPE C18 Cartridge). Levels of isoflavones, in the serum, were quantified using liquid chromatographic (LC)-PDA analysis. Results: The area under the curve (AUC) of serum genistein in soy-milk, masoor, and mung dal soups, was 0.82 ±0.22, 1.01 ±0.32, and 1.12 ±0.31 µg/mL respectively. A significant (P= 0.03) association was found between the Cmax of serum isoflavones genistein of soy-milk and mung dal soup. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the determinants of isoflavones was found in non-soy foods among Bangladeshi postmenopausal women.

Keywords: Isoflavones, soy-milk, Masoor dal, Mung dal, determinants, Bangladeshi menopausal women.
Photolytically Induced Changes in Composition and Volatility of Biogenic Secondary Organic Aerosol from Nitrate Radical Oxidation during Night-to-day Transition
Authors: Wu Cheng , Bell David , Graham Emelie L. , Haslett Sophie , Riipinen Ilona , Baltensperger Urs , Bertrand Amelie , Giannoukos Stamatios , Schoonbaert Janne , El Haddad Imad , Prevot Andre S. H. , Huang Wei , Mohr Claudia
Published: May 2021

Abstract. Night-time reactions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) and nitrate radicals (NO3) can lead to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (BSOANO3). Here we study the impacts of light exposure on the chemical composition and volatility of BSOANO3 formed in the dark from three precursors (isoprene, α-pinene, and β-caryophyllene) in atmospheric simulation chamber experiments. Our study represents BSOANO3 formation conditions where reactions between peroxy radicals (RO2 + RO2) and between RO2 and NO3 are favored. The emphasis here is on the identification of particle-phase organonitrates (ONs) formed in the dark and their changes during photolytic aging on timescales of ~1 h. Chemical composition of particle-phase compounds was measured with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer with filter inlet for gases and aerosols (FIGAERO-CIMS) and an extractive electrospray ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer (EESI-TOF). Volatility information of BSOANO3 was derived from FIGAERO-CIMS desorption profiles (thermograms) and a volatility tandem differential mobility analyser (VTDMA). During photolytic aging, there was a relatively small change in mass due to evaporation (< 5 % for the isoprene and α-pinene BSOANO3, 12 % for the β-caryophyllene BSOANO3), but we observed significant changes in the chemical composition of the BSOANO3. Overall, 53 %, 45 %, and 62 % of the total mass for the isoprene, α-pinene, and β-caryophyllene BSOANO3 was sensitive to photolytic aging and exhibited decay. The photolabile compounds include both monomers and oligomers. Oligomers can decompose into their monomer units through photolysis of the bonds (e.g. likely O-O) between them. Fragmentation of both oligomers and monomers also happened at other positions, causing the formation of compounds with shorter carbon skeletons. The cleavage of the nitrate functional group from the carbon chain was likely not a main degradation pathway in our experiments. In addition, photolytic degradation of compounds changes their volatility, and can lead to evaporation. We used different methods to assess bulk volatilities and discuss their changes during both dark aging and photolysis in context of the chemical changes we observed. We also reveal large uncertainties in saturation vapor pressure estimated from parameterization for the ON oligomers with multiple nitrate groups. Overall, our results suggest that photolysis causes photodegradation of a substantial fraction of BSOANO3, changes both the chemical composition and the bulk volatility of the particles, and might be a potentially important loss pathway of BSOANO3 during the night-to-day transition.
AEROCOM and AEROSAT AAOD and SSA study – Part 1: Evaluation and intercomparison of satellite measurements
Authors: Schutgens Nick , Dubovik Oleg , Hasekamp Otto , Torres Omar , Jethva Hiren , Leonard Peter J. T. , Litvinov Pavel , Redemann Jens , Shinozuka Yohei , de Leeuw Gerrit , Kinne Stefan , Popp Thomas , Schulz Michael , Stier Philip
Published: May 2021

Abstract. Global measurements of absorbing aerosol optical depth (AAOD) are scarce and mostly provided by the ground network AERONET (AErosol RObotic NETwork). In recent years, several satellite products of AAOD have been developed. This study's primary aim is to establish the usefulness of these datasets for AEROCOM (Aerosol Comparisons between Observations and Models) model evaluation with a focus on the years 2006, 2008 and 2010. The satellite products are super-observations consisting of 1∘×1∘×30 min aggregated retrievals. This study consists of two papers, the current one that deals with the assessment of satellite observations and a second paper (Schutgens et al., 2021) that deals with the evaluation of models using those satellite data. In particular, the current paper details an evaluation with AERONET observations from the sparse AERONET network as well as a global intercomparison of satellite datasets, with a focus on how minimum AOD (aerosol optical depth) thresholds and temporal averaging may improve agreement between satellite observations. All satellite datasets are shown to have reasonable skill for AAOD (three out of four datasets show correlations with AERONET in excess of 0.6) but less skill for SSA (single-scattering albedo; only one out of four datasets shows correlations with AERONET in excess of 0.6). In comparison, satellite AOD shows correlations from 0.72 to 0.88 against the same AERONET dataset. However, we show that performance vs. AERONET and inter-satellite agreements for SSA improve significantly at higher AOD. Temporal averaging also improves agreements between satellite datasets. Nevertheless multi-annual averages still show systematic differences, even at high AOD. In particular, we show that two POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances) products appear to have a systematic SSA difference over land of ∼0.04, independent of AOD. Identifying the cause of this bias offers the possibility of substantially improving current datasets. We also provide evidence that suggests that evaluation with AERONET observations leads to an underestimate of true biases in satellite SSA. In the second part of this study we show that, notwithstanding these biases in satellite AAOD and SSA, the datasets allow meaningful evaluation of AEROCOM models.
Laboratory study of the collection efficiency of submicron aerosol particles by cloud droplets – Part II: Influence of electric charges
Authors: Dépée Alexis , Lemaitre Pascal , Gelain Thomas , Monier Marie , Flossmann Andrea
Published: May 2021

Abstract. A new In-Cloud Aerosol Scavenging Experiment (In-CASE) has been developed to
measure the collection efficiency (CE) of submicron aerosol particles by
cloud droplets. Droplets fall at their terminal velocity through a
1 m high chamber in a laminar flow containing aerosol particles. At
the bottom of the In-CASE chamber, the droplet train is separated from the
aerosol particles flow, and the droplets are collected in an impaction cup,
whereas aerosol particles are deposited on a high-efficiency
particulate air (HEPA) filter. The collected droplets and the filter are then analysed
by fluorescence spectrometry since the aerosol particles are atomised from a
sodium fluorescein salt solution (C20H10Na2O5). In-CASE
fully controls all the parameters which affect the CE – the droplets and
aerosol particles size distributions are monodispersed, the electric charges
of droplets and aerosol particles are known and set, and the relative
humidity is indirectly controlled via the chamber's temperature. This paper
details the In-CASE setup and the dataset of 70 measurements obtained to
study the impact of the electric charges on CE. For this purpose, droplets
and particles charges are controlled through two charging systems developed
in this work – both chargers are detailed below. The droplet charge varies
from -3.0×104±1.4×103 to +9.6×104±4.3×103 elementary charges, while the particle charge ranges from zero
to -90±9 elementary charges depending on the particle radius. A
droplet radius of 48.5±1.1 µm has been considered for four
particle dry radii between 100 and 250 nm while the relative humidity level
during experiments is 95.1±0.2 %. The measurements are then
compared to theoretical models from literature – showing good agreement.
High temporal resolution wet delay gradients estimated from multi-GNSS and microwave radiometer observations
Authors: Ning Tong , Elgered Gunnar
Published: May 2021

Abstract. We have used one year of multi-GNSS observations at the Onsala Space Observatory on the Swedish west coast to estimate the linear horizontal gradients in the wet propagation delay. The estimated gradients are compared to the corresponding ones from a microwave radiometer. We have investigated different temporal resolutions from 5 min to one day. Relative to the GPS-only solution and using an elevation cutoff angle of 10° and a temporal resolution of 5 min the improvement obtained for the solution using GPS, Glonass, and Galileo data is an increase in the correlation coefficient of 11 % for the east gradient and 20 % for the north gradient. Out of all the different GNSS solutions, the highest correlation is obtained for the east gradients and a resolution of 2 h, while the best agreement for the north gradients is obtained for 6 h. The choice of temporal resolution is a compromise between getting a high correlation and the possibility to detect rapid changes in the gradient. Due to the differences in geometry of the observations, gradients which happen suddenly, are either not captured at all or captured but with much less amplitude by the GNSS data. When a weak constraint is applied in the estimation of process, the GNSS data have an improved ability to track large gradients, however, at the cost of increased formal errors.
Heavy rainfall, floods, and flash floods in the context of solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere system
Authors: Prikryl Paul , Rušin Vojto , Prikryl Emil A. , Šťastný Pavel , Turňa Maroš , Zeleňáková Martina
Published: May 2021

Abstract. Heavy rainfall events causing floods and flash floods are examined in the context of solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere system. The superposed epoch (SPE) analyses of solar wind variables have shown a tendency of severe weather to follow arrivals of high-speed streams from solar coronal holes (Prikryl et al., 2018). Precipitation datasets based on rain-gauge and satellite sensor measurements are used to examine the relationship between the solar wind high-speed streams and daily precipitation rates over several mid-latitude regions. The SPE analysis results show an increase in occurrence of high precipitation rates following arrivals of high-speed streams, including recurrence with a periodicity of 27 days. The cross-correlation analysis applied to the SPE averages of the green (Fe XIV, 530.3 nm) corona intensity observed by ground-based coronagraphs, solar wind parameters and daily precipitation rates show correlation peaks at lags spaced by solar rotation period. When the SPE analysis is limited to years around the solar minimum (2008–2009), which was dominated by recurrent coronal holes separated by ~120˚ in heliographic longitude, significant cross-correlation peaks are found at lags spaced by 9 days. These results are further demonstrated by cases of heavy rainfall, floods and flash floods in Europe, Japan, and the U.S., highlighting the role of solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere system in severe weather, mediated by aurorally excited atmospheric gravity waves.