bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in clinical markers observed from pharmacist-managed cardiovascular risk reduction clinics in federally qualified health centers: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Gonzalvo Jasmine D. , Meredith Ashley H. , Pastakia Sonak D. , Peters Michael , Eberle Madilyn , Schmelz Andrew N. , Pence Lauren , Triboletti Jessica S. , Walroth Todd A.
Published: March 2023

Background

Reductions in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) have been associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes and savings in medical expenditures. One public health approach has involved pharmacists within primary care settings. The objective was to assess change in HbA1C from baseline after 3–5 months of follow up in pharmacist-managed cardiovascular risk reduction (CVRR) clinics.

Methods

This retrospective cohort chart review occurred in eight pharmacist-managed CVRR federally qualified health clinics (FQHC) in Indiana, United States. Data were collected from patients seen by a CVRR pharmacist within the timeframe of January 1, 2015 through February 28, 2020. Data collected include: demographic characteristics and clinical markers between baseline and follow-up. HbA1C from baseline after 3 to 5 months was assessed with pared t-tests analysis. Other clinical variables were assessed and additional analysis were performed at 6–8 months. Additional results are reported between 9 months and 36 months of follow up.

Results

The primary outcome evaluation included 445 patients. Over 36 months of evaluation, 3,803 encounters were described. Compared to baseline, HbA1C was reduced by 1.6% (95%CI -1.8, -1.4, p<0.01) after 3–5 months of CVRR care. Reductions in HbA1C persisted at 6–8 months with a reduction of 1.8% ([95%CI -2.0, -1.5] p<0.01). The follow-up losses were 29.5% at 3–5 months and 93.2% at 33–36 months.

Conclusions

Our study augments the existing literature by demonstrating the health improvement of pharmacist-managed CVRR clinics. The great proportion of loss to follow-up is a limitation of this study to be considered. Additional studies exploring the expansion of similar models may amplify the public health impact of pharmacist-managed CVRR services in primary care sites.
Association of lymphopenia and RDW elevation with risk of mortality in acute aortic dissection
Authors: Yu Dan , Chen Peng , Zhang Xueyan , Wang Hongjie , Dhuromsingh Menaka , Wu Jinxiu , Qin Bingyu , Guo Suping , Zhang Baoquan , Li Chunwen , Zeng Hesong
Published: March 2023

Objective

The study aimed to investigate whether lymphopenia and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) elevation are associated with an increased risk of mortality in acute aortic dissection (AAD).

Methods

This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled patients diagnosed with AAD by aortic computed tomographic angiography (CTA) from 2010 to 2021 in five teaching hospitals in central-western China. Cox proportional hazards regression and Kaplan-Meier curves were used in univariable and multivariable models. Clinical outcomes were defined as all-cause in-hospital mortality, while associations were evaluated between lymphopenia, accompanied by an elevated RDW, and risk of mortality.

Results

Of 1903 participants, the median age was 53 (interquartile range [IQR], 46–62) years, and females accounted for 21.9%. Adjusted increased risk of mortality was linearly related to the decreasing lymphocyte percentage (P-non-linearity = 0.942) and increasing RDW (P-non-linearity = 0.612), and per standard deviation (SD) of increment lymphocyte percentage and RDW was associated with the 26% (0.74, 0.64–0.84) decrement and 5% (1.05, 0.95–1.15) increment in hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality, respectively. Importantly, lymphopenia and elevation of RDW exhibited a significant interaction with increasing the risk of AAD mortality (P-value for interaction = 0.037).

Conclusions

Lymphopenia accompanied by the elevation of RDW, which may reflect the immune dysregulation of AAD patients, is associated with an increased risk of mortality. Assessment of immunological biomarkers derived from routine tests may provide novel perspectives for identifying the risk of mortality.
Association of surgeons’ gender with elective surgical lists in the State of Florida is explained by differences in mean operative caseloads
Authors: Dexter Franklin , Epstein Richard H. , Fahy Brenda G.
Published: March 2023

Background

A recent publication reported that at three hospitals within one academic health system, female surgeons received less surgical block time than male surgeons, suggesting potential gender-based bias in operating room scheduling. We examined this observation’s generalizability.

Methods

Our cross-sectional retrospective cohort study of State of Florida administrative data included all 4,176,551 ambulatory procedural encounters and inpatient elective surgical cases performed January 2017 through December 2019 by 8875 surgeons (1830 female) at all 609 non-federal hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. There were 1,509,190 lists of cases (i.e., combinations of the same surgeon, facility, and date). Logistic regression adjusted for covariables of decile of surgeon’s quarterly cases, surgeon’s specialty, quarter, and facility.

Results

Selecting randomly a male and a female surgeons’ quarter, for 66% of selections, the male surgeon performed more cases (P < .0001). Without adjustment for quarterly caseloads, lists comprised one case for 44.2% of male and 54.6% of female surgeons (difference 10.4%, P < .0001). A similar result held for lists with one or two cases (difference 9.1%, P < .0001). However, incorporating quarterly operative caseloads, the direction of the observed difference between male and female surgeons was reversed both for case lists with one (-2.1%, P = .03) or one or two cases (-1.8%, P = .05).

Conclusions

Our results confirm the aforementioned single university health system results but show that the differences between male and female surgeons in their lists were not due to systematic bias in operating room scheduling (e.g., completing three brief elective cases in a week on three different workdays) but in their total case numbers. The finding that surgeons performing lists comprising a single case were more often female than male provides a previously unrecognized reason why operating room managers should help facilitate the workload of surgeons performing only one case on operative (anesthesia) workdays.
An empirical analysis of the impact of Chinese government investment on high-quality economic development——A study based on spatial Dubin model
Authors: Wang Ming , Liu Weiming
Published: March 2023

China’s economy has shifted from the stage of high-speed growth to the stage of high-quality development. This paper selects panel data of 30 provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government and autonomous regions (except Tibet) in mainland China with the time dimension of 2006–2016, selects indicators from five dimensions of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing, uses principal component analysis to construct a system of indicators of high-quality economic development, and uses the spatial Durbin model to empirically the impact of government investment behavior in the three industries on the regional economic high-quality development was studied. The results show that: first, there is a significant positive spatial correlation between China’s economic quality development. Second, government investment in different industries has different effects on the quality development of the economy. Investment in the tertiary industry can boost employment, raise income level, promote economic quality development, and enhance sharing, coordination and innovation; investment in the secondary industry can enhance innovation, but because of the "crowding-out effect", it will reduce openness and sharing, and is not conducive to promoting economic quality development; investment in the primary industry can Investment in the primary industry can significantly improve coordination, but it will reduce innovation, greenness, openness and sharing, which will also have a negative impact on the overall high-quality economic development. Third, there is a significant spatial spillover effect of government investment behavior on regional economic quality development, and the economic quality development of this region will have an impact on neighboring regions. Finally, based on the research results, this paper puts forward countermeasure suggestions for promoting high-quality economic development.
Accurate detection and identification of insects from camera trap images with deep learning
Authors: Bjerge Kim , Alison Jamie , Dyrmann Mads , Frigaard Carsten Eie , Mann Hjalte M. R. , Høye Toke Thomas
Published: March 2023

Reported insect declines have dramatically increased the global demand for standardized insect monitoring data. Image-based monitoring can generate such data cost-efficiently and non-invasively. However, extracting ecological data from images is more challenging for insects than for vertebrates because of their small size and great diversity. Deep learning facilitates fast and accurate insect detection and identification, but the lack of training data for coveted deep learning models is a major obstacle for their application. We present a large annotated image dataset of functionally important insect taxa. The primary dataset consists of 29,960 annotated insects representing nine taxa including bees, hoverflies, butterflies and beetles across more than two million images recorded with ten time-lapse cameras mounted over flowers during the summer of 2019. The insect image dataset was extracted using an iterative approach: First, a preliminary detection model identified candidate insects. Second, candidate insects were manually screened by users of an online citizen science platform. Finally, all annotations were quality checked by experts. We used the dataset to train and compare the performance of selected You Only Look Once (YOLO) deep learning algorithms. We show that these models detect and classify small insects in complex scenes with unprecedented accuracy. The best performing YOLOv5 model consistently identifies nine dominant insect species that play important roles in pollination and pest control across Europe. The model reached an average precision of 92.7% and recall of 93.8% in detection and classification across species. Importantly, when presented with uncommon or unclear insects not seen during training, our model detects 80% of individuals and usually interprets them as closely related species. This is a useful property to (1) detect rare insects for which training data are absent, and (2) generate new training data to correctly identify those insects in future. Our camera system, dataset and deep learning framework show promising results in non-destructive monitoring of insects. Furthermore, resulting data are useful to quantify phenology, abundance, and foraging behaviour of flower-visiting insects. Above all, this dataset represents a critical first benchmark for future development and evaluation of deep learning models for insect detection and identification.
Environmental biotechnologies can make water pollutants part of the path to mitigating climate change
Authors: Rittmann Bruce E.
Published: March 2023

To slow and ultimately reverse global climate change, society needs to replace fossil sources of energy and chemicals with renewable forms. Environmental biotechnologies, which utilize microbial communities that can provide human society with sustainability services, can play key roles towards this goal in two ways that are the focus of this perspective. First, technologies that employ anaerobic microbial communities can produce renewable, carbon-neutral energy by transforming the energy contained in the organic matter in wastewaters to methane gas, hydrogen gas, or organic chemicals used in the chemical industry. High-strength organic wastewaters are common from many facets of our systems of food supply: e.g., animal farms, food processing, uneaten food, and biosolids from sewage treatment. While anaerobic digestion of sewage biosolids is a long-standing method for making renewable methane, new, more-advanced environmental biotechnologies are making energy-generating anaerobic treatment more reliable and cost-effective for treating the wide range of organics-bearing wastewaters and for producing output with greater economic benefit than methane. Second, photovoltaic, wind, battery, and catalytic technologies require large inputs of critical ninerals and materials: e.g., Rare Earth Elements, Platinum Groups Metals, gold, silver, lithium, copper, and nickel. Environmental biotechnologies can create new, renewable sources of the critical materials by recovering them from wastewaters from mining, ore-processing, refining, and recycling operations. When provided with hydrogen gas as an electron donor, anaerobic bacteria in biofilms carry out reduction reactions that lead to the formation of nanoparticles that are retained in the biofilm and can then be harvested to serve as feedstock for the photovoltaic, wind, battery, and catalytic technologies. This perspective describes both ways in which environmental biotechnologies will help society achieves it sustainability goals.
Aporetic Discourse and Protreptic in Plato’s Lysis
Authors: Szaif Jan
Published: March 2023

In the Lysis, Socrates claims to be looking for an account of what kind of quality in another person or object stimulates friendship or love (philia). He goes through a series of proposals, refuting each in turn. In the end, he throws us back to the point from where the arguments started, declaring an aporetic outcome. What is the purpose of this apparently futile and circular inquiry? Most interpreters try to reconstruct a theory of friendship or love from the arguments of this dialogue. Against such a doctrinal reading, this essay defends an “aporetic reading” of the dialogue and connects it to its protreptic function. Starting with a preliminary discussion of what defines an aporetic dialogue and what distinguishes indirect protreptic from explicit protreptic discourse, the essay then analyzes the aporetic method of the Lysis, distinguishing it from aporetic discourse in some of his earlier dialogues. Finally, it analyzes how, and for what kind of audience, the Lysisfunctions as an indirect protreptic. This includes a comparison with the protreptic use of aporetic argumentation in the Euthydemus.
“Cutting Them Down to Size”: Humbling and Protreptic in Plato’s Lysis
Authors: Anderson Trevor , Comstock Reid
Published: March 2023

This article examines the role that humbling plays in Socratic practice. Specifically, we consider how Socrates humbles his interlocutors in order to turn them towards the pursuit of philosophical friendship. We argue against a standard interpretation of humbling in the Lysis, which holds that Socrates humbles Lysis by exposing his own ignorance to him at 210d. Instead, we argue that the humbling occurs not when Lysis is (allegedly) made aware of his own ignorance, but at 222d near the end of the dialogue, when Lysis is made to think that he is not as good a friend as he thought he was. On this reading, Socrates humbles Lysis not by exposing to him his ignorance about theoretical matters but by suggesting to him that he may be not the sort of person he thought he was.
Philia as Fellowship in Plato’s Lysis
Authors: Payne Andrew
Published: March 2023

Socrates in the Lysis discusses philia and the conditions under which two or more people can be said to engage in this relationship. Many commentators take Socrates to be attempting to discover how human beings enter into the relationship of friendship, a relationship characterized by reciprocal affection, altruistic concern and personal intimacy. Other readers of the Lysis see in the dialogue’s investigation of philia a discussion of desire and attraction at the most general level. On this view, philia is one species of the general human desire for good. The present paper develops a third reading of philia. Philia is a type of partnership or fellowship where affection and intimacy are not central features of the relationship. The fellowship involves at least one party who possesses wisdom while other members of the fellowship seek to benefit from wisdom. Thus philia is a characteristically human response to the need for wisdom. The members of such a fellowship share a common desire for a good which gives purpose to their association, and because of their common desire to benefit from this good the members can be described as fellows or partners in the pursuit of this good.
Egoism, Utility, and Friendship in Plato’s Lysis
Authors: Deretić Irina
Published: March 2023

Many scholars consider that Socrates in the Lysis holds that friendship and love are egoistic and utility-based. In this paper, I will argue against those readings of Plato’s Lysis. I will analyze how Socrates treats utility and egoism in the many different kinds of friendship he discusses in the dialogue, from parental love, like-to-like, and unlike-to-unlike relationships, to the accounts of friendship rooted in the human relation to the good and the ways in which we can belong with some other human beings. The upshot of my paper is twofold. I endeavor to prove that some of these relationships, as Plato’s Socrates discusses them, are not egoistic and that Plato represents and valorizes a particular type of friendship having to do with philosophy and philosophical way of life, which is for the sake of another.
Jiménez Sureda, M. (2022). Mariposas, brujas, conjuros, doncellas y caballeros andantes. El miedo en el cine, la arquitectura y otras manifestaciones culturales referidas al Antiguo Régimen, Barcelona: Servei de Publicacions de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Barcelona. 68 pp. ISBN: 978-84-490-9997-7
Authors: González Alerm Pere
Published: March 2023

Ressenya: Jiménez Sureda, M. (2022). Mariposas, brujas, conjuros, doncellas y caballeros andantes. El miedo en el cine, la arquitectura y otras manifestaciones culturales referidas al Antiguo Régimen, Barcelona: Servei de Publicacions de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Barcelona. 68 pp. ISBN: 978-84-490-9997-7
A resiliência da agricultura familiar e das feiras livres
Authors: Andrade Aline Calegari de , Santos Joelma Cristina dos
Published: March 2023

A pandemia da COVID-19 trouxe consequências devastadoras, instalando uma crise mundial sem precedentes. Para o segmento econômico dos agricultores familiares entraves históricos como a falta de políticas públicas mais efetivas, além das dificuldades enfrentadas na comercialização associaram-se durante a pandemia a fatores como a suspensão das feiras livres, fechamento de estabelecimentos alimentícios e interrupção do fornecimento da merenda escolar. Garantir a renda tornou-se um desafio para o pequeno produtor. O objetivo geral deste artigo é compreender os efeitos da pandemia de COVID-19 no cotidiano dos agricultores familiares feirantes do município de Ituiutaba-MG. Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica, além da análise dos decretos publicados pela Prefeitura Municipal de Ituiutaba que surtiram efeito sobre o grupo estudado. Na pesquisa de campo, entrevistou-se 50 agricultores familiares feirantes. Realizou-se ainda duas entrevistas com órgãos ligados à categoria. Constatou-se que 78% dos agricultores entrevistados registraram diminuição do volume de vendas. Isto reforça a necessidade de fomentar novas formas de comercialização para o segmento e sugere a realização de estudos futuros para viabilizá-las.
Sustainable Drainage Technologies Under the Sustainability Tripod Perspective
Authors: Vicente Ana Paula Camargo , Faria Karla Maria Silva , Formiga Klebber Teodomiro Martins
Published: March 2023

The management of drainage and urban rainwater management in Brazil and in the world faces numerous challenges in order to be sustainable. When dealing with sustainability, it is important to relate the aspects: of social, environmental and economic, known as the sustainability tripod. Compensatory urban drainage techniques, through infiltration or detention and increasing the evapotranspiration rate, have the potential to reduce: the amount of rainwater runoff; flow peaks; vulnerability of urban areas to flooding; contamination of water courses. It is important that, even with all these benefits, such technologies are associated with such aspects. In this context, this systematic review article (SR) was developed, which aimed to identify trends in the use of sustainable drainage technologies adopted in Brazil and in the world, relating them to aspects of sustainability. For that, a systematic review (SR) was carried out in which the following were identified: trends in the adoption of technologies for sustainable drainage in the world and in Brazil; and the terms used and related to technologies for sustainable drainage. It was also observed, both in Brazil and in the world, that the approach to the theme begins with the technological aspect involving the implementation, life cycle and maintenance of sustainable technologies and, in sequence, the environmental, economic and social aspects unfold in this order, but which are not done in an integral way. It was possible to characterize an important knowledge gap.
Vulnerability
Authors: Torre Díaz Javier de la
Published: March 2023

Vulnerability is an essential principle in European bioethics, given that it precedes and has priority over other principles. This principle, stated in the Barcelona Declaration, is also specified in the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. This broadens its horizon from a European to a universal level. For these reasons, we need to take time to carefully consider its meaning. For this task, this article offers a summary of the key questions and presents the DNA of vulnerability in eight contexts: cultural, social, institutional, anthropological, emotional, relational, biographical and professional.
A ética na investigação científica
Authors: Loureiro Ricardo , Bernardo Joana , Loureiro Hugo , Oliveira Albertina , Lima Margarida
Published: March 2023

A ética em investigação é uma matéria estudada há várias décadas, dado o interesse no meio académico e científico. Ao realizar-se uma revisão narrativa com o objetivo de conhecer os pressupostos éticos na investigação em doença de Parkinson, refletiu-se também a possibilidade de se interiorizar a perspetiva de Freire no ato de investigar. Uma nova corrente de investigação assente na pedagogia crítica de Freire é simultaneamente refletir acerca dos domínios ontológico, ideológico, político e de identidade cultural descritos ao longo da sua obra, e baseados na consciência ético-crítica.
Constituem-se como requisitos éticos da investigação clínica em doença de Parkinson: (1) – respeito pelos participantes; (2) – avaliação do risco/benefício; (3) – consentimento informado; (4) –adicionar valor; (5) – validade científica; (6) – seleção criteriosa dos participantes; (7) – acesso independente ao estudo. As evidências científicas são consensuais, verificando-se a inclusão destas pessoas num grupo de participantes mais amplo, atendendo à sua condição de vulnerabilidade.
El paradigma de la bioética teológica
Authors: Guillem-Tatay David
Published: March 2023

Una de las características de la bioética es la transición de la Teología Moral a la secularización. Hoy los paradigmas bioéticos son laicos. Esas razones han orillado el modelo bioética teológica. Este artículo trata de retomarlo realizando un análisis sistemático y actualizado acotado a cuatro autores: Gafo, López Azpitarte, Vidal y Elizari. Fundada en la Biblia, la tradición, el magisterio y la reflexión personal, pero con la finalidad de dialogar con otros paradigmas, traduce en lenguaje laico el mensaje evangélico en este contexto aportando seis valores. Hemos profundizado en los valores humanizar y amor. El primero por el riesgo de la falta de humanidad en el futuro de la bioética (transhumanismo, v. gr.). El segundo por las consecuencias en los más desfavorecidos. La bioética teológica, pues, tiene mucho que decir.
Impact of FCGR2A R131H, FCGR3A F158V and FCGR3B NA1/NA2 polymorphisms on response to Fc-containing TNF inhibitors in Tunisian rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Mahmoud Ines , Moalla Myriam , Ben Tekaya Aicha , Bouden Selma , Rouached Leila , Tekaya Rawdha , Saidane Olfa , Gorji Yousr , Elleuch Mohamed , Laatar Ahmed , Hamdi Wafa , Abdelmoula Leila , Sfar Imen
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Single nucleotid polymorphisms (SNPs) of Fc-gamma receptors (FcgRs), by inducing a variation of their affinity to the Fc-region of immunoglobulins, might influence the efficacy of Fc-containing biologics prescribed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our aim was to investigate associations of FCGR2A, FCGR3A and FCGR3B SNPs with TNF-inhibitors (TNFi)’ response in Tunisian RA patients.

Methods

A cross-sectional, observational and analytic multicentric cohort study was conducted in a group of 47 Tunisian RA patients treated with (etanercept [ETA], adalimumab [ADL] and infliximab [IFX]). Treatment outcome was evaluated after 6 months. R131H-FCGR2A, F158V-FCGR3A and NA1/NA2-FCGR3B SNPs were genotyped.

Results

The analytic study including all types of TNFi showed that FCGR3A-F/F low-affinity receptor was associated with a greater decrease of DAS28, while FCGR3B-NA1/NA1 high-affinity receptor was associated with a lower decrease of DAS28 in ADL group. Furthermore, both of high affinity receptors FCGR3B-NA1/NA1 and FCGR3A-V/V were more prevalent in non-responders to ADL, according to EULAR criteria.

Conclusions

Identifying reliable biomarkers of response to biologics in RA is necessary to improve responsiveness, preserve joints’ functions and structure, and reduce treatment’s cost. Our study showed that FCGR3A and FCGR3B polymorphisms might have an impact on TNFis’ response in RA Tunisian patients since bad response was more frequent in homozygous carriers of high affinity alleles FCGR3A-V and FCGR3B-NA1.
Using TRACE to establish the analysis model of Kuosheng nuclear power plant for decommissioning transition phase
Authors: Hsu Wen-Sheng , Yang Jung-Hua , Chen Hsuan-Che , Chen Shao-Wen , Wang Jong-Rong
Published: March 2023

The Unit 1 of Kuosheng nuclear power plant is in the decommissioning transition phase and still has spent fuel in the core of reactor now. The time to reach the TAF (top of active fuel) for water level and reach 600/800 °C for cladding temperature are the key parameters in the safety analysis, these affect that the plant has how much time to handle transients. Therefore, to study the water level and cladding temperature for station blackout (SBO) and loss of coolant accident (LOCA) transients in the decommissioning transition phase, the analysis model of Kuosheng nuclear power plant was established by using TRACE code. To evaluate the effect of the decay heat of spent fuel on the water level and cladding temperature, the sensitivity analysis of decay heat was also performed in this study.
Der digitale Fabrikzwilling
Authors: Burggräf Peter , Adlon Tobias , Schäfer Niklas
Published: March 2023

Nach wie vor hindern vielfältige Herausforderungen Unternehmen an der Umsetzung digitaler Fabrikzwillinge. Zusätzlich muss die Entwicklung von Softwarelösungen auf die industriellen Anforderungen abgestimmt werden. Daher werden in diesem Beitrag die Ergebnisse einer Studie vorgestellt, in der relevante Anwendungsfälle und deren Implementierungsstatus untersucht wurden. Darauf aufbauend wird eine Landkarte erstellt, um die industrielle Etablierung digitaler Fabrikzwillinge voranzutreiben.
Digitalisierung ohne Programmierung
Authors: Vettermann Steven
Published: March 2023

Der Fachkräftemangel und fehlende wirtschaftliche Startimpulse hemmen die Digitalisierung im betrieblichen Umfeld. Einen Ausweg bietet die Nutzung von Low-Code/No-Code-Umgebungen, die es Mitarbeiter:innen ermöglichen, die Steuerung von Anlagen einfach selbst grafisch zu modellieren, zu testen oder auch zu ändern, anstatt sie zu programmieren. Zusätzlich hilft ein Stufenkonzept, um schnell den wirtschaftlichen Nutzen aufzuzeigen. Im Folgenden wird das und eine beispielhafte Umsetzung beschrieben.
Hürden der Digitalisierung in KMU
Authors: Fischer Tobias
Published: March 2023

Digitalisierung ist heute allgegenwärtig. Wo im Privaten bereitwillig neue digitale Tools, Apps und Funktionen genutzt werden, tun sich Unternehmen in der Umsetzung von Digitalisierungsprojekten oft schwer. Dieser Beitrag beleuchtet die Motive für Digitalisierungsvorhaben, ihre Hürden sowie die Auswirkung auf die Arbeitsbelastung von Mitarbeitenden und versucht in der Verknüpfung mit den Grundprinzipien des Kontinuierlichen Verbesserungsprozesses, Handlungsempfehlungen für eine erfolgreiche Umsetzung dieser abzuleiten.
Canada HomeShare: The Canadian Intergenerational Housing Program
Authors: Palumbo Alexandra , Pannozzo Kiara
Published: March 2023

Canada HomeShare is a national intergenerational housing program located throughout Canada ("About," 2022). Within the program, older over-housed adults are paired with under-housed post-secondary students, supporting ageing-in-place for older Canadians while providing students with safe and affordable housing ("About," 2022; National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), n.d.). This program has successfully improved participants' well-being and social cohesion, improving public health outcomes for vulnerable populations while proving to be feasible and sustainable as an expanding national program (Mirza, n.d.; NICE, n.d.).
Determination of Solar Chimney Inlet Temperature by Regression Methods
Authors: Ateş Fatmanur , Aksoy Bekir , Şenol Ramazan , Üçgül İbrahim , Koyun Arif
Published: March 2023

Because the greenhouse gases caused by fossil fuels contribute to global warming, the orientation toward renewable energy sources is increasing rapidly. One of these sources is solar chimneys. The region where a solar chimney is installed is important for its efficiency, and if the energy to be produced from the solar chimney can be determined, comments can be made about the region where it will be installed. In determining the energy to be produced from a solar chimney, the chimney inlet temperature must be known. In this study, it is planned to make an application on a solar chimney in Isparta province. First, a prototype solar chimney was installed on the campus of Süleyman Demirel University (SDU) by the SDU Renewable Energy Resources Research and Application Center. A unique data set was created with input data from sensors in the collector area of the solar chimney and output data from a sensor located at the mouth of the chimney. In this study, the flue inlet temperature values were estimated by using 10 different regression methods, one of which was a model specific to this study. In addition, hyperparameter adjustments of the regression models were made with different optimization methods. With Random Forest- Elastic-Lasso.Net (REL.Net) and ElasticNet architecture among the 10 methods, the chimney inlet temperature was obtained with accuracy rate of approximately 99 %.
Nonsymbolic Numerosity Maps at the Occipitotemporal Cortex Respond to Symbolic Numbers
Authors: Cai Yuxuan , Hofstetter Shir , Dumoulin Serge O.
Published: March 2023

Numerosity, the set size of a group of items, helps guide human and animals' behavior and decisions. Numerosity perception is thought to be a precursor of symbolic numerical cognition. Previously, we uncovered neural populations selectively tuned to numerosities organized in a network of topographic maps in human association cortex. Here we investigate whether these numerosity maps are also involved in the processing of symbolic numbers, using 7T fMRI and a number-detection task. We recruited 7 participants (3 females) and found that the numerosity map at the temporal-occipital cortex (NTO) also responds to symbolic numbers. Furthermore, we found that numerosity-tuned neuronal populations at the NTO map in the left hemisphere are tuned to symbolic numbers. These results reveal different functions of the numerosity maps and support a link between numerosity representation and symbolic number processing in the ventral temporal-occipital cortex.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTHumans and other animals share an intuitive “number sense” to approximately represent numerosity. However, humans possess a unique ability to process number symbols (e.g., Arabic numbers). It has been argued that the human understanding of symbolic numbers is rooted in our ability to numerosity perception. Here we investigate whether numerosity-tuned neuronal populations organized at a network of topographic maps also respond to symbolic numbers. We find one of the maps at the temporal-occipital cortex is involved in symbolic numerical cognition and the neuronal populations are tuned to numbers. These results provide evidence for a link between nonsymbolic numerosity and symbolic number processing.
Female Assembly Members and the Adoption of Women-Friendly Policies in Japanese Local Municipalities
Authors: Yamamoto Hidehiro , Okura Sae
Published: March 2023

In Japan, lags behind both developed and developing countries in women’s political participation, the number of female assembly members is rising. However, it is unclear whether this increase has led to the adoption of more women-friendly policies. Therefore, this study empirically investigates the association between the two, focusing on local municipalities. We conducted a questionnaire survey of municipalities nationwide and found that more policies related to work–life balance were adopted when there were female assembly members than when there were not. And where more than 25% of the assembly members were women, policies on social and political participation and support for the socially vulnerable were stronger. Thus we find that in Japan’s municipal assemblies a higher proportion of female members makes the introduction of women-friendly policies more likely.
A pronounced improvement of the kappa number reduction and pulp properties associated with the use of extracellular enzymes secreted by selected fungal strains
Authors: Afrida Sitompul , Watanabe Toshihiro , Tamai Yutaka
Published: March 2023

A combination of extracellular enzymes secreted by Irpex lacteus KB-1.1 and Lentinus tigrinus LP-7 showed promising results in the reduction of kappa number of Acacia oxygen-delignified kraft pulp (A-OKP) in previous studies. However, the observed Kappa number reduction was low, and the bleaching process required further optimization. In the current study, the A-OKP was treated with a combination of extracellular enzymes of I. lacteus and L. tigrinus, with a subsequent alkaline peroxide extraction, which significantly improved the Kappa number reduction. The maximum achieved Kappa number reduction was 26%. The effects of static incubation and sterilization of the extracellular enzymes on biobleaching process were evaluated. Compared with a static biobleaching, biobleaching with shaking shortened the required incubation time required from 3 to 1 d. The utility of extracellular enzymes was tested with and without sterilization; no significant differences in Kappa number reduction, brightness, and physical properties of the pulp were observed. The physical properties of all pulp samples were improved following the enzymatic treatment. Furthermore, a low-cost medium containing wood powder supplemented with rice bran and palm sugar (WRBP) was used for the production of enzymes for biobleaching of A-OKP.
Preparation and properties of new plywood composites made from surface modified veneers and polyvinyl chloride films
Authors: Song Wei , Wei Wenbang , Wang Dandan , Zhang Shuangbao
Published: March 2023

To reduce the formaldehyde emissions of plywood used in furniture and interior decorations, new plywood composites made from surface modified veneers and polyvinyl chloride films were developed. These films were used as formaldehyde-free adhesives, and the veneer surfaces were modified with 3-aminopropyl(triethoxy)silane to enhance the compatibility with the films. Hot-pressing of composites was optimized using a response surface methodology. The effects of 3-aminopropyl(triethoxy)silane modification on various properties of veneers and composites were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, contact angle, physico-mechanical, scanning electron microscope, dynamic mechanical, and thermogravimetric analyses. The optimum hot-pressing process for the composites was 183 °C (temperature), 74 s/mm (duration), and 312.5 g/m2 (adhesive). The modification with 3-aminopropyl(triethoxy)silane enhanced the hydrophobicity of veneer surfaces and improved the interfacial adhesion and physico-mechanical properties of composites. Adding 3% 3-aminopropyl(triethoxy)silane resulted in approximately 40% of decrease in water adsorption of composites and 30% increase in wet shear strength. The 3-aminopropyl(triethoxy)silane modification also improved the thermal stability of composites. The physico-mechanical properties of both the unmodified and modified composites met the requirements in Chinese national standard GB/T 9846 (2015) for the water-resistant plywood, indicating the potential of proposed composites as new building materials.
Effect of CaCO3 and/or polyaluminium chloride (PAC) treatment on the main components in prehydrolysis liquor of Whangee dissolving pulp
Authors: Tong Ruiping , Wu Chaojun , Zhao Chuanshan , Yu Dongmei
Published: March 2023

Lignin removal is essential for the value-added utilization of hemicelluloses in the prehydrolysis liquor (PHL) of a kraft-based Whangee (a genus of bamboo) dissolving pulp production. In this work, a novel process concept was proposed for a calcium carbonate (CaCO3) treatment of PHL. The results revealed that the optimum dosage of an individual system of CaCO3 and polyaluminium chloride (PAC) treatment was 1.7% and 16.0%, at which the total sugars retention was 95.7% and 94.4%, the acid-soluble lignin removal 6.09% and 9.29%, and the acid-soluble lignin selectivity 58.6% and 62.4%, respectively. Alternatively, CaCO3 and 16.0% PAC were employed in a dual system to remove the lignin. Dual vs. individual system results showed that the highest total sugars retention (97.3%) and acid-soluble lignin selectivity (77.5%) occurred at the optimum dosage (2.0%/16.0%) of a dual CaCO3/PAC system, and the highest mannose (84.2%) and glucose retention (96.5%) with a dual system of 1.0%/16.0% CaCO3/PAC. Additionally, in the dual system, the adding order of 1.0% CaCO3 and then 16.0% PAC showed that 1.0%/16.0% CaCO3/PAC was more effective than 16.0%/1.0% PAC/CaCO3.
Pragmatic mathematical models of wet pressing in papermaking
Authors: McDonald J. David , Kerekes Richard J.
Published: March 2023

This paper compares mathematical models developed over the years to estimate the moisture content of paper after wet pressing on paper machines. Models that assume all loading pressure to act upon water are discussed in detail. In contrast, most conventional models assume that pressure splits between a hydraulic component causing water removal and a structural component supported by the fibres. This assumption is shown to be questionable in light of theoretical considerations and experimental evidence. Despite their simpler nature, models based on hydraulic forces alone are often better able to account for experimental observations. The Decreasing Permeability (DP) model is the most complete model of this form and includes all major variables affecting pressing on paper machines, thereby enabling evaluation of key factors such as the relative importance of dewatering under flow-controlled and pressure-controlled conditions together with rewetting.
Mummucina huaripampae sp. nov. (Solifugae: Mummuciidae), una nueva especie de solífugo de los Andes centrales del Perú
Authors: Cossios Daniel
Published: March 2023

Una nueva especie de Mummuciidae, Mummucina huaripampae sp. nov. colectada en Huaripampa, entre 3352 y 3568 m de altitud en el departamento de Junín, en el Perú central, es descrita e ilustrada. Esta es la primera especie de Mummucina registrada para Junín y la cuarta para Perú. Con esta descripción, el número de especies conocidas de Mummucina asciende a siete.
Tyconius Afer. Commentary on the Apocalypse (Rev 6)
Authors: Materova Elizaveta , Nyebolszin Antal Gergely
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a translation of the commentary of donatist theologian Tyconius on the sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation with introduction and commentary. The text of this work was not saved completely, but has recently been reconstructed on the basis of numerous quotations in works of later authors. The Commentary is of great interest because of its original ecclesiological ideas. Its influence on the later Latin tradition of interpretation of the Apocalypse was enormous. The work is translated into Russian for the first time. This paper presents a translation of the commentary of donatist theologian Tyconius on the sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation with introduction and commentary. The text of this work was not saved completely, but has recently been reconstructed on the basis of numerous quotations in works of later authors. The Commentary is of great interest because of its original ecclesiological ideas. Its influence on the later Latin tradition of interpretation of the Apocalypse was enormous. The work is translated into Russian for the first time. This paper presents a translation of the commentary of donatist theologian Tyconius on the sixth chapter of the Book of Revelation with introduction and commentary. The text of this work was not saved completely, but has recently been reconstructed on the basis of numerous quotations in works of later authors. The Commentary is of great interest because of its original ecclesiological ideas. Its influence on the later Latin tradition of interpretation of the Apocalypse was enormous. The work is translated into Russian for the first time.
The Asymmetric Effect of Exchange Rate on the Household Consumption Expenditures
Authors: Gohar Raheel , Chang Bisharat Hussain , Uche Emmanuel , Memon Pervez Ahmed , Bhatty Kashif
Published: March 2023

Previous literature on the exchange rate and household consumption failed to examine the effect of positive and negative changes in the exchange rate on household consumption expenditures. We extended the available literature by investigating the asymmetric impacts in African emerging economies (AEE). To attain this aim, we utilized the nonlinear ARDL model, which covers both negative and positive shocks in the exchange rate. Our results indicate that movements in the exchange rate have asymmetric impacts on household consumption in all the included emerging economies, excluding Nigeria. Our findings propose recommendations for the policymakers to ensure the alignment of the optimal exchange rate for countries of emerging African economies and propose relevant policies for the countries.JEL Classification: D12, D60, I30How to Cite:Gohar, R., Chang, B. H., Uche, E., & Bhatty, K. (2023). The Asymmetric Effect of Exchange Rate on the Household Consumption Expenditures. Etikonomi, 22(1), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v22i1.23428.
Mediating role of Environmental Education for Sustainable Supply chain Performance: Empirical Evidence from Chemical Companies of Pakistan
Authors: Junejo Ikramuddin , Qureshi Fiza , Khan Muhammad Ali
Published: March 2023

Previous studies have been conducted in developed countries, and only a few are conducted in developing countries. Furthermore, a contribution of this is that the mediating role of environmental education is considered in the present study. This study aimed to identify the mediating role of environmental education between internal environmental management, supplier selection, and green packaging on sustainable supply chain performance in Pakistan. A total of 250 chemical companies filled out the questionnaire. The findings of this study revealed a partial mediation effect of environmental education for internal environmental management, supplier selection, and green packaging in sustainable supply chain performance in Pakistan. However, the supplier selection results are more critical compared to internal environment management and green packaging due to the higher beta value. This study proposed a pivotal variable to achieve a sustainable supply chain in developing countries such as Pakistan.JEL Classification: Q01, Q51, Q54, Q56How to Cite:Junejo, I., Qureshi, F., & Khan, M. A. (2023). Mediating role of Environmental Education for Sustainable Supply Chain Performance: Empirical Evidence from Chemical Companies of Pakistan. Etikonomi, 22(1), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.15408/etk.v22i1.27139.
EFFICIENT DESIGN OF AIRCRAFT BRACKET USING TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION AND ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Lipovskyi Volodymyr Ivanovich , Shynkaruk Vladyslav Ivanovich
Published: March 2023

The design of an aircraft must always meet opposite criteria. On the one hand, the structure must be strong, rigid, stable and at the same time to have the least weight. The design requirements listed above in modern conditions must be complemented by the requirement of safety increasement of the crew in case of emergency. One of the possible solutions for ensuring safety is creation of structures capable of accumulating impact energy during an emergency landing of an aircraft. Additive technologies have fewer restrictions on the complexity of shape geometry than traditional ones. Modern methods of topological optimization make it possible to determine the direction of power flows in a structure. Based on this data, the optimal design is determined to take into account the requirements of working capacity and minimum weight. The combination of new technologies with topological optimization techniques allows to design parts more efficiently. The article discusses various options of using different approaches of material distribution in a given volume of a part. Topological optimization was performed using the variable density algorithm. This method is used to create a solid and lattice structure of a bracket for wing to fuselage joint of the ATR-42-300 aircraft. A comparison was made between the original bracket, the bracket with a solid structure and lattice structure obtained as a result of topology optimization method. The optimized design options are determined under the requirements of strength and minimum weight in working conditions. The estimation of the energy absorption by the bracket for all three variants of structures under the conditions of an emergency landing was carried out. For the first time, a comparison of the results of topological optimization for a lattice structure and solid structure model of material distribution was performed. The comparison of all options with each other showed that lattice structure is the best design. This type of structure allows to reduce the weight of the original structure by up to 60%. In addition to reducing weight, these structures increase the safety of the crew in case of emergency by increasing energy absorption on impact.