bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CMR findings after COVID-19 and after COVID-19-vaccination—same but different?
Authors: Doeblin Patrick , Jahnke Constantin , Schneider Matthias , Al-Tabatabaee Sarah , Goetze Collin , Weiss Karl J. , Tanacli Radu , Faragli Alessandro , Witt Undine , Stehning Christian , Seidel Franziska , Elsanhoury Ahmed , Kühne Titus , Tschöpe Carsten , Pieske Burkert , Kelle Sebastian
Published: May 2022

Cardiac involvement has been described in varying proportions of patients recovered from COVID-19 and proposed as a potential cause of prolonged symptoms, often described as post-COVID or long COVID syndrome. Recently, cardiac complications have been reported from COVID-19 vaccines as well. We aimed to compare CMR-findings in patients with clinical cardiac symptoms after COVID-19 and after vaccination. From May 2020 to May 2021, we included 104 patients with suspected cardiac involvement after COVID-19 who received a clinically indicated cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examination at a high-volume center. The mean time from first positive PCR to CMR was 112  ± 76 days. During their COVID-19 disease, 21% of patients required hospitalization, 17% supplemental oxygen and 7% mechanical ventilation. In 34 (32.7%) of patients, CMR provided a clinically relevant diagnosis: Isolated pericarditis in 10 (9.6%), %), acute myocarditis (both LLC) in 7 (6.7%), possible myocarditis (one LLC) in 5 (4.8%), ischemia in 4 (3.8%), recent infarction in 2 (1.9%), old infarction in 4 (3.8%), dilated cardiomyopathy in 3 (2.9%), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2 (1.9%), aortic stenosis, pleural tumor and mitral valve prolapse each in 1 (1.0%). Between May 2021 and August 2021, we examined an additional 27 patients with suspected cardiac disease after COVID-19 vaccination. Of these, CMR provided at least one diagnosis in 22 (81.5%): Isolated pericarditis in 4 (14.8%), acute myocarditis in 9 (33.3%), possible myocarditis (acute or subsided) in 6 (22.2%), ischemia in 3 (37.5% out of 8 patients with stress test), isolated pericardial effusion (> 10 mm) and non-compaction-cardiomyopathy each in 1 (3.7%). The number of myocarditis diagnoses after COVID-19 was highly dependent on the stringency of the myocarditis criteria applied. When including only cases of matching edema and LGE and excluding findings in the right ventricular insertion site, the number of cases dropped from 7 to 2 while the number of cases after COVID-19 vaccination remained unchanged at 9. While myocarditis is an overall rare side effect after COVID-19 vaccination, it is currently the leading cause of myocarditis in our institution due to the large number of vaccinations applied over the last months. Contrary to myocarditis after vaccination, LGE and edema in myocarditis after COVID-19 often did not match or were confined to the RV-insertion site. Whether these cases truly represent myocarditis or a different pathological entity is to be determined in further studies.
The Idea of a Pseudo-Problem in Mach, Hertz, and Boltzmann
Authors: Preston John
Published: May 2022

Identifications, diagnoses, and treatments of pseudo-problems form a family of classic methodologies in later nineteenth century philosophy and at least partly, I shall argue, in the philosophy of science. They were devised, not by academic philosophers, but by three of the greatest philosopher-scientists. Here I show how Ernst Mach, Heinrich Hertz and Ludwig Boltzmann each deployed methods of this general kind, how they identified different pseudo-problems, gave different diagnoses of such problems, and suggested quite different treatments for them. I argue that it was Mach who really first developed the idea of a pseudo-problem, that he did so in a relatively focussed way on the basis of two kinds of examples. Hertz’s contribution was much more limited, identifying two specific pseudo-problems concerning physics, and suggesting a way in which they might be treated. Boltzmann’s conception of pseudo-problems, though, was far less focussed, being applied to a very wide range of problems in philosophy and physics. However, his conception was certainly more influential, and perhaps ultimately more fruitful and suggestive. I argue for the originality and continuing interest of such approaches, and I try to dissociate them from any problematic ‘positivism’.
A note on quadratic Poisson brackets on $$\mathrm {gl}(n,{\mathbb {R}})$$ related to Toda lattices
Authors: Fehér L. , Juhász B.
Published: May 2022

It is well known that the compatible linear and quadratic Poisson brackets of the full symmetric and of the standard open Toda lattices are restrictions of linear and quadratic r-matrix Poisson brackets on the associative algebra $$\mathrm {gl}(n,{\mathbb {R}})$$

gl
(
n
,
R
)

. We here show that the quadratic bracket on $$\mathrm {gl}(n,{\mathbb {R}})$$

gl
(
n
,
R
)

, corresponding to the r-matrix defined by the splitting of $$\mathrm {gl}(n,{\mathbb {R}})$$

gl
(
n
,
R
)

into the direct sum of the upper triangular and orthogonal Lie subalgebras, descends by Poisson reduction from a quadratic Poisson structure on the cotangent bundle $$T^* \mathrm {GL}(n,{\mathbb {R}})$$

T
∗

GL

(
n
,
R
)

. This complements the interpretation of the linear r-matrix bracket as a reduction of the canonical Poisson bracket of the cotangent bundle.
A defense of surgical procedures regulation
Authors: Andreoletti Mattia , Bina Federico
Published: May 2022

Since the advent of drug regulation in 1962, regulatory agencies have been in the practice of using strict standards to test the safety and efficacy of medical treatments and products. Regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, demand two full-fledged Randomized Clinical Trials demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of drugs to grant its marketing authorization. On the contrary, surgical treatments are left completely unregulated. There are several reasons explaining this difference, and all of them point to the difficulty of conducting well-designed RCTs in surgery. However, we argue that none of these arguments is decisive and that, under certain conditions, surgical RCTs can be morally justified and methodologically sound. Although ethical constraints restrict the number of testable surgical procedures, and surgical trials might not be as dependable as pharmaceutical RCTs, our analysis suggests that, in certain cases, it is possible to obtain high-quality evidence about the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures. Untested surgical treatments may prove to be ineffective and harm patients. Therefore, regulation of surgical procedures seems not only morally acceptable and able to provide reliable scientific evidence, but also desirable and justified from an ethical-political standpoint.
Parameter estimation of an ion-exchange process based on a pseudo probability measure
Authors: Roth Jan-Philipp , Kühler Thomas , Griese Elmar
Published: May 2022

The manufacturing of integrated optical waveguide components can be complex if the design space is highly multivariate or constraints introduced by the process itself are not well-known. Numerical simulation helps to create a basic understanding of the process and the resulting components with their features but is costly with respect to time and hardware resources. The estimation approach in this work introduces a precise, numerically robust and controllable method without any black boxes to estimate the input parameters of the manufacturing ion-exchange process. Therefore, small number of simulation samples is used to determine basic dependencies of desired waveguide component features on the input parameters. A pseudo probability measure is then used to estimate the combination of process parameters that is most likely to result in the required features. The feature data is detached from the sample size of the simulation data with a multidimensional curve fit in order to debloat the estimation model. The implications of the estimation are wide-ranged and not restricted to the physics of the ion-exchange process, i.e. easy to be abstracted to other models. The estimation enables parameter subspace optimization or clustering of solution. Model benchmarks show a very high estimation rate for all types of considered applications.
Merit Sticks to Men: Gender Pay Gaps and (In)equality at UK Russell Group Universities
Authors: Woodhams Carol , Trojanowski Grzegorz , Wilkinson Krystal
Published: May 2022

Academic studies of gender pay gaps within higher education institutions have consistently found pay differences. However, theory on how organisation-level factors contribute to pay gaps is underdeveloped. Using a framework of relational inequalities and advanced quantitative analysis, this paper makes a case that gender pay gaps are based on organisation-level interpretations and associated management practices to reward ‘merit’ that perpetuate inequalities. Payroll data of academic staff within two UK Russell Group universities (N = 1,998 and 1,789) with seeming best-practice formal pay systems are analysed to determine causes of gender pay gaps. We find marked similarities between universities. Most of the variability is attributed to factors of job segregation and human capital, however we also delineate a set of demographic characteristics that, when combined, are highly rewarded without explanation. Based on our analysis of the recognition of ‘merit,’ we extend theoretical explanations of gender pay gap causes to incorporate organisation-level practices.
Can thought experiments solve problems of personal identity?
Authors: Meier Lukas J.
Published: May 2022

Good physical experiments conform to the basic methodological standards of experimental design: they are objective, reliable, and valid. But is this also true of thought experiments? Especially problems of personal identity have engendered hypothetical scenarios that are very distant from the actual world. These imagined situations have been conspicuously ineffective at resolving conflicting intuitions and deciding between the different accounts of personal identity. Using prominent examples from the literature, I argue that this is due to many of these thought experiments not adhering to the methodological standards that guide experimental design in nearly all other disciplines. I also show how empirically unwarranted background assumptions about human physiology render some of the hypothetical scenarios that are employed in the debate about personal identity highly misleading.
Localizations of a Ring at Localizable Sets, their Groups of Units and Saturations
Authors: Bavula V. V.
Published: May 2022

We continue to develop the most general theory of one-sided fractions started in Bavula (Localizable sets and the localization of a ring at a localizable set. arXiv:2112.13447). The aim of the paper is to introduce 10 types of saturations of a set in a ring and using them to study localizations of a ring at localizable sets, their groups of units and various maximal localizable sets satisfying some natural conditions. The results are obtained for denominator sets (the classical situation), Ore sets and localizable sets.
Clinical-Pathological Evaluation and Prognostic Analysis of 228 Merkel Cell Carcinomas Focusing on Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes, MCPYV Infection and ALK Expression
Authors: Santoro Federica , Maletta Francesca , Parente Renato , Fissore Jessica , Tampieri Cristian , Santoro Leonardo , Birocco Nadia , Picciotto Franco , Quaglino Pietro , Volante Marco , Asioli Sofia , Senetta Rebecca , Papotti Mauro
Published: May 2022

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, whose pathogenesis can be traced back to UV radiation damage or Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection. Despite some improvements on the characterization of the disease partly due to its increased incidence, crucial pathogenetic and prognostic factors still need to be refined. A consecutive series of 228 MCC from three hospitals in Turin was collected with the aim of both analyzing the apparent increase in MCC incidence in our area and investigating the distribution and prognostic role of clinical-pathological parameters, with a focus on MCPyV status, ALK tumor expression and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Review of morphology and conventional immunohistochemical staining was possible in 191 cases. In 50 cases, the expression of the novel neuroendocrine marker INSM1 was additionally assessed. Fourteen cases of MCC of unknown primary skin lesion were identified and separately analyzed. While confirming an exponential trend in MCC incidence in the last decades and providing a description of histological and cytological features of a large series of MCC, the present study concludes that 1) INSM1 is a highly sensitive marker in both skin and lymph node primary MCC; 2) positive MCPyV status, brisk TILs and lower tumor size and thickness are independent positive prognostic parameters, and the combination of the former two may provide a novel tool for prognostic stratification; 3) ALK is expressed 87% of MCC and associated with positive viral status, and could represent a prognostic biomarker, if validated in larger series.
Sozialarbeit und Justiz im Schnittfeld von Jugendkriminalität
Authors: Schweitzer Helmuth , Weber Sascha
Published: May 2022

Grundsätzlich fehlt eine Landkarte des Interaktionsfeldes von Sozialer Arbeit und Rechtspflege/Sicherheitsorganen, die sowohl die persönlichen Interaktionen als auch die Kommunikation der Organisationen insgesamt verständlich macht. Als Einführung in den Themenschwerpunkt beleuchtet der Beitrag Ebenen, Berührungspunkte und Grenzen dieser Akteure der Sicherung zentraler gesellschaftlich ausgehandelter Normalisierungskonstruktionen und -prozesse in einem demokratischen Rechts – und Wohlfahrtsstaat bezogen auf die Schwierigkeiten einer koordinierten Umsetzung des Erziehungsgedankens im Jugendgerichtsverfahren.
A similarity-guided segmentation model for garbage detection under road scene
Authors: Zheng Caiyun , Cao Danhua , Hu Cheng
Published: May 2022

The development of computer vision technology provides a possible path for realizing intelligent control of road sweepers to reduce energy waste in urban street cleaning work. For garbage segmentation of seven categories under road scene, we introduce an efficient deep-learning-based method. Our model follows a lightweight structure with a feature pyramid attention (FPA) module employed in the decoder to enhance feature integration at multi-levels. Besides, a similarity guidance (SG) module is added to the decoder branches, which calculates the cosine distance between learned prototypes and feature maps to guide the segmentation results from a metric learning perspective. Our model has less than 3 M parameters and can run at over 65 FPS in an RTX 2070 GPU. Experimental results demonstrate that our method can yield competitive results in terms of speed and accuracy trade-off, with overall mean intersection-over-union (mIoU) reaching 0.87 and 0.67, respectively, on two garbage data sets we built. Besides, our model can perform acceptable category-balanced segmentation from less than 20 annotated images per category by introducing the SG module.

Graphical Abstract
Significant Occurrences of REE in Tertiary Sequence of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India
Authors: Umrao Ravi Kumar , Sardar Subrata Kumar
Published: May 2022

Considering the importance of REE resources, that are used in several high-technology areas, the present study aims to assess the potentiality of REE in the sedimentary sequence of Shella and Kopili formations (350m and 60m respectively) in East Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya. A well-developed sedimentary sequence of Shella and Kopili formations of Jaintia Group, middle to upper Eocene age, are exposed in Jaintia Hills. The semi-quantitative (SEM-EDX) analysis of black shale and carbonaceous shale indicate the presence of monazite and xenotime phases. The REE+Y concentration ranges from 77.1 to 1168.7 ppm (avg. 295 ppm). The LREEs (La-Eu) ranges from 55 to 782 ppm (avg. 211.3 ppm), whereas HREEs (Gd-Lu+Y) ranges from 18.8 to 385.9 ppm (avg. 83.7 ppm). Nd ranges from 15.8 to 229.3 ppm (avg. 66.1 ppm). The REE+Y concentration in black shale yields 1168.7 ppm. Further, REE in two coal samples yields 111.6 and 63.2 ppm. REE shows a strong positive correlation with Zr, Y, U and Th, weak positive correlation with V and weak negative correlation with Sc. The REE concentrations in coal samples are relatively higher than previously reported REE concentrations and are comparable with worldwide average values of REE. The REE concentrations in black shale and coal are significant for further exploration.
Style of Fractional Crystallization in Basalts from the Paleoarchean Western Iron Ore Group of Singhbhum Craton, Eastern India: Implications from One Atmosphere Experimental Studies
Authors: Mahapatra Rasmi Ranjan , Mukherjee Priyanka , Paul Madhuparna , Chakraborti Subrata , Ray Jyotisankar , Ganguly Sohini , Koeberl Christian , Manikyamba C. , Sarkar Sonia
Published: May 2022

One atmosphere experimental study on fresh basaltic rocks of Paleoarchean western Iron Ore Group (IOG) basin of Singhbhum Craton, Eastern India gives insight of the crystallization behavior of the parent magma, liquid lines of descent and appearance of the different constituent phases. The natural starting material is sufficiently ferroan (FeOt: 14.28 wt%) and corresponds to ‘ferro-basalt’. Regarding the experimental run products, clinopyroxene shows Al2O3 rich character (ranging from 2.23 – 6.94 wt%; formed due to fluctuating silica activities in the magma) while plagioclase reveals typical Fe-Mg enrichment (that corresponds to higher KdFe-Mg between plagioclase and the parent liquid caused due to immiscible silicate melt inclusion in plagioclase where Mg enters more readily in plagioclase than Fe). The run-product glass corresponds to both high and low iron contents suggesting liquid immiscibility in the parent magma at particular temperature-domains. This study suggests that the crystallization of the western Iron Ore Group basalts represents a broad ‘Skaergaard analogue’ involving depression/shift of eutectic point in the diopside-anorthite system during crystallization.
REE–HFSE–rich, Titanite-bearing Syenite - Pyroxenite Intrusive Suite from the Chilka Lake Domain of the Northeastern Eastern Ghats Belt
Authors: Bhattacharjee Mousumi , Tripathy Asutosh Kumar , Nanda Jayanta Kumar , Sreenivas R.
Published: May 2022

A suite of REE - HFSE - rich syenite and associated clinopyroxenite hosted in charnockitic orthogneisses of the northeastern part of the Eastern Ghats province, south of the Mahanadi shear zone has been recorded for the first time. The mode of emplacement, petrography, mineralogy, chemistry and economic significance in terms of the REE and HFS elements of this magmatic suite of intrusive rocks are presented and discussed.

The coarse grained syenite, composed mainly of Ba-bearing (with up to 8 wt% BaO) K-feldspar (hyalophane), and accessory greenish clinopyroxene is the main rock type of this magmatic unit. Associated segregations of clinopyroxene cumulates has formed a greenish grey coarse-grained pyroxenite. Sporadic concentration of sphene (titanite) in irregular patches in the syenite is also observed which displays high radioactivity. Sphene along with allanite, thorite, monazite and other REE bearing phases are characterized by high abundance of total-REE and HFSE. The syenite and pyroxenite do not exhibit features of discernible post-emplacement deformation and metamorphism and may represent a late-tectonic event of ferroan-felsic magmatism in the Chilka lake domain of the northeastern Eastern Ghats belt.
Vulnerability Assessment of Groundwater in Industrialized Tiruppur Area of South India using GIS-based DRASTIC model
Authors: Sivakumar Vivek , Sashik kumar M.C. , Natarajan Logesh , Roy Priyadarsi D. , Chokkalingam Lakshumanan
Published: May 2022

Identification of groundwater vulnerability is important in the utilization and protection of groundwater resources. The present study assessed vulnerability of the Tiruppur taluk of Tamil Nadu state in south India where the groundwater is increasingly polluted from industrialization (textile) and over population. Mitigation of this threat demanded a careful water resource management and thorough groundwater susceptibility assessment with the help of vulnerability map in DRASTIC index model and weighted overlay analysis method in GIS from the evaluation of depth to water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of the vadose zone, and hydraulic conductivity. The drastic index map of this study classified the area into very low, low, medium, high and very high vulnerability and demarcated the areas of Mangalam, Mudalipalaiyam, Veerapandi, Peruntoluvu, Kettanur and Avanashipalaiyam as high and very highly vulnerable. Sensitivity analysis showed very low index for depth to water table (68 %), net recharge (79 %) and impact of vadose zone (75 %), indicating their higher influence on vulnerability. This vulnerability map might serve as a starting point for improving the management and planning of groundwater in this area.
Tribological performance of iron- and nickel-base self-lubricating claddings containing metal sulfides at high temperature
Authors: Torres Hector , Caykara Tugce , Hardell Jens , Nurminen Janne , Prakash Braham , Rodríguez Ripoll Manel
Published: May 2022

Iron-based coatings with the incorporation of solid lubricants have been prepared by means of laser cladding, in an effort to control friction and decrease tool wear at high temperatures during metal forming applications. The choice of a Fe-based powder has been considered advantageous, as it can lead to decreased costs compared to nickel-based claddings previously studied by the authors, in addition to having a lower environmental impact. In particular, the incorporation of transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 as precursors leads to the encapsulation of silver in Fe-based self-lubricating claddings, resulting in a uniform distribution of the soft metal across the thickness of the coating. Subsequent tribological evaluation of the claddings at high temperatures shows that the addition of lubricious compounds leads to lower friction at room temperature and significantly decreased wear up to 600 °C compared to the unmodified iron-based reference alloy, although higher than similar self-lubricating Ni-based claddings. In order to cast light into these observed differences, the corresponding microstructures, phase composition, and self-lubricating mechanisms have been studied and compared for Fe- and Ni-based claddings having both of them the addition of silver and MoS2. The results suggest a key role of the formation of protective tribolayers on the counter body during high temperature sliding contact. Additional simulation of the phase evolution during solidification reveals that the formation of different chromium- and nickel-based metal sulfides in Fe- and Ni-claddings during laser cladding by the decomposition of MoS2 plays a key role in determining their tribological behaviour at high temperatures.
Spatial Pattern and Land Surface Features Associated with Cloud-to-Ground Lightning in Bangladesh: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Dewan Ashraf , Islam K. M. Ashraful , Fariha Tanzim Rahman , Murshed Md Mahbub , Ishtiaque Asif , Adnan Mohammed Sarfaraz Gani , Kabir Zobaidul , Chowdhury Mohammad Barad Hossain
Published: May 2022

Severe weather events such as lightning appear to be a significant threat to humans and property in South Asia, an area known for intense convective activity directly related to the tropical climate of these areas. The current study was conducted in Bangladesh and examined the association between cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning and ground surface properties, with the aim of improving existing knowledge regarding this phenomenon. GLD360 data from 2015 to 2020 were used to describe the seasonal lightning climatology. Elevation, land use and land cover, vegetation and surface heat flux data were used to examine all land surface features possibly associated with CG lightning occurrence. Hot and cold spot spatial patterning was calculated using local indicators of spatial association. Results indicated a strong CG lightning seasonality. CG stroke density varied considerably across seasons with the pre-monsoon exhibiting the highest density. This was followed by occurrences in the monsoon season. The March–June period experienced 73% of the total observed. Elevation appeared to influence the post-monsoon CG stroke, however, its role in the other seasons was more difficult to define. The land cover/lightning index indicated that waterbodies and herbaceous wetlands had more influence than other land cover types, both during the day and at night, and it appeared that latent heat flux played a major role. The CG stroke hot and cold spot locations varied diurnally. The findings suggest that large-scale irrigation practices, especially during the pre-monsoon months, can influence the observed spatiotemporal pattern. The production of hotspot maps could be an initial step in the development of a reliable lightning monitoring system and play a part in increasing public awareness of this issue.
Implementation Drivers as Practical Measures of Data-Driven Decision-Making: An Initial Validation Study in Early Childhood Programs
Authors: Barton Jared L. , Akin Becci A.
Published: May 2022

Leveraging data to demonstrate program effectiveness, inform decision making, and support program implementation is an ongoing need for social and human service organizations, and is especially true in early childhood service settings. Unfortunately, early childhood service organizations often lack capacity and processes for harnessing data to these ends. While existing literature suggests the Active Implementation Drivers Framework (AIF Drivers) provides a theoretical basis for data-driven decision-making (DDDM), there are no practical applications or measurement tools which support an understanding of readiness or capacity for DDDM in early childhood settings. This study sought to address this gap through the development and initial validation of the Data-Driven Decision-Making Questionnaire (DDDM-Q) based on the nine core factors in the AIF Drivers. The study piloted the 54-item questionnaire with 173 early childhood program administrators. Findings from this study suggest using the AIF Drivers as a theoretical basis for examining DDDM supports three of five categories of validity evidence proposed by Goodwin (2002), including (1) evidence based on test content, (2) evidence based on internal structure, and (3) evidence based on relationships to other variables. This study may inform future research seeking to develop theoretically based instruments, particularly as it pertains to expanding use of the AIF Drivers. Practice-wise, the study findings could enhance and complement early childhood programs as well as other social and humans service implementations by presenting the DDDM-Q as a platform for understanding organizational readiness for DDDM and identifying strengths as well as areas for improvement.
Johann Wier
Authors: Valente Michaela
Published: May 2022

This book deals with a fascinating and original claim in sixteenth-century Europe. Witches should be cured, not executed. It was the physician and scholar Johann Wier (1515-1588) who challenged the dominant idea. For his defense of witches, more than three centuries later, Sigmund Freud chose to put Wier's work among the ten books to be read. According to Wier, Satan seduced witches, thus they did not deserve to be executed, but they must be cured for their melancholy. When the witch hunt was rising, Wier was the first to use some of the arguments adopted in the emerging debate on religious tolerance in defence of witches.

This is the first overall study of Wier which offers an innovative view of his thought by highlighting Wier's sources and his attempts to involve theologians, physicians, and philosophers in his fight against cruel witch hunts. Johann Wier: Debating the Devil and Witches situates and explains his claim as a result of a moral and religious path as well as the outcome of his medical experience. The book aims to provide an insightful examination of Wier's works to read his pleas emphasizing the duty of every good Christian to not abandon anyone who strays from the flock of Christ. For these reasons, Wier was overwhelmed by bitter confutations, such as those of Jean Bodin, but he was also celebrated for his outstanding and prolific heritage for debating religious tolerance.
Estimation of longitudinal aerodynamic parameters using recurrent neural network
Authors: Verma H. O. , Peyada N. K.
Published: May 2022

The aerodynamic modelling is one of the challenging tasks that is generally established using the results of the computational fluid dynamic software and wind tunnel analysis performed either on the scaled model or the prototype. In order to improve the confidence of the estimates, the conventional parameter estimation methods such as equation error method (EEM) and output error method (OEM) are more often applied to extract the aircraft’s stability and control derivatives from its respective flight test data. The quality of the estimates gets influenced due to the presence of the measurement and process noises in the flight test data. With the advancement in the machine learning algorithms, the data driven methods have got more attention in the modelling of a system based on the input-output measurements and also, in the identification of the system/model parameters. The research article investigates the longitudinal stability and control derivatives of the aerodynamic models by using an integrated optimisation algorithm based on a recurrent neural network. The flight test data of Hansa-3 and HFB 320 aircraft were used as case studies to see the efficacy of the parameter estimation algorithm and further, the confidence of the estimates were demonstrated in terms of the standard deviations. Finally, the simulated variables obtained using the estimates demonstrate a qualitative estimation in the presence of the noise.
Adaptive capacity and preparedness of Clinical and Translational Science Award Program hubs: Overview of an environmental scan
Authors: Volkov Boris B. , Ragon Bart , Doyle Jamie Mihoko , Bredella Miriam A.
Published: May 2022

The ability of research networks and individual institutions to effectively and efficiently prepare, respond, and adapt to emergent challenges is essential for the biomedical research enterprise. At the beginning of 2021, a special Working Group was formed by individuals in the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium and approved by the CTSA Steering Committee to explore “Adaptive Capacity and Preparedness (AC&P) of CTSA Hubs.” The AC&P Working Group took a pragmatic Environmental Scan (E-Scan) approach of utilizing the diverse data that had been collected through existing mechanisms. The Local Adaptive Capacity framework was adapted to illustrate the interconnectedness of CTSA programs and services, while exposing how the demands of the pandemic forced them to quickly pivot and adapt. This paper presents a synopsis of the themes and lessons learned that emerged from individual sections of the E-Scan. Lessons learned from this study may improve our understanding of adaptive capacity and preparedness at different levels, as well as help strengthen the core service models, strategies, and foster innovation in clinical and translational science research.
Limited Utility of Self-made Oxygen Generators Assembled From Everyday Commodities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Limper Ulrich , Klaas Lena , Köhler Markus , Lichte Daniel , Maldonado Samaniego Nelson J , Suarez Jose I , Jordan Jens , Hoffschmidt Bernhard
Published: May 2022

The current COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated pre-existing oxygen supply gaps all over the world. In fact, oxygen shortages occurred in affluent areas with highly developed healthcare systems. The state-of-affairs created much suffering and resulted in potentially preventable deaths. Meanwhile, several international activities have been initiated to improve oxygen availability in the long-term by creating new networks of oxygen plants and supply channels. However, disasters such as the current pandemic may require rapid, autarkic oxygen production. Therefore, we determined whether oxygen resilience could conceivably be improved through self-made oxygen generators using material that is easily available even in remote areas. The team comprised engineers and physicians with hands-on experience in low- and middle-income countries. We constructed and tested self-made setups for water hydrolysis and membrane-based oxygen purification. We must conclude, however, that the massive amounts of oxygen patients with COVID-19 require cannot be reasonably met with such simple measures, which would require high efforts and hold potential risks.
Challenges and Barriers of Humanitarian Hygiene Items Management in Recent Disasters in Iran
Authors: Adibi Larijani Haleh , Moslehi Shandiz , Barghi Shirazi Fahimeh , Pashaee Asl Yosef , Alikhani Afshin , Fatemi Farin
Published: May 2022

Objective:

The provision and continuation of the basic needs of affected communities, including water, food, and shelter remain the most important priorities in responding to disasters. In this regard, this study sought to investigate the management challenges of humanitarian hygiene items in recent disasters in Iran.

Methods:

This qualitative study was conducted through a semi-structured interview. Nineteen participants with different experiences, roles, and responsibilities in the recent disaster of Iran and experiences of various events in the national and international arenas were included in the study. A thematic analysis was used, and an initial conceptual framework was defined based on the study aim. The relationship between the components was compared and interpreted in this framework and the main and subthemes were extracted accordingly.

Results:

Six main themes and 21 subthemes were extracted based on the results. The main challenges in recent disasters were the lack of protocols and standard guidelines, inappropriate selection of items in each hygiene kit, the lack of standard distribution of hygiene kits, and the lack of attention to the affected population’s culture.

Conclusions:

Overall, it is necessary to define a system for preparation, supply, storage, and timely distribution of hygiene. Finally, it is suggested that an organization should be appointed for this purpose.
The effect of a novel herbicide adjuvant in treating Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
Authors: Rivera Benjamin J. , Meilan Richard , Scharf Michael E. , Karve Rucha A , Jenkins Michael A.
Published: May 2022

Invasive woody perennials pose an immense threat to the diversity and function of many ecosystems, including forests in the eastern United States. While herbicide treatments have proven effective in controlling many plant invasions, there is considerable interest in the refinement of herbicide prescriptions to improve efficacy and prevent non-target damage. Adjuvants are widely utilized to improve herbicide efficacy, but research on novel adjuvants is often lacking. Furthermore, adjuvant research has generally focused on enhancement of foliar herbicide absorption, and few studies focus on adjuvant utility for other herbicide delivery techniques such as cut stump treatments. We evaluated 2XL—a cocktail of cellulase enzymes derived from fungi—as a potential herbicide adjuvant for use with glyphosate applied in a cut stump treatment due to its ability to degrade a key component of cell walls. We conducted a field experiment using the cut stump method of treatment (cut surface treated with herbicide) on a problematic invasive shrub, Amur honeysuckle [Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder]. We tested combinations of three concentrations of 2XL with five concentrations of glyphosate and hypothesized that low concentrations of glyphosate combined with 2XL would be as effective in limiting the resprouting of L. maackii as higher concentrations of glyphosate without the enzymes. Our results indicated that 2XL did not improve glyphosate efficacy for reducing the number of resprouting stems or the length of the longest resprouting stem within the same or following year as treatment. Limited data indicated the combination of 2XL and glyphosate applied at 30 g L−1 slightly increased resprouting in the year following treatment. While 2XL did not improve glyphosate efficacy, our results showed effective control of L. maackii at the lowest concentration of glyphosate tested (30 g L−1), suggesting that concentrations lower than those typically applied may be effective in controlling L. maackii within parameters similar to those tested here.
The Flowering of British Sinology
Authors: Barrett T.H.
Published: May 2022

This account of Sinology in the United Kingdom, in part incorporating personal reminiscence, starts with an analysis of the growth of the British library resources necessary to the practice of Sinology, followed by a sketch of the marginality in Britain in the early twentieth century of this type of scholarship. The changes brought about by the military requirements of World War II are seen as foreshadowing an era during which large-scale funding in Asian and other studies briefly allowed Sinology to flourish, after which a failure to understand the benefits of training in a non-spoken language reduced the opportunities for British students to the point where British Sinology is virtually extinct, and the willingness of scholars from elsewhere in Europe to engage with British university life is being sorely tried. The contributions of British Sinology, supported by Chinese and other incomers during its efflorescence, are briefly surveyed.
Lithic Analysis of Andean Sedentary Societies: A Case Study from the Chachapoyas Region, Peru, and Potential Applications
Authors: Pratt Lauren V. , Guengerich Anna
Published: May 2022

In the archaeological tradition of what is today Peru, studies of sedentary agricultural groups have accorded a minor role to the analysis of stone tools relative to other suites of material culture. Here, we illustrate the value of such lithic collections via a case study of settlement sites from the Chachapoyas region of northern Peru (AD 300–1500). This study demonstrates the potential of methods such as use-wear microscopy and raw material analysis to address questions of theoretical interest to archaeologists studying sedentary society, such as subsistence, household behavior, and ceremonial practices. A set of generalized linear models of the spatial distribution of volcanic stone indicates that lithic raw material acquisition at these ceramic period sites was likely embedded in other activities. In addition, we examine an unusual set of limestone and carbonate-patinated artifacts that suggest that lithic procurement and selection were informed and strategic, if not conforming to expected technological priorities. We suggest that, by taking the potential value of lithic artifacts into consideration from project design through field collection and assemblage sampling, researchers can minimize biases that may otherwise limit the value of lithic assemblages.
A Human Body, a Necklace, a Pestle, and a Stone Axe: An Osteobiographical Perspective of a 4,000-Year-Old Burial in Calamuchita Valley (Córdoba, Argentina)
Authors: Fabra Mariana , Gordillo Sandra , Colombo Fernando , Nores Rodrigo , Sario Gisela
Published: May 2022

We report the results of bioarchaeological, genetic, malacological, and lithic analyses of a burial located in the Calamuchita Valley in the province of Córdoba in central Argentina. We discuss these findings from an osteobiographical perspective that considers the physical body from three spheres of analysis: biological, social, and political. The skeletal remains correspond to an adult male who died 3770 ± 9014C years BP (4404–3850 cal BP). His mitochondrial lineage A2+16192-16248could have originated in central Argentina; this lineage subsequently became extinct in modern populations. In association with the human bones, there were two lithic tools, ornamental shells, and a stone pendant arranged as a necklace. This type of context is infrequently found in the region and the period studied. Thus, this burial represents a rare and relevant record for regional and South American archaeology, providing the oldest direct evidence of a burial with grave goods in hunter-gatherer societies of the province of Córdoba, central region of Argentina.
Mergers and Acquisitions and the Incorporation of the Public Interest in Africa's Regional Competition Laws: A Case Study of COMESA
Authors: Ndlovu Precious N
Published: May 2022

Public interest issues have the potential to play a significant role in the evaluation of mergers and acquisitions in Africa's regional competition laws. A case in point is the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA): its regional competition authorities have jurisdiction to evaluate transactions within the Common Market. To that end, COMESA's regional competition law enumerates specific public interest factors regarding mergers and acquisitions. Further, COMESA's regional competition law permits the consideration of additional factors under the rubric of public interest, without specifying what these factors are. On this basis, COMESA's regional competition authorities have gradually created precedents on incorporating public interest considerations. This illustrates the point that purist positions towards competition law do not serve Africa's socio-economic development goals. Therefore, the challenge facing COMESA's regional competition authorities is the application of the public interest in a manner that remains faithful to the economic doctrine that underpins competition law.
Improved multispecies Dougherty collisions
Authors: Francisquez Manaure , Juno James , Hakim Ammar , Hammett Gregory W. , Ernst Darin R.
Published: May 2022

The Dougherty model Fokker–Planck operator is extended to describe nonlinear full-

$f$

( f is the distribution function) collisions between multiple species in plasmas. Simple relations for cross-species primitive moments are developed which obey conservation laws, and reproduce familiar velocity and temperature relaxation rates. This treatment of multispecies Dougherty collisions, valid for arbitrary mass ratios, avoids unphysical temperatures and satisfies the

$H$

-theorem (H is related to the entropy) unlike an analogous Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook operator. Formulas for both a Cartesian velocity space and a gyroaveraged operator are provided for use in Vlasov as well as long-wavelength gyrokinetic models. We present an algorithm for the discontinuous Galerkin discretization of this operator, and provide results from relaxation and Landau damping benchmarks.
Assessing the role of imported cases on the establishment of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern in Bolton, UK
Authors: Shingleton Joseph , Finnie Thomas , Gent Nick , Bennett Emma
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a method used to rapidly assess the incursion and the establishment of community transmission of suspected SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Delta (lineage B.1.617.2) into the UK in April and May 2021. The method described is independent of any genetically sequenced data, and so avoids the inherent lag times involved in sequencing of cases. We show that, between 1 April and 12 May 2021, there was a strong correlation between local authorities with high numbers of imported positive cases from India and high COVID-19 case rates, and that this relationship holds as we look at finer geographic detail. Further, we also show that Bolton was an outlier in the relationship, having the highest COVID-19 case rates despite relatively few importations. We use an artificial neural network trained on demographic data, to show that observed importations in Bolton were consistent with similar areas. Finally, using an SEIR transmission model, we show that imported positive cases were a contributing factor to persistent transmission in a number of local authorities, however they could not account for increased case rates observed in Bolton. As such, the outbreak of Delta variant in Bolton was likely not a result of direct importation from overseas, but rather secondary transmission from other regions within the UK.
Neurologic complications of infective endocarditis in children
Authors: Jacobwitz Marin , Favilla Emmanuelle , Patel Amisha , Giglia Therese M. , Taing Kimberly , Ravishankar Chitra , Gaynor J. William , Licht Daniel J. , McGuire Jennifer L. , Beslow Lauren A.
Published: May 2022

Objectives:

To define the frequency and characteristics of acute neurologic complications in children hospitalised with infective endocarditis and to identify risk factors for neurologic complications.

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study of children aged 0–18 years hospitalised at a tertiary children’s hospital from 1 January, 2008 to 31 December, 2017 with infective endocarditis.

Results:

Sixty-eight children met Duke criteria for infective endocarditis (43 definite and 25 possible). Twenty-three (34%) had identified neurologic complications, including intracranial haemorrhage (25%, 17/68) and ischaemic stroke (25%, 17/68). Neurologic symptoms began a median of 4.5 days after infective endocarditis symptom onset (interquartile range 1, 25 days), though five children were asymptomatic and diagnosed on screening neuroimaging only. Overall, only 56% (38/68) underwent neuroimaging during acute hospitalisation, so additional asymptomatic neurologic complications may have been missed. Children with identified neurologic complications compared to those without were older (48 versus 22% ≥ 13 years old, p = 0.031), more often had definite rather than possible infective endocarditis (96 versus 47%, p < 0.001), mobile vegetations >10mm (30 versus 11%, p = 0.048), and vegetations with the potential for systemic embolisation (65 versus 29%, p = 0.004). Six children died (9%), all of whom had neurologic complications.

Conclusions:

Neurologic complications of infective endocarditis were common (34%) and associated with mortality. The true frequency of neurologic complications was likely higher because asymptomatic cases may have been missed without screening neuroimaging. Moving forward, we advocate that all children with infective endocarditis have neurologic consultation, examination, and screening neuroimaging. Additional prospective studies are needed to determine whether early identification of neurologic abnormalities may direct management and ultimately reduce neurologic morbidity and overall mortality.
Is there a new which in town?
Authors: LOSS SARA S. , WICKLUND MARK
Published: May 2022

In spontaneous English, which clauses can deviate from traditional syntactic schemas by having a resumptive pronoun where a gap would otherwise be. Some researchers claim that such uses of which are not errors but rather a reanalysis. However, there is no consensus as to how which is being reanalyzed. Collins & Radford (2015) suggest that it behaves like a caseless relative pronoun; Sells (1985) and Kjellmer (1988) posit a subordinating conjunction behavior; Daalder (1989) posits a coordinating conjunction behavior; and Miller (1988: 116), Kuha (1994), Loock (2007) and Burke (2017) note that which can be replaced by both subordinating and coordinating conjunctions, but they do not commit to one over the other. Here, we present prosodic and syntactic data in which such uses of which behave more like a coordinating conjunction than like a relative pronoun or subordinating conjunction.