bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An agent based model for assessing transmission dynamics and health systems burden for COVID-19
Authors: S. Narassima M. , P. Anbuudayasankar S. , Jammy Guru Rajesh , Pant Rashmi , Choudhury Lincoln , Ramakrishnan Aadharsh , John Denny
Published: December 2021

Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused over
 230 million infections with more than 4 million deaths worldwide. Researches have been using various mathematical and simulation techniques to estimate the future trends of the pandemic to help the policymakers and healthcare fraternity. Agent-based models (ABM) could provide accurate projections than the compartmental models that have been largely used. The present study involves a simulation of ABM using a synthetic population from India to analyze the effects of interventions on the spread of the disease. A disease model with various states representing the possible progression of the disease was developed and simulated using AnyLogic. The results indicated that imposing stricter non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) lowered the peak values of infections, the proportion of critical patients, and the deceased. Stricter interventions offer a larger time window for the healthcare fraternity to enhance preparedness. The findings of this research could act as a start-point to understand the benefits of ABM-based models for projecting infectious diseases and analyzing the effects of NPI imposed.
A functional framework based on big data analytics for smart farming
Authors: Rabhi Loubna , Falih Noureddine , Afraites Lekbir , Bouikhalene Belaid
Published: December 2021

Big data in agriculture is defined as massive volumes of data with a wide variety of sources and types which can be captured using internet of things sensors (soil and crops sensors, drones, and meteorological stations), analyzed and used for decision-making. In the era of internet of things (IoT) tools, connected agriculture has appeared. Big data outputs can be exploited by the future connected agriculture in order to reduce cost and time production, improve yield, develop new products, offer optimization and smart decision-making. In this article, we propose a functional framework to model the decision-making process in digital and connected agriculture.
Trend of the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia using the machine learning prophet algorithm
Authors: Hayati Nur , Fauziah Fauziah , Poetra Dendi Rizka , Wandi Dede
Published: December 2021

Based on information on the BNPB website on 2 September 2020, the positive rate for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Indonesia reached 25.25% on 30 August 2020. This is a big challenge for the Indonesian government to reduce the positivity rate to meet the standards safe accepted by World Health Organization (WHO) is 5%. To ensure the accuracy of government policies, accurate data predictions are needed. Therefore, the prophet's machine learning algorithm can be used to see trends in the spread of COVID-19 in the next one year. This algorithm has a fairly high level of accuracy because the data contains time variables which are adjusted to the dataset. In several previous research, the dataset was vast uncertain and small. Meanwhile in this research, data was taken from 2 March 2020 to 12 February 2021 on the KawalCOVID19 website. This data is used to predict from 13 February 2021 to 12 February 2022. There are 3 data used; namely data confirmed, recovered and died. Based on the analysis, the confirmed patient was 22.60-42.11%, died amounted to 21.67%-39.00%, and recovered by 22.53-41.82%. The prediction percentage that the average cases died was 2.43% every day. The accuracy of data confirmed was 43.97%, died was 72.50% and recovered was 84.24%.
Multicriteria Cuckoo search optimized latent Dirichlet allocation based Ruzchika indexive regression for software quality management
Authors: Chennappan R. , Thulasiraman Vidyaa
Published: December 2021

The paper presents the software quality management is a highly significant one to ensure the quality and to review the reliability of software products. To improve the software quality by predicting software failures and enhancing the scalability, in this paper, we present a novel reinforced Cuckoo search optimized latent Dirichlet allocation based Ruzchika indexive regression (RCSOLDA-RIR) technique. At first, Multicriteria reinforced Cuckoo search optimization is used to perform the test case selection and find the most optimal solution while considering the multiple criteria and selecting the optimal test cases for testing the software quality. Next, the generative latent Dirichlet allocation model is applied to predict the software failure density with selected optimal test cases with minimum time. Finally, the Ruzchika indexive regression is applied for measuring the similarity between the preceding versions and the new version of software products. Based on the similarity estimation, the software failure density of the new version is also predicted. With this, software error prediction is made in a significant manner, therefore, improving the reliability of software code and service provisioning time between software versions in software systems is also minimized. An experimental assessment of the RCSOLDA-RIR technique achieves better reliability and scalability than the existing methods.
Design and simulation of 5kW BLDC motor with half-buried permanent magnets using an existing stator body
Authors: Azhari Budi , Irasari Pudji , Widiyanto Puji
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes a design of a 5 kW, 100 volts brushless direct current (DC) (BLDC) motor using an existing stator connected to an inverter and equipped with Hall sensors. The stator is a radial flux motor-type with 54 slots positioned at the outer side of the machine. In this case, the design is focused on the rotor components and winding configuration. However, the inverter aspects are also taken into account. At the same time, it considers the expected outputs: voltage, power, speed; and some limitations: maximum current and flux density. Finite element magnetic-based simulation is performed to extract the magnetic flux distribution, and analytical calculations are then conducted to obtain the output values and characteristics. The results show the BLDC motor at nominal speed produces 5.1 kW output power with 122.34 V voltages, 97.09% efficiency, and torque of 32.82 Nm. The maximum torque and rotation speeds are 51.39 Nm and 4,150 rpm respectively, while the peak-to-peak cogging force is 1.35 Nm. It can be concluded that the BLDC motor has a good performance and is compatible with the connected inverter.
Energy saving analysis of air fan motor in power plant boiler controlled by variable frequency drive
Authors: Wibowo Pramono Mukti , Haddin Muhamad , Marwanto Arief
Published: December 2021

A reporting of Energy Audit in 2018 by LEMTEK UI has reported that air fan system currently used in Power Plant of PLTU Tanjung Jati B Jepara is inefficient, energy efficiency in FDF is only 32% and PAF efficiency is 49.01%. Inefficiency of the air fan system is an impacted there are waste of electric energy amount of 13,352,929 KWh (13,35 GWh) a year with a financial loss of IDR 13,352,929,140. To overcome this condition, variable frequency drive (VFD) is installed which adjusted air flow as needed so that energy waste can be reduced. MATLAB simulation is proposed to analyze the VFD method. The result shows that by using VFD, 8,233,573.444 KWh (8.45 GWh) can be saved a year. Total cost benefits are IDR 8,233,573,444 as 32.1% of saving cost. Efficiency of FDF is 72.57 % and PAF is 66.84%.
A new perturb and observe MPPT algorithm based on two steps variable voltage control
Authors: Attia Hussain , Ulusoy Suleyman
Published: December 2021

Based on the fact that the effectiveness of perturb and observe algorithm in a maximum power point tracking maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in a photovoltaic array is a tradeoff between the tracking speed during the transient response and the oscillation around the stable level during the steady state response. To have a high tracking speed, incremental step should be high, but this high incremental step increases the oscillation level around the steady level of MPPT, whereas adopting low incremental step reduces the algorithm response time but improve the response during the steady state condition. This paper presents a new perturb and observe algorithm based on two step variable control for MPPT applications. A two variable incremental step control is proposed to gain the merit of high step for guaranteeing a fast response during tracking process, and also for guaranteeing the merit of low oscillation during the steady state working condition through adopting a low step during steady state response. The effectiveness of the proposal is proved by the analysis of the simulation results via MATLAB/Simulink software, and by the comparison of the simulation results with a conventional perturb and observe MPPT algorithm.
Load frequency control of thermal system under deregulated environment using slime mould algorithm
Authors: Kumar Sambugari Anil , Narayana M. Siva Sathya , Gowd K. Jithendra
Published: December 2021

This paper emphasizes the significance of PID controller parameters using a slime mould algorithm (SMA) to reduce load frequency control (LFC) issues in a thermal system in an open market scenario. The SMA is used to solve the parameterization of the PID controller, which was formulated as an optimization problem.The performance of the PID controller parameters improves the dynamic characteristics of the system as frequency in each area, and also deviations in  tie line power after sudden load violation. In order to study the efficiency of the proposed method, the system was tested with different power transactions for a small load disturbance and the comparative results were presented. The optimal value of the controller parameters derived from SMA based PID controller is estimated using a finite nonlinear optimization using a performance index based method.
Optimal tuning of PI controller using system identification for two-phase boost converter for low-voltage applications
Authors: Amran M. A. N. , Bakar A. A. , Jalil M. H. A. , Gani A. F. H. A. , Pathan E.
Published: December 2021

This paper presents modeling and hardware implementations of a two-phase DC-DC boost converter by using the system identification approach. The main objective of this research was to study new methods to obtain the values of the constants for the proportional-integral (PI) controller. Existing methods are time-consuming, since the values of the constants for the PI controller need to be calculated. The system identification approach for the closed-loop boost converter saves more time. This method has the fastest technique to find constants Kp and Ki for the closed-loop two-phase boost converter. To model a two-phase boost converter using the system identification approach, input duty cycle and output voltage are collected in the time domain data. In this study, the transfer function (TF) model, the autoregressive moving average with exogenous (ARMAX) model and the output-error (OE) model were used to generate a mathematical model. To perform the closed-loop analysis, constants Kp and Ki were obtained based on the generated mathematical model from the system identification approach. The result from the experiment shows that the percentages of overshoot for the TF, ARMAX and OE models were 19%, 25.36% and 24.6%, respectively. The output voltage ripples obtained for all three models were less than 5% of output voltage.
Characterizing power transformer frequency responses using bipolar pseudo-random current impulses
Authors: Mwaniki Fredrick , Sayyid Ahmed A.
Published: December 2021

The behaviour of a power transformer is complex and difficult to predict during transient conditions or during operation at frequencies below or above its nominal frequency, a phenomenon common in renewable energy plants due to harmonic distortion. Furthermore, the accuracy of a power system simulation depends on the models of critical subsystems such as the power transformers. This paper presents the use of a unique excitation waveform comprising of pseudo-random current impulses to accurately identify the wideband characteristics of a power transformer. By injecting the excitation waveform to the relevant transformer terminals, frequency responses are determined by cross-correlation of the perturbation signal, and the measured response. Compared to the traditional transformer identification methods, the pseudo-random current impulses offer a wideband excitation with a higher degree of controllability such that its spectral energy can be focused in the frequency band of interest. The proposed method was investigated on a 16 kVA, 22 kV/240 V single-phase transformer. The obtained wideband frequency responses provide useful information in harmonic penetration and over-voltage studies and are also used to estimate, with a high degree of accuracy, the lumped parameters of the equivalent transformer broadband circuit model.
Intensifications reactive power during of asymmetric network outages in dual-stator winding generators
Authors: Al Azze Qasim , Hussein Balasim М. , Hameed Hayder Salim
Published: December 2021

The paper proposes a protection to dual stator generator, reluctance rotor, from asymmetrical fault. Which prevents the dual stator generator, reluctance rotor, from electrical sage through working process in order to avoid any interruption in the generator-grid connection. The procedure consummated with injecting suitable reactive power during the fault period. The proposed method that makes it possible for wind turbine application via dual stator winding generators (DSWRG) synchronous mod to stay connected to the grid during asymmetrical faults. It has been built according to trusted simulating mode considering all tested parameters according to experiment work. The expirment, consider the DC link side stability and care about the behavior and performance of machine side parameter. As well the machineability is evaluated to ride through asymmetrical fault by observing the secondary side current which has a big role in saving grid side converter. The control takes a response within 200 ms after fault trigger recognition. The generator ability of dynamically remaining connected stable and existing in the network, which is sustained a series voltage disturbance by injecting appropriate amount of reactive power. The main interest required in this paper is the capability of a machine to overcome the asymmetrical fault.
Endothelial k-RasV12 Expression Induces Capillary Deficiency Attributable to Marked Tube Network Expansion Coupled to Reduced Pericytes and Basement Membranes
Authors: Sun Zheying , Kemp Scott S. , Lin Prisca K. , Aguera Kalia N. , Davis George E.
Published: December 2021

Objective:

We sought to determine how endothelial cell (EC) expression of the activating k-Ras (kirsten rat sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog) mutation, k-RasV12, affects their ability to form lumens and tubes and interact with pericytes during capillary assembly

Approach and Results:

Using defined bioassays where human ECs undergo observable tubulogenesis, sprouting behavior, pericyte recruitment to EC-lined tubes, and pericyte-induced EC basement membrane deposition, we assessed the impact of EC k-RasV12 expression on these critical processes that are necessary for proper capillary network formation. This mutation, which is frequently seen in human ECs within brain arteriovenous malformations, was found to markedly accentuate EC lumen formation mechanisms, with strongly accelerated intracellular vacuole formation, vacuole fusion, and lumen expansion and with reduced sprouting behavior, leading to excessively widened tube networks compared with control ECs. These abnormal tubes demonstrate strong reductions in pericyte recruitment and pericyte-induced EC basement membranes compared with controls, with deficiencies in fibronectin, collagen type IV, and perlecan deposition. Analyses of signaling during tube formation from these k-RasV12 ECs reveals strong enhancement of Src (Src proto-oncogene, non-receptor tyrosine kinase), Pak2 (P21 [RAC1 (Rac family small GTPase 1)] activated kinase 2), b-Raf (v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1), Erk (extracellular signal–related kinase), and Akt (AK strain transforming) activation and increased expression of PKCε (protein kinase C epsilon), MT1-MMP (membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase), acetylated tubulin and CDCP1 (CUB domain-containing protein 1; most are known EC lumen regulators). Pharmacological blockade of MT1-MMP, Src, Pak, Raf, Mek (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinases, Cdc42 (cell division cycle 42)/Rac1, and Notch markedly interferes with lumen and tube formation from these ECs.

Conclusions:

Overall, this novel work demonstrates that EC expression of k-RasV12 disrupts capillary assembly due to markedly excessive lumen formation coupled with strongly reduced pericyte recruitment and basement membrane deposition, which are critical pathogenic features predisposing the vasculature to develop arteriovenous malformations.
FİNANSAL HİZMETLER GÜVEN ENDEKSİ, YERLİ YATIRIMCILARIN YABANCI HİSSE SENEDİ VE PORTFÖY YATIRIMLARINI ETKİLEYEBİLİR Mİ?
Authors: HAMURCU Çağrı
Published: December 2021

Bu çalışmada, finansal hizmetler güven endeksinin yerli yatırımcıların yurt dışı portföy ve hisse senedi yatırımlarını etkileyip etkilemediğini ortaya çıkarmak amaçlanmaktadır. Bu amaçla 2012-2020 yılları arasında Türkiye'de yerli yatırımcıların toplam yurt dışı portföy ve hisse senedi yatırımlarının ABD doları cinsinden tutarları ve finansal hizmetler güven endeksi değerleri kullanılmıştır. Değişkenler arasında VAR modelleri oluşturularak Granger nedensellik testleri uygulanmış, eş bütünleşme ve geleneksel regresyon analizleri yapılmıştır. Sonuçlara göre, finansal hizmetler güven endeksi ile yurt içi yatırımcıların yurt dışı hisse senedi ve portföy yatırım miktarları arasında, finansal hizmetler güven endeksinden yurt dışı hisse senedi ve portföy yatırımlarına doğru tek yönlü Granger nedensellik ilişkileri tespit edilmiştir. Finansal hizmetlere duyulan güvendeki azalmanın yurt içindeki yerleşik yatırımcıların yurtdışı portföy ve hisse senedi yatırımlarını tercih etmelerinde artışa ve tersi durumda azalışa neden olabileceği tespit edilen bir diğer bulgudur. Ayrıca, finansal hizmetler güven endeksinin yurt dışındaki yatırımların öncü bir göstergesi olduğu sonucu elde edilmiştir. Yatırımcılardaki sürü davranışı, doğrulama ve kayıptan kaçınma gibi bir takım irrasyonel eğilimlerin tespit edilebilmesinin yolunun açılabilmesi ve bu şekilde finansal piyasaların öngörülebilirliğinin artırılabilmesi açısından, finansal hizmet güven endeksinden yararlanılabileceği düşünülmektedir. Yurt içindeki yatırımcıların yatırımlarının yurt dışına yönelmesinin önüne geçebilmek amacıyla, ülke içinde finansal hizmetlere duyulan güven algısının oluşturulması ve iyileştirilmesi için çalışmaların yapılması önerilmektedir.
Partially Supervised Named Entity Recognition via the Expected Entity Ratio Loss
Authors: Effland Thomas , Collins Michael
Published: December 2021

We study learning named entity recognizers in the presence of missing entity annotations. We approach this setting as tagging with latent variables and propose a novel loss, the Expected Entity Ratio, to learn models in the presence of systematically missing tags. We show that our approach is both theoretically sound and empirically useful. Experimentally, we find that it meets or exceeds performance of strong and state-of-the-art baselines across a variety of languages, annotation scenarios, and amounts of labeled data. In particular, we find that it significantly outperforms the previous state-of-the-art methods from Mayhew et al. (2019) and Li et al. (2021) by +12.7 and +2.3 F1 score in a challenging setting with only 1,000 biased annotations, averaged across 7 datasets. We also show that, when combined with our approach, a novel sparse annotation scheme outperforms exhaustive annotation for modest annotation budgets.1
“My Good Italian Friends”: Vida Scudder and Boston's Circolo Italo-Americano
Authors: Garbus Julie
Published: December 2021

The Circolo Italo-Americano, a Progressive-era group of educated Italian immigrants and affluent Bostonians, was founded by settlement movement pioneer Vida Dutton Scudder to integrate Italians into American life through “friendly personal contacts,” social events, and educational opportunities. The Circolo included Italian leadership and focused on immigrants’ contributions, not on “assimilation.”
The Social Context of 4QInstruction Reconsidered
Authors: Shirav Anna
Published: December 2021

The nature and the social context of Instruction were often discussed in the scholarship. Its relatively high number of copies that have been found in Qumran, and a series of shared literary, linguistic and ideological similarities to compositions often closely associated with the Qumran movement led scholars to debate the attribution of Instruction to this group of texts. This paper argues that the pericope in 4Q418 frg. 81, which uses extensively priestly language and metaphors, reflects similar social context and structure as the Community Rule, and therefore Instruction should be placed among the writings of the community. I will use two-stage analysis of the pericope, which will offer insight on the identity of the addressee, and try to bring some fresh insights on the literary unity of the composition.
“Make Me a Sanctuary”
Authors: Feldman Ariel , Feldman Faina
Published: December 2021

This contribution offers a new reading and reconstruction of an addition found in the text of Exod 24:18–25:1 as preserved in 4Q364 (4QRPb) 15. Alluding to Exod 25:8 (and possibly 9), it appears to elucidate the purpose of Moses’s forty days’ long stay atop Mount Sinai and serves as a nexus between Exod 24:18 and the following discussion of the Tabernacle.
Testing Saudi State Capacity: A Study to Investigate How the Government Responded to the covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Shouman Mamdouh A. , Alkabaa Abdulaziz S.
Published: December 2021

This study aimed at testing Saudi state capacity in its response to the covid-19 pandemic. The model investigated the significant impact of different curfew levels (a measure of state capacity) on covid-19 cases across five main cities. We used a Negative Binomial regression model to study the association between the covid-19 cases and other independent variables that include curfew levels. Our regression results have tested Saudi state capacity in four different curfew levels, revealing that the Saudi government exhibited its ability to implement one curfew level that decreased covid-19 cases. This curfew level (four) was the most effective policy implementation of all levels that assessed state capacity but required more resources and manpower. Hence, the Saudi state has the capacity to implement its desired policies, however, it needs an increased number of resources and manpower to do that. These findings render comparative implications to gcc monarchies and other Arab countries.
Ancistrorhynchus (Orchidaceae), a new generic record for the Flora of Zambia
Authors: WIGHTMAN NICHOLAS , BYTEBIER BENNY
Published: December 2021

N/A
Plinia vilabela (Myrtaceae), a new species from Mato Grosso, Brazil
Authors: STADNIK ALINE , SOBRAL MARCOS
Published: December 2021

N/A
Liolaemus duellmani Cei, 1978 (Reptilia: Squamata: Liolaemini), redescription of the holotype and variation in a microendemic and inadequately known species of Liolaemus from Northwestern Patagonia
Authors: AVILA LUCIANO JAVIER , VRDOLJAK JUAN ESTEBAN , MORANDO MARIANA
Published: December 2021

Liolaemus duellmani is a microendemic lizard described from southern Mendoza, Argentina, representing the southernmost distribution of the Liolaemus montanus species group. The original description was based on a small batch of preserved material and a juvenile collected alive. Along the years, this poorly known species was rarely collected or observed in the field, with no additional reports or findings published until a recent description of an adult female which was considered as a rediscovery of the species. Here, we redescribe the species and describe variation on external morphology, coloration, and some natural history observations.
Otostigmus (Otostigmus) xizangensis n. sp., from China and a case of sexual dimorphism in the subgenus Otostigmus (Otostigmus) Porat, 1876 (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae)
Authors: NIU MEILIAN , LI YIXUAN , DI ZHIYONG
Published: December 2021

Otostigmus (Otostigmus) xizangensis n. sp., a new species of subgenus Otostigmus Porat, 1876 from Xizang, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is diagnosed as follows: antennae 17–19 articles (mainly 19), basal antennal articles cylindrical; forcipular tooth-plate with 4 teeth; tergites (5) 6–20 with complete paramedian sutures; well-developed lateral margination on tergites (6) 9–21; ultimate leg prefemora with four rows of spines, leg 20 with one tarsal spur. The coxopleural process of O. (O.) xizangensis n. sp. exhibits remarkable sexual dimorphism, being long and curved in females, short and straight in males.
CLASI: Coordinating Innovative Observations and Modeling to Improve Coastal Environmental Prediction Systems
Authors: Haus Brian K. , Ortiz-Suslow David G. , Doyle James D. , Flagg David D. , Graber Hans C. , MacMahan Jamie , Shen Lian , Wang Qing , Willams Neil J. , Yardim Caglar
Published: December 2021

The Coastal Land–Air–Sea Interaction (CLASI) project aims to develop new “coast-aware” atmospheric boundary and surface layer parameterizations that represent the complex land–sea transition region through innovative observational and numerical modeling studies. The CLASI field effort involves an extensive array of more than 40 land- and ocean-based moorings and towers deployed within varying coastal domains, including sandy, rocky, urban, and mountainous shorelines. Eight Air–Sea Interaction Spar (ASIS) buoys are positioned within the coastal and nearshore zone, the largest and most concentrated deployment of this unique, established measurement platform. Additionally, an array of novel nearshore buoys and a network of land-based surface flux towers are complemented by spatial sampling from aircraft, shore-based radars, drones, and satellites. CLASI also incorporates unique electromagnetic wave (EM) propagation measurements using a coherent array, drone receiver, and a marine radar to understand evaporation duct variability in the coastal zone. The goal of CLASI is to provide a rich dataset for validation of coupled, data assimilating large-eddy simulations (LES) and the Navy’s Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS). CLASI observes four distinct coastal regimes within Monterey Bay, California (MB). By coordinating observations with COAMPS and LES simulations, the CLASI efforts will result in enhanced understanding of coastal physical processes and their representation in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models tailored to the coastal transition region. CLASI will also render a rich dataset for model evaluation and testing in support of future improvements to operational forecast models.
Bathymetric Control of Subpolar Gyres and the Overturning Circulation in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Wilson Earle A. , Thompson Andrew F. , Stewart Andrew L. , Sun Shantong
Published: December 2021

The subpolar gyres of the Southern Ocean form an important dynamical link between the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and the coastline of Antarctica. Despite their key involvement in the production and export of bottom water and the poleward transport of oceanic heat, these gyres are rarely acknowledged in conceptual models of the Southern Ocean circulation, which tend to focus on the zonally averaged overturning across the ACC. To isolate the effect of these gyres on the regional circulation, we carried out a set of numerical simulations with idealized representations of the Weddell Sea sector in the Southern Ocean. A key result is that the zonally oriented submarine ridge along the northern periphery of the subpolar gyre plays a fundamental role in setting the stratification and circulation across the entire region. In addition to sharpening and strengthening the horizontal circulation of the gyre, the zonal ridge establishes a strong meridional density front that separates the weakly stratified subpolar gyre from the more stratified circumpolar flow. Critically, the formation of this front shifts the latitudinal outcrop position of certain deep isopycnals such that they experience different buoyancy forcing at the surface. Additionally, the zonal ridge modifies the mechanisms by which heat is transported poleward by the ocean, favoring heat transport by transient eddies while suppressing that by stationary eddies. This study highlights the need to characterize how bathymetry at the subpolar gyre–ACC boundary may constrain the transient response of the regional circulation to changes in surface forcing.

Significance Statement

This study explores the impact of seafloor bathymetry on the dynamics of subpolar gyres in the Southern Ocean. The subpolar gyres are major circulation features that connect the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and the coastline of Antarctica. This work provides deeper insight for how the submarine ridges that exist along the northern periphery of these gyres shape the vertical distribution of tracers and overturning circulation in these regions. These findings highlight an underappreciated yet fundamentally important topographical constraint on the three-dimensional cycling of heat and carbon in the Southern Ocean—processes that have far-reaching implications for the global climate. Future work should explore how the presence of these ridges affect the time-evolving response of the Southern Ocean to changes in surface conditions.
Monopsony power and the demand for low-skilled workers
Authors: Kölling Arnd
Published: December 2021

This study analyses firms’ labour demand when employers have at least some monopsony power. It is argued that without taking into account (quasi-)monopsonistic structures of the labour market, wrong predictions are made about the effects of minimum wages. Using switching fractional panel probit regressions with German establishment data, I find that slightly more than 80% of establishments exercise some degree of monopsony power in their demand for low-skilled workers. The outcome suggests that a 1% increase in payments for low-skilled workers would, in these firms, increase employment for this group by 1.12%, while firms without monopsony power reduce the number of low-skilled, by about 1.63% for the same increase in remuneration. The study can probably also be used to explain the limited employment effects of the introduction of a statutory minimum wage in Germany and thus leads to a better understanding of the labour market for low-skilled workers.
Amelioration of human peritoneal mesothelial cell co-culture-evoked malignant potential of ovarian cancer cells by acacetin involves LPA release-activated RAGE-PI3K/AKT signaling
Authors: Tian Meng , Tang Yingjie , Huang Ting , Liu Yang , Pan Yingzheng
Published: December 2021

Background

Ovarian cancer is a devastating gynecological malignancy and frequently presents as an advanced carcinoma with disseminated peritoneum metastasis. Acacetin exerts anti-cancerous effects in several carcinomas. Here, we sought to investigate acacetin function in ovarian cancer malignancy triggered by peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Methods

Peritoneal mesothelial cells were treated with acacetin, and then the conditioned medium was collected to treat ovarian cancer cells. Then, cell proliferation was analyzed by MTT assay. Transwell analysis was conducted to evaluate cell invasion. Protein expression was determined by western blotting. ELISA and qRT-PCR were applied to analyze inflammatory cytokine levels. The underlying mechanism was also explored.

Results

Acacetin suppressed cell proliferation and invasion, but enhanced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, mesothelial cell-evoked malignant characteristics were inhibited when mesothelial cells were pre-treated with acacetin via restraining cell proliferation and invasion, concomitant with decreases in proliferation-related PCNA, MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels. Simultaneously, acacetin reduced mesothelial cell-induced transcripts and production of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and IL-8 in ovarian cancer cells. Mechanically, acacetin decreased lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) release from mesothelial cells, and subsequent activation of receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE)-PI3K/AKT signaling in ovarian cancer cells. Notably, exogenous LPA restored the above pathway, and offset the efficacy of acacetin against mesothelial cell-evoked malignancy in ovarian cancer cells, including cell proliferation, invasion and inflammatory cytokine production.

Conclusions

Acacetin may not only engender direct inhibition of ovarian cancer cell malignancy, but also antagonize mesothelial cell-evoked malignancy by blocking LPA release-activated RAGE-PI3K/AKT signaling. Thus, these findings provide supporting evidence for a promising therapeutic agent against ovarian cancer.

Graphical Abstract
The impact of interprofessional task-based training on the prevention of surgical site infection in a low-income country
Authors: Khan Muhammad Nasir Ayub , Verstegen Daniëlle M. L. , Shahid Asma , Dolmans Diana H. J. M. , van Mook Walther Nicolaas Anton
Published: December 2021

Background

Training is considered instrumental in reducing surgical site infection. We developed training based on authentic tasks, interprofessional learning, and reflective learning for implementation in a low-income country where such training opportunities are rare. This study evaluated the results of training in terms of participants’ acceptance, participants’ knowledge acquisition, and their self-perceived behavior change.

Methods

We included 145 participants in the voluntary training program, comprising 66 technologists (45.5%), 43 nurses (29.7%), and 36 doctors (24.8%) from Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan. We measured “satisfaction” using a questionnaire at the end of the training, “knowledge” through pre-and post-intervention assessments, and “self-perceived behavior change” using a questionnaire and interviews 8 weeks post-training.

Results

Pre- and post-test scores showed a significant increase in knowledge. Participants were favorable to the training and eager to participate. They positively applied in practice what they had learned about preventing surgical site infection. Our qualitative data analysis revealed two categories of themes, representing the upsides of the training as it stood, and existing factors or downsides that hindered the effective transfer of learning to practice.

Conclusion

Participants were very enthusiastic about the training format. The knowledge test showed a gain in knowledge. Moreover, participants acknowledged that their behavior toward the prevention of surgical site infection in the operating rooms had changed. The use of authentic tasks from daily clinical practice, as well as the interprofessional approach and reflection, were considered to promote the transfer of learning. Although promising, our findings also pointed to obstacles limiting the application of evidence-based knowledge, such as a shortage of supplies and conventional practices.
Improving nurses’ performance in the safe handling of antineoplastic agents: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Nouri A , Seyed Javadi M , Iranijam E , Aghamohammadi M
Published: December 2021

Background

The safe and standard handling of antineoplastic drugs can reduce the effects of occupational exposure and promote safe behaviors in nurses. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the effects ofstandard guidelines education on the safe handling of antineoplastic drugs among oncologynurses in Ardabil, Iran.

Methods

Thequasi-experimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design was performed among 32 nursesworking in the oncology wards of two educational hospitals in Ardabil city, during 2020. Allthe nurses in the wards who met the inclusion criteria participated in the study. The data were collectedby usinga demographic information form and nurses’knowledge assessment questionnaire regardingthe standard guidelines for working with antineoplastic drugs, and a standard checklist for examiningtheir performance in this regard. Subsequently, they were analyzed by descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test)and Pearson’s correlation coefficient) in SPSS 22.

Results

The mean and standard deviation of the knowledge and performance scores of the oncology nurses was59.56±6.41and 18.96±2.54 respectively, which changed to 66±4.82 and 32.03±2.45 respectively three months after training. The results of the t-test represented a statistically significant difference between the level of knowledge and performance before and after the intervention (P=0.001).

Conclusions

Based on the results, the standard guidelines education improved the nurses’ knowledge and performance on the safe handling of antineoplastic drugs in the chemotherapy wards. Therefore, it is advised to increase the awareness of the oncology nurses in this regard in the planning and policy-making ofhealthcare centers.
The effects of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation on lung function and complications in cardiac surgery patients: a pilot study
Authors: Wu Meng-Fang , Wang Tsai-Yu , Chen Da-Shen , Hsiao Hsiu-Fong , Hu Han-Chuang , Chung Fu-Tsai , Lin Ting-Yu , Lin Shu-Min
Published: December 2021

Background

Postoperative positive pressure lung expansion is associated with decreased pulmonary complications and improved clinical outcomes. The aim of the present study was to compare the differences in post-operative pulmonary complications and clinical outcomes between two groups of study subjects who underwent cardiac surgery; one included subjects who received mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) and the other included subjects who received intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) therapy.

Methods

This retrospective study included 51 subjects, who underwent cardiac surgery in an intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital during the time period from June 2017 to February 2018. After liberation from mechanical ventilation, the subjects received lung expansion therapy by means of two types of positive pressure devices, MI-E (n = 21) or IPPB (n = 30). The pulmonary complications, lung function, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results

Subjects in both groups displayed similar baseline characteristics and underwent similar types of surgical procedures. Compared to subjects who received non-oscillatory therapy, those who received MI-E therapy had higher post-operative force vital capacity (58.4 ± 4.74% vs. 46.0 ± 3.70%, p = 0.042), forced expiratory volume in one second (62.4 ± 5.23% vs. 46.8 ± 3.83%, p = 0.017), and peak flow rate (67.1 ± 5.53 L vs. 55.7 ± 4.44 L p = 0.111). However, the incidence of chest pain was higher in the MI-E group (n = 13, 61.9%) than in the IPPB group (n = 4, 16.7%; odds ratio, 0.123, 95% confidence interval, 0.03–0.45; p = 0.002). The length of hospital and ICU stay, development of atelectasis, pneumonia, and pleural effusion were similar in both the groups.

Conclusion

Both IPPB and MI-E therapies have similar effects on preventing post-operative complications in cardiac surgery patients. However, compared to IPPB therapy, MI-E therapy was associated with better-preserved pulmonary function and higher incidence of chest pain.
Lower extremity kinematic coupling during single and double leg landing and gait in female junior athletes with dynamic knee valgus
Authors: Dadfar Mahdis , Sheikhhoseini Rahman , Jafarian Mohadeseh , Esmaeili Alireza
Published: December 2021

Background

Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) is a common lower extremity movement disorder among females. This study aimed to investigate kinematic couplings between lower extremity joints in female junior athletes with DKV during single and double-leg landing and gait.

Methods

Twenty-six physically active female junior athletes (10–14 years old) with DKV were recruited. Kinematic couplings between rearfoot, tibia, knee, and hip were extracted using eight Vicon motion capture cameras and two force plates. Zero-lag cross-correlation coefficient and vector coding were used to calculate kinematic couplings between joints during physical tasks. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon tests were run to find significant couplings between joint motions and coupling strengths. Bonferroni posthoc was used to determine significance with α ≤ 0.05.

Results

The results showed that the strongest kinematic relationship existed between rearfoot eversion/inversion and tibial internal/external rotation during all three tasks. Correlations of the rearfoot supination/pronation with tibial rotations, knee, and hip motions in sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes were very strong to strong during double-leg landing and moderate to weak during gait. A weak correlation was observed between rearfoot supination/pronation and hip adduction/abduction during single-leg landing.

Conclusions

Coupling relationships between rearfoot, knee, and hip vary by the task intensity and alignment profiles in female juniors with DKV.
On nabla conformable fractional Hardy-type inequalities on arbitrary time scales
Authors: El-Deeb Ahmed A. , Makharesh Samer D. , Nwaeze Eze R. , Iyiola Olaniyi S. , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: December 2021

The main aim of the present article is to introduce some new ∇-conformable dynamic inequalities of Hardy type on time scales. We present and prove several results using chain rule and Fubini’s theorem on time scales. Our results generalize, complement, and extend existing results in the literature. Many special cases of the proposed results, such as new conformable fractional h-sum inequalities, new conformable fractional q-sum inequalities, and new classical conformable fractional integral inequalities, are obtained and analyzed.
Effects of the absorbent types on changes in benzo[a]pyrene and volatile compounds in sesame oil
Authors: Lee Sang Mi , Jeong Ji-Yoon , Lee Joon-Goo , Kim Young-Suk
Published: December 2021

The effects of different absorbent types on changes in benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and volatiles in sesame oil during filtration processes were investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The BaP content was greatly reduced after filtration using powdered activated carbons (activated carbon made from peat: PP, activated carbon made from coconut shell: PC, activated carbon made from wood: PW) in comparison to granular activated carbons (activated carbon made from coconut shell: GC, activated carbon made from wood: GW). The BaP content in sesame oil was also considerably reduced when filtrated with a PW–acid clay mixture in comparison to PW–kaolin and PW–celite mixtures. Most volatile compounds were also greatly reduced after filtration using powdered activated carbons (PP, PC, and PW) in comparison to granular activated carbons (GC and GW). These results might be due to the relatively ionic structure on the surface and internal surface area of absorbent pores.
Pilot trial of remote monitoring to prevent malnutrition after hepatopancreatobiliary surgery
Authors: Allenson Kelvin , Turner Kea , Gonzalez Brian D. , Gurd Erin , Zhu Sarah , Misner Nicole , Chin Alicia , Adams Melissa , Cooper Laura , Nguyen Diana , Naffouje Samer , Castillo Diana L. , Kocab Maria , James Brian , Denbo Jason , Pimiento Jose M. , Malafa Mokenge , Powers Benjamin D. , Fleming Jason B. , Anaya Daniel A. , Hodul Pamela J.
Published: December 2021

Background

Patients undergoing hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery, such patients with pancreatic, periampullary, and liver cancer, are at high risk for malnutrition. Malnutrition increases surgical complications and reduces overall survival. Despite its severity, there are limited interventions addressing malnutrition after HPB surgery. The aim of this pilot trial was to examine feasibility, acceptability, usability, and preliminary efficacy of a remote nutrition monitoring intervention after HPB surgery.

Methods

Participants received tailored nutritional counseling before and after surgery at 2 and 4 weeks after hospital discharge. Participants also recorded nutritional intake daily for 30 days, and these data were reviewed remotely by registered dietitians before nutritional counseling visits. Descriptive statistics were used to describe study outcomes.

Results

All 26 patients approached to participate consented to the trial before HPB surgery. Seven were excluded after consent for failing to meet eligibility criteria (e.g., did not receive surgery). Nineteen participants (52.6% female, median age = 65 years) remained eligible for remote monitoring post-surgery. Nineteen used the mobile app food diary, 79% of participants recorded food intake for greater than 80% of study days, 95% met with the dietitian for all visits, and 89% were highly satisfied with the intervention. Among participants with complete data, the average percent caloric goal obtained was 82.4% (IQR: 21.7).

Conclusions

This intervention was feasible and acceptable to patients undergoing HPB surgery. Preliminary efficacy data showed most participants were able to meet calorie intake goals. Future studies should examine intervention efficacy in a larger, randomized controlled trial.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov. Registered 16 September 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04091165.
Fermented rye with Agaricus subrufescens and mannan-rich hydrolysate based feed additive to modulate post-weaning piglet immune response
Authors: de Groot Nienke , Fariñas Fernando , Fabà Lluís , Hambrecht Ellen , Cabrera-Gómez Carolina G. , Pallares Francisco J. , Ramis Guillermo
Published: December 2021

Background

The process of weaning in piglets is often associated with an increased inflammation response in the intestine and compromised intestinal integrity and morphology, favoring a delay in intestinal maturation and a predisposal to diseases. Research has shown the potential of different nutritional strategies to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, with the main goal to manipulate health and performance of pigs. Promising examples of nutritional strategies are fungal fermented products and their derivatives which are described to contain several compounds that may play a role in gastrointestinal health and pathogenic bacteria control. Products from Agaricus subrufescens mushroom are reported to contain prophylactic and therapeutic properties including antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties.

Results

This study analysed the post-weaning immune status in intestinal tissue and blood of piglets, with the objective to evaluate the gastrointestinal health and immune modulation response induced by a blend of mannan-rich hydrolyzed copra meal and fermented rye with A. subrufescens. Intestinal histomorphology demonstrated a villus height reduction in jejunum and increase in ileum on day 15, while increased villous height in jejunum and ileum on day 30. The results showed that in post-weaning piglets, the feed additive stimulates an immunomodulation effect most evident at 15 days post-weaning, with significant lower expression of cytokines Interferon (IFN) γ, Interleukin (IL) 1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and Transforming Growth Factor (TGF) β in jejunum, accompanied with an increase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cytokine gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p35 (IL-12α), IL-12p40 (IL-12β), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) α, IFN-α, and TGF-β. In piglets fed the feed additive, the quantity of Immunoglobulin (Ig) A producing cells in jejunum, ileum was reduced on day 15 and 30 post-weaning, and on day 30 and 45 post-weaning in colon tissue. Natural Killer (NK) cells count in blood were increased on day 15 post-weaning in the piglets fed the feed additive.

Conclusion

This study implies the potential of the blend including mannan-rich hydrolyzed copra meal and fermented rye with A. subrufescens on immune modulation in the intestine of post-weaning piglets.