bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of socioeconomic factors in developing mycetoma: Results from a household survey in Sennar State, Sudan
Authors: Hounsome Natalia , Hassan Rowa , Bakhiet Sahar Mubarak , Deribe Kebede , Bremner Stephen , Fahal Ahmed Hassan , Newport Melanie J.
Published: October 2022

Background

Mycetoma is a chronic, progressively destructive disease of subcutaneous tissues and bones caused by certain species of bacteria or fungi. We conducted a cross-sectional community-based study alongside mapping of mycetoma in five administrative units with high mycetoma endemicity in the Eastern Sennar Locality, Sennar State, Sudan.

Methods

A household survey was administered which included questions about the household members, household characteristics, economic activity and history of mycetoma. A clinical examination was conducted on all members of the household. If mycetoma was suspected, an individual questionnaire was completed collecting demographic, clinical and epidemiological data as well as information on the use of health care and associated costs. Geographical coordinates and photos of the lesions were taken, and the affected persons were referred to the medical centre for confirmation of the diagnosis and treatment. We compared the characteristics of households with confirmed cases of mycetoma with those without confirmed cases, and individuals with confirmed mycetoma with those in whom mycetoma was not confirmed.

Results

In total 7,798 households in 60 villages were surveyed; 515 suspected cases were identified and 359 cases of mycetoma were confirmed. Approximately 15% of households with mycetoma had more than one household member affected by this disease. Households with mycetoma were worse off with respect to water supply, toilet facilities, electricity and electrical appliances compared to the survey households. Only 23% of study participants with mycetoma had sought professional help. Of these, 77% of patients travelled an average of six hours to visit a medical facility. More than half of patients had to pay towards their treatment. The estimated average cost of treatment was 26,957 Sudanese pounds per year (566 US dollars, exchange rate 2018).

Conclusions

Results of this survey suggest that agricultural practices and reduced access to sanitation and clean water can be risk factors in developing mycetoma. Poor access to health care and substantial financial costs were barriers to seeking treatment for mycetoma.
Self-powered acceleration sensors arrayed by swarm intelligence for table tennis umpiring system
Authors: Lu Ke , Liu Chaoran , Zou Haiyang , Wang Yishao , Wang Gaofeng , Li Dujuan , Fan Kai , Yang Weihuang , Dong Linxi , Sha Ruizhi , Li Dongyang
Published: October 2022

Table tennis competition is voted as one of the most popular competitive sports. The referee umpires the competition mainly based on visual observation and experience, which may make misjudgments on competition results due to the referee’s subjective uncertainty or imprecision. In this work, a novel intelligent umpiring system based on arrayed self-powered acceleration sensor nodes was presented to enhance the competition accuracy. A sensor node array model was established to detect ball collision point on the table tennis table. This model clearly illuminated the working mechanism of the proposed umpiring system. And an improved particle swarm optimization (level-based competitive swarm optimization) was applied to optimize the arrayed sensor nodes distribution by redefining the representations and update rules of position and velocity. The optimized results showed that the number of sensors decreased from 58 to 51. Also, the reliability of the optimized nodes distribution of the table tennis umpiring system has been verified theoretically. The results revealed that our system achieved a precise detection of the ball collision point with uniform error distances below 3.5 mm. Besides, this research offered an in-depth study on intelligent umpiring system based on arrayed self-powered sensor nodes, which will improve the accuracy of the umpiring of table tennis competition.
Agent-based model projections for reducing HIV infection among MSM: Prevention and care pathways to end the HIV epidemic in Chicago, Illinois
Authors: Vermeer Wouter , Gurkan Can , Hjorth Arthur , Benbow Nanette , Mustanski Brian M. , Kern David , Brown C. Hendricks , Wilensky Uri
Published: October 2022

Our objective is to improve local decision-making for strategies to end the HIV epidemic using the newly developed Levers of HIV agent-based model (ABM). Agent-based models use computer simulations that incorporate heterogeneity in individual behaviors and interactions, allow emergence of systemic behaviors, and extrapolate into the future. The Levers of HIV model (LHM) uses Chicago neighborhood demographics, data on sex-risk behaviors and sexual networks, and data on the prevention and care cascades, to model local dynamics. It models the impact of changes in local preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral treatment (ART) (ie, levers) for meeting Illinois’ goal of “Getting to Zero” (GTZ) —reducing by 90% new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) by 2030. We simulate a 15-year period (2016-2030) for 2304 distinct scenarios based on 6 levers related to HIV treatment and prevention: (1) linkage to PrEP for those testing negative, (2) linkage to ART for those living with HIV, (3) adherence to PrEP, (4) viral suppression by means of ART, (5) PrEP retention, and (6) ART retention. Using tree-based methods, we identify the best scenarios at achieving a 90% HIV infection reduction by 2030. The optimal scenario consisted of the highest levels of ART retention and PrEP adherence, next to highest levels of PrEP retention, and moderate levels of PrEP linkage, achieved 90% reduction by 2030 in 58% of simulations. We used Bayesian posterior predictive distributions based on our simulated results to determine the likelihood of attaining 90% HIV infection reduction using the most recent Chicago Department of Public Health surveillance data and found that projections of the current rate of decline (2016-2019) would not achieve the 90% (p = 0.0006) reduction target for 2030. Our results suggest that increases are needed at all steps of the PrEP cascade, combined with increases in retention in HIV care, to approach 90% reduction in new HIV diagnoses by 2030. These findings show how simulation modeling with local data can guide policy makers to identify and invest in efficient care models to achieve long-term local goals of ending the HIV epidemic.
Side channel analysis based on feature fusion network
Authors: Ni Feng , Wang Junnian , Tang Jialin , Yu Wenjun , Xu Ruihan
Published: October 2022

Various physical information can be leaked while the encryption algorithm is running in the device. Side-channel analysis exploits these leakages to recover keys. Due to the sensitivity of deep learning to the data features, the efficiency and accuracy of side channel analysis are effectively improved with the application of deep learning algorithms. However, a considerable part of existing reserches are based on traditional neural networks. The effectiveness of key recovery is improved by increasing the size of the network. However, the computational complexity of the algorithm increases accordingly. Problems such as overfitting, low training efficiency, and low feature extraction ability also occur. In this paper, we construct an improved lightweight convolutional neural network based on the feature fusion network. The new network and the traditional neural networks are respectively applied to the side-channel analysis for comparative experiments. The results show that the new network has faster convergence, better robustness and higher accuracy. No overfitting has occurred. A heatmap visualization method was introduced for analysis. The new network has higher heat value and more concentration in the key interval. Side-channel analysis based on feature fusion network has better performance, compared with the ones based on traditional neural networks.
International comparison of cross-disciplinary integration in industry 4.0: A co-authorship analysis using academic literature databases
Authors: Mizukami Yuji , Nakano Junji
Published: October 2022

In innovation strategy, a type of Schumpeterian competitive strategy in business administration, "intra-individual diversity" has attracted attention as one factor for creating innovation. In this study, we redefine "framework for identifying researchers’ areas of expertise" as "a framework for quantifying intra-individual diversity among researchers. Note that diversity here refers to authorship of articles in multiple research fields. The application of this framework then made it possible to visualize organizational diversity by accumulating the intra-individual diversity of researchers and to discuss the innovation strategy of the organization. The analysis in this study discusses how countries are promoting research on the topics of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, which are at the core of Industry 4.0, from an innovation perspective. Note that Industry 4.0 is a technological framework that aims to “improve the efficiency of all social systems,” “create new industries,” and “increase intellectual productivity.” For the analysis, we used 19-year bibliographic data (2000–2018) from the top 20 countries in terms of the number of papers in AI, big data, and IoT technologies. As the results, this study classified the styles of cross-disciplinary fusion into four patterns in AI and three patterns in big data. This study did not consider the results in IoT because of only small differences between countries. Furthermore, regional differences in the style of cross-disciplinary fusion were also observed, and the global innovation patterns in Industry 4.0 were classified into seven categories. In Europe and North America, the cross-disciplinary integration style was similar to that between the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, England, Italy, Canada, and France. In Asia, the cross-disciplinary fusion style was similar between China, Japan, and South Korea.
Low grade intravascular hemolysis associates with peripheral nerve injury in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Le Jeune Sylvain , Sadoudi Sihem , Charue Dominique , Abid Salwa , Guigner Jean-Michel , Helley Dominique , Bihan Hélène , Baudry Camille , Lelong Hélène , Mirault Tristan , Vicaut Eric , Dhote Robin , Mourad Jean-Jacques , Boulanger Chantal M. , Blanc-Brude Olivier P.
Published: October 2022

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) induces hyperglycemia, alters hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) deformability and impairs hemorheology. The question remains whether RBC breakdown and intravascular hemolysis (IVH) occur in T2D patients. We characterized RBC-degradation products and vesiculation in a case-control study of 109 T2D patients and 65 control subjects. We quantified heme-related absorbance by spectrophotometry and circulating extracellular vesicles (EV) by flow cytometry and electron microscopy. Heme-related absorbance was increased in T2D vs. control plasma (+57%) and further elevated in obese T2D plasma (+27%). However, large CD235a+ EV were not increased in T2D plasma. EV from T2D plasma, or shed by isolated T2D RBC, were notably smaller in diameter (-27%) and carried heme-related absorbance. In T2D plasma, higher heme-related absorbance (+30%) was associated to peripheral sensory neuropathy, and no other vascular complication. In vitro, T2D RBC-derived EV triggered endothelial stress and thrombin activation in a phosphatidylserine- and heme-dependent fashion. We concluded that T2D was associated with low-grade IVH. Plasma absorbance may constitute a novel biomarker of peripheral neuropathy in T2D, while flow cytometry focusing on large EV may be maladapted to characterize RBC EV in T2D. Moreover, therapeutics limiting IVH or neutralizing RBC breakdown products might bolster vasculoprotection in T2D.
General practitioner perspectives on factors that influence implementation of secondary care-initiated treatment in primary care: Exploring implementation beyond the context of a clinical trial
Authors: Le Boutillier Clair , Ahmed Haroon , Patel Vishal C. , McPhail Mark , Carter Ben , Ward Christopher , Lawrence Vanessa
Published: October 2022

Background

The Beta-blockers Or Placebo for Primary Prophylaxis of oesophageal varices (BOPPP) trial is a 3-year phase IV, multi-centre clinical trial of investigational medicinal product (CTIMP) that aims to determine the effectiveness of carvedilol in the prevention of variceal bleeding for small oesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis. Early engagement of General Practitioners (GPs) in conversations about delivery of a potentially effective secondary care-initiated treatment in primary care provides insights for future implementation. The aim of this study was to understand the implementation of trial findings by exploring i) GP perspectives on factors that influence implementation beyond the context of the trial and ii) how dose titration and ongoing treatment with carvedilol is best delivered in primary care.

Methods

This qualitative study was embedded within the BOPPP trial and was conducted alongside site opening. GP participants were purposively sampled and recruited from ten Clinical Commissioning Groups in England and three Health Boards across Wales. Semi-structured telephone individual interviews were conducted with GPs (n = 23) working in England and Wales. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

Five overarching themes were identified: i) primary care is best placed for oversight, ii) a shared approach led by secondary care, iii) empower the patient to take responsibility, iv) the need to go above and beyond and v) develop practice guidance. The focus on prevention, attention to holistic care, and existing and often long-standing relationships with patients provides an impetus for GP oversight. GPs spoke about the value of partnership working with secondary care and of prioritising patient-centred care and involving patients in taking responsibility for their own health. An agreed pathway of care, clear communication, and specific, accessible guidance on how to implement the proposed treatment strategy safely and effectively are important determinants in the success of implementation.

Conclusions

Our findings for implementing secondary care-initiated treatment in primary care are important to the specifics of the BOPPP trial but can also go some way in informing wider learning for other trials where work is shared across the primary-secondary care interface, and where findings will impact the primary care workload. We propose a systems research perspective for addressing implementation of CTIMP findings at the outset of research. The value of early stakeholder involvement is highlighted, and the need to consider complexity in terms of the interaction between the intervention and the context in which it is implemented is acknowledged.

Trial registration

ISRCTN10324656.
Birth trauma in preterm spontaneous vaginal and cesarean section deliveries: A 10-years retrospective study
Authors: Luca Alina , Vinturache Angela , Ilea Ciprian , Avasiloaiei Andreea , Paduraru Luminita , Carauleanu Alexandru , Sripcariu Ioana , Socolov Demetra
Published: October 2022

Objective

We compared birth injuries for spontaneous vaginal (VD) and caesarean section (CS) deliveries in preterm and term pregnancies.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a single tertiary center, between January 1st, 2007, and December 31st, 2017. The study included 62330 singleton pregnancies delivered after 24 0/7 weeks gestation. Multivariable analyses compared trauma at birth, birth hypoxia and birth asphyxia in term and preterm deliveries, stratified by mode of birth, VD versus CS. Main outcome measure was trauma at birth including intracranial laceration and haemorrhage, injuries to scalp, injuries to central and peripheral nervous system, fractures to skeleton, facial and eye injury.

Results

The incidence of preterm deliveries was 10.9%. Delivery of preterm babies by CS increased from 37.0% in 2007 to 60.0% in 2017. The overall incidence of all birth trauma was 16.2%. When stratified by mode of delivery, birth trauma was recorded in 23.4% of spontaneous vaginal deliveries and 7.5% of CS deliveries (aOR 3.3, 95%CI 3.1–3.5). When considered all types of birth trauma, incidence of trauma at birth was higher after 28 weeks gestation in VD compared to CS (28–31 weeks, aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3–2.3; 32–36 weeks, aOR 4.2, 95% CI 3.6–4.9; >37 weeks, aOR 3.3, 95% CI 3.1–3.5). There was no difference in the incidence of birth trauma before 28 weeks gestation between VD and CS (aOR 0.8, 95% CI 0.5–1.2). Regarding overall life-threatening birth trauma or injuries at birth with severe consequences such as cerebral and intraventricular haemorrhage, cranial and brachial nerve injury, fractures of long bones and clavicle, eye and facial injury, there was no difference in vaginal preterm deliveries compared to CS deliveries (p > 0.05 for all).

Conclusion

CS is not protective of injury at birth. When all types of birth trauma are considered, these are more common in spontaneous VD, thus favoring CS as preferred method of delivery to avoid trauma at birth. However, when stratified by severity of birth trauma, preterm babies delivered vaginally are not at higher risk of major birth trauma than those delivered by CS.
Relationship between total and differential quarter somatic cell counts at dry-off and early lactation
Authors: Dal Prà Aldo , Biscarini Filippo , Cavani Gian Luca , Bacchelli Saverio , Iotti Alcide , Borghi Sara , Nocetti Marco , Moroni Paolo
Published: October 2022

Mastitis is a most common disease of dairy cows and causes tremendous economic loss to the dairy industry worldwide. Somatic cell counts (SCC) reflect the inflammatory response to infections and is a metric used as key indicator in mastitis screening programs, typically within the framework of national milk recording schemes. Besides the determination of total SCC, the differentiation of cell types has been described to be beneficial for a more definite description of the actual udder health status of dairy cows. Differential somatic cell count (DSCC) represents the combined proportion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and lymphocytes expressed as a percentage of the total. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SCC and differential somatic cell count (DSCC) in individual quarter milk samples collected at different time points: at dry-off, after calving and at the lactation peak. We used individual quarter data from farms representing the specialized production system of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese in Northern Italy. Average DSCC values ranged between 44.9% and 56.3%, with higher values (60.4%-72.1%) in milk samples with ≥ 1 million SCC/ml (where the proportion of samples with DSCC > 70% can be as high as 0.73). Moderate overall correlations between DSCC and log(SCC) were estimated (Pearson = 0.42, Spearman = 0.38), with a clear increasing trend with parity and around the lactation peak (e.g. Pearson = 0.59 at 60 DIM in parity 4). Taking SCC values as indicators of subclinical mastitis, DSCC would diagnose mastitis with 0.75 accuracy. Data editing criteria do have an impact on results, with stricter filtering leading to lower correlations between log(SCC) and DSCC. In conclusion DSCC and SCC provide different descriptions of the udder health status of dairy cows which, at least to some extent, are independent. DSCC alone doesn’t provide more accurate information than SCC at quarter level but, used in combination with SCC, can be of potential interest within the framework of milk recording programs, especially in the context of selective dry-cow therapy (SDCT). However, this needs further investigation and updated threshold values need to be selected and validated.
High-intensity circuit training for improving anthropometric parameters for women from low socioeconomic communities of Sikandarabad: A clinical trial
Authors: Mehmood Sana , Khan Amna , Farooqui Sumaira , Zahoor Al-Wardha , Adnan Qurat Ul Ain , Khan Usman
Published: October 2022

Background

An alarming trend of sustained physical inactivity has been observed among women in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, mainly due to the lack of time and high cost of gym facilities. Although physical activity essentially contributes to disease prevention, evidence supporting time-efficient exercise on anthropometric measures is limited. This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of interval-based high-intensity circuit training (HICT) on anthropometric measures and the nature of the relationship between these measures.

Methods

A single-group, quasi-experimental study was conducted in the community park of Ziauddin Hospital at Sikandarabad. Sixty women who were overweight and had sedentary lifestyles were recruited for a six-week HICT-based program conducted at 85%–95% maximum heart rate (MHR) on every alternate day. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at 6-weeks including anthropometric parameters (body mass index [BMI], body fat percentage [BF%], and waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]).

Results

The six-week HICT-based program demonstrated a significant reduction in BMI (p<0.001), BF% (p<0.001), and WHR (p<0.001). Reductions in the BMI mean from 27.3±1.3 to 25.1±1.4 and BF% mean from 31.9±2.3 to 27.6±2.4 were observed following 18 sessions of HICT. The effect of age on BF% and WHR was linearly significant (p<0.001) with increasing age (BF%) and WHR.

Conclusion

Interval-based HICT was an effective exercise regimen for improving BMI, BF%, and WHR. Furthermore, the exercise protocol was feasible and well tolerated, with no reported adverse events, and it could be easily implemented in real-world community settings. BF% and WHR were significantly influenced by increasing age; therefore, our findings support the importance of exercise implementation, especially with increasing age, for the maintenance of a disease-free healthy lifestyle.
Extended Wang sum and associated products
Authors: Reynolds Robert , Stauffer Allan
Published: October 2022

The Wang sum involving the exponential sums of Lerch’s Zeta functions is extended to the finite sum of the Huwitz-Lerch Zeta function to derive sums and products involving cosine and tangent trigonometric functions. The general theorem used to derive these sums and products is in the form of the finite sum over positive integers of the Hurwitz-Lerch Zeta function where the associated parameters are general complex numbers. New Hurwitz-Lerch Zeta function recurrence identities with consecutive neighbours are derived. Some finite sum and product formulae examples involving cosine, tangent and the product of cosine and tangent functions are also derived and evaluated.
Insight into postural control in unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular hypofunction
Authors: Lubetzky Anat V. , Kelly Jennifer L. , Harel Daphna , Roginska Agnieszka , Hujsak Bryan D. , Wang Zhu , Perlin Ken , Cosetti Maura
Published: October 2022

This pilot study aimed to identify postural strategies in response to sensory perturbations (visual, auditory, somatosensory) in adults with and without sensory loss. We tested people with unilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction (N = 12, mean age 62 range 23–78), or with Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss (USNHL, N = 9, 48, 22–82), or healthy controls (N = 21, 52, 28–80). Postural sway and head kinematics parameters (Directional Path in the anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions (sway & head); pitch, yaw and roll (head) were analyzed in response to 2 levels of auditory (none, rhythmic sounds via headphones), visual (static, dynamic) and somatosensory cues (floor, foam) within a simulated, virtual 3-wall display of stars. We found no differences with the rhythmic auditory cues. The effect of foam was magnified in the vestibular group compared with controls for anterior-posterior and medio-lateral postural sway, and all head direction except for medio-lateral. The vestibular group had significantly larger anterior-posterior and medio-lateral postural sway and head movement on the static scene compared with controls. Differences in pitch, yaw and roll emerged between vestibular and controls only with sensory perturbations. The USNHL group did not increase their postural sway and head movement with the increased visual load as much as controls did, particularly when standing on the foam. They did not increase their medio-lateral sway with the foam as much as controls did. These findings suggest that individuals with USNHL employ a compensatory strategy of conscious control of balance, the functional implications of which need to be tested in future research.
Evolutionary game analysis of polluting NIMBY facilities reconstruction based on public participation behavior
Authors: Zhao Hui , Zhang Mengran , Wang Weihan
Published: October 2022

With the advancement of urbanization and the expansion of urban areas, NIMBY (not in my back yard) environmental public facilities are increasing day by day. It is meaningful to incorporate public participation into the regulatory process for the existing pollution NIMBY facility enterprises. Through the establishment of the tripartite game model of local government, polluting NIMBY facility enterprises and the public, the evolution stability analysis and simulation analysis of their strategies are carried out, and the Pareto optimal solution is obtained. The results show that: The strategy choices of the players of the three-party game are different under different stability conditions. The system can be broken out of the bad state by increasing government punishment, local governments strictly controlling the potential profits, the potential losses of polluting enterprises not rebuilding, the long-term public benefits and reducing the cost of public participation, etc., and the three-party common governance mode can be formed. The strategy evolution speed of a player in a three-party game is affected by his own strategy choice proportion and the strategy choice proportion of the other two players, but no matter how the strategy choice proportion of the player in a three-party game changes, it will not change the final game result. On the basis of comprehensive analysis, a series of relevant suggestions are put forward from the three aspects of government, enterprises and the public, so as to provide certain reference for the design of the public participation system of polluting NIMBY facilities.
Balancing Form and Function: The Politics of Access Aesthetics
Authors: Johnson Megan A.
Published: October 2022

This article explores how access intervenes in and inverts the usual administrative protocols of art, theatre, and performance. An aesthetics of access foregrounds the potential of access to contribute artistic and sensory meaning to an artwork or performance. Such creative engagements with access, which shift access from being a purely functional mechanism into something that is incorporated into the artistic fabric of a work, are an important way of intervening in modes of artistic creation and production that might otherwise be exclusionary to diverse or non-normative bodyminds. They also situate access as an evolving and relational practice, countering the idea that access can be achieved by completing a series of discrete tasks. Alongside an appreciation of its creative potential, however, it is necessary to recognize the politics of access aesthetics, which are deeply rooted in disability culture and activism.
Expanding My “Default” Audience
Authors: Wu Christine
Published: October 2022

My short audio documentary pauses for a glimpse into the world of described video, also referred to as visual or audio description. I interview a few multitalented people about their experiences with audio description, all of whom with versatile and generative repertoire beyond the brief introductions that follow: Natalie Trevonne and Melissa Lomax, two blind fashion lovers hosting the Fashionably Tardy podcast; Christine Malec and J.J. Hunt, a blind arts and culture consultant and a professional audio describer hosting the Talk Description To Me podcast; and, Andy Slater, a legally blind musician and installation artist. How can film and video be better crafted with access in mind? Having completed the project, I reflect on my decision to focus on audio description and my current relationship to the creative process.
Act Normal – Excerpts
Authors: Halifax Nancy Viva Davis
Published: October 2022

act normal starts in an institution where children categorized & constructed as intellectually inferior are placed into custodial care \ opened in 1876 as the hospital for idiots & imbeciles it closed in 2009 as the Huronia Regional Centre.
Metsänomistajien näkemyksiä turvemaametsien hiilen sidontaa ja varastointia lisäävistä metsänhoidollista toimenpiteistä
Authors: Valonen Matti , Korhonen Olli , Horne Paula
Published: October 2022

Metsien rooli ilmastonmuutoksen hillinnässä korostuu viimeaikaisessa tutkimuksessa. Suomessa yksityismetsänomistajat omistavat suurimman osan metsätalousmaasta. Koska heidän mieli­piteensä ovat olennaisia ilmastoystävällisten metsienhoitotapojen soveltamiselle, tutkimme, miten todennäköisesti yksityiset metsänomistajat haluaisivat korvausta vastaan ottaa käyttöön hiilen sidontaa ja varastointia lisääviä toimenpiteitä. Metsänomistajakunnan heterogeenisyyden vaikutuksen analysoimiseksi kysymyslomake sisälsi kysymyksiä metsänomistajien taustatekijöistä, metsänomistuksen tavoitteista ja metsätilojen ominaisuuksista. Aineistona tutkimuksessa käytettiin Suomalainen metsänomistaja 2020 -tutkimuksessa kerättyä kyselyaineistoa vuodelta 2019. Osa­otoksen aineistoa (n = 2250, vastausprosentti 43) analysoitiin logistisella regressiomallilla metsän­omistajien neljän eri toimenpiteen käyttöönottohalukkuuden todennäköisyyksien selvittämiseksi. Kaikki tarkastellut toimenpiteet, jotka olivat jatkuva kasvatus, siirtäminen metsätalouden ulkopuo­lelle, lannoitus ja kaatuneiden puiden jättäminen lahoamaan, soveltuvat metsiin maaperästä riippumatta, mutta jatkuva kasvatus ja siirtäminen metsätalouden ulkopuolelle oli rajattu koskemaan ainoastaan turvemaita. Tutkimuksen päähuomion kohteena olivat turvemaille sovellettavissa olevat toimenpiteet. Metsänomistajat, joille metsät ovat tärkeitä puuntuotannossa, olivat todennäköisesti halukkaampia ottamaan käyttöön toimenpiteitä, jotka ovat yhteensovitettavissa metsätalouden kanssa. On todennäköistä, että mitä enemmän toimenpiteet ovat yhdensuuntaisia metsänomistajien metsälleen asettamien tavoitteiden kanssa, sitä helpommin ja sitä pienemmällä korvauksella metsänomistajat ovat valmiita toteutukseen. Nykyisiin metsänhoito- ja hakkuutapoihin tyytymättömät metsänomistajat ovat tyytyväisiä metsänomistajia selvästi halukkaampia ottamaan käyttöön tarkasteltuja toimenpiteitä paitsi puuston kasvun lisäämistä lannoituksella. Metsänomistajien iän kasvaessa todennäköinen halukkuus ottaa tarkasteltuja toimenpiteitä käyttöön väheni riippumatta siitä, olivatko toimet yhteensovitettavissa metsätalouden kanssa. Metsänomistajien neuvonnassa voisi pyrkiä vaikuttamaan metsänomistajien metsien käsittelyyn tuomalla esille entistä laajemmin erilaisia yksittäisiä metsänhoidollisia toimenpiteitä, jotka olisivat sovellettavissa ja yhteensovitettavissa metsänomistajan tavoitteiden kanssa osana metsien hoitoa.
Knowledge, attitude and perception on utilization of Voluntary Counselling and Testing services: Experiences from secondary school students in Northern Tanzania
Authors: James Shedura Vulstan , Paul Christine Hyasint
Published: October 2022

Introduction: Voluntary counselling is a confidential dialogue between person and care provider aimed at enabling the person to cope with stress and make personal decision related to HIV/AIDS. The provision of HIV/AIDS-related counselling services in Tanzania started in 1988, three years after the first three AIDS cases were identified in Tanzania. Despite youth including secondary school students being an important reproductive group in government’s economic development in all sectors but they do not have enough knowledge on utilization of Voluntary counselling and Testing (VCT) services and its importance towards prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, school students for instance seminary students, do not get easy access of knowledge on various diseases’ preventive measures including utilization of VCT for HIV/AIDS. We aimed to describe the knowledge, attitude, perception, and practices of secondary school students towards VCT services for HIV/AIDS.

Methodology: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study that used a modified Knowledge, Attitude, perception and Practice (KAP) questionnaire about VCT for HIV/AIDS between May and June 2015. The study population included students from Chanjale junior seminary school in which a simple random sampling was used for select the study participants. Data entry and analysis were done by using Microsoft excel.

Results: The study involved 231 (100%) students in which among those; 63.2% (146/231) were males. The study found that, most of students have little knowledge and awareness on VCT services as 68.0% haven’t heard of VCT services; students had both positive and negative attitudes toward VCT services; but again, fear for lack of confidentiality after HIV testing was seen as the principal setback towards utilization of VCT services for HIV/AIDS among students.

Conclusion: HIV is still on the increase, despite several measures undertaken through different approaches including VCT program. Since the study has found that there is insufficient knowledge and practices of VCT services for HIV/AIDS among youths for instance secondary school students, there is the need to focus on various interventional methods that will reform the youth’s knowledge, attitude, perception and practices towards VCT for HIV/AIDS.
Export Marketing: The Moderator Effects of Dysfunctional Competition

and Institutional Barriers
Authors: Salehi Nader , Kashmari Ali , Shahsavari Haniye
Published: October 2022

In recent decades, companies have become more focused on the export market and cross-border trade. Companies use international expansion to grow, increase profits and sales, maintain a competitive market position, and compensate for the presence of foreign companies in their market. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of export marketing capabilities and diversification of export entry on export performance, with inefficient competition and organizational barriers acting as moderators. This study is applied, descriptive, and survey-based. The statistical population consists of 67 Niro Motor Industrial Company senior, middle, and production line managers. In this study, the census method was used for sampling. In order to collect data, a questionnaire was extracted from previous studies, and its validity and reliability were confirmed by tests. Structured equation modeling and Smart PLS software were used to analyze the collected data. This study's findings show that greater levels of product innovation and market responsiveness as a result of export marketing capabilities have a significant impact on export performance.
REPRESENTATION OF COMPLEX OBJECT AND PROCESS STRUCTURES IN GRAPH DATA BASE ON THE EXAMPLE OF AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR
Authors: Pietrzyk Robert , Marciniak Andrzej
Published: October 2022

There is presented application of Graph Data Base technology in knowledge engineering task concerned with knowledge representation of complex structures. The first example is graph representation of composition of tractor gearbox. It is an example of application of static partonomy relation. Adequate codding of that relation in Graph Data Base is easily expressed in Cypher language. There were presented some applications of Graph Data Base useful in management of technical object existence in different “life” phases, as design, production, maintenance and recycling. The second example concerns the Graph representation of activity structure. Such structures was built based on agricultural tractor’s technical revisions system. Created Data Base allows for processing the queries referred to the questions of what activities in what period should be performed to maintain the agricultural tractor ready to work in good technical condition.
The Graph Data Base technology is the first step to create semantic systems for data storing and processing in order to extract knowledge and information useful in precise physical process management.
NONLINEAR METHOD OF VEHICLE VELOCITY DETERMINATION BASED ON INVERSE SYSTEM AND TENSOR PRODUCT OF LEGENDRE POLYNOMIALS - INTERMEDIATE CLASS
Authors: Goslawski Lukasz , Gralewski Jacek , Krukowski Mateusz , Kubiak Przemyslaw , Manko Maria , Mrowicki Adam , Alves de Sousa Ricardo , Sys Ewa
Published: October 2022

Presented paper discusses two different nonlinear approaches to precrash velocity determination for vehicles from Intermediate Car Class. Data that was used to perform analyses introduced in this paper was taken from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. Such database is comprised of substantial number of crash cases and main focus was put on frontal impacts.
Hitherto used energy methods are based on linear model which proves to be inaccurate and producing significant errors. Presented considerations concern the inverse system and tensor product of Legendre polynomials. The focus of those methods is to establish the value of nonlinear coefficient which is the slope factor of precrash velocity Vt and deformation ratio Cs function.
The application of the least square method provides more precise results in both cases than in previously researched solutions, with a slight advantage of the tensor product method. The obtained mean relative error of the velocity determination using the inverse system method is approximately 16,22% for the linear model and 10,58% for the nonlinear model. In the case of the tensor product method the errors for linear and nonlinear models are respectively 6,74% and 6,3%.
NEW THEORETICAL CYCLE FOR ACTIVE COMBUSTION CHAMBER ENGINE
Authors: Glogowski Michal , Kubiak Przemyslaw , Šarić Željko , Barta Dalibor
Published: October 2022

This paper presents calculations of the theoretical cycle of engines with an active combustion chamber depending on energy delivery and dissipation. In the case of ACC engines, a different calculation approach is required to account for the possibility of additional volume change, independent of the piston-crank system. The introduction presents a schematic diagram of volume change, accomplished by two independent piston-crank systems and an active combustion chamber, as proposed by the authors. Moreover, the diagram, which is the basis for analysis in this paper, illustrates characteristic points of the cycle. In existing theoretical cycles of combustion, this issue does not present any difficulties, since the solution is exact and based on known equations. In the case of theoretical ACC engines, however, the situation is different, since this engine can perform not only in typical cycles, but also in new ones. To explain the challenges of these new cycles, authors present a few of the most probable calculation variants, taking into account the new kinematic capabilities of ACC engines. Each comment justifying the choice of a certain calculation variant is illustrated with a theoretical cycle figure and closest approximation of induced pressure course of the ACC engine. At the same time, however, the authors show that this problem can have many interpretations. It has been concluded that the solution depends on the assumptions made about the active combustion chamber, namely its principle of operation.
Reconstruction of traffic situations from digital video-recording using method of volumetric kinetic mapping
Authors: Kolla Eduard , Ondruš Ján , Vertaľ Peter
Published: October 2022

In the past the traffic accident reconstruction was based in principle only on indirect methods that use accident marks and witness reports. These data were then used within backward reconstruction of event for determination of motion status of accident participants and expression of desirable quantities as are initial velocities, impact velocities, distances travelled or temporal conditions. These methods and their accuracy are dependent on the width of intervals of input quantities or on limited possibilities for motion synchronization between numerable participants of road traffic accidents. Existence of footage from CCTV cameras that captures traffic situations presents very valuable source of information about these accidents. The goal of the article is proposal of a volumetric kinetic mapping (VKM) method of accident reconstruction from CCTV footage. The method is based on synthesis of videoediting, videoanalysis and kinetic simulation using dedicated software for accident reconstruction. The method was furthermore validated for speed-time and distance-time variables by means of experimental test runs and by subsequent application of the method in the reconstruction of these tests using PC-Crash simulation software and two videoediting software packages. Results of the reconstructions of validation runs using VKM method were then verified by comparing them to the measured data from Corrsys Datron Microstar measuring system.
Simulation of road traffic conditions on a chassis dynamometer
Authors: Wiśniowski Piotr , Slezak Marcin , Niewczas Andrzej
Published: October 2022

The article presents and compares the results of exhaust emission tests in conditions of real vehicle traffic with the results obtained during bench tests on a chassis dynamometer in conditions of road traffic simulation. A series of tests were carried out using a mobile exhaust analyzer and a vehicle speed recorder. The research route was designated in the center of a large urban agglomeration. Laboratory tests were designed according to an algorithm approximating the actual driving sections, and when choosing their order during the test construction, a random factor was introduced. The presented approach reflects the random nature of road traffic while ensuring the representativeness of toxic emissions from the vehicle's exhaust system.
The results of measurements of carbon dioxide emission, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons registered in road and stationary, laboratory emissin tests were compared. Substantial agreement was found between the tests. Difficulties and differences in results due to research problems have also been described.
Simulation of curvilinear motion of automobile with the use of two-degree-of-freedom flat model
Authors: Sar Hubert , Brukalski Mateusz , Rokicki Krzysztof
Published: October 2022

Development of active safety systems of automobiles is nowadays based not only on road tests, but also on computer simulation of vehicle's curvilinear motion. To properly perform simulation, all required model parameters have to be properly estimated. The less complicated model is, the less parameters it requires. So that, it makes no sense to apply too complicated models, if we are not able to estimate parameters with relatively low error. One of the most popular is two- degree-of-freedom flat model to describe curvilinear motion of automobile. It is widely used in design and improvement of active safety systems.
The article discusses the application of simple two- degree-of-freedom flat model of automobile, which requires only several parameters. These parameters are: mass of a vehicle, location of center of gravity of a vehicle, yaw mass moment of inertia of a vehicle, side-slip characteristics. Furthermore, to be able to compare simulation and measurement results, it is necessary to know some input signals such as steering wheel angle and velocity of a vehicle, recorded during road tests. In this article signal of steering wheel angle was taken from Controller Area Network (CAN) bus.
In case of model of a vehicle, the Authors decided to compare the results of simulation using two different side slip characteristics known as the dependence between lateral reaction force and side slip angle: linear characteristic (constant cornering stiffness) and the characteristic represented by Pacejka’s Magic Formula in steady-state version.
Draft model of delivery routes at a city logistics scale when applying the Clarke-Wright method
Authors: Stopka Ondrej
Published: October 2022

The manuscript deals with the subject of determining the optimal delivery routes in terms of supplying urban distribution centers when minimizing the distance traveled in a particular region for the purpose of addressing city logistics issues using the specific Operations Research method, namely the Clarke-Wright method. Thus, the main paper objective is to examine the issue: what are the optimal transport journeys from the specific object among individual customers in a certain region in order to execute minimum transport performance? First two sections of the manuscript specify the relevant concepts regarding the issue of distribution tasks and vehicle routing problem, and presents data and methods in relation to this research study. The most significant part of the article models the individual routes to determine the optimal interconnections of urban distribution center and their supply from one logistics service center in a regional logistics network at a city logistics scale when applying the Clarke-Wright method. The last sections of the elaborated research study evaluate the major findings and discuss the possible future initiatives in the topic addressed.
Innovative approach to electric vehicle diagnostics
Authors: Małek Arkadiusz , Taccani Rodolfo
Published: October 2022

Electromobility is associated with the ever faster development and introduction of new electric vehicles to the market. They use an electric motor to drive the wheels of the vehicle and the necessary electricity is stored in traction batteries. Electric vehicles have a different construction than traditional vehicles i.e. powered by internal combustion engines. For this reason, the manner of use, maintenance and service are different. Familiarization with selected operational issues of electric vehicles positively affects the reliability of their usage as well as safety and comfort of driving. An important component of electric vehicles is the traction battery. Its proper operation influences the long-term preservation of the initial energy capacity and, thus, the range of the vehicle. The article presents the tests of the state of traction batteries of a small electrically powered city vehicle. The vehicle, the batteries and the diagnostic devices used to assess the condition of the battery are described in detail. Based on the literature analysis and the observation of market trends, a fast and effective method of assessment of the technical condition of batteries in electric vehicles was proposed. The method has been tested on the selected vehicle. The technical condition of the battery in the vehicle was assessed after 4.5 years of operation and 30,000 km mileage.