bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous body image: A window into the adolescent experience of dermatologic disease
Authors: Provini Lauren E. , Omandac Venea T. , Bahrani Eman , Aghdasi Carmel , Cordoro Kelly M.
Published: June 2021

Background/Objectives

Cutaneous body image (CBI) is a self‐reported measure of an individual's satisfaction with their hair, skin, and nails using a psychometric survey described and validated in adult dermatology patient populations. As the CBI’s clinical utility for pediatric dermatology patients has not yet been examined, we assessed the relationship between CBI scores, demographic, and clinical parameters among adolescents.

Methods

Retrospective cohort of 293 patients ages 13‐18 seen at the UCSF pediatric dermatology clinic from June 2017 to February 2019. An 11‐question CBI survey was administered as part of routine clinical care, querying patient satisfaction with their skin, hair, and nails on a 10‐point Likert‐type scale, and experience with embarrassment, bullying, and mental health care.

Results

Satisfaction with overall skin, skin of face, and hair significantly varied by patient age (P < .05), decreasing among subjects ages 13‐16, and comparatively higher among patients ages 17‐18. Mean total CBI scores did not significantly vary by sex, ethnicity, diagnosis, or new versus established patients. Mean total CBI scores were significantly higher among patients who did not report embarrassment (27.5) than among those who did (20.5) (P < .01), and among patients who had not experienced bullying (25.7) than among those who had (22.0) (P < .01).

Conclusions

Objective CBI scores among adolescents correlate with reported negative experiences of skin disease (embarrassment and bullying) and with age. The CBI provides insight into the psychosocial impact of skin disease among adolescents, validates the patient's subjective perspective of their disease, and informs patient‐centered discussions and management in the pediatric dermatology clinic setting.
From the ground up: prioritizing soil at the forefront of ecological restoration
Authors: Nolan Maria , Stanton Katy Jo , Evans Kathryn , Pym Liz , Kaufman Breanna , Duley Emma
Published: June 2021

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is an opportunity to prioritize soil. Healthy soils facilitate food and water security, assist nutrient cycling, support thriving microbial communities, and act as a carbon sink. Due to lack of awareness of soil importance, resource constraints, and complexity, soil is often overlooked in restoration planning, implementation, and monitoring. Prioritizing soil by placing its restoration and monitoring at the heart of projects will provide the foundation for resilient ecosystems. Soil restoration offers opportunities for interdisciplinary research, enabling inclusive and collaborative solutions to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals of zero hunger, clean water and sanitation, climate action, and life on land. Changing approaches to project funding, increasing people's connection and understanding of soils through education, and creating spaces to discuss soil's importance are ways to raise soil's profile to that of big‐ticket fauna.
Reciprocal allopolyploid grasses (Festuca × Lolium) display stable patterns of genome dominance
Authors: Glombik Marek , Copetti Dario , Bartos Jan , Stoces Stepan , Zwierzykowski Zbigniew , Ruttink Tom , Wendel Jonathan F. , Duchoslav Martin , Dolezel Jaroslav , Studer Bruno , Kopecky David
Published: June 2021

Allopolyploidization entailing the merger of two distinct genomes in a single hybrid organism, is an important process in plant evolution and a valuable tool in breeding programs. Newly established hybrids often experience massive genomic perturbations, including karyotype reshuffling and gene expression modifications. These phenomena may be asymmetric with respect to the two progenitors, with one of the parental genomes being “dominant.” Such “genome dominance” can manifest in several ways, including biased homoeolog gene expression and expression level dominance. Here we employed a k‐mer–based approach to study gene expression in reciprocal Festuca pratensis Huds. × Lolium multiflorum Lam. allopolyploid grasses. Our study revealed significantly more genes where expression mimicked that of the Lolium parent compared with the Festuca parent. This genome dominance was heritable to successive generation and its direction was only slightly modified by environmental conditions and plant age. Our results suggest that Lolium genome dominance was at least partially caused by its more efficient trans‐acting gene expression regulatory factors. Unraveling the mechanisms responsible for propagation of parent‐specific traits in hybrid crops contributes to our understanding of allopolyploid genome evolution and opens a way to targeted breeding strategies.
Lewis and ABO histo‐blood types and the secretor status of patients hospitalized with COVID‐19 implicate a role for ABO antibodies in susceptibility to infection with SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Matzhold Eva Maria , Berghold Andrea , Bemelmans Maria Karin Berta , Banfi Chiara , Stelzl Evelyn , Kessler Harald Hans , Steinmetz Ivo , Krause Robert , Wurzer Herbert , Schlenke Peter , Wagner Thomas
Published: June 2021

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) targets the respiratory and gastric epithelium, causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Tissue antigen expression variations influence host susceptibility to many infections. This study aimed to investigate the closely linked Lewis (FUT3) and ABO histo‐blood types, including secretor (FUT2) status, to infections with SARS‐CoV‐2 and the corresponding severity of COVID‐19.

Study Design and Methods

Patients (Caucasians, n = 338) were genotyped for ABO, FUT3, and FUT2, and compared to a reference population of blood donors (n = 250,298). The association between blood types and severity of COVID‐19 was addressed by dividing patients into four categories: hospitalized individuals in general wards, patients admitted to the intensive care unit with and without intubation, and deceased patients. Comorbidities were considered in subsequent analyses.

Results

Patients with blood type Lewis (a−b−) or O were significantly less likely to be hospitalized (odds ratio [OR] 0.669, confidence interval [CI] 0.446–0.971, OR 0.710, CI 0.556–0.900, respectively), while type AB was significantly more prevalent in the patient cohort (OR 1.519, CI 1.014–2.203). The proportions of secretors/nonsecretors, and Lewis a+ or Lewis b+ types were consistent between patients and controls. The analyzed blood groups were not associated with the clinical outcome as defined.

Discussion

Blood types Lewis (a−b−) and O were found to be protective factors, whereas the group AB is suggested to be a risk factor for COVID‐19. The antigens investigated may not be prognostic for disease severity, but a role for ABO isoagglutinins in SARS‐CoV‐2 infections is strongly suggested.
Gut peptide regulation of food intake – evidence for the modulation of hedonic feeding
Authors: Woodward Orla R. M. , Gribble Fiona M. , Reimann Frank , Lewis Jo E.
Published: June 2021

The number of people living with obesity has tripled worldwide since 1975 with serious implications for public health, as obesity is linked to a significantly higher chance of early death from associated comorbidities (metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer). As obesity is a consequence of food intake exceeding the demands of energy expenditure, efforts are being made to better understand the homeostatic and hedonic mechanisms governing food intake. Gastrointestinal peptides are secreted from enteroendocrine cells in response to nutrient and energy intake, and modulate food intake either via afferent nerves, including the vagus nerve, or directly within the central nervous system, predominantly gaining access at circumventricular organs. Enteroendocrine hormones modulate homeostatic control centres at hypothalamic nuclei and the dorso‐vagal complex. Additional roles of these peptides in modulating hedonic food intake and/or preference via the neural systems of reward are starting to be elucidated, with both peripheral and central peptide sources potentially contributing to central receptor activation. Pharmacological interventions and gastric bypass surgery for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity elevate enteroendocrine hormone levels and also alter food preference. Hence, understanding of the hedonic mechanisms mediated by gut peptide action could advance development of potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.

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The Detachment of an Inclined Micro-Pillar Adhered to a Dissimilar Substrate
Authors: Kumar N. , Khaderi S. N.
Published: June 2021

We investigate the mechanics of the detachment of an inclined micro-pillar adhered to a dissimilar substrate when subjected to a combination of an axial load and end moment. When the micro-pillar has adhered to the substrate, singular stress fields exist at the bi-material corners. The order of singularity is estimated using asymptotic analysis. The first two terms in the asymptotic expansion lead to singular stress fields. The magnitude of the singularity is evaluated in terms of the elastic mismatch between the pillar and substrate and the micro-pillar inclination. The asymptotic stress due to the moment loading is more sensitive to the micro-pillar inclination when compared to that due to the axial loading. They are insensitive to the micro-pillar inclination when the micro-pillar is rigid when compared to the substrate. A short interfacial crack is further assumed to exist at the bi-material corner. This crack is embedded in the corner singularity region and is loaded by the singular fields due to axial and bending loads. A boundary layer analysis is performed on the singular zone to estimate the stress intensity factor when a short crack embedded in it is subjected to the singular fields. The stress intensity factors are also calculated for a long interfacial crack at the bi-material corner, which extends beyond the singular zone. By using the aforementioned results, we investigate the detachment of the inclined micro-pillar under the combination of an axial load and end moment.
Carbon-Based Multi-Phase Rotating Detonation Engine
Authors: Dunn Ian , Flores Wilmer , Morales Anthony , Malik Vidhan , Ahmed Kareem
Published: June 2021

This article focuses on extending an H2/air rotating detonation engine's detonability limits by introducing solid carbon particles into the combustor. Carbon black particles consisting of 1% volatility and a carbon concentration of 99% were used as a solid-phase mixing agent for enhanced reaction wave dynamics. Carbon black was found to sustain detonations over multiple operational regimes formerly unattainable without carbon particles. The experiments confirm that detonations were attainable over a wide range of operational parameters, including the total mass flux flowing through the annulus (≅120–270 kg/s m2), the hydrogen/air equivalence ratios (0.65–1.0), and carbon additions (0–20 g). Chemiluminescence imaging was used to visualize the detonation wave within the annulus, quantify detonation wave velocities, and define a detonability map. The detonability map demonstrates the advantage of carbon addition, shows that detonation-based combustion can be sustained at leaner equivalence ratios, reduces hydrogen consumption dependency. The detonation wave velocities decreased as the H2/air equivalence ratio was reduced, where, in general, the detonation wave velocities decreased with respect to the Chapman–Jouguet velocity, suggesting a decrease in the detonation waves efficiency with reduced H2 concentrations. However, an extraordinary phenomenon was witnessed at very lean H2/air equivalence ratios and low mass flux conditions, where the detonation wave velocity increased upward of 100 m/s. This variation is a direct effect of the carbon particles, which drive the detonation wave. Thus, the results demonstrate that carbon particles’ addition provides an economically feasible solution to sustain high-efficiency energy production.
Numerical Investigation of Pressure-Cycling-Induced Fatigue Failure of Wrinkled Energy Pipelines
Authors: Singh Navjot , Das Sreekanta , Song Peter , Yoosef-Ghodsi Nader
Published: June 2021

Wrinkle defects can be complex pipeline deformities to assess and can present the potential to initiate a pipeline release incident as a result of fatigue failure due to pressure cycling, if not dealt with accordingly. Specifically, the stress distribution arising due to applied loads such as internal pressure can vary rapidly due to the complex shape along the wrinkle profile, which may introduce complexities in subsequent assessments such as fatigue life analysis. This paper presents a methodology using numerical simulation for evaluating stress concentration factors of wrinkle defects of varying geometries. A nonlinear finite element model is developed to evaluate stress concentration factors induced by wrinkle defects within steel pipelines subjected to internal pressure. Afterward, data from full-scale laboratory tests for the wrinkled pipe specimens subjected to cyclic pressure fatigue loading are analyzed to evaluate stress concentration factors for comparable wrinkle profiles. Lastly, a comparison between the results of the stress concentration factors evaluated using the finite element method and test data is provided, followed by a brief discussion of potential sources of discrepancies between results obtained from these methods.
Basic Constraints for Design Optimization of Cubic and Bistable Nonlinear Energy Sink
Authors: Wu Zhenhang , Seguy Sébastien , Paredes Manuel
Published: June 2021

This work mainly concentrates on the optimization of cubic and bistable nonlinear energy sink (NES) to find the maximum efficiency point under harmonic excitation. The conservative system is considered to reveal the inner property of the damping system. With the application of the multiple scales method and the complex variables method, the threshold of excitation and different response regimes are distinguished under the assumption of 1:1 resonance. The maximum efficiency point of cubic and bistable NES occurs when strongly modulated response disappears. The factors that affect the optimal efficiency limit are explored. The result indicates that the maximum absorption efficiency level is mainly determined by the damping parameters. Compared with the cubic case, the bistable case involves more complex regimes in terms of chaos oscillation. The influence of damping parameters on the chaos threshold is discussed to adopt different energy levels. With the help of analytical predictions, the proper nonlinear stiffness is determined for certain harmonic excitation. This study offers some fundamental insights into the optimal design of cubic and bistable NES.
Analysis and Experimental Study on Dynamic Characteristics of an Integrated Quasi-Zero Stiffness Isolator
Authors: Liu Haiping , Xiao Kaili , Lv Qi , Ma Yunlong
Published: June 2021

The dynamic performance of an integrated quasi-zero stiffness (IQZS) isolator which is constructed by a single elastic structure is investigated in this study. This prototype exhibits the characteristics of the best simplicity, high reliability, and without friction by using the minimum number of elements. For completeness, the static properties of the IQZS isolator are provided at first. And then, the dynamic behavior is analyzed and the frequency response under harmonic excitation is derived by using an equivalent mechanical model. Frequency response curves (FRCs) under force excitation condition are obtained by using the harmonic balance method (HBM). Moreover, the dynamic performance of the nonlinear isolator supporting a lumped mass is investigated, and the vibration isolation performance is evaluated by utilizing force transmissibility and comparing with an equivalent linear system with the same design parameter setting. It can be concluded that the effective isolation range of the nonlinear isolator is broader than the linear counterpart. The effects of system parameters on the transmissibility are also examined. At last, the comparison between the analytical and experimental results under force excitation shows that the analytical model of the IQZS isolator is accurate in terms of force transmissibility. The calculation results may provide a theoretical basis for designing this class of IQZS isolator in engineering practice.
Model-Oriented Dose Optimization of Voriconazole in Critically Ill Children
Authors: Wang Jun , Xu Hua , Li Ran , Wu Sanlan , Zou Jili , Wang Yang
Published: June 2021

This study aimed to employ a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model to optimize the dosing regimen of voriconazole (VRC) in children with a critical illness. A total of 99 children aged from 0.44 to 13.58 years were included in this study.
Characterization of AreABC, an RND-Type Efflux System Involved in Antimicrobial Resistance of Aliarcobacter butzleri
Authors: Ferreira Susana , Silva Ana L. , Tomás Joana , Mateus Cristiana , Domingues Fernanda , Oleastro Mónica
Published: June 2021

Aliarcobacter butzleri
is an emergent enteropathogen for which resistance to several classes of antimicrobial agents has been described, although the underlying mechanisms have been poorly addressed. We aimed to evaluate the contribution of the resistance-nodulation-division-type (RND) efflux system, AreABC, to drug resistance in
A. butzleri
.
A. butzleri
strains were first tested against several antimicrobials with and without an efflux pump inhibitor.
Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Clones from Wild Chimpanzees and Termites in Senegal
Authors: Baron Sophie Alexandra , Mediannikov Oleg , Abdallah Rim , Kuete Yimagou Edmond , Medkour Hacène , Dubourg Gregory , Elamire Youssouf , Afouda Pamela , Ngom Issa Isaac , Angelakis Emmanouil , Davoust Bernard , Diatta Georges , Barciela Amanda , Hernandez-Aguilar R. Adriana , Sokhna Cheikh , Caputo Aurelia , Levasseur Anthony , Rolain Jean-Marc , Raoult Didier
Published: June 2021

Antibiotic resistance genes exist naturally in various environments far from human usage. Here, we investigated multidrug-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
, a common pathogen of chimpanzees and humans. We screened antibiotic-resistant
K. pneumoniae
from 48 chimpanzee stools and 38 termite mounds (
n
 = 415 samples) collected in protected areas in Senegal.
Child mortality in England during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Odd David , Stoianova Sylvia , Williams Tom , Sleap Vicky , Blair Peter , Fleming Peter , Wolfe Ingrid , Luyt Karen
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Using the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), this work aims to investigate and quantify the characteristics of children dying of COVID-19, and to identify any changes in rate of childhood mortality during the pandemic.

Design

We compared the characteristics of the children who died in 2020, split by SARS-CoV-2 status. A negative binomial regression model was used to compare mortality rates in lockdown (23 March–28 June), with those children who died in the preceding period (6 January–22 March), as well as a comparable period in 2019.

Setting

England.

Participants

Children (0–17 years).

Main outcome measures

Characteristics and number of the children who died in 2020, split by SARS-CoV-2 status.

Results

1550 deaths of children between 6th of January and 28 June 2020 were notified to the NCMD; 437 of the deaths were linked to SARS-CoV-2 virology records, 25 (5.7%) had a positive PCR result. PCR-positive children were less likely to be white (37.5% vs 69.4%, p=0.003) and were older (12.2 vs 0.7 years, p<0.0006) compared with child deaths without evidence of the virus. All-cause mortality rates were similar during lockdown compared with both the period before lockdown in 2020 (rate ratio (RR) 0.93 (0.84 to 1.02)) and a similar period in 2019 (RR 1.02 (0.92 to 1.13)).

Conclusions

There is little to suggest that there has been excess mortality during the period of lockdown. The apparent higher frequency of SARS-CoV-2-positive tests among children from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups is consistent with findings in adults. Ongoing surveillance is essential as the pandemic continues.
Mental healthcare for children with chronic conditions: a qualitative study
Authors: Jones Renee , Hiscock Harriet , Wurzel Danielle , Kao Kung-Ting , Freeman Jeremy L , Ride Jemimah
Published: June 2021

Objective

To explore parent perspectives on accessing mental healthcare for children with a chronic physical health condition.

Design

Qualitative research using semistructured interviews and Framework Analysis. Rankings were used to select attributes for a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE).

Setting

Four specialty outpatient clinics (diabetes, epilepsy, bronchiectasis unrelated to cystic fibrosis and epidermolysis bullosa) at an Australian tertiary paediatric hospital.

Participants

Eighteen parents of children with a chronical physical health condition.

Results

Most parents identified the child’s general practitioner and/or hospital team as an initial pathway to seek help if they were worried about their child’s mental health. Parents see mental healthcare as part of care for the whole child and want the outpatient clinics to proactively discuss child and family mental health, as well as refer to appropriate services as needed. The hospital being a familiar, child-friendly environment was identified as a key reason the hospital might be a desired place to access mental healthcare, as previous research has found. Six attributes of mental health services were identified as important and will be included in an upcoming DCE: travel time, cost, wait time, available hours, knowledge of physical health condition, and recommendation.

Conclusions

This study highlights the opportunity presented in specialist outpatient clinics to address the often unmet mental healthcare needs of children with chronic physical health conditions. Parents identified practical ways for outpatient clinics to better facilitate access to mental healthcare. These will be further explored through a quantitative study of parent preferences.
Individual participant data systematic reviews with meta-analyses of psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder
Authors: Storebø Ole Jakob , Ribeiro Johanne Pereira , Kongerslev Mickey T , Stoffers-Winterling Jutta , Sedoc Jørgensen Mie , Lieb Klaus , Bateman Anthony , Kirubakaran Richard , Dérian Nicolas , Karyotaki Eirini , Cuijpers Pim , Simonsen Erik
Published: June 2021

Introduction

The heterogeneity in people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the range of specialised psychotherapies means that people with certain BPD characteristics might benefit more or less from different types of psychotherapy. Identifying moderating characteristics of individuals is a key to refine and tailor standard treatments so they match the specificities of the individual participant. The objective of this is to improve the quality of care and the individual outcomes. We will do so by performing three systematic reviews with meta-analyses of individual participant data (IPD). The aim of these reviews is to investigate potential predictors and moderating patient characteristics on treatment outcomes for patients with BPD.

Methods and analysis

We performed comprehensive searches in 22 databases and trial registries up to October 6th 2020. These will be updated with a top-up search up until June 2021. Our primary meta-analytic method will be the one-stage random-effects approach. To identify predictors, we will use the one-stage model that accounts for interaction between covariates and treatment allocation. Heterogeneity in case-mix will be assessed with a membership model based on a multinomial logistic regression where study membership is the outcome. A random-effects meta-analysis is chosen to account for expected levels of heterogeneity.

Ethics and dissemination

The statistical analyses will be conducted on anonymised data that have already been approved by the respective ethical committees that originally assessed the included trials. The three IPD reviews will be published in high-impact factor journals and their results will be presented at international conferences and national seminars.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021210688.
COVID-19-related state-wise racial and ethnic disparities across the USA: an observational study based on publicly available data from The COVID Tracking Project
Authors: Xian Zhaoying , Saxena Anshul , Javed Zulqarnain , Jordan John E , Alkarawi Safa , Khan Safi U , Shah Karan , Vahidy Farhaan S , Nasir Khurram , Dubey Prachi
Published: June 2021

Objective

To evaluate COVID-19 infection and mortality disparities in ethnic and racial subgroups in a state-wise manner across the USA.

Methods

Publicly available data from The COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic were accessed between 9 September 2020 and 14 September 2020. For each state and the District of Columbia, % infection, % death, and % population proportion for subgroups of race (African American/black (AA/black), Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN), and white) and ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino, non-Hispanic) were recorded. Crude and normalised disparity estimates were generated for COVID-19 infection (CDI and NDI) and mortality (CDM and NDM), computed as absolute and relative difference between % infection or % mortality and % population proportion per state. Choropleth map display was created as thematic representation proportionate to CDI, NDI, CDM and NDM.

Results

The Hispanic population had a median of 158% higher COVID-19 infection relative to their % population proportion (median 158%, IQR 100%–200%). This was followed by AA, with 50% higher COVID-19 infection relative to their % population proportion (median 50%, IQR 25%–100%). The AA population had the most disproportionate mortality, with a median of 46% higher mortality than the % population proportion (median 46%, IQR 18%–66%). Disproportionate impact of COVID-19 was also seen in AI/AN and Asian populations, with 100% excess infections than the % population proportion seen in nine states for AI/AN and seven states for Asian populations. There was no disproportionate impact in the white population in any state.

Conclusions

There are racial/ethnic disparities in COVID-19 infection/mortality, with distinct state-wise patterns across the USA based on racial/ethnic composition. There were missing and inconsistently reported racial/ethnic data in many states. This underscores the need for standardised reporting, attention to specific regional patterns, adequate resource allocation and addressing the underlying social determinants of health adversely affecting chronically marginalised groups.
Adenovirus and RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines’ perceptions and acceptance among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: a national survey
Authors: Temsah Mohamad-Hani , Barry Mazin , Aljamaan Fadi , Alhuzaimi Abdullah , Al-Eyadhy Ayman , Saddik Basema , Alrabiaah Abdulkarim , Alsohime Fahad , Alhaboob Ali , Alhasan Khalid , Alaraj Ali , Halwani Rabih , Alamro Nurah Maziad , Al-Shahrani Fatimah S , Jamal Amr , Alsubaie Sarah , Memish Ziad A , Al-Tawfiq Jaffar A
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare the perception, confidence, hesitancy and acceptance rate of various COVID-19 vaccine types among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia, a nation with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus experience.

Design

National cross-sectional, pilot-validated questionnaire.

Setting

Online, self-administered questionnaire among HCWs.

Participants

A total of 2007 HCWs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated; 1512 (75.3%) participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis.

Intervention

Data were collected through an online survey sent to HCWs during 1–15 November 2020. The main outcome measure was HCW acceptance of COVID-19 candidate vaccines. The associated factors of vaccination acceptance were identified through a logistic regression analysis and via measurement of the level of anxiety, using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 scale.

Results

Among the 1512 HCWs who were included, 62.4% were women, 70.3% were between 21 and 40 years of age, and the majority (62.2%) were from tertiary hospitals. In addition, 59.5% reported knowing about at least one vaccine; 24.4% of the participants were sure about their willingness to receive the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, and 20.9% were willing to receive the RNA BNT162b2 vaccine. However, 18.3% reported that they would refuse to receive the Ad5-vectored vaccine, and 17.9% would refuse the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine. Factors that influenced the differential readiness of HCWs included their perceptions of the vaccine’s efficiency in preventing the infection (33%), their personal preferences (29%) and the vaccine’s manufacturing country (28.6%).

Conclusions

Awareness by HCWs of the several COVID-19 candidate vaccines could improve their perceptions and acceptance of vaccination. Reliable sources on vaccine efficiency could improve vaccine uptake, so healthcare authorities should use reliable information to decrease vaccine hesitancy among frontline healthcare providers.
There’s no place like home — site fidelity by female moose (Alces alces) in central Ontario, Canada
Authors: McLaren A.A.D. , Patterson B.R.
Published: June 2021

Site fidelity is thought to provide increased fitness through familiarity with the distribution of forage, protective cover, breeding and offspring rearing sites, and predators. For moose (Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758)), previous research has documented fidelity at varying spatial scales. Our objective was to build on this knowledge and assess fidelity by adult female moose in two areas of central Ontario, Canada (Algonquin Provincial Park (APP) and Wildlife Management Unit 49 (WMU49)). We used global positioning system data to generate mean weekly locations for collared moose, then measured the distance between paired weekly locations among consecutive years to evaluate site fidelity. We tested for effects of study area, biological season, moose age, and reproductive status using generalized linear mixed models. Moose demonstrated stronger site fidelity in WMU49, an area with more anthropogenic disturbance, than the protected area, APP. Fidelity was weakest in the winter, but was similar among other seasons and was independent of maternal age and the presence of a calf. Our study highlights the need to consider the scale of site fidelity relative to habitat management. Actions aimed at supporting moose populations might benefit more by protecting habitat classes selected by moose rather than specific sites used by individuals.
Chiral magnetic properties of QCD phase-diagram
Authors: Tawfik Abdel Nasser , Diab Abdel Magied
Published: June 2021

The QCD phase-diagram is studied, at finite magnetic field. Our calculations are based on the QCD effective model, the SU(3) Polyakov linear-sigma model (PLSM), in which the chiral symmetry is integrated in the hadron phase and in the parton phase, the up-, down- and strange-quark degrees of freedom are incorporated besides the inclusion of Polyakov loop potentials in the pure gauge limit, which are motivated by various underlying QCD symmetries. The Landau quantization and the magnetic catalysis are implemented. The response of the QCD matter to an external magnetic field such as magnetization, magnetic susceptibility and permeability has been estimated. We conclude that the parton phase has higher values of magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, and permeability relative to the hadron phase. Depending on the contributions to the Landau levels, we conclude that the chiral magnetic field enhances the chiral quark condensates and hence the chiral QCD phase-diagram, i.e. the hadron-parton phase-transition likely takes place, at lower critical temperatures and chemical potentials.
Neutrino trapping in extremely compact Tolman VII spacetimes
Authors: Stuchlík Zdeněk , Hladík Jan , Vrba Jaroslav , Posada Camilo
Published: June 2021

Extremely compact objects trap gravitational waves or neutrinos, assumed to move along null geodesics in the trapping regions. The trapping of neutrinos was extensively studied for spherically symmetric extremely compact objects constructed under the simplest approximation of the uniform energy density distribution, with radius located under the photosphere of the external spacetime; in addition, uniform emissivity distribution of neutrinos was assumed in these studies. Here we extend the studies of the neutrino trapping for the case of the extremely compact Tolman VII objects representing the simplest generalization of the internal Schwarzschild solution with uniform distribution of the energy density, and the correspondingly related distribution of the neutrino emissivity that is thus again proportional to the energy density; radius of such extremely compact objects can overcome the photosphere of the external Schwarzschild spacetime. In dependence on the parameters of the Tolman VII spacetimes, we determine the “local” and “global” coefficients of efficiency of the trapping and demonstrate that the role of the trapping is significantly stronger than in the internal Schwarzschild spacetimes. Our results indicate possible influence of the neutrino trapping in cooling of neutron stars.
Stringy-running-vacuum-model inflation: from primordial gravitational waves and stiff axion matter to dynamical dark energy
Authors: Mavromatos Nick E. , Solà Peracaula Joan
Published: June 2021

In previous works, we have derived a Running Vacuum Model (RVM) for a string Universe, which provides an effective description of the evolution of 4-dimensional string-inspired cosmologies from inflation till the present epoch. In the context of this “stringy RVM” version, it is assumed that the early Universe is characterised by purely gravitational degrees of freedom, from the massless gravitational string multiplet, including the antisymmetric tensor field. The latter plays an important role, since its dual gives rise to a ‘stiff’ gravitational axion “matter”, which in turn couples to the gravitational anomaly terms, assumed to be non-trivial at early epochs. In the presence of primordial gravitational wave (GW) perturbations, such anomalous couplings lead to an RVM-like dynamical inflation, without external inflatons. We review here this framework and discuss potential scenarios for the generation of such primordial GW, among which the formation of unstable domain walls, which eventually collapse in a non-spherical-symmetric manner, giving rise to GW. We also remark that the same type of “stiff” axionic matter could provide, upon the generation of appropriate potentials during the post-inflationary eras, (part of) the Dark Matter (DM) in the Universe, which could well be ultralight, depending on the parameters of the string-inspired model. All in all, the new (stringy) mechanism for RVM inflation preserves the basic structure of the original (and more phenomenological) RVM, as well as its main advantages: namely, a mechanism for graceful exit and for generating a huge amount of entropy capable of explaining the horizon problem. It also predicts axionic DM and the existence of mild dynamical Dark Energy (DE) of quintessence type in the present universe, both being “living fossils” of the inflationary stages of the cosmic evolution. Altogether the modern RVM appears to be a theoretically sound (string-based) approach to cosmology with a variety of phenomenologically testable consequences.
Effects of water pH and immersion time on water absorption behavior and mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced bioplastic composites
Authors: Murakami Ri-Ichi , Sipahutar Wahyu Solafide
Published: June 2021

This research aims to study the effects of water pH and immersion time on water absorption and mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced bioplastic composites. The composite samples were exposed to three different water conditions of normal water, distilled water and saltwater. The composites were immersed for a maximum of 40 days. After immersing for 40 days, the highest moisture absorption was found for the composites immersed in distilled water. Young’s modulus and tensile strength decreased with increasing the immersion time for the composite immersed in normal water. Moreover, the effect of the moisture absorption on the mechanical properties and the fracture surface was discussed by the glass transition temperature’s thermal behavior.
A cookbook for approximating Euclidean balls and for quadrature rules in finite element methods for nonlocal problems
Authors: D’Elia Marta , Gunzburger Max , Vollmann Christian
Published: June 2021

The implementation of finite element methods (FEMs) for nonlocal models with a finite range of interaction poses challenges not faced in the partial differential equations (PDEs) setting. For example, one has to deal with weak forms involving double integrals which lead to discrete systems having higher assembly and solving costs due to possibly much lower sparsity compared to that of FEMs for PDEs. In addition, one may encounter nonsmooth integrands. In many nonlocal models, nonlocal interactions are limited to bounded neighborhoods that are ubiquitously chosen to be Euclidean balls, resulting in the challenge of dealing with intersections of such balls with the finite elements. We focus on developing recipes for the efficient assembly of FEM stiffness matrices and on the choice of quadrature rules for the double integrals that contribute to the assembly efficiency and also posses sufficient accuracy. A major feature of our recipes is the use of approximate balls, e.g. several polygonal approximations of Euclidean balls, that, among other advantages, mitigate the challenge of dealing with ball-element intersections. We provide numerical illustrations of the relative accuracy and efficiency of the several approaches we develop.
Colon Cancer Detection Using Hybrid Features and Genetically Optimized Neural Network Classifier
Authors: Khadilkar Samrat Pundalik
Published: June 2021

Computer-assisted colon cancer detection on the histopathological images has become a tedious task due to its shape characteristics and other biological properties. The images acquired through the histopathological microscope may vary in magnifications for better visibility. This may change the morphological properties and hence an automated magnification independent colon cancer detection system is essential. The manual diagnosis of colon biopsy images is subjective, sluggish, laborious leading to nonconformity between histopathologists due to visual evaluation at various microscopic magnifications. Automatic detection of colon across image magnifications is challenging due to many aspects like tailored segmentation and varying features. This demands techniques that take advantage of the textural, color, and geometric properties of colon tissue. This work exhibits a segmentation approach based on the morphological features derived from the segmented region. Gabor Wavelet, Harris Corner, and DWT-LBP coefficients are extracted as it should not be dependent on the spatial domain with respect to the magnification. These features are fed to the Genetically Optimized Neural Network classifier to classify them as normal and malignant ones. Here, the genetic algorithm is used to learn the best hyper-parameters for a neural network.
The Hilbert series of the irreducible quotient of the polynomial representation of the rational Cherednik algebra of type An−1 in characteristic p for p|n − 1
Authors: Cai Merrick , Kalinov Daniil
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we study the irreducible quotient [Formula: see text] of the polynomial representation of the rational Cherednik algebra [Formula: see text] of type [Formula: see text] over an algebraically closed field of positive characteristic [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text]. In the [Formula: see text] case, for all [Formula: see text] we give a complete description of the polynomials in the maximal proper graded submodule [Formula: see text], the kernel of the contravariant form [Formula: see text], and subsequently find the Hilbert series of the irreducible quotient [Formula: see text]. In the [Formula: see text] case, we give a complete description of the polynomials in [Formula: see text] when the characteristic [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] is transcendental over [Formula: see text], and compute the Hilbert series of the irreducible quotient [Formula: see text]. In doing so, we prove a conjecture due to Etingof and Rains completely for [Formula: see text], and also for any [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, for [Formula: see text], we prove a simple criterion to determine whether a given polynomial [Formula: see text] lies in [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] fixed.
Cloud-Based ERP Systems Implementation: Major Challenges and Critical Success Factors
Authors: Shatat Ahmad Saleh , Shatat Abdallah Saleh
Published: June 2021

Cloud-based ERP systems are substantially expanding, which is expected shortly to demonstrate a significant impact on the current business model. Identifying the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) and the major challenges of the cloud-based ERP systems implementation will pave the pathway for prospective clients to adopt cloud ERP systems and take advantage of this novel IT-based cloud revolution. This research identifies the top 10 CSFs that contribute to delivering a successful cloud-based ERP systems implementation. A survey instrument was distributed to 70 enterprises using cloud-based ERP systems. The research outcomes indicate a positive and significant relationship between eight CSFs and the cloud-based ERP systems implementation. However, only two factors demonstrate a positive but not significant correlation. Overall, the results of this study show a notable impact of the CSFs on the cloud ERP systems implementation.
A New Method to Study Contributions of Polymer Fibers and Water Respectively to the Hydrogel Stress under Tension and Compression Using 3D Micro-Fiber Network Model
Authors: Ding Rong , Wang Xinyuan , Tang Liqun , Zhang Yongrou , Liu Zejia , Jiang Zhenyu , Liu Yiping , Zhou Licheng
Published: June 2021

The hydrogel can be regarded as a system comprising of a three-dimensional (3D) polymer network entrapping water in intermolecular space. Contributions of polymeric fibers and water to macrostresses of hydrogels are usually separated by fitting stress–strain relations from experiments. In this paper, we developed a new method to determine the two contributions by applying triaxial loads on a 3D micro-fiber network model, in which not only the uniaxial tension or uniaxial compression direction, but also the other two lateral directions are applied with external loads for keeping the unchanged volume of the fiber network model throughout the loading process. The lateral forces on the model can be regarded as the forces of water on the micro-fiber network at boundaries, since the lateral boundary conditions of hydrogels under uniaxial loading are completely free. With the calculation of the effective areas of polymeric fibers and water on the lateral surfaces, the hydrostatic pressure of water can be derived in each loading step, and further, the contributions of polymeric fibers and water to macrostresses of hydrogels in uniaxial loading direction can be determined quantitatively. The results show that in small deformation (the strain is less than about 10%), contributions of the water and polymeric fibers are of the same order of magnitude. In larger deformation, polymeric fibers are decisive in the contribution to stresses in tension, while water takes the dominant contribution in compression. Therefore, the difference in the contribution of water in tension and compression can explain the phenomenon of different initial elastic moduli of hydrogels in tension and compression. The method recommended in this paper can be used to learn the contributions of polymeric fibers and water in hydrogels with diverse fiber contents and even under multi-axial loading.
Spiritual leadership on organizational commitment and organizational commitment on organizational performance
Authors: Riana Gede
Published: June 2021

Purpose: This research was administered to investigate the influence of spiritual leadership on organizational commitment and organizational commitment on organizational performance seen through multidimensions where spiritual leadership is in three dimensions namely vision, faith/hope, and altruistic love; organizational commitment in three dimensions namely affective, normative, and continuity, while organizational performance is in two dimensions which are financial and nonfinancial performance. Design/Method: The population selected in this study included 1,422 members of Village Credit Institution (LPD) in Bali Province including the chairman, secretary, and treasurer. Samples were selected by using the probability sampling technique which is a simple random sampling in which the sample size [Formula: see text] was drawn from a population of magnitude [Formula: see text], allowing each unit to have the same chance of being selected. The obtained data were then analyzed using a Structural Equation Modeling based on analysis of moment structure (AMOS), with multidimensions in each research variable. Findings: The results of the analysis show that vision, faith/hope, and altruistic love have a significant influence on affective commitment, normative commitment, and continuity commitment. On the other hand, affective, normative, and continuity commitment share a certain influence on financial performance. However, it is only the normative commitment that influences nonfinancial performance. Originality: The novelty of this research is in the effort to reconstruct the previous research model to obtain a new one that combines two research models; the spiritual leadership model and the A-Three Component Model of Organizational Commitment. The new model is expected to solve the inconsistencies of previous research results and solve various problems related to leadership and organizational commitment as variables that influence LPD performance.
Pinball Loss Twin Support Vector Clustering
Authors: Tanveer M. , Gupta Tarun , Shah Miten ,   For the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: June 2021

Twin Support Vector Clustering (TWSVC) is a clustering algorithm inspired by the principles of Twin Support Vector Machine (TWSVM). TWSVC has already outperformed other traditional plane based clustering algorithms. However, TWSVC uses hinge loss, which maximizes shortest distance between clusters and hence suffers from noise-sensitivity and low re-sampling stability. In this article, we propose Pinball loss Twin Support Vector Clustering (pinTSVC) as a clustering algorithm. The proposed pinTSVC model incorporates the pinball loss function in the plane clustering formulation. Pinball loss function introduces favorable properties such as noise-insensitivity and re-sampling stability. The time complexity of the proposed pinTSVC remains equivalent to that of TWSVC. Extensive numerical experiments on noise-corrupted benchmark UCI and artificial datasets have been provided. Results of the proposed pinTSVC model are compared with TWSVC, Twin Bounded Support Vector Clustering (TBSVC) and Fuzzy c-means clustering (FCM). Detailed and exhaustive comparisons demonstrate the better performance and generalization of the proposed pinTSVC for noise-corrupted datasets. Further experiments and analysis on the performance of the above-mentioned clustering algorithms on structural MRI (sMRI) images taken from the ADNI database, face clustering, and facial expression clustering have been done to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed pinTSVC model.
Flexible work and personal digital infrastructures
Authors: Jarrahi Mohammad Hossein , Newlands Gemma , Butler Brian , Savage Saiph , Lutz Christoph , Dunn Michael , Sawyer Steve
Published: June 2021

PDIs are emerging as alternative sociotechnical infrastructures to enhance flexible work arrangments.