bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of public information demand during the COVID-19 pandemic based on four-stage crisis model
Authors: Fang Yabo , Jia Jiwei , Li Jingzhi , Liu Siyu
Published: July 2022

At the end of 2019, the outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a grave global public health emergency. At that time, there was a lack of information about this virus. Nowadays, social media has become the main source for the public to obtain information, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, in order to know about the public of information demand after the outbreak, the research collects the data of hot search on Sina-microblog from 1 January 2020 to 30 December 2020, and then conducts data mining by combining text processing with topic models. Then we show the topics mined in the knowledge map. The results show that with the outbreak of the COVID-19, people’s attention to the topics related to the epidemic reaches the maximum in a short time, and then decreases with fluctuation, but does not disappear immediately. Some topics fluctuate violently due to the emergence of special events. The results conformed to the four-stage crisis model in the emergency management. We analyze the role of social media in four stages for this. The findings of this study could help the government and emergency agencies to better understand the main aspects, which the public’s concern about COVID-19, and accelerate public opinion guidance and emotional reassurance.
The dynamic evolution of collaborative networks in sustainable development: Untying impact of environmental policy in China using network-based text analysis approach
Authors: Wang Weihua , Du Jianguo , Shahzad Fakhar , Duan Xiangyi , Zhu Xiaowen
Published: July 2022

As one of the key subjects of multi-center governance of environmental concerns, public perception is crucial in forming and implementing environmental policy. Based on data science research theory and the original theory of public perception, this study proposes a research framework to analyze environmental policy through network text analysis. The primary contents are bidirectional encoder representation from transformers-convolution neural network (BERT-CNN) sentiment tendency analysis, word frequency characteristic analysis, and semantic network analysis. The realism of the suggested framework is demonstrated by using the waste classification policy as an example. The findings indicate a substantial relationship between perceived subject participation and policy pilot areas and that perceived subject participation is repeating. On this premise, specific recommendations are made to encourage policy implementation.
Figure-Disembedding Is Inferior in Non-autistic Compared to Autistic Individuals but Can Be Improved by Training
Authors: Falter-Wagner Christine M. , Bloch Carola , Robles Marta , Horch Lea , Vogeley Kai , Georgescu Alexandra Livia
Published: July 2022

Background

Figure-disembedding is one of the most discussed visuo-cognitive functions, in which individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been reported to outperform non-autistic individuals. A local processing bias has been assumed to underlie such superior performance patterns. The aim of the current study is to investigate whether processing preferences can be modified by procedural priming.

Method

The current study used a procedural priming task (Navon figures) to induce more local or global processing in 25 autistic and 21 typically developing (TD) control participants, using hierarchical figures preceding the figure-disembedding task.

Results

Participants with ASD outperformed non-autistic individuals in the unprimed baseline task version. The performance was not modulated by priming in either direction (toward a local or global processing style) in both groups. However, the performance of TD control participants was improved by training to the same level as that observed in the ASD group.

Conclusion

Figure-disembedding performance in ASD is superior to that in TD control participants and robust against procedural priming or training. In contrast, performance in the TD control group can be improved up to the level of the ASD group. Any studies reporting superiority in individuals with ASD in figure-disembedding should consider training effects when evaluating group differences.
Systematic review on somatization in a transcultural context among teenagers and young adults: Focus on the nosography blur
Authors: Salmon Mathilde , Sibeoni Jordan , Harf Aurélie , Moro Marie Rose , Ludot-Grégoire Maude
Published: July 2022

Aims

Somatic complaints are a frequent cause for consultation in primary care. In a transcultural context, somatic complaints are typically associated with psychological distress. A recent review about somatic symptom disorders in adolescence showed some nosographic heterogeneity and outlined various etiological hypotheses (traumatic, environmental, or neurologic), separate from the cross-cultural considerations. Migrants' children encounter specific problems involving cultural mixing-issues of filiation (familial transmission) and affiliation (belonging to a group). This paper aims to provide a systematic review of somatization in transcultural contexts among teenagers and young adults, aged 13 to 24, over the past decade.

Methods

This review adheres to the quality criteria set forth by the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Two authors queried three English databases (Medline, PsycInfo, WebOfScience) about somatization in transcultural contexts (migrant or non-Western population) among teenagers (13–18), young adults (19–24), or both. The methodological process comprised articles selection, data extraction, and then the analysis of emerging themes. Setting selection criteria to limit the transcultural field was difficult.

Results

The study analyzed 68 articles. We present a descriptive analysis of the results, centered on three main themes. First, the literature highlights a nosographic muddle reflected in the combination of anxious and depressive symptoms together with the highly variable symptomatology. Second, discrimination issues were prevalent among the migrant population. Lastly, the literature review points out possibilities for improving a care pathway and reducing the diagnostic delay induced by migrants' hesitancy about Western care and the recurrent use of inappropriate diagnostic criteria.

Conclusion

This review discusses the links between the nosographic muddle described here and the diagnostic delays these patients experience and raises concerns about rigid diagnostic compartmentalization. The work of the psychiatrist Frantz Fanon is here useful to understand externalized symptoms resulting from physical and psychological confinement. Discrimination issues raise questions about the cultural counter-transference health professionals experience in dealing with young migrants. Defining healthcare professionals' representations about somatic complaints in a transcultural context might be a fruitful path to explore in future research.

Protocol PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021294132. Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021294132.
Meaning in life as a mediator of dark triad with confidence in treatment and subjective evaluation of treatment outcome among male drug abstainers
Authors: Shi Liping , Sun Shijin , Zhu Xueli , Geng Yaoguo
Published: July 2022

Background

Although the roles of personality in predicting substance abuse have been widely documented, few studies have investigated the relationships the dark triad (DT) personalities had with confidence in treatment (CIT) and subjective evaluation of treatment outcome (SETO) in drug abstainers.

Objective

This study examined the relationship between DT and treatment-relevant variables, and the potential effect of meaning in life (MIL) in these links.

Methods

Participants were male inpatients who started substance abuse treatment between June and December 2018 in Henan Province, China. The inclusion criteria were the diagnosis of substance use disorders. The exclusion criteria were illiteracy, comorbidity with psychopathology disorders, intellectual disability, and refusal of consent. A total of 236 men (aged 21–62 years, M = 45.30, SD = 7.72) were randomly selected and reported their DT, MIL, CIT, and SETO.

Results

Results showed that DT was negatively correlated with MIL, CIT, and SETO. MIL was positively correlated with CIT and SETO. The dark triad is associated with CIT both directly and indirectly via MIL. DT is indirectly correlated with SETO via MIL. Higher levels of DT in drug abstainers can reduce CIT and SETO by decreasing individual's MIL.

Conclusion

This study provides insights into the links between the DT and treatment-relevant variables, which can potentially impact the effectiveness of current substance abuse treatment programs.
Case report: Intranasal esketamine for severe major depressive disorder with psychotic features
Authors: Carter Maximilian , Solsrud Kassandra , Mischel Nicholas
Published: July 2022

Introduction

About one third of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have treatment resistant depression (TRD). The difficulty of treating TRD especially in those with suicidal ideation and psychotic features demands treatments that are fast-acting, safe, and effective. Limited access, lack of viable options, and incomplete characterization of rapid-acting antidepressants has prevented widespread incorporation into treatment of patients with TRD. However, ketamine and its variations have shown promise of being effective treatment options for patients with TRD with psychotic features.

Case description

This 28-year-old patient with TRD with psychotic features received 14 treatments of intranasal esketamine over a 3-month period. This patient initially presented with anhedonia, difficulty sleeping, suicidal thoughts, and auditory hallucinations. The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology (QIDS) was used to assess depression before each session.

Results

After her first two treatment sessions within a week, this patient experienced a reduction in depression from severe to moderate according to the QIDS. Over 14 sessions, she had no significant adverse effects, including no psychotic symptoms during esketamine treatment, and was stabilized to mild depression without suicidal ideations. One year after treatment, she continues to be stable. She has not had auditory hallucinations since the esketamine treatment.

Conclusions

This case report provides an example of a patient with severe TRD with psychotic features that showed significant improvement after treatment with intranasal esketamine. Larger studies are indicated to further elucidate the effectiveness and safety of intranasal esketamine, so it can be more widely used for patients with TRD with psychotic features.
Factors associated with the perception of inadequate sanitary control in 12 Latin American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mejia Christian R. , Liendo-Venegas Daniela , García-Gamboa Fernanda , Mejía-Rodríguez Miguel A. , Valladares-Garrido Mario J.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Sanitary control mechanisms differ greatly from country to country. Therefore, it is important to know citizens' perception of different realities. We aimed to determine the factors associated with the perception of inadequate sanitary control in 12 Latin American countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This is an analytical cross-sectional study. We asked about six perceptions in regard to different situations experienced by inhabitants of 12 Latin American countries during the pandemic. Frequencies according to country were described and associations vs. other important variables were obtained.

Results

Out of 8,489 participants, 68% stated that there were moments of collective hysteria. Honduras was the country that most perceived inadequate control mechanisms established by the government. Multivariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences among many of the countries according to the six evaluated items. The higher the level of education, the greater the perception of poor control in five of the aspects. Additionally, men had a lower perception of inadequate control. The older the age, the lower the perception of inadequate control regarding whether there was collective hysteria and shortages of basic essentials. Those with COVID-19 had a lower perception of medicine shortages.

Conclusion

The population of multiple realities in Latin America have perceived a bad management of the pandemic. Citizens' perception is an important indicator of the performance of each government during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study may provide valuable information on the relationship between the effectiveness of government sanitary control and people's mental health, which ultimately helps to create objective prevention programs against post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, fear of contagion, and collective hysteria. In addition, governments could use this information to design effective mitigation plans for future unavoidable pandemic events based on the six criteria discussed here.
Effect of COVID-19 vaccination on the timing and flow of menstrual periods in two cohorts
Authors: Alvergne Alexandra , Woon Ee Von , Male Victoria
Published: July 2022

COVID-19 vaccination protects against the potentially serious consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but some people have been hesitant to receive the vaccine because of reports that it could affect menstrual bleeding. To determine whether this occurs we prospectively recruited a cohort of 79 individuals, each of whom recorded details of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles, during which time they each received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. In spontaneously cycling participants, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a delay to the next period, but this change reversed in subsequent unvaccinated cycles. No delay was detected in those taking hormonal contraception. To explore hypotheses about the mechanism by which these menstrual changes occur, we retrospectively recruited a larger cohort, of 1,273 people who had kept a record of their menstrual cycle and vaccination dates. In this cohort, we found a trend toward use of combined hormonal contraception being protective against reporting a delayed period, suggesting that menstrual changes following vaccination may be mediated by perturbations to ovarian hormones. However, we were unable to detect a clear association between the timing of vaccination within the menstrual cycle and reports of menstrual changes. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccination can lengthen the menstrual cycle and that this effect may be mediated by ovarian hormones. Importantly, we find that the menstrual cycle returns to its pre-vaccination length in unvaccinated cycles.
Research on Game Theory of Air Traffic Management Cyber Physical System Security
Authors: Wu Zhijun , Dong Ruochen , Wang Peng
Published: July 2022

For the air traffic management cyber physical system, if an attacker successfully obtains authority or data through a cyber attack, combined with physical attacks, it will cause serious consequences. Game theory can be applied to the strategic interaction between two parties, especially if the two parties have different goals. The offensive and defensive game process of the air traffic management cyber physical system is a non-cooperative and incomplete information dynamic game. The attacker can choose to camouflage the type of attack launched. The attack detection device configured in the system has a certain probability that the attack type can be successfully detected. According to the type of attack detected, the defender updates the posterior belief of the attack type and selects the corresponding protective strategies. According to the game process of offense and defense, a dynamic Bayesian game model of the air traffic management cyber physical system is established, the possible perfect Bayesian Nash equilibrium and its existence conditions are solved, and a complete mathematical model is constructed. The analysis shows that the dynamic Bayesian game model of the air traffic management cyber physical system can help the system defender to quickly obtain an equilibrium strategy and reduce the loss of the system as much as possible.
Contribution to the 3R Principle: Description of a Specimen-Specific Finite Element Model Simulating 3-Point-Bending Tests in Mouse Tibiae
Authors: Huang Xiaowei , Nussler Andreas K. , Reumann Marie K. , Augat Peter , Menger Maximilian M. , Ghallab Ahmed , Hengstler Jan G. , Histing Tina , Ehnert Sabrina
Published: July 2022

Bone mechanical properties are classically determined by biomechanical tests, which normally destroy the bones and disable further histological or molecular analyses. Thus, obtaining biomechanical data from bone usually requires an additional group of animals within the experimental setup. Finite element models (FEMs) may non-invasively and non-destructively simulate mechanical characteristics based on material properties. The present study aimed to establish and validate an FEM to predict the mechanical properties of mice tibiae. The FEM was established based on µCT (micro-Computed Tomography) data of 16 mouse tibiae. For validating the FEM, simulated parameters were compared to biomechanical data obtained from 3-point bending tests of the identical bones. The simulated and the measured parameters correlated well for bending stiffness (R2 = 0.9104, p < 0.0001) and yield displacement (R2 = 0.9003, p < 0.0001). The FEM has the advantage that it preserves the bones’ integrity, which can then be used for other analytical methods. By eliminating the need for an additional group of animals for biomechanical tests, the established FEM can contribute to reducing the number of research animals in studies focusing on bone biomechanics. This is especially true when in vivo µCT data can be utilized where multiple bone scans can be performed with the same animal at different time points. Thus, by partially replacing biomechanical experiments, FEM simulations may reduce the overall number of animals required for an experimental setup investigating bone biomechanics, which supports the 3R (replace, reduce, and refine) principle.
Exploring Trauma and Resilience among NYS COVID-19 Pandemic Survivors
Authors: Thompson Kip V. , Eder-Moreau Elizabeth , Cunningham Sara , Yamazaki Yuki , Chen Hang-Yi
Published: July 2022

The New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health created the NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline and enlisted graduate students to provide phone-based emotional support initially to the NYS community. This NYS-funded initiative transformed into providing psychosocial support for callers across the United States. Four NYS doctoral students acted as the helpline agents and received 251 individual calls from May–August 2020. The agents documented the calls with clinical notes which cannot be traced back to specific callers. The purpose of this retrospective qualitative study was to explore the themes that emerged from the calls to give voice to the trauma that callers were reporting during the early phases of the pandemic, and the resilience they demonstrated as they engaged with the Helpline. The agents’ clinical transcripts were converted into codes using a critical-constructivist grounded theory approach with the NVIVO qualitative data analysis software. A second research team audited the initial codes for construct clarity. Emergent themes detailed the unique traumas that helpline callers divulged, how the agents provided support, and the callers’ capacities for resilience. Recommendations are suggested to inform clinicians working with pandemic survivors, to offer guidance on providing distance or virtual interventions as well as to enhance policymakers’ understanding of addressing mental health needs across populations served via the NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline.
Cultures of Spalting
Authors: Robinson Seri C.
Published: July 2022

Wood decayed and colored by fungi, colloquially known as ‘spalted wood’, has been a source of art and folklore across numerous cultures. From intarsia and marquetry in Italy and Germany to woodturning in the U.S. and carving and mythology in Chile, the uses of, and stories about, spalted wood are explored, as well as how those have shaped their surrounding cultures as well as modern science.
Effects of Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity on the Leaf Gas Exchange, Biochemical Stress Markers, Growth, Stigma Yield, and Daughter Corm Yield of Saffron in a Plant Factory
Authors: Dewir Yaser Hassan , Alsadon Abdullah
Published: July 2022

Indoor saffron farming systems under controlled conditions are required to meet the high demand for this valuable crop. The aim of the present study was to determine the flowering, growth, and yield responses of saffron grown using nutrient solutions with different electrical conductivity (EC) levels (0.7, 1.4, and 2.1 dS m−1). Sprouted saffron corms were cultured for 24 weeks under a volcanic rock-based aerated continuous immersion system. Vegetative growth and leaf gas exchange, but not flowering, were affected significantly by EC levels. The optimal EC in a balanced nutrient solution was 0.7 dS m−1, at which level the highest plant height, leaf area, biomass, photosynthetic rate, number of daughter corms, and percentage of corms ≥ 25 mm were recorded. An EC level of 2.1 dS m−1 decreased the photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of saffron but increased biochemical stress marker levels and elevated various antioxidant defense enzyme levels significantly in saffron leaves, possibly reflecting a defense response to the cellular damage provoked by the higher EC level. In terms of nutrient solution EC, 0.7 dS m−1 was optimal in saffron, whereas 2.1 dS m−1 caused oxidative stress that led to reduced growth and daughter corm production.
Electrical Potentiometry with Intraoral Applications
Authors: Jornet-García Alfonso , Sanchez-Perez Arturo , Montoya-Carralero José María , Moya-Villaescusa María José
Published: July 2022

Dental implants currently in use are mainly made of titanium or titanium alloys. As these metallic elements are immersed in an electrolytic medium, galvanic currents are produced between them or with other metals present in the mouth. These bimetallic currents have three potentially harmful effects on the patient: micro-discharges, corrosion, and finally, the dispersion of metal ions or their oxides, all of which have been extensively demonstrated in vitro. In this original work, a system for measuring the potentials generated in vivo is developed. Specifically, it is an electrogalvanic measurements system coupled with a periodontal probe that allows measurement of the potentials in the peri-implant sulcus. This device was tested and verified in vitro to guarantee its applicability in vivo. As a conclusion, this system is able to detect galvanic currents in vitro and it can be considered capable of being employed in vivo, so to assess the effects they may cause on dental implants.
Mechanical Parameters of Leather in Relation to Technological Processing of the Footwear Uppers
Authors: Mihai Aura , Seul Arina , Curteza Antonela , Costea Mariana
Published: July 2022

This paper aimed to define two critical mechanical properties of leather—Young’s modulus and Poisson ratio—essential to the virtual simulation of the behaviour of the footwear uppers against the manufacturing operations of stitching and perforating. The following technological aspects were considered to analyse the materials from manufacturing conditions point of view: the number of layers (one layer and two layers), the nature of the materials used for uppers subgroups (calfskin-outer upper, sheep leather-lining, polyester knitted fabric-lining), the overlapping width in the stitching area, the number of parallel stitches (single stitch and double stitch), the punching interval and the type of perforations (simple and with eyelets), resulting in nine kinds of samples. Furthermore, the elasticity (Young’s modulus) and lateral contraction (Poisson’s ratio) were calculated during the tensile strength analysis performed on the SATRA STM 466 equipment. Both mechanical parameters are essential to simulate the behaviour of the virtual footwear prototypes in various conditions.
Permeability and Load Capacity of Iron Porous Bearings with the Addition of Hexagonal Boron Nitride
Authors: Gocman Krzysztof , Kałdoński Tadeusz , Giemza Bolesław , Król Artur
Published: July 2022

Due to their properties, porous sliding bearings are considered to be maintenance-free, which means that no lubrication is required during operation. Their design enables operation at low rotational speeds with high load. Another effect of this bearing design is the lubrication continuity in the tribological pair. In this study, the selected tribological properties (such as load capacity and permeability) of new-generation iron porous bearings with boron nitride powder were experimentally investigated. Tests were carried out under various conditions, using unique test apparatus. The addition of 3% (weight) of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) significantly increased the load capacity of tested porous bearings in comparison to the same standard bearings containing 2.5% copper. The obtained pgr·v rating reached almost 7 MPa, which is a value almost three times higher than the requirements for this type of bearing. It is worth emphasizing that such a result was obtained despite a noticeable deterioration in the air and oil permeability of the bearing.
Microstructural Constituents and Mechanical Properties of Low-Density Fe-Cr-Ni-Mn-Al-C Stainless Steels
Authors: Scherbring Steffen , Chen Guanghui , Veltel Bastian , Bartzsch Gert , Richter Julia , Vollmer Malte , Blankenburg Malte , Shyamal Saikat , Volkova Olena , Niendorf Thomas , Lienert Ulrich , Sahu Puspendu , Mola Javad
Published: July 2022

Metallic material concepts associated with the sustainable and efficient use of resources are currently the subject of intensive research. Al addition to steel offers advantages in view of lightweight, durability, and efficient use of high-Fe scrap from the Al industry. In the present work, Al was added to Fe-12Cr-(9,12)Ni-3Mn-0.3C-xAl (x = 0.1–6) (wt.%) stainless steels to assess its influence on microstructure and mechanical properties. According to density measurements based on Archimedes’ principle, densities were between 7.70 and 7.08 g/cm3. High-energy X-ray diffraction estimations of the lattice parameter indicated that nearly 31% of density reduction was caused by the lattice expansion associated with Al addition. Depending on Al concentration, austenitic and duplex matrix microstructures were obtained at room temperature. In the presence of up to 3 wt.% Al, the microstructure remained austenitic. At the same time, strength and hardness were slightly enhanced. Al addition in higher quantities resulted in the formation of duplex matrix microstructures with enhanced yield strength but reduced ductility compared to the austenitic alloys. Due to the ready formation of B2-(Ni,Fe)Al intermetallics in the ferrite phase of the present alloy system, the increase in strength due to the presence of ferrite was more pronounced compared to standard duplex stainless steels. The occurrence of B2 intermetallics was implied by dilatometry measurements and confirmed by electron microscopy examinations and high-energy X-ray diffraction measurements.
Tensile Property and Corrosion Performance of Ag Microalloying of Al-Cu Alloys for Positive Electrode Current Collectors of Li-Ion Batteries
Authors: Peng Zixuan , Ding Dongyan , Zhang Wenlong , Gao Yongjin , Chen Guozhen , Xie Yonglin , Liao Yongqi
Published: July 2022

The development of a current collector for Li-ion batteries is of great significance for improving the performance of Li-ion batteries. Tensile property and corrosion performance of the positive electrode current collectors are an indispensable prerequisite for the realization of high-performance Li-ion batteries. In our study, the effects of Ag alloying on the microscopic structure, electrical conductivity, tensile property and corrosion resistance of Al-xCu (x = 0.1–0.15%) alloy foils were investigated. Moderate Ag addition on the Al-Cu alloy could reduce the size of second phases and promote the formation of second phases. The tensile strength of the Al-0.1Cu-0.1Ag alloy was higher than that of the Al-0.1Cu alloy at both room and high temperatures. All of the alloy foils demonstrated high electrical conductivity around 58% ICAS. The corrosion potential and corrosion current density of the Al-0.1Cu alloy were demonstrated by Tafel polarization to be −873 mV and 37.12 μA/cm2, respectively. However, the Al-0.1Cu-0.1Ag alloy showed enhanced corrosion resistance after the Ag element was added to the Al-0.1Cu alloy, and the Al-0.1Cu-0.1Ag alloy had a greater positive corrosion potential of −721 mV and a lower corrosion current density of 1.52 μA/cm2, which suggests that the Ag element could significantly improve the corrosion resistance of the Al-Cu alloy.
Associations of Bone Mineral Density with RANKL and Osteoprotegerin in Arab Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Amer Osama E. , Wani Kaiser , Ansari Mohammed G. A. , Alnaami Abdullah M. , Aljohani Naji , Abdi Saba , Hussain Syed D. , Al-Daghri Nasser M. , Alokail Majed S.
Published: July 2022

Background and objective: There is limited information as to the association of several key bone markers with bone mineral density (BMD) in understudied ethnic groups. This study investigated the relationship between circulating levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) with BMD in Arab postmenopausal women. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 617 Saudi postmenopausal women from the Osteoporosis Registry of the Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases were included. Anthropometric data, BMD, and biochemical data were retrieved from the registry. Participants were stratified into three groups based on T-score; n = 169 with osteoporosis, n = 282 with osteopenia, and n = 166 normal. Analysis of bone markers including RANKL, OPG, osteocalcin, and N-terminal telopeptide (NTx) was completed using commercially available bioassays. Results: The results suggested that OPG was significantly and positively correlated with age in the osteoporosis group (r = 0.29, p < 0.05), while it was inversely correlated with BMD femoral neck left (r = −0.56, p < 0.001) and BMD femoral neck right (r = −0.37, p < 0.05) in the same group. Moreover, RANKL showed a significant inverse correlation with NTx in the osteopenia group (r = −0.37, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the RANKL/OPG ratio had a positive and significant correlation with BMI (r = 0.34, p < 0.05), BMD femoral neck left (r = 0.36, p < 0.05) and BMD femoral neck right (r = 0.35, p < 0.05) in the osteopenia group. By contrast, it showed a significant inverse correlation with waist to hip ratio in the osteoporosis group (r = −0.38, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that OPG contributes to BMD variations in the osteopenia group (p = 0.03). Conclusions: In conclusion, changes in circulating levels of RANKL and OPG might be a protective mechanism contrary to the increased bone loss in postmenopausal women.
Correlation between Core Stability and Upper-Extremity Performance in Male Collegiate Athletes
Authors: Nuhmani Shibili
Published: July 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of core stability, as measured by the McGill and double-leg lowering (DLL) test, with upper-extremity performance, as measured by the upper-quarter Y-balance test (UQYBT), medicine ball throw test (MBTT) and functional throwing performance index (FTPI) test, in collegiate athletes. Materials and Methods: A sample of 61 collegiate athletes from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University participated in the study. Their core stability was assessed through their McGill and DLL test scores. Their upper-extremity performance was assessed through their UQYBT, MBTT and FTPI test scores. Results: The McGill test score had a significant strong positive correlation with the MBTT score (p = 0.02, r = 0.67) and a significant moderate positive correlation with the UQYBT score (p = 0.01, r = 0.46). There was no significant correlation between the McGill and FTPI test scores (p ≥ 0.05). The DLL test score was positively correlated with the MBTT score (p = 0.02, r = 0.25) but had no significant correlation with the other sports performance variables (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: The study results suggest that core stability measures are positively correlated with most of the upper-extremity athletic-performance measures in collegiate athletes. The MBTT score was found to be the most significantly correlated with the scores in both core stability tests among all the upper-extremity athletic-performance tests in this study. However, due to the nature of this study, a cause–effect relationship cannot be established on the basis of the study’s findings, and the study results should be interpreted with caution.
Learning Management System Analytics on Arithmetic Fluency Performance: A Skill Development Case in K6 Education
Authors: Qushem Umar Bin , Christopoulos Athanasios , Laakso Mikko-Jussi
Published: July 2022

Achieving fluency in arithmetic operations is vital if students are to develop mathematical creativity and critical thinking abilities. Nevertheless, a substantial body of literature has demonstrated that students are struggling to develop such skills, due to the absence of appropriate instructional support or motivation. A proposed solution to tackle this problem is the rapid evolution and widespread integration of educational technology into the modern school system. To be precise, the Learning Management System (LMS) has been found to be particularly useful in the instructional process, especially where matters related to personalised and self-regulated learning are concerned. In the present work, we explored the aforementioned topics in the context of a longitudinal study in which 720 primary education students (4th–6th grade), from United Arab Emirates (UAE), utilised an LMS, at least once per week, for one school year (nine months). The findings revealed that the vast majority (97% of the 6th graders, 83% of the 4th graders, and 76% of the 5th graders) demonstrated a positive improvement in their arithmetic fluency development. Moreover, the Multiple Linear Regression analysis revealed that students need to practice deliberately for approximately 68 days (a minimum of 3 min a day) before seeing any substantial improvement in their performance. The study also made an additional contribution by demonstrating how design practice compliance with gamification and Learning Analytics in LMS may lead children to be fluent in simple arithmetic operations. For educators interested in LMS-based intervention, research implications and directions are presented.
Optical Fiber Sensor for Monitoring the Evaporation of Ethanol–Water Mixtures
Authors: Pereira Diana , Bierlich Jörg , Kobelke Jens , Pereira Vanda , Ferreira Marta S.
Published: July 2022

An inline optical fiber sensor is proposed to monitor in real time the evaporation process of ethanol–water binary mixtures. The sensor presents two interferometers, a cladding modal interferometer (CMI) and a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI). The CMI is used to acquire the variations in the external medium refractive index, presenting a maximum sensitivity of 387 nm/RIU, and to attain the variation in the sample concentration profile, while the MZI monitors temperature fluctuations. For comparison purposes, an image analysis is also conducted to obtain the droplet profile. The sensor proposed in this work is a promising alternative in applications where a rigorous measurement of volatile organic compound concentrations is required, and in the study of chemical and physical properties related to the evaporation process.
Static, Dynamic, and Signal-to-Noise Analysis of a Solid-State Magnetoelectric (Me) Sensor with a Spice-Based Circuit Simulator
Authors: Sindler Yuri , Lineykin Simon
Published: July 2022

Modeling the non-electrical processes by equivalent electrical circuits is a widely known and successfully used technique in research and development. Although finite element methods software development has supplanted electrical analogy techniques due to greater accuracy and intuitiveness in recent decades, the modeling of physical processes based on analogies has several advantages in some cases. Representation of physical processes in the form of lumped circuits and graphs allows researchers to estimate the system with an alternative view, use standardized methods for solving electrical circuits for non-electrical systems, and, most importantly, allows us to use electrical circuit simulators with their unique capabilities. Of particular interest for using the analogy technique are systems that include electronic components along with components belonging to other physical domains, such as mechanical, thermal, magnetic, and others. A solid-state magnetoelectric (ME) sensor equipped with a charge amplifier is proposed in this study as an example of analysis using the equivalent electrical circuit and simulating these circuits using SPICE-based circuit simulators. Sensor analysis is conducted with an emphasis on noise budgeting and optimizing the sensor’s signal-to-noise ratio and resolution. In addition, the steady state, the phasor, and transient types of analyses were employed to study the static and dynamic behavior of the system. Validation of the model using analytical calculations and comparison with experimental data demonstrated superior results.
Follicular Dynamics and Pregnancy Rate in Nellore Heifers Submitted to Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocols (FTAI)
Authors: Silva Filipe Prudente da , Neves Kedson Alessandri Lobo , Correa Francisco R. A. , Silva Lílian K. X. , Batista Helder R. , Silva Welligton C. da , Mercado Caruso Nohora , Minervino Antonio Humberto Hamad
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to evaluate follicular dynamics and pregnancy rates in Nellore heifers submitted to fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols associated with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) or follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Nellore heifers (n = 259) were used, divided into two studies. Experiment I evaluated the ovarian follicular dynamics in 64 Nellore heifers submitted to different FTAI protocols (n = 32/group) using either FSH or eCG. In Experiment II, the pregnancy rate was evaluated in 195 heifers submitted to FTAI protocols and divided into two groups: FSH (n = 97) and eCG (n = 98). In Experiment I, the ultrasound examination showed that the maximum diameter of the dominant and preovulatory follicles and the ovulation time were similar between the FSH and eCG groups (p > 0.05). However, the ovulation rate was higher in the eCG group when compared to FSH (p = 0.014). In Experiment II, females that received eCG presented a higher pregnancy rate (58.1%) when compared to FSH (40.2%) (p = 0.012). The use of eCG in the FTAI protocol in Nellore heifers promoted a higher ovulation rate and increased pregnancy rate and may be the most suitable alternative to increase conception rates in animals that are raised in an extensive system under tropical conditions in the Amazon.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Cholangiopancreatography of the Pancreas in Small Animals
Authors: Briola Chiara
Published: July 2022

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) have emerged as non-invasive diagnostic techniques for the diagnosis of pancreatic and pancreatic duct disorders in humans. The number of studies focused on MR and MRCP for pancreatic disease in small animals is very limited. MR has been described for the evaluation of insulinoma in dogs and to investigate pancreatitis in cats. The studies were based on a standard protocol with T2 weighted (w) fast recovery fast spin-echo (FRFSE) with and without fat suppression, T1w FSE pre-contrast and T1w FSE post-contrast with and without fat suppression. MRCP after secretin stimulation has been described in cats to assess the pancreatic ductal system, taking advantage of pulse sequences heavily T2w as rapid acquisition with rapid enhancement (RARE), fast-recovery fast spin-echo (FRFSE) sequences and single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) sequences. In addition to the standard protocol, fast spoiled gradient recalled echo pulse sequences (fSPGR) and volume interpolated 3D gradient-echo T1w pulse sequences pre and post-contrast have also been used in cats, reaching the goal of assessing the biliary tree and the pancreatic duct with the same sequence and in multiple planes. Despite the small amount of data, the results show potential, and the most recent technical innovations, in particular, focused on diffusion MRI and fast acquisition, further support the need for continued evaluation of MRI as an effective instrument for the investigation of pancreatic disease.
What Is Missing from Contemporary AI? The World
Authors: Wooldridge Michael
Published: July 2022

In the past three years, we have witnessed the emergence of a new class of artificial intelligence systems–—so-called foundation models, which are characterised by very large machine learning models (with tens or hundreds of billions of parameters) trained using extremely large and broad data sets. Foundation models, it is argued, have competence in a broad range of tasks, which can be specialised for specific applications. Large language models, of which GPT-3 is perhaps the best known, are the most prominent example of current foundation models. While foundation models have demonstrated impressive capabilities in certain tasks—natural language generation being the most obvious example—I argue that because they are inherently disembodied, and they are limited with respect to what they have learned and what they can do. Foundation models are likely to be very useful in many applications: but they are not the end of the road in artificial intelligence.
Perancangan Seri Kartu Pos "Kirtimukha" Menggunakan Teknik Cetak Digital Fuji Xerox Iridesse Special Color
Authors: Andito Tegar
Published: July 2022

Popularitas hobi korespondensi kartu pos di Indonesia kembali meningkat sejak 2012 sejak munculnya Postcrossing.com. Selain kartu pos yang beredar di toko-toko cindera mata, setelah munculnya Postcrossing.com bermunculan kartu-kartu pos dengan tema-tema unik tentang Indonesia dengan berbagai macam teknik cetak. Salah satu tema yang populer di Indonesia adalah kartu pos bertema candi. Pada tahun 2019, mesin cetak laser Fuji Xerox Iridesse yang memiliki fitur toner dengan warna khusus diperkenalkan di Indonesia. Warna khusus yang dimaksud adalah warna Gold dan Silver, White, serta Clear. Warna Gold dan Silver merupakan toner berwarna metalik, White merupakan toner putih yang bermanfaat untuk menjadi dasaran toner CMYK pada permukaan gelap dan transparan, sedangkan Clear merupakan toner bening yang memberikan efek mengkilap pada permukaan kertas. Mesin ini dapat diset menggunakan dua di antara warna tersebut sebagai tambahan dari warna CMYK. Kehadiran Fuji Xerox Iridesse dengan fitur Special Color-nya merupakan hal yang relatif baru di Indonesia dan belum banyak dieksplorasi dalam perancangan karya desain grafis. Perancangan seri kartu pos “Kirtimukha” ini merupakan eksperimen untuk mengeksplorasi fitur warna khusus Gold dan Silver pada mesin cetak laser Fuji Xerox Iridesse untuk penciptaan karya desain grafis sekaligus respon dari fenomena populernya korespondensi kartu pos di Indonesia khususnya tema candi.
Effectiveness of integrative therapy on distress and psychosomatic symptoms in female patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction with type D personality
Authors: Bakhshi Bajestani Ali , Shahabizadeh Fatemeh , Vaziri Sahram , Lotfi Kashani Farah
Published: July 2022

Background and aims: Anxiety disorders and psychological manifestations play significant roles in the incidence of psychosomatic disorders. Moreover, personality traits are one of the psychological constructs associated with psychosomatic symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of integrative therapy on distress and psychosomatic symptoms in female patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction with type D personality. Methods: The present study was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population in this study included all the patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders who referred to the Institute of Psychology Hamdam Hamrah in 2020, 24 patients were selected by targeted sampling method (patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction, apart from the gastrointestinal cancer patients, who had a high de-personality score) and were randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control with 12 patients in each group. Data were obtained using the type D personality scale (DS-14), ROME III questionnaire, psychological distress scale, and depression anxiety stress scale-21 (DASS-21). Data analysis was performed using repeated measure analysis of variance by SPSS version 22. Results: Descriptive findings of psychological distress variables were obtained in the experimental group in the pre-test (40.08±7.75), post-test (.25±7.59), and follow-up (28.33±6.45). Furthermore, descriptive findings psychosomatic symptoms were obtained in the pre-test (49.17±15.65), post-test (42.25±10.36), and follow-up sessions (40.33±9.28), showing a decrease in the values of these variables in post-test and follow-up sessions. The results indicated that integrative therapy was effective in decreasing distress (P<0.001) and psychosomatic symptoms (P<0.001) in female patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction with type D personality. Conclusion: It can be concluded that integrative therapy effectively reduces distress and psychosomatic symptoms of female patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction with type D personality and improves psychological problems in female patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction.
Method for assessing the characteristics of the quality of service of networks
Authors:   Southern Federal University, Gushansky M. , Prilip V. A. , Vershina M. V.
Published: July 2022

Variational quantum algorithms are at the forefront of modeling fault-tolerant quantum devices of the near future. While most variational quantum algorithms use only continuous optimization variables, their representative power can sometimes be greatly increased by adding certain discrete optimization variables, as illustrated by the example of the generalized quantum approximation optimization algorithm. However, the hybrid discrete-continuous optimization problem poses an optimization problem. The paper proposes a new algorithm that combines the Monte Carlo tree search method with an improved gradient solver to optimize discrete and continuous variables in a quantum circuit, respectively. The algorithm has been found to have excellent noise tolerance properties and is superior to prior algorithms in the field.
Development of user interface design module based on the use of integration-variable concept model
Authors:   Southern Federal University, Belikova S.A.
Published: July 2022

The paper presents the architecture of the user interface design module based on the use of an integration- variable concept model, based on the idea of constructing user interface from fragments of user actions, which should be presented as a holistic model of interrelated user actions. The implementation of the module is demonstrated on the example of screens for adding actions to stages, forming an action diagram, and binding functions.