bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smart criminal justice: exploring the use of algorithms in the Swiss criminal justice system
Authors: Simmler Monika , Brunner Simone , Canova Giulia , Schedler Kuno
Published: March 2022

In the digital age, the use of advanced technology is becoming a new paradigm in police work, criminal justice, and the penal system. Algorithms promise to predict delinquent behaviour, identify potentially dangerous persons, and support crime investigation. Algorithm-based applications are often deployed in this context, laying the groundwork for a ‘smart criminal justice’. In this qualitative study based on 32 interviews with criminal justice and police officials, we explore the reasons why and extent to which such a smart criminal justice system has already been established in Switzerland, and the benefits perceived by users. Drawing upon this research, we address the spread, application, technical background, institutional implementation, and psychological aspects of the use of algorithms in the criminal justice system. We find that the Swiss criminal justice system is already significantly shaped by algorithms, a change motivated by political expectations and demands for efficiency. Until now, algorithms have only been used at a low level of automation and technical complexity and the levels of benefit perceived vary. This study also identifies the need for critical evaluation and research-based optimization of the implementation of advanced technology. Societal implications, as well as the legal foundations of the use of algorithms, are often insufficiently taken into account. By discussing the main challenges to and issues with algorithm use in this field, this work lays the foundation for further research and debate regarding how to guarantee that ‘smart’ criminal justice is actually carried out smartly.
Post-diagnostic beta blocker use and breast cancer-specific mortality: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Scott Oliver William , Tin Tin Sandar , Elwood J. Mark , Cavadino Alana , Habel Laurel A. , Kuper-Hommel Marion , Campbell Ian , Lawrenson Ross
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Beta blockers (BB) have been associated with improved, worsened, or unchanged breast cancer outcomes in previous studies. This study examines the association between the post-diagnostic use of BBs and death from breast cancer in a large, representative sample of New Zealand (NZ) women with breast cancer.

Methods

Women diagnosed with a first primary breast cancer between 2007 and 2016 were identified from four population-based regional NZ breast cancer registries and linked to national pharmaceutical data, hospital discharges, and death records. The median follow-up time was 4.51 years. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard of breast cancer-specific death (BCD) associated with any post-diagnostic BB use.

Results

Of the 14,976 women included in analyses, 21% used a BB after diagnosis. BB use (vs non-use) was associated with a small and nonstatistically significant increased risk of BCD (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.11; 95% CI 0.95–1.29). A statistically significant increased risk confined to short-term use (0–3 months) was seen (HR = 1.40; 1.14–1.73), and this risk steadily decreased with increasing duration of use and became a statistically significant protective effect at 3 + years of use (HR = 0.55; 0.34–0.88).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that any increased risk associated with BB use may be driven by risk in the initial few months of use. Long-term BB use may be associated with a reduction in BCD.
Maternal and Child Health Pipeline Training Programs: A Description of Training Across 6 Funded Programs
Authors: Moerchen V. , Taylor-DeOliveira L. , Dietrich M. , Armstrong A. , Azeredo J. , Belcher H. , Copeland-Linder N. , Fernandes P. , Kuo A. , Noble C. , Olaleye O. , Salihu H. , Waters C. R. , Brown C. , Reddy M. M.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The HRSA-funded maternal and child health pipeline training programs (MCHPTPs) are a response to the critical need to diversify the MCH workforce, as a strategy to reduce health disparities in MCH populations. These MCHPTPs support students from undergraduate to graduate education and ultimately into the MCH workforce.

Description

The models and components of training across the six MCHPTPs funded in 2016–2021 are summarized, to examine the design and delivery of undergraduate pipeline training and the insights gained across programs.

Assessment

Strategies that emerged across training programs were organized into three themes: recruitment, support for student persistence (in education), and pipeline-to-workforce intentionality. Support for student persistence included financial support, mentoring, creating opportunity for students to develop a sense of belonging, and the use of research as a tool to promote learning and competitiveness for graduate education. Finally, the link to Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) long-term training and other MCHB opportunities for professional development contributed significant nuance to the pipeline-to-workforce objectives of these programs.

Conclusions

The MCHPTPs not only increase the diversity of the MCH workforce, they also actively prepare the next generation of MCH leaders. The intentional connection of undergraduates to the infrastructure and continuum of MCH training, underscores the comprehensive impact of this funding.
The German version of the Pulmonary Embolism Quality of Life (PEmb-QoL) questionnaire: reliability, responsiveness and structural validity
Authors: Fischer Simone , Meisinger Christine , Linseisen Jakob , von Scheidt Wolfgang , Berghaus Thomas M. , Kirchberger Inge
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The Pulmonary Embolism Quality of Life (PEmb-QoL) questionnaire is the only existing disease-specific instrument for measuring quality of life after pulmonary embolism (PE). It includes six dimensions: frequency of complaints, limitations in activities of daily living, work-related problems, social limitations, intensity of complaints and emotional complaints. The present study aimed to determine the psychometric properties including responsiveness and structural validity of the German version.

Methods

The analysis used data from participants of the LEA cohort study at University Hospital Augsburg. The PEmb-QoL was administered via postal surveys 3, 6 and 12 months post-PE. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were evaluated by calculating Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Standardized response means (SRM) were calculated for investigating responsiveness. For evaluating the fit of the factor structure, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted.

Results

Overall, we used data from 299 patients 3 months after PE. Cronbach’s alpha (0.87–0.97) and ICC (0.53–0.90) were in an acceptable to good range. SRM scores showed good responsiveness of all dimensions. CFA revealed the four-factor model including one general factor to have a good model fit.

Conclusion

Despite existing floor effect, most standard criteria of reliability and validity were met and indications for appropriateness of the PEmb-QoL summary score could be found. Apart from some restrictions concerning the factor structure and the dimension of social limitations, our results support the use of the PEmb-QoL questionnaire for evaluating PE-specific quality of life. Future studies should seek replication in different samples to ensure generalizability of the findings.
Determining Dynamic Properties of Elastomer-Dampers by Means of Impact Testing
Authors: Rapp T. , Jacobs G. , Berroth J. , Guenther J.
Published: March 2022

Background

Damping elements made of elastomer materials are used in almost every mechanical system to prevent damage to components caused by impact-like excitations and the resulting high-frequency, large-amplitude oscillations. The dynamics of these operating conditions exceed the performance limits of conventional experimental testing methods, impeding validated predictions of the damper’s transmission behaviour.

Objective

A method is proposed to directly investigate the influence of impacts on the transmission behaviour of elastomeric dampers by impact testing.

Methods

Torsional-loaded elastomer dampers were experimentally investigated using a drop tower. During the experiment, a mass is brought into impact contact with a lever arm connected to the tested coupling. Measurements on resulting torsional oscillations and a comparison of the measurement results with a simple analytical model of the system allow for determining the coupling parameters stiffness and damping ratio.

Results

The characteristic parameters stiffness and damping ratio of the elastomer damper were mapped as a function of excitation-amplitude and frequency. A comparison of drop-tower test results with servo-hydraulic measurements validated the determined parameters.

Conclusions

Determining the transmission behaviour of elastomeric dampers from highly dynamic and impact-induced oscillation states proved to be a good approach to supplement established testing methods.
Histological paraffin-embedded block: a good alternative specimen to detect the use of opiates at least 20 years ago
Authors: Di Candia Domenico , Boracchi Michele , Gentile Guendalina , Giordano Gaia , Zoja Riccardo
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Since the solely certain remnants of a performed autopsy are formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, stored in the archives of every institute of legal medicine, we managed to extract molecules of toxicological interest from these specimens.

Methods

We assessed the analysis of ten fresh liver samples collected from heroin-related deaths and then histologically processed the same samples. The embedded blocks were then extracted by means of a new extracting method and the eluates were measured. We also selected five toxicological cases of heroin-related fatalities that were examined 20 years ago, collected the toxicological result documents of the analysis that were carried out at the time and then processed the corresponding FFPE liver samples that were stored in the archives.

Results

We managed to isolate heroine-related metabolites from 20-year-old paraffin-embedded blocks and calculated ratios to evaluate the performance of our new extraction.

Conclusions

According to our study, it is feasible to carry out a toxicological examination on old histological samples and, therefore, this matrix can be considered as a new alternative specimen for chemical-analytical evaluations of past cases or when fresh samples are not available anymore. The new extractive method was evaluated as efficient in treating these complex, paraffin-embedded samples. It was surprising that the target compounds could be quantitated from FFPE bocks created as long as 20 years ago.
A Review on Doped/Composite Bismuth Chalcogenide Compounds for Thermoelectric Device Applications: Various Synthesis Techniques and Challenges
Authors: Hegde Ganesh Shridhar , Prabhu A. N.
Published: March 2022

One of the global demands of primary research objectives is to achieve human energy harvesting and self-powered wearable technologies. Bismuth chalcogenides are the trending materials for thermoelectric generators and Peltier coolers due to their notable thermoelectric figure of merit in the low- and room-temperature range. Systematic alloying of bismuth chalcogenides leads to a substantial change in their electrical and thermal transport properties. The high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) observed in bismuth chalcogenides is due to the rhombohedral crystal structure, lower effective mass, low thermal conductivity, and large band degeneracy. This review is aimed at identifying and quantifying different techniques for effectively improving the thermoelectric properties of doped/composite bismuth chalcogenide compounds. The review also examines the various synthesis methods including ball milling (BM), spark plasma sintering (SPS), self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), soft chemical reaction, hydrothermal reaction, melt growth (MG), melt spinning (MS), sintering and consolidated synthesis, and hot extrusion, with their respective figures of merit. Since device modification is a challenging task, this report reviews the present research on bismuth chalcogenide alloys to benchmark future development using various techniques.

Graphical Abstract
Finite Element Modeling of Hot Compression Testing of Titanium Alloys
Authors: Jedrasiak Patryk , Shercliff Hugh , Mishra Sumeet , Daniel Christopher S. , da Fonseca Joao Quinta
Published: March 2022

This paper presents experimental results and finite element analysis of hot upsetting of titanium alloys Ti64 and Ti407 using a dilatometer in loading mode. All samples showed barrelling, as a consequence of an inhomogeneous temperature distribution and friction. The FE analysis is a full thermomechanical model of the test calibrated using multiple thermocouples. At each nominal temperature and strain rate, the true flow stress–strain response is inferred using the difference between the initially assumed constitutive response input to the FE analysis, $$\sigma =f\left(T,\dot{\varepsilon },\varepsilon \right)$$

σ
=
f

T
,

ε
˙

,
ε

, and the predicted response of the model. The analysis applies new procedures for: (1) modeling the thermal gradient; (2) finding the flow stress correction due to the inhomogeneity, using literature data as the input to the FE analysis; and (3) smoothing the constitutive data, fitting empirical $$\sigma =f\left(T,\dot{\varepsilon }\right)$$

σ
=
f

T
,

ε
˙

surfaces at multiple discrete strains. The extracted true constitutive data confirm the moderate strain-softening behavior in Ti64 alloy, and the FE model predicts the distribution of local deformation conditions, for application in interpretation of microstructure and texture evolution. This highlights the difference between nominal and actual test conditions, showing that the discrepancy varies systematically with test conditions, with the central strain and strain rate being magnified significantly, by factors of order 2–3.
Party Politics vs. Grievance Politics: Competing Modes of Representative Democracy
Authors: Flinders Matthew , Hinterleitner Markus
Published: March 2022

As a vast literature on political disaffection, populism, “pitchfork politics,” and the emergence of an “age of anger” testifies, the nature of democratic politics and the socio-political context in which it operates appear to have shifted sharply during the last decade. This is reflected in the rise of challenger parties, the election of unorthodox politicians, and widespread concern regarding the “crisis,” “death,” or “end” of democracy. Existing analyses have, however, understandably adopted a conventional model of party-based representative politics as their main interpretive lens or reference point to make sense of these changes. This article adopts a far bolder position. It suggests that a new form of “grievance politics” has emerged that constitutes a distinct and novel species of representative democracy. Grievance politics is defined by the fuelling and funneling of negative emotions and various blame-based political strategies which explicitly challenge and confound many of the core principles and values that have traditionally underpinned conventional conceptions of party politics. It is the tension between party politics and grievance politics—and their contemporary co-existence as competing modes of political representation—which this article seeks to underline and through this, to develop a clearer understanding of possible futures for representative democracy.
Business and Human Rights Regulation After the UN Guiding Principles: Accountability, Governance, Effectiveness
Authors: Wolfsteller René , Li Yingru
Published: March 2022

Since the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) were adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011, they have diffused into policy frameworks, laws, and regulations across the globe. This special issue seeks to advance the interdisciplinary field of human rights research by examining key elements of the emerging transnational regime for the regulation of business and human rights. In seven original contributions, scholars from political science, law, accounting, and philosophy critically reflect on the theoretical foundations of the UNGPs, they analyze the effectiveness of implementation mechanisms and current regulatory practice, and they advance proposals for the future development of the business and human rights regime. In this introduction, we prepare the ground for these analyses, proceeding in three steps. Firstly, we argue that the adoption of the UNGPs has triggered a norm cascade which requires a distinctive, empirically oriented research agenda focusing on the scope, governance, and effectiveness of corporate human rights accountability norms and instruments. Secondly, we explain how the articles in this special issue contribute to that research agenda by addressing these themes. Thirdly, we provide an overview of the individual contributions and point out avenues for future research.
Put your feet up: The impact of personality traits, job pressure, and social support on the need for recovery after work
Authors: Fostervold Knut Inge , Watten Reidulf G.
Published: March 2022

The need for recovery after work (NFR) is an important warning of work-related fatigue. NFR is linked to prolonged work-related efforts and depletion of resources, creating a need for temporary respite from work demands. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationships between NFR and the five-factor model (FFM), comprising the personality traits of emotional stability (ES), extraversion (E), agreeableness (A), conscientiousness (C), and openness to experience (O). Perceived job pressure and perceived social support were included as mediators. The study was conducted using structural equation modelling (SEM) on cross-sectional data from a sample of 681 participants from several work sectors (N females = 376, N males = 305; M age = 46.9 years; SD = 11.1). The results showed that NFR was affected both directly and indirectly by FFM traits. High ES and high O contributed directly to reduced and increased NFR, respectively. High perceived social support contributed to reduced NFR, while high perceived job pressure contributed to increased NFR. High ES contributed indirectly to reduced NFR through perceived job pressure and social support, high O contributed indirectly to increased NFR through perceived social support, and high E contributed indirectly to increased NFR through perceived job pressure. A and C were not related to NFR. The findings demonstrate that personality traits, especially ES, are firmly related to NFR and highlight the importance of incorporating personality factors into studies of work environmental factors on NFR.
Three-Dimensional Digital Reconstruction of the Cerebellar Cortex: Lobule Thickness, Surface Area Measurements, and Layer Architecture
Authors: Zheng Junxiao , Yang Qinzhu , Makris Nikos , Huang Kaibin , Liang Jianwen , Ye Chenfei , Yu Xiaxia , Tian Mu , Ma Ting , Mou Tian , Guo Wenlong , Kikinis Ron , Gao Yi
Published: March 2022

The cerebellum is ontogenetically one of the first structures to develop in the central nervous system; nevertheless, it has been only recently reconsidered for its significant neurobiological, functional, and clinical relevance in humans. Thus, it has been a relatively under-studied compared to the cerebrum. Currently, non-invasive imaging modalities can barely reach the necessary resolution to unfold its entire, convoluted surface, while only histological analyses can reveal local information at the micrometer scale. Herein, we used the BigBrain dataset to generate area and point-wise thickness measurements for all layers of the cerebellar cortex and for each lobule in particular. We found that the overall surface area of the cerebellar granular layer (including Purkinje cells) was 1,732 cm2 and the molecular layer was 1,945 cm2. The average thickness of the granular layer is 0.88 mm (± 0.83) and that of the molecular layer is 0.32 mm (± 0.08). The cerebellum (both granular and molecular layers) is thicker at the depth of the sulci and thinner at the crowns of the gyri. Globally, the granular layer is thicker in the lateral-posterior-inferior region than the medial-superior regions. The characterization of individual layers in the cerebellum achieved herein represents a stepping-stone for investigations interrelating structural and functional connectivity with cerebellar architectonics using neuroimaging, which is a matter of considerable relevance in basic and clinical neuroscience. Furthermore, these data provide templates for the construction of cerebellar topographic maps and the precise localization of structural and functional alterations in diseases affecting the cerebellum.
A Re-evaluation of Wetland Carbon Sink Mitigation Concepts and Measurements: A Diagenetic Solution
Authors: Gallagher John Barry , Zhang Ke , Chuan Chee Hoe
Published: March 2022

The capacity of wetlands to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is the sum of two services: the protection of vulnerable organic stocks from remineralisation, and the capacity to sequester GHGs relative to their anthropogenic replacements. Organic carbon accumulation (CA) down through the sediment column is often taken as the measure of sequestration because of its capacity to record long-term variability and trends. However, we demonstrate that: i) CA is not equivalent to sequestration as net ecosystem production (NEP) for open systems; it requires the subtraction of the initial deposition rate of labile allochthonous carbon sources; ii) CA also requires subtraction of intrinsically allochthonous recalcitrants down through the sediment column, and together with subtraction of autochthonous recalcitrants from organic stock services; iii) CA as a climatic mitigation service also requires a diagenetic correction, as the annual deposition of labile organic carbon continues to remineralise over the long-term; and iv) preserving of a wetland has a significantly greater mitigation potential than restoring one. To address the above concerns, a global diagenetic solution is proposed, applied and tested for a tropical seagrass and mangrove. As expected, traditional CA estimates were disproportionately larger than their respective diagenetically modelled NEPs, and together with stocks fell within the ranges reported in the literature, with a final carbon accreditation highly dependent on the choice of their anthropogenic replacements. The review demonstrates that mitigation concepts and measurements for natural carbon sequestration solutions require re-evaluation to avoid GHG emissions above their capacity or reduce the ability to fulfil emission targets.
On the injectivity estimation in foam EOR
Authors: Quinelato Thiago O. , de Paula Filipe F. , Igreja Iury , Lozano Luis F. , Chapiro Grigori
Published: March 2022

In this work, we study injectivity issues caused by the use of the Peaceman equation in the numerical simulation of chemical enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes aimed at reducing fluid mobility, such as foam injection, on coarse grids. Employing analytical solutions, we demonstrate that the Peaceman equation, commonly applied to mathematical modeling of the injectivity in commercial simulators, leads to errors of more than two orders of magnitude in the injection well pressure drop when the foam flow effects near the well are considered for assuming homogeneous mobility in a coarse-well block. To circumvent this issue, we investigate numerical treatments focused on the grid of well blocks through local grid partitioning strategies (radial and Cartesian) to improve the injection well bottom-hole pressure (BHP) estimation. This methodology does not change the input data nor the injectivity model characteristics of the commercial simulator. It does not significantly affect the computational cost of the simulation, since the grid treatment occurs only in the blocks containing the wells. Thus, the radial and Cartesian grid partitioning for the well block are compared using the STARS simulator. Our results show the clear capability of the methodology to reduce the well BHP overestimation, mitigating the errors caused by the Peaceman equation. Indeed, in some simulated scenarios, the BHP overestimation was reduced a hundredfold after applying the partitioning technique. Furthermore, we discuss the choice of simulation parameters leading to more accurate and numerically stable results.
Influencing factors and microscopic formation mechanism of phase transitions of microemulsion system
Authors: Dongqi Wang , Daiyin Yin , Junda Wang , Yazhou Zhou , Chengli Zhang
Published: March 2022

As a surfactant solution system, microemulsion has attracted much attention due to its ultra-low interfacial tension, high solubilization and thermodynamic stability in the process of enhanced oil recovery. Different from water phase system of polymer flooding and ASP flooding, the microemulsion system shows a special phase state, and its existence system may be water phase, oil phase or microemulsion phase. The microemulsion phase can be divided into upper phase, middle phase and lower phase microemulsion according to the composition of the system. Different phase microemulsions have different oil displacement efficiency, and the middle phase microemulsion reaches ultra-low interfacial tension with oil/water, and the oil displacement efficiency is the highest. In order to ensure the middle-phase microemulsion flooding as far as possible during the oil displacement process, it is necessary to study the phase change process of microemulsion and the formation conditions of microemulsion in detail, and clarify the influence of surfactant concentration, additive concentration, salt content, water–oil ratio and temperature on the microemulsion phase transformation and the formation mechanism of microemulsion. The research results have some guiding significance for the formulation selection and slug design of microemulsion flooding system.
Hydrodynamic Performance of A Porous-Type Land-Fixed Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converter
Authors: Mayon Robert , Ning De-zhi , Zhang Chong-wei , Johanning Lars
Published: March 2022

A hybrid, porous breakwater—Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converter (WEC) system is put forward and its hydrodynamic performance is investigated using the fully nonlinear, open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, OpenFOAM. The permeable structure is positioned at the weather side of the OWC device and adjoined to its front wall. A numerical modelling approach is employed in which the interstices within the porous structure are explicitly defined. This permits the flow field development within the porous structure and at the OWC front wall to be observed. The WEC device is defined as a land-fixed, semi-submerged OWC chamber. A range of regular incident waves are generated at the inlet within the numerical tank. The OWC efficiency and the forces on the structure are examined. Results are compared for the simulation cases in which the porous component is present or absent in front of the OWC chamber. It is found that the incorporation of the porous component has minimal effect on the hydrodynamic efficiency of the OWC, reducing the efficiency by less than 5%. Nevertheless, the forces on the front wall of the OWC can be reduced by up to 20% at the higher wave steepness investigated, through inclusion of the porous structure at the OWC front wall. These findings have considerable implications for the design of hybrid OWC—breakwater systems, most importantly in terms of enhancing the durability and survivability of OWC WECs without significant loss of operational efficiency.
From struggle to opportunity: Reimagining medical education in a pandemic era
Authors: Burm Sarah , Luong Victoria , LaDonna Kori , Bogie Bryce , Cowley Lindsay , Klasen Jennifer M. , MacLeod Anna
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the international medical education community in unprecedented ways. The restrictions imposed to control the spread of the virus have upended our routines and forced us to reimagine our work structures, educational programming and delivery of patient care in ways that will likely continue to change how we live and work for the foreseeable future. Yet, despite these interruptions, the pandemic has additionally sparked a transformative impulse in some to actively engage in critical introspection around the future of their work, compelling us to consider what changes could (and perhaps should) occur after the pandemic is over. Drawing on key concepts associated with scholar Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy, this paper serves as a call to action, illuminating the critical imaginings that have come out of this collective moment of struggle and instability, suggesting that we can perhaps create a more just, compassionate world even in the wake of extraordinary hardship.
An elementary proof of the Brouwer’s fixed point theorem
Authors: Ben-El-Mechaieh Hichem , Mechaiekh Yusef A.
Published: March 2022

We provide an elementary proof of the Brouwer’s fixed point theorem based solely on introductory topological concepts such as compactness and connectedness both covered in a first undergraduate course in point-set topology.
Modeling the devolatilization and fragmentation of biomass pellets with the bonded particle method for fluidized bed applications
Authors: Jarolin Kolja , Dymala Timo , Heinrich Stefan , Dosta Maksym
Published: March 2022

By extending the bonded particle method, the major structural changes during the devolatilization of a wood pellet in a fluidized bed and the resulting mechanical behavior have been successfully reproduced. A comparison with experiments from the literature showed that the implemented particle-based pyrolysis model enables predicting the entire pellet’s kinetics with a high agreement. The developed shrinkage model for the particles and bonds further allowed to emulate the reported formation of a large-scale pore network inside the pellet. The simulation of a radial compression test with the predicted structure showed good agreement with experimental data and could confirm the importance of the pores for the mechanical behavior. The results demonstrated that the large pores cause the fragmentation of agglomerates already at low mechanical loads which could promote attrition. In general, the results have shown that the developed extension of the bonded particle method allows studying and predicting the behavior of a single pellet during conversion inside a fluidized bed gasification reactor in more detail.
Risk factors on testicular function in adolescents
Authors: Cargnelutti F. , Di Nisio A. , Pallotti F. , Spaziani M. , Tarsitano M. G. , Paoli D. , Foresta C. ,   Talent Group
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Adolescence represents an important window for gonadal development. The aim of this review is to carry out a critical excursus of the most recent literature on endogenous and exogenous risk factors related to testicular function, focusing the research on adolescence period.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search within PubMed was performed to provide a summary of currently available evidence regarding the impact on adolescence of varicocele, cryptorchidism, cancer, diabetes, lifestyle factors, endocrine disruptors, obesity and sexually transmitted diseases. We focused on human studies that evaluated a possible impact of these factors on puberty timing and their effects on andrological health.

Results

Evidence collected seems to suggest that andrological health in adolescence may be impaired by several factors, as varicocele, cryptorchidism, and childhood cancer. Despite an early diagnosis and treatment, many adolescents might still have symptoms and sign of a testicular dysfunction in their adult life and at the current time it is not possible to predict which of them will experience andrological problems. Lifestyle factors might have a role in these discrepancies. Most studies point out towards a correlation between obesity, insulin resistance, alcohol, smoking, use of illegal drugs and testicular function in pubertal boys. Also, endocrine disruptors and sexually transmitted diseases might contribute to impair reproductive health, but more studies in adolescents are needed.

Conclusion

According to currently available evidence, there is an emerging global adverse trend of high-risk and unhealthy behaviors in male adolescents. A significant proportion of young men with unsuspected and undiagnosed andrological disorders engage in behaviors that could impair testicular development and function, with an increased risk for later male infertility and/or hypogonadism during the adult life. Therefore, adolescence should be considered a key time for intervention and prevention of later andrological diseases.
Fuzzy efficiency evaluation in relational network data envelopment analysis: application in gas refineries
Authors: Tabatabaei Somayeh , Mozaffari Mohammad Reza , Rostamy-Malkhalifeh Mohsen , Hosseinzadeh Lotfi Farhad
Published: March 2022

In contrast to classical data envelopment analysis (DEA), network DEA has attention to the internal structure of a production system and reveals the relationship between the efficiency of system and efficiencies of the processes. However, the flexibility of weights and the need for crisp input and output data in the evaluation process are two major shortcomings of classical network DEA models. This paper presents a common weights approach for a relational network DEA model in a fuzzy environment to measure the efficiencies of the system and the component processes. The proposed approach first finds upper bounds on input and output weights for a given cut level and then it determines a common set of weights (CSW) for all decision-making units (DMUs). Hence, the fuzzy efficiencies of all processes and systems for all DMUs are obtained based on the resulting CSW. The developed fuzzy relational network DEA and the proposed common weights approach are illustrated with a numerical example. The obtained results confirm that the fuzzy data affects over the efficiency scores and complete ranking of DMUs. The applicability of the proposed network model is illustrated by performance evaluation of gas refineries in Iran.
Industry 4.0 Foundry Data Management and Supervised Machine Learning in Low-Pressure Die Casting Quality Improvement
Authors: Uyan Tekin Ç. , Otto Kevin , Silva Maria Santos , Vilaça Pedro , Armakan Elvan
Published: March 2022

Low-pressure die cast (LPDC) is widely used in high performance, precision aluminum alloy automobile wheel castings, where defects such as porosity voids are not permitted. The quality of LPDC parts is highly influenced by the casting process conditions. A need exists to optimize the process variables to improve the part quality against difficult defects such as gas and shrinkage porosity. To do this, process variable measurements need to be studied against occurrence rates of defects. In this paper, industry 4.0 cloud-based systems are used to extract data. With these data, supervised machine learning classification models are proposed to identify conditions that predict defectives in a real foundry Aluminum LPDC process. The root cause analysis is difficult, because the rate of defectives in this process occurred in small percentages and against many potential process measurement variables. A model based on the XGBoost classification algorithm was used to map the complex relationship between process conditions and the creation of defective wheel rims. Data were collected from a particular LPDC machine and die mold over three shifts and six continuous days. Porosity defect occurrence rates could be predicted using 36 features from 13 process variables collected from a considerably small sample (1077 wheels) which was highly skewed (62 defectives) with 87% accuracy for good parts and 74% accuracy for parts with porosity defects. This work was helpful in assisting process parameter tuning on new product pre-series production to lower defectives.
The occupation space: network structure, centrality and the potential of labor mobility in the French labor market
Authors: Joyez Charlie , Laffineur Catherine
Published: March 2022

This article presents the Occupation Space, a weighted and directed network of occupations built from an extensive database that tracks French workers employment trajectories between 2003 and 2015. In this network, the links between occupations stands for the easiness to switch from one occupation to another that we interpret as being a good proxy for skill proximity between occupations. The article first describes the structural characteristics of the network. We show that some occupations offer workers important redeployment possibilities to other occupations. Then we use information on the centrality of occupations in the network to analyze its correlation with wage premium and unemployment duration. Our results show that the network-based index of centrality is informative of the sources of several labor market outcomes and inequalities.
Narrative sozioökonomischer Ungleichheit. Ein Überblick
Authors: Smith Ochoa Christopher , Yildiz Taylan
Published: March 2022

Der Band versammelt neuere Beiträge der sozialwissenschaftlichen Ungleichheitsdiskussion. Ausgangspunkt ist die Überzeugung, dass Ungleichheit nicht nur einensozialen Zustanddarstellt, den es quantitativ zu erklären gilt, sondern auch einenErfahrungsgegenstandmarkiert, der verstanden werden muss. Dieses Motiv zentriert sich um den Begriff des Narrativs, der neuerdings auch in der Ökonomie immer mehr dazu genutzt wird, die wirklichkeitskonstruierende Kraft der Sprache in den Blick zu bekommen. Der Band ist in drei Teile gegliedert. Zunächst wird das Problem der Validität des Erzählens aus der Perspektive der Datenforschung behandelt. Im zweiten Teil kommen Beiträge zu Wort, die sich mit erzählerischer Legitimitätsbildung auseinandersetzen, bevor der abschließende Teil dann mit empirischen Untersuchungen in diesem Feld abschließt.
Coupling magnetite and goethite nanoparticles with sorbent materials for olive mill wastewater remediation
Authors: Odeh Fadwa , Abu-Dalo Muna , Albiss Borhan , Ghannam Noor , Khalaf Aya , Amayreh Hiba H. , Al Bawab Abeer
Published: March 2022

This work aimed at treating OMW by developing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective media capable of removing phenolic compounds upon the interaction between magnetic nanoparticles and sorbent material such as zeolite. Magnetite (Fe3O4) and goethite (FeO(OH)) nanoparticles were prepared using the microemulsion method by using dimethylene-1,2-bis (dodecyl dimethyl ammonium bromide) (CTAB) as a surfactant. The prepared nanoparticles had magnetic properties. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) were used for the structural and morphological characterization. The average crystalline sizes for magnetite and goethite obtained from TEM were 7–16 and 5–14 nm, respectively. The nanocomposite media of magnetite and goethite with zeolite were prepared via coupling natural Jordanian zeolite with magnetic nanoparticles using two approaches; mixing and coating. The adsorption process of phenolic compounds was analyzed by the direct photometric method after treating real samples with nanocomposite media at different conditions. In the batch experiment, the optimum conditions were percent of media to OMW 3%, contact time 3 days, pH of 5, and room temperature. Results revealed that the percent removal of phenolic compounds was 79% and 80% for magnetite/zeolite and goethite/zeolite, respectively using the mixing approach, while with coating approach of magnetite/zeolite, the percentage removal was 75%. A significant improvement of % removal from 61 to 93% was observed with the new composite media of granular activated carbon (GAC) with various percentages to the (Fe3O4, FeO(OH)/zeolite) even at pH of 3.
Prediction of mechanical properties and hardness of friction stir welding of Al 5083/pure Cu using ANN, ICA and PSO model
Authors: Tagimalek Hadi , Maraki Mohammad Reza , Mahmoodi Masoud , Moghaddam Hossein Kardan , Farzad-Rik Salar
Published: March 2022

The effect of parameters involved in prediction of mechanical properties of Friction Stir Welding have been investigated in this study through modeling. For this purpose, the friction stir welding on both sheets of 5083 Aluminum (Al5083) and pure Copper (Cu) was experimentally conducted at first level. Three factors of Rotation Speed (RPM), Traverse Speed (mm/min) and the Tool’s pin angle was examined. During the tentative test, many experiments were not satisfactorily performed. Thanks to a more rigorous study hypothesis, proper samples were obtained by changing the geometry of different tools. In order to overcome the softness of aluminum sheets and the rise of shoulder diameter, and also to avoid the vertical instability of the sheet, shortening the pin’s length was suggested. In this paper, the Full Factorial method has been employed to evaluate the result of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Imperialist Competitive Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, and also the effects of input parameters of the process on output parameters. Moreover, Al5083 and Cu joining sheets were analyzed. Micro-hardness and tensile tests have been based on the process’ input parameters to obtain mechanical properties. The function of ANN model demonstrates that it can estimate the number of mechanical properties with an adequate precision. Using the evaluation factors of mechanical properties and micro-hardness and also a R2 ~ 0.943 analysis, the optimum parameters of Al5083 and Cu joining sheets can be anticipated. The rotation speed of 1150 rpm, traverse speed of 40 mm/min, and pin angle of 2° are the optimum conditions based on the average review of analyses. These optimum conditions led to improve the maximum tensile force up to 15 ~ 21%.
Passive sampling as an alternative strategy to monitor metals and PAHs trends at an upstream and rural catchment: a French case study
Authors: Guigues Nathalie , Lardy-Fontan Sophie , Villeneuve Aurélie , Mansuit Philippe , Welsch Sandra , Lalere Béatrice
Published: March 2022

The study presents an alternative strategy to conventional spot sampling for monitoring metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at an upstream, rural and karstic catchment in the north eastern part of France, in order to get insight into their spatial and temporal variability. Passive samplers, as diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and semipermeable membrane device (SPMD), are monthly deployed from August 2012 to March 2016 at five of the catchment monitoring stations located on the Saulx and Ornain Rivers. An improvement of the frequency of quantification (by a factor 2 to 8, depending on the targeted compound) is observed allowing us to better identify spatial and temporal variability. For instance, the upstream monitoring station on the Saulx River is characterized by high concentrations of Ni and Mn whereas the upstream monitoring station on the Ornain River is enriched in Cu and Zn. Furthermore, five metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn) and three PAHs (fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene) show significant variations with water levels when grouped in three categories (low, medium and high water levels) in relation with hydrological and climatic patterns. This study leads to a more accurate assessment of the background pollution in metals and PAHs within surface waters than when based on spot sampling data.
Mycotoxin contamination of maize (Zea mays L.) samples in Hungary, 2012–2017
Authors: Mesterházy Á. , Szieberth D. , Szabó B. , Berényi A. , Tóth B.
Published: March 2022

Mycotoxin contamination of maize often raises risks for human and animal health. The most frequently detected mycotoxins in maize are trichothecenes, fumonisins, and aflatoxin. A total number of 17,011 maize samples were tested by SGS for their mycotoxin content between 2012 and 2017. The toxin results clearly show that the southern areas of the country had higher levels of toxin contamination than the average. According to the dataset, aflatoxin contamination has become regular but the appearance of fumonisins was also more frequent. Deoxynivalenol toxin accumulation in crops can also reach dangerous levels under favorable ecological conditions. The fluctuation between years and regisons is decisively shaped by the weather conditions. However, the two pathogens with less virulence (Fusarium verticillioidesandAspergillus flavus) must be taken into account and the contribution of insect pests. 72.63% of the total fumonisin concentration was defined as fumonisin B1, 20.34% as fumonisin B2, and 7.03% as fumonisin B3. The correlations between the three fumonisins analogs were higly significant (P = 0.001), and correlation coefficient varied between 0.961 and 0.998 across the six years of evaluation. This is the first complex evaluation of deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, and aflatoxin contamination of maize samples in Hungary.
Epigenetic regulation of thermomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Hou Yifeng , Yan Yan , Cao Xiaofeng
Published: March 2022

Temperature is a key factor in determining plant growth and development, geographical distribution, and seasonal behavior. Plants accurately sense subtle changes in ambient temperature and alter their growth and development accordingly to improve their chances of survival and successful propagation. Thermomorphogenesis encompasses a variety of morphological changes that help plants acclimate to warm environmental temperatures. Revealing the molecular mechanism of thermomorphogenesis is important for breeding thermo-tolerant crops and ensuring food security under global climate change. Plant adaptation to elevated ambient temperature is regulated by multiple signaling pathways and epigenetic mechanisms such as histone modifications, histone variants, and non-coding RNAs. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the mechanism of epigenetic regulation during thermomorphogenesis with a focus on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and briefly discuss future prospects for this field.
A text mining approach for CSR communication: an explorative analysis of energy firms on Twitter in the post-pandemic era
Authors: Mazza Rocco , Zavarrone Emma , Olivieri Mirko , Corsaro Daniela
Published: March 2022

The rapid diffusion of the Covid-19 worldwide has accelerated the need for companies to address the sustainability issue at different levels, as nowadays the attention of stakeholders with respect to this theme has grown considerably. As a result, companies had to set up CSR communication strategies to build and strengthen their legitimacy and reputation. Among the communication channels to convey messages of firms’ CSR initiatives, social media are becoming increasingly important and, particularly, Twitter is the social media platform where more CSR-related content is generated. By adopting the theoretical lens of constitutive communication of organization, the aim of this paper is to investigate with a textual approach how the CSR communication in the energy sector has evolved in the post Covid-19 scenario. Specifically, our attention will be focus on: (1) the exploratory analysis based on the hashtags; (2) the identification of CSR communication topics and (3) the proposal of topics network in order to discover subgroups of topics. Findings of this research show that the CSR communication on Twitter has undergone changes compared to the pre Covid-19 era. Particularly, we identified 11 CSR related-topics which, as the proposed topic network demonstrates, are interconnected. On the one hand, our results corroborate previous research regarding some CSR-related issues; on the other hand, we identified some topics such as safety, people and work which have exploded in Twitter conversations in the post Covid-19 scenario. Finally, this study provides managerial implications for professionals dealing with CSR communication, digital communication and social media marketing activities.