bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neonatal jaundice in Ghanaian children: Assessing maternal knowledge, attitude, and perceptions
Authors: Seneadza Nana Ayegua Hagan , Insaidoo Genevieve , Boye Hilda , Ani-Amponsah Mary , Leung Terence , Meek Judith , Enweronu-Laryea Christabel
Published: March 2022

Background

Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is a major cause of preventable childhood mortality and long-term impairment especially in countries with significant prevalence of the inherited condition, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) defect. In Ghana, routine screening of pregnant women for G6PD defect is standard care. Prevention of poor health outcomes from NNJ is contingent on population health literacy and early diagnosis. As part of a project to evaluate a screening tool for NNJ, we assessed the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of Ghanaian mothers on NNJ at baseline.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional design, mothers attending antenatal and postnatal clinics at 3 selected health facilities in 2 geographical regions of Ghana were interviewed. Data on mothers’ understanding, perceptions, beliefs, and actions towards NNJ were evaluated. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between selected maternal characteristics and knowledge, attitude, and perception to NNJ.

Results

Of the 504 mothers interviewed, 428(85.4%) had heard about NNJ, 346 (68.7%) said the earliest signs are seen in the eyes, 384(76.2%) knew NNJ may be harmful and 467(92.7%) recommended seeking healthcare for the jaundiced newborn. None of the women knew about G6PD or their G6PD status following antenatal screening. Most did not know the signs/symptoms of severe NNJ. Of the 15 mothers who had had a jaundiced neonate, cost was the most perceived (8 out of 15) barrier to accessing health care. There were significant associations (p-value ≤ 0.05) between maternal age, educational level, and knowledge of NNJ.

Conclusion

Despite the high level of awareness of NNJ, gaps still exit in the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of mothers concerning NNJ. Improving education of women about the causes, symptoms/signs, and the role of G6PD in severe NNJ is recommended. Addressing barriers to accessing healthcare for the jaundiced infant may enhance timely management of NNJ and reduce the associated complications and mortality.
Long-term safety and efficacy of ferric citrate in phosphate-lowering and iron-repletion effects among patients with on hemodialysis: A multicenter, open-label, Phase IV trial
Authors: Lee Chien-Te , Lee Chin-Chan , Wu Ming-Ju , Chiu Yi-Wen , Leu Jyh-Gang , Wu Ming-Shiou , Peng Yu-Sen , Wu Mai-Szu , Tarng Der-Cherng
Published: March 2022

Background

We explored the long-term safety and efficacy of ferric citrate in hemodialysis patients in Taiwan, and further evaluated the iron repletion effect and change of iron parameters by different baseline groups.

Methods

This was a 12-month, Phase IV, multicenter, open-label study. The initial dose of ferric citrate was administered by patients’ clinical condition and further adjusted to maintain serum phosphorus at 3.5–5.5 mg/dL. The primary endpoint was to assess the safety profiles of ferric citrate. The secondary endpoints were to evaluate the efficacy by the time-course changes and the number of subjects who achieved the target range of serum phosphorus.

Results

A total of 202 patients were enrolled. No apparent or unexpected safety concerns were observed. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were gastrointestinal-related with discolored feces (41.6%). Serum phosphorus was well controlled, with a mean dose of 3.35±1.49 g/day, ranging from 1.5 to 6.0 g/day. Iron parameters were significantly improved. The change from baseline of ferritin and TSAT were 227.17 ng/mL and 7.53%, respectively (p-trend<0.001), and the increase started to slow down after 3–6 months of treatment. In addition, the increase trend was found only in patients with lower baseline level of ferritin (≤500 ng/mL) and TSAT (<30%).

Conclusions

Ferric citrate is an effective phosphate binder with favorable safety profile in ESRD patients. The iron-repletion by ferric citrate is effective, and the increase is limited in patients with a higher baseline. In addition to controlling hyperphosphatemia, ferric citrate also shows additional benefits in the treatment of renal anemia.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03256838; 12/04/2017.
High blood pressure among adolescents in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Amponsem-Boateng Cecilia , Bosu William K.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

As high blood pressure (HBP) is often considered an adult disease in Africa, studies on and services for HBP focus on adults to the near-exclusion of adolescents. The dearth of information about the burden of HBP does not favour much attention being paid to it. We, therefore, prepared this protocol to estimate the prevalence and awareness of HBP in adolescents in Africa through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

We will search several major databases for published and unpublished articles on population-based studies on adolescents living in Africa, aged 10–19 years produced from the year 2000 to date. The included articles will be those that define HBP according to international guidelines using the blood pressure cut-offs of the 95th percentile for age, sex and height or of 130/90 mmHg, depending on the age of the subjects. The study selection as well as the evaluation of the quality of the included articles will be done independently by two reviewers, in line with best practices. We will pool together the prevalence across studies using random effects analysis and assess heterogeneity using meta-regression analysis and sub-group analysis. Sensitivity analysis using a leave-one-out analysis and an evaluation of reporting bias will also be performed. Reporting of our findings will conform to the recommended reporting guidelines.

Conclusion

The findings from our comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis will provide an up-to-date information on the prevalence of HBP and its awareness among adolescents in Africa and its sub-regions. They could be used to advocate for increased priority to life course approach to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42020197946.
A test of affect processing bias in response to affect regulation
Authors: Bush Keith A. , Kilts Clinton D.
Published: March 2022

In this study we merged methods from machine learning and human neuroimaging to test the role of self-induced affect processing states in biasing the affect processing of subsequent image stimuli. To test this relationship we developed a novel paradigm in which (n = 40) healthy adult participants observed affective neural decodings of their real-time functional magnetic resonance image (rtfMRI) responses as feedback to guide explicit regulation of their brain (and corollary affect processing) state towards a positive valence goal state. By this method individual differences in affect regulation ability were controlled. Attaining this brain-affect goal state triggered the presentation of pseudo-randomly selected affectively congruent (positive valence) or incongruent (negative valence) image stimuli drawn from the International Affective Picture Set. Separately, subjects passively viewed randomly triggered positively and negatively valent image stimuli during fMRI acquisition. Multivariate neural decodings of the affect processing induced by these stimuli were modeled using the task trial type (state- versus randomly-triggered) as the fixed-effect of a general linear mixed-effects model. Random effects were modeled subject-wise. We found that self-induction of a positive valence brain state significantly positively biased valence processing of subsequent stimuli. As a manipulation check, we validated affect processing state induction achieved by the image stimuli using independent psychophysiological response measures of hedonic valence and autonomic arousal. We also validated the predictive fidelity of the trained neural decoding models using brain states induced by an out-of-sample set of image stimuli. Beyond its contribution to our understanding of the neural mechanisms that bias affect processing, this work demonstrated the viability of novel experimental paradigms triggered by pre-defined cognitive states. This line of individual differences research potentially provides neuroimaging scientists with a valuable tool for exploring the roles and identities of intrinsic cognitive processing mechanisms that shape our perceptual processing of sensory stimuli.
Identifying protein function and functional links based on large-scale co-occurrence patterns
Authors: Pasternak Zohar , Chapnik Noam , Yosef Roy , Kopelman Naama M. , Jurkevitch Edouard , Segev Elad
Published: March 2022

Objective

The vast majority of known proteins have not been experimentally tested even at the level of measuring their expression, and the function of many proteins remains unknown. In order to decipher protein function and examine functional associations, we developed "Cliquely", a software tool based on the exploration of co-occurrence patterns.

Computational model

Using a set of more than 23 million proteins divided into 404,947 orthologous clusters, we explored the co-occurrence graph of 4,742 fully sequenced genomes from the three domains of life. Edge weights in this graph represent co-occurrence probabilities. We use the Bron–Kerbosch algorithm to detect maximal cliques in this graph, fully-connected subgraphs that represent meaningful biological networks from different functional categories.

Main results

We demonstrate that Cliquely can successfully identify known networks from various pathways, including nitrogen fixation, glycolysis, methanogenesis, mevalonate and ribosome proteins. Identifying the virulence-associated type III secretion system (T3SS) network, Cliquely also added 13 previously uncharacterized novel proteins to the T3SS network, demonstrating the strength of this approach. Cliquely is freely available and open source. Users can employ the tool to explore co-occurrence networks using a protein of interest and a customizable level of stringency, either for the entire dataset or for a one of the three domains—Archaea, Bacteria, or Eukarya.
Evaluation of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) tool as a predictor of postoperative complications following major oncological abdominal surgery in geriatric patients
Authors: Penning Yoon , El Asmar Antoine , Moreau Michel , Raspé Julie , Dal Lago Lissandra , Pepersack Thierry , Donckier Vincent , Liberale Gabriel
Published: March 2022

Introduction

The concept of frailty extends beyond chronological age. Identifying frailty using a two-step approach, starting with the use of a screening tool (G8) followed by comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), may be useful in guiding treatment decisions and follow-up. This study evaluated the association between G8 and CGA, and the risk of 90-day postoperative complications risk, in oncogeriatric patients.

Methods

Data on geriatric patients with major oncological abdominal surgery was retrospectively collected from our hospital records between 2016 and 2019. Patients with an impaired G8 screening score, who subsequently underwent CGA geriatric screening, were included. Postoperative complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo classification (CD), and the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI). The association between the individual components of the geriatric assessment tools and the 90-day postoperative complications risk was analyzed.

Results

One hundred and twelve patients, aged ≥ 70 years, operated for an intra-abdominal tumor with curative intent, were included. Seventy-six patients (67.9%) presented with an impaired G8, out of whom sixty-six (58.9%) had a CGA performed. On univariate analysis, altered nutritional status assessed by the Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form was the only variable associated with higher postoperative total complication rate (p = 0.01). Patients with an impaired G8 had significantly more postoperative complications and higher 1-year mortality rates than patients with normal G8. Fifteen patients (13.4%) had grade III-IVb complications. A CCI > 50 was recorded in 16 patients (14.3%). All-cause 90-day postoperative mortality was 10.7%.

Conclusion

Identifying an altered preoperative nutritional status, as part of the CGA, in patients screening positive for frailty, is a potentially modifiable risk factor that can enhance preoperative management and optimize treatment decision making. G8 may be a predictive factor for postoperative complications in oncogeriatric patients.
An efficient method to remove mixed Gaussian and random-valued impulse noise
Authors: Xing Mengdi , Gao Guorong
Published: March 2022

Mixed Gaussian and Random-valued impulse noise (RVIN) removal is still a big challenge in the field of image denoising. Existing denoising algorithms have defects in denoising performance and computational complexity. Based on the improved “detecting then filtering” strategy and the idea of inpainting, this paper proposes an efficient method to remove mixed Gaussian and RVIN. The proposed algorithm contains two phases: noise classification and noise removal. The noise classifier is based on Adaptive center-weighted median filter (ACWMF), three-sigma rule and extreme value processing. Different from the traditional “detecting then filtering” strategy, a preliminary RVIN removal step is added to the noise removal phase, which leads to three steps in this phase: preliminary RVIN removal, Gaussian noise removal and final RVIN removal. Firstly, RVIN is processed to obtain a noisy image approximately corrupted by Gaussian noise only. Subsequently, Gaussian noise is re-estimated and then denoised by Block Matching and 3D filtering method (BM3D). At last, the idea of inpainting is introduced to further remove RVIN. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms quantitatively and visually to the state-of-the-art mixed Gaussian and RVIN removal methods. In addition, it greatly shortens the computation time.
Selection of human single domain antibodies (sdAb) against thymidine kinase 1 and their incorporation into sdAb-Fc antibody constructs for potential use in cancer therapy
Authors: Velazquez Edwin J. , Cress Jordan D. , Humpherys Tyler B. , Mortimer Toni O. , Bellini David M. , Skidmore Jonathan R. , Smith Kathryn R. , Robison Richard A. , Weber Scott K. , O’Neill Kim L.
Published: March 2022

Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) is primarily known as a cancer biomarker with good prognostic capabilities for both hematological and solid malignancies. However, recent studies targeting TK1 at protein and mRNA levels have shown that TK1 may be useful as a therapeutic target. In order to examine the use of TK1 as a therapeutic target, it is necessary to develop therapeutics specific for it. Single domain antibodies (sdAbs), represent an exciting approach for the development of immunotherapeutics due to their cost-effective production and higher tumor penetration than conventional antibodies. In this study, we isolated sdAb fragments specific to human TK1 from a human sdAb library. A total of 400 sdAbs were screened through 5 rounds of selection by monoclonal phage ELISA. The most sensitive sdAb fragments were selected as candidates for preclinical testing. The sdAb fragments showed specificity for human TK1 in phage ELISA, Western blot analysis and had an estimated limit of detection of 3.9 ng/ml for the antibody fragments 4-H-TK1_A1 and 4-H-TK1_D1. The antibody fragments were successfully expressed and used for detection of membrane associated TK1 (mTK1) through flow cytometry on cancer cells [lung (~95%), colon (~87%), breast (~53%)] and healthy human mononuclear cells (MNC). The most sensitive antibody fragments, 4-H-TK1_A1 and 4-H-TK1_D1 were fused to an engineered IgG1 Fc fragment. When added to cancer cells expressing mTK1 co-cultured with human MNCs, the anti-TK1-sdAb-IgG1_A1 and D1 were able to elicit a significant antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) response against lung cancer cells compared to isotype controls (P<0.0267 and P<0.0265, respectively). To our knowledge this is the first time that the isolation and evaluation of human anti-TK1 single domain antibodies using phage display technology has been reported. The antibody fragments isolated here may represent a valuable resource for the detection and the targeting of TK1 on tumor cells.
Science, technology, and innovation policy timing and nanotechnology entrepreneurship and innovation
Authors: Woolley Jennifer L. , MacGregor Nydia
Published: March 2022

The timing of science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy initiatives is critical to the outcomes that they produce. This study examines the advantages and disadvantages of enacting STI policy investments early in a nascent domain of activity. Building on work across multiple disciplines, we propose a framework to better understand the temporal dynamics of STI policy. An examination of data on nanotechnology STI policy around the world shows that the timing and funding size is related to entrepreneurship and innovation in different ways. The findings reveal that countries that started funding national STI programs in nanotechnology later had a lower proportion of the total nanotechnology firms, patents, and publications in the world, which suggests some first-mover advantages to STI policy. However, this is only part of the story. Countries that had large programs after the technology had gained legitimacy had the opposite situation such that there was a higher proportion of the total nanotechnology firms, patents, and publication in the world and more nanotechnology-related patents per capita and firms relative to other firms in the country explicating some of the complexity of policy timing. We discuss how temporal considerations influence both the theory and practice of building systems of innovation.
Dental caries and associated factors among patients visiting Shashamane Comprehensive Specialized Hospital
Authors: Geleto Aliye , Sinba Edao , Ali Musa Mohammed
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Dental caries is a major public health problem. In Ethiopia, prevention and treatment of oral health-related illness had given little attention and there is limited data on the extent and factors associated with oral health-related illnesses and oral care practices.

Objective

This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among patients visiting Shashamane Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (SCSH).

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 288 patients who visited SCSH dental clinic from March 1, 2021, to April 15, 2021. A questionnaire was employed to collect the background characteristics of the participants. Dental caries was confirmed as per World Health Organization guidelines. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine predictors of dental caries. A p-value less than 0.05 was taken as a cut point to determine a significant association.

Results

The overall prevalence of dental caries was 64.6% with 95% CI (58.8‒70.1). The mean of Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth was 1.33. Dental caries was significantly higher among respondents who did not brush their teeth (AOR = 3.589, 95% CI:1.756‒7.334), who consumed sugary food (AOR = 3.650, 95% CI: 1.747‒7.628), those with monthly a income of less than 5000.00 Ethiopian Birr (AOR = 2.452, 95% CI (1.193‒5.042), and those who had poor oral hygiene status (AOR = 1.826, 95% CI: 0.901‒3.700).

Conclusions

This study revealed a high prevalence of dental caries among patients visiting the dental clinic. Tooth brushing habits, consumption of sugary food, and poor oral hygiene were significantly associated with dental caries.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetate functionalized MgFe layered double hydroxide/biochar composites for highly efficient adsorptive removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions
Authors: Amin M. T. , Alazba A. A. , Shafiq M.
Published: March 2022

The application of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of MgFe and its composites with biochar of Eucalyptus camdulensis (Eb) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was explored in a batch study to mitigate toxic lead ions (Pb2+) from synthetic wastewater solutions. SEM images revealed that MgFe/LDH composites with Eb were successfully formed, while FTIR spectra confirmed the successful adsorption of Pb2+ onto the MgFe/LDH and composite adsorbents. Batch equilibrium was attained after 60 min, then the adsorption capacity gradually increased. An increase in adsorption capacity (and a 60% decrease in the percentage removal) was observed by increasing the initial Pb2+ concentration, and the highest value was 136 mg g-1 for MgFe/LDH-Eb_EDTA. A 50–60% increase in both the adsorption capacities and percent removal was seen in the pH range of 2–6. The second-order kinetic model had a nearly perfect fitting, suggesting that chemisorption was the mechanism controlling adsorption. The Langmuir isotherm model best presented the adsorption data, suggesting that the Pb2+ adsorption was monolayer, and predicted a better affinity between the adsorbent surface and absorbed Pb2+ for MgFe/LDH-Eb_EDTA in comparison to the other two adsorbents. The D–R isotherm suggested that the adsorption system was physical based on E values for all three adsorbents, while the Temkin isotherm model suggested that Pb2+ adsorption was heterogeneous. Finally, the Sips and R–P isotherms predicted that the adsorption of Pb2+ on the surface of the adsorbents was homogeneous and heterogeneous.
Children’s Books on the Big Screen, Meghann Meeusen (2020)
Authors: Kerr Raena
Published: March 2022

Review of: Children’s Books on the Big Screen, Meghann Meeusen (2020)

Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 192pp.,

ISBN: 9781496828651 (pbk), $30.00, ISBN: 9781496828644 (hbk), $99.00
20th Century Women (2016)
Authors: Laxton Carleigh
Published: March 2022

20th Century Women (2016)

USA

Director Mike Mills

Runtime 119 minutes
RESTORATION OF THE SIZE AND QUALITY OF PARTS BY COMBINED ELECTROPLATING
Authors: Starodubtsev I. G. , Smolentsev V. P. , Mozgalin V. L. , Nenakhov N. N.
Published: March 2022

A new method for restoring parts that have uneven wear during the operation of products is proposed. The method includes a combined local application of the material in places of increased wear with the following galvanomechanical coating with a high-strength conductive material. The proposed technology makes it possible to expand the scope of effective application of complex-profile components in mechanical engineering and restore their operational properties. The mechanism of combined processing in the process of restoring the dimensions and properties of products is revealed. A methodology has been developed and a technological process for the restoration of metal production facilities has been designed. Examples of the effective use of the developed technological process of electrocontact restoration of cast parts, combined with plastic deformation of the applied surface layer, are considered. The generalized reference data and recommendations on the choice of objects of reconstruction, parameters and modes of processing of standard parts are given, the most frequently required repairs and maintenance of the operational characteristics of new products. Proposals have been developed for using the technology of combined restoration of parts to improve the quality indicators of products, which strengthens the manufacturer՚s position to ensure the competitiveness of the created machine-building technology.
PRINCIPLES OF APPROACH TO DETERMINATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL ELEMENT BASE FOR AUTOMATION OF MACHINING PRODUCTION PREPARATION THROUGHOUT CYCLE. Continuation
Authors: Kolybenko E. N.
Published: March 2022

The use in the practice of design works of technological preparation of production (CCI) of parameters of design quality of the main elements of integration of the design (checkpoint) element base prevents transition of CCI to information technology of automation of a certain level of solution of problems of practice throughout its cycle. This is manifested, in particular, in the fact that during the change of technological operations of transformation along their route, as well as between the stages of CCI and checkpoint, information and logical links of knowledge are objectively interrupted. When determining a continuous, flexible algorithm in the technology of automation of solving problems of CCI practice, significant difficulties arise. Concepts of existing knowledge were often not up-to-date, which hampered automation – a fast communication system was needed. The primary basis of automation is the formalization of knowledge. Insufficient formalization of knowledge (the content is descriptive) leads to the use of inefficient dialogue technologies, the work of which is organized with reference information in the electronic form of its display. To overcome these difficulties, the structure of the CCI knowledge base in its hierarchy is proposed for seven levels of basic objects of various types, it is based on formalized approaches. Knowledge objects are focused on the consistent and continuous solution of CCI practice throughout its cycle. The structure of all knowledge objects is based on its own technological element base, which is organic for CCI. Only on such an elementary basis can the main target functions of CCI be realistically achieved in solving the problems of its practice on their possible set.
ESTIMATION OF THE ACCURACY OF FUEL CONSUMPTION MEASUREMENT BASED ON DATA FROM THE ON-BOARD CAN-BUS
Authors: Toropov E. I. , Trusov Yu. P. , Vashurin A. S. , Moshkov P. S.
Published: March 2022

Determining the dependence of actual fuel consumption on operating conditions is the most important task in vehicle transport, since the cost of hydrocarbons is a significant part of the cost of transportation. Currently, there are many ways to experimentally measure fuel efficiency: using external flow meters installed in the fuel line, equipping the tank with additional level sensors, using information from the electronic engine control unit. The latter approach is of greatest interest, since it requires minimal financial investment, is easy to install, and there are no significant changes to the design. The question arises about the measurement accuracy according to this method, since the ECU calculates the fuel consumption according to a mathematical model, calibrated and programmed at the factory. This article offers a solution to this problem. At the first stage, NNSTU specialists have developed and installed on a vehicle equipment for measuring fuel consumption simultaneously by two methods – using an external high-precision Kistler Dfl3x-5bar flow meter, installed in the fuel line, and on the basis of data from the engine ECU, obtained using information CAN-bus. At the second stage, tests were carried out (moving in a steady state and the driving cycle) after this, using results of tests, we have concluded a numerical difference in the methods for determining fuel consumption. At the end of the article, tabular results of comparison of measurements and graphs of the determined parameters are demonstrated.
GAS BURNER AND QUARTZ BLOWING TABLE
Authors: Mikaeva S. A. , Mikaeva A. S.
Published: March 2022

The technology of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection of water, air and surface is based on the bactericidal action of UV radiation. There are several sections of the UV radiation spectrum that have different biological effects: UV-A – 315…400 nm; UV-B – 280…315 nm; UV-C – 200…280 nm; vaccum UV – 100…200 nm. The UV-C range is often called bactericidal because of its high decontamination efficiency against bacteria and varus. The greatest bactericidal effect has radiation in the wavelength range from 205 to 280 nm, and the maximum bactericidal sensitivity of microorganisms is at a wavelength of 265 nm. Therefore, the production of equipment and installations for the manufacture of UV light sources is reaching a new level. One of the most basic equipment for the production of UV lamps is a quartz blowing table and gas burners. The article describes the Assembly of a quartz blowing table and a gas burner. Standard methods of production and testing of quartz blowing tables and gas burners were analyzed. In the course of work and on the basis of the conducted researches technical characteristics and a complete set of the equipment were fulfilled.
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING METHOD OF MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS THERMOPHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS USING MICROWAVE HEATING IN PRODUCTS REAL OPERATING CONDITIONS
Authors: Udalova A. P. , Chernyshov V. N.
Published: March 2022

The article proposes a method for determining the thermophysical characteristics (thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity) of materials and products based on the results of measurements at two times of the temperature of the surface of the object under study, subjected to pulsed thermal effects from microwave radiation of a given power focused into the line. In the proposed method, the number of pulses and their repetition rate are set adaptively when the steady-state excess temperature at the control points is equal to two predetermined values at two points in time, which makes it possible to carry out non-destructive testing of the investigated objects, since the predetermined temperature values are taken less than the temperature of thermal destruction of the investigated materials, as well as receive information in a frequency-pulse form, which increases the accuracy of the control results and the noise immunity of the method. To implement the proposed method, a microprocessor-based information-measuring system has been developed, which experimentally confirmed the efficiency of the method and the correctness of the theoretical conclusions underlying it. The performed metrological analysis made it possible to draw conclusions about the dominant components of the total error, a more accurate measurement of which will make it possible to purposefully influence their reduction, which will ultimately reduce the total error in the control of the desired thermophysical characteristics.
STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE STATIC AND DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AN OPTICAL CHEMICAL LEAK DETECTION GAS SENSOR
Authors: Pautov V. S. , Maslennikov A. V.
Published: March 2022

Perspective methods of monitoring ammonia leaks from sealed products and the problems of their application are considered. Experimental data obtained as a result of studies of an optical chemical sensor (OCS) are presented. A functional polymer modified with highly selective compounds to the target ammonia gas was used as a sensitive coating that applied to the surface of an OCS. The research was carried out using a special experimental setup. A gas mixture of ammonia was used in artificial air like a test substance. The static and dynamic characteristics of the sensor were determined at various concentrations of ammonia and under conditions of various temperatures. The obtained characteristics made it possible to determine the influence of changes in the ambient temperature on the sensor readings for various values of the ammonia concentration. The ways of optimizing considered OCS for solving the problem of gas leak control were determined, based on the obtained data.
METHOD OF DOMAIN ONTOLOGY AUTOMATED REPLENISHMENT FOR THE SUPPORT OF NEW TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS SYNTHESIS. PART 2
Authors: Vasiliev S. S. , Korobkin D. M. , Fomenkov S. A.
Published: March 2022

The article goes on to describe a solution to the problem of information support for the synthesis of new technical systems. The method consists in organizing the ontology of the subject area and filling it with data from the Russian-language patent array. An algorithm is presented for constructing a graph of elements of technical object structures from previously extracted primary semantic SAO (Subject–Action–Object) structures. The extracted bundles are preprocessed by searching for homogeneous sentence members and generating additional case forms. This is followed by linking the prepared SAO-objects into a single graph. The mechanism consists in sequentially transforming the subject and object actants into a set of anchor points from a common vocabulary of terms, followed by the memorization of the relation (predicate) for the identified points. The evaluation of data extraction by the system is carried out: the value of the F1 metric for a strict evaluation is 63 % and for a non-strict 79 %, respectively. The non-strict evaluation takes into account the correctness of the extraction of SAO root elements only. The extracted data is then converted into a subject domain ontology. The ontology scheme as a concept includes the structural elements of technical objects and the relationship between them, as well as supporting information on the invention. The initial content of the ontology is based on the processing of 11, 200 patent documents for inventions. The existing scheme already allows retrieving useful information about alternatives of structural components and communications between them. For example, searching for all elements of a structure in a given invention or tracking relationships. The results suggest that the proposed approach is promising. The authors see further research direction in improving the existing data extraction method and extending the ontology.
Fatigue Analysis of 5000 GT Ferry Ro-Ro’s Car Deck Using Finite Element Method
Authors: Wulandari Amalia Ika , Rahmasari Nindy widia Devi , Adnyani Luh Putri , , Alamsyah , Ikhwani Rodlian Jamal
Published: March 2022

Ro-Ro Passenger Ship type crossing ship is a ship that is operated to connect 2 (two) ports. On the Ro-Ro ship there is a car deck as one of the vital construction structures, because it is used to support the vehicle load on it. This study aims to determine the value of fatigue life in car deck construction by reviewing hot spot stress areas that are prone to cracking. The value of the fatigue analysis is taken from the greatest stress value and the shortest cycle is taken at each plate thickness variation. The method used is the finite element method (FEM) by varying the thickness of the car deck plate assisted by using finite element based software. The results showed the highest maximum stress was found on car deck 1 with a thickness of 80% (9.6 mm) which was 241.16 Mpa, while the lowest minimum stress was found on car deck 2 with a thickness of 110% (13 mm) which was 103.07 Mpa. The highest value of fatigue life is found in car deck 2 with a plate thickness of 110% (13 mm) of 74.23 years with a stress cycle of 1350000 times, while the lowest fatigue life value is found in car deck 1 with a plate thickness of 80% (9.6 mm) of 7.63 years with a voltage cycle of 220000 times
Contested Memories in Contemporary France and Their Reflection in Rap Music
Authors: Preitschopf Alexandra
Published: March 2022

France’s colonial past and its aftermath remain an “open wound” to this day. After a long period of silence, painful issues such as the role of France in the transatlantic slave trade, colonial crimes in Africa, and the Algerian War have more and more become part of public consciousness in France. Interestingly, many French rap musicians who are the children or grandchildren of immigrants from former French colonies frequently use their songs to remind France of its colonial past. However, their messages sometimes compete with remembrance of the Holocaust. The singers’ condemnation of French colonialism becomes wrapped up in the Middle East conflict and Israel is portrayed as a new “colonial power.” By analyzing selected lyrics of recent French rap songs this article aims to explore the complex and sensitive intersection of post-colonial and Middle East politics and set the lyrics in the broader socio-political context of remembrance culture in France. The article argues that the musicians’ approaches to France’s troubled past are an important form of self-affirmation for their communities in the postcolonial context. By bringing up previously silenced topics, they contribute to a more diverse remembrance culture and contest narratives that have been predominant for a long time.
Laminar Fluid Chaotic Mixing in Three-Dimensional Continuous Flow Domains
Authors: Overd M. M. , Generalis S. C.
Published: March 2022

Chaos is a relatively new subject in mathematical science. It has rapidly, however, found applications in a diverse range of areas in pure science and engineering. This work considers the application of chaos in viscous fluid mixing, fluids that are, for example, found in the food or polymer industry. It has been shown by many authors that under steady state conditions laminar fluids flow in a streamline motion. It has also been shown that it is possible to increase the degree of disorder in such a system by introducing time dependant moving boundaries. It is well established however, that chaotic motion is not dependent on the variation in streamlines alone. The system is required to be operated within a specific range of boundary conditions for chaos to occur. This work presents further investigations of chaotic flow domains concentrating on a property that relates to the divergence and separation of particles originating from small generation zones within the flow domain. The property of divergence of particles is noted to yield conclusions consistent with previously published work in two dimensions. It is then applied to investigate the degree of disorder in three three-dimensional continuous chaotic systems, operating with a range of time and spatially periodic boundary conditions. In order to highlight the benefits of increased levels of mixing when operating the systems under specific conditions characteristic plots, for incremental variations of operating conditions, are presented. It is hoped that by the development of the characteristic plots and concepts presented here that engineers will be able to predict and characterise the degree of disorder in future industrial chaotic mixing equipment.
Morphological Characterization of PE Blown Films by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Kamal M. R. , Tang Z. , Huang T.
Published: March 2022

The properties of blown polyethylene (PE) films depend on various factors, including crystallinity, morphology, and orientation, in addition to chemical composition. It has been shown that the optical properties are strongly influenced by surface morphology. In this work, non-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) and polarized light microscopy (PLM) were used to visualize surface and bulk morphology. Various techniques, such as surface and line roughness, surface and line fractal dimension, pair-correlation function and nearest neighbor distance distribution function, are employed to quantify the description of morphology and to compare the morphological characteristics of a number of polyethylene (PE) films of commercial interest. A comprehensive quantitative analysis of surface topography has been performed. The co-monomer of the PE resins was found to play a significant role in the formation and the orientation of spherulite-like domains. The film cross-section microstructure has been evaluated qualitatively by using both AFM and PLM. However, quantitative analysis of bulk morphology cannot be obtained due to knife effects.
A characterization of finite groups in terms of the codegrees of their characters
Authors: Lv Heng , Yang Dongfang , Qian Guohua
Published: March 2022

For a character 𝜒 of a finite group 𝐺, the number

cod

(
χ
)

:=

|
G
:
ker
χ
|

/
χ

(
1
)

\operatorname{cod}(\chi):=\lvert G:\operatorname{ker}\chi\rvert/\chi(1)

is called the codegree of 𝜒.
The object of this paper is to classify the finite groups 𝐺 which have exactly one irreducible character 𝜒 such that

χ
⁢

(
1
)

∤

cod
⁡

(
χ
)

\chi(1)\nmid\operatorname{cod}(\chi)

.
Electromagnetic hypersensitivity close to mobile phone base stations – a case study in Stockholm, Sweden
Authors: Hardell Lennart , Koppel Tarmo
Published: March 2022

A previously healthy worker developed symptoms assigned to electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) after moving to an office with exposure to high levels of anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMFs). These symptoms consisted of e.g. headache, arthralgia, tinnitus, dizziness, memory loss, fatique, insomnia, transitory cardiovascular abnormalities, and skin lesions. Most of the symptoms were alleviated after 2 weeks sick leave. The highest radiofrequency (RF) field level at the working place was 1.72 V/m (7,852 μW/m2). Maximum value for extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) from electric power at 50 Hz was measured to 285 nT (mean 241 nT). For electric train ELF-EMF at 16.7 Hz was measured to 383 nT (mean 76 nT). Exposure to EMFs at the working place could be the cause for developing EHS related symptoms. The association was strengthened by the symptom reduction outside the working place.
Digital training in the wake of a pandemic: Using technology to train health care professionals in the identification of human trafficking victims
Authors: Salami Temilola , Boland Grace , Hari Cayla , Hegarty Irene , Williams Kimberly
Published: March 2022

Human trafficking training is crucial for victim identification and appropriate service provision in health care settings. Over the past decade, the health care profession has made significant strides in the education and training of health professionals. However, access to quality training is still varied, and a unified education program has not been established. At best, educational programs are uneven in their goals and standards. Further complicating matters, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing regulations, in-person training has been less optimal. To provide all health care professionals with much-needed education on human trafficking identification and service provision, the authors recommend that human trafficking trainings incorporate online platforms and provide justification from the literature for this recommendation. The authors contend that virtual training programs provide easy access and provide a convenient platform for health care professionals to broaden their knowledge and awareness of the unique demands and challenges that trafficked persons encounter.
Both Corticospinal and Reticulospinal Tracts Control Force of Contraction
Authors: Glover Isabel S. , Baker Stuart N.
Published: March 2022

The control of contraction strength is a key part of movement control. In primates, both corticospinal and reticulospinal cells provide input to motoneurons. Corticospinal discharge is known to correlate with force, but there are no previous reports of how reticular formation (RF) activity modulates with different contractions. Here we trained two female macaque monkeys (body weight, 5.9–6.9 kg) to pull a handle that could be loaded with 0.5–6 kg weights and recorded from identified pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) in primary motor cortex and RF cells during task performance. Population-averaged firing rate increased monotonically with higher force for the RF, but showed a complex profile with little net modulation for PTNs. This reflected a more heterogeneous profile of rate modulation across the PTN population, leading to cancellation in the average. Linear discriminant analysis classified the force based on the time course of rate modulation equally well for PTNs and RF cells. Peak firing rate had significant linear correlation with force for 43 of 92 PTNs (46.7%) and 21 of 46 RF cells (43.5%). For almost all RF cells (20 of 21), the correlation coefficient was positive; similar numbers of PTNs (22 vs 21) had positive versus negative coefficients. Considering the timing of force representation, similar fractions (PTNs: 61.2%; RF cells: 55.5%) commenced coding before the onset of muscle activity. We conclude that both corticospinal and reticulospinal tracts contribute to the control of contraction force; the reticulospinal tract seems to specify an overall signal simply related to force, whereas corticospinal cell activity would be better suited for fine-scale adjustments.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTFor the first time, we compare the coding of force for corticospinal and reticular formation cells in awake behaving monkeys, over a wide range of contraction strengths likely to come close to maximum voluntary contraction. Both cortical and brainstem systems coded similarly well for force, but whereas reticular formation cells carried a simple uniform signal, corticospinal neurons were more heterogeneous. This may reflect a role in the gross specification of a coordinated movement, versus more fine-grained adjustments around individual joints.
The monstrous feminine: Ungoliant, Shelob, and women in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth
Authors:   Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan, USA, Hansen Christopher
Published: March 2022

This article seeks to provide an analysis of Tolkien’s portrayal of feminine figures by emphasizing the roles of Ungoliant and Shelob, the monstrous spiders which Tolkien codes female, and finding how these sexual and procreative beings fit into Tolkien’s theological and gender essentialist views of women, and then how this reflects on other women within Tolkien’s legendarium, arguing that far from any of Tolkien’s women being empowered, they are instead always subservient to his essentialist understandings of women, that they are biologically and intellectually usually inferior to men and have specific gendered roles in Tolkien’s very Catholic gender binary, and so his literary women are in fact not empowered but fit into his restrictive sense of gender roles between men and women.
Los aportes de la decolonialidad a las narrativas feministas en Relaciones Internacionales: aproximaciones para posibles abordajes de la cooperación internacional
Authors: Abbondanzieri Camila
Published: March 2022

La motivación principal que orienta el presente artículo está justificada por la necesidad de contribuir a ampliar y profundizar los objetos de estudio abordados por las perspectivas feministas en Relaciones Internacionales por dos motivos: en primer lugar, para coadyuvar al proceso de revisionismo ontológico de la disciplina inaugurado por esta clase de enfoques; y, en segundo lugar, para aportar a la visibilización pragmática de prácticas y dinámicas internacionales que perpetúan lógicas de subordinación y exclusión hacia distintas corporalidades en base a la matriz de dominación colonial, capitalista y patriarcal. Se parte de la premisa de que la cooperación internacional representa una interacción básica de las relaciones internacionales y que, en el marco de la literatura académica de los feminismos recibió menor atención con respecto a otro conjunto de procesos asociados con el desarrollo, los conflictos, la paz y la seguridad. En tal sentido, el propósito del presente artículo consiste en contribuir a la problematización de la cooperación internacional desde las perspectivas feministas de manera general y de los feminismos decoloniales de modo particular de forma sistematizada a partir de una metodología de revisión documental. Para poder dar cuenta de ello, en la primera sección se describirá el panorama general en el que se insertaron los estudios de género en las Ciencias Sociales. Asimismo, se abordarán las condiciones de emergencia y enunciación de los feminismos en la disciplina de las Relaciones Internacionales y se explicitarán sus principales aportes ontológicos, epistemológicos y metodológicos. En la segunda sección, se analizará la especificidad de la narrativa situada de los feminismos decoloniales entendida como una ruptura hacia los postulados homogeneizantes y falsamente pretendidos universalistas de los feminismos hegemónicos. En base a los lineamientos ofrecidos por las dos primeras secciones, en la tercera sección se indagará acerca de las implicancias de la cooperación internacional para los feminismos de manera general y de los feminismos decoloniales de modo particular con el propósito de dilucidar en qué medida se expresa un mecanismo perpetuador de asimetrías y de qué forma es posible lograr una superación de las lógicas patriarcales en clave emancipatoria. Finalmente, se compartirán unas breves conclusiones.