bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and the optical coherence tomographic features of chorioretina in patients with preeclampsia
Authors: Lee Jaekyoung , Bae Jin Gon , Kim Yu Cheol
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between ophthalmologic factors and the serologic indicator soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1): placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio in patients with preeclampsia using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A). A total of 52 pregnant patients (104 eyes) diagnosed with preeclampsia were recruited during their hospital stay. The associations between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and chorioretinal measurements, including the choroidal thickness (CT), foveal avascular zone, vascular density, and ganglion cell layer+ were evaluated. Central and nasal subfield CT of the left eye (p = 0.039; p = 0.010) and nasal subfield CT of the right eye (p = 0.042) were lower in the high sFlt-1/PlGF ratio group (≥38). Pearson’s correlation test showed a negative correlation between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and central subfield CT; however, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.648). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant association between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and central subfield CT (β coefficient, -6.66; p = 0.01) and between sFlt-1 and central subfield CT (β coefficient, -5.65; p = 0.00). Thus, an increase in the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio resulted in a decrease in central subfield CT.
Library-based analysis reveals segment and length dependent characteristics of defective influenza genomes
Authors: Mendes Marisa , Russell Alistair B.
Published: December 2021

Found in a diverse set of viral populations, defective interfering particles are parasitic variants that are unable to replicate on their own yet rise to relatively high frequencies. Their presence is associated with a loss of population fitness, both through the depletion of key cellular resources and the stimulation of innate immunity. For influenza A virus, these particles contain large internal deletions in the genomic segments which encode components of the heterotrimeric polymerase. Using a library-based approach, we comprehensively profile the growth and replication of defective influenza species, demonstrating that they possess an advantage during genome replication, and that exclusion during population expansion reshapes population composition in a manner consistent with their final, observed, distribution in natural populations. We find that an innate immune response is not linked to the size of a deletion; however, replication of defective segments can enhance their immunostimulatory properties. Overall, our results address several key questions in defective influenza A virus biology, and the methods we have developed to answer those questions may be broadly applied to other defective viruses.
The magnificent territory: Pausing to reflect on a lifetime of working with people and music
Authors: Zeserson Katherine
Published: December 2021

In this biographical account of a musical lifecourse, I highlight the psychosocial, vocational, functional and affective meaning of music. Using my own musical journey as an illustrative example, I draw attention to the ways in which music can be a catalyst for understanding of the self, for meaning-making in the world and for developing understandings of one’s role in that world. My overarching message is that a musical lifecourse can frame our deepest relationships and most significant moments of profound joy.
Sistema-inspired music education as an agent of change in and beyond the musical lifecourse: Perceptions of the transferable skills and transferability
Authors: Tsaklagkanou Lina , Creech Andrea
Published: December 2021

Within Sistema-inspired music education initiatives, claims have been made relating to the ways in which these experiences may contribute to the musical lifecourse, having lifewide and lifelong implications for young people. For example, a commonly held aspiration amongst Sistema-inspired programmes around the world is to foster participants’ well being, personal development and enhanced academic engagement. This article explores perceptions relating to the wider, transferable competencies derived from participation in one such programme. The National Orchestra for All (NOFA), an inclusive youth orchestra residential programme targeting under-served young people who face diverse barriers to musical participation, seeks to function as an ‘agent of change’ within participants’ lives. NOFA aims to improve the life chances of the young participants using music as means to support the development of personal, social and citizenship skills, their objective being to equip young people for achieving their potential within education, work and community. Our aim in this article is to address whether, and how, a short-term residential orchestral programme is perceived to function as an agent of change in the areas of personal, social or citizenship skills, and whether those skills are thought to be transferable beyond the programme context. Drawing on interviews and focus groups carried out over the course of three years, we present a thematic analysis representing participant perceptions. Overall, a number of transferable ‘life skills’ emerged. However, while some participants indicated that their experiences in NOFA did have an influence that transferred beyond the programme itself, others described persistent challenges that remained outside of the influence of any new skills or competencies gained within NOFA. These findings have implications for developing nuanced understandings of the role that intensive, inclusive orchestra programmes may have in nurturing transferable competencies and wider benefits in the lives of their participants.
La cuestión fantástica en el videojuego: entre la representación y la concepción propia
Authors: Campos Méndez Antonio Francisco
Published: December 2021

El objetivo de este artículo trata de desentrañar la construcción de la fantasía en el medio videolúdico, con una conciencia sobre su introducción en el germen cultural. Los primeros acercamientos al (video)juego han planteado una visión separada de la realidad, entendida desde una esfera propia y aislada. De tal forma, la presencia de la fantasía hace que el videojuego, a partir de sus propios mecanismos, elabore un entendimiento fantástico desde la amplitud de miras, tanto en influencias como en aportaciones propias.
About the Role of the Hidden Text Equivalents in the Editions of the Poem “The Demon” by Mikhail Lermontov
Authors: Grebneva Marina
Published: December 2021

The publication examines the role of the hidden text equivalents in the editions of the poem “The Demon” at the figurative, thematic, plot, compositional levels. In the editions of the poem “The Demon” by Lermontov there are various equivalents of the text: unrealized, unclaimed, having a variable character, replaced by previous and subsequent options, hidden. The listed types of text equivalents not only testify to the graphic features of Lermontov's verse, but also make it possible to identify encrypted information demonstrating the nature of the author's work in the poem, to emphasize their special productive role, indicating how “The Demon” gradually changed, how over time it turned from a romantic poem into a poetic story. This type of the text equivalents allows to emphasize the meaning of the fallen angel and the devil in love themes, the images of the main character, Tamara and the prince, to show how the plot of the poem gradually changed, to demonstrate the mirror structure of the composition, in particular, due to the motives of waiting, the kiss, death, the hand.
Figurative Interpretation of Oscillatory and Multidirectional Movement in the Scottish English
Authors: Shvagrukova Ekaterina , Nadeina Luisa , Terre Dina
Published: December 2021

This work is devoted to the study of the semantics of the verbs denoting oscillatory and multidirectional movement in the English dialect Scots, and identifying ways of metaphorical modeling of the semantics of this type of movement. The objectives of the study are to define the group of dialectical metaphorical verbs, and to describe the sphere of axiological orientation of metaphorical images of this type of movement in the Scottish dialect. The results of the study showed that the class of verbs of this type of movement is rather representative. The work shows not just the study of a certain form of movement, but the identification of those components of semantics in the dialectical verb vocabulary, which are the basis of metaphorical likening of processes and phenomena of different spheres of activity. As part of the study, the authors concluded that the “orientation point” component is one of the main traits on which metaphorical transfer was based. Therefore, the analysis was carried out taking into account the interaction of signs of the direction of movement, which influence the formation of a metaphorical image. Images of oscillatory and multidirectional movement are the source sphere for metaphorical modeling of the social, emotional sphere of human existence, as well as physiological aspects of people.
The Role of HIV-1 genome on biological mechanisms, Molecular function, Interactions between viral and host cell components, Mechanisms of viral entry, Chromosomal integration, and Transcription as potential target for new Preventive HIV-1 Vaccine Development
Authors: Bitsue Dr. Zelalem Kiros
Published: December 2021

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genome encodes a total of three structural proteins, two envelope proteins, three enzymes, and six accessory proteins. Three-dimensional molecular structures can provide detailed information on biological mechanisms and, for cases in which the molecular function affects human health, can significantly aid in the development of therapeutic interventions.
Knowledge, competencies and dispositions of lecturers in Technical Engineering in the context of advancing 4IR technologies
Authors: Nixon JP Teis  , Christo J Els
Published: December 2021

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) affirms that the transformation and advancement of all industries and society are progressively driven by emergent and rapidly changing technologies. In order to help establish a technologically literate society, it is crucial for lecturers in Technical Engineering to stay abreast of the latest trends and technological advancements in their area of specialisation. This article reports on the findings of a sub-section of a nationwide survey that collected data from lecturers in Technical Engineering at 52 TVET college campuses across South Africa (n = 577) that offer TVET Engineering Study programmes. The purpose of the survey was to profile TVET Engineering Study lecturers’ knowledge and pedagogical practices in engineering programmes across South Africa. The sub-section of the survey specifically probed the participants’ awareness and understanding of discipline-specific technological advancements and digital educational enterprises, and also the potential impact of these on teaching technical subjects. The findings show that 52,3% (n = 302) of the participating lecturers in Technical Engineering are unaware of any technological advancements in their area of specialisation and that they do not know what the potential impact of this might be on future technical training. When Engeström’s Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT model) is applied to the activity systems that are involved, the underlying tension between these systems is revealed. This article examines the possible implications of these findings for the renewal of the Technical Engineering curriculum, considering that these lecturers demonstrate limited awareness of the technological advancements needed to participate effectively in the 4IR era.
Students’ perceptions of team learning across teaching frameworks and settings
Authors: Guffey Sarah K. , Parrish Christopher , Williams David
Published: December 2021

The benefits of team learning include increased achievement, increased motivation, and greater retention of concepts learned. While team learning has been implemented since the early 20th century, instructors in higher education settings may still experience challenges managing implementation, such as unmotivated students and a lack of accountability among group members. One team learning pedagogy is team-based learning (TBL), a structured course design that combines individual preparation with collaborative problem-solving. Given the benefits of TBL in face-to-face settings, including student learning and improved attitudes, educators have also adapted TBL to online settings. This embedded mixed-method study examined students’ perceptions of TBL in face-to-face and online teacher education courses. We found that students in TBL courses, regardless of delivery method, reported positive perceptions of TBL, and commonly identified the course structure and teams as the most effective aspects of the course.
„Oryginalna apologetyka” według papieża Franciszka
Authors: Skierkowski Marek
Published: December 2021

Artykuł został zainspirowany nauczaniem papież Franciszka, który w adhortacji apostolskiej Evangelii gaudium (2013) napisał następująco: „Głoszenie orędzia ewangelicznego różnym kulturom pociąga za sobą także głoszenie kierowane do kręgów intelektualnych: przedstawicieli wolnych zawodów, naukowców i środowisk akademickich. Chodzi o spotkanie między wiarą, rozumem i nauką, w dążeniu do omówienia i przedyskutowania wiarygodności, oryginalnej apologetyki, pomagającej w stworzeniu takich postaw, aby Ewangelia była słuchana przez wszystkich. Jeśli pewne dziedziny nauki i kategorie myślenia są przyjęte do głoszenia orędzia, to stają się one narzędziami ewangelizacji; to woda przemieniona w wino” (n. 132). W artykule rozwija się pojęcie „oryginalnej apologetyki”, jako wiarygodnej i etycznej interakcji pomiędzy wiarą, rozumem i naukami szczegółowymi. Te nauki uczą nas, że świat jest racjonalny, aczkolwiek jednocześnie one same pozostają tylko na poziomie zwykłej użyteczności ludzkiej. Rozum filozoficzny z kolei prowadzi nas do nowego horyzontu, który otwiera się poza rzeczywistością pięciu zmysłów. Teologia wreszcie pozwala nam zaakceptować i zrozumieć Objawienie Boże w Jezusie Chrystusie.
ORBITS
Authors: Khayati Mourad , Arous Ines , Tymchenko Zakhar , Cudré-Mauroux Philippe
Published: December 2021

With the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), time series streams have become ubiquitous in our daily life. Recording such data is rarely a perfect process, as sensor failures frequently occur, yielding occasional blocks of data that go missing in multiple time series. These missing blocks do not only affect real-time monitoring but also compromise the quality of online data analyses. Effective streaming recovery (imputation) techniques either have a quadratic runtime complexity, which is infeasible for any moderately sized data, or cannot recover more than one time series at a time.

In this paper, we introduce a new online recovery technique to recover multiple time series streams in linear time. Our recovery technique implements a novel incremental version of the Centroid Decomposition technique and reduces its complexity from quadratic to linear. Using this incremental technique, missing blocks are efficiently recovered in a continuous manner based on previous recoveries. We formally prove the correctness of our new incremental computation, which yields an accurate recovery. Our experimental results on real-world time series show that our recovery technique is, on average, 30% more accurate than the state of the art while being vastly more efficient.
Answering multi-dimensional range queries under local differential privacy
Authors: Yang Jianyu , Wang Tianhao , Li Ninghui , Cheng Xiang , Su Sen
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we tackle the problem of answering multi-dimensional range queries under local differential privacy. There are three key technical challenges: capturing the correlations among attributes, avoiding the curse of dimensionality, and dealing with the large domains of attributes. None of the existing approaches satisfactorily deals with all three challenges. Overcoming these three challenges, we first propose an approach called Two-Dimensional Grids (TDG). Its main idea is to carefully use binning to partition the two-dimensional (2-D) domains of all attribute pairs into 2-D grids that can answer all 2-D range queries and then estimate the answer of a higher dimensional range query from the answers of the associated 2-D range queries. However, in order to reduce errors due to noises, coarse granularities are needed for each attribute in 2-D grids, losing fine-grained distribution information for individual attributes. To correct this deficiency, we further propose Hybrid-Dimensional Grids (HDG), which also introduces 1-D grids to capture finer-grained information on distribution of each individual attribute and combines information from 1-D and 2-D grids to answer range queries. To make HDG consistently effective, we provide a guideline for properly choosing granularities of grids based on an analysis of how different sources of errors are impacted by these choices. Extensive experiments conducted on real and synthetic datasets show that HDG can give a significant improvement over the existing approaches.
Medical students’ attention in EFL class: roles of academic expectation stress and quality of sleep
Authors: Kao Po-Chi
Published: December 2021

This study proposed and tested a conceptual model of academic expectation stress, sleep quality, and attention in EFL class. These variables did not receive much attention in previous studies but are considered important to medical students’ attention in EFL class. Data were collected from 496 medical students from a medical university in Taiwan. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique was used to examine the path effect in the research model. The results found that (1) higher academic expectation stress leads to higher attention in EFL class; (2) higher academic stress causes poorer sleep quality; (3) poorer sleep quality leads to lower attention in EFL class. A mediator was also identified in this model: sleep quality was found to partially mediate the relationship between academic expectation stress and attention in EFL class. The results may advance the current literature in medical education and applied linguistics by moving a step closer to understand these three variables.
The Queer Glow up of Hero-Sword Legacies in She-Ra, Korra, and Sailor Moon
Authors: Burgos Diana
Published: December 2021

The narratives within Sailor Moon Crystal, The Legend of Korra, and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power enlist gender fluid and queer protagonists to spearhead rebellions against the heteronormative domains of colonizers, imperialists, zealots, and hypercapitalistic military–industrial complexes. Magic is commodified by each villain; used to crown their exaggerated conquistador reputations and power their nuclear weapons. To defeat them and the toxic sociopolitical narratives and power paradigms they have spawned, Sailor Moon, Korra, Adora, and others must confront how these ideologies have stunted their power, corrupted their ethical systems, and distorted their understanding of their identities. By achieving self-actualization/self-acceptance and collaborating with their allies to do the same, they co-create new endings for themselves and reclaim a broader spectrum of gender and sexuality. Within the liminal moments of these reflective identity battles, protagonists and their allies enter a magical communal space, a social network for a Jungian collective unconscious. Here, they exchange their evolving powers, ideologies, and emotionally charged memories (her stories) and collaborate to liberate their communities. These champions, ambassadors of their (our) collective unconscious, urge us to commune within the liminal spaces of our social networks to self-actualize and collectively unearth a neohuman identity and system of governance.
Optimized routing with efficient energy transmission using Seline Trustworthy optimization for waste management in the smart cities
Authors: Roshan Rakesh , Rishi Om Prakash
Published: December 2021

Rapid development in technology provides an emerging growth based on innovation, invention, and diffusion, where the diffusion of resources stands with the proper disposal of wastes, due to the over-utilization of resources, growing population growth, and migration increases the accumulation of wastes especially, in Indian cities. Therefore, managing the wastes effectively is a raising challenge in the metropolitan cities of India, where the continuous monitoring of the wastes and disposal needs to be initiated. In this research, an internet-of-things-based smart waste management system in smart cities (IoT-SWMS) is focused on proposing an optimal path selection protocol that facilitates the continuous monitoring and disposal of wastes. The proposed optimal path selection protocol named Seline trustworthy optimization developed to determine the optimal routing path in IoT network renders the faster communication of the collected data regarding the level of the dustbins, which is disposed properly at the right time. The analysis of the proposed Seline trustworthy optimization-based IoT network for SWMS is performed based on the performance measures, such as delay, throughput, energy, and Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR) in comparison with the traditional methods. The proposed methodology yields the maximal PDR of 99%, a minimum delay of 0.11 s, and a maximal throughput of 38,400 kbps.
COVID-19 pandemic and potential of artificial intelligence
Authors: Bhonsale Aman , Ahirwar Ashok Kumar , Kaim Kirti , Kumari Jha Puja
Published: December 2021

Objective

To evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence in combating COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched for the term “Artificial intelligence and COVID-19” up to March 31, 2021.

Results

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a potential tool to contain the current pandemic. AI can be used in many fields such as early detection and respective diagnosis, supervision of treatment, projection of cases and mortality, contact tracing of individuals, development of drugs and vaccines, reduces workload on health workers, prevention of disease, analysis of mental health of people amid pandemic.

Conclusions

AI is being updated and being improved, second by second to be able to interpret like actual human minds. This advancement in AI may lead to a completely different future of COVID-19 pandemic where most of the simpler works may be done by AI and only essential works could be done by health workers in order to increase patient care in current scenario of COVID-19 outbreak. But again one of the main constraint is of limited trustworthy and noise free sources of information. So the need for the hour is to make a free data system where most of the analysed data could be available to feed AI, which could effectively halt the current pandemic.
Synopsis of symptoms of COVID-19 during second wave of the pandemic in India
Authors: Kamble Prafull , Daulatabad Vandana , John Nitin , John Jyoti
Published: December 2021

COVID-19 was caused by the original coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV2), which originated in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 had a large breakout of cases in early 2020, resulting in an epidemic that turned into a pandemic. This quickly enveloped the global healthcare system. The principal testing method for COVID-19 detection, according to the WHO, is reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Isolation of patients, quarantine, masking, social distancing, sanitizer use, and complete lockdown were all vital health-care procedures for everyone. With the ‘new normal’ and vaccination programmes, the number of cases and recovered patients began to rise months later. The easing of restrictions during the plateau phase resulted in a rebound of instances, which hit the people with more ferocity and vengeance towards the start of April 2021. Coronaviruses have evolved to cause respiratory, enteric, hepatic, and neurologic diseases, resulting in a wide range of diseases and symptoms such as fever, cough, myalgia or fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle ache, headache, sore throat, rhinorrhea, hemoptysis, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, anosmia, and ageusia. Coronavirus infections can be mild, moderate, or severe in intensity. COVID-19 pulmonary dysfunction includes lung edoema, ground-glass opacities, surfactant depletion, and alveolar collapse. Patients who presented with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea had a higher risk of negative outcomes. COVID-19’s influence on cognitive function is one of COVID-19’s long-term effects. More clinical situations need to be reviewed by healthcare professionals so that an appropriate management protocol may be developed to reduce morbidity and death in future coming third/fourth wave cases.
Grid integration of hybrid renewable energy source using Aligned Multilevel Inverter
Authors: Nagaraju Motaparthi , Malligunta Kiran Kumar
Published: December 2021

Grid connected hybrid renewable energy sources (RES) are main challenges nowadays. Interconnecting of two or more RES is called hybrid system and battery is optional in this kind of systems where grid is in active. The normal inverters are unable to produce sinusoidal voltages and this will cause many problems in grid connected system. Hence, many topologies of multilevel inverters are proposed which can able to produce sinusoidal output voltage. However, the cost and operational complexity will increase due to increasing number of switches. In order to reduce total number of switches, an Aligned Multilevel Inverter (AMI) configuration of three phase is implemented in this paper. Wind energy-based electrical power generation system and solar energy based electrical power generation systems are considered for interconnection. Energy storage devices such as batteries are not incorporated to system since considered grid is in active mode. Maximum power point tracker (MPPT) devices are available to extract maximum power from photovoltaic arrays and wind turbines, hence a boost converter is considered as MPPT converter for wind turbine and proposed AMI also works as MPPT converter for PV by using proposed controller. Hence extra DC–DC converters are not essential for PV system for MPPT, resulting in reduction of overall system cost. Also, the modified invasive weed optimization (MIWO) based algorithm is proposed for PV system to harvest maximum energy under partial shading conditions. The proposed MIWO is compared with particle swarm optimization (PSO) and grey wolf optimization (GWO) to enhance the performance of proposed algorithm. Extensive results are validated with Hardware-in-Loop (HIL) designed on OPAL-RT platform.
A novel Confidential Consortium Blockchain framework for peer to peer energy trading
Authors: Pradhan Nihar Ranjan , Singh Akhilendra Pratap , Panda Kaibalya Prasad , Roy Diptendu Sinha
Published: December 2021

The vital dependence of peer to peer (P2P) energy trading frameworks on creative Internet of Things (IoT) has been making it more vulnerable against a wide scope of attacks and performance bottlenecks like low throughput, high latency, high CPU, memory use, etc. This hence compromises the energy exchanging information to store, share, oversee, and access. Blockchain innovation as a feasible solution, works with the rule of untrusted members. To alleviate this threat and performance issues, this paper presents a Blockchain based Confidential Consortium (CoCo) P2P energy trading system that works on the trust issues among the energy exchanging networks and limits performance parameters. It reduces the duplicate validation by creating a trusted network on nodes, where participants identities are known and controlled. A Java-script-based smart contract is sent over the Microsoft CoCo system with Proof of Elapsed Time (PoET) consensus protocol. Also, a functional model is designed for the proposed framework and the performance bench-marking has been done considering about latency, throughput, transaction rate control, success and fail transaction, CPU and memory usage, network traffic. Additionally, it is shown that PoET’s performance is superior to proof of work (PoW) for multi-hosting conditions. The measured throughput and latency moving toward database speeds with more flexible, business-specific confidentiality models, network policy management through distributed governance, support for non-deterministic transactions, and reduced energy consumption.
Experimental verification of DSTATCOM for various non-linear load
Authors: Shadangi Pushpanjali , Swain Sushree Diptimayee , Ray Pravat Kumar , Panda Gayadhar
Published: December 2021

This paper elaborates a hybrid synchronous reference frame method has been proposed for the distribution static compensator (DSTATCOM) to enhance the compensation performance. This controller is designed in such a way that it generate the reference with respect to the change in load to reject the harmonics. Furthermore, a hysteresis controller is employed for switching pattern generation. Fuzzy logic controller is also implemented in MATLAB/simulink environment here to analyze the total harmonic distortion. Experimental analysis of the DSTATCOM demonstrates the potency and reliability of proposed controller over existing control strategy in the from of total harmonic distortion.
General decay projective synchronization of memristive competitive neural networks via nonlinear controller
Authors: Sader Malika , Wang Fuyong , Liu Zhongxin , Chen Zengqiang
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the general decay projective synchronization of a class of memristive competitive neural networks with time delay is studied. Firstly, a nonlinear feedback controller is designed, which does not require any knowledge about the activation functions. Then, some new and applicable conditions dependent on the Lyapunov function and the inequality techniques are obtained to guarantee the general decay projective synchronization of the considered systems under the developed controller. Unlike other forms of synchronization, projective synchronization can improve communication security due to the scaling constant’s unpredictability. In addition, the polynomial synchronization, asymptotical synchronization, and exponential synchronization can be seen as the special cases of the general decay projective synchronization. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Performance analysis of all optical 2 × 1 multiplexer in 2D photonic crystal structure
Authors: Askarian Asghar
Published: December 2021

In optical processing systems, multiplexer is used to design optical devices such as arithmetic logic unit (ALU) and shift register (SR). Through this paper, we investigate the application of nonlinear photonic crystal ring resonator (PhCRR) based on nonlinear Kerr effect for realizing an all optical 2 × 1 multiplexer. The structure consists of two PhCRRs and five optical waveguides using hexagonal lattice silicon (Si) rods with a background of air. Performance of all optical 2 × 1 multiplexer is replicated with the help of finite difference time domain (FDTD) procedure at a wavelength of 1571 nm, and simulations presented an ultra-compact optical structure with ultra-fast switching speed.
Increased frequency of idiopathic central precocious puberty in girls during the COVID-19 pandemic: preliminary results of a tertiary center study
Authors: Acar Sezer , Özkan Behzat
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Recent studies have demonstrated an increase in the frequency of idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) pandemic. We compared the demographic, anthropometric, and clinical characteristics of idiopathic CPP patients diagnosed during a one-year period of the COVID-19 pandemic with the characteristics of patients diagnosed during the same period in the previous three-years.

Methods

Demographic, clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory data of all patients diagnosed in our Pediatric Endocrinology clinic with idiopathic CPP during a one-year period of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020–March 2021) and a three-year period before the pandemic (April 2017–March 2020) were evaluated retrospectively.

Results

A total of 124 patients (124 girls, zero boys) diagnosed with idiopathic CPP were included in this study. Sixty-six patients in the three-year period before the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2017–March 2020) and 58 patients (46.8%) in the one-year period during the COVID-19 pandemic period (April 2020–March 2021) were diagnosed with idiopathic CPP.

Conclusions

This study’s findings suggest that the number of girls diagnosed with idiopathic CPP during the one-year study period during the pandemic was more than double that of any of the previous three-years.
Umbilical artery pulsatility index and half-peak systolic velocity in second- and third-trimester fetuses with trisomy 18 and 13
Authors: Bustos Juan Carlos , Vega Denise , Sepulveda Waldo
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To analyze umbilical artery (UA) Doppler velocimetry and its possible role in placenta-mediated fetal growth restriction (FGR) in second- and third-trimester fetuses with trisomy 18 and 13.

Methods

UA pulsatility index (PI) and half-peak systolic velocity deceleration time (hPSV-DT) were measured in fetuses with trisomy 18 and 13. Correlation with gestational age, birthweight, and perinatal outcome was analyzed.

Results

A total of 80 measurements were taken from 33 fetuses with trisomy 18 and 19 with trisomy 13. Overall, there was a high prevalence of abnormal UA Doppler velocimetry. In fetuses with trisomy 18, 54% (27/50) of the UA PI values and 58% (29/50) of the UA hPSV-DT values were abnormal. In fetuses with trisomy 13, 80% (24/30) of the UA PI values and 87% (26/30) of the UA hPSV-DT values were abnormal. The prevalence of abnormal UA Doppler velocimetry increased with gestational age in both types of aneuploidy. However, this trend was only significant for trisomy 13 (p<0.05). All fetuses with trisomy 18 and 86% of fetuses with trisomy 13 were classified at birth as FGR. There were no perinatal survivors in this series.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of abnormal UA Doppler velocimetry was found in second- and third-trimester fetuses with trisomy 18 and 13, which further increased with gestational age. These results may well correlate with alterations described previously in the placenta, suggesting placental insufficiency has an important role in the development of FGR in these autosomal aneuploid fetuses.
The AMAR mechanism: nominal expressions in the Bantu languages are shaped by apposition and reintegration
Authors: Van de Velde Mark
Published: December 2021

Nominal expressions in the Bantu languages have extraordinary typological characteristics. Their word order patterns are extremely diverse and some of the attested patterns are crosslinguistically very rare, or even unique. The same diversity can be found in the number of agreement marker paradigms. Equally remarkable are the prosodic idiosyncrasies found at the level of nominal expressions, especially the existence of prosodic boundaries associated with certain types of adnominal modifiers. Although logically unrelated, I argue that these typological characteristics can be accounted for by a single diachronic scenario here called the AMAR mechanism: a double tendency in the Bantu languages for the emergence of construals in which a nominalized modifier is in apposition to the phrase that contains its semantic head and for such appositional construals to be gradually reintegrated into a single nominal constituent. This paper aims to summarize some of the more remarkable typological characteristics of nominal expressions in the Bantu languages and to lay out the AMAR mechanism as a hypothetical diachronic explanation for many of them.
Present state of 3D printing from glass
Authors: Hotař Vlastimil , Stará Marie , Máková Veronika , Nikendey Holubová Barbora
Published: December 2021

This paper deals with the issue of additive technologies using glass. At the beginning, our research dealt with a review of the current state and specification of potentially interesting methods and solutions. At present, this technology is being actively developed and studied in glass research. However, as the project started at the Department of Glass Producing Machines and Robotics, the following text will be more focused on the existing 3D printing machinery and basic technological approaches. Although “additive manufacturing” in the sense of adding materials has been used in glass manufacturing since the beginning of the production of glass by humans, the term additive manufacturing nowadays refers to 3D printing. Currently, there are several approaches to 3D printing of glass that have various outstanding advantages, but also several serious limitations. The resulting products very often have a high degree of shrinkage and rounding (after sintering), and specific shape structures (after the application in layers), but they generally have a large number of defects (especially bubbles or crystallization issues). Some technologies do not lead to the production of transparent glass and, therefore, its optical properties are significantly restricted. So far, the additive manufacturing of glass do not produce goods that are price competitive to goods produced by conventional glass-making technologies. If 3D glass printing is to be successful as an industrial and/or highly aesthetically valuable method, then it must bring new and otherwise unachievable features and properties, as with 3D printing of plastic, metal, or ceramics. Nowadays, these technologies promise to be such a tool and are beginning to attract more and more interest.
Perspective on advanced nanomaterials used for energy storage and conversion
Authors: Huang Hsuanyi , Li Rong , Li Cuixia , Zheng Feng , Ramirez Giovanni A. , Houf William , Zhen Qiang , Bashir Sajid , Liu Jingbo Louise
Published: December 2021

To drive the next ‘technical revolution’ towards commercialization, we must develop sustainable energy materials, procedures, and technologies. The demand for electrical energy is unlikely to diminish over the next 50 years, and how different countries engage in these challenges will shape future discourse. This perspective summarizes the technical aspects of nanomaterials’ design, evaluation, and uses. The applications include solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), microbial fuel cells (MFC), supercapacitors, and hydrogen evolution catalysts. This paper also described energy carriers such as ammonia which can be produced electrochemically using SOEC under ambient pressure and high temperature. The rise of electric vehicles has necessitated some form of onboard storage of fuel or charge. The fuels can be generated using an electrolyzer to convert water to hydrogen or nitrogen and steam to ammonia. The charge can be stored using a symmetrical supercapacitor composed of tertiary metal oxides with self-regulating properties to provide high energy and power density. A novel metal boride system was constructed to absorb microwave radiation under harsh conditions to enhance communication systems. These resources can lower the demand for petroleum carbon in portable power devices or replace higher fossil carbon in stationary power units. To improve the energy conversion and storage efficiency, we systematically optimized synthesis variables of nanomaterials using artificial neural network approaches. The structural characterization and electrochemical performance of the energy materials and devices provide guidelines to control new structures and related properties. Systemic study on energy materials and technology provides a feasible transition from traditional to sustainable energy platforms. This perspective mainly covers the area of green chemistry, evaluation, and applications of nanomaterials generated in our laboratory with brief literature comparison where appropriate. The conceptual and experimental innovations outlined in this perspective are neither complete nor authoritative but a snapshot of selecting technologies that can generate green power using nanomaterials.
Effect of multi-zone effusion cooling on an adiabatic flat plate for gas turbine application
Authors: Prakash Ved , Chandel Sunil , Thakur Dineshsingh G. , Mishra Mukesh Prakash , Mishra R. K.
Published: December 2021

The present study performed a three-dimensional numerical analysis on an adiabatic flat plate with forward injection holes for multi-zone film cooling. The cooling holes were divided into three-zone, and the cold air was supplied from cylindrical holes at a velocity ratio of 0.5 and 1.5 with 30° inclination to the primary flow. The effect of multi-zone arrangement in film cooling effectiveness is studied, and a comparison between two-zone and three-zone arrangement has been made. Results show that the three-zone arrangement helps achieve better film cooling effectiveness than the two-zone arrangement due to the uniform flow of coolant at a higher velocity ratio. It also reduces the mass flow rate of secondary flow by decreasing the number of cylindrical holes in the perforated plate.
Photoluminescence studies on LiNa5(PO4)2:Dy3+, Sm3+phosphor
Authors: Ravi Miyapuram , Chakrapani Ghanta Pushpa , Balachandrika Mandava , Vasudevarao Pavuluri , Nageswararao Chendela , Krishna Kishore Babu Lavudia , Mallikharjuna Prasad Pulipati , Giridhar Gurram
Published: December 2021

This paper describes the preparation, structure and photoluminescence properties of a new class LiNa5(PO4)2:Dy3+, Sm3+-phosphor. Crystalline nature confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The phases obtained are in good agreement with the standard phase. Excitation dependence and concentration effect on luminescence features are investigated. Color purity and optical bandgap are also estimated for the LiNa5(PO4)2:Dy3+, Sm3+phosphors. The result shows LiNa5(PO4)2:Dy3+, Sm3+-phosphor excited by 374 nm nUV light produces pure white light than others. Admixing of 4fconfigurations and energy transfer between dopants are identified while varying the concentration of Sm3+. The CIE coordinates for LiNa5(PO4)2:0.05Dy3+, 0.05Sm3+(x= 0.309,y= 0.332) are positioned well in white light region and very close to pure white light. The present study on LiNa5(PO4)2:Dy3+, Sm3+-phosphor suggests that it is useful for the fabrication of white light emitting diodes.
Player Position Affects Relationship Between Internal and External Training Loads During Division I Collegiate Female Soccer Season
Authors: Ishida Ai , Travis S. Kyle , Draper Garrison , White Jason B. , Stone Michael H.
Published: December 2021

Ishida, A, Travis, SK, Draper, G, White, JB, and Stone, MH. Player position affects relationship between internal and external training loads during Division I collegiate female soccer season. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 513–517, 2022—The purpose of this study was to investigate how competition phase and player position affect the relationship between internal and external training loads (ITL and ETL, respectively) in collegiate female soccer. Seventeen players participated (21.8 ± 1.7 years; 165.1 ± 6.2 cm; and 63.7 ± 7.9 kg). Nineteen match-plays (10 nonconference and 9 conference) were completed during the 2019 competitive season, including 270 observations of 17 players (defenders = 5, midfielders = 9, and forwards = 3). Internal training load was assessed using session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). External training load included total distance and high-speed running (HSR) distance. A linear mixed model was compiled with fixed effects of total distance, HSR, competition phase, and player position (defenders, midfielders, and forwards) and random effects of player. There were statistically significant main effects for total distance (p < 0.001), HSR (p = 0.047) and player position (p = 0.045) on the prediction model of sRPE. However, the main effect of competition phase did not statistically contribute to the prediction model of sRPE (p = 0.38). In the final model, total distance (p < 0.001) and player position for forwards (p = 0.008) were significant predictors of sRPE. However, there was no statistically significant fixed effect of HSR on sRPE (p = 0.15). The final model explained 60.6% of the variance in sRPE (R
2 = 0.60), whereas the random effect also explained 6.1% of the variance (R
2 = 0.06). Our findings indicated that total distance and player position were strong predictors of sRPE. The relationship between ITL and ETL should be monitored by player position in female soccer players.
Person Memory Mechanism Underlying Approach and Avoidance Judgments of Social Targets
Authors: Sklenar Allison M. , McCurdy Matthew P. , Frankenstein Andrea N. , Motyl Matt , Leshikar Eric D.
Published: December 2021

People display approach and avoidance tendencies toward social targets. Although much research has studied the factors that affect decisions to approach or avoid targets, less work has investigated whether cognitive factors, such as episodic memory (e.g., details remembered about others from previous encounters) contribute to such judgments. Across two experiments, participants formed positive or negative impressions of targets based on their picture, a trait-implying behavior (Experiments 1 & 2), and their political ideology (conservative or liberal; Experiment 2). Memory and approach/avoidance decisions for targets were then measured. Results showed remembering negative impressions about targets increased avoidance responses, whereas remembering positive impressions increased approach responses. Strikingly, falsely remembering negative impressions for novel social targets (not seen before) also induced avoidance. Results suggest remembering negative information about targets, whether correctly or falsely, strongly influences future social judgments. Overall, these data support an episodic memory mechanism underlying subsequent approach/avoidance judgments, which is a rich area for future research.
Pupil Size Predicts Partner Choices in Online Dating
Authors: Pronk Tila M. , Bogaers Rebecca I. , Verheijen Mara S. , Sleegers Willem W. A.
Published: December 2021

People's choices for specific romantic partners can have far reaching consequences, but very little is known about the process of partner selection. In the current study, we tested whether a measure of physiological arousal, pupillometry (i.e., changes in pupil size), can predict partner choices in an online dating setting. A total of 239 heterosexual participants took part in an online dating task in which they accepted or rejected hypothetical potential partners, while pupil size response was registered using an eye tracker. In line with our main hypothesis, the results indicated a positive association between pupil size and partner acceptance. This association was not found to depend on relationship status, relationship quality, gender, or sociosexual orientation. These findings show that the body (i.e., the pupils) provides an automatic cue of whether a potential partner will be selected as a mate, or rejected.