bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Institutional Actions Before Vaccine Affect Time Vaccination Intention Later: Prediction via Machine Learning
Authors: Bughin Jacques , Cincera Michele
Published: May 2023

Effective vaccination is often the only way to eliminate a major pandemic, to the extent that people welcome the cure. In general, vaccination preferences are shaped before actual vaccines are found. Factors that accelerate/ inhibit expected uptake must then be understood upfront if one hopes to nudge hesitants towards vaccination. We predict the portfolio of COVID-19 vaccination drivers through a large set of Machine Learning (ML) techniques for five European countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 and before vaccines were found and rolled out. We find better accuracy emerging from more sophisticated supervised ML techniques than regressions. While some factors are common to all ML tools, some only arise from the most accurate techniques: Gradient Boosting Machine and Support Vector Machine. In general, institutional trust (e.g. towards government actions) is a critical influencer of vaccine intent. How governments have reacted to the pandemic rise is a crucial filter as to how people will accept being vaccinated.
CAN GLOBAL WARMING CHANGE PREDATOR–PREY DYNAMICS: A MODELLING STUDY
Authors: PANJA PRABIR
Published: May 2023

In this paper, a two-species predator–prey interaction model has been developed. It is assumed that prey grows logistically in the absence of global warming and predator species. The harvesting of predator has been considered to study the model. It is considered that global warming in the environment increased gradually due to different natural processes and human activities. Also, it is considered that global warming may decrease due to increase of prey. Again, it is assumed that global warming may decrease due to natural decay rate. Different equilibrium points are determined and the stability of the model has been investigated around these equilibrium points. Existence condition of Hopf bifurcation has been studied with respect to the growth rate of prey [Formula: see text]. It is observed that the increase of intrinsic growth rate prey may stabilize the model. It is also observed that the increase of consumption rate of prey in the presence of global warming may show some interesting dynamics. It is found that the harvesting rate decreases due to the increase of global warming.
DOMINANT SPATIOTEMPORAL MODES OF ARCTIC SEA ICE DURING 2000–2020
Authors: XU LI , CRABBE M. JAMES C.
Published: May 2023

This study quantifies drastic variations of Arctic sea ice during 2000–2020. Four dominant modes revealed 32.18%, 14.6%, 9.34% and 8.25% of the total variance of sea ice concentration over the Arctic. The first two dominant modes have exhibited seesaw structures on the Atlantic and Pacific sectors of the Arctic over the past 20 years: Sea ice increased in the southwest of Greenland and reduced in the northeast; sea ice decreased drastically in the Bering Sea but increased in the Okhotsk Sea. An overall increase of sea ice in the Arctic occurred in the third dominant mode, while a seesaw structure appeared in the Barents Sea in the fourth dominant mode. At the end, the influence of the Arctic atmosphere and upper-ocean state on the Arctic sea ice variation was investigated.
Role of Aromatic Heterocyclic Core-Based Materials as Donors for Organic and as Hole-Transporting Materials for Perovskites Solar cells
Authors: Adnan Muhammad , Fatima Qandeel , Irshad Zobia , Hussain Riaz , Yaqoob Junaid , Khan Muhammad Usman , Ansari Nooruddin , Siddique Sabir Ali , Lim Jongchul
Published: May 2023

Hole-transporting materials (HTMs) have revolutionized the field of photovoltaics for solar cell devices. Herein, novel butterfly-shaped hole transport material (HTM) 2,7-DMPZ (R) containing twisted core unit is used to develop novel molecules (Q1–Q6) by fitting suitable donor groups at peripheral regions of 2,7-DMPZ. To investigate the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Q1–Q6, different analyses, including optical, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), density of states (DOS), transition density of states (TDM), and charge transfer (CT) analysis are employed using various density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) approaches. Excitation, binding, and reorganization energy along with open-circuit voltage of Q1–Q6 molecules are estimated. The UV–Visible study elucidates that these molecules exhibited redshifts (329–343[Formula: see text]nm) absorption higher and comparable with the R molecule (342[Formula: see text]nm). The HOMO–LUMO gap of Q1–Q6 (5.31–5.38[Formula: see text]eV) is also narrower than R (5.49[Formula: see text]eV), indicating that designed molecules can show higher charge transfer than R, which can ultimately produce higher PCE values. In case of hole reorganization energy, the hole mobilities are found more valuable than R. For charge transfer analysis, the Q6 molecule is complexed with PC[Formula: see text]BM acceptor polymer that shows promising charge transfer between the Q6/PC[Formula: see text]BM complex. All studies illustrate that proposed molecules (Q1–Q6) have a great capacity to further improve the optical and photovoltaic parameters when they will be used in efficient organic (as donors) and perovskite (as HTM) solar cells and can show higher performances than R. Therefore, these newly designed molecules (Q1–Q6) rerecommended to the experimentalists for the synthesis to be employed as donors in organic and as HTMs in perovskite solar cells applications.
Regional Cultural Diversity, Government Intervention and M&A Performance: Based on the Cultural Differences
Authors: Guo Jianquan , Wang Hongdi
Published: May 2023

Based on a sample of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by Chinese enterprises in different target countries between 2010 and 2020, this paper explores the impact of cultural differences on M&A performance and the moderating effects of regional cultural diversity and government intervention (financial subsidies) by using event study method and regression analysis. The results indicate that cultural differences have a negative impact on M&A performance. Furthermore, regional cultural diversity and government intervention positively moderate the relationship between cultural differences and M&A performance. This research can assist Chinese companies in fully leveraging regional cultural diversity to mitigate cultural differences and enhance their corporate performance.
Formation–exhumation history of the Carboniferous Axi epithermal gold deposit in the Chinese Western Tianshan based on zircon U–Pb and pyrite Re–Os geochronology and (U–Th)/He zircon–apatite thermochronometry
Authors: Li Nuo , Zhang Bo , Danišík Martin , Chen Yan-Jing , Selby David , Xiao Wenjiao
Published: May 2023

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt represents a Late Paleozoic archipelago, but crustal growth and the reworking and exhumation of the individual microcontinental massifs remain poorly constrained. Here, we use the Axi epithermal deposit to examine continental preservation and exhumation in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt of the Chinese Western Tianshan region. Zircon U–Pb dating and geochemistry demonstrate that the andesitic host rock formed via the incremental addition of magma in an Andean-type magmatic arc setting at 362, 354 and 342 Ma. Pyrite Re–Os data and textural evidence reveal two mineralization events at 355 and 332 Ma. Zircon (U–Th)/He data reveal temperatures of
c.
180°C until 317.8 ± 9.8 Ma, which is interpreted to record the timing of exhumation of the andesite and gold ore bodies prior to their burial by Carboniferous-age sediments. Further sedimentary concealment continued until the Late Mesozoic when the system was re-exhumed between 148.6 ± 8.6 and 120.0 ± 13 Ma at a rate of
c.
9.8 m Ma
−1
, as shown by apatite (U–Th)/He data. Collectively, the geochronology/thermochronology data show that the Chinese Western Tianshan region records a transition from compressional to extensional tectonism during the Late Paleozoic and Late Mesozoic. The shallow epithermal mineralization was protected from erosion by post-mineralization deposition.

Supplementary material:
Trace element and zircon U–Pb data for the andesitic host are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6640014
Age, duration and spatial distribution of ocean shields and rejuvenated volcanism: Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, Eastern Canaries
Authors: Perez-Torrado F. J. , Carracedo J. C. , Guillou H. , Rodriguez-Gonzalez A. , Fernandez-Turiel J. L.
Published: May 2023

Fuerteventura and Lanzarote form the oldest emerged part of the Eastern Canary Islands archipelago. Geologically, they can be considered a single edifice, constituting a continuous volcanic ridge extending 250 km from SW to NE. This study completes the dating and the determination of the magnetic stratigraphy of the shields and the rejuvenated volcanism of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, refining the volcanic stratigraphy and cartography. The new unspiked K–Ar ages and magnetostratigraphy of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote indicate that these islands developed patterns similar to those of the Central and Western Canary Islands, building adjacent and successively superimposed basaltic shield volcanoes during the Miocene, between 20.19 ± 0.30 and 6.30 ± 0.11 Ma. The overlay of post-Miocene rejuvenated volcanism hinders determination of the extent and interrelationship of the shields. These materials constitute only a small fraction by volume but cover a large part of the islands. Despite this, it is confirmed that the disposition of the shields is opposite to the insular progression induced by the hotspot, suggesting the presence of some SW–NE propagation volcanic front or fracture to explain its direction of development.

Supplementary material:
A description of the K–Ar method is available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6641464
Noninvasive Prenatal Testing Using Circulating DNA and RNA: Advances, Challenges, and Possibilities
Authors: Moufarrej Mira N. , Bianchi Diana W. , Shaw Gary M. , Stevenson David K. , Quake Stephen R.
Published: May 2023

Prenatal screening using sequencing of circulating cell-free DNA has transformed obstetric care over the past decade and significantly reduced the number of invasive diagnostic procedures like amniocentesis for genetic disorders. Nonetheless, emergency care remains the only option for complications like preeclampsia and preterm birth, two of the most prevalent obstetrical syndromes. Advances in noninvasive prenatal testing expand the scope of precision medicine in obstetric care. In this review, we discuss advances, challenges, and possibilities toward the goal of providing proactive, personalized prenatal care. The highlighted advances focus mainly on cell-free nucleic acids; however, we also review research that uses signals from metabolomics, proteomics, intact cells, and the microbiome. We discuss ethical challenges in providing care. Finally, we look to future possibilities, including redefining disease taxonomy and moving from biomarker correlation to biological causation.
Importance of Diversity in Precision Medicine: Generalizability of Genetic Associations Across Ancestry Groups Toward Better Identification of Disease Susceptibility Variants
Authors: Cruz Lauren A. , Cooke Bailey Jessica N. , Crawford Dana C.
Published: May 2023

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revolutionized our understanding of common genetic variation and its impact on common human disease and traits. Developed and adopted in the mid-2000s, GWAS led to searchable genotype–phenotype catalogs and genome-wide datasets available for further data mining and analysis for the eventual development of translational applications. The GWAS revolution was swift and specific, including almost exclusively populations of European descent, to the neglect of the majority of the world's genetic diversity. In this narrative review, we recount the GWAS landscape of the early years that established a genotype–phenotype catalog that is now universally understood to be inadequate for a complete understanding of complex human genetics. We then describe approaches taken to augment the genotype–phenotype catalog, including the study populations, collaborative consortia, and study design approaches aimed to generalize and then ultimately discover genome-wide associations in non-European descent populations. The collaborations and data resources established in the efforts to diversify genomic findings undoubtedly provide the foundations of the next chapters of genetic association studies with the advent of budget-friendly whole-genome sequencing.
Trends in State and Local Pension Funds
Authors: Giesecke Oliver , Rauh Joshua
Published: May 2023

Unfunded public pension obligations represent the largest liability for state and local governments in the United States. As of fiscal year 2021, the total reported unfunded liabilities of these plans are $1.076 trillion. In contrast, the market value of the unfunded liability is approximately $6.501 trillion. As a result, the reported funding ratio of 82.5% falls to 43.8% under a market-based valuation. The market values reflect the fact that accrued pension promises are a form of government debt with strong statutory and contractual rights. The assumed discount rates are based on expected returns and remain elevated relative to risk-free rates, despite a decline since 2014. As a result, not only is the unfunded pension liability understated, but the yearly pension cost for newly accruing liabilities is also understated. In order to achieve high returns, pension funds have accumulated large exposure to risky assets, in particular alternative investments, which results in highly uncertain investment returns.
Investigating and acquiring motor expertise using virtual reality
Authors: Mangalam Madhur , Yarossi Mathew , Furmanek Mariusz P. , Krakauer John W. , Tunik Eugene
Published: May 2023

After just months of simulated training, on January 19, 2019 a 23-year-old E-sports pro-gamer, Enzo Bonito, took to the racetrack and beat Lucas di Grassi, a Formula E and ex-Formula 1 driver with decades of real-world racing experience. This event raised the possibility that practicing in virtual reality can be surprisingly effective for acquiring motor expertise in real-world tasks. Here, we evaluate the potential of virtual reality to serve as a space for training to expert levels in highly complex real-world tasks in time windows much shorter than those required in the real world and at much lower financial cost without the hazards of the real world. We also discuss how VR can also serve as an experimental platform for exploring the science of expertise more generally.
Network Traffic Classification Based on SD Sampling and Hierarchical Ensemble Learning
Authors: Qin Jian , Han Xueying , Wang Chonghua , Hu Qing , Jiang Bo , Zhang Chen , Lu Zhigang
Published: May 2023

With the increase in cyber threats in recent years, there have been more forms of demand for network security protection measures. Network traffic classification technology is used to adapt to the dynamic threat environment. However, network traffic has a natural unbalanced class distribution problem, and the single model leads to the low accuracy and high false-positive rate of the traditional detection model. Given the above two problems, this paper proposes a new dataset balancing method named SD sampling based on the SMOTE algorithm. Different from the SMOTE algorithm, this method divides the sample into two types that are easy and difficult to classify and only balances the difficult-to-classify sample, which not only overcomes the SMOTE’s overgeneralization but also combines the idea of oversampling and undersampling. In addition, a two-layer structure combined with XGBoost and the random forest is proposed for multiclassification of anomalous traffic, since using a hierarchical structure can better classify minority abnormal traffic. This paper conducts experiments on the CICIDS2017 dataset. The results show that the classification accuracy of the proposed model is more than 99.70% and that the false-positive rate is less than 0.34%, indicating that the proposed model is better than traditional models.
Hepatitis B Virus Immunity Gap: A Six-Year Laboratory Data Review of Hepatitis B Serological Profiles in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Authors: Mbenenge Nonhlanhla , Subramoney Kathleen , Gascua Adu-Gyamfi Clement , Treurnicht Florette K.
Published: May 2023

Background. In 1995, the hepatitis B vaccine in South Africa was incorporated into the childhood expanded programme of immunization. We report on immunity gaps of laboratory-based hepatitis B virus (HBV) among patients in public facilities in Gauteng Province from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2019. Methodology. We analyzed HBV serological data extracted from the National Health Laboratory Services Central Data Warehouse (NHLS CDW). A descriptive analysis was performed for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HBV core (anti-HBc) total, anti-HBc IgM, and antibodies to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) according to annual distribution, age groups, and sex. Results. The HBsAg positivity rate was 7.0% (75,596/1,095,561;

p
=
0.001

): 7.4% (96,532/944,077) in the 25 years and over age group and 4.0% (358/9,268 and 325/10,864) in the under 5 and 13–24 year age groups. The positivity rates of the other HBV serological markers were as follows: anti-HBc total was 37.0% (34,377/93,711;

p
 
<
 
0.001

), anti-HBc IgM was 2.4% (5,661/239,237;

p
=
0.05

), and anti-HBs was 37.0% (76,302/206,138;

p
≤
0.001

). Naturally acquired HBV immunity was detected in 25.7% (11,188/43,536) of patients in the 25 years and over age group, and 9.7% and 8.2% (113/1,158 and 541/6,522) among those under 5 years and 13–24 year age group, respectively (

p
 
<
 
0.001

). Vaccine-induced immunity was 56.6% (656/1,158) in children under 5 years and 10.2% (4,425/43,536) among those 25 years and above (

p
 
<
 
0.001

). Fifty-six percent (29,404/52,581) of patients were HBV seronegative; predominantly among patients in the 13–24 year age group (60.6%; (3,952/6,522)) and 25 years and over (56.3% (24,524/43,536)) (

p
=
<
0.001

). Conclusion. The HBV infection seroprevalence remains high in South Africa, with Gauteng province having high intermediate endemicity. However, the HBV immunity gap has shifted from younger children to older children and adults.
Safety Helmet‐Wearing Detection System for Manufacturing Workshop Based on Improved YOLOv7
Authors: Chen Xiaowen , Xie Qingsheng
Published: May 2023

Safety helmets play a vital role in protecting workers’ heads. In order to improve the accuracy of the detection model in complex environments, such as complex backgrounds and different lighting and distances, we propose a safety helmet‐wearing detection algorithm based on the improved YOLOv7. In the backbone network, 16‐channel features are used to replace 3‐channel RGB features. Structured pruning is performed in the head network, and the loss function is replaced by SIoU. Experiments on the “helmet‐head,” “helmet‐data,” and “helmet” data sets show that the mAP and F1 of YOLOv7_ours improved in this paper are better than Faster RCNN, YOLOv5, and YOLOv7 series models. On image data of different application scenarios, light intensity, and color depth, YOLOv7_ours has better stability and higher accuracy and can detect at 112.4FPS (1000/8.9). Based on the improved YOLOv7_ours, we integrated face recognition technology and text‐to‐speech (TTS) to realize helmet detection, identity recognition, and automatic voice reminder capabilities and developed a safety helmet‐wearing detection prototype system. We verified the feasibility of the helmet detection algorithm and system in the semifinished product manufacturing workshop.
Research on the Relationship between Soil Shear Stress Level and Safety Factor
Authors: Zhang Canhong , Ji Enyue , Wang Baotian , Wang Haoyu
Published: May 2023

At present, in the design of geotechnical structures, the allowable bearing capacity is mostly designed according to the safety factor specified in the design specification. However, there are two problems that have not yet been clearly explained in theory: (1) why is the safety factor listed in the standard is suitable for the design of geotechnical structures and (2) can the safety factor selected according to the specification guarantee the long-term stability of soil mass. In view of the above problems, according to the statistical law in the rheological properties of soil, the relationship between the shear stress level of the soil and the stability of the soil is studied, and the stable shear stress level of the soil is obtained. The research results show that the stable shear stress level of soil is the corresponding shear stress level under static earth pressure. This conclusion not only verifies the correctness of the theoretical finding that “the earth pressure on the structure develops toward the static earth pressure, and whether the ultimate safety of the geotechnical structure is related to its design bearing capacity is greater than the static earth pressure” in the design code of the retaining structure but also clarifies the source of the safety factor. By calculating the design bearing capacity of the geotechnical structure according to the static earth pressure, the geotechnical structure that maintains long-term stability can be designed, which provides a reliable method for the design of the permanent geotechnical structure.
Bifurcations in a Plant-Pollinator Model with Multiple Delays
Authors: Li Long , Zhang Yanxia , Yao Jianfei , Wu Xiuxing
Published: May 2023

The plant-pollinator model is a common model widely researched by scholars in population dynamics. In fact, its complex dynamical behaviors are universally and simply expressed as a class of delay differential-difference equations. In this paper, based on several early plant-pollinator models, we consider a plant-pollinator model with two combined delays to further describe the mutual constraints between the two populations under different time delays and qualitatively analyze its stability and Hopf bifurcation. Specifically, by selecting different combinations of two delays as branch parameters and analyzing in detail the distribution of roots of the corresponding characteristic transcendental equation, we investigate the local stability of the positive equilibrium point of equations, derive the sufficient conditions of asymptotic stability, and demonstrate the Hopf bifurcation for the system. Under the condition that two delays are not equal, some explicit formulas for determining the direction of Hopf bifurcation and some conditions for the stability of periodic solutions of bifurcation are obtained for delay differential equations by using the theory of norm form and the theorem of center manifold. In the end, some examples are presented and corresponding computer numerical simulations are taken to demonstrate and support effectiveness of our theoretical predictions.
Effect of Curing Temperature and Time on Mechanical Properties of Vinyl Polymer Material for Sealing Applications in Industry Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Kulkarni Sudheer D. , Manjunatha B. , Chandrasekhar U. , Siddesh G. K. , Lenin Haiter , Arul Sujin Jose
Published: May 2023

A seal is a mechanism or a piece of material that securely shuts a hole so that air, liquid, or other substances cannot enter or exit the system. Seals are an essential component of practically all machinery and engines and have several applications in industry. The development of novel materials for sealing applications is essentially required on these days. In this research, an attempt is made to find the polymer material for the said application. Poly vinyl rubber material has been taken, and the specimens are prepared for testing the tensile properties and hardness. The specimens were prepared by using die with various temperatures and curing time. Sixteen specimens were prepared by changing the curing temperature, curing time, postcuring temperature, and postcuring time. The curing temperature 150°C and 170°C, postcuring temperature 100°C and 50°C, curing time 14 mins and 18 mins, postcuring time 120 mins and 60 mins, and the pressure of 150 kg/cm2 for all the specimens were maintained. The tensile strength and hardness analysis were done as per the ASTM standard, and it was found that the specimen prepared on 150°C curing temperature, 18 min curing time, 50°C postcuring temperature, and 120 min postcuring time provides the higher tensile strength. DOE analysis is also done to determine the best values of the factors impacting the mechanical characteristics of the seal material. Simple regression analysis is used to find the influence of curing temperature and curing time on the tensile strength and hardness for every 1°C temperature rise and 1 sec curing time.
Ccr2+ Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Influence Trajectories of Acquired Therapy Resistance in Braf-Mutant Melanoma
Authors: Kim Dahihm , An Luye , Moon Jiwon , Maymi Viviana I. , McGurk Alexander I. , Rudd Brian D. , Fowell Deborah J. , White Andrew C.
Published: May 2023

Therapies targeting oncogene addiction have had a tremendous impact on tumor growth and patient outcome, but drug resistance continues to be problematic. One approach to deal with the challenge of resistance entails extending anticancer treatments beyond targeting cancer cells by additionally altering the tumor microenvironment. Understanding how the tumor microenvironment contributes to the evolution of diverse resistance pathways could aid in the design of sequential treatments that can elicit and take advantage of a predictable resistance trajectory. Tumor-associated macrophages often support neoplastic growth and are frequently the most abundant immune cell found in tumors. Here, we used clinically relevant in vivo Braf-mutant melanoma models with fluorescent markers to track the stage-specific changes in macrophages under targeted therapy with Braf/Mek inhibitors and assessed the dynamic evolution of the macrophage population generated by therapy pressure-induced stress. During the onset of a drug-tolerant persister state, Ccr2+ monocyte-derived macrophage infiltration rose, suggesting that macrophage influx at this point could facilitate the onset of stable drug resistance that melanoma cells show after several weeks of treatment. Comparison of melanomas that develop in a Ccr2-proficient or -deficient microenvironment demonstrated that lack of melanoma infiltrating Ccr2+ macrophages delayed onset of resistance and shifted melanoma cell evolution towards unstable resistance. Unstable resistance was characterized by sensitivity to targeted therapy when factors from the microenvironment were lost. Importantly, this phenotype was reversed by coculturing melanoma cells with Ccr2+ macrophages. Overall, this study demonstrates that the development of resistance may be directed by altering the tumor microenvironment to improve treatment timing and the probability of relapse.

Significance:

Ccr2+ melanoma macrophages that are active in tumors during the drug-tolerant persister state following targeted therapy-induced regression are key contributors directing melanoma cell reprogramming toward specific therapeutic resistance trajectories.
Recent Mortality Patterns and Time Trends for the Major Cancers in 47 Countries Worldwide
Authors: Sedeta Ephrem , Sung Hyuna , Laversanne Mathieu , Bray Freddie , Jemal Ahmedin
Published: May 2023

Background:

Most prior studies have reported cancer mortality trends across countries for specific cancer types. Herein, we examine recent patterns and trends in cancer mortality rates for the eight common forms of cancer in 47 countries across five continents (except Africa) based on the World Health Organization mortality database.

Methods:

Rates were age-standardized to the 1966 Segi-Doll world population, and trends in the age-standardized rates for the most recent 10 years of data were examined using Joinpoint regression.

Results:

Cancer-specific mortality rates vary substantially across countries, with rates of infection-related (cervix and stomach) and tobacco-related cancers (lung and esophagus) varying by 10-fold. Recent mortality rates for all major cancers decreased in most of the studied countries except lung cancer in females and liver cancer in males, where increasing rates were observed in most countries. Rates decreased or stabilized in all countries for lung cancer in men and stomach cancer in both sexes.

Conclusions:

The findings reinforce the importance of implementing and strengthening resource-stratified and targeted cancer prevention and control programs in all parts of the world to further reduce or halt the rising cancer burden.

Impact:

The results may inform cancer prevention and treatment strategies and in so doing, reduce the marked global cancer disparities observed today.
Hybrid routing protocol for quantum network based on classical and quantum routing metrics
Authors: A. Hussein Shahad , A. Abdullah Alharith
Published: May 2023

A quantum repeater is the heart of a quantum internet that enables end-to-end communication over long distances using the quantum entanglement feature. Although this characteristic gives quantum networks tremendous power in terms of speed and security, it puts quantum networks, especially the quantum internet, in front of challenges, like transforming a short-distance quantum link into a long-distance link, in addition to entanglement routing for finding the best path within a quantum network. So, this research aims to propose a hybrid quantum routing protocol (HQRP) based on routing metrics of the classical networks like hops count, as well as metrics of the quantum network represented by the possibility of entanglement between end nodes in the network. As a result, a mathematical model was built to determine the optimal path among many paths within the quantum network, and it was implemented on our quantum network simulator. Finally, we concluded that the proposed algorithm gives the optimal path based on the highest entanglement probability and lowest number of hop count.
Development of a design optimization algorithm for a bowtie antenna
Authors: Africa Aaron Don M. , M. Tagabuhin Rica Rizabel , Tirados Jan Jayson
Published: May 2023

A bowtie antenna is one of the simple dipole antennas with an omnidirectional pattern utilized in several applications. It is used in industrial applications, scientific applications, and medical applications. Its elementary design can be subjected to modification to expand the applications of the dipole and improve its performance. This paper aims to develop a design optimization algorithm for a bowtie antenna with an adaptive finite impulse response (FIR) filter. In the paper, the different designs of the bowtie antenna are simulated using MATLAB software. The design of antennas is constructed using the partial differential equation (PDE) toolbox in MATLAB software. The designs explored in the paper are the slotted microstrip bowtie antenna and the double flare bowtie antenna. A traditional bowtie was also simulated to be used as a reference for the evaluation of the modified antennas. The dimensions of the designs are kept closely like draw accurate conclusions about the effects of the refinements done. The effects of the modification of the designs on the directivity and return loss are determined to assess the effectiveness of the design alterations.
Visualization-based monitoring in early warning systems with wireless sensor networks
Authors: T. Nguyen Minh , V. Nguyen Cuong , N. Nguyen Huyen
Published: May 2023

With the impact of global climate change, natural disasters such as prolonged drought, earthquakes, and tsunamis, have constantly increased over recent decades, putting those living in these areas in great danger. A natural disaster warning system has been established as an indispensable need to minimize possible high risks that cause human casualties. Several current natural disaster warning systems focus on building wireless sensor networks for forecasting and monitoring disasters as well as natural phenomena. This paper aims to develop a comprehensive model that integrates data visualization operations to identify and simultaneously predict threat proceedings in natural disasters. This technique can handle big data based on sensing data from wireless sensor networks and shows overview graphs about disasters' variability, floods, and earthquakes, in the areas. Based on the results collected from data visualization techniques, the system can issue alerts about the interest of the region in real time. In addition, we propose some levels for the warning system in which the networks only focus on the area with essential data that must be warned. This can save energy consumption for other areas of safety. This work shows promising points of effectiveness.
Moodle platform and Zoom videoconference: learning skills in the virtual modality
Authors: Andrade-Arenas Laberiano , Reyes Perez William Wilfredo , Yactayo Arias Cesar Augusto
Published: May 2023

In Peruvian Universities, most of the Moodle platforms and the Zoom videoconference were used in virtual teaching-learning. The teachers and students of the University of Sciences and Humanities, which is the object of study, used these tools in the class session. Moodle and Zoom complement each other for virtual classes during the pandemic time. The objective of the research is the influence of Zoom and Moodle on learning skills. The methodological design of the research has correlational scope, quantitative, non-experimental approach of cross-section. A survey was conducted of 95 students from the first cycles of the university. The instrument was validated by expert judgments with 86.3% approval. In addition, reliability was performed with Cronbach's Alpha, obtaining the value of 0.875. A p-value of 0000 was obtained as a result and the degree of correlation between Moodle and learning skills was 0.438** and Zoom with learning skills was 0.519**; determining in this way that there is a moderate positive significant correlation. It is concluded that the development of learning skills that correspond to digital skills, the communicative and cognitive part is due to the use of the Moodle platform and the Zoom videoconference in the learning sessions.
Sales forecasting of marketing using adaptive response rate single exponential smoothing algorithm
Authors: Arifin Prasetyo Tegar , Richardo Sianipar Evan , Naomi Poibe Leny , Hutabarat Ester Saulina , Chandra Rudy , Siagian Wesly Mailander , Panjaitan Goklas Henry Agus
Published: May 2023

Micro, small and medium enterprises (UMKM) is one of the important aspects to support the improvement of the economy in Indonesia. Zee Mart’s business is one of the UMKM shop in Pematang Siantar City with sales and purchase transaction activities for supplies. The purpose of this study is to predict the sales of Zee Mart store goods in the coming month using the adaptive response rate single exponential smoothing (ARRSES) method. ARRSES is a method with the advantage of having two parameters, alpha and beta, where alpha will change every period when the data pattern changes. The dataset obtained will be pre-processed through data selection, cleaning, and transformation. The best beta is determined based on the level of accuracy calculated using the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Model development using the ARRSES method will produce forecasting percentages and errors for each product using MAPE. The number of sales data is 23,092 before preprocessing and 23,021 after pre-processing, with the total quantity of goods sold being 149,764 of 1,492 products. The results obtained using sales data 23,021 show the lowest MAPE value of 9.85 at the best beta of 0.6 with the highest accuracy of 90.15% and the model is implemented into a web interface.
Efficient algorithm for replanning web service composition
Authors: D. Hanabaratti Kavita , Patil Rudragoud
Published: May 2023

Web-service-composition (WSC) workload execution inside a hybrid cloud environment is challenging. A dynamic approach for allocating resources to various tasks, as well as associated sub-tasks having a satisfactory quality-ofservice (QoS) requirement, is necessary for the present real-time demand. As a result of focusing primarily on decreasing processing time as well as cost, current approaches improve latency as well as energy while executing a given workload. This study introduces an efficient re-planning (ERP) algorithm for running many scientific workloads inside a heterogeneous cloud environment, which is designed to address some of the shortcomings of previous approaches. With a changing workload, this study details a technique to improve the WSC's availability as well as robustness. The workload's processing energy requirements are reduced as a result. The montageworkflow has been used to validate the research findings. Comparison with the current heterogeneous earliest finish time (QL-HEFT) algorithm demonstrates that its ERP-WSC approach is much more efficient and reliable.
Employing various topologies to improve the interleaved boost converters performance
Authors: Makee Areej Hamzah , Al-Omari Ali Hussein
Published: May 2023

In recent years, there has been a significant amount of literature concerning high step-up DC-DC converters. Whereas the voltage level needs to be raised to a higher value so that the DC conversion can meet the AC mains value. A boost converter is the most popular circuit in the field, but because of its drawbacks, employing it is limited. Interleaved boost converters have attracted considerable attention and are a promising solution for high-power step-up and power factor correction applications. To demonstrate the importance of this topology, a comparison has been made with single-switch converters. For this reason, this paper classifies the topologies into two main categories based on the number of main switching elements: Single-switch and interleaved boost converters. Then, each category was classified, including the conventional and the modified types, to cover the effect of adding voltage multiplier cells, coupled inductors, and a combination of coupled inductors and voltage multiplier cells. Each converter’s performance was evaluated by comparing the voltage gain of each unit. Also, this paper highlighted these converters’ essential characteristics, topological strategies, benefits, and demerits to clarify the differentiating solutions. Additionally, this work presents the difficulties or directions for developing novel topologies.
Automated model for identification on mastoid of temporal bone image
Authors: Arlis Syafri , Defit Sarjon , Sumijan Sumijan
Published: May 2023

Mastoiditis occurs due to inflammation that can affect the structure of the mastoid bone. The mastoid bone consists of the mastoid air cell system (MACS) which protects the ear structures and regulates air pressure in the ear and has different sizes and characteristics, making it very difficult to identify precisely. This study aims to identify and find the right MACS size by developing an automatic identification model and obtaining the optimal threshold value in the segmentation process using the extended adaptive threshold (eAT) method. The research dataset uses computed tomography (CT)-scan images of 308 slices of 12 patients indicated for mastoiditis. The results of this study provide identification that has the right MACS accuracy and size. Overall, the optimal segmentation process obtained the smallest threshold value of 57 and the largest threshold value of 63, the smallest MACS size is 4.025 cm2 and the largest is 8.816 cm2 with an accuracy rate of 93.4%. The smaller MACS size indicates inflammation in the mastoid area and these patients require more intensive treatment.
Análise da temperatura de superfície terrestre e variáveis biofísicas em domínios de vegetação do Brasil
Authors: Silva Lucas Augusto Pereira da , Rocha Andre Medeiros , Souza Cristiano Marcelo Pereira de , Leite Marcos Esdras
Published: May 2023

Os domínios de Vegetação são fundamentais para controle térmico e redistribuição de calor e umidade para o Brasil. Entretanto, a conversão da vegetação natural para sistemas antrópicos pode alterar essa dinâmica. O objetivo foi avaliar o padrão da temperatura de superfície terrestre e de variaveis biofísicas nos domínios de vegetação do Brasil nos anos de 2004 e 2016. Dados de sensoriamento remoto foram empregados para obter  a temperatura de superfície e as variáveis biofísicas, a saber, índice de vegetação, evapotranspiração, precipitação e déficit hídrico. Comparando os anos de 2004 e 2016, a temperatura aumentou 1,04 ºC; com maior média no domínio de vegetação de Savanas (31,98 e 33,12 ºC para 2004 e 2016), seguida das Áreas de Tensão Ecológica (29,69 e 30,85 ºC, em 2004 e 2016), enquanto as menores médias ocorreram nas Florestas (27,46 e 28,38 ºC, para 2004 e 2016). Na dinâmica temporal (entre 2004 e 2016), observou-se que a ΔTST (mudança da temperatura de superfície terrestre) média para as Savanas foi 1,14 ºC, 0,92 ºC nas Florestas e 1,16 ºC nas Áreas de Tensão Ecológica. Portanto, as Savanas e ATE apresentaram menor capacidade de atenuar o efeito do aumento da temperatura de superfície. As variáveis biofísicas mostram correlação negativa com Temperatura de Superfície Terrestre em todos os domínios de vegetação. Em geral, o aumento da temperatura nos domínios de vegetação brasileiros indica os efeitos das perturbações antrópicas na dinâmica climática.
Sexual Minority Status Disparities in Life's Essential 8 and Life's Simple 7 Cardiovascular Health Scores: A French Nationwide Population‐Based Study
Authors: Deraz Omar , Caceres Billy , Streed Carl G. , Beach Lauren B. , Jouven Xavier , Touvier Mathilde , Goldberg Marcel , Zins Marie , Empana Jean‐Philippe
Published: May 2023

Background

A higher burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors has been reported in sexual minority populations. Primordial prevention may therefore be a relevant preventative strategy. The study's objectives are to estimate the associations of Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and Life's Simple 7 (LS7) cardiovascular health scores with sexual minority status.

Methods and Results

The CONSTANCES is a nationwide French epidemiological cohort study that recruited randomly selected participants older than 18 years in 21 cities. Sexual minority status was based on self‐reported lifetime sexual behavior and categorized as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or heterosexual. The LE8 score includes nicotine exposure, diet, physical activity, body mass index, sleep health, blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids. The previous LS7 score included 7 metrics without sleep health. The study included 169 434 cardiovascular disease–free adults (53.64% women; mean age, 45.99 years). Among 90 879 women, 555 were lesbian, 3149 were bisexual, and 84 363 were heterosexual. Among 78 555 men, 2421 were gay, 2748 were bisexual, and 70 994 were heterosexual. Overall, 2812 women and 2392 men declined to answer. In multivariable mixed effects linear regression models, lesbian (β=−0.95 [95% CI, −1.89 to −0.02]) and bisexual (β=−0.78 [95% CI, −1.18 to −0.38]) women had a lower LE8 cardiovascular health score compared with heterosexual women. Conversely, gay (β=2.72 [95% CI, 2.25–3.19]) and bisexual (β=0.83 [95% CI, 0.39–1.27]) men had a higher LE8 cardiovascular health score compared with heterosexual men. The findings were consistent, although of smaller magnitudes for the LS7 score.

Conclusions

Cardiovascular health disparities exist in sexual minority adults, particularly lesbian and bisexual women, who may represent a priority population for primordial cardiovascular disease prevention.
A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE AFROTROPICAL SPECIES OF THE WEEVIL GENUS CIONUS (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)
Authors: CALDARA ROBERTO , KOŠŤÁL MICHAEL
Published: May 2023

The Afrotropical species of the genus Cionus Clairville, 1798 are revised and 52 species are recognized as valid. Thirty-one species are described as new to the science: twenty-five from the continental subregions (C. concavifrons sp. n., C. coniungens sp. n., C. cretaceus sp. n., C. diaboli sp. n., C. fimbriatus sp. n., C. frater sp. n., C. friedmani sp. n., C. geometricus sp. n., C. hirtellus sp. n., C. intermedius sp. n., C. latruncularius sp. n., C. limosus sp. n., C. longinasus sp. n., C. mimeticus sp. n., C. natalensis sp. n., C. nhlosanicus sp. n., C. oberprieleri sp. n., C. oculatus sp. n., C. schuelei sp. n., C. stalsi sp. n., C. tanzanicus sp. n., C. tenuepilosus sp. n., C. terrosus sp. n., C. transvaalicus sp. n., C. zimbabwicus sp. n.) and six from Madagascar (C. callosus sp. n., C. convexiusculus sp. n., C. guttula sp. n., C. planus sp. n., C. variolosus sp. n., C. verrucosus sp. n.). The following new synonymies are proposed: Cionus chilianthi Marshall, 1941 syn. n. of C. angulicollis Rosenschoeld, 1838, C. virgatus Rosenschoeld, 1838 syn. n. and C. decorus Boheman, 1845 syn. n. of C. nubilosus Rosenschoeld, 1838, C. leucostictus griseus Fairmaire 1903 syn. n. of C. leucostictus Fairmaire, 1897. Lectotypes of Cionus albidus Rosenschoeld, 1838, C. alluaudi Hustache, 1920, C. angulicollis Rosenschoeld, 1838, C. catenatus Fairmaire, 1897, C. compactus Fairmaire, 1903, C. coriaceus Fairmaire, 1903, C. decorus Boheman, 1845, C. ebeninus Hustache, 1956, C. histrio Rosenschoeld, 1838, C. ingratus Fåhraeus, 1871, C. leucostictus Fairmaire, 1897, C. leucostictus griseus Fairmaire, 1903, C. notatus Rosenschoeld, 1838, C. nubilosus Rosenschoeld, 1838, C. perlatus Faust, 1885, C. pustulatus Fåhraeus, 1871, C. tristis Boheman, 1838, C. usambicus Faust, 1889, C. vicarius Hustache, 1939 and C. virgatus Rosenschoeld, 1838 are designated. The “variety” maculithorax Voss, 1960 of Cionus pardus Marshall, 1941 is considered an unavailable name. Description or redescription, comparative morphology, distribution, biological notes and key to all Afrotropical species are given. Photos of habitus in dorsal, of aedeagus in ventral and lateral, and of the apex of penis in dorsal view are reported for each species.
Potential Impact of the Pan-African Great Green Wall on Sahelian Summer Precipitation: A Global Modeling Approach with MPAS
Authors: Smiatek Gerhard , Kunstmann Harald
Published: May 2023

The pan-African Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel initiative (GGW) is a reforestation program to reverse the degradation of land. We investigate characteristics of mean precipitation due to proposed land-use changes to woody savannah with three hypothetical courses of the GGW, with an area between 0.8 and 1.25 million km2, and between the 100- and 400-mm isohyets. The global Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) was applied for this investigation, employing ensembles with 40 members for the rainy season from June to September and 50 members for August when precipitation is at its peak. In comparison with the observational reference, the results show that a wet bias on the order of 33% in the eastern Sahel and a moderate dry bias of −41% in the western Sahel are present in the MPAS simulations. Our simulations do not provide any significant evidence for GGW-induced changes in the characteristics of the summer precipitation, for positive changes within the Sahel supporting the forestation activities, or for potentially adverse changes in the neighboring regions. Changes are present at the regional scale, but they are not significant at the 5% level. Also, changes simulated for further hydrometeorological variables such as temperature, radiation fluxes, or runoff are comparatively small.