bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
importância da avaliação dos riscos laborais e dos fatores que comprometem o conforto ambiental para com alunos e profissionais no ambiente escolar
Authors: Santos Arthur , Simionatto Henzo , Felici Elson , Chagas Camila
Published: December 2022

A integração de conhecimentos que a segurança do trabalho engloba, bem como os seus métodos de análise, têm sido cada vez mais utilizados nos mais diversos tipos de organizações.  Isso se deve a importância de se obter um ambiente saudável e seguro para o colaborador. O presente trabalho foi realizado em uma unidade escolar de gestão pública municipal em Presidente Prudente, São Paulo (SP), que atende as modalidades de Educação Infantil e Ensino Fundamental. Como objetivo, são propostas sugestões de melhoria do ambiente de trabalho, visando proporcionar mais conforto e satisfação para com esse, além da identificação e avaliação dos riscos laborais que os alunos e trabalhadores do ambiente estão expostos. Para tanto, realizou-se um levantamento dos riscos ambientais dentro das classificações de riscos existentes e, para isso, utilizou-se o método de Análise Preliminar de Riscos (APR) e a matriz de relevância. No mais, também foram verificadas questões relacionadas ao conforto ambiental, analisando a temperatura do ambiente, bem como a sua iluminação em pontos estrategicamente analisados, comparando-os com os valores permitidos pela legislação vigente. Os resultados obtidos permitiram verificar a real necessidade de intervenções e adequações no local, tanto pelo fato da presença dos riscos laborais que os colaboradores e alunos estão expostos, como pelos valores de conforto ambiental superiores aos permitidos pela legislação.
Palavras-chave: Análise Preliminar de Riscos (APR); Conforto Ambiental; Segurança do Trabalho.
Inteligência artificial e previsão de preços de ativos financeiros
Authors: Avelar Ewerton Alex , Valente Campos Octávio , Braga Paiva Orefici Jacqueline , Louro Borges Sergio , Artur de Souza Antônio
Published: December 2022

Destaques: Um mercado eficiente é aquele em que os preços sempre refletem plenamente as informações disponíveis (Fama, 1970). Entretanto, vários agentes têm se concentrado em potenciais ineficiências para retornos anormais ao longo do tempo. Algoritmos de inteligência artificial (IA) também têm sido usados para prever os preços dos ativos financeiros. Esta revisão sistemática da literatura apresentou uma série de contribuições ao uso de algoritmos de inteligência artificial para prever os preços dos ativos no mercado financeiro. Objetivo: Desenvolver uma revisão sistemática das aplicações do algoritmo de IA para prever os preços dos ativos no mercado financeiro. Metodologia: A revisão sistemática concentrou-se nas diretrizes dos itens de Relatórios Preferenciais para Revisões Sistemáticas e Meta-Análises (PRISMA). Abordou duas bases de dados principais das revistas: Web of Science e Scopus. Conduzimos uma análise qualitativa dos estudos e baseamos nossas conclusões na análise do conteúdo da pm. A análise empregou categorias com base nos resultados relatados na literatura. Também utilizamos a estatística descritiva e o teste de qui-quadrado na análise. Resultados: Este estudo apresenta algumas contribuições relevantes: (i) a identificação das principais características dos modelos desenvolvidos baseados em inteligência artificial (IA) e os algoritmos utilizados para prever os preços dos ativos no mercado financeiro; (ii) a revisão das características e aplicações dos principais algoritmos utilizados na previsão; e (iii) as lacunas dos estudos anteriores, bem como as tendências e perspectivas para uma análise mais aprofundada. Limitações: Este estudo se concentra apenas em trabalhos disponíveis publicamente em duas grandes bases de dados. Além disso, alguns assuntos podem influenciar o processo de categorização. Implicações práticas: Este artigo apresenta as principais características dos algoritmos de IA usados para prever os preços dos ativos no mercado financeiro. Estes resultados podem apoiar os agentes do mercado na melhoria de seus modelos de investimento. Originalidade/valor: Este artigo tratou de muitas questões teóricas e práticas relevantes. Também reforçou a importância de compreender a hipótese dos mercados eficientes (HME) sob a automação abrangente de processos e o uso de IA. Por último, revisaram-se sistematicamente as diferentes características entre os estudos analisados.
Palavras-chave: Inteligência Artificial; Previsão de Preços; Mercado Financeiro; Revisão Sistemática.
DIELECTROMETRIC CONTROL OF THE DEGREE OF PREPAREDNESS CRUDE OIL
Authors: Sater Nabil Abdel , Grigorov A.
Published: December 2022

CRUDE OIL

The article considers the possibility of changing the set of quality indicators that are currently used to determine the degree of readiness of crude oil (oil or gas condensate for the integrated relative dielectric constant) (ε), which characterizes the electrical properties of crude oil and refined products. Сontrol over the operation of crude oil treatment plants, which are of key importance in the chain of technological operations aimed at obtaining marketable petroleum products.

It has been experimentally established that the increase in the value of (ε) is significantly influenced by the presence of formation water in the crude oil, with dissolved chloride salts and semiconductor mechanical impurities, represented by Fe2O3 particles - corrosion products of process equipment. Conversely, the presence of dielectric mechanical impurities in the crude oil (SiO2) reduces the value of the indicator (ε). This, in turn, must be taken into account when establishing the total impact of pollutants on the indicator (ε) of crude oil.

The implementation of the proposed approach is based on the use of two-section capacitive sensors, which are installed on the pipeline with the main material flow of the installation - desalinated and dehydrated crude oil, using outlets and couplings.

Based on laboratory studies using model media, a multiple linear regression equation was obtained, which, depending on the content of mineralized water and mechanical impurities (semiconductor and dielectric nature) in oil or gas condensate, calculates the value (ε) with the average slope at the level of 1.39% and 2.06%, respectively.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE REVERSE IMPREGNATION PROCESS WHEN THE PRESSURE DROPS IN THE DEPOSIT
Authors: Poverennyi S. , Fyk I. , Varavina O. , Burova M. , Yatskevych O.
Published: December 2022

During the development of the deposit, as the gas is extracted, the reservoir pressure drops and water rise begins, that is, the reservoir is impregnated in reverse with bottom water .If the process of water displacing from the reservoir is well understood, then the process of water or hydrocarbon fluid absorbing by the reservoir is relatively poorly studied. The methodological basis for such studiesis also e laborated poorly. This is largely caused by the long duration of the necessary experiments, which in our case amounted to 6 months. In this work, a methodology of sample reverse impregnation with a hydrocarbon fluid was developed at a displacement pressured drop in order to  simulate the processes occurring in the developed deposit. As a result of the work, on the basis of the semi-permeable membrane method used in the "drainage-impregnation" mode, the actual existence of the reverse impregnation of a sample by hydrocarbons at a displacement pressured drop is proved on rock collectors samples of the Belsky field productive horizon G-7-10, methodological issues related to the specifics of impregnation with specifically hydrocarbon fluid have been solved, main features of the process have been recognized and its main regularities have been determinate qualitatively. In order to reduce the duration of the study, it is recommended to substitute the semi-permeable membrane method with the centrifugation method at the stage of drainage. The parent theoretical ideas are given, the method of research and the used core material are described briefly, graphs illustrating the conduct of drainage and impregnation processes over time are given, the correlation of the current sample water saturation with the displacement pressure and pore characteristic of the sample, the inferences are enunciated briefly. The results of the carried out work will be used in the study of the processes of gas displacement by oil from oil rims, oil or gas displacement by water, oil and gas mixture displacement during the cycling process, etc.
Comparison of multiball training methods and guided training methods on student learning outcomes in table tennis courses
Authors: Solissa Jonas
Published: December 2022

The aims of this research are: 1). To find out differences in student learning outcomes in table tennis learning through the application of the  Multiball and the Guided method, 2). To find out which method is better between the Multiball and the Guided method for student learning outcomes in Table Tennis courses. The subjects of this research were 32 male students of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation, University of Pattimura for the 2020/2021 Academic Year who offered Table Tennis courses. This research is a type of experimental research using a quantitative descriptive approach. The instrument used for data collection was a table tennis performance test. Based on the results of the research and data analysis, it shows that: 1) There is a difference, but not significant, in the student table tennis learning outcomes after being treated with the Multiball training method and the Guided training method. 2) There is no better method between the Multiball training method and the Guided training method.
The effect of flexibility, kinesthetic perception, and motivation on the skills of the 50 meter butterfly swimming
Authors: Yusuf Dede , Wiradihardja Sudradjat , Hermawan Iwan
Published: December 2022

This study aims to determine the effect of flexibility, kinesthetic perception, motivation together on the learning outcomes of butterfly swimming. The method used in this study uses a quantitative approach, survey method with test and measurement techniques. The data analysis technique used a path analysis approach. The population of this research is second semester students in the physical education study program, health and recreation, FKIP-UNSIKA, Karawang Regency. There are 155 second semester students. The sampling technique used the purposive sampling method, so that the number of people studied were 31 people who met the researchers' criteria after the butterfly style swimming test was carried out. Based on statistical analysis, the results of hypothesis testing are obtained that 1) flexibility (X1) has a direct positive effect on motivation (Z) by 6.05%.2) Kinesthetic perception (X2) has a direct positive effect on motivation (Z) by 28.62%. 3) Flexibility (X1) has a direct positive effect on the 50-meter butterfly (Y) swimming of 1.85%. 4) Kinesthetic perception (X2) has a positive direct effect on the 50-meter butterfly (Y) swimming by 2.1%. 5) Flexibility (X1) and kinesthetic perception (X2) affect the learning outcomes of butterfly style swimming (Y) through the motivational intervening variable (Z) oby 58.37%
Training model of indoor hockey passing techniques For beginners
Authors: Rifki Firman , Hanif Achmad Sofyan , Fachrezzy Fahmy
Published: December 2022

This study aims to create and implement a indoor hockey passing exercise model for beginners and to measure the effectiveness of the model made. The research will be applied to research subjects as many as 60 students who have the characteristics of novice players, male high school students, aged between 15-17 years who have never participated in indoor hockey training. This study uses a research and development model from Robert Maribe Branch, namely the ADDIE model (Analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation). The instrument used is a indoor hockey passing instrument created and developed by researchers. Based on the results of the study, the results of the pre-test were 21.12 and the post-test was 38.7.Significant difference test with SPSS obtained t-count = 71.418 df = 59 and p-value = -0.00 > 0.05 which means there is a significant difference to the results of indoor hockey passing exercises for beginners. Based on the results of statistical testing, it can be concluded that the model of indoor hockey passing technique training for novice players that was developed can effectively improve the indoor hockey passing technique for novice players.
Learning model of shot put sideways style for junior high school students
Authors: Munandar Ravinda Aris , Samsudin Samsudin , Nuraini Sri
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study is to develop a sideways style shot put learning model for junior high school students. This study uses a research and development model from Robert Maribe Branch, namely the ADDIE model (Analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation). The implementation phase is applied to class VII students at SMP Negeri 9 Pangkalpinang, class VII students at SMP Negeri 7 Pangkalpinang and class VII students at SMP Negeri 3 Pangkalpinang. So the total subjects in this study were 90 people. In this development research, the data used is data that uses instruments in the form of a questionnaire on the feasibility of developing a product and an instrument for the ability to shot put on the sideways style test. Paired Sample T-Test through the SPSS.26 application obtained the value of Sig. (2-tailed) of 0.000 < 0.05, it was concluded that there was an average difference between the pre-test and post-test on junior high school students. Then, the mean difference between pre-test and post-test is 14,833. This finding shows that the sideways style bullet put learning model program for junior high school students has a significant effect on increasing shot put ability
Study Investigates Mechanisms for Damage vs. Uplift in Different Basins
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: December 2022

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This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper IPTC 22194, “Modeling Frac Hits: Mechanisms For Damage vs. Uplift,” by Garrett Fowler, SPE, Dave Ratcliff, SPE, and Mark McClure, SPE, ResFrac. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2022 International Petroleum Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission.

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Parent/child interactions pose a critical challenge for oil and gas shale producers. The industry has progressed significantly in its understanding of causes and mitigation. However, important uncertainties remain. Fracture-driven interactions, or “frac hits,” exhibit varied behaviors in different basins. The authors of the complete paper examine and contrast a case study in the Bakken in which production uplift occurs with observations of production loss in a case study in Oklahoma.

Introduction

Publicly available data on frac hits across the Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Woodford, and Niobrara show that, in the Bakken and Haynesville, greater than half the documented frac hits resulted in production uplift in the hit well (parent well). Conversely, in the Woodford and Niobrara, more than half of the frac hits resulted in a negative effect on the parent well. In the Eagle Ford, multiple interactions result in a negative effect on the parent well.

Several studies in the Woodford examined the formation of “gummy bears” in the parent well post-frac hit. This is a colloquial term for a semisolid mixture containing hydrocarbons, sand, iron, fine particles from clay, and, sometimes, amounts of friction reducer. These gummy bears clog or reduce the conductivity of the fracture network downhole in the wells that are hit, reducing the productivity of the well. While other basins have provided evidence of the phenomenon, evidence of gummy bears is absent from many shale basins, particularly those showing production uplift after frac hits.

Methodology

The authors investigate potential mechanisms for production uplift and damage in a fully coupled hydraulic fracture and reservoir simulator. The model captures poroelastic stress response from depletion, multiwell fracture interaction, asymmetric fracture growth, multiphase flow in hydraulic fractures as they are reopened during a frac hit, and proppant remobilization. Numerical models force a self-consistent representation of physics. Every model output is a necessary consequence of a model input.
Potential of Industrial Sludge and Textile Solid Wastes for Biomass Briquettes with Avocado Peels as Binder
Authors: Demeke Eyasu Derbew , Desta Mekonnen Abebayehu , Mekonnen Yedilfana Setarge
Published: December 2022

Producing biomass briquettes from industrial solid wastes is a more environmentally friendly way to provide alternative energy and is essential for Ethiopia to satisfy its growing energy needs while also ensuring efficient waste management in the expansion of industrial parks. The main objective of this study is to produce biomass briquette from a mixture of textile sludge and cotton residue using avocado peels as a binder. Avocado peels, sludge, and textile solid wastes (cotton residue) were collected at Addis Ababa and the Hawassa industrial park. They were then dried, carbonized, and crushed into powder. Briquettes made from the mixture of industrial sludge and cotton residue were combined in various ratios: 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50 with the same amount of binder, avocado peels. Briquettes were then made using hand press mold and sun-dried for two weeks. The results showed that the formed biomass briquettes had moisture contents, calorific values, bulk densities, and burning rates that ranged from 5.03 to 8.04%, 11.19 to 17.2 MJ/kg, 0.21 to 0.41 g/cm3, and 2.92 to 8.75 g/min, respectively. The most effective briquette was proven to be 50:50. The binding and heating value of the briquette was greatly enhanced by introducing avocado peels. Hence, biomass briquette made from sludge and solid wastes using avocado peels binder is a promising source of energy for cooking and heating in homes and small enterprises. Additionally, it can also promote proper waste management and provide young people with employment prospects.
Semi-supervised learning improves regulatory sequence prediction with unlabeled sequences
Authors: Mourad Raphaël
Published: December 2022

Motivation: Genome-wide association studies have systematically identified thousands of single nucleotide polymor-phisms (SNPs) associated with complex genetic diseases. However, the majority of those SNPs were found in non-coding genomic regions, preventing the understanding of the underlying causal mechanism. Predicting molecular processes based on the DNA sequence represents a promising approach to understand the role of those non-coding SNPs. Over the past years, deep learning was successfully applied to regulatory sequence prediction using supervised learning. Supervised learning required DNA sequences associated with functional data for training, whose amount is strongly limited by the finite size of the human genome. Conversely, the amount of mammalian DNA sequences is exponentially increasing due to ongoing large sequencing projects, but without functional data in most cases.
Results: To alleviate the limitations of supervised learning, we propose a paradigm shift with semi-supervised learning, which does not only exploit labeled sequences (e.g. human genome with ChIP-seq experiment), but also unlabeled sequences available in much larger amounts (e.g. from other species without ChIP-seq experiment, such as chimpanzee). Our approach is flexible and can be plugged into any neural architecture including shallow and deep networks, and shows strong predictive performance improvements compared to supervised learning in most cases (up to 70%).
Availability and implementation: https://forgemia.inra.fr/raphael.mourad/deepgnn
Is Metabolic Syndrome a Risk Factors for Precancerous Colonic Lesions?
Authors: Petruzzellis Carlo , Milluzzo Sebastian Manuel , Petruzzellis Nicola , Cesari Pietro
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is considered a possible risk factor for CRC, also because it affects bowel cleansing. As primary aim, association between MS or each parameter of MS and the prevalence and histology of precancerous colonic lesions (PCL) was examined. The secondary aim was to analyze the impact of these on bowel cleansing.
Methods: In this observational single-center study, all consecutive outpatients, who underwent colonoscopy from May to September 2014, were enrolled. For statistical analysis, patients were collapsed into two groups according to the presence or absence of MS.
Results: 1257 patients were enrolled. MS was a risk factor for serrated lesions in the left colon (3% vs 1.2%; p=0.049). Analyzing MS parameters, only a higher BMI was associated with an increased risk of having an adenoma overall (25% for BMI >30), for colonic lesions in the left colon (RR 30%; p<0.01) and only for adenoma in the right colon (RR 30%; p<0.05). MS was inversely related with bowel cleansing overall and per-segments.
Conclusion: The presence of MS and obesity should be taken into consideration prescribing bowel preparation regimen and also for post-polypectomy surveillance, as these elements should be considered as aggravating cancer risk.
DREEM tool: Perception of learning environment through the eyes of medical students
Authors: Verma Monica , Soni Abhishek , Kumari Asha , Sachdeva Ashuma , Verma Ramesh
Published: December 2022

Background
In the present era of quality accreditation, considering quality of medical education is also very important, especially in developing countries. Since last few years there is massive increase in number of medical colleges in Haryana, India but is this affecting the standard of medical education too? So, the present study was planned to understand the current state of medical education and to explore the perception of medical students of their learning environment so that problem areas can be identified both at the institutional and curriculum level.
Methods
DREEM tool was circulate to all willing participants from first to final year MBBS students. data was collected and analyzed using recent SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values. one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was calculated, and p < 0.05 was considered to be significant.
Results
An overall score of 111.76 (55.88%) out of 200 was obtained indicating ‘more positive than negative’. The overall mean score was 2.21 ± 0.58, which is interpreted as ‘educational aspect that could be enhanced’. Out of five domains, students’ perception of teachers scored maximum (57.95%) rating while students’ social self-perception scored the least (49.35%). The relationship between students and domain is insignificant for teachers, academic, and sociality (p-value = 0.088, 0.290, and 0.30) but significant for learning and atmosphere (p-value = 0.039 and 0.018)
Conclusions
Overall institute is propagating in right direction but as per feedback obtained by students, it seems that there is decline in quality of medical education with increase in number of medical colleges. There is urgent need of training and retraining of teachers and DREEM scoring survey should be adopted in all medical colleges as annual scoring system so that level of medical education could be elevated.
Trial registration:
CTRI/2020/07/026665 [Registered on: 17/07/2020] - Trial Registered Prospectively
A Convex Selective Segmentation Model based on a Piece-wise Constant Metric Guided Edge Detector Function
Authors: Khan Muhammad Shahkar , Ali Haider , Zakarya Muhammad , Tirunagari Santosh , Khan Ayaz Ali , Khan Rahim , Ahmed Aftab , Rada Lavdie
Published: December 2022

The challenge of segmentation for noisy images, especially those that have light in their backgrounds, is still exists in many advanced state-of-the-art segmentation models. Furthermore, it is significantly difficult to segment such images. In this article, we provide a novel variational model for the simultaneous restoration and segmentation of noisy images that have intensity inhomogeneity and high contrast background illumination and light. The suggested concept combines the multi-phase segmentation technology with the statistical approach in terms of local region knowledge and details of circular regions that are, in fact, centered at every pixel to enable in-homogeneous image restoration. The suggested model is expressed as a fuzzy set and is resolved using the multiplier alternating direction minimization approach. Through several tests and numerical simulations with plausible assumptions, we have evaluated the accuracy and resilience of the proposed approach over various kinds of real and synthesized images in the existence of intensity inhomogeneity and light in the background. Additionally, the findings are contrasted with those from cutting-edge two-phase and multi-phase methods, proving the superiority of our proposed approach for images with noise, background light, and inhomogeneity.
Single-material MoS2 thermoelectric junction enabled by substrate engineering
Authors: Kasirga Talip , Razeghi Mohammadali , Spiece Jean , Oğuz Oğuzhan , Pehlivanoğlu Doruk , Huang Yubin , Sheraz Ali , Dobson Phillip , Weaver Jonathan , Gehring Pascal
Published: December 2022

To realize a thermoelectric power generator, typically a junction between two materials with different Seebeck coefficient needs to be fabricated. Such difference in Seebeck coefficients can be induced by doping, which renders difficult when working with two-dimensional (2d) materials. Here, we employ substrate effects to form a thermoelectric junction in ultra-thin few-layer MoS2 films. We investigated the junctions with a combination of scanning photocurrent microscopy and scanning thermal microscopy. This allows us to reveal that thermoelectric junctions form across the substrate-engineered parts. We attribute this to a gating effect induced by interfacial charges in combination with alterations in the electron-phonon scattering mechanisms. This work demonstrates that substrate engineering is a promising strategy to develop future compact thin-film thermoelectric power generators.
Abnormal obstetric shock index and associated factors among immediate postpartum women following vaginal delivery at a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Uganda
Authors: Agaba David Collins , Lugobe Henry Mark , Migisha Richard , Jjuuko Mark , Saturday Pascal , Kisombo Dean , Atupele Subira Mlangwa , Kirabira Justus , Tumusiime Matthew , Katamba Godfrey , Mugyenyi Godfrey , Masembe Sezalio , Kayondo Musa , Ngonzi Joseph
Published: December 2022

Background
Early recognition of haemodynamic instability after birth and prompt interventions are necessary to reduce adverse maternal outcomes due to postpartum haemorrhage. Obstetric shock Index (OSI) has been recommended as a simple, accurate, reliable, and low-cost early diagnostic measure that identifies hemodynamically unstable women.
Objectives
We determined the prevalence of abnormal obstetric shock index and associated factors among women in the immediate postpartum period following vaginal delivery at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwestern Uganda.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study at the labour suite and postnatal ward of MRRH from January 2022 to April 2022. We systematically sampled women who had delivered vaginally, and measured their blood pressures and pulse rates at 1 hour postpartum. We excluded mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Sociodemographic, medical and obstetric data were obtained through interviewer-administered questionnaires. The prevalence of abnormal OSI was the proportion of participants with an OSI ≥ 0.9 (calculated as the pulse rate divided by the systolic BP). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine associations between abnormal OSI and independent variables.
Results
We enrolled 427 women with a mean age of 25.66 ± 5.30 years. Of these, 83 (19.44%), 95% CI (15.79–23.52) had an abnormal obstetric shock index. Being referred [aOR 2.34, 95% CI (1.41–3.89), p = 0.001], having had an episiotomy/perineal laceration [aOR 1.90, 95% CI (1.15–3.13), p = 0.012] and having a visually estimated blood loss > 200 mls [aOR 1.78, 95% CI (1.06–3.01), p = 0.028] were significantly associated with abnormal OSI.
Conclusion
Approximately one in every five women who delivered vaginally at MRRH during the study period had an abnormal OSI. We recommend that clinicians have a high index of suspicion for haemodynamic instability among women in the immediate postpartum period. Mothers who are referred in from other facilities, those that get episiotomies/perineal lacerations and those with estimated blood loss > 200mls should be prioritized for close monitoring.
Rock Varnish: A Nature’s Shield
Authors: Chaddha Amritpal Singh , Sharma Anupam , Singh Narendra Kumar , Patel Devendra Kumar , Satyanarayana G.N.V.
Published: December 2022

Bare rock surfaces in dry to semi-arid places of the world usually have a black-brown, metallic sheen covering known as "rock/desert varnish." Rock varnishes are naturally occurring surface textures rich in Mn and Fe that are deposited on rocks. The varnish surface looks to be an ideal environment for microbial development. The function of bacteria in varnish formation, on the other hand, is currently being debated. Therefore, researchers throughout the world have long been interested in the biogeochemical fingerprints of life in severe settings, and the identification of organic entities is an important aspect of the quest for early life in extreme circumstances. High-altitude Ladakh, one of the world's harshest dry deserts, was chosen as the study's sample location due to its severe climatic circumstances. The current study illustrates significant microbial fingerprinting using organic biomarkers and isotopic analyses in conjunction with electron microscopy, revealing the presence of organic metabolites such as fatty acids, alkyl benzenes, oxime, amide, and fatty acids on the varnish layer as a result of mineral-microbial interactions. We propose for the first time that how change in surface wettability characteristics from hydrophilic (in host rock) to hydrophobic (in varnish) allowed microbial life to thrive in extreme environments. The current work provides evidence for a long-standing question about microbial affinity for the varnish layer and illustrates the significance of hydrophobicity in the varnish layer as a crucial component for understanding biogeochemical processes related to varnish growth.
Predictors for hemostatic thrombin-gelatin matrix usage in spine surgery: A multicenter observational study
Authors: Kato So , Miyahara Junya , Matsubayashi Yoshitaka , Taniguchi Yuki , Doi Toru , Kodama Hiroyasu , Higashikawa Akiro , Takeshita Yujiro , Fukushima Masayoshi , Ono Takashi , Hara Nobuhiro , Azuma Seiichi , Iwai Hiroki , Oshina Masahito , Sugita Shurei , Hirai Shima , Masuda Kazuhiro , Tanaka Sakae , Oshima Yasushi
Published: December 2022

Study design. A prospective cohort study. Objectives. Thrombin-gelatin matrix (TGM) is a rapid and potent hemostatic agent, but it has some limitations, including the cost and its preparation time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current trend in the use of TGM and to identify the predictors for TGM usage in order to ensure its proper use and optimized resource allocation. Methods. A total of 5520 patients who underwent spine surgery in a multicenter study group within a year were included in the study. The demographic factors and the surgical factors including spinal levels operated, emergency surgery, reoperation, approach, durotomy, instrumented fixation, interbody fusion, osteotomy, and endoscopy were investigated. TGM usage and whether it was routine or unplanned use for uncontrolled bleeding were also checked. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors for unplanned use of TGM. Results. The mean age was 63.5 years old, and males accounted for 59.9% of patients. The mean operation time was 147 minutes, median blood loss was 50mL, and interquartile range was 145mL. Intraoperative TGM was used in 1934 cases (35.0%), among which 714 were unplanned (12.9%). Predictors of unplanned TGM use were female gender, cervical spine, tumor, posterior approach, durotomy, instrumentation, osteotomy, and endoscopy. Conclusions. Many of the predictors for unplanned TGM use have been previously reported as risk factors for intraoperative massive hemorrhaging and blood transfusion. However, other newly revealed factors can be predictors of bleeding that is technically challenging to control.
An Open-Source Simulation Platform for Benchmarking Geo-Distributed Data Center Schedulers
Authors: Alves Daniel , Obraczka Katia , Kabbani Abdul
Published: December 2022

To help meet the ever increasing demand for cloud computing services and resources world-wide, while providing resilience and adequate resource utilization, cloud service providers have opted to distribute their data centers around the world. This trend has been motivating research from the data center management research and practitioner community on new job schedulers that take into account data center geographical distribution. However, testing and benchmarking new schedulers for geo-distributed data centers is complicated by the lack of a common, easily extensible experimental platform. To fill this gap, we propose GDSim, an open-source, extensible job scheduling simulation environment for geo-distributed data centers that aims at facilitating the benchmarking of existing and new geo-distributed schedulers by subjecting them to a variety of data center features and conditions We use our geo-distributed job scheduler simulation platform to reproduce experiments and results for recently proposed geo\hyp{}distributed job schedulers, as well as testing those schedulers under new conditions which can reveal trends that have not been previously uncovered.
Does Hometown Tax Donation System as Interjurisdictional Competition Affect Local Government Efficiency? Evidence from Japanese Municipality level Data
Authors: Kondoh Haruo , Ogawa Akinobu
Published: December 2022

This study analyzes the impact of Hometown Tax Donation (HTD), a unique local fiscal system in Japan, on local government efficiency. It allows residents to make donations to local governments of their choice, receiving deductions on payment of local and national taxes, equivalent to the amount donated, except for small self-paid amounts (JPY2,000, US$15). Moreover, donors can receive gifts from the recipient government in return, depending on the amount donated. Therefore, tax revenue will outflow from the donor residents’ municipalities to other regions, whereas it will inflow to recipient municipalities from other regions. This makes local governments compete to receive donations under the HTD system by trying to enhance their efficiency. On the other hand, HTD may cause misperception of tax prices, thereby leading to inefficient provision of local public services. This study uses stochastic frontier analysis to quantitatively analyze the impact of HTD on the inefficiency of local governments. The findings reveal that municipalities whose revenues are more dependent on HTD tend to be more inefficient. Moreover, greater dependence on intergovernmental grants and local corporate taxation results in inefficiency, thus, providing implications for local public finance on the importance of decentralization. The results also highlight that competition for income through HTD is a zero-sum game, therefore, more fiscal autonomy is needed to ensure healthy competition, thereby, providing new evidence on the relationship between interjurisdictional competition and local government efficiency. JEL Classification H27; H71
“We must help them despite who they are…”: Healthcare providers’ attitudes and perspectives on care for tertiary student men who have sex with men in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Mwaniki Samuel Waweru , Kaberia Peter Mwenda , Mugo Peter Mwangi , Palanee-Phillips Thesla
Published: December 2022

Background: Young gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) face disproportionate burdens of sexual, mental and physical ill health compared to young men in the general population and older MSM. This disparity is occasioned by criminalization and stigmatization of same-sex relationships, YMSM’s limited access to non-judgmental and non-discriminatory health services, and challenges associated with healthcare delivery. We explored the attitudes and perspectives of tertiary academic institution-based healthcare providers (HCPs) in Nairobi, Kenya as relates to provision of services to tertiary student MSM (TSMSM).
Methods: In September 2021, six in-person focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with 36 HCPs drawn from six public tertiary academic institutions within the Nairobi metropolis. HCPs were drawn from six cadres: front office staff, nurses, clinicians, counselors, laboratory technologists, and pharmaceutical technologists. Discussions were conducted in English, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using NVivo version 12.
Results: Analysis revealed three themes, namely: HCPs’ attitudes towards TSMSM, perspectives on service delivery challenges, and possible opportunities for improving care for TSMSM. Majority of HCPs articulated positive attitudes towards care for TSMSM, though some acknowledged having attitudes, beliefs and values that would hinder care for TSMSM. HCPs identified religious principles such as the golden rule of “treating others as one would want to be treated” as a facilitator of care for TSMSM. Criminalization of same-sex sexual behaviour did not hamper care for TSMSM. Healthcare delivery challenges included inadequate knowledge and skills, a desire to “convert” TSMSM’s perceived deviant homosexual to the normative heterosexual orientation/behaviour, secondary stigma from other HCPs, and failure of TSMSM to disclose same-sex sexual behaviour. Suggestions for improving care comprised sensitization and training of HCPs, encouraging more HCP interaction with MSM clients, providing TSMSM-friendly and inclusive services, and advocacy for MSM services.
Conclusion: Despite their readiness and willingness to provide services to TSMSM, HCPs face challenges related to stigmatization of same-sex relations and inadequate knowledge on the health needs of TSMSM. There is a need to train HCPs on the unique health needs of TSMSM, encourage more interaction between HCPs and MSM, and advocate for improved health access for MSM.
A Deep Learning Image Inpainting Method based on Stationary Wavelet Transform
Authors: Huang Yuhan , Chen Nianzhe , Lu Jiacheng , Ding Hui
Published: December 2022

The development of deep learning has greatly improved the image inpainting performance in the past decades. To inpaint images with specific tasks usually require different network models. For instance, the highly structured images need to recover the structural consistency, and the textured ones restore the local high-frequency details. However, it is still challenging to realize an effective algorithm taking account of the global structure and texture details separately. Herein, we proposed a two-stage inpainting method, by combining the information of frequency and spatial domain networks. Stationary wavelet transform (SWT) with good time-frequency characteristics was applied to obtain the sub-band images as the basic input for frequency domain inpainting. Contextual attention layer (CAL) modules were optionally introduced in the network model to adapt to various inpainting tasks. We also tested and discussed the impacts of some commonly used loss functions, including normal L1 loss, normal GAN loss, weighted L1 loss and WGAN-GP loss, on highly structured and textured images.
DYNAMICS OF WEIGHTED BACKWARD SHIFTS ON THE LITTLE LIPSCHITZSPACE
Authors: Shu Yonglu , ZHANG XIAOYAN
Published: December 2022

We study the dynamical behaviour of weighted backward shifts deﬁned on the little Lipschitzspace of a tree. In particular, we consider hypercyclic, mixed, chaotic and frequent hypercyclic properties ofweighted backward shifts under the homogeneous tree.
Laplace Projected Differential Transform Method for Solving Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Daniel Deborah
Published: December 2022

This study presents a hybrid method that incorporates Laplace transform along with projected differential transform method to solve partial differential equations which may be utilized to describe physical problems emerging in applied scientific research. Laplace transform is introduced to
eliminate the demerit of complex estimation of utilization of differential transform method (DTM) and projected differential method (PDTM). The sufficient condition for the convergence of LPDTM is covered and was applied to solve linear and nonlinear partial differential equations to illustrate the efficiency and dependability of the method. The major advantage of this method is that, the computation comes to be much less complicated to solve and the nonlinear term is effortlessly managed through projected differential transform without utilizing Adomian's polynomial and He's polynomial.
Impedance responses and size-dependent resonances in topolectrical circuits via the method of images
Authors: Sahin Haydar , Siu Zhuo Bin , Rafi-Ul-Islam S. M. , Kong Jian Feng , Jalil Mansoor B.A. , Lee Ching Hua
Published: December 2022

Resonances in an electric circuit occur when capacitive and inductive components are present together. Such resonances appear in admittance measurements depending on the circuit’s parameters and the driving AC frequency. In this study, we analyze the impedance characteristics of nontrivial topolectrical circuits (TEs) such as 1D and 2D Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) circuits and reveal that size-dependent anomalous impedance resonances inevitably arise in finite LC circuits. Through the method of images, we study how resonance modes in a multi-dimensional circuit array can be nontrivially modified by the reflection and interference of current from the structure and boundaries of the lattice. We derive analytic expressions for the impedance across two corner nodes of various lattice networks with homogeneous and heterogeneous circuit elements. We also derive the irregular dependency of the impedance resonance on the lattice size, and provide integral and dimensionally-reduced expressions for the impedance in three dimensions and above.
Has “D-dimeritis” worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Authors: Lippi Giuseppe , Perilli Valeria
Published: December 2022

Background: This report describes how D-dimer testing pattern may have changed during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Methods: Two independent analyses were conducted in this report. The first encompassed a digital search in Medline, using the keyword “D-dimer”, restricted to the past 40 years and with no language restriction. The second analysis was based on data provided by the management control unit of the University Hospital of Verona, concerning the number of D-dimer tests requested in the complete years 2019 (i.e., “pre-COVID-19”), 2021 and 2022 (i.e., “during COVID-19”).
Results: The overall number of PubMed documents containing the word “D-dimer” has increased by 3.0-folds in 2020, 3.9-fold in 2021 and 3.1-fold in 2022 compared to the year 2019, respectively. Between 1992 and 2019 (i.e., pre-COVID-19), the increase was almost perfectly linear (r=0.989), while the linear fit was dramatically impaired after inclusion of the past three years. A good statistic power could be restored using a polynomial equation (r=0.941). The overall number of D-dimer tests requested at the local institution increased from 1885 in 2019, to 10449 in 2021 and 5803 in 2022, displaying a 5.5- (p=0.011) and 3.1-fold (p=0.027) increase. The surge was higher for COVID-19, intensive care and emergency medicine units, while the growth remained modest for all other hospital units.
Conclusion: Clinicians have clear in mind that D-dimer is a key biomarker in COVID-19, but D-dimeritis may have been magnified by COVID-19.
LOCATION AND IMPACT OF ADJACENT POWERFUL WOODLANDS ON THE AIR QUALITY OF RUSSIAN CITIES WITH THE SAME COMPARATIVE CHARACTERISTICS
Authors:   Transbaikal State University, Chita, Scherbatyuk A.
Published: December 2022

The object of the study is to conduct comparative studies of the location and impact of adjacent powerful woodlands on the air quality of Russian cities with the same characteristics. During the study the following methods have been used: cartographic, analysis based on interactive maps of GPS subsatellite observation, analytical (philosophical) method (hypothesis and comparison), environmental and mathematical. Results and their discussion. Four cities in Russia with the same characteristics in terms of population and technogenic load (emissions from industry and motor transport) have been selected and studied. Using interactive maps of GPS subsatellite observation, the locations of adjacent powerful forests in relation to cities and the main directions of the wind rose are determined, the patterns of influence on air quality indicators are determined. Conclusion. Comparative studies of the location and impact of adjacent powerful forests on the air quality of Russian cities with the same characteristics have shown that the positive or negative environmental situation, in terms of air quality, is affected not by the volume of emissions from industry and motor transport, but by the presence or absence of a powerful forest area in the main direction of the wind rose, which is a global supplier of oxygen masses, a processor of carbon dioxide and other harmful substances.
Ethnocultural transformations in the annexed (1848) territories of Northern Mexico and the hypothetical future as imagined by Californian writers of the 19th and 20th centuries (Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton, Helen Maria Hunt Jackson, Alejandro Morales)
Authors:   Transbaikal State University, Chita, Voronchenko T. , Fedorova E. ,   Transbaikal State University, Chitа, Gladkikh, E. ,   Transbaikal State University, Chita
Published: December 2022

The article focuses on defining the ways the 19th and 20th centuries authors presented ethnocultural transformations driven by ethnopolitical processes in the Mexican territories of Alta California annexed by the United States in 1848. The research includes the novels of the 19th-century American authors: The Squatter and the Don (1885) by Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton, Ramona (1884) by Helen Maria Hunt Jackson; and The Rag Doll Plagues (1992) by the author of late 20th century Alejandro Morales. The object of the research is the historical reality as presented in the literature of California in the 19th and 20th centuries. The subject of the research is the representation of ethnocultural transformations in the territories of the former Alta California in the views of Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton, Helen Maria Hunt Jackson, and Alejandro Morales. The purpose of the research is to identify the specifics of depicting ethnocultural transformations in the fiction works by Californian writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. The methodological basis of the research includes the works that analyze a literary text as a product of social life in specific cultural and historical conditions. The article uses a comprehensive approach to the analysis of the social and ethnocultural phenomena specific to the population of Mexican territories that became part of the United States. The approach combines methods of the sociology of literature, historical and cultural, problem-focused and chronological, and comparative research methods. The analysis of the novels helps to identify similarities and differences in the representation of the views of the 19th and 20th centuries authors on the ethnocultural transformations both in the ‘current’ historical reality (in literature depicting the ‘local color’) and the hypothetical reality of the future (in the dystopian novel).