bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DIFFERENTIATION OF FOOD PRICES BETWEEN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES
Authors: Szczepaniak Iwona
Published: March 2022

Poland’s accession to the European Union and the related opening of the Polish economy increased its dependence on global and regional phenomena. Domestic prices of food products began to be influenced by, among others, prices on external markets, mainly on the EU market. Phenomena characteristic of economic integration also occurred in other “new” Member States. The aim of the article is to present the differentiation of food prices between European Union countries, with particular emphasis on the process of convergence of prices, and to evaluate the competitive advantages of Polish producers on the EU food market. A comparative analysis of food prices was carried out for 27 EU Member States, additionally broken down into “old” and “new” EU Member States. The study covered the years 2010-2020. Eurostat data was the source of information. The method of descriptive and comparative statistics was used to evaluate the collected research material. As a result of the conducted analyzes, it was found that there is a large differentiation in food prices between individual countries of the European Union and the prices are clearly higher in “old” than “new” Member States. However, along with the progressing economic integration of individual markets with the EU market, there is a gradual alignment of domestic prices with EU prices. It was also shown that Polish food producers still had significant price advantages over competitors from other Member States. The ongoing process of food price convergence in the EU means, however, that they should actively seek new sources of competitive advantage.
E-BANKING SECURITY DILEMMAS OF USERS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS – THE CASE OF KONIN COUNTY IN WIELKOPOLSKA
Authors: Klus Sylwia , Łukasiewicz Natalia , Urbanowicz Zuzanna , Wanat Leszek
Published: March 2022

The aim of the study was to identify selected threats to e-banking security in the opinion of rural residents, on the case of Konin County. Available e-banking services were analysed against the background of cybercrime threats. The research was conducted in the year 2019. In the spatial scope, it concerned Wielkopolska and the territory of the Konin County, which consists of 14 municipalities, including 5 urban-rural municipalities and 9 rural municipalities. Using the method of diagnostic survey, on a sample of almost 400 people invited to the study, the results were collected. The majority of respondents were rural residents. The survey questionnaire consisted of 22 closed questions and information data. Suggested answers were programmed according to a five-point Likert scale. The study used Pearson’s chi-square statistical test of independence, comparative and descriptive analysis. Calculations were performed in MS Excel. As a result, a relatively high level of interest in e-banking among the residents of Konin county was indicated. More than 90% of respondents, primarily rural residents, use online banking. This is especially applicable to retail payments, as well as successive control of the household budget. E-banking’s usability is mostly determined by: time saving, a widespread availability of services and convenience. Despite the awareness of risks, the level of security of online banking inspires confidence among respondents. Therefore, social and legal responsibility of the banking sector for electronic transaction security is recommended. This is justified by the majority of respondent opinions that traditional banking will be eliminated in the future by e-commerce tools, including e-banking.
THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF HOUSEHOLDS IN POLAND
Authors: Kozak Joanna Maria , Mrówczyńska-Kamińska Aldona
Published: March 2022

The aim of this article was a one-dimensional and multidimensional assessment as well as a diagnosis of the economic situation of households according to socio-economic groups in Poland in the years 2009-2019. In the first stage of the research, the development of objective indicators reflecting the economic welfare of households was analyzed. The analysis of the economic situation of households included indicators of the income and expenditure situation in equivalent terms, the expenditure structure, measures of housing welfare including access to durable goods in households and average usable floor area of household per 1 person in m². In the second stage of the research, with the help of the classic TOPSIS (the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution) method, a synthetic measure of the economic situation of the studied aggregate units (socio-economic groups) was built. On the basis of the value of the synthetic measure, a linear arrangement of studied aggregate units was performed, considering variables related to the economic situation of households. The analysis was prepared on the basis of data derived from household budget surveys conducted by Statistics Poland (GUS). The research covered data from the 2009-2019 period. The performed analysis, both one-dimensional and multidimensional, proved that in considerably the best economic situation in the studied period were households of self-employed persons and households of white-collar workers. However, in the worst financial situation were households of pensioners, which occupied the lowest positions in the ranking created on the basis of the value of the synthetic measure.
Clinical Evaluation and Instrumental Diagnostics in Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation
Authors: Bezruchenko Serhii , Dolhopolov Oleksii , Yarova Maryna , Luchko Roman , Mazevych Vadim
Published: March 2022

Background. The aim was to improve the diagnosis of acromioclavicular joint dislocation by studying the capabilities and characteristics of clinical and instrumental diagnostic methods. The idea is expressed that modern clinical and instrumental diagnostic methods comprise a large number of techniques, but no single algorithm for diagnosing injury to the AC joint has been developed. A gold standard for investigating and diagnosing acute AC joint dislocation does not currently exist.
Materials and Methods. A retrospective study of the characteristics and capabilities of clinical and instrumental diagnostic methods was performed in 152 patients with traumatic shoulder pathology. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I of 102 patients (67%) with acromioclavicular joint dislocation type III-VI according to Rockwood classification and Group II of 50 patients (33%) with a partial tear of the rotator cuff. Clinical and instrumental examinations involved specific provocative tests; the radiological diagnostics comprised conventional radiographs with the Zanca, axillary and Alexander views, and CT, MRI, and ultrasound examinations.
Results. The characterization of examination methods was based on the records of patients in Group I and II. The most sensitive clinical test to establish Rockwood type V of acromioclavicular joint dislocation was the Paxinos test (91%). The lowest sensitivity across the tests used was observed with the active compression test to diagnose type IV of dislocation (50%). As regards the X-ray examination, the axial view was 100% sensitive for detecting type IV and VI AC joint dislocation. The Zanca view is highly sensitive for patients with Rockwood type V and Alexander view for Rockwood type III and V dislocations. The accuracy of ultrasound work-up in Group I was 95%, with 96% sensitivity and 93% specificity, while MRI accuracy was 97%, with 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity, and CT accuracy was 81%, with 83% sensitivity and 75% specificity.
Conclusions. 1. Determination of the sensitivity and specificity of the X-ray examination revealed the absence of a 100% effective X-ray view for type III and V AC joint dislocation. 2. The accuracy and sensitivity of the ultrasound, MRI, and CT examinations are high. 3. There is currently no consensus on a protocol to view acute AC joint injuries. 4. Complete and timely early diagnosis of acromioclavicular dislocation allows for a diffe­rentiated approach to surgical treatment tactics, preventing possible complications and restoring the function of the injured shoulder joint to the fullest extent.
WHEAT PROTECTION COSTS AND PESTICIDE USE ARE GROWING ALONG FARM SIZE. CASE STUDY FROM POLAND
Authors: Świtek Stanisław , Gazdecki Michal , Sawinska Zuzanna , Goryńska-Goldmann Elżbieta
Published: March 2022

This paper aims at investigating pesticides used by farmers and their costs in Poland for winter wheat protection. Based on data collected in 2020 from the market survey among 1,299 growers, an analysis of how farm size determines pesticide usage, and their costs was conducted. A significant interrelationship was found. The average cost of pesticide used in wheat cultivation in 2020 was 85.61 EUR/ha, and the median was 77.24 EUR/ha. The average cost of herbicide was 28.62 EUR/ha with a median of 27.40 EUR/ha. Respectively, the cost for fungicide was 47.90 and 40.68 EUR/ha, while for insecticides farmers spent on average 2.28 EUR/ha. Along with the increased farm size, the protection cost and number of treatments increased, too. Farm size also had an impact on particular herbicide strategies. Smaller farms much more often chose spring herbicide to manage weeds, while bigger ones used herbicide in autumn. In the article, we showed the importance of farm size for the strategies adopted by them. This is particularly important in the era of limiting the use of pesticides and the EU’s Green Deal policy. It is also becoming important to promote agrotechnics that reduce the number of pesticide treatments.
A-Games: using game-like representation for representing finite automata
Authors: Slaviero Cleyton , Haeusler Edward Hermann
Published: March 2022

Non-determinism in automata theory allows us to model situations where given an input, one or more outputs are possible. Although this decision regarding which state to chose could be random, there are contexts where this decision is not random, for instance when modeling real life situations. Using game theory, we propose the representation of automata as a game of two players. This game is defined for languages of finite size. We characterize that this representation is suited for both deterministic and non-deterministic automata, and relate the former with perfect information games, and the latter with imperfect information games. We argue that this could help us in explaining concurrency in programming, for instance in novice programming environments.
Desenvolvimento de uma Ferramenta para Teste Diferencial de Compiladores Usando Códigos Gerados Aleatoriamente
Authors: Coelho Bruno Schafaschek , Krauz Luiz Felipe , Feitosa Samuel da Silva
Published: March 2022

É notável que os projetos de software estão se tornando mais complexos e extensos, os quais dependem em grande parte do compilador ou interpretador da linguagem de programação escolhida para o seu desenvolvimento. Neste sentido, como é possível garantir a qualidade e confiabilidade dessas ferramentas de desenvolvimento? Uma das possibilidades é executar testes exaustivamente, identificando e corrigindo erros, até que se tenha certa segurança de que o código produzido esteja livre de bugs. Sendo assim, este projeto propõe o desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta que aplique casos de teste gerados aleatoriamente e compare os resultados com os diferentes compiladores de Java.
Theoretical Computer Science in Basic Education: A Systematic Review
Authors: S. Junior Braz A. , Cavalheiro Simone A. C. , Foss Luciana
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a systematic literature review on theoretical computer science in basic education. Computing education has been reignited with the new computational thinking wave, calling out for the importance of problemsolving skills. Yet, it has been focusing its efforts in programming with visual languages, games and robotics. Meanwhile, theoretical computer science has rarely been touched in education. Therefore this work investigates 17 journal and conference paper that present solutions including this topic on basic education in the last 20 years. To conclude, a discussion about what topics of theoretical computer science were used takes place and a need for further research is identified.
An approach for consensual analysis on Typical Hesitant Fuzzy Sets via extended aggregations and fuzzy implications based on admissible orders
Authors: Matzenauer Mônica , Reiser Renata , Santos Helida
Published: March 2022

Typical Hesitant Fuzzy Logic (THFL) is founded on the theory of Hesitant Fuzzy Sets, which consider as membership degrees the finite and non-empty subsets of the unit interval, called Typical Hesitant Fuzzy Elements (THFE). THFL provides the modelling for situations where there exists not only data uncertainty, but also indecision or hesitation among experts about the possible values for preferences regarding collections of objects. In order to reduce the information collapse for comparison and/or ranking of alternatives in the preference relationships, this thesis develops new ideas on THFL connectives, investigated under the scope of three admissible orders. In particular, properties of negations and aggregations are studied, as t-norms and OWA operators, with special interest in the axiomatic structures defining the implications and preserving their algebraic properties and representability. As the main contribution, we present a model that formally builds consensus measures on THFE through extended aggregation functions and fuzzy negation, using admissible orders for comparison and further, differentiating an analysis of consistency over preference matrices. Main theoretical results are submitted to multiple expert and mutiple criteria decision making problems.
Uma Tradução de Redes de Petri Fuzzy Generalizadas para Gramáticas de Grafos com Atributos
Authors: Vieira Júlia Krüger , Foss Luciana , Cavalheiro Simone André da Costa
Published: March 2022

Neste artigo é apresentado um método para traduzir uma Rede de Petri Fuzzy Generalizada para uma Gramática de Grafos com Atributos. Com esta tradução visa-se obter um modelo genérico para especificar sistemas fuzzy o qual disponibiliza ferramentas computacionais que permitem realizar verificações de propriedades e provas de teoremas.
The Psychology of Trust from Relational Messages
Authors: K. Burgoon Judee , E. Dunbar Norah , Metzger Miriam , Staphopoulis Anastasis , Metaxas Dimitris , F. Nunamaker Jay
Published: March 2022

A fundamental underpinning of all social relationships is trust. Trust can be established through implicit forms of communication called relational messages. A multidisciplinary, multi-university, cross-cultural investigation addressed how these message themes are expressed and whether they are moderated by culture and veracity. A multi-round decision-making game with 695 international participants assessed the nonverbal and verbal behaviors that express such meanings as affection, dominance, and composure, from which people ultimately determine who can be trusted and who not. Analysis of subjective judgments showed that trust was most predicted by dominance, then affection, and lastly, composure. Behaviorally, several nonverbal and verbal behaviors associated with these message themes were combined to predict trust. Results were similar across cultures but moderated by veracity. Methodologically, automated software extracted facial features, vocal features, and linguistic metrics associated with these message themes. A new attentional computer vision method retrospectively identified specific meaningful segments where relational messages were expressed. The new software tools and attentional model hold promise for identifying nuanced, implicit meanings that together predict trust and that can, in combination, serve as proxies for trust.
Corporate Governance and Reporting in Contexts of Social Justice and Equity, Deconstructing the Case of Historically Disadvantaged Universities in South Africa
Authors: Valile M. Dwayi Valindawo
Published: March 2022

Historically disadvantaged universities in South Africa seem to grapple with corporate governance reporting issues, which continue to engender a state of perpetual crisis for them. In response, the National Department of Higher Education and Training has had to come up with interventions such as replacing university councils by administration regimes. The objective of this study was to examine and critique the underlying conditions that allow for the governance crisis to continue unabated while the government interventions seem to be in place. I adopted a mixed method approach to structure the study coherently and logically. Data sources were predominantly institutional reports about the selected cases, which remain as public records. By employing a critical realist lens and its positions about deep ontology, stratified reality, emergence and multi-causation, I could deconstruct the concept of corporate governance as generally written about in the mainstream literature. Results suggest that the source of the crisis derives from the complexity about corporate governance and reporting in relation to not only roles and responsibilities but also in terms of the ideas, beliefs, and values thereof, which therefore constitute the contradictions of position and practice. The discussion highlights the value of understanding transformative agency as the practical alternative to what should be advances in corporate governance and reporting.
Prognostication in Post-Cardiac Arrest Patients
Authors: Piyayotai Dilok , Muengtaweepongsa Sombat
Published: March 2022

After resuscitation from cardiac arrest, a combination of the complex pathophysiologic process, known as post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS), is attributed to multiple organ damage. Global ischemic cascade occurs in the brain due to generalized ischemia during cardiac arrest and the reperfusion process after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), leading to hypoxic/ ischemic brain injury. Targeted temperature management (TTM) is a well-known neuroprotective therapy for ischemic/hypoxic brain injury. This global brain injury is a significant cause of death in PCAS. The implementation of TTM for PCAS leads to a reduction in mortality and better clinical outcomes among survivors. Prognostication is an essential part of post-resuscitation care. Before the TTM era, physicians relied on the algorithm for prognostication in comatose patients released by the American Academy of Neurology in 2006. However, TTM also announced more significant uncertainty during prognostication. During this TTM era, prognostication should not rely on just a solitary parameter. The trend of prognostication turns into a multimodal strategy integrating physical examination with supplementary methods, consisting of electrophysiology such as somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) and electroencephalography (EEG), blood biomarkers, particularly serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and neuro-radiography including brain imaging with CT/MRI, to enhance prognostic accuracy.
Toward Safe Food Systems: Analyses of Mycotoxin Contaminants in Food and Preventive Strategies Thereof for Their Formation and Toxicity
Authors: Mogopodi Dikabo , Mbisana Mesha , Raditloko Samuel , Chibua Inonge , Paphane Banyaladzi
Published: March 2022

Mycotoxin contaminants in food pose a threat to human and animal health. These lead to food wastage and threaten food security that is already a serious problem in Africa. In addition, these affect trading and especially affect incomes of rural farmers. The broad impacts of these contaminants require integrated solutions and strategies. It is thus critical to not only develop strategies for analysis of these toxins but also develop removal and preventive strategies of these contaminants to ensure consumer safety and compliance with regulatory standards. Further within the aim of promoting food safety, there is need for operational policy framework and strategy on the management of these contaminants to promote their mitigation. This chapter discusses integrated strategies for monitoring and control of mycotoxin contamination in food matrices to promote their mitigation and build resilient food systems in Africa and thus reinforce efforts to reach sustainable food security.
Site-Specific Recombination and the Development of Cisgenic Plants
Authors: Mundembe Richard
Published: March 2022

The commercialization of transgenic plants almost three decades ago was accompanied by controversies that highlighted concerns that relate to human health and the environment. This has resulted in continued research efforts to further improve molecular genetic approaches to plant genetic engineering. One such approach involves the use of site-specific recombination mechanisms to produce cisgenic plants. This chapter describes the different methods for site-specific recombination and briefly comments on their potential for widespread adoption in the production of cisgenic plants. The chapter concludes by showcasing some cisgenic plants under development and highlights how cisgenic plants circumvent some concerns associated with first-generation transgenic plants.
Medical Applications of Botulinum Toxin: Spasticity
Authors: del Rosario González Núñez Francisca , Núñez de Castro Francisco , María González Núñez Rosa
Published: March 2022

Botulinum toxin is the most powerful toxin ever known. Its huge potential has been used in the last decades to treat some pathologies that attend with acetylcholine’s metabolic disturbances. Botulinum toxin effects are not indefinite in time, so it must be applied several times (usually twice a year), thanks to the changes produced by this toxin the rehabilitation of infantile spasticity are easier (the greatest results are seen on abductor muscles, calves, etc.) and on ocular muscles to treat squint. It is also used in some muscle alterations, pathologies of the autonomic nervous system, painful syndromes. The life quality of children with cerebral palsy is improving thanks to this toxin.
Comparative Study of Setting Time and Heat of Hydration Development of Portland Cement According to EN 196-3
Authors: Kopecskó Katalin , Baranyi Attila
Published: March 2022

One of the most critical properties of cementitious materials is the initial (IST) and final (FST) setting time, which helps to plan the transportability, workability and demoulding of concrete over time. The standards used to determine the setting time are based on measurement of penetration resistance; these are measured of the depth of penetration with a well-defined body (usually a Vicat needle) into a cement paste as a function of time. Two European standards deal with setting time: EN-196-3 and EN 480-2. EN 196-3 is used to determine the setting time of cement paste of standard consistency. Semi-adiabatic calorimetry (SAC) can be a suitable method for determining the setting time of cementitious materials and concretes of non-standard consistency. This method examines the heat evolution of the hydration reaction of cement. The heat evolution is proportional to the change in viscosity during the setting process and to the Vicat needle penetration depth. This study aimed to find a simple, more accurate and cheaper alternative measurement method for determining the setting time of cementitious materials, which can also be applied to concretes.
Regional Anesthesia for Shoulder and Clavicle Surgery
Authors: Alfonso Rodríguez-Gómez Ciro , Ramón Saucillo-Osuna José , L. Iñiguez-López Karen
Published: March 2022

The shoulder joint and clavicle are innervated by the brachial plexus, the cervical plexus, and nerves to muscles around the joint and clavicle. Regional anesthesia is aimed at producing optimal surgical conditions, prolonging postoperative analgesia, being free of complications, reducing costs, and minimizing hospital stay. Regional upper extremity anesthesia can be achieved by blocking the brachial plexus at different stages along the course of the trunks, divisions, cords, and terminal branches. The gold standard of regional anesthesia for shoulder surgery is interscalene brachial plexus block plus cervical plexus block, but it is associated with a high rate of neurological complications and phrenic nerve block. The interest of the anesthesiologist has been directed towards regional blocks avoiding these complications; techniques that approach nerves more distally than interscalene block have been described. These approaches include supraclavicular nerves, upper trunk, suprascapular nerve by anterior approach, axillary nerve block in the axillary fossa, clavipectoral fascia block. The objective of this chapter is to describe the anatomy, sonoanatomy, technique, and the clinical utility of these accesses.
Contraceptive Implants
Authors: Hassan Ilegbusi Paul
Published: March 2022

Contraceptive implants or implantable contraceptive are five subdermal implants, rods the size of pencil lead that are embedded just under the skin on the inside of the upper arm. The rods contain etonogestrel, the metabolite of desogestrel, an equivalent progestin. Implants are often used during breastfeeding without an impact on milk production. It was identified that age does not affect the use of contraceptive implants but educational status is significant to its usage; there is an association between the age at first birth and the use of contraceptive implants; the number of liveborn children has a significant impact or influence on the use of implants; etc. This chapter focuses on types of contraceptive implants and its mechanism of action; global statistics on contraceptive implants; side effects; health benefits and positive characteristics of contraceptive implants; those who can and cannot use contraceptive implants; reasons women are not interested in contraceptive implants and factors influencing its usage.
‘Vari-Morph’ (VM) Cast Iron with Several Forms of Graphite: Technology, Properties, Application
Authors: Zych Jerzy , Myszka Marcin , Postuła Janusz
Published: March 2022

Cast iron with mixed-shape graphite and controlled fractions of individual shapes, known as VM cast iron (‘Vari - Morph’), can become material for castings with special requirements. The name of the cast iron ‘Vari Morph’ (VM) was first proposed by the authors in 2018 at the World Congress of Foundries in Krakow. VM cast iron displays physical and mechanical properties, which cannot be achieved with homogeneously shaped graphite. Cast iron with (L – flake) + (V – vermicular) graphite is characterised by good thermal conductivity and better A5 (elongation) and Rm (tensile strength) (than grey cast iron. What is of particular interest is cast iron with a mixed form: (S – spheroidal) + (V – vermicular). Currently, research is being carried out to achieve cast iron with a high-quality index (QI) defined as Rm/HB. This paper presents the results of research of physical (thermal conductivity), mechanical (Rm and A5) and functional properties (thermal fatigue) of VM cast iron. The ultrasound technique was applied for assessing the graphite compactness degree (ξ): ultrasonic wave speed CL = f(ξ), damping factor α = f(ξ). The article also presents the correlations between the above-mentioned parameters, as well as describes the technology used to produce VM cast iron and possible areas of application of the material.
Neutron-Gamma Analysis of Soil for Digital Agriculture
Authors: Yakubova Galina , Kavetskiy Aleksandr , Sargsyan Nikolay , A. Prior Stephen , Allen Torbert Henry
Published: March 2022

This chapter describes technical aspects of neutron stimulated gamma ray analysis of soil carbon. The introduction covers general principles, different modifications of neutron gamma analysis, measurement system configurations, and advantages of this method for soil carbon analysis. Problems with neutron-gamma technology for soil carbon analysis and investigation methods including Monte-Carlo simulation of neutron interaction with soil elements are discussed. Based on investigation results, a method to extract the “soil carbon net peak” from raw acquired data was developed. A direct proportional dependency between the carbon net peak area and average carbon weight percent in the upper 10 cm soil layer for any carbon depth profile was demonstrated. Calibration of the measurement system using sand-carbon pits and field measurements of soil carbon are described. Compared to traditional chemical analysis (dry combustion) data, measurement results demonstrated good agreement between methods. Thus, neutron stimulated gamma ray analysis can be used for in situ determination of near surface soil carbon content and is applicable for precision geospatial mapping of soil carbon.
Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Authors: Ianioglo Alina
Published: March 2022

Nowadays special attention is paid to ecosystem conditions that encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. This chapter provides a critical review and expands the understanding of the concepts of the innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The entrepreneurial ecosystem represents a collection of actors that interact within a geographically bound entrepreneurial environment and factors, which contribute to the development of productive entrepreneurship. Innovation ecosystems represent communities of interacting actors that support innovation processes and create technologies and innovations. The focus of the innovation ecosystem is on value creation through the creation of innovations, while the focus of the entrepreneurship ecosystem is on the development of entrepreneurship. There are differences between the two concepts, but also the relationships and interactions, which are revealed in the chapter. Also, there are highlighted the framework, components and features of both entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems.
Perspective Chapter: Simplified Matrix Calculation for Analysis of Girder-Deck Bridge Systems
Authors: Gaute-Alonso Alvaro , Garcia-Sanchez David
Published: March 2022

In the design of girder-deck bridge systems, it is necessary to determine the cross-sectional distribution of live loads between the different beams that make up the cross section of the deck. This article introduces a novel method that allows calculating the cross-sectional distribution of live loads on beam decks by applying a matrix formulation that reduces the structural problem to 2 degrees of freedom for each beam: the deflection and the rotation of the deck slab at the center of the beam’s span. To demonstrate the proposed method, the procedures are given through three different examples by applying loads to a bridge model. Deflection, bending moment, and shear force of the bridge girders are calculated and discussed through the given examples. The use of the proposed novel method of analysis will result in significant savings in material resources and computing time and contributes in the minimization of total costs, and it contributes in the smart modeling process for girder bridge behavior analysis allowing to feed a bridge digital twin (DT) model based on Inverse Modeling holding the latest updated information provided by distributed sensors. The presented methodology contributes also to speed up real-time decision support system (DSS) demands.
The Evaluation of the Comparative Corrosion Behaviour of Conventional and Low-Nickel Austenitic Stainless Steel: Hercules™ Alloy
Authors: Nkomo Duduzile , Masia Nomsombuluko
Published: March 2022

Austenitic stainless steels require approximately 8% Ni to maintain austenitic microstructure at room temperature for alloys such as 304 stainless steel (304SS). Ni contributes approximately 60% of the total material cost and its price fluctuates, making the cost of austenitic stainless steel unpredictable. The use of low-nickel austenitic stainless steels as a substitute has been considered in order to remedy costs associated with Ni price fluctuations. Alloying elements such as Mn and N have been considered, however they have been found to reduce corrosion resistance. A new alloy namely Hercules™ has been developed with reduced Ni content (1.8–2% Ni). This chapter presents a comparative study of the corrosion behavior of Hercules™ and 304SS in different solutions. The alloys were evaluated using cyclic polarisation technique and immersion tests. The results demonstrated that the corrosion resistance of Hercules™ is comparable to that of 304SS. This presents the alloys as potential industrial substitutes of each other.
Botulinum Neurotoxin Uses in Overactive Bladder
Authors: H. Zahran Mohamed , Abdel Raheem Ali , Alowidah Ibrahim , Taha Diaa-Eldin
Published: March 2022

Botulinum neurotoxin has been approved for use in different urologic disorders, especially overactive bladder (OAB). OAB is highly prevalent, with a relevant impact on patients’ quality of life and the available health resources. The prevalence of OAB is 11.8% with no significant difference between male and female. Botulinum neurotoxin is now approved as a treatment of choice for refractory overactive bladder (ROAB) after the failure of behavioral and pharmacological therapy. It is associated with improvement of urgency and urge urinary incontinence in 60–70% of patients. Yet the effect is not long-standing and fades out in a mean of 6-months duration and repeated injection is warranted. Moreover, its associated side effects are not uncommon, especially urinary tract infection and urine retention. New modifications have been studied to make it less invasive, effective, and tolerable by the patients through injection-free mode. The subject to be explained in the book chapter is the role of botulinum neurotoxin in ROAB, including the mechanism of action, different types of botulinum toxin used, the accepted dose, associated side effects, and comparison of the outcome to other available treatment modalities. In addition, a close look at the new accepted approaches for intravesical administration of botulinum toxin in the bladder will be done.
Biomass and Energy Production: Thermochemical Methods
Authors: Shafizadeh Alireza , Danesh Payam
Published: March 2022

In this chapter, an overview of bioenergy importance toward energy systems with low (zero or negative) greenhouse gas emissions and general conversion technologies to produce different types of bioenergy products from various biomass feedstock is presented. The bioenergy products from biomass cover all physical phases including solid (biochar), liquid (bio-oil and bio-crude oil), and gases phase (bio syngas) which make them an interesting field in terms of both academic types of research and industrial scale. A discussion on the available technologies for thermochemical, biochemical, and extraction processes is presented, which is followed by some important parameters on each separate process that cause the optimum production rate and desired products. In addition, in the final part, an overview of the technology readiness level for the processes is reported.
Acrylamide: A Neurotoxin and a Hazardous Waste
Authors: Cota Prathyusha , Saha Sayantani , Tewari Shailvi , Sasikumar Abhirami , Yashwant Saran M. , Senthilkumar Swetha , Sheik Mohideen Sahabudeen
Published: March 2022

Acrylamide is an organic water-soluble compound and a vinyl-substituted primary amide. It is well known for its toxic effects on humans. This chemical may lead to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is exposed to humans through diet, occupation, lifestyle and many environmental factors. Acrylamide is used in molecular laboratories and even in various manufacturing and processing industries. Acrylamide is formed in food cooked at high temperatures, and exposure to this chemical may cause damage to the nervous system. In this chapter the toxicity of acrylamide and its role as a hazardous waste are highlighted. The main topics of this study are occurrence, effects and toxicity caused by acrylamide and analysis of acrylamide induced neurotoxicity in rats. Furthermore, mitigation strategies involving acrylamide have been discussed.
Costimulation in Allergic Asthma: The Roles of B7 and Semaphorin Molecules
Authors: P. Chapoval Svetlana , I. Chapoval Andrei
Published: March 2022

It is well established that allergic asthma is T cell-driven disease where CD4+ T cells of Th2 phenotype play a critical role in disease initiation and maintenance. There are several critical steps in the induction of Th2 type immune response to the allergen. The first critical step is the antigen processing and presentation of allergen-derived peptides in the context of specific major histocompatibility Class II (MHCII) molecules by antigen-presenting cells (APC). Recognition of this complex by T cell receptor (TCR) and interaction of costimulatory ligands with corresponding receptors represents the second step in T cell activation. As the third part of optimal T cell differentiation, proliferation, and expansion, several cytokines, integrins, and chemokines get involved in the fine-tuning of DC-T cell interaction and activation. Multiple recent evidences point to the selected members of B7 and semaphorin families as important checkpoints providing a fine-tuning regulation of immune response. In this book chapter, we discuss the properties of costimulatory molecules and address their roles in allergic asthma.
Time Frequency Analysis for Radio Frequency (RF) Signal Processing
Authors: Li Bingcheng
Published: March 2022

In high-density radio frequency (RF) signal environments, receivers usually acquire signals from multiple sources. These RF signals may be co-channel and co-duration, which cause significant difficulties for processing them. Time-Frequency analysis combined with a projection pursuits graph approach provides an effective way to detect, separate, and classify these multiple source RF signals. Time-frequency analysis includes a spectrogram approach and a scalogram approach. The feature points on the instantaneous frequency function of a frequency modulation radio frequency (FMRF) signal can be extracted from either the spectrogram or scalogram of this FMRF signal. With the projection pursuits graph approach, these feature points are grouped into time-frequency functions to represent the multiple components for the separation, detection, and classification of this multisource FMRF signal.
Perspective Chapter: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Field of Orthopedics
Authors: Hsu Chia-Hao , Chen Chung-Hwan , Huang Hsuan-Ti
Published: March 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, countries all over the world suffered from different kinds of service disruption or reduction in the field of orthopedics with or without lockdowns. The consequences include no restriction, partial disruption, overburden of medical services and complete shutdown of clinical practices. This chapter systematically reviews the current published literature on the global impact of COVID-19 on the field of orthopedics through multiple aspects, including educational impact, service volume impact, workload impact, personal practice change, psychological impact, and impact on orthopedic research. The rates of all surgeries and elective surgeries decreased by 15.6%–49.4% and 43.5–100%, respectively. The overall impact was attributable to the staff redeployment in response to the pandemic. Therefore, it is important to maintain a flexible allocation of manpower and more sufficient and reservable staffing measures in case of emergency staff shortages. Orthopedic surgeons are suggested to prepare proper preventive strategies and set up special equipment and places for regular telemedicine for virtual consultations or virtual teaching. It can be expected that the integration of the different experiences of global countries from the impact of COVID-19 may help us to face possible similar impacts in the future.
Recording of Micro/Nanosized Elements on Thin Films of Glassy Chalcogenide Semiconductors by Optical Radiation
Authors: Petrov V.V. , Kryuchyn A.A. , Rubish V.M. , Trunov M.L.
Published: March 2022

Inorganic resists based on chalcogenide glassy semiconductor (CGS) films can be effectively used in the creation of micro- and nanoelements of optoelectronic devices, micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems, and diffractive optical elements. The use of these materials is based mainly on their sensitivity to different types of radiation, which causes phase and structural changes in CGS films, and transparency in the infrared range. A number of photoinduced changes are observed in CGS, which are associated with structural transformations, phase transitions, defect formation, and atomic diffusion. It is important to determine technologies for the formation of micro- and nanoscale structures on CGS films, which can be used in the creation of diffractive optical elements for optoelectronic devices. Increasing the resolution of recording media based on vitreous chalcogenide semiconductors can be achieved by choosing the recording modes and composition of glasses, in which the strongest nonlinearity of the exposure characteristics of photosensitive material, as well as the introduction into the structure of recording media nanoparticles of noble metals for excitation of plasmonic resonance.
Algae Toxins and Their Treatment
Authors: Aidan Al-Hussieny Ahmed
Published: March 2022

Algae are distributed worldwide in the sea, in freshwater and in wet situations on land. Most are microscopic algae, but some of them are so large, also some marine seaweeds that can exceed 50 m in length. The algae have chlorophyll and can make their own food through the steps of photosynthesis. Recently they are classified in the kingdom of protested, which include a variety of unicellular and some basic multinuclear and multicellular eukaryotic organisms that have cells. Algal poisoning is an intense, often lethal condition caused by high concentrations of toxic blue-green algae (more commonly known as cyanobacteria—literally blue-green bacteria) in drinking water as well as in water used for recreation, agriculture and aquaculture. The study cur in the productive dangerous from the algae toxin that productive from cyanobacteria in aquatic environment. The important contamination for water source identification and non-identification and identify on algae that responsible on productive of toxin in water that represented by Cylindrospermum, Aphanizomenon Anabaena, Microcystis, Lyngbya, Oscillatoria, phormidium, and suitable environment for algae to productive toxin. Such as temperature, pH, nutrient, salinity, density identify on the toxin concentration in water that content organisms that productive toxin between (1–100 mg/l). With the use of different methods of treating algal toxins such as (potassium permanganate, activated carbon, oxidation, chlorine and ozone), and the best treatment was the use of potassium permanganate at a concentration (2 mg/l), which gave the best treatment while preserving the ecosystem.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health
Authors: Mittal Swati , Sinha Smriti , Bhat Shilpi
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 crept in silently and subsequently spread at a rapid pace ultimately progressing into a pandemic with a high rate of morbidity, mortality, loss of income and sustained social isolation for billions of people. This sudden human tragedy required heavy adjustment and was difficult to adapt quickly as we humans are gregarious in nature and always need social connect in our lives especially during a crisis. History has shown that mental health impact of pandemics outlasts the physical impact. In general, mental health and related issues are not recognized in public and with global pandemic these silent and insidious issues can be either misdiagnosed or go unnoticed completely.
Antifouling Strategies-Interference with Bacterial Adhesion
Authors: Jia Zhen
Published: March 2022

Biofilm refers to a viable bacterial community wrapped in self-produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix. As bacteria shielded by EPS are viable and can resist broad hostile environments and antimicrobial agents, biofilm poses a massive challenge to industries and human health. Currently, biofilm has accounted for widespread and severe safety issues, infections, and economic loss. Various antifouling strategies have been designed and developed to prevent biofilm formation. As bacterial biofilm is perceived as a dynamic multistage process in which bacterial attachment on solid surfaces is the prerequisite for biofilm formation, the interference with the attachment is the most promising environmentally benign option to antifouling. The chapter summarizes and discusses the antifouling strategies that interfere with the adhesion between bacteria and substrate surfaces. These strategies primarily focus on modifying the substrate surface’s topographical and physicochemical properties.
Recent Advances in the Use of Uterotonics for the Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage
Authors: G. Yaliwal Rajasri
Published: March 2022

Primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The most common cause of primary PPH is uterine atony. Various uterotonics have been used over the years for the prevention of PPH. Oxytocin, Ergometrine, Misoprostol, and Carboprost have been extensively studied. Recently, Carbetocin, an analog of Oxytocin has been added to the armamentarium of postpartum hemorrhage. However, the optimal route and dose of these drugs are still being studied. Oxytocin induces superior myometrial contractions when compared with Ergometrine, Carboprost and Misoprostol. The effect of Oxytocin is reduced in myometrium of women with Oxytocin-augmented labor; however, it is still superior to the other uterotonics. Although the value of universal use of uterotonics to reduce postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal birth has been well established, their value in cesarean section has received little attention. It has been assumed that the benefits of oxytocics observed at vaginal birth also apply to cesarean section. The route of Oxytocin has been studied by various researchers. Intravenous (IV) infusion of Oxytocin has been preferred during cesarean section as an IV line would have been already secured and it has faster plasma peak concentration as in comparison to the Intramuscular (IM) route. Though IV bolus Oxytocin has been associated with a faster peak plasma concentration of Oxytocin, faster uterine contraction; it also has been associated with sudden hypotension. Carbetocin is also another promising drug. It has been prioritized due to its heat stable and long-acting properties. It also reduces the need for infusions. It is still an expensive drug in many countries. Carbetocin is administered as 100 mcg IM/IV/IV infusion. The dose in elective cesarean may be less as shown in some studies. Misoprostol by oral route has been recommended by WHO at 400–600 mcg in places where Oxytocin cannot be administered. Syntometrine has lesser blood loss compared to Oxytocin alone.
Piezoelectric-Driven Self-Powered Supercapacitor for Wearable Device Applications
Authors: Bharathi Sankar Ammaiyappan A. , Ramalingam Seyezhai
Published: March 2022

Supercapacitors are the most promising energy storage devices that bridge the gap between capacitors and batteries. They can reach energy density close to the batteries and power density to the conventional capacitors. Several kinds of research have been carried out in the field of supercapacitors for the development of promising electrode and electrolyte materials as well as device fabrications to breakthrough in energy storage systems with diverse applications in electronics. They have a broad range of applications as they can deliver a huge power within a very short time. The applications of supercapacitors in several sectors like consumer and portable electronics, transportation and vehicles, power backup, biomedical, military, aerospace, etc.