bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation on Deposition of the Machined By-Products and Its Reduction during Electrochemical Discharge Machining (ECDM)
Authors: Arya Rajendra Kumar , Paliwal Shivangi , Dvivedi Akshay , Maran Rajakumaran
Published: January 2022

Electrochemical action and subsequent discharges are utilized in electrochemical discharge machining (ECDM) for the fabrication of components by subtracting the undesired material. However, as the process progresses, localized electrolyte vaporization (machining zone) and its leading effects limit the process performance. Controlled delivery of fresh electrolyte into the machining zone to replenish the vaporized electrolyte improves the ECDM process performance, utilized in the electrolyte injection-ECDM (EI-ECDM) process. Apart from the control strategies, the literature lacks a detailed investigation of the phenomena involved in deteriorating the ECDM’s machining performance. Few researchers enlighten that the deposition of the machined by-products on the tooltip might be a significant reason. Therefore, the present work is carried out to investigate the influence of deposition of the machined by-products on outcomes of the ECDM process at different parametric conditions. Various scientific tools and techniques are used to explore the underlying phenomena of machined by-products deposition. It shows that deposition significantly alters the geometry, surface texture, and properties of tool-electrode, which intern affects the ECDM’s performance. Further, experimental results and subsequent characterization reveal that EI-ECDM can significantly control the deposition and enhance the process performance. Thus, a multi-response optimization was performed to increase the applicability of the EI-ECDM process.
Flow-Through Design for Enhanced Redox Flow Battery Performance
Authors: Delgado Nuno M. , Almeida Carlos M. , Monteiro Ricardo , Mendes Adélio
Published: January 2022

The high capital cost, driven by the poor performance, still hinders the widespread application of vanadium redox flow batteries. This work compares two different cell designs to demonstrate that the electrolyte flow velocity and pattern is of critical importance to increase the overall battery performance. The Oriented-Distribution-Path (ODP) cell design includes inlet and outlet distribution channels, while the Multi-Distribution-Path (MDP) design does not. The introduction of the distribution channels in the ODP caused the electrolyte flow pattern through the electrode to be less uniform. However, the latter reduced the concentration polarization under high current density and low flow rate conditions. In a charge-discharge cycle comparison, the MDP displayed the highest cell energy efficiency at 80 mA cm−2 and at a flow rate of 300 cm3 min−1. However, the best overall performance was obtained using the ODP at 80 mA cm−2 and a flow rate of 10 cm3 min−1. This work demonstrates that the highest system energy efficiency is achieved when using low flow rates together with a cell design that promotes a high pressure drop. The insights of this study apply to other chemistries making it useful to define guidelines for designing energy-efficient redox flow batteries.
Fast Switching Triphenylamine-Based Electrochromic Polymers with Fluorene Core: Electrochemical Synthesis and Optoelectronic Properties
Authors: Guven Nese , Şener Cemaloğlu Öznur , Camurlu Pinar
Published: January 2022

Most of the triarylamine-based electrochromic polymers are achieved through arylamine-based oxidative coupling reactions where the electrochromic properties of the polymer could only be realized after fabrication of the film on optically transparent electrodes. Electrochemical polymerization, on the other hand, is an in situ polymerization method which offers synthesis of the polymer and fabrication of the films on the electrode surface simultaneously. In this study two new triphenylamine monomers (TPAFLA and TPAFLS) having fluorene core were synthesized and successfully electrochemically polymerized. The electrogenerated polymer films exhibited strong color changes (P(TPAFLA):yellow, orange, green, deep blue, P(TPAFLS): pale yellow, pale blue) and rapid switching responses (P(TPAFLA):1.61 s at 362 nm, P(TPAFLS):0.69 s at 390 nm) and high coloration efficiency (P(TPAFLA):114 cm2C−1, P(TPAFLS):192 cm2C−1) compared to other triphenylamine derivatives. Furthermore, electrochemical copolymerization of TPAFLA with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was successfully achieved for the first time and the copolymer revealed significantly lowered band gap with remarkably enlarged color palette (violet, yellow, green, light blue and blue).
Electrochemical Behavior of Sm(III) and Electrodeposition of Samarium from 1-Butyl-1-Methylpyrrolidinium Dicyanamide Ionic Liquid
Authors: Andrew Chrysanthus , Murugesan Chandran , Jayakumar Mani
Published: January 2022

Electrodeposition of rare-earth metals using ionic liquid is considered as a potential alternative to conventional high-temperature molten salt electrolysis. Herein, the electrochemical reduction of samarium(III) at near ambient conditions is investigated using different samarium precursors, namely, triflate (Sm(OTf)3), nitrate (Sm(NO3)3.6H2O) and chloride (SmCl3), in 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium dicyanamide ([BMP][DCA]) ionic liquid. FT-infrared and Raman spectroscopy analyses of Sm3+/[BMP][DCA] solutions confirm the coordination of Sm3+ species with

D
CA

−

ion through nitrogen atom. Cyclic voltammetry of Sm3+ at glassy carbon electrode provides evidence of a two-step reduction process in all the systems via Sm3+ to Sm2+ and Sm2+ to Sm0 with peaks observed at similar reduction potentials owing to indifference in samarium(III) chemistries in each medium which is supported by a plausible mechanism. The diffusion coefficient of Sm3+ in [BMP][DCA] was determined to be 3.00 × 10−7, 3.64 × 10−8 and 1.90 × 10−7 cm2.s−1 for Sm(OTf)3, Sm(NO3)3.6H2O and SmCl3 systems, respectively. The electrodeposition of samarium was achieved on nickel and glassy carbon substrates under two different potentials and temperatures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms that the samarium electrodeposits are a mixture of metallic and oxide forms.
(Invited) Integration of In Vivo Electroanalytical and Genetic Techniques to Decode Local Catecholamine Circuits in the Brain
Authors: Park Jinwoo , Bhimani Rohan , Bass Caroline
Published: January 2022

Electroanalytical methods, especially, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) coupled with carbon-fiber microelectrodes, have been widely used to study rapid changes in neurochemical concentrations and provide a local view of neurotransmission in real time. However, electroanalytical methods alone are limited to understand the distinct roles of local neural circuits in different brain areas or even subregions of the same brain area. In recent years, the development of novel genetic approaches such as optogenetics and chemogenetics have made it possible to selectively target and control (excite or inhibit) specific neural circuits in a neurochemically heterogeneous brain without affecting surrounding cells or fibers of passage.

In this study, we demonstrate that a novel combination of in vivo FSCV coupled with chemogenetics permits us to determine local catecholamine transmission by individually manipulating dopamine (DA) or norepinephrine (NE) neurons and how chemogenetic modulation of DA or NE transmission is correlated with behavioral changes. These findings will be the fundamental framework to understand how individual local catecholamine circuits are distinctly linked to essential brain functions as well as common psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
Impact of COVID-19 on access to laboratories and human participants: exercise science faculty perspectives
Authors: Stenson Mary C. , Fleming Jessica K. , Johnson Samantha L. , Caputo Jennifer L. , Spillios Katherine E. , Mel Astrid E.
Published: January 2022

Restrictions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impacted the ability of faculty and students in exercise science to work in lab settings with human participants. The purpose of this study was to determine how exercise science faculty were impacted by COVID-19 restrictions with respect to access and use of exercise science lab and research facilities. Of the 100 surveyed participants categorized as requiring access to people and lab spaces (lab-based faculty), 61% ( n = 61) reported decreased research productivity with 87% ( n = 53) of those faculty in one or more of the following subdisciplines: exercise physiology, clinical exercise physiology, or biomechanics. Of all lab-based faculty, 40% ( n = 40) participants reported having access to students and lab spaces and 55% ( n = 55) indicated they were allowed to conduct in-person research. Of tenure-track lab-based faculty, 80% ( n = 20) reported a decrease in research productivity, of which 60.0% ( n = 12) identified as female. Among faculty with 5 or less years of teaching experience ( n = 23), 69.6% ( n = 16) reported a decrease in productivity, with 68.8% ( n = 11) of those being female. All exercise science faculty surveyed reported issues with safety and social distancing, modified lab and research procedures, faculty workload, and research productivity. This information can be leveraged to create better infrastructure to support faculty and develop and implement strategies to reduce workload inequities.
An Improved Authentication Scheme for Digital Rights Management System
Authors: Hussain Sajid , Zikria Yousaf Bin , Mallah Ghulam Ali , Chen Chien-Ming , Alshehri Mohammad Dahman , Ishmanov Farruh , Chaudhry Shehzad Ashraf
Published: January 2022

With the increasing number and popularity of digital content, the management of digital access rights has become an utmost important field. Through digital rights management systems (DRM-S), access to digital contents can be defined and for this, an efficient and secure authentication scheme is required. The DRM authentication schemes can be used to give access or restrict access to digital content. Very recently in 2020, Yu et al. proposed a symmetric hash and xor-based DRM and termed their system to achieve both security and performance efficiency. Contrarily, in this study, we argue that their scheme has several issues including nonresistance to privileged insider and impersonation attacks. Moreover, it is also to show in this study that their scheme has an incorrect authentication phase and due to this incorrectness, the scheme of Yu et al. lacks user scalability. An improved scheme is then proposed to counter the insecurities and incorrectness of the scheme of Yu et al. We prove the security of the proposed scheme using BAN logic. For a clear picture of the security properties, we also provide a textual discussion on the robustness of the proposed scheme. Moreover, due to the usage of symmetric key-based hash functions, the proposed scheme has a comparable performance efficiency.
Novel Sutureless Scleral Fixated IOL for Inadequate or Absent Capsular Support
Authors: Sidiropoulos Georgios , Siskou Elisabeth , Koronis Spyridon , Tranos Paris , Gatzioufas Zisis , Balidis Miltos
Published: January 2022

Purpose. To evaluate the clinical outcome and safety profile of a new sutureless scleral fixation (SSF) technique using a single-piece foldable acrylic Carlevale intraocular lens. Methods. In this case study, 27 eyes of 27 patients were implanted with an SSF single-piece IOL because of inadequate or absent capsular support. The hand-shake technique used during surgery was combined with the creation of scleral pockets in order to secure the IOL haptics. The BCVA was evaluated in the 1st and 6th month in every patient and in the 12th and 24th months, when possible. Also, we evaluated the improvement achieved in spherical equivalent values from baseline to the 6th month after the procedure. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were assessed. Results. The mean age was 69.1 ± 14.9 years, and the mean follow-up was 13.6 ± 4.8 months. Indications of scleral-fixated IOL included dislocated posterior chamber IOL (40.7%), dislocated anterior chamber IOL (11.1%), subluxated traumatic cataract (18.5%), subluxated nontraumatic cataract (18.5%), and aphakia (11.1%). Concurrent PPV was performed on eight of the eyes (32%). The mean preoperative logMAR BCVA increased from 0.85 ± 0.59 baseline to 0.44 ± 0.30 one month after surgery

p
<
0.01

and 0.36 ± 0.34

p
<
0.003

six months after surgery. The baseline refractive status expressed in SE was 4.3 ± 6.4 D, and the postoperative status was −0.5 ± 0.99 D. Postoperative complications included vitreous hemorrhage (7.4%), hypotony (7.4%), transient IOP elevation (3.7%), and postoperative cystoid macular oedema (3.7%). The IOL was very well centered and stable in every case during the follow-up period. Conclusion. The use of the SSF technique with implantation of a single-piece foldable acrylic Carlevale IOL seems to be a safe and effective alternative method that provides good preliminary results in cases where capsular support is inadequate or absent. Long-term stability results would be required to evaluate the benefit of this novel surgical approach in order to compare it with other existing methods.
Cryptocurrency Financial Risk Analysis Based on Deep Machine Learning
Authors: Chen Si
Published: January 2022

Digital currency is considered a form of currency which is used in the digital world such as digital forms or electronic devices. Several terms are synonyms for digital currency like digital money, electronic money, and cyber cash. Accurate prediction of the digital currency is an urgent necessity due to its impacts on the economic community. The electronic economy is very dangerous and must be approached with great caution, so as to avoid or minimize the risks that occur in such cases. Deep neural network (DNN) algorithm was improved to predict the Bitcoin price and then achieve the main goal of reducing financial risks to proceed with electronic business, and good estimation was achieved by using informative data such as transactions and currency return. The proposed method extracted features of related Bitcoin and used the informative ones. Transaction plan considered building nodes in terms of network. Development of deep learning algorithms opens the horizons for the development of electronic businesses that use digital currency. The proposed method achieved worthy results in terms of accuracy (53.4%) and correct prediction (MSE 1.02) and offers the prospect of other research in this area.
Atezolizumab-Induced Sarcoidosis-Like Reaction in a Patient with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Tsunoda Akira , Mizuno Toshiro , Iida Shohei , Uchida Katsunori , Yamashita Masako , Sukeno Koshi , Oka Hiroki , Tono Yasutaka , Ishihara Mikiya , Saito Kanako , Tamaru Satoshi , Yamanaka Keiichi , Tawara Isao
Published: January 2022

Tumor-related sarcoidosis-like reactions (SLR) have been reported with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We report a case of 50-year-old woman who observed an enlarged lymph node in the right hilar region and the appearance of a subcutaneous mass in the extremities during chemotherapy with atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Skin biopsy revealed the formation of epithelioid granulation species with the Langhans giant cell. After discontinuing atezolizumab in the treatment procedure, the hilar lymph nodes and the subcutaneous mass were reduced. A pathological examination was effective in differentiating tumor exacerbation from SLR. Owing to limited information on ICI-related SLR in breast cancer, future studies are recommended to properly manage immune-related adverse effects during cancer treatment.
NDRG4 Alleviates Myocardial Infarction-Induced Apoptosis through the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway
Authors: Zhao Changliang , Ren Yuanyuan , Zhang Yachao
Published: January 2022

Objective. At present, studies have confirmed that NDRG4 is specifically expressed in the heart, while its effect on the heart is still unclear. This study is to explore the effect of NDRG4 on cardiomyocyte apoptosis caused by acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods. Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into Sham (left anterior descent of heart without ligation) and AMI groups. In this study, coronary artery ligation was used to establish an AMI model, and the AMI model was verified by auxiliary examination and pathological examination. Besides, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting (WB) was used to detect the expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 in heart tissues, and NDRG mRNA levels in tissues were also detected. qRT-PCR technology was used to verify the transfection efficiency of NDRG4 in H9C2 cells, and the change of apoptosis level of H9C2 cells was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and TUNEL staining; besides, the expression level of apoptosis-related factors was detected by WB and qRT-PCR technology. Simultaneously with the modeling of rats, we injected adenovirus (Ad) into the heart tissue and examined the structural and functional changes of the rat heart. Then, WB technology was used to detect the expression level of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Results. The heart function and heart structure of rats in the MI group were dramatically worse, and the expression level of NDRG4 was also dramatically reduced. The overexpression of NDRG4 in H9C2 cells can effectively inhibit the ischemia/hypoxia- (I/H-) induced decrease in cell viability and increase in apoptosis rate and inhibit the increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Moreover, overexpression of NDRG4 in heart tissue can effectively improve the cardiac function and structural destruction caused by MI. In addition, NDRG4 can inhibit JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation. Conclusion. The expression of NDRG4 in the MI tissue of rats was suppressed, while overexpression of NDRG4 by injection of Ad can obviously protect the rat heart. Furthermore, overexpression of NDRG4 in H9C2 cells can effectively inhibit the I/H-induced decrease in cell viability and increase in apoptosis rate, and this may be related to the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
[Retracted] Analysis of Performance Evaluation Model for Higher Education Informatization by Means of PLS‐BP Model
Authors: Dong Kunjing , Zhang Dan , Liu Xu , Guo Dan
Published: January 2022

In order to improve the intelligent level of higher education informatization, a novel performance evaluation model of higher education informatization by means of PLS‐BP model is proposed. The principles of partial least squares (PLS) method and back propagation (BP) neural network are introduced firstly. The main components of the data are extracted by PLS method, and then combined with BP neural network, the PLS‐BP model is constructed. At the end of the article, the PLS‐BP evaluation model is simulated and analyzed. From the comparison results, the error between the PLS‐BP evaluation model and traditional performance evaluation is relatively small, and the maximum relative error is 2.32%. The comparison results verify the accuracy of the PLS‐BP model. This model presented in this paper provides a new way for the performance evaluation of higher education informatization.
Global Analysis and Optimal Control Model of COVID-19
Authors: Nana-Kyere Sacrifice , Boateng Francis Agyei , Jonathan Paddy , Donkor Anthony , Hoggar Glory Kofi , Titus Banon Desmond , Kwarteng Daniel , Adu Isaac Kwasi
Published: January 2022

COVID-19 remains the concern of the globe as governments struggle to defeat the pandemic. Understanding the dynamics of the epidemic is as important as detecting and treatment of infected individuals. Mathematical models play a crucial role in exploring the dynamics of the outbreak by deducing strategies paramount for curtailing the disease. The research extensively studies the SEQIAHR compartmental model of COVID-19 to provide insight into the dynamics of the disease by underlying tailored strategies designed to minimize the pandemic. We first studied the noncontrol model’s dynamic behaviour by calculating the reproduction number and examining the two nonnegative equilibria’ existence. The model utilizes the Castillo-Chavez method and Lyapunov function to investigate the global stability of the disease at the disease-free and endemic equilibrium. Sensitivity analysis was carried on to determine the impact of some parameters on

R

0

. We further examined the COVID model to determine the type of bifurcation that it exhibits. To help contain the spread of the disease, we formulated a new SEQIAHR compartmental optimal control model with time-dependent controls: personal protection and vaccination of the susceptible individuals. We solved it by utilizing Pontryagin’s maximum principle after studying the dynamical behaviour of the noncontrol model. We solved the model numerically by considering different simulation controls’ pairing and examined their effectiveness.
Affordable Prices Without Threatening the Oncological R&D Pipeline—An Economic Experiment on Transparency in Price Negotiations
Authors: Franzen Nora , Ziegler Andreas , Romagnoli Giorgia , Retèl Valesca P. , Offerman Theo J.S. , van Harten Wim H.
Published: January 2022

The high prices of innovative medicines endanger access to care worldwide. Sustainable prices need to be affordable while sufficiently incentivizing research and development (R&D) investments. A proposed solution is increased transparency. Proponents argue that price and R&D cost confidentiality are drivers of high prices. On the contrary, supporters of confidentiality claim that confidentiality enables targeted discounts which make treatments affordable; moreover, pharmaceutical companies argue that R&D investments would suffer with more transparency.

Despite the political relevance, limited empirical evidence exists on the effects of transparency regulations. We contribute to fill this gap with an experiment where we replicate the EU pharmaceutical market in a laboratory setting. In a randomized controlled study, we analyzed how participants, 400 students located in four European countries, negotiated in the current system of Price Secrecy in comparison with innovative bargaining settings where either prices only (Price Transparency) or prices and R&D costs (Full Transparency) were made transparent to buyers. We found that Price transparency had no statistically significant effect on average prices or number of patients treated and made R&D investments significantly smaller (−16.86%; P: 0.0024). On the other hand, Full Transparency reduced prices (−26%; P: 0.0004) and held the number of patients constant at the level of Price Secrecy. It produced price convergence between countries with low and high health budgets, and, despite lower prices, had no effect on R&D investments.

Our findings provide novel evidence that combining price and R&D cost transparency could be an effective policy to contribute to sustainable medicine prices.

See related article by Franzen et al. (Cancer Discov 2022;12:299–302).
Outcomes after Prolonged Weaning in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients: Data from the German WeanNet Initiative
Authors: Wollsching-Strobel Maximilian , Freundt Tobias , Hämäläinen Nina , Suchi Stefan , Windisch Wolfram , Schönhofer Bernd
Published: January 2022

Background: The outcome of prolonged weaning in COPD patients is still unclear. Methods: A subgroup analysis of 2,937 COPD patients (median: age 69 years, 5 comorbidities, 43% female) from the entire WeanNet cohort of specialized German weaning centers previously published (N = 11,424) was performed. Results: Weaning outcomes were as follows: successful weaning without subsequent long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV): N = 900; 30.6%; successful weaning with subsequent long-term NIV: N = 900; 30.6%; weaning failure with subsequent long-term invasive ventilation: N = 780; 26.6%; and death: N = 357; 12.2%. Most important predictors of mortality and weaning failure were advanced age and duration of mechanical ventilation in the transferring ICU, respectively. On discharge, the tracheostoma was closed in only 53% and 59% of patients with successful weaning not receiving and receiving long-term NIV, respectively. Unsuccessfully weaned patients were predominantly discharged home (20.5%) or to long-term care facilities (57.2%). Successfully weaned patients were predominantly discharged home (22.4%/35.9%: without/with NIV) and to rehabilitation (41.0%/43.1%: without/with NIV), respectively. Conclusion: COPD forms an important subgroup of prolonged weaning patients. Following transfer from the ICU to a specialized weaning center, weaning is successful more than 60%. Importantly, both tracheostomy status and initial destination following discharge are highly dependent on the weaning outcome.
Os múltiplos sentidos da televisão na contemporaneidade: linguagem, conteúdo, mídia e subjetividade
Authors: Schmidt Roberto , Perez Clotilde
Published: January 2022

Este artigo busca articular os conhecimentos sobre televisão de uma perspectiva hibridizada de veículo, linguagem e conteúdo a partir das proposições teóricas de De Botton e Armstrong para o entendimento da arte como instrumento terapêutico. Tal aproximação possibilita a expansão do papel da arte em construção de subjetividade para o universo da produção televisiva, pareando-a como potencialidade favorável com as funções da arte descritas pelos autores – rememoração, esperança, sofrimento, reequilíbrio, compreensão de si, crescimento e apreciação.
Nature based solutions: an example from San Salvador city
Authors: Alegría Leyla Zelaya
Published: January 2022

San Salvador, capital of El Salvador, is an intermediate city located in a mountain area. It has a limited drainage system in unplanned settlements on slopes and streams, which results in floods and landslides, due to intense rains in short periods, which are increasingly frequent. One of the areas with the highest incidence of urban floods in this city is the Arenal Monserrat micro-watershed; For this reason, it was selected for the implementation of pilot interventions of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), under the City Adapt project, executed by the United Nations Environment Program. The implementation began with the elaboration of a mapping of actors, the development of a vulnerability assessment of the micro-watershed, consultations with focus groups to know the perception of risk, valuation of the ecosystems present and their link with the livelihoods used by the population, the selection of the NbS measures to be implemented at the basin, landscape and local community levels and the identification with the ecosystem services that it enhances; until its start-up and monitoring and follow-up.
The main results presented are: i) an intervened surface of 451 hectares, between different ecosystems such as coffee plantations, riparian forest and urban area used for planting fruit trees; b) an infiltrated volume of surface water of 284,984 m3 in one year, coming from the water collected in the infiltration ditches and in the absorption wells, built in the upper part of the micro-watershed; iii) a total number of trees planted of 54,529, among coffee, fruit trees and native species.
With these results, the next step is the incorporation of NbS measures in urban planning processes in the medium and long term.
Population, distribution and diet composition of Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata Geoffroy, 1826 in Hosur and Dharmapuri Forest Divisions, India
Authors: Baskaran Nagarajan , Raman Sivaraj Sundarraj  , Raveendranathanpillai Sanil
Published: January 2022

Living in different aquatic ecosystems, otters play a vital role in maintaining aquatic species assemblages, particularly fish communities. Thus their wellbeing indicates the health of wetland ecosystems. Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata, a piscivorous mustelid, is widely distributed across Asia. Its population is declining due to habitat transformation, pollution and hunting. This study aimed to understand the ecological requirements of the species by assessing its distribution and its determinants, population and diet composition along the Cauvery River in Hosur and Dharmapuri Forest Divisions. Through monthly extensive surveys between December 2010 and February 2011, covering 62.5 km of Cauvery from the Karnataka border to Palar River junction, this study identified and mapped a 31 km stretch from Dubguli (Yellolapatti) to Biligundlu (Musulumaduvu) as an otter distribution area. Comparison of ecological parameters including bank type, water depth, river width, human disturbance, vegetation cover and water current with the distribution pattern of otters across 125 blocks revealed that water depth and vegetation cover influenced otter distribution positively, while human disturbance had negative influence (these three variables explained 54% of variation in otter distribution). Based on direct sightings, seven different groups consisting of 36 individuals were estimated as the minimum population. The mean group size was 3.8 ± 0.16 (range: 2–7) individuals. Twenty-one otter spraints were analyzed to determine diet composition, revealing that otters feed on insects, molluscs, crabs, fish, frogs, reptiles and birds. Fish constituted the bulk of otter diets. Conservation measures like reducing anthropogenic pressures (e.g., fishing, cattle pens, tourism), increasing awareness of sustainable fishing to stakeholders, and instituting long-term monitoring programs are suggested for the long-term conservation of otters in the study area.
COVID-19 and civil unrest undoing steady gains in karst conservation and herpetological research in Myanmar, and an impediment to progress
Authors: Evan S.H. Quah  , Lee L. Grismer  , Perry L. Wood, Jr.  , Lin Aung , Myint Kyaw Thura
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic and political turmoil in Myanmar has dealt a severe blow to the country’s progress in herpetological research and the protection of limestone habitats. Both afflictions have reversed much of the scientific and conservation gains made in the past decade, and continue to hinder exploratory surveys and continued monitoring of threatened karst ecosystems. There is an urgent need to resume field studies and conservation effort as soon as possible and continue enhancing the capacity of local scientific and technical staff in Myanmar.
Capparis of India
Authors: V. Sampath Kumar
Published: January 2022

NA
Abyssal ascidians (Chordata, Tunicata) from the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, including a new Styela species and stomach content identifications
Authors: MAGGIONI TAMARA , RIMONDINO CLARA , TAVERNA ANABELA , REYNA PAOLA , LAGGER CRISTIAN , ALURRALDE GASTÓN , CALCAGNO EMILIA , TATIÁN MARCOS
Published: January 2022

Deep-sea benthic communities from the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, were sampled in January–April 2005 in an area located between 61°S–70°S and 0°W–49°W. We found a total of eight ascidian species that belong to five different families, of which one corresponded to a new species. These were: Protoholozoa pedunculata Kott, 1969; Corynascidia suhmi Herdman, 1882; Styela andeepensis Maggioni & Tatián sp. nov.; Culeolus suhmi Herman, 1881; Culeolus anonymus Monniot F. & Monniot C., 1976; Culeolus likae Sanamyan K. & Sanamyan N., 2002; Oligotrema lyra (Monniot C. & Monniot F., 1973) and Asajirus indicus (Oka, 1913). We report: the extension of the known distribution ranges of P. pedunculata, Corynascidia suhmi, Culeolus suhmi, C. likae and A. indicus, being the first time they are collected from the Weddell Sea; and the shallowest record of C. likae. Six species were added to the list of ascidians of the Weddell Sea, being all deep-sea representatives. While the total number of ascidian species augmented from 43 to 49, the number of deep-sea representatives increased from 23 to 29. Our findings, thus, reinforce the need of performing more deep-sea prospections in the area.
A new Halone Walker (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Lithosiini) from Vietnam with establishing of a new combination
Authors: BAYARSAIKHAN ULZIIJARGAL , BUCSEK KAROL , CHA YEONG-BIN , LE XUANVI , KWON HYUNG WOOK , BAE YANG-SEOP
Published: January 2022

A new species, Halone arcuata sp. nov. is described from Vietnam, and a new combination Halone bucseki (Černý, 2009), comb. nov. is proposed. A diagnostic comparison between newly described species and H. viktorai Bucsek, 2014, H. solitus Bucsek, 2014 and H. hollowayi Bayarsaikhan & Bae, 2019. Adults, male and female genitalia of all species mentioned are illustrated.
Producing an Antisemitic Consensus within the Framework of the “Judenjagd”: The Role of Poles in the Holocaust Based on the Murder of Nachman Blumental’s Family in Wielopole Skrzyńskie during the German Occupation
Authors: Stoll Katrin
Published: January 2022

This article – which is based on the records of Nachman Blumental that I discovered as part of my work on his archive material and that I brought to light, as well as on the documentation of two official investigations – deals with the complicity of Poles – uniformed (the policja granatowa, or Blue Police) and civilians – in the Nazi project to kill every Jew without exception in Dębica County during the German occupation. I analyze the mechanism that set in motion antisemitic violence within the framework of the Judenjagd, i.e. the Jew hunt. I argue that it was attitudes and behaviors in the environment that determined the effectiveness of the German Nazi project to persecute and murder all Jews without exception. The majority group plays the role of “second instance” (Elżbieta Janicka). By reconstructing the crime against Ariel Blumental and Maria Blumental in June 1943 in Brzeziny, Mała and Wielopole Skrzyńskie, and by deconstructing the mystification of the crime by the inhabitants, I uncover the foundations of this process and show how the mechanism of self-representation as non-involved functions. “Participating observers” (Elżbieta Janicka) mask their own participation in the murder of Nachman Blumental’s family. The task, then, is to interpret both what is said and what is not said. The crime discussed in the article is emblematic in that it sheds light on the socio-cultural framework of the Holocaust and its landscape. It shows the loneliness of those who were hiding, handed over and sentenced to death by their neighbors.
Preoperative Fasting Blood Glucose Levels and the Risk of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With Diabetes and Pre-diabetes Undergoing Coronary Arteriography or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Peng , Fu Han , Liu Jie , Liu Xiaogang , Yang Shicheng , Guo Zhigang , Fu Naikuan
Published: January 2022

Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients undergoing coronary arteriography/percutaneous coronary intervention (CAG/PCI). We evaluated whether preoperative fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients who underwent CAG/PCI influenced the occurrence of CIN. From June 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021, 687 patients were divided into five groups based on their preoperative FBG levels. Blood samples were collected at admission and at 48 hours and 72 hours after the procedure to determine serum creatinine levels. The P value for trend was used to analyze the trend between preoperative FBG levels and the increased risk of CIN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to exclude the influence of confounding factors, and some high-risk confounders were selected for subgroup analysis. The results of our cross-sectional study show that elevated preoperative FBG levels are independently associated with the risk of CIN in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients undergoing CAG/PCI. Furthermore, the incidence of CIN gradually increases with the rise in preoperative FBG levels. Patients with elevated preoperative FBG at admission should be carefully monitored and more active measures should be taken to prevent CIN.
Obesity as a Risk Factor for Postoperative Adverse Events in Skull Base Surgery
Authors: Abiri Arash , Goshtasbi Khodayar , Birkenbeue Jack L. , Lin Harrison W. , Djalilian Hamid R. , Hsu Frank P. K. , Kuan Edward C.
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To determine the implications of obesity on postoperative adverse events following skull base surgery.

Methods:

The 2005-2017 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried for adverse events in skull base surgery cases. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30), and obese (BMI ≥ 30) cohorts. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of overweight or obese BMI with various 30-day postoperative adverse events.

Results:

A total of 2305 patients were included for analysis, of which 732 (31.8%) and 935 (40.6%) were overweight or obese, respectively. The mean age was 53.8 ± 15.3 years and 1214 (52.7%) patients were female. Obese patients were younger ( P = .033) and possessed higher frailty ( P < .001) and ASA scores ( P < .001). Operation times and lengths of hospitalization were not significantly different across patient cohorts (all P > .05). On propensity score-adjusted multivariable analysis, only bleeding (OR = 0.42, P < .001) and deep vein thrombosis (OR = 6.46, P = .015) were significantly associated with obesity. There were no significant differences in rates of readmission, reoperation, or mortality between normal weight and obese patients (all P > .05).

Conclusions:

Obesity was associated with decreased postoperative bleeding and increased deep vein thromboses. Obese patients were otherwise at no higher risk for medical or surgical complications. Elevated BMI did not confer an increased risk for readmission, reoperation, or death. Thus, patient obesity should not be a major determinant in offering skull base surgery in individuals who would otherwise benefit from treatment.
A Critique of Antitrust Econometrics: Aggregation, the Representative Consumer, and the Broader Concerns of the New Brandeis School
Authors: Lozada Gabriel A.
Published: January 2022

Some economists argue antitrust policy should be based on empirical methods used by the Industrial Organization subdiscipline of economics, but those methods contain assumptions that noneconomists should recognize. Those assumptions underlie econometric “identification,” and underlie treating aggregate demand as if it were generated by a representative consumer (Muellbauer’s “generalized linear” preferences). We explain aggregation bias in Almost Ideal Demand System models, then show that data limitations make it even harder to justify economists’ restricting aggregate demands as one would the demand of one individual. Such problems notwithstanding, the main problem with antitrust econometrics may be that there is not enough of it. Whether firms maximize profit is understudied empirically; many may maximize return on assets instead, leading to firms with assets and employees below their profit-maximizing level. There is insufficient empirical study of this and many other topics of concern to New Brandeisians.
Molecular Emissions from Stretched Excitation Pulse in Nanosecond Phase-Selective Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy of TiO2 Nanoaerosols
Authors: Xiong Gang , Zhang Yuqian , Schulz Christof , Tse Stephen D.
Published: January 2022

In phase-selective laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (PS-LIBS), gas-borne nanoparticles are irradiated with laser pulses (∼2.4 GW/cm2) resulting in breakdown of the nanoparticle phase but not the surrounding gas phase. In this work, the effect of excitation laser-pulse duration and energy on the intensity and duration of TiO2–nanoparticle PS-LIBS emission signal is investigated. Laser pulses from a frequency-doubled neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser (532 nm) are stretched from 8 ns (full width at half maximum, FWHM) up to ∼30 ns at fixed pulse energy using combinations of two optical cavities. The intensity of the titanium atomic emissions at around 500 nm wavelength increases by ∼60%, with the stretched pulse and emissions at around 482 nm, attributed to TiO, enhanced over 10 times. While the atomic emissions rise with the stretched laser pulse and decay around 20 ns after the end of the laser pulse, the TiO emissions reach their peak intensity at about 20 ns later and last longer. At low laser energy (i.e., 1 mJ/pulse, or 80 MW/cm2), the TiO emissions dominate, but their increase with laser energy is lower compared to the atomic emissions. The origin of the 482 nm emission is explored by examining several different aerosol setups, including Ti–O, Ti–N, and Ti–O–N from a spark particle generator and Ti–O–N–C–H aerosol from flame synthesis. The 482 nm emissions are attributed to electronically excited TiO, likely resulting from the reaction of excited titanium atoms with surrounding oxidizing (carbonaceous and/or radical) species. The effects of pulse length are attributed to the shift of absorption from the initial interaction with the particle to the prolonged interaction with the plasma through inverse bremsstrahlung.
Anti-Blackness and Racial Disproportionality in Gifted Education
Authors: Pearman Francis A. , McGee Ebony O.
Published: January 2022

Black–White disparities in gifted enrollment persist across U.S. school systems. In this study, we examined whether these disparities depend on county-level rates of anti-Black bias. We drew data from the Civil Rights Data Collection, the Education Opportunity Project, and the Race Implicit Association Database. Based on a series of heteroskedastic fractional probit regression models, we found that county-level rates of anti-Black bias predict Black–White disparities in gifted and talented enrollment, with gaps being largest in counties with elevated rates of anti-Black bias and virtually non-existent in counties with low levels of anti-Black bias. These findings persist after accounting for achievement and other observable differences across counties, unobserved variation in state-level gifted and talented policies and are consistent for county-level estimates of both explicit and implicit measures of anti-Black bias.
The Political Economy of Public Health Inequalities and Inequities in India: Complexities, Challenges, and Strategies for Inclusive Public Health Care Policy
Authors: Gogoi Nitish , Sumesh S.S.
Published: January 2022

This article examines the political economy of health inequalities and inequities in the public health care system in India and identifies potential areas for interventions to promote equal and equitable health care for marginalized people. Drawing on the Political Economy of Health Model of Research, this article reiterates the inadequacy of policy frameworks and programs in ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality public health care services to all. We argue that for policies to be successful, policymakers should consider the diverse social registries of class, caste, religion, gender, region, ethnicity, and age, as well as their intersections. We also argue that health care policies and programs need to be: ( a) dynamic and flexible, ( b) intersectional and backed up by sufficient grassroots research, and ( c) equitable at every stage of policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.
A qualitative study of a mental health awareness intervention for Jordanian and resettled Syrian refugees in host communities
Authors: Powell Tara M , Qushua Najat
Published: January 2022

Background:

Mental health disorders significantly contribute to the global burden of disease, however, prevention and treatment programs are often inaccessible in low- and middle-income countries.

Aims:

The goal of this qualitative evaluation was to examine participants experiences of the healthy community clinic (HCC-MH), an integrated mental health awareness intervention delivered in primary care clinics to Jordanians and resettled Syrians in a border community in Jordan.

Methods:

Four focus group discussions (FGDs) with Jordanians and Syrians ( N = 21) who participated in the HCC-MH were conducted. FGDs examined knowledge, acceptability, and applicability of the intervention. Open coding and the constant comparison method were used to identify themes that emerged from the FGDs.

Results:

Six central themes emerged from the data including : (1) awareness; (2) behavior changes; (3) reduction in stigma; (4) connecting physical and mental health; (5) relationships; and (6) coping. Notably, female participants stated participation in the intervention fostered awareness of their own emotional needs, which led to positive lifestyle and behavior changes. Participants also described how the information provided in the intervention normalized emotional distress and aided understanding of the interconnection between physical and mental health. The amplification of healthy coping strategies to reduce stress and distress was also a prominent theme.

Conclusions:

Findings are discussed within the cultural and contextual setting of the study, and implications for mental health awareness interventions in complex settings are provided.
Polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate coating on hemp fiber: Its effect on hemp fiber reinforced epoxy composites performance
Authors: Behera Sudhakar , Gautam Rakesh Kumar , Mohan Sunil
Published: January 2022

The present research work investigated the influence of biodegradable polymer coatings of hemp fiber on the structural, water absorption, mechanical, and tribological properties of hemp fiber and hemp fiber reinforced epoxy composites (HFREC). Hemp fibers were initially treated with sodium hydrogen carbonate and then coated with biodegradable polymers like polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polylactic acid (PLA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the coated fibers showed a visible change in fiber surface and improvement in surface roughness, while; X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the improvement in crystallinity of the coated fibers resulting in enhanced interfacial adhesion between the coated fibers and the epoxy matrix. The experimental results also revealed that both PHB and PLA coatings of the fibers have resulted in improvement of water resistance and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, modulus, and impact strength of coated HFREC. Tribological test results also revealed that the coated HFREC have improved wear and frictional properties in comparison to uncoated HFREC. The best tribological and mechanical properties were exhibited by PLA coated HFREC, which was also confirmed through the SEM images of worn and fractured surfaces of the uncoated and coated hemp fiber composites.