bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green transformational leadership and employee pro-environmental behavior: The role of green thinking and green psychological climate
Authors: Fatoki Olawale
Published: January 2023

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges that the world currently faces. The generation of waste, carbon dioxide and large-scale consumption of natural resources by hotels, among others, are some of the significant contributors to climate change. Leaders and employees have a major role to play in the effectiveness of the sustainability initiatives of hotels. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanism through which leadership can affect the green behavior of hotel employees. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of green thinking (GTH) and green psychological climate (GPC) in the relationship between green transformational leadership (GTL) and employees’ pro-environmental behavior (PEB). To achieve this, the study first investigates the effect of GTL on hotel employees’ PEB. Second, it examines the mediating effects of GTH and GPC in the relationship between GTL and PEB. The study adopts a quantitative research approach, and a structured questionnaire is used to collect data from hotel employees in South African cities, who were selected via the convenience sampling method. The partial least squares structural equation modelling is used to test the hypotheses of the study. The findings reveal that GTL and PEB are significantly positively related. The mediating effects of GTH and GPC are significant. It is recommended that both management and employees should keep up to date with environmental information and implement policies and procedures to continually improve PEB.
Effect of MEFV variants on the presentation and clinical course of Henoch-Schonlein purpura in children?
Authors: AÇARI Ceyhun , BAYRAM Meral , YILDIZ Gizem , KAVUKÇU Salih , SOYLU Alper
Published: January 2023

Objective: We aimed to evaluate MEFV mutation frequency and the effects of MEFV mutations on the clinical course including renal involvement in children with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP).

Methods: Children with a diagnosis of HSP who were evaluated for the presence of MEFV mutations were enrolled in this study. Patients were primarily assigned into two groups based on the presence of MEFV mutations as Group 1 including patients without mutations and Group 2 including patients with mutations in at least one allele (heterozygous, homozygous, or compound heterozygous). We also investigated specifically the effects of M694V mutation on the course of HSP by comparing patients with M694V mutation in at least one allele with patients not carrying M694V mutation.

Results: Forty-seven patients (23 female) were enrolled. MEFV mutation rate (53%) was 3.5 times the rate in general population. M694V was the most common mutation (48%). Patients with MEFV mutations, especially those with M694V mutation, had lower incidence of preceding infection, but increased inflammatory markers, scalp edema and relapse rate. Renal involvement and long-term prognosis were not affected by the presence of MEFV mutations.

Conclusions: MEFV mutations cause susceptibility to develop HSP and are associated with increased inflammation and altered clinical course. However, renal involvement and long-term prognosis were not affected by the presence of MEFV mutations.
Art Competitions as a Means of Students' Creative Growth
Authors: Kondratenko Iryna , Skoryk Tamara , Drozhzhina Nataliya , Tsurkanenko Iryna
Published: January 2023

The article presents a theoretical analysis of art competitions as a means of creative development of individual abilities, in particular in the process of obtaining professional education. The article reflects the main theoretical and methodological approaches to determine essential features of the art competition in the context of organization, functional characteristics, the formation of professional competence in students. The types of art as an aspect of creating a competitive task are studied.

The results of the study form an idea of the historical and cultural phenomenon of the formation of arts and the formation of the worldview of mankind, which is reflected in works of art that develop during the evolution of man.

 The relevance of the study is due to innovative approaches in the process of creating and displaying a work of art, in the context of the modern information society. In the course of the research the importance of holding an art competition was determined, the concepts and structural components were specified. Scientific publications are analyzed and the characteristic features of the art competition are determined. The article establishes the functions of education in the field of art, identifies the impact of education on students, the formation of their professional competence and values of art.

 In the course of the research the method of abstraction was used in the study of artistic bases of creative interpretation, a descriptive and research method, the method of analysis and synthesis in theoretical substantiation of the topic, characteristics of music and game activity. To determine the results of the study, the method of generalization and systematization was used. The results confirmed the importance of the art competition in shaping the creative growth of students.
Exercise and Academic Performance: Implications of Aerobic Capacity and Hand Grip Strength in Middle-School Students
Authors: Honório Samuel , Ramos Luis , Santos Jorge , Serrano João , Petrica João , Batista Marco
Published: January 2023

The regular practice of physical exercise has a positive role on mental health and a positive contribution to the development of cognitive function, considered beneficial to academic performance. The present study aimed to analyse the impact of physical exercise on students' academic performance. 227 students participated, of which 112 (49.3%) were male and 115 (50.6%) were female, aged between 10 and 13 years old, from 5th and 6th grades in a Portuguese public school. The Susan Harter Self-Concept Scale validated for the Portuguese population was used, and a descriptive and inferential analysis of the data was conducted to analyse the levels of handgrip strength, aerobic capacity and academic performance. Linear regression analysis was used to interpret the predictive variables and we calculated the magnitude of the effect. The results suggest that the practice of physical exercise enhances the levels of aerobic capacity, handgrip strength and academic performance of students. In addition to physical education classes, the individual sports combined with the team sports present very positive values in relation to the variables described.
The Influence of Playing Chess on Football Performance in Children Aged 10-12
Authors: Velea Teodora
Published: January 2023

Some of the most important aspects that chess develops are the ability to concentrate, attention and the ability to anticipate, which are paramount in sport and often lead to winning or losing a match. The purpose of this experimental research is to illustrate how chess helps to develop the skills needed in football. The research was conducted over a period of nine months, and the research participants were 28 children aged 10-12 years from the FC Player football team, with 14 athletes included in the experimental group and another 14 representing the control group. The assessment tests were the following: concentrated attention tests (Kraepelin, Bourdon-Anfimov, Toulouse-Piéron), Psychological Performance Inventory, the Test of Attentional and Interpersonal Style in Football, IQ test - Raven’s Matrices, a Decision-making test and a Technical test. Athletes in the experimental group participated in chess lessons for nine months, while the control group did not benefit from chess training. The chess training programme consisted in learning the basic elements of chess, tactical and strategic exercises to help athletes improve their attention, decision-making, problem-solving and anticipation skills, visualisation exercises, blitz competitions and assessment tests. The chess training programme followed by the experimental group led to better results in most of the tests, compared to the control group, where the improvement of scores was not so visible or even did not exist at all.
Interaction between the attacking drones salvo and the anti-aircraft drones salvo as a computer antagonistic non-Newtonian 2D game
Authors: Arinchev S.V.
Published: January 2023

The paper considers problem of the attacking drone avoiding interception at the final stage of its flight. Duration of this stage is a few seconds. Drones are flying to the target, explode and die. The literature traditionally considers the attack and the anti-aircraft drones independently. It is proposed to identify the attacking and the anti-aircraft drones as a single oscillatory system with the antagonistic components. Antagonistic components are connected using the non-Newtonian elastic element. Test game with a high-explosive drone, test game with a fragmentation drone and 2D salvo game were considered. The game in this case is not a traditional minimax optimization problem, but appears to be simulation of the compromise unstable motion mode. Salvo of three attack drones in the 2D games is aimed against three stationary targets. Anti-aircraft salvo includes two high-explosive and two fragmentation drones. The attacking drones “know nothing” about the anti-aircraft target distribution; thus, each of them “avoids” the anti-aircraft drones simultaneously. One operator is playing. Therefore, the game has only two parameters, i.e. two different stiffness coefficients of any non-Newtonian elastic element. The non-Newtonian oscillatory system under study is non-oscillatory. There are violations of the well-known oscillation theorems of the oscillations theory: with the increasing rigidity, the system oscillation frequency drops, the oscillation forms acquire additional nodes, etc.
Climate change impacts on maternal and new-born health in Africa: Intervention options
Authors: Chersich MF , Maimela G , Lakhoo DP , Solarin I , Parker C , Scorgie F
Published: January 2023

Rising global temperatures raise several health concerns, especially in areas where access is limited to air conditioning and other forms of cooling. Anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy increase vulnerability of women and foetuses to heat exposure. High temperatures can overwhelm thermoregulation in pregnant women, cause dehydration and endocrine dysfunction, and affect placental function. Clinical consequences include preeclampsia, preterm birth, stillbirth and prolonged labour. Additionally, high ambient temperatures increase risks for several infections and affect health worker performance. There are a range of adaptation options to reduce heat exposure or impacts of exposure during pregnancy. Adaptations can be categorised as behavioural changes, interventions at the health service level, public health measures, building modifications and nature-based solutions, and structural interventions to enhance resilience. Existing maternal and child health services delivery platforms are adept at absorbing new health interventions and could play a key role in new programmes for responding to climate change. We need robust advocacy now more than ever to prevent further environmental harms.
Trylogia trojańska jako dramat poetycki
Authors: Czerwinska Jadwiga
Published: January 2023

Le considerazioni contenute nell'articolo aspirano a certe generalizzazioni utili per propagare il fenomeno, il quale era la tragedia greca, dunque a indicare le sue proprieta immanenti ed i modi della loro realizzazione nella struttura drammaturgica. La trilogia troiana di Euripide divento l'esemplificazione di questi tratti e fenomeni che caracterizzano in modo particolare la tragedia greca.
Assessing undergraduate students' perspectives on lecturers' technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge competency
Authors: Nisa Khairun , Ramadhan Syahrul , Thahar Harris Effendi
Published: January 2023

Educators' knowledge of technology is necessary for the learning process to better assist the students' understanding. One of the efforts made to improve their understanding is using technology-based learning. This study aims to evaluate the undergraduate students' perception of their lecturers' Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) and the process students acquire TPACK for learning. This study was conducted in a survey research type. The population was 190 undergraduate students, but the purposive sampling technique resulted in a total of respondents of 60 students. TPACK competence scale was used for data collection. The findings indicated that the student's perception of their lecturers' TPACK competence was in an excellence category, as seen from overall domains' scores of 89.73. Students gained TPACK by observing lecturers teach and self-studying using the internet. This study suggests that lecturers could improve their teaching quality in language teaching by implementing technology as a medium.
Keywords: Language learning, TPACK, undergraduate perceptions, lecturer competency, teaching quality.
Digital learning for students with disabilities
Authors: Ayasrah Mohammad Nayef , Al-Masa'deh Mu'tasem M. , Al-Rousan Ayoub Hamdan , Khasawneh Mohamad Ahmad Saleem
Published: January 2023

This study explored the teachers’ attitudes towards digital learning for students with disabilities. The study used the descriptive approach, and a questionnaire was designed to achieve the objectives of the study. The study sample consisted of (200) male and female teachers from public schools. The findings showed that teachers' attitudes towards digital learning for people with disabilities came to a high degree. The results also revealed that there are statistically significant differences between the sample responses due to the gender variable in favour of females and age in favour of those aged less than 55 years.
Keywords: digital learning, students with disabilities, teachers’ attitudes
How the “lessons learned” from emergency remote teaching can enrich European higher education in the post-COVID-19 era
Authors: Vlachopoulos Dimitrios
Published: January 2023

More than 2.5 years after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons learned from the implementation of emergency remote teaching in (European) higher education, this essay reflects on how universities, governments, and policy makers can re-imagine higher education in the post-COVID-19 era. It envisions universities as inclusive, student-centered, and accessible organizations capable of meeting diverse learning needs through technology-enhanced high-quality academic programs. This can be achieved through wide-scale uptake of blended learning in higher education; capacity building for stakeholders on online/blended learning; consideration of the unique needs of its stakeholders; and a holistic quality assurance framework. The author’s proposal is evolving, and its elements can be adjusted to the strategic priorities and characteristics of each institution.
ВАРИАЦИИ МИНЕРАЛЬНОГО СОСТАВА ОТЛОЖЕНИЙ В РАЙОНЕ РАВНИНЫ УТОПИЯ НА МАРСЕ ПО ДАННЫМ CRISM
Authors:   МГУ, Фабер Екатерина
Published: January 2023

На сегодняшний день существуют убедительные доказательства существования различных видов водоёмов на раннем Марсе, но окончательные доказательства существования океана в северной части полушария остаются недостижимыми. Настоящее исследование ставит своей целью охарактеризовать композиционные вариации состава отложений в районе равнины Утопия. В работе используются данные (https://doi. org/10.1029/2019JE006337) о глобальных типах марсианской поверхности, которые классифицируются на основе мультиспектральных сводных параметров Вивиано-Бек по данным CRISM с пониженной дискретизацией. Поскольку тонкие вариации состава неуловимы в усреднённом разрешении, то в дополнение к ним в работе рассматривается набор областей интереса в гиперспектральном разрешении данных CRISM формата TRDR. Данные с усреднёнными значениями позволяют сузить область поиска, в которой можно найти интересные минералогические закономерности. С помощью статистического метода главных компонент для полученных мультиспектральных данных CRISM идентифицируются параметры, вносящие существенный вклад в дисперсию в области исследования, после чего разграничиваются области, демонстрирующие закономерности, в которых производится детальный спектральный анализ...
ПРОСТРАНСТВЕННО-ВРЕМЕННАЯ ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТЬ ОБЛАЧНОСТИ В САРАТОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ
Authors:   Саратовский национальный исследовательский государственный университет имени Н. Г. Чернышевского, Червяков Максим , Диянова Екатерина
Published: January 2023

Рассматривается сравнительный анализ облачности в Саратовской обл. по данным спутникового проекта NASA Earth Observation Cloud Fraction и наземных наблюдений, взятых из архива данных научно-исследовательского института ВНИИГМИ-МЦД в Обнинске. Проведён пространственно-временной анализ карт многолетнего среднего значения облачности.
НАУЧНО-ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНАЯ ПЛАТФОРМА ДЛЯ ТЕСТИРОВАНИЯ АЛГОРИТМОВ И РЕЖИМОВ ОРИЕНТАЦИИ СВЕРХМАЛЫХ КОСМИЧЕСКИХ АППАРАТОВ
Authors:   Белорусский государственный университет, Николаев Алексей , Семенович Сергей , Стецко Игорь
Published: January 2023

Представленная работа описывает разработанную систему ориентации наноспутника, обеспечивающую возможность отработки различных пользовательских алгоритмов и режимов эксплуатации. Настройка режима работы выполняется за счёт изменяемых конфигурационных параметров алгоритмов ориентации. Качество и скорость выполнения манёвра ориентации оценивается за счёт аппаратного протоколирования показаний бортовых датчиков на всех этапах отработки алгоритмов. Реализован оптический метод наземного тестирования системы ориентации в одноосном приближении.
About the activities of the board of the SPC of OJSC “BSW” – NAS of Belarus”
Authors: Vityaz P. A. , Tolstoy A. V.
Published: January 2023

The issues of the activities of the Council of the Research and Production Center of OJSC “BSW – Management Company of the Holding “BMK” – NAS of Belarus aimed at solving the problems of the enterprises of the holding, the proposals of the heads of “BSW”, scientific institutions of the NAS of Belarus and universities of the country to assist in their solution are highlighted. The issues of scientific and technical activity, equipping the enterprise with modern equipment are considered. The results of the work on the harmonization of European and republican standards are presented, as a result of which the harmonized international standards STB ISO 683‑1‑2020, STB ISO 683‑2‑2020, STB ISO 683‑3‑2020 were developed for the first time, passed all approvals and entered into force in the Republic of Belarus, a new improved metallurgical technology for smelting, out‑of‑furnace processing and rolling of steels corresponding to international standards was developed. The environmental problems of the enterprises of the BMK holding related to the disposal of waste generated at the enterprise were discussed. Methods and ways of their processing and utilization are considered.
Experience in the production of wire rods made of steel grade SV‑08G2S for the subsequent manufacture of welding wire
Authors: Аudzeyey S. V. , Savinkov V. V.
Published: January 2023

Welding wire used for welding metal structures must have high technological and mechanical properties, since it is the main material that provides the required chemical composition and properties of the metal of the welded seam of structures. This article describes the experience of producing wire rods made of steel grade Sv‑08G2S for the subsequent production of welding wire in the conditions of OJSC “BSW – Management Company of Holding “BMC”. The technology of welding wire production in the conditions of mill 150 has been developed with heat treatment of the produced wire rod to give it the required plasticity and subsequent processing in hardware production into welding wire. With the construction of a new modern small‑grade wire mill 370/150, the developed technology of welding wire production has been improved to obtain maximum plasticity of the initial wire rod in order to exclude all types of additional heat treatment at the hardware conversion due to the choice of a rational chemical composition of steel and the formation of a favorable microstructure of metal. The wire rod obtained as a result of the work has been successfully processed in hardware production into copper‑plated welding wire without additional heat treatment.
Isolation and Classification of Green Alga Stigeoclonium attenuatum and Evaluation of its Ability to Prepare Zinc Oxide Nanoflakes for Methylene Blue Photodegradation by Sunlight
Authors: Aubaeed Marwa A. , Oda Amjed Mirza , AL-Sultan Emad Y.A.
Published: January 2023

Algae have been used in different applications in various fields such as the pharmaceutical industry, environmental treatments, and biotechnology. Studies show that the preparation of nanoparticles by a green synthesis method is a promising solution to many medical and environmental issues. In the current study, the green alga Stigeoclonium attenuatum (Hazen) F.S. Collins 1909 was isolated and identified from the Al-Hillah River (Governorate of Babylon) in the middle of Iraq. The green synthesis by the aqueous extract of algae was used to prepare the nanoflakes of ZnO. Nanoflakes of ZnO are characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) with flakes shape and dimensions ranging between 200-500 nm and thickness between 20-23 nm. And this study comprises a test of ZnO nanoflakes efficiency as a photocatalyst factor, thus experiments set of an aqueous solution of methylene blue with ZnO nanoflakes and exposed to sunlight have been conducted. The absorbance of methylene blue at 660 nm reduces over time and almost vanishes between 60-120 minutes. Consequently, it is obvious that in the presence of sunlight, pristine ZnO nanoflakes are photocatalytically active with a degradation efficiency of 97%. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoflakes that were prepared by aqueous extract of algae was evaluated against some resistant strains of bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus sp. and the antibacterial activity of NPs rises as concentration increases 50, 100, and 150 μg/ml.
The P-µ-T Cubic Equation of Viscosity for Reservoir Oils
Authors: Mishra Akshaya Kumar , Jhalendra Rajak Kumar , Kumar Ashutosh
Published: January 2023

Oil recovery simulation sensitivity increases with heavier oils for the existing viscosity models, driving into higher levels of difficulty when fitting viscosity data for rising oil heaviness, particularly below the saturation pressure. Keeping in view the similarity of trends of viscosity and density with isothermal pressures for reservoir oils, the P-μ-T cubic viscosity model, which was developed for pure hydrocarbon components, was extended to reservoir oils. Two parameters in the P-μ-T cubic viscosity model for mixtures with pure and pseudocomponents are identified for adjusting the viscosity data fitting: Kc for controlling the viscosity gradient with pressure and the “ε” shifting trends for increasing viscosity direction. These two parameters are treated as the adjustable parameters required for fitting the viscosity data.

A total of 129 reservoir oils from different sources are used to validate the reliability of the P-μ-T viscosity model. The default model (where ε and Kc are 1 and 45, respectively), extended to 71 light oils, resulted in 31% of average absolute relative deviation (AARD) in viscosity prediction. However, separate adjusted parameters are obtained per oil for more accurate viscosity data fitting. Application of the model in this work results in (post-fitting) AARD% of 2.86% average for 36 low-viscosity oil data, 5.68% for 9 high-viscosity oil data, 9% for five oil blends, and 4.11% for bitumen blends. The model gives an AARD of 3.06% in the undersaturated region and 3.79% in the saturated region for the oil considered. The model predicts better the viscosity above saturation pressure for low-viscosity oils and below saturation pressure for high-viscosity oils. A comparative analysis of the P-μ-T cubic viscosity model vs. other models demonstrates its ability to successfully capture viscosity trends of oil and blends in all viscosity ranges. For simplicity, the P-μ-T cubic viscosity model is proposed with only two optimizing parameters even though using a third parameter improves the matching in heavy oils.
Moderating effect of fossil energy dependence on the mediating effect of financial development on CO2 emissions: Evidence from China's provincial panel data
Authors: ZHANG Jinwen , HE Fengjun , LIU Wanjun
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we expand the debate on the impact of financial development on China's CO2 emissions by introducing fossil energy dependence. This paper empirically studies a moderated mediating mechanism using panel data from 30 provinces in China during the 2000-2017 period. Our results show a significant inverse U-shaped (i.e., non-linear) relationship between financial depth and CO2 emissions. We also find that the intermediary effect of economic scale increases emissions by an amount that exceeds the emissions-reducing effects of technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading. Consequently, the emissions reduction effect of financial depth through the intermediary is still non-green. Additionally, we determine that the effect of financial depth on CO2 emissions varies according to fossil energy dependence. Over-reliance on fossil fuels for energy weakens the mediating roles of technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading in financial emissions reduction but intensifies the role of the economic scale to promote emissions. We conclude by illustrating the policy implications of green credit guiding the green allocation of traditional finance and the optimization of energy structure.
Coronary Flow Rate Adds Predictive Capability for FFR Assessment
Authors: Miller Jacob , White John , Hashemi Javad , Ghafghazi Shahab , Berson R. Eric
Published: January 2023

A non-invasive risk assessment tool capable of stratifying coronary artery stenosis into high and low risk would reduce the number of patients who undergo invasive FFR, the current gold standard procedure for assessing coronary artery disease. Current statistic-based models that predict if FFR is above or below the threshold for physiological significance rely completely on anatomical parameters, such as percent diameter stenosis (%DS), resulting in models not accurate enough for clinical application. The inclusion of coronary artery flow rate (CFR) was added to an anatomical-only logistic regression model to quantify added predictive value. Initial hypothesis testing on a cohort of 96 coronary artery segments with some degree of stenosis found higher mean CFR in a group with low FFR < 0.8 (µ = 2.37 ml/s) compared to a group with high FFR > 0.8 (µ = 1.85 ml/s) (p-value = 0.046). Logistic regression modeling using both %DS and CFR (AUC = 0.78) outperformed logistic regression models using either only %DS (AUC = 0.71) or only CFR (AUC = 0.62). Including physiological parameters in addition to anatomical parameters are necessary to improve statistical based models for assessing high or low FFR.
Tacrolimus maintains the balance of NETs by inducing DNA methylation of neutrophils to reduce immune rejection
Authors: Xu Liang , Cai Ming
Published: January 2023

Background

The immune rejection is a major concern in organ transplantation and can cause damage to the transplanted organ and ultimately lead to its failure. To prevent or treat immune rejection, transplant recipients are typically given immunosuppressive drugs to suppress their immune system. Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive drug that is commonly used to prevent or treat immune rejection in organ transplantation. NETs formation and function in innate immunity and inflammation. NETs play an antimicrobial role, but excessive NETs are harmful and can cause inflammation and tissue damage.

Methods

To clarify the mechanism by which tacrolimus suppresses immune rejection, we used HL-60 cells, induced them to become neutrophils with DMSO, and then induced NETs with PMA. By comparing the changes before and after treatment with tacrolimus, we elucidated whether tacrolimus can change NETs formation.

Results

In this experiment, we found that tacrolimus can increase DNA methylation, which may be an important reason for the reduction of NETs by tacrolimus, as DNA methylation can stabilize DNA structure, making DNA better able to maintain its own structure. More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between DNA methylation, NETs formation, and immune rejection in organ transplantation, and to determine the potential therapeutic use of drugs that modulate DNA methylation or NETs.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we have found for the first time that tacrolimus can inhibit the production of NETs by enhancing the DNA methylation of cells, thereby exerting a better immunosuppressive effect. This may be a new mechanism for tacrolimus. We use this mechanism to provide new guidance for clinical research and immunosuppression and rehabilitation in the process of organ inhibition.
Early induction of anti-Spike binding antibodies and T cells confer protection against COVID-19 in children during an Omicron wave
Authors: Zhong Youjia , Chan Kuan Rong , Tay Carina , Chia Zi Wei , Li Hui’ En , Siriphanitchakorn Tanamas , Ong Eugenia , Leong Yan Shan , Kang Alicia , Chua Regena , Yap Gaik Chin , Huang Chiung-Hui , Lim Joey , Tan Anthony , Low Jenny , Shek Lynette , Tham Elizabeth , Ooi Eng Eong
Published: January 2023

For improved safety, children are vaccinated with a lower dose and extended interval for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines; however, whether there is protection before dose 2 is unknown. We recruited 113 children receiving BNT162b2 primary vaccination during an Omicron wave. After dose 1, 96% had detectable anti-Spike(S) IgG and 100% had S-reactive T cells; those with both had a lower risk of symptomatic infection compared to those with undetectable anti-S IgG [RR 0.19 (95% CI; 0.06, 0.59)]. This suggests that dosing can be extended without risk of insufficient early protection.
SENSATION: A light wearable, portable and cost-effective system to support assistive navigation of blind or visually impaired pedestrians
Authors: Calim Hakan , Das Badhan Kumar , Thakkar Yatharth , Maier Andreas
Published: January 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Invasive Grass and Honeybees Alter Plant-pollinator Network Structure in the Brazilian Caatinga
Authors: Carmo Rodrigo F R , Carvalho Cássio H , Gusmão Reginaldo A S , Alencar Lucas F C S , Vizentin-Bugoni Jeferson , Gonçalves-Souza Thiago
Published: January 2023

Invasive species are one of the most important threats to ecosystems. While invasive plants can interact directly with native pollinators, wind-pollinated grasses can also indirectly affect plant-pollinator networks by changing plant and animal community composition and, ultimately, decreasing ecosystem functioning. Here, we investigated the effect of invasive grass on pollinator richness, visitation number, and the structure of plant-pollinator networks. Further, we tested the impact of the non-native honeybee on pollinator richness, visitation number, and network structure in the Caatinga. Invasive grass negatively affected native pollinators and reduced visitation number on native plants. The dominance of the invasive grass increase plant competition, which led to an increased of niche overlap among native pollinators but did not affect the number of visits by non-native honeybees. However, increase in visitation number by honeybees reduced native pollinator richness by 60%. Our findings suggest a negative potentialized effect of invasive grass and non-native honeybee on the native plant-pollinator dynamics. The invasive grasses reduce the number of pollinators visits indirectly through changes in plant community composition that may reduce the attractiveness of patches dominated by invasive grasses. Honeybees were not affected by the invasive grass but reduced the richness of native pollinator species and the number of visits they perform, suggesting an important effect of biological invasion on ecosystem resilience. Our research helps to understand how invasive species, directly and indirectly, impact the plant-pollinator interactions and his influence on ecosystem functioning in abandoned lands in dry semiarid ecosystems.
Extractivism and production chain system of Açai in the middle Solimões River (Amazon region)
Authors: Yamaguchi Klenicy Kazumy de Lima , Peres Eldrinei Gomes , Silva Jadyellen Rondon e , Souza Anderson Oliveira
Published: January 2023

Açai fruit cultivated in the middle of the Solimões river is responsible for a large proportion of the farm economy in the Amazon region. However, less was described in the production chain, extraction, and market involving these species in Amazon. This study aims to show data on the extractivist and production chain system of the Amazonian açai, Euterpe precatoria, and Euterpe oleracea sold in the countryside of the Middle Solimões (Coari, Codajás, Tefé, and Alvarães). Therefore, a cross-sectional study with qualitative and quantitative approach has been executed using. Questionnaires and non-formal interviews with açai producers and traders. The results show that açai marketing is responsible for the main source of income for families in rural and riverside areas. The price depends on seasonality (the season of the river flood and drought) and productivity. E. precatoria stands out from E. oleracea due to sensory characteristics and yield. The importance of the production and trade of açai for the local development and economy and the need for public government subsidies for the production chain and creation of agricultural cooperatives and farmers organizations.
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Colombia
Authors: Camargo Jessica T , Gonzalez Camilo A , Herrera Lina , Yomayusa Nancy , Ibañez Milciades , Valbuena-García Ana M , Acuña-Merchán Lizbeth
Published: January 2023

Background:
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that requires dialysis. Knowing geographical clusters can be a critical point for early diagnosis, progression control and genetic counseling. The objective was to establish the prevalence, geographic location, and racial distribution of patients with ADPKD who underwent dialysis or kidney transplant in Colombia between 2015 and 2019.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study with data from the national registry of chronic kidney disease (NRCKD) managed by the High Cost Diseases Fund (Cuenta de Alto Costo [CAC] in Spanish) between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019. Colombian residents who reported with CKD with or without renal replacement therapy (RRT) due to polycystic kidney disease were included. Crude and adjusted prevalence rates were estimated by state and city.
Results:
The ADPKD period prevalence was 9.81 per 100,000 people, there were 4.35 cases of RRT per 100,000 people, mean age 52.58 years (±13.21) and 52.78% women. Seventy-six patients were Afro-Colombians, 6 indigenous and 1 gypsy. A total of 46.07% began scheduled dialysis. The highest adjusted prevalence rate was in Valle del Cauca (6.55 cases per 100,000 people), followed by Risaralda, La Guajira and Amazonas. Regarding cities, Cali had the highest prevalence rate (9.38 cases per 100,000 people), followed by Pasto, Medellin and Bucaramanga.
Conclusions:
ADPKD prevalence is lower compared to Europe and USA, some states with higher prevalence will be objective to genetic prevalence study.
Predicting Human Exchange Decision-Making with Theoretically Informed Data and Machine Learning
Authors: Igwe Kevin , Durrheim Kevin
Published: January 2023

Artificial agents that can predict human decisions in social exchange contexts can potentially help to facilitate cooperation and promote prosocial behaviours. Modelling human decision-making is difficult in social exchange contexts where multiple contending motives inform decisions in rapidly evolving situations. We propose a mixed Theory and Data-Driven (TD2) model that is comprised of three modules: (1) a clustering algorithm that identifies strategies in interactive social exchange contexts (2) an artificial neural network that classifies an exchange decision into one of the identified strategies based on empirically defined motives and the observable differences during social exchanges, and (3) a hidden Markov model that predicts situated human decisions based on the strategies applied by humans over time. The TD2 decision-making model was trained and tested using 7,840 exchange data from "minimal group" experimental exchange games in which decisions were motivated by group ties, wealth aspiration, and interpersonal ties. The model was able to classify behaviours with 95% accuracy. Reciprocity, fairness and in-group favouritism were predicted, as separate decisions, with accuracies of 81%, 57% and 71% respectively. The performance of the model improved over time. Future work will evaluate the model in a live experiment involving Human-Agent Cooperation (HAC).
Influence of Silicon Carbide Nano Fillers on the Thermal, Mechanical and Shape Memory Properties of Tpi Shape Memory Polymer Composites
Authors: Loganathan Prabhu , Vairamuthu Selvakumar , Anderson A , Chinnathambi Dhavamani
Published: January 2023

TPI, also known as artificial eucommia rubber, is a thermo-responsive SMP created by molecular recombination and modification with contemporary polymer synthesis and modification techniques. In this paper, TPI shape memory polymer is reinforced with different weight proportions (0, 0.2 %, 0.4 %, 0.6 %, 0.8 % and 1 %) of Silicon carbide nano particles (SiC) and specimens were fabricated with the aim of enhancing the properties of neat TPI polymer composites. Some thermo-mechanical characteristics were investigated and interpreted, including the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) test, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) test, thermal conductivity test, compression test, and a few shape memory properties such as shape recovery ratio and shape recovery rate. TPI shape memory polymers exhibit strong shape memory capabilities and the best mechanical properties based on the testing results for the specimen TPI with 0.8 % SiC weight fraction.
Primary pelvic synovial sarcoma: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Xiao Kaibing , Yang Ying , Li Zhiwei , Yang Pang
Published: January 2023

Background
Synovial sarcoma originating in the pelvis is an extremely rare malignancy, and only a few cases have been reported. Usually, the tumor is detected at an advanced stage, making treatment more difficult.
Case presentation
We admitted a 32-year-old male patient with MRI suggestive of an 8.2*7.7*8.9-cm mass in the pelvis with bleeding. After comprehensive evaluation, aggressive surgical treatment was performed, and postoperative pathology suggested biphasic synovial sarcoma, which was treated with regular chemotherapy in the oncology department. Ten months later, the patient was found to have recurrence of the tumor at the follow-up examination, and the patient is still alive.
Conclusion
Synovial sarcoma, a highly malignant soft tissue sarcoma, and primary intrapelvic synovial sarcoma is even rarer, with a poor prognosis. Ultrasound, CT and MRI can help specialists to detect the tumor at an early stage and treat it aggressively, especially by active surgical treatment, which can effectively improve the survival rate. Combined with the course of diagnosis and treatment of this case, it is possible to deepen the understanding of primary pelvic synovial sarcoma and discuss appropriate treatment strategies for this rare disease.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Analysis of Maxillary Sinus Septa among Yemeni Population A Cross-sectional study
Authors: Altayar Bassam A. , Al-Tayar Barakat , Lin Weimin , Al-wesabi Saddam N. , Al-shujaa Eissa A. , Sakran Karim , Yuan Quan , Lyu Mingyue
Published: January 2023

Background
Maxillary sinus septa increase perforation risk of Schneiderian membrane during the sinus floor elevation (SFE). Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) allows for a more precise assessment of the septal position; thus, preoperative CBCT analysis is substantial to avoid possible complications. This study aims to investigate the 3D characteristics of the maxillary sinus septa based on CBCT images. To our knowledge, no study reported the CBCT-based investigation for the sinus septa among Yemeni population.
Materials and Methods
This is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 880 sinus CBCT images 440 patients. The septa prevalence, locations, orientations, morphology, and associated factors were analyzed. The effect of age, gender, and dental status on the sinus septa and the relationship between sinus membrane pathology and sinus septa were also analyzed. Anatomage (Invivo version 6) was used for CBCT images analysis. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed, and a P-value < 0.05 was significantly considered
Results
The maxillary sinus septa were found among 63.9% of patients and 47% of sinuses. The average septa height was 5.2 mm. 15.7% of patients had septa in the right maxilla, 18% in the left, and 30.2% in both. Gender, age, and dental condition had no influence on the presence of septa, and septa presence did not influence sinus membrane pathology. Many septa originated from the floor (54.5%), located in the middle (43%), with coronal orientation (66%) and complete configuration (58.2%).
Conclusion
Based on our findings, the septa prevalence, locations, orientations, and morphology were significant and equivalent to the highest recorded in the literature yet. Thus, when sinus floor elevation is planned, CBCT imaging of the maxillary sinus is recommended for safe dental implantation.
Design of Submerged Air-intake for Uav Application
Authors: Tanna Kishan , Shah Niyati , Bommoju Vinay Kumar
Published: January 2023

The design approach and performance analysis of a custom s-duct submerged inlet are presented in this paper for a stealth subsonic swept-back Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The UAV must provide good efficiency in a wider range of operating conditions. The duct is designed in such a way that it is the best compromise between the fuselage-engine framework and should provide maximum pressure recovery. Important geometric parameters of the s-duct inlet consist of a length-to-engine diameter ratio of 5.18, an offset-to-length ratio of 0.12, and an area ratio of 1.89. A review of fundamental concepts and the design process is presented to provide a foundation for future design iterations. METACOMP CFD++ software has been used to analyze the inlet design performance. Pressure recovery and circumferential total pressure distortion are used to analyze inlet performance at zero incidence angle.
Dermatokinetic Study in Rat Skin For Quantitative Analysis and Bioavailability Enhancement of Mixed Lipid Nanostructures FDC by UPLC-MS
Authors: Hemdan Ahmed M. , Abouelatta Samar M. , Fahmy Nesma M.
Published: January 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Soot emissions of mutually synchronized candle flames
Authors: Balasubramaniyan Manikandan , Gaur Nikhil , T Kannan B
Published: January 2023

The evolution of soot particles from steady flames is relatively well explored compared to the evolution of soot particles from oscillating flames. Therefore, the present study aims to characterize soot particles' size evolving from self-excited oscillating flames, which are produced from the burning of two bundles of candles (4 candles/bundle). When two self-excited oscillating flames interact at various separation distances, they exhibit different modes of synchronization, namely in-phase synchronization (IP), amplitude death (AD), and anti-phase synchronization (AP). We captured the time-resolved flame images of synchronization modes using a digital camera and found that the AD mode represents the steady flames, whereas the IP and AP modes represent the symmetric and asymmetric oscillating flames, respectively. We measured the flame height and area for both the steady and oscillatory flames and found that the mean flame height is nearly invariant for all the flame modes, whereas the mean flame area exhibits significant variations among each synchronization mode. By using the Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) technique, we measured the diameter of soot particles, and the results show that the smallest soot particles (78 nm) are produced at steady flames compared to their oscillatory flames counterparts. On comparing oscillatory flames, the symmetrically oscillating IP mode produced larger-sized soot particles (129 nm) compared to the asymmetrically oscillating AP mode (102 nm).
Molecular Characteristics, Clinical Significance, and Cancer Immune Interactions of Angiogenesis-Associated Genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zijie , Liu Junxiu , Zhang Xiaofei , Zhang Yuhao , Zhang Tianwei , Xu Shang , Jiao Wei , Jiao Xuefei
Published: January 2023

Background: Immunotherapy have developed into important options for the treatment of various cancers. Angiogenesis is an important behavior in cancer, however, we do not yet know the relationship between angiogenesis and clinical outcome and immune infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
Methods: Based on the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas-Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (TCGA-KIRC), we systematically evaluated 36 angiogenesis-associated genes (AAGs) and comprehensively identiﬁed the correlation between angiogenesis and transcriptional patterns, potential mechanisms, prognosis, and relationship with immunity in ccRCC. We applied the AAG_score to quantify individual patient subtypes of angiogenesis.
Results: We investigated AAG mutations in ccRCC samples at genetic level. We determined two different molecular subtypes and observed that they correlate with prognosis. Next, an AAG_score for predicting overall survival (OS)was established. Furthermore, we built a highly reliable nomogram model by using AAG_score and other clinical variables and evaluated the performance of the model. Last, we found the difference in tumor microenvironment (TME) between two AAG_score groups.
Conclusion: We constructed the AAG_score for predicting the prognosis of ccRCC patients, which contributes to the understanding of the impact of angiogenesis on immunotherapy in ccRCC patients and helps to improved immunotherapeutic strategies.