bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
User Preference Analysis of a Sustainable Workstation Design for Online Classes: A Conjoint Analysis Approach
Authors: Gumasing Ma. Janice J. , Ong Ardvin Kester S. , Bare Maria Angelica D.
Published: September 2022

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the sudden shift of the interactions between students and teachers from the four corners of the classroom to fully online learning through the workstations. By using a conjoint analysis approach, this study aimed to evaluate the preference of undergraduate students from the Philippines on the workstation design attributes during the pandemic. Seven attributes were examined through orthogonal design: the type of gadget, keyboard, mouse, earpiece, desk, kind of chair, and light device. Through a purposive sampling approach, a total of 315 undergraduate students from the Philippines were gathered. Through an online survey with two holdouts, the respondents voluntarily responded to 51 stimuli produced by IBM SPSS using a 7-point Likert scale. Type of gadget (37.925%) was found to be the most significant attribute preferred by the students, followed by the type of mouse (28.345%), kind of chair (14.840%), type of keyboard (7.548%), earpiece (7.177%), light device (2.109%), and desk (2.056%). It is worth noting that the preferred workstation design combination is the personal computer, mechanical keyboard, wired mouse, headset, height-adjustable table, high-back office chair with neck support, and floor lamp. This study is the first to use a conjoint technique to examine undergraduate students’ preferences for workstation design attributes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, by applying the attributes and design developed in this study, the conjoint method can be used and expanded to evaluate the workstation design attributes of other courses and even employees worldwide.
Vertical Green Structures to Establish Sustainable Built Environment: A Systematic Market Review
Authors: Ogut Ozge , Tzortzi Nerantzia Julia , Bertolin Chiara
Published: September 2022

Vertical Green Structures (VGS) emerged as a building skin Nature-based Solution (NbS) aside from green roofs. The motivation underlying this VGS exploitation is fast urbanisation and the need to limit both land consumption and vegetation loss. These structures can provide several ecosystem services like air purification, biodiversity enhancement, and noise reduction. Although the usage of VGS offers different versatile and multi-scalar benefits in the built environment, they still need to respond to all the requirements of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Over the last decades, technologies of VGS have been developed and new product types have become available in the market. This paper presents the overall development and benefits of VGS, and aims to provide a taxonomy by considering a systematic and interdisciplinary approach. The current market overview analyses and compares different aspects (i.e., environmental and economic features) of the products for a better understanding of the current state-of-the-art—from single component to system scale. The findings of this review lead to some suggestions to enhance the level of sustainability and increase the potential benefits. They look at both research and practice requirements to orient the users in selecting the most optimal VGS solution available in the market.
Identification and Diagnosis of Transboundary River Basin Water Management in China and Neighboring Countries
Authors: Wang Lei , Lv Aifeng
Published: September 2022

Numerous studies have demonstrated that a complex distribution of water resources, regional development, and management mechanisms create significant management challenges for transboundary river basins. We utilized diagnostic thinking to examine the water management issues of the 14 main transboundary watersheds in three regions (Northeast, Northwest, and Southwest) of China. Our four diagnosis points were water quantity, water quality, ecological stability and human health, and cooperation among watershed stakeholders. We found that the watersheds faced varying water management issues. The Indus and Ganges basins have the worst problems, whereas the Tarim basin’s ecological environment is the most vulnerable and the Ob basin is the fittest. Therefore, depending on each basin’s results, we provide practical water management ideas for each. Furthermore, we summarized and classified the geographical settings of each basin and determined the water management issues in each major region in China. Our results provide direction for both new research on and cooperation with transboundary basin water management.
An Innovative Model of Smart Product Service Ecosystem (SPSE) on Sustainability: Survival System Model, Value Emerges, and a Case Study
Authors: Tong Qingfei , Ming Xinguo , Zheng Maokuan , Zhang Xianyu , Wang Zexiao
Published: September 2022

Smart product service ecosystem (SPSE) has multi-level complexity. It is necessary to find a method to describe the hierarchical nested relationship and topological relationship of the structure of SPSE, so as to provide a systematic reference for the construction of industrial SPSE such as smart home and smart Internet-connected vehicle. Moreover, the explanatory ability of ecological service organization is insufficient, and there is a lack of accurate quantitative analysis and modeling tools. Therefore, this paper studies a survival system model and structural modeling for SPSE on sustainability using EVSM (eco-viable system model). In terms of case analysis, this paper applies the proposed methods and technologies to the structural modeling of smart home service ecosystem. The results show that EVSM model can intuitively analyze the nested hierarchical relationship of smart home service ecosystem through graphical method. This set of systematic methods has important application value for guiding the construction of system structure model of similar smart product service ecosystem and analyzing key growth and stability indicators.
How Tourism Industry Development Affects Residents’ Well-Being: An Empirical Study Based on CGSS and Provincial-Level Matched Data
Authors: Zhou Chunmei , Tian Liqi , Shan Yujun
Published: September 2022

Happiness is not only for the pursuit of individuals but also the common goal of society as a whole. The tourism industry can promote social well-being by stimulating consumption, narrowing the income gap and improving infrastructure. However, overemphasizing the economic benefits of tourism industry development will produce a series of social problems, including environmental damage, forced consumption, and vicious price hikes. When the negative impact of industry development exceeds the positive impact of economic benefits, the happiness enhancement effect of tourism will decline significantly, resulting in the “well-being paradox” of tourism. Based on Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) data and provincial-level matched data, this study finds that the development of China’s tourism industry has a negative impact on residents’ well-being; however, there is a masking effect that disguises the actual income gap among residents. Tourism industry development can reduce the negative effect on residents’ well-being by narrowing the income gap. At the same time, the empirical results show that gender can significantly moderate the masking effect and that this income gap effect impacts women less than men.
The Net Influence of Drought on Grassland Productivity over the Past 50 Years
Authors: Lei Tianjie , Wu Jianjun , Wang Jiabao , Shao Changliang , Wang Weiwei , Chen Dongpan , Li Xiangyu
Published: September 2022

The focus of this paper is on the grassland productivity response to drought under the background of climate change. There is an established lag impact on the response of grassland ecosystems to drought events, which may have additional effects on subsequent drought events. Meanwhile, due to climate change interference, the influence of drought on grassland productivity over the past 50 years is not simply equal to the algebraic sum of all the historical drought events. In the Inner Mongolia grassland, precipitation deficit plays a leading role in causing drought. Therefore, taking into consideration the impacts of drought lag effect and climate change, in this paper, we focus on the net influence of drought on grassland productivity over the past 50 years on the basis of long-term precipitation deficit, we identify the interference effect from different climate factors (precipitation and temperature) by using different scenario simulation tests, and therefore, further clarify the net influence on the grassland productivity of Inner Mongolia over the past 50 years.
Experimental Study of Confined-Pressure Soaking on Sandstone Damage-Fracture Characteristics Using Acoustic Emission and Energy Dissipation
Authors: Chen Baobao , Wang Lei , Zhang Ming
Published: September 2022

In order to explore the mechanical characteristics of confined-pressure soaking (CPS) sandstone during the damage-fracture process, the uniaxial compression and acoustic emission (AE) experiment of CPS sandstone was conducted. The mechanical parameters, fracture morphology, AE and energy characteristics under uniaxial stress were researched. The results show that the uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus decrease as a logarithmic function with CPS parameters, corresponding to the inflection point of modification. The fracture mode gradually changes from brittleness to toughness with the increase in moisture content. The difference between fracture fragmentation and mechanical behavior mainly depends on the degree of CPS. The evolution of AE characteristics and energy dissipation has a good correspondence with CPS specimens. The higher the CPS degree is, the less the AE cumulative number is and the longer the excitation time is. Based on the phase variation of AE events and energy dissipation, the CPS damage variables are proposed to quantify the weakening degree and reveal the damage evolution process. The results provide a useful foundation for evaluating rock failure and improving service life.
A Self-Similar Approach to Study Nanofluid Flow Driven by a Stretching Curved Sheet
Authors: Ali Kashif , Jamshed Wasim , Ahmad Sohail , Bashir Hina , Ahmad Shahzad , Tag El Din El Sayed M.
Published: September 2022

Nano-fluids have considerable importance in the field of thermal development that relates to several industrial systems. There are some key applications in recent construction systems flow, as well as microscale cooling gadgets and microstructure electric gadgets for thermal migration. The current investigation concludes the study of electrically conducting nano-fluid flow and heat transfer analysis in two-dimensional boundary layer flow over a curved extending surface in the coexisting of magnetic field, heat generation and thermal radiation. The small sized particles of copper (Cu) are taken as nanoparticles and water is assumed to be the base fluid. We used quasi-linearization and central difference approximation to numerically solve the system of coupled equations obtained from the partial differential equations (PDEs) by incorporating the concept of similarity. The impacts of non-dimensional parameters on velocity, concentration and thermal profiles have been discussed with the help of suitable graphs and tables. It has been noticed that the velocity decelerated with the effect of the magnetic field interaction parameter. Thermal radiation caused an increase in temperature.
Singularity Properties of Timelike Sweeping Surface in Minkowski 3-Space
Authors: Li Yanlin , Nazra Sahar H. , Abdel-Baky Rashad A.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we give the parametric equation of the Bishop frame for a timelike sweeping surface with a unit speed timelike curve in Minkowski 3-space. We introduce a new geometric invariant to explain the geometric properties and local singularities of this timelike surface. We derive the sufficient and necessary conditions for this timelike surface to be a timelike developable ruled surface. Afterwards, we take advantage of singularity theory to give the classification of singularities of this timelike developable surface. Furthermore, we give some representative examples to show the applications of the theoretical results.
Mathematical Assessment of the Impact of the Imperfect Vaccination on Diphtheria Transmission Dynamics
Authors: Kanchanarat Siwaphorn , Chinviriyasit Settapat , Chinviriyasit Wirawan
Published: September 2022

Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease in which the outbreaks will not occur if a high enough proportion of individuals in a population are immune. Recent reports reveal that vaccinated individuals with low coverage levels of immunity may be at risk of subclinical diphtheria infection. Therefore, the development of an epidemiology model that will predict the optimal vaccine coverage level needed to prevent the spread of these diseases is crucial. In this paper, a mathematical model for diphtheria transmission with asymptomatic infection, logistic growth, and vaccination is formulated and rigorously analyzed to gain insights into its global dynamical features. The study results show that the disease is eradicated whenever the vaccination coverage is greater than the optimal vaccination coverage level needed for diphtheria eradication. The reported cases of diphtheria in Thailand are applied to estimate the appropriate parameters of the model. Sensitivity analysis reveals the rate of vaccination and the asymptomatic infection are influential factors in controlling and preventing diphtheria. Numerical simulations are illustrated in the theoretical results and show that the incubation period of asymptomatic individuals has an impact on the optimal vaccination coverage level needed for diphtheria eradication.
Lifetimes of an Exomoon Orbiting a Jupiter-Like Planet in a Double Star System with the Mass of the Sun
Authors: de Almeida Junior Allan Kardec , Gomes Vivian M. , Prado Antonio Fernando Bertachini de Almeida
Published: September 2022

The search for life outside Earth has been a popular topic for a long time in the scientific literature, but it gained more possibilities with the discovery of planets around other stars besides our Sun. In this sense, similarly to what happens in our Solar System, moons of planets sometimes offer good conditions for life if stable orbits for those moons exist. Thus, the present paper analyzes a system composed of a moon (with the mass of the Earth) orbiting a planet (with the mass of Jupiter), which is orbiting a double star system (whose total mass is equal to the mass of the Sun). It is an important topic because there is a large proportion of double stars in the universe. The initial conditions are given by a symmetric configuration of two circular orbits. Although this symmetry is broken due to the four body dynamics, the conditions in which the moon remains bound with the planet are investigated. The stability of the system is given by the survival of the orbit of the moon for an integration time of the order of 10,000 revolutions of the satellite around its mother planet. The regions of stable, unstable, and collision orbits are mapped, and empirical linear equations that separate those regions are obtained from the maps.
Bidirectional Statistical Feature Extraction Based on Time Window for Tor Flow Classification
Authors: Yan Hongping , He Liukun , Song Xiangmei , Yao Wang , Li Chang , Zhou Qiang
Published: September 2022

The anonymous system Tor uses an asymmetric algorithm to protect the content of communications, allowing criminals to conceal their identities and hide their tracks. This malicious usage brings serious security threats to public security and social stability. Statistical analysis of traffic flows can effectively identify and classify Tor flow. However, few features can be extracted from Tor traffic, which have a weak representational ability, making it challenging to combat cybercrime in real-time effectively. Extracting and utilizing more accurate features is the key point to improving the real-time detection performance of Tor traffic. In this paper, we design an efficient and real-time identification scheme for Tor traffic based on the time window method and bidirectional statistical characteristics. In this paper, we divide the network traffic by sliding the time window and then calculate the relative entropy of the flows in the time window to identify Tor traffic. We adopt a sequential pattern mining method to extract bidirectional statistical features and classify the application types in the Tor traffic. Finally, extensive experiments are carried out on the UNB public dataset (ISCXTor2016) to validate our proposal’s effectiveness and real-time property. The experiment results show that the proposed method can detect Tor flow and classify Tor flow types with an accuracy of 93.5% and 91%, respectively, and the speed of processing and classifying a single flow is 0.05 s, which is superior to the state-of-the-art methods.
Some Fixed Point Results in E-Metric Spaces and an Application
Authors: Shi Xinjie , Long Pinhong , Huang Huaping , Li Fengjun
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this paper is to study several fixed point problems in E-metric spaces. Mainly, we show the existence and uniqueness of fixed points for two contractive mappings, including Ćirić type contraction and α-ψ type contraction in E-metric spaces. Furthermore, we provide examples to support the accuracy of our results and present an application of our solution to a class of differential equations.
A Family of Analytic and Bi-Univalent Functions Associated with Srivastava-Attiya Operator
Authors: Attiya Adel A. , Yassen Mansour F.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we investigate a new family of normalized analytic functions and bi-univalent functions associated with the Srivastava–Attiya operator. We use the Faber polynomial expansion to estimate the bounds for the general coefficients |an| of this family. The bounds values for the initial Taylor–Maclaurin coefficients of the functions in this family are also established.
Symmetry and Molecular Spectroscopy
Authors: Salvi Pier Remigio , Gellini Cristina
Published: September 2022

Symmetry plays a fundamental role in molecular spectroscopy [...]
Special Issue on Brain Asymmetry in Evolution
Authors: Sawada Kazuhiko
Published: September 2022

The brain is lateralized morphologically and functionally, with unique species-related specifications [...]
Comparison of Dynamic Performance of an All-Metallic Vibration Isolator by Elliptic Method and Frequency Sweeping Method
Authors: Zou Luming , Zheng Chao , Zheng Zhi , Hu Feng , Shao Yichuan , Xue Xin
Published: September 2022

A horizontally symmetric all-metallic vibration isolator (AM-VI) is proposed to further investigate the dynamic mechanical performance. The novel AM-VI was constructed by combining hat-shaped metal rubber and oblique springs, which were connected in parallel. The springs were arranged symmetrically relative to the support. The elliptic method and the frequency sweeping method were used to compare the dynamic stiffness and the loss factor of the AM-VI. The results demonstrated that the dynamic stiffness and the loss factor calculated by two distinct test methodologies were considerably different, indicating that the inertial force effect of the dynamic testing equipment should be taken into count when adopting the elliptic method. Furthermore, when the vibration isolation performance was evaluated by utilizing mechanical impedance and force transmissibility, the AM-VI achieved excellent vibration isolation performance within a broad frequency range.
Quadratic-Phase Wave-Packet Transform in L2(R)
Authors: Srivastava Hari M. , Shah Firdous A. , Lone Waseem Z.
Published: September 2022

Wavelet transform is a powerful tool for analysing the problems arising in harmonic analysis, signal and image processing, sampling, filtering, and so on. However, they seem to be inadequate for representing those signals whose energy is not well concentrated in the frequency domain. In pursuit of representations of such signals, we propose a novel time-frequency transform coined as quadratic-phase wave packet transform in L2(R). The proposed transform is aimed at rectifying the conventional wavelet transform by employing a quadratic-phase Fourier transform with extra degrees of freedom. Besides the formulation of all the fundamental results, including the orthogonality relation, reconstruction formula and the characterization of range, we also derive a direct relationship between the well-known Wigner-Ville distribution and the proposed transform. In addition, we study the quadratic-phase wave-packet transform in the framework of almost periodic functions. Finally, we extend the scope of the present work by investigating the composition of quadratic-phase wave packet transforms.
Improving the Performance and Explainability of Indoor Human Activity Recognition in the Internet of Things Environment
Authors: Cengiz Ayse Betul , Birant Kokten Ulas , Cengiz Mehmet , Birant Derya , Baysari Kemal
Published: September 2022

Traditional indoor human activity recognition (HAR) has been defined as a time-series data classification problem and requires feature extraction. The current indoor HAR systems still lack transparent, interpretable, and explainable approaches that can generate human-understandable information. This paper proposes a new approach, called Human Activity Recognition on Signal Images (HARSI), which defines the HAR problem as an image classification problem to improve both explainability and recognition accuracy. The proposed HARSI method collects sensor data from the Internet of Things (IoT) environment and transforms the raw signal data into some visual understandable images to take advantage of the strengths of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in handling image data. This study focuses on the recognition of symmetric human activities, including walking, jogging, moving downstairs, moving upstairs, standing, and sitting. The experimental results carried out on a real-world dataset showed that a significant improvement (13.72%) was achieved by the proposed HARSI model compared to the traditional machine learning models. The results also showed that our method (98%) outperformed the state-of-the-art methods (90.94%) in terms of classification accuracy.
A New Aggregated Multi-Criteria Approach for Evaluation of the Autonomous Metro Systems’ Performance in the European Countries
Authors: Stoilova Svetla
Published: September 2022

The present study aims to create groups of symmetrical autonomous metro lines that are united by common features. An integrated six-step methodology which proposes a new aggregated approach for multi-criteria evaluation of fully autonomous metro systems was proposed. The first step determines the criteria to assess the autonomous metro system. Eight criteria connected to the safety, infrastructural and technological development of the autonomous metro system were chosen. In the second step, 20 fully autonomous metro systems in European countries were selected as alternatives. The determination of the criteria weights was performed in the third step based on objective, subjective and combined approaches. For this purpose, the Shannon Entropy method and BWM (Best Worst method) were applied. The fourth step presents the ranking of the autonomous metro system by using multi-criteria methods. Three approaches were studied: distance-based, utility-based and outranking approaches. The distance-based approach includes the TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) and EDAS (Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution) methods; the utility-based approach includes MOORA (Multi-Objective Optimization on the Basis of Ratio Analysis) and COPRAS (COmplex PRoportional Assessment) methods; the outranking approach includes the PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment of Evaluations) method. The final ranking based on the new aggregative approach was carried out in the fifth step. Thus, Laplace’s criterion was applied to the final ranking. The Hurwitz’s criterion was used to verify the results. In the sixth step, the verification of the results was performed by applying cluster analysis. In was found that Line 1 in Paris is the best. Line 14 in Paris and Line D in Lyon were ranking in the second and third position, respectively. The autonomous metro in Brescia, Line C in Rome, and Line M2 in Lausanne were placed at the end of the ranking. Finally, four clearly formed groups of autonomous metro were proposed. The novelty of this study and its main advantage entails the elaboration of a new aggregated approach of multi-criteria methods, evaluation of the autonomous metro systems’ performance and determination for the groups of symmetrical autonomous lines in European countries.
Statistical Inference of Weighted Exponential Distribution under Joint Progressive Type-II Censoring
Authors: Qiao Yinuo , Gui Wenhao
Published: September 2022

The weighted exponential distribution is a promising skewed distribution in the life-testing experiment. The joint progressive type-II censoring (JPC) scheme is an effective approach to reducing costs. In this paper, we consider the estimates of parameters of the weighted exponential distribution with the JPC data. Two populations, whose scale parameters are the same but the shape parameters of which are different, are chosen to be studied. We first evaluate the parameters with the maximum likelihood method. Because the maximum likelihood estimates of parameters cannot be obtained in closed form, we apply the Newton–Raphson method in this part. Bayesian estimates and the corresponding credible intervals under the squared error loss function are computed by using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. After that, we use the bootstrap method to calculate the associated confidence intervals of the unknown parameters. A simulation has been performed to test the feasibility of the above methods and real data analysis is also provided for illustrative purposes.
Motion of Particles around Time Conformal Dilaton Black Holes
Authors: Shahzad Muhammad Umair , Rehman Hamood Ur , Awan Aziz Ullah , Tag-ElDin ElSayed M. , Rehman Attiq Ur
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the geodesic motion of neutral and test particles around the time conformal (TC) Dilaton black hole (BH) is investigated using the eϵg(t) as the time conformal factor in which g(t) is an arbitrary function of time and ϵ is a perturbation parameter. The function g(t) leads to (ta) by utilizing the well-known approximate Noether symmetry (ANS). Furthermore, we discuss the effect of magnetic fields and find the location of stable and unstable orbits w. r. t time, graphically. After that, in the presence and absence of a magnetic field, we interrogate the crucial physical parameters such as effective potential (Ueff), effective force (Feff) and escape velocity (ν⊥). We find the unstable and stable regions of particles for different values of angular momentum (Lz) and magnetic field (B) near the TC Dilaton BH. Moreover, the effects of the Dilaton parameter (μ) on neutral and charged particles are also discussed, which provide some new features. The important results in this study could estimate the powerful relativistic jets originating from the BH.
Investigating the Role of System Effectiveness in the Acquisition and Sustainment of U.S. Defense Systems: 1958 to 2022
Authors: Green John , Stracener Jerrell
Published: September 2022

This paper reports the results of an investigation into system effectiveness’s role in acquiring and sustaining U.S. weapons systems from 1958 to 2022. An understanding is vital because the acquisition system has recently undergone a significant change. In the 64 year period covered by this study there have been many changes to the Department of Defense acquisition and sustainment processes. The investigation used three qualitative methods: a structured literature review, a grounded theory analysis of the structured literature review, and a historiography of the initial grounded theory results. The research identified five epochs, the first two lasting approximately 22 years each. The last epoch is still in its early period. Each epoch corresponds to a change in the acquisition process. There are four conclusions. First, system effectiveness does not serve its original intent and purpose. Second, analysis of source documents provides insight into why system effectiveness plays a diminished role. Third, the original approach to system effectiveness may have relevance for today’s problems and challenges. Finally, an integrated research methodology is valuable for making sense of conflicting information spread over time.
Computed Tomographic Imaging Features of COVID-19 Pneumonia Caused by the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) Variant in a German Nested Cohort Pilot Study Group
Authors: Askani Esther , Mueller-Peltzer Katharina , Madrid Julian , Knoke Marvin , Hasic Dunja , Bamberg Fabian , Schlett Christopher L. , Agarwal Prerana
Published: September 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate CT (computed tomography) imaging differences for the Delta and the Omicron variant in COVID-19 infection. Methods: The study population was derived from a retrospective study cohort investigating chest CT imaging patterns in vaccinated and nonvaccinated COVID-19 patients. CT imaging patterns of COVID-19 infection were evaluated by qualitative and semiquantitative scoring systems, as well as imaging pattern analysis. Results: A total of 60 patients (70.00% male, 62.53 ± 17.3 years, Delta: 43 patients, Omicron: 17 patients) were included. Qualitative scoring systems showed a significant correlation with virus variants; “typical appearance” and “very high” degrees of suspicion were detected more often in patients with Delta (RSNA: p = 0.003; CO-RADS: p = 0.002; COV-RADS: p = 0.001). Semiquantitative assessment of lung changes revealed a significant association with virus variants in univariate (Delta: 6.3 ± 3.5; Omicron: 3.12 ± 3.2; p = 0.002) and multivariate analysis. The vacuolar sign was significantly associated with the Delta variant (OR: 14.74, 95% CI: [2.32; 2094.7], p = 0.017). Conclusion: The Delta variant had significantly more extensive lung involvement and showed changes classified as “typical” more often than the Omicron variant, while the Omicron variant was more likely associated with CT findings such as “absence of pulmonary changes”. A significant correlation between the Delta variant and the vacuolar sign was observed.
Study on the Ventilation Method to Maintain the PM10 Concentration in a Subway Cabin below 35 μg/m3
Authors: Choi Eun-Seo , Yook Se-Jin , Kim Minjeong , Park Duckshin
Published: September 2022

The city of Seoul will limit the maximum particulate matter (PM10) concentration to ≤35 μg/m3 (from 2024). Herein, a numerical parametric study was conducted on the PM removal efficiency of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters installed in the ceiling of subway cabins. The PM10 concentration distribution was explored according to the flow rate and flow rate ratio of the air introduced into the cabin. Under the current ventilation conditions of the subway train HVAC system, the PM10 concentration was highest in the cabin central area where exhaust outlets are located and decreased toward both ends of the cabin. The indoor airflow was improved and the PM10 concentration was reduced by increasing the flow rate of the supplied air at both ends of the cabin while decreasing it in the central area. It was found that the strengthened PM10 concentration criterion of Seoul can be met by increasing the ventilation flow rate to 700 CMH (currently, 500 CMH) and the filter efficiency to 85% (currently, 70%) while maintaining the current flow rate ratio. These results are expected to be used as important reference data for reducing the PM concentration in subway cabins and thereby improving indoor air quality.
Application of Pineapple Waste to the Removal of Toxic Contaminants: A Review
Authors: Fouda-Mbanga Bienvenu Gael , Tywabi-Ngeva Zikhona
Published: September 2022

The presence of pollutants in large swaths of water is among the most pressing environmental issues of our time. This is mainly due to the inappropriate disposal of industrial sewerage into nearby water supplies and the production of a broad range of potentially hazardous contaminants. Pineapple is a fruit mainly grown in tropical regions. Refuse production begins with the collection of raw materials and continues prior to being refined. Pineapple processing industries generate waste (peel, core, pomace, and crown) that is high in bioactive compounds. The byproducts often include more valuable compounds with greater nutritional and therapeutic value than the final product. This review focuses on the application of pineapple and components, adsorbent synthesized from pineapple for the removal of pollutants.
Cytokine and Chemokine Retention Profile in COVID-19 Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Ciceri Paola , Bono Valeria , Magagnoli Lorenza , Sala Matteo , d’Arminio Monforte Antonella , Galassi Andrea , Barassi Alessandra , Marchetti Giulia , Cozzolino Mario
Published: September 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are more susceptible to infections compared to the general population. SARS-CoV-2 virus pathology is characterized by a cytokine storm responsible for the systemic inflammation typical of the COVID-19 disease. Since CKD patients have a reduced renal clearance, we decided to investigate whether they accumulate harmful mediators during the COVID-19 disease. We conducted a retrospective study on 77 COVID-19 hospitalized subjects in the acute phase of the illness. Thirteen different cytokines were assessed in plasma collected upon hospitalization. The patients were divided into three groups according to their estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR < 30 (n = 23), 30 < eGFR < 60 (n = 33), eGFR > 60 mL/min (n = 21). We found that Tumor Necrosis Factor α and its receptors I and II, Interleukin-7, Leukemia Inhibitory Factor, FAS receptor, Chitinase 3-like I, and the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor showed an increased accumulation that negatively correlate with eGFR. Moreover, non-survivor patients with an impaired kidney function have significantly more elevated levels of the same mediators. In conclusion, there is a tendency in COVID-19 ESRD patients to accumulate harmful cytokines. The accumulation seems to associate with mortality outcomes and may be due to reduced clearance but also to increased biosynthesis in most severe cases.
Does Ultrasound Guidance Improve the Effectiveness of Neurotoxin Injections in Patients with Cervical Dystonia? (A Prospective, Partially-Blinded, Clinical Study)
Authors: Tyślerowicz Małgorzata , Dulski Jarosław , Gawryluk Justyna , Sławek Jarosław
Published: September 2022

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound guidance (US) in the treatment of cervical dystonia (CD) with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) injections in comparison to anatomical landmarks (AL). To date, US is routinely used in many centers, but others deny its usefulness. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients (12 males, 23 females) with a clinical diagnosis of CD were included in the study. Intramuscular administration of BoNT-A was performed using either US guidance, or with AL, in two separate therapeutic sessions. The efficacy of BoNT-A administration was assessed with the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS), Tsui modified scale, Craniocervical Dystonia Questionnaire (CDQ-24) and Clinical Global Impression—Improvement scale (CGI-I). Additionally, patients at therapeutic sessions were digitally recorded and evaluated by two blinded and independent raters. Results: A significant decrease in total TWSTRS, severity subscale TWSTRS, Tsui score, and CDQ-24 was found in both the AL and US group; however, in the TWSTRS disability and pain subscales, a significant decrease was found only in the US group. Moreover, US guided treatment also resulted in a greater decrease in TWSTRS, Tsui score and CDQ-24 compared to anatomical landmarks use only. Conclusions: US guidance might be helpful in improving the results of BoNT-A injections in cervical dystonia, reducing associated pain and disability; however, more studies are needed to evaluate its clinical efficacy.
Epidemiology of Leptospirosis: The First Literature Review of the Neglected Disease in the Middle East
Authors: Harran Elena , Hilan Christo , Djelouadji Zouheira , Ayral Florence
Published: September 2022

Leptospirosis is a major zoonotic disease that has emerged worldwide, and numerous studies performed in affected countries have provided epidemiological knowledge of the disease. However, currently, there is inadequate knowledge of leptospirosis in the Middle East. Therefore, we grouped publications from various Middle Eastern countries to acquire a general knowledge of the epidemiological situation of leptospirosis and provide an initial description of the leptospiral relative risk and circulating serogroups. We conducted a detailed literature search of existing studies describing Leptospira prevalence and seroprevalence in Middle Eastern countries. The search was performed using online PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. One hundred and one articles were included in this review. Some countries, including Iran, Turkey, and Egypt, reported more publications compared to others, such as Lebanon, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Frequently, the seroprevalence of leptospirosis varied considerably between and within countries. The prevalence of leptospirosis was comparable in most Middle Eastern countries; however, it varied between some countries. The methods of detection also varied among studies, with the microscopic agglutination test used most commonly. Some hosts were more recurrent compared with others. This review summarizes the epidemiological situation of Leptospira infection in the Middle East, reporting predominant serogroups—Sejroe, Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Autumnalis, and Pomona—that were identified in the most commonly tested hosts. Our findings emphasize the need to develop a deeper understanding of the epidemiology of Leptospira spp. and prioritize the disease as a public health problem in this region. To achieve this goal, increased awareness is critical, and more publications related to the topic and following a standardized approach are needed.
Healthcare Management of Human African Trypanosomiasis Cases in the Eastern, Muchinga and Lusaka Provinces of Zambia
Authors: Mwiinde Allan Mayaba , Simuunza Martin , Namangala Boniface , Chama-Chiliba Chitalu Miriam , Machila Noreen , Anderson Neil E. , Atkinson Peter M. , Welburn Susan C.
Published: September 2022

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease that has not received much attention in Zambia and most of the countries in which it occurs. In this study, we assessed the adequacy of the healthcare delivery system in diagnosis and management of rHAT cases, the environmental factors associated with transmission, the population at risk and the geographical location of rHAT cases. Structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted among the affected communities and health workers. The study identified 64 cases of rHAT, of which 26 were identified through active surveillance and 38 through passive surveillance. We identified a significant association between knowledge of the vector for rHAT and knowledge of rHAT transmission (p < 0.028). In all four districts, late or poor diagnosis occurred due to a lack of qualified laboratory technicians and diagnostic equipment. This study reveals that the current Zambian healthcare system is not able to adequately handle rHAT cases. Targeted policies to improve staff training in rHAT disease detection and management are needed to ensure that sustainable elimination of this public health problem is achieved in line with global targets.
Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Salmonella Typhi: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yusof Nik Yusnoraini , Norazzman Nur Iffah Izzati , Zaidi Nur Fatihah Mohd , Azlan Mawaddah Mohd , Ghazali Basyirah , Najib Mohamad Ahmad , Malik Abdul Hafiz Abdul , Halim Mohamad Aideil Helmy Abdul , Sanusi Muhammad Nor Syamim Mohd , Zainal Annur Ashyqin , Aziah Ismail
Published: September 2022

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) that has developed resistance to many antimicrobials poses a serious challenge to public health. Hence, this study aimed to systematically determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in S. Typhi isolated from the environment and humans as well as to ascertain the spread of the selected AMR genes in S. Typhi. This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, and the study protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). A total of 2353 studies were retrieved from three databases, of which 42 studies fulfilled the selection criteria. The pooled prevalence of AMR S. Typhi (using a random-effect model) was estimated at 84.8% (95% CI; 77.3–90.2), with high heterogeneity (I2: 95.35%, p-value < 0.001). The high estimated prevalence indicates that control methods should be improved immediately to prevent the spread of AMR among S. Typhi internationally.
Schistosomiasis Control in Ethiopia: The Role of Snail Mapping in Endemic Communities
Authors: Meleko Asrat , Li Sarah , Turgeman Dorin Brener , Bruck Michal , Kesete Nisan Z. , Zaadnoordijk Willemijn , Rollinson David , Sabar Galia , Bentwich Zvi , Golan Rachel
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), remains a public health problem in Ethiopia. Freshwater snails, acting as intermediate hosts, release cercariae, the infectious parasite, into the water, which penetrate human skin that encounters infested waters. The objective of this study was to map snail abundance along rivers and study its association with schistosomiasis infection in communities using these rivers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at 20 river sites in Mizan Aman city administration, Bench Sheko zone, South West Ethiopia Peoples (SWEP) region, Ethiopia, to study the distribution of host snails and transmission sites for intestinal schistosomiasis. This study used a quantitative database consisting of data on the prevalence of infected snails, the characteristics of rivers and riverbanks, and the prevalence of schistosomiasis in the community, based on stool samples collected from community members near the sampling sites. Results: Aquatic snails were found in 11 of the 20 sites sampled. A total of 598 snails was collected, including Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Biomphalaria sudanica, Radix natalensis and Bulinus globosus species; the most abundant species was Biomphalaria pfeifferi. Stool samples were collected from 206 community members from all 20 sites. Forty-one (19.9%) were positive for Schistosoma mansoni. A positive correlation was found between the presence of snails and positive stool samples (r = 0.60, p = 0.05) and between the presence of infected snails and the prevalence of infection (r = 0.64, p = 0.03). Locations with muddy riverbanks were associated with the presence of snails (r = 0.81, p < 0.001). Conclusions: These results emphasize the importance of mapping snails for the control of schistosomiasis by defining hotspots of infection and identifying factors associated with the presence of infected snails. The results support the need for a continuous mapping of snails and the introduction of snail control as a major element for the successful control of schistosomiasis in endemic communities.
A Reanalysis of the Latest SH0ES Data for H0: Effects of New Degrees of Freedom on the Hubble Tension
Authors: Perivolaropoulos Leandros , Skara Foteini
Published: September 2022

We reanalyze in a simple and comprehensive manner the recently released SH0ES data for the determination of H0. We focus on testing the homogeneity of the Cepheid+SnIa sample and the robustness of the results in the presence of new degrees of freedom in the modeling of Cepheids and SnIa. We thus focus on the four modeling parameters of the analysis: the fiducial luminosity of SnIa MB and Cepheids MW and the two parameters (bW and ZW) standardizing Cepheid luminosities with period and metallicity. After reproducing the SH0ES baseline model results, we allow for a transition of the value of any one of these parameters at a given distance Dc or cosmic time tc, thus adding a single degree of freedom in the analysis. When the SnIa absolute magnitude MB is allowed to have a transition at Dc≃50 Mpc (about 160 Myrs ago), the best-fit value of the Hubble parameter drops from H0=73.04±1.04 km s−1 Mpc−1 to H0=67.32±4.64 km s−1 Mpc−1 in full consistency with the Planck value. Additionally, the best-fit SnIa absolute magnitude MB> for D>Dc drops to the Planck inverse distance ladder value MB>=−19.43±0.15, while the low distance best fit MB< parameter remains close to the original distance ladder calibrated value MB<=−19.25±0.03. Similar hints for a transition behavior is found for the other three main parameters of the analysis (bW, MW and ZW) at the same critical distance Dc≃50 Mpc, even though in that case, the best-fit value of H0 is not significantly affected. When the inverse distance ladder constraint on MB> is included in the analysis, the uncertainties for H0 reduce dramatically (H0=68.2±0.8 km s−1 Mpc−1), and the MB transition model is strongly preferred over the baseline SH0ES model (Δχ2≃−15, ΔAIC≃−13) according to the AIC and BIC model selection criteria.
A New Index to Describe the Response of Geomagnetic Disturbance to the Energy Injection from the Solar Wind
Authors: Zhao Ming-Xian , Wang Jing-Song , Zhao Xiao-Wei
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we establish a new non-dimensional global geomagnetic disturbance index JpG by applying the spectral whitening method to the horizontal components of geomagnetic fields observed at eight ground-based stations distributed at low and middle latitudes during years 1998 to 2014. This index can describe the development of geomagnetic storms and its relationship with the Dst index has been verified, which gives a correlation coefficient (CC) of about 0.72. We also check the response of JpG to the arrival of upstream solar wind energy based on a proxy that the ring current injection term Q. The variation of JpG in course of geomagnetic storms is similar to the variation of Q, and the recorded minimum values of Q (Qmin) and JpG (JpGmin) for 30 great storms yields a relatively better CC of about 0.82. These results illustrate that JpG can effectively depict the storm evolution and is well related to the associated Q in amplitude, which provides an alternative means of geomagnetic storm forecasting. In addition, we note that the time difference between Qmin and JpGmin, as well as the time difference when JpG recovers from JpGmin to half and/or one-third of its value, are shorter than those of the corresponding Dst index. And especially, for multiple storms that occurred continuously on a short time scale, the recovery of the Dst index to a quiet period level can be affected by the following solar wind energy input, while the JpG index does not and exhibits independently.