bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Management of Legionella in Domestic Water Systems: Consolidated and Innovative Approaches for Disinfection Methods and Risk Assessment
Authors: Sciuto Emanuele Luigi , Laganà Pasqualina , Filice Simona , Scalese Silvia , Libertino Sebania , Corso Domenico , Faro Giuseppina , Coniglio Maria Anna
Published: March 2021

Legionella is able to remain in water as free-living planktonic bacteria or to grow within biofilms that adhere to the pipes. It is also able to enter amoebas or to switch into a viable but not culturable (VBNC) state, which contributes to its resistance to harsh conditions and hinders its detection in water. Factors regulating Legionella growth, such as environmental conditions, type and concentration of available organic and inorganic nutrients, presence of protozoa, spatial location of microorganisms, metal plumbing components, and associated corrosion products are important for Legionella survival and growth. Finally, water treatment and distribution conditions may affect each of these factors. A deeper comprehension of Legionella interactions in water distribution systems with the environmental conditions is needed for better control of the colonization. To this purpose, the implementation of water management plans is the main prevention measure against Legionella. A water management program requires coordination among building managers, health care providers, and Public Health professionals. The review reports a comprehensive view of the state of the art and the promising perspectives of both monitoring and disinfection methods against Legionella in water, focusing on the main current challenges concerning the Public Health sector.
pH-Stat Titration: A Rapid Assay for Enzymatic Degradability of Bio-Based Polymers
Authors: Miksch Lukas , Gutow Lars , Saborowski Reinhard
Published: March 2021

Bio-based polymers have been suggested as one possible opportunity to counteract the progressive accumulation of microplastics in the environments. The gradual substitution of conventional plastics by bio-based polymers bears a variety of novel materials. The application of bioplastics is determined by their stability and bio-degradability, respectively. With the increasing implementation of bio-based plastics, there is also a demand for rapid and non-elaborate methods to determine their bio-degradability. Here, we propose an improved pH Stat titration assay optimized for bio-based polymers under environmental conditions and controlled temperature. Exemplarily, suspensions of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) microparticles were incubated with proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes. The rate of hydrolysis, as determined by counter-titration with a diluted base (NaOH), was recorded for two hours. PLA was hydrolyzed by proteolytic enzymes but not by lipase. PBS, in contrast, showed higher hydrolysis rates with lipase than with proteases. The thermal profile of PLA hydrolysis by protease showed an exponential increase from 4 to 30 °C with a temperature quotient Q10 of 5.6. The activation energy was 110 kJ·mol−1. pH-Stat titration proved to be a rapid, sensitive, and reliable procedure supplementing established methods of determining the bio-degradability of polymers under environmental conditions.
Pullulan–Apple Fiber Biocomposite Films: Optical, Mechanical, Barrier, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Luís Ângelo , Ramos Ana , Domingues Fernanda
Published: March 2021

More than 150 million tons of synthetic plastics are produced worldwide from petrochemical-based materials, many of these plastics being used to produce single-use consumer products like food packaging. The main goal of this work was to research the production and characterization of pullulan–apple fiber biocomposite films as a new food packaging material. The optical, mechanical, and barrier properties of the developed biocomposite films were evaluated. Furthermore, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the biocomposite films were additionally studied. The results show that the Tensile Index and Elastic Modulus of the pullulan–apple fiber films were significantly higher (p-value < 0.05) when compared to the pullulan films. Regarding the water vapor permeability, no significant differences (p-value < 0.05) were observed in water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) when the apple fiber was incorporated into the biocomposite films. A significant increase (p-value < 0.05) of water contact angle in both sides of the films was observed when the apple fiber was incorporated into pullulan, indicating an increase in the hydrophobicity of the developed biocomposite films. It is worth noting the hydrophobicity of the (rough) upper side of the pullulan–apple fiber films, which present a water contact angle of 109.75°. It was possible to verify the microbial growth inhibition around the pullulan–apple fiber films for all the tested bacteria.
On the Significance of Assumptions about Divine Goodness and Divine Ontology for ‘Logical’ Arguments from Evil
Authors: Bishop John
Published: March 2021

Sterba’s Is a Good God Logically Possible? (2019) draws attention to the importance of ethical assumptions in ‘logical’ arguments from evil (LAfEs) to the effect that the existence of (certain types) of evil is incompatible with the existence of a God who is all-powerful and morally perfect. I argue, first, that such arguments are likely to succeed only when ‘normatively relativized’—that is, when based on assumptions about divine goodness that may be subject to deep disagreement. I then argue that these arguments for atheism are also, and more fundamentally, conditioned by assumptions about the ontology of the divine. I criticise Sterba’s consideration of the implications for his own novel LAfE of the possibility that God is not a moral agent, arguing that Sterba fails to recognize the radical nature of this claim. I argue that, if we accept the ‘classical theist’ account that Brian Davies provides (interpreting Aquinas), then God does not count as ‘an’ agent at all, and the usual contemporary formulation of ‘the problem of evil’ falls away. I conclude by noting that the question of the logical compatibility of evil’s existence with divine goodness is settled in the affirmative by classical theism by appeal to its doctrine that evil is always the privation in something that exists of the good that ought to be.
Comparison of Absorbed and Intercepted Fractions of PAR for Individual Trees Based on Radiative Transfer Model Simulations
Authors: Wojnowski Wojciech , Wei Shanshan , Li Wenjuan , Yin Tiangang , Li Xian-Xiang , Ow Genevieve Lai Fern , Mohd Yusof Mohamed Lokman , Whittle Andrew J.
Published: March 2021

The fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR) is a key parameter for estimating the gross primary production (GPP) of trees. For continuous, dense forest canopies, fAPAR, is often equated with the intercepted fraction, fIPAR. This assumption is not valid for individual trees in urban environments or parkland settings where the canopy is sparse and there are well-defined tree crown boundaries. Here, the distinction between fAPAR and fIPAR can be strongly influenced by the background and large illumination variations due to multi-scattering and shadows of buildings. This study investigates the radiative budget of PAR bands using a coupled leaf-canopy radiative transfer model (PROSPECT-DART), considering a suite of tropical tree species over a wide range of assumed leaf chlorophyll contents. The analyses simulate hyperspectral images (5 nm bandwidth) of individual tree crowns for the selected background (concrete vs. grass) and illumination conditions. We then use an artificial neural network-based method to partition sunlit vs. shaded leaves within each crown, as the latter have lower fAPAR and fIPAR values. Our results show fAPAR of sunlit leaves decreases with the ratio of diffuse to direct scene irradiance (SKYL), while SKYL has minimal influence for shaded leaves. Both fAPAR and fIPAR decrease at more oblique solar zenith angles (SZA). Higher values of fAPAR and fIPAR occur with concrete backgrounds and the influence of the background is larger at higher diffuse ratio and solar zenith angles. The results show that fIPAR is typically 6–9% higher than fAPAR, and up to 14% higher for sunlit leaves with a concrete background at SKYL = 0. The differences between the fIPAR and fAPAR also depend on the health condition of the leaves, such as chlorophyll content. This study can improve the understanding of urban individual trees fAPAR/fIPAR and facilitate the development of protocols for fAPAR field measurements.
A Novel Framework Based on Mask R-CNN and Histogram Thresholding for Scalable Segmentation of New and Old Rural Buildings
Authors: Li Ying , Xu Weipan , Chen Haohui , Jiang Junhao , Li Xun
Published: March 2021

Mapping new and old buildings are of great significance for understanding socio-economic development in rural areas. In recent years, deep neural networks have achieved remarkable building segmentation results in high-resolution remote sensing images. However, the scarce training data and the varying geographical environments have posed challenges for scalable building segmentation. This study proposes a novel framework based on Mask R-CNN, named Histogram Thresholding Mask Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network (HTMask R-CNN), to extract new and old rural buildings even when the label is scarce. The framework adopts the result of single-object instance segmentation from the orthodox Mask R-CNN. Further, it classifies the rural buildings into new and old ones based on a dynamic grayscale threshold inferred from the result of a two-object instance segmentation task where training data is scarce. We found that the framework can extract more buildings and achieve a much higher mean Average Precision (mAP) than the orthodox Mask R-CNN model. We tested the novel framework’s performance with increasing training data and found that it converged even when the training samples were limited. This framework’s main contribution is to allow scalable segmentation by using significantly fewer training samples than traditional machine learning practices. That makes mapping China’s new and old rural buildings viable.
Near-Field Vortex Beams Diffraction on Surface Micro-Defects and Diffractive Axicons for Polarization State Recognition
Authors: Savelyev Dmitry , Kazanskiy Nikolay
Published: March 2021

The diffraction of vortex Gaussian laser beams by elementary objects of micro-optics (surface micro-defects) to recognize the type of polarization (linear, circular, radial, azimuthal) of the input radiation was investigated in this paper. We considered two main types of defects (protrusion and depression in the form of a circle and a square) with different sizes (the radius and height were varied). Light propagation (3D) through the proposed micro-defects was modeled using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The possibility of recognizing (including size change) of surface micro-defects (protrusions and depressions) and all the above types of polarization are shown. Thus, micro-defects act as sensors for the polarization state of the illuminating beam. The focusing properties of micro-defects are compared with diffractive axicons with different numerical apertures (NAs). The possibility of sub-wavelength focusing with element height change is demonstrated. In particular, it is numerically shown that a silicon cylinder (protrusion) forms a light spot with a minimum size of the all intensity FWHM of 0.28λ.
Low Cost, Easy to Prepare and Disposable Electrochemical Molecularly Imprinted Sensor for Diclofenac Detection
Authors: Seguro Isabel , Pacheco João G. , Delerue-Matos Cristina
Published: March 2021

In this work, a disposable electrochemical (voltammetric) molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor for the selective determination of diclofenac (DCF) was constructed. The proposed MIP-sensor permits fast (30 min) analysis, is cheap, easy to prepare and has the potential to be integrated with portable devices. Due to its simplicity and efficiency, surface imprinting by electropolymerization was used to prepare a MIP on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). MIP preparation was achieved by cyclic voltammetry (CV), using dopamine (DA) as a monomer in the presence of DCF. The differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) detection of DCF at MIP/SPCE and non-imprinted control sensors (NIP) showed an imprinting factor of 2.5. Several experimental preparation parameters were studied and optimized. CV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments were performed to evaluate the electrode surface modifications. The MIP sensor showed adequate selectivity (in comparison with other drug molecules), intra-day repeatability of 7.5%, inter-day repeatability of 11.5%, a linear range between 0.1 and 10 μM (r2 = 0.9963) and a limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 70 and 200 nM, respectively. Its applicability was successfully demonstrated by the determination of DCF in spiked water samples (river and tap water).
Recent Developments in Graphene-Based Toxic Gas Sensors: A Theoretical Overview
Authors: Cruz-Martínez Heriberto , Rojas-Chávez Hugo , Montejo-Alvaro Fernando , Peña-Castañeda Yesica A. , Matadamas-Ortiz Pastor T. , Medina Dora I.
Published: March 2021

Detecting and monitoring air-polluting gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur oxides (SOx) are critical, as these gases are toxic and harm the ecosystem and the human health. Therefore, it is necessary to design high-performance gas sensors for toxic gas detection. In this sense, graphene-based materials are promising for use as toxic gas sensors. In addition to experimental investigations, first-principle methods have enabled graphene-based sensor design to progress by leaps and bounds. This review presents a detailed analysis of graphene-based toxic gas sensors by using first-principle methods. The modifications made to graphene, such as decorated, defective, and doped to improve the detection of NOx, SOx, and CO toxic gases are revised and analyzed. In general, graphene decorated with transition metals, defective graphene, and doped graphene have a higher sensibility toward the toxic gases than pristine graphene. This review shows the relevance of using first-principle studies for the design of novel and efficient toxic gas sensors. The theoretical results obtained to date can greatly help experimental groups to design novel and efficient graphene-based toxic gas sensors.
After the Contagion. Ghost City Centres: Closed “Smart” or Open Greener?
Authors: Cooke Philip
Published: March 2021

This paper has three main objectives. It traces the “closed” urban model of city development, critiques it at length, showing how it has led to an unsustainable dead-end, represented in post-Covid-19 “ghost town” status for many central cities, and proposes a new “open” model of city design. This is avowedly an unsegregated and non-segmented utilisation of now often abandoned city-centre space in “open” forms favouring urban prairie, or more formalised urban parklands, interspersed with so-called “agritecture” in redundant high-rise buildings, shopping malls and parking lots. It favours sustainable theme-park models of family entertainment “experiences” all supported by sustainable hospitality, integrated mixed land uses and sustainable transportation. Consideration is given to likely financial resource issues but the dearth of current commercial investment opportunities from the old carbonised urban model, alongside public policy and consumer support for urban greening, are concluded to form a propitious post-coronavirus context for furthering the vision.
The Behavior of Dairy Consumers in Short Food Supply Chains during COVID-19 Pandemic in Suceava Area, Romania
Authors: Brumă Ioan Sebastian , Vasiliu Codrin Dinu , Rodino Steliana , Butu Marian , Tanasă Lucian , Doboș Sebastian , Butu Alina , Coca Oana , Stefan Gavril
Published: March 2021

In Romania, there is an emerging market of dairy products delivered through short food supply chains. Although this distribution system has existed since the communist period, and even though more than three decades have passed since then, the market fails to be mature, subject to taxation, or achieve a high diversity in terms of dairy categories, with a consolidated marketing culture that has significant effects on the regional socio-economic environment. The aim of this study was to observe whether the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has influenced consumer behavior regarding dairy products delivered directly from producers in Suceava County, Romania. The research is based on a survey conducted between April and May, 2020, and the analysis relies on both quantitative and qualitative methods (namely, anthropological and ethnographic). From the provided responses, it a change was observed in the future buying behavior on short food supply chains, in a positive sense. One of the key findings was that family represents the main environment for passing on the values that influence the buying behavior. Another key finding was that the behavioral changes on the short food supply chains exert pressure on their digital transformations.
A Didactic Model of Sustainability Commitment
Authors: Öhman Johan , Sund Louise
Published: March 2021

This article proposes a model that describes and frames sustainability commitment. The model is based on didactic theory and pragmatic philosophy and is informed by several empirical studies on environmental and sustainability education (ESE) practice. The intention is for the model to serve as a critical perspective on ESE practices in secondary and upper secondary schools, and to offer a framework for the development of future practice with emphasis on teachers’ choices of content and teaching methods. The model suggests that a sound commitment is situated in the intersection of the intellectual, emotional, and practical aspects of sustainability. It is argued that: The intellectual aspect is essential for giving the commitment scientific rigor and a critical stance; emotions are vital for students to become dedicated; and skills to carry out appropriate actions for change is necessary for playing an active role in providing a sustainable transformation of society.
Testing Biodegradable Films as Alternatives to Plastic-Film Mulching for Enhancing the Yield and Economic Benefits of Processed Tomato in Xinjiang Region
Authors: Abduwaiti Anwar , Liu Xiaowei , Yan Changrong , Xue Yinghao , Jin Tuo , Wu Hongqi , He Pengcheng , Bao Zhe , Liu Qin
Published: March 2021

The extensive application of plastic-film mulching (PFM) has brought a series of environmental pollution due to the lack of awareness of plastic-film rational use and absence of plastic residues recycling in China. In addition, the use of degradable film instead of common polyethylene plastic film (PE film) can effectively alleviate this situation. The substitution of PE film with biodegradable film in the agricultural production of processed tomato in Xinjiang region was investigated in this study. Using bare soil as the control, we compared the effects of PE film and biodegradable film mulching on crop growth, yield, and economic benefits in processed tomato. The results indicated that: (1) Biodegradable film with a thickness of about 8 μm can meet the mechanical operation requirements, and the effect of biodegradable film mulching was completely consistent with that of PE film; (2) Four kinds of biodegradable film can meet the requirements of processed tomato growth and development, although slightly different from PE film in increasing temperature and water retention; (3) Plastic-film planting can ensure a net profit of 1.14–1.64 ten thousand CNY per hectare under the current production conditions and mode of Xinjiang region, and biodegradable film planting was observed to be essentially equal to those of PE film; (4) Nearly 50%–70% of the biodegradable film was ruptured and degraded during processed tomato harvesting, which avoided the occurrence of the winch of the plastic-film winding harvester and improves the efficiency and commodity rate of the processed tomato harvest operation. As the biodegradable film mulching causes no residual pollution, it is accepted to be an alternative to plastic-film mulching for agricultural applications and supports the sustainable development of agroecosystems in Xinjiang region.
A Central Element of Europe’s Football Ecosystem: Competitive Intensity in the “Big Five”
Authors: Wagner Fabio , Preuss Holger , Könecke Thomas
Published: March 2021

This study perceives professional European football as one of the most relevant event-related entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) worldwide. It also identifies a healthy sporting competition in the five most popular European football leagues (Spain, England, Germany, Italy, and France), the “big five,” as a key pillar for the functioning of this ecosystem. By applying a quantitative approach, competitive intensity (CI) is measured for all big five leagues for 21 seasons (1998/99 to 2018/19). The chosen method does not only convey an overall indication of the competitive health of the entire league but also provides detailed information on the four important sub-competitions (championship race, qualification for Champions League or Europa League, and the fight against relegation). In all five leagues, seasonal CI tends to decrease over time, and especially over the last decade. The main reason is a decline in the intensity of the championship race while all other sub-competitions show relatively robust CI values. Overall, it can be concluded that the competitive health of the big five is intact, but the dwindling CI of the championship races can harm the EE of professional European football in the long run. Accordingly, it should be closely monitored in the future.
Role of Single-Particle Energies in Microscopic Interacting Boson Model Double Beta Decay Calculations
Authors: Kotila Jenni
Published: March 2021

Single-particle level energies form a significant input in nuclear physics calculations where single-particle degrees of freedom are taken into account, including microscopic interacting boson model investigations. The single-particle energies may be treated as input parameters that are fitted to reach an optimal fit to the data. Alternatively, they can be calculated using a mean field potential, or they can be extracted from available experimental data, as is done in the current study. The role of single-particle level energies in the microscopic interacting boson model calculations is discussed with special emphasis on recent double beta decay calculations.
Takis Zenetos’s Electronic Urbanism and Tele-Activities: Minimizing Transportation as Social Aspiration
Authors: Charitonidou Marianna
Published: March 2021

Takis Zenetos was enthusiastic about the idea of working from home, and believed that both architecture and urban planning should be reshaped in order to respond to this. He supported the design of special public spaces in residential units, aiming to accommodate the inhabitants during working hours. This article argues that Zenetos’s design for “Electronic Urbanism” was more prophetic, and more pragmatic, than his peers such as Archigram and Constant Nieuwenhuys. Despite the fact that they shared an optimism towards technological developments and megastructure, a main difference between Zenetos’s view and the perspectives of his peers is his rejection of a generalised enthusiasm concerning increasing mobility of people. In opposition with Archigram, Zenetos insisted in minimizing citizens’ mobility and supported the replacement of daily transport with the use advanced information technologies, using terms such as “tele-activity”. Zenetos was convinced that “Electronic Urbanism” would help citizens save the time that they normally used to commute to work, and would allow them to spend this time on more creative activities, at or near their homes. The main interest of “Electronic Urbanism” lies in the fact that it not only constitutes an artistic contribution to experimental architecture, but is also characterized by a new social vision, promising to resynchronize practices of daily life. An aspect that is also examined is the relationship of Zenetos’s ideas and those of the so-called Metabolists in the 1960s in Japan, including Kenzo Tange’s conception of megastructures. Zenetos’s thought is very topical considering the ongoing debates about the advanced information society, especially regarding the social concerns of surveillance, governance, and sovereignty within the context of Big Data. His conception of “tele-activities” provides a fertile terrain for reflecting on potential implications and insights concerning home-office conditions not only within the context of the current pandemic situation but beyond it as well.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of COVID-19 Incidence Data
Authors: Spassiani Ilaria , Sebastiani Giovanni , Palù Giorgio
Published: March 2021

(1) Background: A better understanding of COVID-19 dynamics in terms of interactions among individuals would be of paramount importance to increase the effectiveness of containment measures. Despite this, the research lacks spatiotemporal statistical and mathematical analysis based on large datasets. We describe a novel methodology to extract useful spatiotemporal information from COVID-19 pandemic data. (2) Methods: We perform specific analyses based on mathematical and statistical tools, like mathematical morphology, hierarchical clustering, parametric data modeling and non-parametric statistics. These analyses are here applied to the large dataset consisting of about 19,000 COVID-19 patients in the Veneto region (Italy) during the entire Italian national lockdown. (3) Results: We estimate the COVID-19 cumulative incidence spatial distribution, significantly reducing image noise. We identify four clusters of connected provinces based on the temporal evolution of the incidence. Surprisingly, while one cluster consists of three neighboring provinces, another one contains two provinces more than 210 km apart by highway. The survival function of the local spatial incidence values is modeled here by a tapered Pareto model, also used in other applied fields like seismology and economy in connection to networks. Model’s parameters could be relevant to describe quantitatively the epidemic. (4) Conclusion: The proposed methodology can be applied to a general situation, potentially helping to adopt strategic decisions such as the restriction of mobility and gatherings.
Impact of Sea-Level Rise on the Hydrologic Landscape of the Mānā Plain, Kaua‘i
Authors: Gomez Basil
Published: March 2021

The Mānā Plain is a land apart, buffered from oceanographic influences by ~3–35 m high backshore deposits, and drained by an intricate, >100-y-old ditch system and modern, large-capacity pumps. Quantifying present and prospective inputs and outputs for the hydrologic landscape suggests that, although sea-level rise (SLR) will begin to impact ditch system operations in 2040, transient, event-based flooding caused by rainfall, not SLR induced, multi-mechanism flooding, will continue to pose the most immediate threat. This is because as sea level rises the ability of gravity flows to discharge storm runoff directly into the ocean will diminish, causing floodwater to pond in low-lying depressions. Estimates of the volume of water involved suggests the risk of flooding from surface water is likely to extend to 5.45 km2 of land that is presently ≤ 1 m above sea level. This land will not be permanently inundated, but weeks of pumping may be required to remove the floodwater. Increasing pumping capacity and preserving some operational ability to discharge storm runoff under the influence of gravity will enhance the ditch system’s resilience to SLR and ensure it continues to fulfill its primary functions, of maintaining the water table below the root zone and diverting storm runoff away from farmland, at least until the end of this century.
Reservoir Management by Reducing Evaporation Using Floating Photovoltaic System: A Case Study of Lake Nasser, Egypt
Authors: Abd-Elhamid Hany F. , Ahmed Ashraf , Zeleňáková Martina , Vranayová Zuzana , Fathy Ismail
Published: March 2021

The shortage of water is a major obstruction to the social and economic development of many countries, including Egypt. Therefore, there is an urgent need to properly manage water resources to achieve optimum water use. One way of saving available water resources is to reduce evaporation that leads to the loss of a large amount of water from reservoirs and open lakes. This paper aims to use a floating photovoltaic system (FPVS) to cover a lake’s water surface to reduce evaporation and also for energy production. This methodology was applied to Lake Nasser as one of the largest lakes in the world where much evaporation happens due to its large area, arid environments, and the shallow depths of some parts of the lake. The estimated evaporation from the lake was 12.0 × 109 m3/year. The results show that covering 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the lake can save about 2.1, 4.2, 6.3, 7.0, and 8.4 × 109 m3/year and produce energy of 2.85 × 109, 5.67 × 109, 8.54 × 109, and 11.38 × 109 MWh/year, respectively. Covering areas of shallow water depth was more efficient and economical. The results show that covering 15% of the lake’s area (depths from 0.0 to 3.0 m) can save 2.66 × 109 m3/year and produce 1.7 MWh/year. Covering 25% of the lake’s area (depths from 0.0 to 7.0) can save 3.5 × 109 m3/year and produce 2.854 MWh/year. Using an FPVS to cover parts of Lake Nasser could help manage water resources and energy production for Egypt to overcome the likely shortage of water resources due to population growth. This system could be applied in different locations of the world which could help in increasing water resources and energy production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions.
Exploring patient views of empathic optimistic communication for osteoarthritis in primary care: a qualitative interview study using vignettes
Authors: Lyness Emily , Vennik Jane Louise , Bishop Felicity L , Misurya Pranati , Howick Jeremy , Smith Kirsten A , Ratnapalan Mohana , Hughes Stephanie , Dambha-Miller Hajira , Bostock Jennifer , Morrison Leanne , Mallen Christian D , Yardley Lucy , Leydon Geraldine , Little Paul , Everitt Hazel
Published: March 2021

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) causes pain and disability. An empathic optimistic consultation approach can improve patient quality of life, satisfaction with care, and reduce pain. However, expressing empathic optimism may be overlooked in busy primary care consultations and there is limited understanding of patients’ views about this approach.

Aim

To explore patients’ perspectives on clinician communication of empathy and optimism in primary care OA consultations.

Design & setting

Vignette study with qualitative semi-structured interviews. Purposefully sampled patients (n = 33) aged >45 years with hip or knee OA from GP practices in Wessex (Hampshire, Dorest, Wiltshire, and Somerset).

Method

Fifteen participants watched two filmed OA consultations with a GP, and 18 participants read two case vignettes. In both formats, one GP depicted an empathic optimistic approach and one GP had a ‘neutral’ approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with all participants and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Patients recognised that empathic communication enhanced interactions, helping to engender a sense of trust in their clinician. They felt it was acceptable for GPs to convey optimism only if it was realistic, personalised, and embedded within an empathic consultation. Discussing patients’ experiences and views with them, and conveying an accurate understanding of these experiences improves the credibility of optimistic messages.

Conclusion

Patients value communication with empathy and optimism, but it requires a fine balance to ensure messages remain realistic and trustworthy. Increased use of a realistic optimistic approach within an empathic consultation could enhance consultations for OA and other chronic conditions, and improve patient outcomes. Digital training to help GPs implement these findings is being developed.
REVIEW OF THE EFFICIENCY OF REINFORCEMENT BY FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER MATERIALS. FIRE RESISTANCE OF STRUCTURES
Authors: Smolyago G. , Obernikhina Y.
Published: March 2021

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) are rapidly gaining popularity in various fields of civil engineering. For decades, these materials have been used to strengthen structures that are not exposed to fire, such as bridges. To apply this reinforcement method to increase the bearing capacity of structures of buildings and structures, fire resistance is an important feature for any material. Due to the small amount of research in this area, there is no technical documentation for these structures that regulates the coupling properties and mechanical characteristics at elevated temperatures necessary for design. There is also a need to develop a simple method for calculating the fire resistance and thickness of an insulating material for a reinforced structure. This article combines existing studies of the operation of fibers and a binder reinforcement system at high temperatures. The article also presents experimental results and numerical studies at elevated temperatures of various authors for isolated and non-insulated reinforced concrete structures reinforced with polymer composite materials. In addition, a comparison of the fire resistance of two main methods of reinforcing polymer composite materials is given: an externally bonded reinforcement and a near surface mounted method. Strengthening structures by near surface mounted method has great advantages compared to strengthening by externally bonded reinforcement.
DEVELOPMENT OF IMPACT RESISTANT POLYMER COMPOSITION ABS/PC FOR AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
Authors: Yagrushkina I. , Dyul'dina M. , Nogachev A. , Yakunin K.
Published: March 2021

Polymer and composite materials are becoming more and more widely used in the Russian automotive industry. The Russian market of polymer materials for automotive components is characterized by an insufficiently developed production of some types of such materials. And, as a result, the use of imported materials. Styrene plastics are one of the innovative materials for the automotive industry. Using them in a car makes the product more attractive to customers. The use of this type of plastics allows to create a new look for the car. This applies to both the interior and exterior. The aim of this work is to develop the composition of a polymer composition based on ABS plastic from domestic raw materials. In addition, the new mixed composition should replace imported mixed compositions or contain a minimum amount of imported components of the composition, which will significantly reduce the cost of products and accordingly the car. The article analyzes the polymer materials used in the automotive industry. The disadvantages of using these materials in their pure form are revealed. The selection of the components of the composition of the impact-resistant material with the development of its formulation has been made. The composition of an impact-resistant polymer composition based on ABS plastic and PC has been developed, which is not inferior in terms of the complex of properties to the imported material. The influence of the composition of ABS-plastic, various grades of polycarbonate, their ratio in the polymer composite material on the physical, mechanical and technological properties of the obtained composition has been investigated. It is shown that the best set of properties is possessed by a material based on 2020-30 ABS-plastic and PC-3S polycarbonate with a component ratio of 70%:30%.
Teacher’s Perception on Online Teaching method during Covid-19: With Reference to School Level Teachers at Faculty of Education, The Open University of Sri Lanka
Authors: Priyadarshani H D C , Jesuiya D
Published: March 2021

The world is facing one of the toughest conditions in the present, dealing with COVID-19. There have been several problems in the education sector during this pandemic season. COVID-19 has resulted in a countrywide lockdown in Sri Lanka. This research is an effort to understand the understanding of online education by respondents, which is the latest form of teaching embraced by schools since the pandemic. For undergraduate teachers in the special needs department, faculty of education, open university, Sri Lanka, the study was carried out using data collected through Google form. The SPSS recorded and analyzed data using factor analysis and descriptive statistics. The study shows that students are satisfied with online classes and get ample teacher help, but they do not assume that conventional classroom teaching would be replaced by online classes. It also finds that due to a lack of proper preparation and growth for doing online classes, teachers face difficulties in conducting online classes. The biggest challenge for online classes is technological and network challenges. To accomplish this aim, teachers and students must periodically take training and improvement programs from schools or government. There is a need to consider the barriers that come in the way of embracing online learning and taking corrective steps to address it.
CHANGES IN THE LEVEL OF NT-proBNP AND MEAN PULMONARY ARTERY PRESSURE FOLLOWING BRONCHOPLASTIC LOBECTOMY OR PNEUMONECTOMY AS MARKERS OF RIGHT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION
Authors: Larin V. F. , Zhikharev V. A. , Bushuev A. S. , Porhanov V. A. , Koriachkin V. A. , Spasova A. P. , Khinovker V. V.
Published: March 2021

Background There are scanty data of right ventricular dysfunction markers after major pulmonary resection.

Objective To study the changes of plasma level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and its association with pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) as markers of right ventricular dysfunction in patients who underwent bronchoplastic lobectomy or pneumonectomy.

Material and Methods The study population consisted of 36 patients aged 40–65 who underwent major  pulmonary resection for lung cancer in 2016–2018. Patients were stratified into two groups according to the type of surgical procedure: bronchoplastic lobectomy, the main group (n = 19), and pneumonectomy, control group (n = 17). They were then analyzed for plasma NT-proBNP concentration, operative time, blood loss, intraoperative fluid administration, intraoperative urine output, and mean PAP level before and after an operation.

Results The mean PAP level correlated positively with the plasma NT-proBNP concentration in the pneumonectomy group (Pearson r = 0.916754; p < 0.001). This correlation was no evident in the subset of patients undergoing bronchoplastic lobectomy at the same determination point (Pearson r = 0.234741; p = 0.330).

Conclusion The mean PAP increased significantly after pneumonectomy and is closely correlated with plasma  NTproBNP concentration. These findings support the conclusion that bronchoplasty is preferable over pneumonectomy for lung cancer patients.
ANALISIS STRATEGI PEMASARAN DI TENGAH PANDEMI COVID-19 UNTUK MENINGKATKAN OMZET PENJUALAN PADA RESTU BAKERY BOJONEGORO
Authors: Erdiana Afrida Eva , Farida Siti Ning
Published: March 2021

This research uses Restu Bakery Bojonegoro as an object of research that sells various cakes and bakeries. The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze marketing strategies in increasing sales turnover during the Covid-19 pandemic at Restu Bakery Bojonegoro. The research method used is descriptive quantitative using SWOT, data collection techniques are carried out by means of observation, documentation, interviews and triangulation related to marketing strategies based on the 7P marketing mix indicators used by researchers in identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats with the SWOT method. at Restu Bakery Bojonegoro.From this study, the results of the Internal Factor Analysis Summary showed a strength of 1.76 and a weakness of 1.46. Meanwhile, the results of the External Factor Analysis Summary show that the threat is 1.97 and the opportunity is 1.41. In this case, Restu Bakery Bojonegoro occupies the quadrant point I. In this case, a supporting marketing strategy is an aggressive strategy on the various opportunities and strengths of Restu Bakery Bojonegoro.
Metallic nanovoid and nano hemisphere structures fabricated via simple methods to control localized surface plasmon resonances in UV and near IR wavelength regions
Authors: Shimanoe Kohei , Endo Soshi , Matsuyama Tetsuya , Wada Kenji , Okamoto Koichi
Published: March 2021

We introduce metal nanovoid (NV) and metal on metal nano-hemisphere (MoNH) structures to tune the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) for wider wavelength ranges. The NV structures were constructed with metal layers on gallium oxide nano hemisphere (NH) structures, and the MoNH structures were constructed with dielectric layers and metal layers on random silver NH structures. These NH structures were fabricated via thermal annealing of the deposited metal thin films without top-down nanofabrication technologies. We verified both experimentally and numerically that NV and MoNH structures enable flexible tuning of the LSPR in the UV and NIR wavelength regions, respectively.
Paquimeningitis hipertrófica idiopática en un anciano
Authors: Uribe Valencia Mauricio Andrés , Jurado Delgado Janeth
Published: March 2021

Masculino de 71 años, hipertenso, con tabaquismo activo (IPA 51); ingresó a urgencias por disminución progresiva de la agudeza visual bilateral hasta llegar a amaurosis bilateral, no dolor ocular. Asociado a cefalea crónica frontal bilateral, pulsátil. RNM cerebral mostró engrosamiento difuso de la meninge en relación con paquimeningitis. Biopsia de meninge mostró paquimeninge. Se descartaron casusas neoplásicas, infecciosas, autoinmunes, por lo cual se consideró una paquimeningitis hipertrófica idiopática (PHI). 

La paquimeningitis hipertrófica es una entidad clínica rara caracterizada por engrosamiento localizado o difuso de la duramadre, con o sin una inflamación asociada, produce déficit neurológico progresivo por compresión de las estructuras adyacentes (1).

El dolor de cabeza es el síntoma inicial más común, seguido de síntomas oftalmológicos, como pérdida visual y diplopía (2).

Su etiología es multifactorial, en estudios de imagen se encuentra engrosamiento dural en la fosa craneal posterior (2), imitando la torre Eiffel iluminada en noche (signo de Eiffel de noche) (3).
NUCLEAR DEGENERATION AS A BY-PRODUCT OF AGING AND ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Mehendiratta Monica , Vidisha Vidisha , Singh Vikash Kumar , Roy Shubhajit , Khurana Aman
Published: March 2021

Background: The process of aging in the immediate toxic environment occurring in this Industrialized world is detrimental for human body. This
is accelerating aging process and at the cellular level, the toxins present in environment are inducing chromosomal(micronuclei) and nuclear
degenerative changes (karyorrhexis, karyolysis, pyknosis, condensed chromatin). The given study evaluates the effects of aging and environment
on the chromosomal/nuclear degenerative changes, thus affecting the exfoliated cells collected from buccal mucosa.
Methods: The sample included 86 healthy subjects divided into two groups according to age: 46 women aged above 60 years and 40 women of 20-
25 years of age. A questionnaire was prepared to retrieve all the data related to health and drug related history. Buccal smears were prepared and
stained with both Papanicolaou and H&E stain. Hundred cells were counted from each slide to determine the number of micronuclei and other
nuclear degenerative changes.
Results: The number of micronuclei and other nuclear degenerative changes were signicantly higher among the elderly women (p<0.05) when
compared with young women volunteers.
Conclusion: Aging along with environmental factors appear to be detrimental in inducing mutagenic/ genotoxic effects at the cellular level.
Cytological evaluation is clearly indicative of nuclear changes evident with aging.
PULSE OXIMETRY AS SCREENING TEST FOR EARLY-ONSET SEPSIS IN
NEWBORNS IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL
Authors: P Srinadh , Bhanuchand P. , Beeregowda Y.C.
Published: March 2021

Among the major causes Sepsis plays a crucial role in neonatal mortality. Recent studies have shown that hypoxemia, which is reduction of oxygen
saturation in arterial blood is closely related to the neonatal infections. So by detecting these hypoxemic condition of the newborn in the initial few
hours of birth by using pulse oximetry screening ,there was reduction in neonatal mortality and neonatal morbidity rates.A Prospective
Observational study research design was adopted for this study. All asymptomatic newborns born after 35 weeks gestational age were screened on
two occasions using pulse oximetry. Newborns with oxygen saturations below predened thresholds (reading below 90% or the repeat readings
remained between 90 to 94%) were dened as test positive and all these babies underwent a septic screen which included full blood count, Creactive protein, blood cultures and chest x-ray. Test negative newborns were followed up in the out patient department to ascertain if they were
diagnosed to have sepsis in the rst week. A total of 97 eligible newborns were screened. Four (4/97, 4.1%) newborns were tested positive and
among them one baby had signicant radiological abnormality.All test negative newborns were followed up and none had evidence of early onset
sepsisat follow up.This study demonstrates that it is feasible to use pulse oximetry to screen for early onset sepsis in asymptomatic newborns
COVID FINGERS AND TOES: AN INNOCUOUS MANIFESTATION OF SARSCOV-2 INFECTION: CASE REPORT
Authors: Kondekar Santosh , Arickatt Tanya Manish , Soni Anushri
Published: March 2021

Nearly 9 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the patients of SARS-CoV-2 infection have presented with various clinical
manifestations, including dermatological manifestations which are less common. The dermatological ndings which are non-progressive
and clinically insignicant are easily missed as they are not reported to a dermatologist, especially when they are the only
manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is important to understand the signicance of these rashes as some of the immunological
events can have complications like Kawasaki disease. Hereby we present a case of a SARS-CoV-2 positive child who presented with
urticarial rash following 5 days of SARS-CoV-2 infection
RIGA FEDE DISEASE- AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION
Authors: Lakshmanan Somu , Singh Urvashi , Genedi Deepak
Published: March 2021

A 7-year-old female child came to hospital with history of swelling over left side of tongue from 10 days. Swelling was identied accidentally by
her mother. There were no complaints per se from the patient. On examination there was 2x1cm smooth swelling over dorsal surface of the left side
of tongue in anterior one-third. It was a rm swelling with well-dened margins. Magnetic Resonant Imaging of neck with contrast was done which
showed a T1 Hypointense with T2 hyperintense peripherally enhancing lesion of the left genioglossus which was suggestive of Fibroma/Dermoid
cyst/mucous retention cyst. Cyst was excised in toto under General Anaesthesia and sent for Histopathological examination which showed features
of Riga Fede disease (Eosinophilic ulcer of the tongue). Patient was followed up for 3 months and no signs of recurrence were seen.
The Why and How of adopting Zero Trust Model in Organizations
Authors: Nair Anita
Published: March 2021

As organizations move most of their workloads to public cloud and remote work becomes more

prevalent today, enterprise networks become more exposed to threats both from inside and outside

the organization. The traditional Perimeter Security Model assumes that threats are always from the

outside. It assumes that firewalls, proxies, IDS, IPS and other state-of-the-art infrastructure and

software solutions curb most of the cyberattacks. However, there are loopholes in this assumption,

which the Zero Trust Model addresses. This paper discusses the Zero Trust Model and it’s mandates

and evaluates the model based on the various implementations by the leading industry players like

Google and Microsoft.