bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural Language to SQL: Automated Query Formation Using NLP Techniques
Authors: Y. Sri Lalitha , G. Prashanthi , Puranam Sravani , Vemula Sheethal Reddy , Doulathbaji Preethi , Bellamkonda Anusha
Published: June 2023

In this era of information world, given any topic, we are able to get relevant data or documents at a mouse click. The flexibility that internet provides is the user friendly language or Natural Language to search for required topic. Natural Language Querying and Retrieval has made internet popular. It is implicit for business user to understand what the business data is indicating to find better business opportunities. Querying for required data the business users are using SQL. To effectively Query such systems, the Business users has to master the Language. But many business users may not be aware of the SQL language or may not be aware of the databases and some users feel difficulty to write the long SQL Queries. Therefore, it is equally important to query the database very easily. The work here presents a case study to help the business users to type a query in Natural Language, which then converts into SQL statement and process this SQL query against the Databases and get the expected result. This work proposes QCNER approach to extract SQL properties from Natural Language Query. The proposed approach after the application of SMOTE technique depicts 92.31 accuracy over the existing models.1
Evaluation of Curcumin Nanoparticles against Rabbit Skin Infection
Authors: Fatthi Dalal Abdullah
Published: June 2023

Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound with multiple beneficial effects in human health. It has shown a remarkable anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. The limitations of curcumin are primarily in its bioavailability. Curcumin nanoparticles is suggested to reduce the limitation of bulk curcumin and probably enhance its desired effect. Curcumin was turned into nanoparticles by using simple wet-milling method. The characterization of curcumin nanoparticles indicated the presence of curcumin in size less than 100 nm. The effect of both curcumin and curcumin nanoparticles on wound healing was investigated in rabbits, in paraffin wax. Rabbits whom under curcumin and curcumin nanoparticles have shown faster healing from day 5 compared to control rabbits whom showed a proximate advancement after day 7. On day 14, rabbits whom treated with bulk and nanosized curcumin have shown a perfect healing with no sign of infection. Furthermore, both bulk and nanosized curcumin have shown a comparable antioxidant effect with ascorbic acid. Furthermore, curcumin nanoparticles were exhibited a slightly powerful antioxidant effect compared to curcumin.
Estimation of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Cardiac Tissue of Gallus gallus Within Polluted Areas
Authors: Mahmood Bashar Shaker
Published: June 2023

Objective: this research investigates the concentration of heavy metal (Pb, Fe, Cu, Cd and Zn) bio accumulation in cardiac tissue in samples taken from areas near oil fields and brick factories. Method: Atomic absorption spectrometry analysis of powdered, air-dried, acid-digested materials to determine lead, cadmium, zinc, iron, and copper concentrations.

Results: The result showed that Zn and Cd were within normal range for samples from both studied areas. Whereas, Cu and Fe with high concentration, Pb in the other hand result showed the concentration of the mineral in samples form brick factories where within normal limits while in samples from oil fields were above the normal limits. Furthermore, the concentration was higher in samples taken from oil fields than those of the brick factories.

Conclusion: It has been shown that some of these metals were estimated within normal concentration a further investigation on another animals and human are recommended to consider these metals are safe and are not considered as hazard to human health. In contrast other metals were estimated with high concentration that reported by other studies to be hazard on human health.
Performance Comparison of Depth Limited Search and A* Algorithm: A Case Study
Authors: Ram Kumar R.P. , Sri Sai Vadlapatla Tarun , Azmeera Siddarda , Komaraneni Adityaram , Jula Abhishek
Published: June 2023

Search algorithms are an essential component of many artificial intelligence applications. Depth Limited Search and A* Search are two prominent search algorithms that have been widely used in various domains, including robotics, game playing, and natural language processing. The research paper presents an overview of these two algorithms, their architecture, pros and cons, and the areas of their application. A detailed comparison of these two algorithms in terms of their performance, efficiency, and effectiveness in solving various search problems is also analysed. Finally, the paper presents a case study for two approaches. Experimental results depicted that after repetitive execution of each algorithm and graph data, it was detected that while the A-star search was able to find the cheaper cost almost always, Depth Limited Search was able to find the route faster with limited node visits.
Safe Driving Enabled using IoT
Authors: Deepthi P. , Azmeera Siddarda , Tarang Goggi Ruthvik , Komaraneni Adityaram , Koutilya Kashyap
Published: June 2023

Driving can be an enjoyable experience, but it can quickly turn dangerous when the roads are not properly maintained. Potholes, speed bumps, and objects on the road can all pose a risk to drivers, especially in poor weather conditions. Potholes, in particular, are a common problem caused by weather and poor maintenance, and they can lead to serious accidents. While automobile manufacturers do not provide features to detect potholes, a simple ultrasonic sensor can be a valuable tool for alerting drivers to their presence. The objective of this project is to use an ultrasonic sensor to detect potholes and alert drivers, particularly in risky weather conditions, to make driving safer. The importance of this project is underscored by the fact that potholes and objects left on the road have led to thousands of deaths in recent years.
Secure Home Calling Bell
Authors: Polepaka Sanjeeva , Kumar R.P. Ram , Kumar P. Likith , Vajja Karthik
Published: June 2023

The Secure Home Calling Bell focuses on home security, a very beneficial IoT application that they are leveraging to develop a low-cost security system for residential and commercial applications. An ESP32 cam, ESP32 board, a flame sensor, and a PIR sensor are the components of the project. When a visitor approaches the door, the secure house project's initial phase sends the user a notification that reads, "Someone's At Your Door." An ESp32 camera that would be connected to a calling bell for surveillance whenever the user's notification was received makes up the project's next step. An additional component of the IoT project is a flame sensor-based fire alarm system.
Optimization of process variables on Electrical Discharge Machining of novel Al7010/B4C/BN hybrid metal matrix nanocomposite
Authors: Dirisenapu Gopichand , salavaravu Laxmanaraju , kolli Murahari , Bandi Rajyalakshmi , sahu Ashish kumar , Satyanarayana Kosaraju
Published: June 2023

In this paper, determination of optimum EDM input variables like discharge current (DC), pulse on time (Pon), pulse off time (Poff), and gap voltage (GV) on responses like material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) using Taguchi technique on the novel Al7010/2%B4C/2%BN hybrid metal matrix nanocomposite (HMMNC) manufactured through ultrasonic assisted stir casting (UASC) route. The various experiments were planned and carried out L16 orthogonal array and regression equations were established by using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to examine the impact of pulse factors. The outcomes exposed that discharge current greatest effect factor on MRR and SR was found with % contribution of 82.07% and 86.86%. It is also identified that the optimum level conditions of pulse factors for MRR and SR is A4B4C1D1 and A1B1C4D4. The outcomes were further determined by utilizing confirmatory experiment. The machined surface morphology was observed through Scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Bibliography analysis of Multilevel Inverters (2021-2022)
Authors: Janiga Srinivas Rao , Tummala Suresh Kumar , Al-Kharsan Ibrahim H. , Faizan Ruby
Published: June 2023

This article presents bibliography of multilevel inverters from 2021-2022. The list of journal papers relating to multilevel inverters is included. The bibliography includes papers from 2021-2022.
Green Technology and Environmental Sustainability in The Tourism Sector: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Manmohan Chaudhry , Nikhat Mushir , Mohammad Nizamuddin , Gera Rajat , Pathani Ashish
Published: June 2023

Given the extensive number of empirical studies pertaining to this subject, a bibliometric study was required to create an overview of the literature on green technology and environmental sustainability. The objective of the study is to identify the most cited research journals. Six research questions were developed to study the number of publications per year, the number of citations per article, the country-wise contribution, etc. Using a bibliometric analysis, this study analyses and summarises the related literature from 1997–2023. The paper provides an all-around intellectual structure for the literature. It was found out that the research paper by Sharifi et al. (2020), entitled “The COVID-19 pandemic: Impacts on cities and major lessons for urban planning, design, and management”, published in the journal "The Science of the Total Environment," was most cited journal. China contributed the most as far as green technology and environmental sustainability are concerned. It was also found out that most of the papers were published in 2020.
Performance evaluation of SRAM design using different field effect transistors
Authors: C. Venkataiah , Y. Mallikarjuna Rao , Jayamma Manjula , M.K. Linga Murthy , S. Feroz Shah Ahmed , Alzubaidi Laith H.
Published: June 2023

SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) is one of the type of memory which holds the data bit without periodic refreshment. Compared with DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) which requires periodic refreshment of data bit stored in it. Unlike Dynamic RAM, Static RAM uses a flip-flop circuit to store each data bit, whereas Dynamic RAM uses a capacitor to store the data bit. But capacitor has tendency of losing charge which requires periodic refreshment. Thus SRAM perform better and have more stability than DRAM especially in idle state. In this work, we analysed the performance of the SRAM cell which are built with different field effect transistors and calculated the Write and Read delays, PDP (Power Delay Product) and Static Noise Margin (SNM) for all types of transistors. SRAM cell which is based on the CNT technology with optimized parameters of CNT density, CNT diameter and CNTFET flat band voltage has the better performance and stability compared with other device technologies. Optimized CNTFET SRAM cell compared with the MOSFET based SRAM the write and read delays are improved by 85.8% and 94.3% respectively. All the simulations have been carried out using HSPICE tool for 32nm technology node.
Design of Wireless Power Transfer System for PMBLDC Motor driven Autonomous Vehicle
Authors: Bobba Phaneendra Babu , Chinthamaneni Sai Surya Vidul , D Vedavyas Manjunath , Alkhayyat Ahmed Hussein , Pandey Divya
Published: June 2023

In the modern age of technology where everything is powered via physical wires, once considered a technical marvel has now become a bane. Wireless power transfer is the key to the future of power transfer, in this paper a 1kW WPT system is designed and simulated for an PMBLDC motor driven autonomous vehicle. This paper focuses in detail about the variation in performance of the coils and the overall system when ferrite cores and aluminum shielding is considered along with the coils. It provides a comprehensive analysis on the misalignment of transmitter and receiver coils in different orientations and distances. The results indicate a significant increase in power transfer and efficiency of the system when extra components such as cores and shielding are also implemented. It is oriented towards increasing the efficiency of powering autonomous vehicles used in various sectors such as automobiles, information technology, aerospace, robotics, precision and domestic equipment, etc.
Comparison Analysis of Semiconductor Characterisation topologies using Energy Recirculation Concept
Authors: Babu Bobba Phaneedra , Reddy Allem Rama Krishna , Pratap Gujjula , Reddy Murra Harshavardhana , Abbas A. Hussien , Kumar Raj , Praveen J.
Published: June 2023

Energy recirculation concept in semiconductor device characterization can increase power handling capacity of the source and it will reduce naturally existing high electrical stresses on device under test. The proposed energy recirculation and storage circuits (ERSC) can be employed as a device in-situ testing unit, by storing and recirculating the energy of the storage elements. ERSC enables devices to be checked at full-power pressures without being attached to a high-power load or requiring high power source. ERSC has four active states of operations achieved by the two active switches of the proposed converter. This converter can function in four different modes of operation, namely - soft start, magnetize, charge, and energy recirculation modes. Another advantage of this converter is that the two circuits can be constructed to work synchronously or asynchronously, allowing for the testing of faster or slower devices depending on the performance of the device being tested. In this paper double pulse test, single ended buck boost and cascaded boost -buck ERSC converters are simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK and based on the results cascaded boost-buck ERSC having better performance compared to existing testing methods.
Structural behaviour of triple blended high-performance concrete
Authors: Babu Repati Mohan , Satyanarayana G.V.V. , C Vivek Kumar
Published: June 2023

After water, concrete was the material for construction that is used on the largest scale on the planet, and as an outcome of technological development, concrete's qualities have evolved over time. A study was carried out to investigate the potential use of mineral admixture as a partial replacement in high performance concrete. Since they can significantly improve concrete strength and durability properties when compared to regular Portland cement supplemental cementations materials (SCM) like Alccofine (AF) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) have all been used as cement replacements on a large scale over the past three decades. As a result, HPC can be produced using lower water to powder ratios by including other cementitious materials as admixtures. In this project phase, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and Alccofine (AF) have been employed in varied weight ratios to substitute cement to produce high strength M40 grade concrete for 7, 14, and 28 days of compressive strength (CS) as well as split tensile strength (STS) the percentages of replacement of AF of 5%, 7.5% & 10% also GGBFS percentages are 10%, 12.5 % and 15% respectively used in this project work.
Studies on workability and compressive strength of ternary blended concrete
Authors: Divya Pammi , Srinivas T. , Mahathi Tummala
Published: June 2023

With the increasing infrastructure across the world demand for concrete rising abnormally, to produce concrete, cement is the very vital element which binds the materials together. But primary issue arises to environment by the discharge of harmful gases like CO2, Sulphur etc… at the time of production of cement. A mineral dmixtures, a type of cementitious substance, were employed as a partial or complete replacement for cement to aid with this problem. These materials not only reduced cement usage but also improved the durability of concrete. Partial replacement of cement in concrete is an inventive and elective development material delivered by substance activity of inorganic particles. This paper is mainly focus on compressive strength of a M40 grade Ternary blended concrete made with cement and cementitious materials like Fly ash and Wollastonite. Fly ash is a industrial bi-product materials used as binder material whereas wollastonite is a naturally occurring mineral grounded to fine powder can be exploited as partial replacement to cement. The mix design has been developed for conventional concrete of M40 grade with required workability. It has been observed that the compressive strength is increased slightly and the workability is decresed with partial replacement of cement by Wollastonite in combination of flyash. The workability is decreased with increasing fly ash and wollastonite, but it is in the required range at 50% cement, 30% flyash and 20% wollastonite.
Stabilisation of soil using rice husk ash (RHA) and cement
Authors: Charyulu S. Venkat , Akhila C. , Vineetha Ch. , Akanksha A.
Published: June 2023

Most of the soil available for infrastructure development is not suitable for construction. It is a real challenge to overcome the difficulties faced with the problematic soil. We need to get better of difficulties experienced with those soils. In India around The annual output of RHA is 31 million tons..It contains around 85%-90% silica which pollutes the environment and also causes health hazards.As it is producing in large amount every year, there is a need to reduce the environmental pollution with produced Rice Husk Ash(RHA). Generally properties of the RHA are similar to the properties of natural soil, we are making an attempt to mixing soil and Rice Husk Ash to it. As the RHA is a non cementitious material, in experiment has added cement to the soil. In this work, while the cement is kept at a constant amount of soil in percentage, the Rice Husk Ash is taken in various percentages like Five , Ten and fifteen percentages by the amount of the soil. The soil index traced out with soil samples were tested. The objective shows this work is the safe disposal of solid waste (RHA) on one side and increasing the stability of soil which is not suitable for construction to make it suitable.
Litracon: An alternative source for conventional concrete
Authors: Sreevani Jetti , Roshni Tellam , Saipriya Erram , Krishna P.V.V.S.S.R.
Published: June 2023

The consumption of artificial light, especially in urban areas, leads to global warming. As a remedy this light transmitting concrete acts as a solution for global warming. Light transmitting concrete is made with cement ,water , very fine sand and thousands of optical fibres reinforced in concrete from one face to another face which guide the light passing through it. Light transmitting concrete is a concrete that is improved in terms of transparency by installing optical fibres into concrete. We used 3% of optical fibre in this concrete. Due to its pellucidity property, it is also called translucent concrete. The application of light transmitting concrete which allows light to transmit through non-transparent concrete reduces energy in closed environments and global warming. Translucent concrete is used in fine architecture as a decorative material. It has all these properties which an eco-friendly technique should have to keep up the green building concept into consideration. The present investigation about the light translucent concrete by using optical fibre and comparing it with conventional concrete. Compressive strength test is performed on the concrete specimen. Utilising 3% more optical fibres enhanced the compressive strength. compressive strength of concrete cube depends on the diameter of the holes in the mold & the diameter of the optical fibre. It is directly proportional to its compressive strength.
Design of concrete beam reinforced with GFRP bars as per ACI codal provisions
Authors: Reddy R. Venkata Suraj , Reddy V. Srinivasa , Rao M.V. Seshagiri , Shrihari S. , Kadhim Sokaina Issa , Awasthi Monisha
Published: June 2023

This document provides design principles for concrete beams reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars per the ACI 440.1R-15 regulation. One of the main advantages of using glass fiber reinforced polymer rods instead of traditional steel reinforced rods is their lighter weight and higher corrosion resistance. However, the bending failure mode of FRP reinforced concrete (FRP-RC) beams is brittle rather than ductile because the elasticity of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is linear until failure and the elongation at break is small. For FRP-RC elements, concrete crushing compression failure, which gives various warnings before failure, is the preferred failure mode. In other words, unlike the usual design practice for reinforced concrete (steel-RC) beams, for FRP-RC beams, an over-reinforced structure is preferable to an under-reinforced structure. In addition, since the FRP RC member has low rigidity of the FRP rod, it bends more and cracks larger than the steel RC member. These factors limit the field of application of FRP. Here is a design example of a rectangular beam with tension reinforcement according to ACI regulations.
Stress-strain behaviour of unconfined and confined hybrid glass/steel fibre self-compacting concrete
Authors: Rao A. Rama Krishna , Ruben N. , Reddy V. Srinivasa , Sai Y. Rama Gnanendra , Rao M.V. Seshagiri , Kadhim Sokaina Issa , Sharma Meera
Published: June 2023

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of transverse reinforcing bars of self-compacting concrete mix (PSCC) and hybrid glass fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete mix (HFRSCC) grade M 40 under monotonically increasing axial compression. was performed for cylinders enclosed in . The behavior of SCC cylinders surrounded by a circular ring and having different volume ratios and clearances was compared under axial compression. In this work, we present a mathematical model developed to predict the stress-strain behavior of SCC and FRSCC under constrained and unconstrained conditions and validate the model using experimental results. To develop SCC, Nan Su blending method based on filling rate 1.12 and 1.14, S/A ratio 0.50 and 0.57 is applied. The steel and glass fiber usage in the hybrid fiber reinforced SCC mixture is assumed to be 1% and 0.05% of the concrete volume respectively. M 40 grade plain self-compacting concrete mixes (PSCC) and hybrid glass/steel fiber reinforced self-compacting concrete mixes (HFRSCC) constrained to different volume ratios, stresses, strains, elastic moduli, plasticity ratios, ductility ratios, and unlimited strength ratios ) has been evaluated experimentally. The following conclusions can be drawn from the stress-strain diagram: 1) Maximum load-bearing capacity and strain at peak stress are higher for his HFRSCC than for PSCC. 2) The presence of steel and fiberglass increases the strength bearing capacity and allows it to withstand greater loads at peak loads. 3) If the containment is in the form of a lateral ring boundary, the effect of fibers is almost negligible. This clearly shows that HFRSCC has a stronger containment effect compared to his PSCC. The strength confinement factor is lower for HFRSCC, suggesting that HFRSCC offers a superior confinement factor compared with his PSCC.
Performance analysis of 4-bit ternary adder and multiplier using CNTFET for high speed arithmetic circuits
Authors: C. Venkataiah , Y. Mallikarjuna Rao , Jayamma Manjula , S. Rambabu , M.K. Linga Murthy , Alzubaidi Laith H. , Mishra Sanjay
Published: June 2023

Multiple valued logic (MVL) can represent an exponentially higher number of data/information compared to the binary logic for the same number of logic bits. Compared to the conventional devices, the emerging device technologies such as Graphene Nano Ribbon Field Effect Transistor (GNRFET) and carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNTFET) appears to be very promising for designing MVL logic gates and arithmetic circuits due to some exceptional electrical properties such as the ability to control the threshold voltage. This variation of the threshold voltage is one of the prescribed techniques to achieve multiple voltage levels to implement the MVL circuit.This work presents a 4-input ternary adder using carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNTFET). Many researchers have been done work on implementation of ternary adders and multipliers. But no one has done the comparison of this proposed ternary adder with different types of nano transistors. Hence this work has been proposed a design of low power and high speed 4-input adder which will be useful for designing of fast ternary multipliers. All the proposed designs have been simulated using emerging device such as CNTFET at 32nm technology node. From the simulations, we have calculated the power consumptions of the proposed designs, carry propagation delay and power delay product for the CNTFET circuits. It has been observed that CNTFET based proposed logic circuits given a better performance than the conventional logical circuits.
Why can’t Siri sing? Cultural narratives that constrain female singing voices in AI
Authors: Lawson Francesca R. Sborgi
Published: June 2023

Despite the remarkable technological accomplishments in the areas of speaking and singing in AI research, this paper builds upon James W. Carey’s premise that technology is a totem for culture (1990), arguing that YouTube listeners sometimes experience highly charged emotional responses, such as anxiety, pleasure, and musical chills, when listening to the singing voices of Siri, Alexa, and Sophia the robot—responses that reveal an underlying cultural narrative that female singing voices (even robotic ones) are simultaneously fascinating and frightening. This narrative supports Kate Manne’s definition of misogyny as an enforcement strategy (2018), which is operative in several ways female computer voices are controlled and contained. Examples of policing mechanisms inherent in creating and responding to female-gendered computer voices include (1) maintaining age-old stereotypes about singing women, (2) programming virtual assistants to be servile, and (3) encouraging ridicule in YouTube videos to downplay the fear that has been associated with female singing voices since the dawn of Western antiquity. Thus, while research in AI continues to develop technologically, examining underlying cultural narratives about women’s singing voices may be at least as important as developing sophisticated algorithms in shaping future directions for creating female-sounding vocality in AI.
How plane are plane shock waves in solids
Authors: Horie Y. , Kittell D. , Sakano M.
Published: June 2023

The notion of plane shock waves is a macroscopic, very fruitful idealization of near discontinuous disturbance propagating at supersonic speed. Such a picture is comparable to the picture of shorelines seen from a very high altitude. When viewed at the grain scale where the structure of solids is inherently heterogeneous and stochastic, features of shock waves are non-laminar and field variables, such as particle velocity and pressure, fluctuate. This paper reviews select aspects of such fluctuating nonequilibrium features of plane shock waves in solids with focus on grain scale phenomena and raises the need for a paradigm change to achieve a deeper understanding of plane shock waves in solids.
Gate electrostatic controllability enhancement in nanotube gate all around field effect transistor
Authors: Qin Laixiang , Li Chunlai , Wei Yiqun , Xie Ziang , He Jin
Published: June 2023

Recently, short channel effects (SCE) and power consumption dissipation problems impose tremendous challenges that need imperative actions to be taken to deal with for field effect transistor to further scale down as semiconductor technology enters into sub-10 nm technology node. From 3 nm technology node and beyond, gate all around field effect transistor steps onto the history stage attributed to its improved SCE suppressing ability thanks to surrounding gate structure. Herein, we demonstrate the super electrostatic control ability of a double-gated nanotube gate all around field effect transistor (DG NT GAAFET) in comparison with nanotube (NT GAAFET) and nanowire gate all around field effect transistor (NW GAAFET) with the same device parameters designed. Ion boosts of 62% and 57% have been obtained in DG NT GAAFET in comparison with those of NT GAAFET and NW GAAFET. In addition, substantially suppressed SCEs have been obtained in DG NT GAAFET due to enhanced electrostatic control, which are certificated by improved Ioff, subthreshold swing (SS), and Ion/Ioff ratio obtained. On the other hand, the Ion of NT GAAFET is comparable with that of NW GAA-FET. Whereas its Ioff is 1 order smaller, SS is almost two times smaller compared with those of NW GAA-FET, manifesting the meliority of nanotube channel structure. In the end, the robustness of nanotube channel structure, especially double gated one, against channel length (Lg) scaling has been verified with Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) simulation study.
Numerical simulation on the behavior of a negative streamer encountered with a cloud of positive ions in atmospheric pressure plasma jet
Authors: Jia Pengying , Wan Wenjie , Zhang Lulu , Ran Junxia , Wu Kaiyue , Wu Jiacun , Pang Xuexia , Li Xuechen
Published: June 2023

Plasma jet normally operates in a regime of positive or negative streamers. Different propagating behaviors have been investigated for positive streamers. However, there are few studies on negative streamers. In this paper, a two-dimensional fluid model is used to simulate the behavior of a negative streamer encountered with a cloud of positive ions. Simulation results indicate that the negative streamer behaves like a free streamer when the ion cloud has a low charge density. After initiation near the needle tip, the streamer propagates along the axis, passes through the ion cloud, and finally reaches the anode vicinity along a straight line. When the streamer reaches the ion cloud, its head radius (R0) is investigated as a function of parameters, including the voltage amplitude and the gap width, as well as the charge density, axial position, and spatial size of the ion cloud. At a given moment, electric field strength and electron density near the streamer head increase with increasing charge density of the ion cloud. In the case of a high charge-density ion cloud, after a primary streamer propagates some distance along the axis, a positive secondary streamer, and a negative secondary streamer start to propagate from the cloud to the cathode and the anode, respectively.
“Reflection on language”
Authors: Pedrazzini Luciana
Published: June 2023

At the end of the 1970s, the conservative Italian
scenario of foreign language teaching witnessed various innovations.
The process of change was prompted by a reform of the national
school syllabus for lower secondary school that advocated a new and
comprehensive approach to language education. After an overview of
the main tenets underlying this approach, the chapter focuses on
“reflection on language”, one of the cornerstones of the reform. It
then reports on an investigation of how reflection on language was
implemented in a corpus of communication-oriented ELT school
textbooks published in Italy in the 1980s and 1990s. In an attempt
to understand the perspectives of those involved, leading figures
and textbook authors of the period were also interviewed. In spite
of the authors’ claims about introducing new features of language
reflection, textbook analysis shows how their implementation in fact
swung between innovative and traditional options.
Curriculum innovation through concept borrowing
Authors: Pu Shi
Published: June 2023

This chapter analyses how the concept of learner
autonomy was incorporated into the national college English
curricula in China between 1978 and 2007. Adopting Quentin Skinner’s
intentionalist approach, it examines this concept in relation to
linguistic convention and practical context in China, discussing its
meaning in the Chinese context and the intentionality of promoting
this concept for curriculum innovation. The findings reveal that
learner autonomy was taken to refer mainly to students’ ability to
learn on their own outside the classroom. The importation of this
concept has pushed teachers and policy makers to attend to students’
individual needs, but it has also manipulated dominant academic and
pedagogical discourse in China in a way that steered curriculum
innovation away from its original aim.
Scale anchoring methodology for developing revised performance
level descriptors for the TOEFL iBT® test
Authors: Wang Lin , Papageorgiou Spiros
Published: June 2023

A scale anchoring approach (Beaton & Allen, 1992) was initially used to
develop empirically-based listening and reading performance descriptors
for the TOEFL iBT® test, to help interpret scores. To further
facilitate score interpretation, scores were also mapped to the Common
European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels through a standard setting
study (Tannenbaum & Wylie,
2008), with revision to the score mapping results as
additional data became available and feedback from score users was
received (Papageorgiou et al.,
2015). Although the two approaches, score mapping and scale
anchoring, helped score interpretation from distinct perspectives, they
also created some confusion for score users in that the performance
levels from the two approaches were not fully aligned. The current study
adopted a unified approach (Powers
et al., 2017) to revise the performance descriptors of the
scale anchoring approach by defining the proficiency levels based on the
most recent CEFR score mapping results (Papageorgiou et al., 2015).  The performance
descriptors evolving from this unified approach aimed to help us to
address score users’ needs for score interpretation by referencing the
widely known CEFR proficiency levels and by developing performance
descriptors that were meaningful and relevant to the TOEFL iBT test.
Mapping TOEFL® Essentials™ speaking and writing scores
to the CEFR levels
Authors: Davis Larry , Gomez Pablo Garcia , Li Shuhong , Manna Venessa F.
Published: June 2023

This chapter describes a study to map scores from a new
English language proficiency assessment, the TOEFL®
Essentials™ test, to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
The project started with a comparison of content between the TOEFL
Essentials test and the CEFR descriptors, which established a claim that
scores were relevant to language ability as described in the CEFR. A
standard setting study, using the Performance Profile method, was then
conducted to establish cut scores for each CEFR level. Additional
information to support the reasonableness of these cut scores is also
reported.
English Complex Words
Authors: Twardzisz Piotr
Published: June 2023

English Complex Words is a lively, essential companion for multilingual explorations of word-formation processes, both in English and across 40 other languages. It offers today’s broadest available coverage of English prefixation, suffixation and compounding. Comprising a treasury of real language items, this book offers students a unique chance to conduct their own research and analyses, using a goldmine of carefully-selected authentic examples and corpus data. Readers will become familiar with 96 affixes and 13 compound types by working through thought-provoking morphological cases and their construction patterns. Through these challenging and hands-on activities, junior researchers identify morphological nuances among multiple languages. Instructors in multilingual classrooms can find satisfying activities to address the needs of international students. This academically stimulating coursebook can serve as a core text for Word Formation and Morphology courses. As a supplemental source, it may suit a range of Linguistics courses directed at both graduate and undergraduate students.
The Effect of Decision Aid on Satisfaction With Decision and Anxiety Among Women With Abnormal Cervical Screening Results
Authors: Baharvand Saba , Asghari-Jafarabadi Mohammad , Nourizadeh Roghaiyeh , Sattarzadeh Jahdi Niloufar , Mehrabi Esmat , Vaezi Maryam
Published: June 2023

Background

Most women in the face of stressful situations such as risk of a cancer diagnosis (abnormal Papanicolaou smear results) need guidance to choose the appropriate method to follow the diagnosis process, but few studies have identified appropriate interventions to support these women.

Objective

To determine the effect of decision aid on anxiety and satisfaction with decisions (SWD) regarding the type of follow-up method after receiving an abnormal Papanicolaou smear result.

Methods

This interventional study was conducted on women referred to the oncology clinic in Tabriz, Iran. Women were assigned to the intervention (n = 27) and control groups (n = 27) in a ratio of 1:1 using blocked randomization. The intervention group received a decision aid booklet. Participants in both groups completed questionnaires assessing demographic and obstetric characteristics, anxiety, SWD, and shared decision-making before and after the intervention.

Results

The mean score for SWD in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group after the intervention (median, 6.43 with 95% confidence interval of 3.11–7.76;P= .03). There was no significant difference between groups in the mean score of anxiety after intervention (median, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, −0.5 to 2.70;P= .19).

Conclusion

A decision aid can increase SWD among women with abnormal results in their cervical cancer screening.

Implications for Practice

It is recommended that healthcare providers use decision aid tools to support and guide patients.
Biology: historical and developmental trends
Authors: Ozurumba-Dwight Leo , Ibemenuga Keziah Nwamaka , Kalu Ukpai , Udosen Edward
Published: June 2023

The history of Biology at its earliest periods cannot be described without mentioning the roles played by Aristotle, Hippocrates, Galen and, Theophrastus in ancient Greco-Roman world, and Leonardo DaVinci in Italy among others, who did studies that helped ignite and consequently shape the early periods of the study of Biology as a field of natural science. 

This underwent progress in growth, developments of new and advanced tools, and methods in its study. It enhanced emergence of the era of seeking to understand life much better from the cellular and sub-cellular levels. Biology has grown over the scores of decades from mare study of organisms in their gross structure and functions. This was accompanied with correlating them with functions that are observed into seeking to understand these organisms at deeper perspectives from their molecules and ultra-structures, such as through emerged fields like Molecular Biology, Metabolomics and Synthetic Biology and Cell Biology)features. It has opened up deeper insights to support better understanding of life features. The resultant effects have been emergence of new fields under Biology, using advanced techniques to study life. These has supported biological investigations with improved drugs, varieties of crops and animals, industrial bio-products like enzymes, hormones, bio-polymers that are more environmentally friendly and more robust ways to study our ecosystem and tackle emerging environmental problems. 

In this review we present its historical overview, developments are presented to provide an overview for trends in biology over the ages.
Dark-Field Chest Radiography Outperforms Conventional Chest Radiography for the Diagnosis and Staging of Pulmonary Emphysema
Authors: Urban Theresa , Sauter Andreas P. , Frank Manuela , Willer Konstantin , Noichl Wolfgang , Bast Henriette , Schick Rafael , Herzen Julia , Koehler Thomas , Gassert Florian T. , Bodden Jannis H. , Fingerle Alexander A. , Gleich Bernhard , Renger Bernhard , Makowski Marcus R. , Pfeiffer Franz , Pfeiffer Daniela
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Dark-field chest radiography (dfCXR) has recently reached clinical trials. Here we compare dfCXR to conventional radiography for the detection and staging of pulmonary emphysema.

Materials and Methods

Subjects were included after a medically indicated computed tomography (CT) scan, showing either no lung impairments or different stages of emphysema. To establish a ground truth, all CT scans were assessed by 3 radiologists assigning emphysema severity scores based on the Fleischner Society classification scheme.

Participants were imaged at a commercial chest radiography device and at a prototype for dfCXR, yielding both attenuation-based and dark-field images. Three radiologists blinded to CT score independently assessed images from both devices for presence and severity of emphysema (no, mild, moderate, severe).

Statistical analysis included evaluation of receiver operating characteristic curves and pairwise comparison of adjacent Fleischner groups using an area under the curve (AUC)–based z test with a significance level of 0.05.

Results

A total of 88 participants (54 men) with a mean age of 64 ± 12 years were included. Compared with conventional images (AUC = 0.73), readers were better able to identify emphysema with images from the dark-field prototype (AUC = 0.85, P = 0.005). Although ratings of adjacent emphysema severity groups with conventional radiographs differed only for trace and mild emphysema, ratings based on images from the dark-field prototype were different for trace and mild, mild and moderate, and moderate and confluent emphysema.

Conclusions

Dark-field chest radiography is superior to conventional chest radiography for emphysema diagnosis and staging, indicating the technique's potential as a low-dose diagnostic tool for emphysema assessment.
Postoperative Spinal 18F-FDG PET Pseudoprogression Mimicking Malignancy
Authors: Liu Penghao , Huang Jing , Lu Jie , Chen Zan , Duan Wanru
Published: June 2023

A 60-year-old woman presented with left upper limb weakness. Spinal MRI revealed C2–C3 heterogeneous mass with no hypermetabolic foci on 18F-FDG PET. Total resection was performed, and the pathology showed gliosis. Her limb weakness worsened 3 months after surgery. Spinal MRI revealed long intramedullary mass from medulla oblongata to C5, which showed obvious hypermetabolism under 18F-FDG PET with an SUVmax of 7.11, but 18F-FET PET indicated mild hypermetabolism with an SUVmax of 2.29. Malignancy was suspected, and C2–C4 biopsy was performed. The pathology results confirmed the diagnosis of gliosis, and the postoperative spinal 18F-FDG PET results were considered pseudoprogression.
Association between Healthcare Resources Inputs and Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator Adherence Rate among Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kang Bo , Zheng Suxi , Yang Xin , Wang Chun-Juan , Gu Hong-Qiu , Li Zi-Xiao , Wang Yong-Jun
Published: June 2023

Background

Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator (IV rt-PA) significantly improves AIS patients’ functional outcomes within the treatment window, yet the usage of IV rt-PA among AIS patients are substantially lower in China than in developed countries. Healthcare resource utilization manages effective treatment patterns for patients who are adherent to IV rt-PA. This study investigates the association between healthcare resource inputs and IV rt-PA adherence and the impact of Gross Regional Product (GRP) on IV rt-PA.

Methods

1,456 hospitals from 31 provinces with 158,003 acute ischemic stroke patients who had received IV rt-PA between 2015-2019 were recruited by the Chinese Stroke Center Alliance. The study outcome was the adherence rate of IV rt-PA in each hospital. Healthcare resource input was identified from three aspects: human, material, and economic. Multivariable linear regression was conducted by adjusting healthcare system characteristics and by further adjustment of GRP.

Results

The median (interquartile range) of IV rt-PA rate was 19.1% (8.6% -34.6%). Physician-nurse ratio (ß=0.023, p<0.001), nurse-bed ratio (ß=0.0343, p<0.001), and total health expenditure (ß=0.00002, p<0.001) were positively associated with the IV rt-PA adherence rate after controlling healthcare system factors. Through additional adjusting of GRP, only health expenditure was significantly positively associated with IV rt-PA adherence rate (ß=0.000018, p<0.001).

Conclusions

More health spending and being equipped with equally proportional physician-nurses and nurse-bed combinations in the provincial hospital will increase adherence to IV rt-PA among AIS patients. The difference in GRP among provinces may stimulate hospitals to provide more healthcare input from the workforce, thus indirectly increasing the usage of IV rt-PA.
Molecular Investigation of DENV serotypes in the dengue outbreak of 2022 in Nepal
Authors: Katuwal Nishan , Shrestha Aastha , Ranjitkar Urusha , Jakibanjar Suraj , Madhup Surendra Kumar , Tamrakar Dipesh , Shrestha Rajeev
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Dengue, a viral infection highly prevalent in tropical regions, exhibits local variations in risk that are influenced by a combination of climatic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. The disease is caused by four distinct yet closely related serotypes of the dengue virus: DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to identify the different serotypes of dengue virus responsible for the 2022 outbreak in Nepal, where dengue has been prevalent since 2006 but with limited availability of molecular information on the serotypes.

Methodology

Serum samples from suspected dengue patients visiting Dhulikhel Hospital were analyzed using Dengue Ag and IgM/IgG Ab Kit test, for the presence of IgG/IgM antibodies or NS1 Ag. The positive samples were stored at -80 °C, and 89 samples were selected for further analysis. RNA was extracted from those positive samples using the Zymo Quick RNA Viral Kit, and RT-PCR was performed using the Sacace Dengue Real Genotype qPCR kit to identify the dengue virus serotypes present.

Results

The study included 89 samples, of which a higher percentage of sero-positivity was observed in females (52%) compared to males. Positive cases were distributed in 14 different districts, with the highest percentage (58.4%) in Kavre. Molecular investigation, of 53 out of 89 serologically positive samples, by qPCR revealed that DENV1 was the predominant serotype, followed by DEN3 (24.5%) and DENV2 (16.9%). DENV4 was not detected in any of the samples. The average Ct value of all serotypes was 17.6, with DENV3 having the lowest Ct value of 16.6, indicating a high viremia.

Conclusion

Our study, although limited in its coverage of Nepal, has provided molecular information on the serotypes responsible for the 2022 dengue outbreak. The high prevalence of DENV1 was observed, while prevalence of DENV3 was accompanied by high viral load. This information provided valuable insight into the circulating serotypes of the virus in the region.