bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TFP Bioeconomy Impact post Covid-19 on the agricultural economy
Authors: Zuniga-Gonzalez C. A.
Published: November 2023

Background

This research was focused on measuring the TFP bioeconomy post-Covid-19 in six regions of the world.

Methods

The panel data was organized with FAO Statistics data. Linear programming with an enveloping data analysis (DEA) approach was used to measure the Malmquist TFP indices to determine the inter-annual productivity and technical efficiency changes by region.

Results

The results show that the effect of Covid-19 on the bioeconomy productivity during the period 2012–2021 on average decreased by 11.6%. This effect was explained by the decomposition of the productivity change into the changes in technical efficiency. The workers decreased their efficiency by 11.7%. In the Northern American region, it decreased by 21.6%, in the Southern European region by 10.1, and in Western Europe by 11.7%.

Conclusion

The results show a downward trend that was affected in the year 2019 by Covid-19, however, it was possible to recover in the following year. One of the conclusions of these results is the effect of the immediate strategies that the governments of the region implemented. This effect was a little slower in the North American, Southeastern, and Eastern European regions. Finally, it is concluded that the measures implemented by the governments in the studied regions had an increasing effect in conditions of variable scale returns. In other words, the companies that remained on a constant scale decreased.
Comparing the accuracy of an ultrasound height measurement device with a wooden measurement board among children aged 2–5 years in rural Lao People’s Democratic Republic: A methods-comparison study
Authors: Huang Shan , Conkle Joel , Homer Caroline S. E. , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Phongluxa Khampheng , Vogel Joshua P.
Published: November 2023

Background

Height is a key component of nutrition assessments in children from limited-resource settings. This study aimed to assess whether handheld digital ultrasound devices for measuring children’s height provide comparable accuracy to traditional measurement boards, which are bulky and difficult to transport.

Methods

We trained 12 health workers to measure the standing height of 222 children aged 2–5 years in rural Lao People’s Democratic Republic using both the ultrasound device and measurement board. The Bland-Altman method was used to depict limits of agreement and potential bias. We reported the technical error of measurement (TEM) for precision and accuracy, then assessed these results against the Standardized Monitoring and Assessment for Relief and Transition (SMART) Manual 2.0 and the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS).

Results

The average difference between the ultrasound and board measurements was 0.096 cm (95% limits-of-agreement: 0.041cm, 0.61cm) with a systematic bias of 0.1cm (95% confidence interval: 0.067cm, 0.134cm), suggesting the ultrasound measurements were slightly higher than those from the board. The ultrasound and board TEMs for precision were 0.157cm and 0.091cm respectively. The accuracy TEM was 0.205cm. All TEMs were within SMART and WHO MGRS limits.

Conclusion

The ultrasound device is comparable to the measurement board among standing Lao children aged 2–5 years for precision and accuracy TEMs but showed a bias of 0.1cm. Further studies are required to assess whether calibration can minimise this bias and determine the ultrasound’s accuracy on recumbent length for infants and younger children.
Evidence of factors influencing delays in the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in adolescents and young adults. Protocol for a systematic scoping review
Authors: Keramatian Kamyar , Morton Emma , Levit Alexander , Nunez John-Jose
Published: November 2023

Background

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a complex psychiatric condition that typically manifests during late adolescence and early adulthood. Over the past two decades, international studies have reported that BD often goes unrecognized and untreated for several years, which can lead to negative clinical and functional outcomes. However, the components of delay in the diagnosis and treatment of BD and various factors influencing those components have not been systematically explored.

Objectives

The scoping review described in this protocol aims to map the existing literature on potential factors that influence delays in the treatment of BD in adolescents and young adults, in order to identify the knowledge gaps and future research and policy priorities.

Methods

This protocol for a systematic scoping review will be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline (PRISMA-ScR). We will search the electronic databases of MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL for peer-reviewed primary research articles published in academic journals. Grey literature will not be explored due to resource limitations. A conceptual framework based on the Model of Pathways to Treatment by Scott and colleagues was used as a foundation for our search and extraction strategy to ensure all components of delay and potential factors influencing each component are explored. Two independent reviewers will screen the references retrieved by the literature search and select relevant studies based on our inclusion criteria. The data from included studies will be synthesized into a narrative summary, and implications for future research, practice and policy will be discussed.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first scoping review to explore the potential factors that influence delays in the treatment of BD in adolescents and young adults. We intend to disseminate the review results through academic conferences and publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Risk correlation identification of futures market based on wavelet transform and quantile Granger causality test
Authors: Wu Zi Qian
Published: November 2023

Futures market is an important part of the financial market, with a high degree of liquidity and leverage effect. However, the futures market is also faced with various risk factors, such as price fluctuations, market shocks, supply and demand changes. In order to better determine the risk correlation between specific futures markets, this paper uses the wavelet transform—quantile Granger causality test method to identify the risk correlation of four major futures markets in the US futures market from the end of January 2009 to the end of March 2023, such as gold, crude oil, soybeans and natural gas. It provides a new perspective and method for the risk correlation identification of the futures market. The results show that futures contracts with different maturities and price fluctuations under different quantiles have a significant impact on risk correlation. Specifically, in 1-month and 6-month futures contracts, the strongest bidirectional risk correlation exists between gold and natural gas (T-statistics -15.94 and 10.92, respectively); In the 1-month futures contract, there is also a strong bidirectional risk association between crude oil and soybeans and natural gas (T-statistics are 6.87, 17.42, -2.05, 7.35, respectively), while in the 6-month futures contract, there is a bidirectional risk association between crude oil and soybeans (T-statistics are -2.49 and 18.374, respectively). However, natural gas has unidirectional risk association with crude oil and soybean (t statistics are 2.7 and -3.35, respectively); There is a bidirectional risk correlation between gold and soybean, that is, the risk correlation between gold and soybean increases with the increase of the degree of price fluctuation; There is a one-way risk association between gold and crude oil, soybean and gold, and crude oil and natural gas (the T-statistic is greater than the critical value of 1.96). In addition, there is a strong bidirectional or unidirectional risk association between all varieties at the 0.95 quantile. The research results of this paper have certain reference value for the supervision, investment and risk management of the futures market. This paper uses the wavelet transform and quantile Granger causality test method to identify the risk correlation of the futures market, providing a new perspective and method for the risk correlation identification of the futures market, and uses relatively new data to ensure the effectiveness of the empirical analysis. However, there are some limitations in this paper, such as the applicability of wavelet transform-quantile Granger causality test method. Future studies can further expand the sample range, compare the effects of different methods, and explore the risk transmission mechanism between different varieties.
Manatees display diel trends in acoustic activity at two microhabitats in Belize
Authors: Brady Beth , Sarbacker Carly , Lasala Jake Andrew , Maust-Mohl Maria , Collom Kristi Ashley , Searle Linda , May-Collado Laura J. , Ramos Eric Angel
Published: November 2023

Many marine mammals exhibit diel trends in vocal production, which can provide information on habitat use and behavioral activity. In Belize, Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) commonly inhabit small depressions in the substrate or deep-water coves known as “resting holes”. Determining if manatees exhibit diel temporal trends in their call production rate and call types between microhabitats can provide insights into their diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns. Here, we investigate the diel vocalization patterns of wild Antillean manatees in two adjacent resting holes off of St. George’s Caye, Belize. Recordings of manatees were made using a bottom-mounted hydrophone located near a reef barrier reef for nine days in July of 2017 and ten days in January of 2018. To explore if and how manatee acoustic activity differs between sites, we compared the number of calls per hour, the number of manatee positive hours, the number of tonal and atonal sounds, and the number of boats detected across sites. A total of 370 hours of acoustic recordings were analyzed resulting in the detection of 3,262 calls. There were no significant differences in the number of manatee calls produced per hour between sites. The average number of calls produced by manatees decreased over the course of several days. The proportion of tonal calls decreased with hours after sunset and increased in boat presence. These results suggest manatees in this region may exhibit different diel activity patterns which appear to be influenced by the characteristics of the environment. These findings can support ongoing conservation and management efforts to safeguard species in Belize.
Identity and cultural expression in Greenlandic fashion1
Authors: Rossen Rosannguaq
Published: November 2023

The West Greenlandic national dress represents one of many aspects of Greenlandic identity and culture and is being used in contemporary fashion designs. Young Greenlanders are branding themselves in the media through fashion and are proud to wear distinctive signs of ‘Greenlandicness’. However, the incorporation of ‘sacred’ and cultural symbols, such as elements from the national costume, into fashion statements is problematic. Public disputes for and against changes to the perceived traditional symbols will form the basis of the empirical analysis. Will changing elements within the culture imply an impure culture and a weaker Greenlandicness? Fashion seems to be an important platform for negotiating identity, as it makes room for mixing elements and for challenging the essential dichotomy of purity and impurity, instead of placing Greenlandic identity and culture in a straitjacket of normative perceptions of tradition, essence and reification.
QUARE? O Arquivo de D. Francisco Manuel de Melo
Authors: Dos Anjos Ribeiro Gonçalves Paulo Manuel
Published: November 2023

Neste trabalho vamos estudar o Arquivo do grande escritor do século XVII, D. Francisco Manuel de Melo segundo os princípios da Arquivística Histórica como são definidos por Maria de Lurdes Rosa.

A ideia deste tema veio do cruzamento da nossa admiração por D. Francisco Manuel de Melo, com a leitura de um notável ensaio de Eric Ketelaar sobre o arquivo de Rembrant.

Do Arquivo de D. Francisco Manuel existe (ou existiu) um pequeno núcleo de documentação conservada ao longo de gerações pelos descendentes de um ramo colateral e que foi transcrita, publicada e estudada por Edgar Prestage entre 1909 e 1914.

O nosso objectivo será, com base nesse núcleo de documentação, fazer uma primeira aproximação ao que terá sido o Arquivo do escritor à data do seu falecimento em 1666, os motivos e a maneira porque foi produzida a documentação, a sua história custodial, os usos da documentação feitos pelo produtor, pelos seus herdeiros e a importância histórica literária, sociológica e para o conhecimento de múltiplos aspectos da sociedade do Antigo Regime no mundo hispânico e no Portugal da Restauração.
In Search of the Ancient Maya Foods. A Paleoethnobotany Study From a Non-elite Context in Sihó, Yucatán
Authors: Herrera-Parra Esteban Moisés
Published: November 2023

Food consumption is one of the primary activities of all cultural groups around the globe. The procurement of plants, their transformation, and consumption are some steps in which we can identify social repercussions such as identity, gender roles, labor division, worldview, and status differentiation, among many other archaeological approaches. In the Northern Maya Lowlands, paleoethnobotany research has included information regarding the consumption of plants by the ancient Mayas, which has helped us to broaden our knowledge about past feeding habits; nonetheless, we recognize some of the dishes and plants consumed by the elites due to the epigraphy and iconography records. It is least known what the commoners consumed during their day-to-day meals. In this vein, this research is immersed in identifying plants exploited by two low-strata domestic groups in the archaeological site of Siho, Yucatan, Mexico, during the Late-Terminal Classic. Through the recognition of starches recovered from soil samples, some staple crops like maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaseolus spp.) were identified. More importantly, other plants least representative in the archaeobotanical record, like arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea), and Mexican yam (Pachirhyzus erosus), were also recognized. This research contributes to the identification and study of starches that generates information for the broad discussion of food-related activities in non-elite household contexts.
Characterizing the Impact of Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction on Mental and Physical Health Functioning Among Spanish-Speaking Latino Adults Living in the United States
Authors: Smit Tanya , Rogers Andrew H. , Lackner Jeffrey M. , Bakhshaie Jafar , Zvolensky Michael J.
Published: November 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Latino individuals are underrepresented in the disorders of the gut-brain interaction (DGBI) literature, and no work has explored how disorders of the gut-brain interaction affect health and well-being in this group.

METHODS:

This study sought to explore how disorders of the gut-brain interaction affect health factors in a sample of Latino individuals (N = 292; 80.80% female; Mage = 37.65 years, SD = 11.98) with (n = 60) and without (n = 232) a disorder of the gut-brain interaction based on current Rome Foundation diagnostic criteria (Rome IV).

RESULTS:

DGBI was associated with increased pain intensity, pain disability, cardiovascular risk, depressive symptoms, and anxiety/panic symptoms and lower physical health–related quality of life and mental health–related quality of life controlling for age, sex, and nativity.

DISCUSSION:

Better understanding mental health and treatment-seeking behaviors among Latino individuals may help clinical gastroenterologists engage their Latino patients to a greater extent and thus provide higher quality of care.
Racial Disparity in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment and Survival in the United States
Authors: Noureldin Mohamed , Rubenstein Joel H. , Urias Esteban , Berinstein Jeffrey A. , Cohen-Mekelburg Shirley , Saini Sameer D. , Higgins Peter D. , Waljee Akbar K.
Published: November 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has a higher incidence and prevalence than esophageal adenocarcinoma among Black individuals in the United States. Black individuals have lower ESCC survival. These racial disparities have not been thoroughly investigated. We examined the disparity in treatment and survival stratified by ESCC stage at diagnosis.

METHODS:

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried to identify patients with ESCC between 2000 and 2019. The identified cohort was divided into subgroups by race. Patient and cancer characteristics, treatment received, and survival rates were compared across the racial subgroups.

RESULTS:

A total of 23,768 patients with ESCC were identified. Compared with White individuals, Black individuals were younger and had more distant disease during diagnosis (distant disease: 26.7% vs 23.8%, P < 0.001). Black individuals had lower age-standardized 5-year survival for localized (survival % [95% confidence interval]: 19.3% [16–22.8] vs 27.6% [25.1–30.2]), regional (14.3% [12–16.7] vs 21.1% [19.6–22.7]), and distant (2.9% [1.9–4.1] vs 6.5% [5.5–7.5]) disease. Black individuals were less likely to receive chemotherapy (54.7% vs 57.5%, P = 0.001), radiation (58.5% vs 60.4%, P = 0.03), and surgery (11.4% vs 16.3%, P < 0.0001).

DISCUSSION:

Black individuals with ESCC have a lower survival rate than White individuals. This could be related to presenting at a later stage but also disparities in which treatments they receive even among individuals with the same stage of disease. To what extent these disparities in receipt of treatment is due to structural racism, social determinants of health, implicit bias, or patient preferences deserves further study.
Characterization of viscoelastic properties of yarn materials: Dynamic mechanical analysis in the transversal direction
Authors: Kopelmann Karl , Bruns Mathis , Nocke Andreas , Cherif Chokri
Published: November 2023

Warp knitting creates very challenging dynamics due to its high production speeds. On the one hand, this makes it method of choice for many products in various fields. On the other hand, not all materials are suitable for such high productivity. With the current generation of machines being limited to only achieve their maximum speed of around 4,400 min−1with highly elastic yarns, it is desired to gain a deeper insight into yarn behavior in such highly dynamic environments. Among other influences, resonance effects gain high significance as they may result in high loads on the used materials; therefore, yarn breakages interrupt the production and decrease the quality of the product. To extend the material choice, especially high-performance fibers, for high productivity, a deep understanding of the intrinsic properties of the yarn is required. In particular, the viscoelastic properties are of importance. This study proposes a method to determine these characteristics using the dynamic mechanical analysis method. For the purpose of finding the damping in the transversal direction to the yarn axis, the variant of free oscillation is chosen. For the trials, a high-speed camera is suspended above a testing rig. On this rig, a yarn sample is clamped and then displaced from its rest position. The resulting oscillation is recorded and later extracted from the video. From the decrement of the maxima of the amplitude and corresponding time intervals, the damping factor is determined. It decreases with higher initial deflection. Summarised the developed trial setup proved suitable for the determination of the viscoelastic properties in transversal direction.
Lobbying for Tariff Protection, International Technology Licensing and Consumer Surplus
Authors: Liu Yao , Mukherjee Arijit
Published: November 2023

It is well known that the protectionist view for tariff protection can be justified if the tariff induced international technology licensing benefits the consumers. We show that this view may not hold true if the domestic firm lobbies for tariff protection. If lobbying determines tariff following the “tariff-function formation” approach, lobbying reduces consumer surplus by reducing the incentive for licensing. However, if lobbying determines tariff following the “political contribution” approach, lobbying increases the incentive for licensing but creates an ambiguous effect on consumer surplus. Hence, whether the protectionist view for tariff protection can be justified under international technology licensing depends on the way the tariff rates are determined.
An Evaluation of E7 Countries’ Sustainable Energy Investments: A Decision-Making Approach with Spherical Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Rahadian Dadan , Firli Anisah , Dinçer Hasan , Yüksel Serhat , Hacıoğlu Ümit , Gherghina Ştefan Cristian , Aksoy Tamer
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this study is to identify important strategies to increase sustainable energy investments in emerging economies. For this situation, first, four different indicators are selected according to the dimensions of the balanced scorecard technique. The weights of these items are computed by using Quantum Spherical fuzzy DEMATEL. In the second phase, emerging seven (E7) countries are ranked regarding the performance of sustainable energy investments. In this process, Quantum Spherical fuzzy TOPSIS is taken into consideration. The main contribution of this study is that prior factors can be defined for emerging economies to increase sustainable energy investments in a more effective way. Furthermore, a novel decision-making model is developed while integrating TOPSIS and DEMATEL with Quantum theory, Spherical fuzzy sets, facial expressions of the experts, and collaborative filtering. It is concluded that competition is the most significant factor for the performance of sustainable energy investments. In addition, the ranking results denote that China and Russia are the most successful emerging economies with respect to sustainable energy investments. It is strongly recommended that emerging countries should mainly consider benchmarking the capacity of energy hubs with the aim of increasing the capacity of ongoing energy plants.
Profile reduction of folded transmitarray antenna using multiple feeders
Authors: Li Guowei , Ge Yuehe , Chen Zhizhang (David)
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we introduce a novel design for a high-gain, low-profile quad-feed folded transmitarray antenna (FTA) to enable a more compact system. The proposed antenna system consists of a transmitarray, a reflectarray, and four identical planar microstrip U-slot patch antennas placed on the same surface of the reflectarray with an adjacent distance greater than 1λ. To compare the effectiveness of our design, we developed three different antenna array systems with the same aperture size: a single-feed transmitarray antenna (TA) system, the proposed quad-feed FTA system, and a single-feed FTA system. Our experimental results demonstrate that employing four symmetrical feeders with an adjacent distance of 3.2λeffectively reduces the height by about 76.7 % in comparison to the height of a single-feed TA, and by 30 % when compared to the height of a single-feed FTA. We also present the design, fabrication, and testing of a prototype of the proposed quad-feed FTA operating in the Ku-band. The measured results of the prototype confirm the effectiveness of our design.
Finite groups with modular 𝜎-subnormal subgroups
Authors: Liu A-Ming , Chen Mingzhu , Safonova Inna N. , Skiba Alexander N.
Published: November 2023

Let 𝜎 be a partition of the set of prime numbers.
In this paper, we describe the finite groups for which every 𝜎-subnormal subgroup is modular.
Evaluating the Quality of State Hazard Mitigation Plans Based on Hazard Identification, Risk, and Vulnerability Assessments
Authors: Habets Margot , Jackson Sarah L. , Baker Savannah L. , Huang Qian , Blackwood Leah , Kemp Erin M. , Cutter Susan L.
Published: November 2023

U.S. State Hazard Mitigation Plans (SHMPs) identify hazards, locate jurisdictional vulnerabilities and risks, and prioritize state hazard mitigation actions. As environmental hazards become more prevalent and costlier due to climate change, these mitigation plans and activities serve as critical decision-making tools for disaster risk reduction. This investigation systematically evaluates all fifty SHMPs on Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) quality. This assessment of HIRA quality examines three elements: (1) adherence to FEMA HIRA requirements; (2) incorporation of social vulnerability analysis; and (3) risk assessment methodology. The evaluation considers the new FEMA requirements and additional best practices to illustrate necessary improvements as states undergo revisions for their next SHMP update. Results find that most states meet a majority of FEMA’s plan requirements. Still, only twenty-seven SHMPs examine either social vulnerability or hazard risk at the sub-state level, and only seven states consider both. Ignoring sub-state variability in vulnerability and hazard risk can lead to misunderstanding true hazard risk at the local level, inequitable mitigation planning, and higher rates of future loss among underserved populations. Plans that employ a quantitative risk scoring methodology score higher on average, serving as best practice examples for SHMP improvement.
Planting a path to kidney health: The vegetarian diet and diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Maqbool Mudasir , Dar Mohd Altaf , Ara Irfat
Published: November 2023

About 40% of people with diabetes experience diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is the main cause of renal problems. The aberrant urine albumin excretion rate, diabetic glomerular lesions, and a reduction in glomerular filtration rate are its defining characteristics. Numerous studies have found a strong link between eating animal protein and conditions like glucagon activation, insulin resistance, proteinuria, microalbuminuria, and the worsening of kidney problems in diabetic individuals. A vegan diet, which forgoes all animal products including leather and other non-edibles like fish, shellfish, and insects as well as dairy, eggs, and honey, has demonstrated significant benefits. It has been connected to enhanced insulin sensitivity, less glucagon activation, a decreased risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), and a slowed rate of DN progression. According to several studies, avoiding animal products and switching to plant-based protein sources can be a better nutritional plan than simply limiting dietary protein. This change may prove very helpful in reducing the risk of kidney and cardiovascular illnesses, especially for those who have diabetes and severe insulin resistance in addition to CKD. A vegan diet contains considerable benefits for those with diabetes and CKD, acting as a brake on the advancement of DN and renal failure, according to the literature evaluation done for this study. Nevertheless, more interventional studies involving humans are needed to elucidate the processes underlying the increased insulin sensitivity brought on by vegan diets. It is also advised to conduct more research to fully explore the effectiveness and security of vegan diets in people with diabetes and DN.
Multilayer designs comprising zirconium nitride and perovskites as a novel angular plasmonic biomedical sensor
Authors: Almawgani Abdulkarem H. M. , Sabra Walied , Hajjiah Ali , Elsayed Hussein A. , Mehaney Ahmed , Ali Ghassan Ahmed , Ali Yahya Ali Abdelrahman , Mohamed Wael S. , Ahmed Ashour M.
Published: November 2023

In this paper, a comparison between different configurations of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors has been theoretically conducted to improve the performance of the designed biosensor. The proposed biosensor configurations contain zirconium nitride (ZrN) as an alternative plasmonic material, which comprises different perovskite materials (KNbO3, LiTaO3, LiNbO3, SrTiO3, and BaTiO3) in the visible region. Depending on the study calculations, the reflection spectra of the suggested designs were studied under the angular interrogation mode based on Fresnel coefficients for the transverse magnetic polarized light. The numerical findings demonstrated that the SPR biosensor, which has the configuration of [Prism/BaTiO3/ZrN/BaTiO3/Biosensing medium], represents the best biosensor due to its higher sensitivity and minimum reflectivity values. Meanwhile, sensitivity could receive 179.58 (deg/RIU). Therefore, it is believed that the proposed SPR biosensor designs could be promising through wide-ranging applications, specifically in biomedical, chemical, and environmental protection.
Improving Roof Surface Temperature Control Using Heat-Reflective Inorganic Composition for Paint and Coating Application
Authors: Parikh Kian , Mehta Shubham , Gajjar Chandani , Patel Hemang , Patel Gautam
Published: November 2023

The increasing global temperatures and thermal islands have made cooling living spaces a pressing issue. Climate change and global energy use cause thermal islands. Greenhouse gas emissions and increasingly expensive and scarce energy supplies are causing disruptive global climate change. The use of energy, heat production, and greenhouse gas emissions caused by building air-conditioning increase the demand for cooling in developed environments. The dearth of sufficient electrical infrastructure for cooling buildings has increased summertime fatalities, including in places such as South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Energy efficiency mitigates the rising cost of energy by reducing those emissions. The rise in surface temperature due to sunlight absorption needs to be reradiated to the sky, or it will conduct through roof spaces toward the ceiling and radiate downwards through insulation batts. Passive cooling technologies, which are environmentally friendly substitutes for extensions of aggressive cooling techniques can solve these problems. In this instance, we focus on the passive daytime radiative cooling of building envelopes and suggest that inorganic composition-based paints are well-suited for use in buildings worldwide. Selective absorption or scattering of light alters the appearance of the coating through inorganic composition. The present investigation focuses on incorporating various inorganic compositions into paint and reducing surface temperature after applying it to walls.
The Hogsback Project
Authors: Eason Joseph , Dyreson Eric , Levine Rebekah , Anderson Michelle , Wright Liz , Glide Christian
Published: November 2023

At the University of Montana Western, we emphasize making experiential learning the focus of our institution. We feel that students profit from research experiences that connect courses across disciplines, especially in the general education curriculum. The Hogsback project was designed toengage students in the cycle of research by investigating how individual worker behaviors of the western harvester ant, Pogonomrymex occidentalis, affect their environment. To facilitate implementation, professors incorporated the Hogsback research into existing course structures and projects. We established a student-run journal, called The Hogsback Journal, for research to be disseminated to involved participants. To date, 536 students, thirty-four classes and twelve professors have been involved in the research. Students have participated in a wide variety of fieldsincluding soil science, statistics, mathematical modeling, ecology, biology, and geology. Paper submissions to The Hogsback Journal far exceeded expectations with fifty in fall 2021, fifty-nine in spring 2022, and fifty-six in fall 2022, becoming the hub through which research is disseminated. Based on the Hogsback project, we present a multidisciplinary approach to creating experiential course projects that we call HUB research that applies outside of STEM disciplines. We demonstrate how to implement a HUB research project using existing courses and structure of the block. Once established, a HUB research project serves as a central organizing feature for research that students can participate in to fulfill the educational goals of their courses. HUB architecture allows students to engage in successive courses giving them a more sophisticated understanding and perspective from different disciplines. Research is driven by an inquiry-based research cycle. As it evolves at block-accelerated speed, HUB research is a powerful engine for multidisciplinary research.
Pandemic COVID-19 and Endemic Neglected Tropical Diseases: Friends or Foes?
Authors: Zarandi Mehdi Borhani , Jin Xuemin , Fathi Saeid , Harandi Majid Fasihi , Simsek Sami , Ommati Mohammad Mehdi , Liu Mingyuan , Ding Jing
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, is the most serious global health calamity since the 2nd World War. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens public health systems worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. In the present report we discuss various effects of the pandemic on the status of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). COVID-19 will be a public health issue for an extended period. COVID-19 presented several challenges and opportunities for NTD prevention and control. Significant alterations include impact of the pandemic on preventive/control measures and poverty-related plans, service failures and injury to health workers, delayed treatment of NTDs, health service funding, and worsening poverty in marginalized societies. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated school and university closures on public education and research institutes. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has also provided opportunities, such as improving health literacy, changing approaches to NTD treatments, restructuring the health system and emergency responses, and enhancing science communication.
Broadcasting Stories of Racism on the Radio
Authors: Brekke Anjuli Joshi
Published: November 2023

Throughout its history, radio in the US has reflected and reproduced dominant racial ideologies. This article highlights the experiences of individuals who shared their stories for the 2016 “Radical Listening” equity-focused podcasting project. As part of this project, participants recorded stories of racism and resistance from the larger Seattle area. Some participants chose to broadcast edited segments from their stories on the local public radio station. Their experience working with producers to broadcast their clips exposed the sonic centering of whiteness within public radio. The musical choices and stylistic norms of the station catered to the predominantly white listening audience, leaving contributors of color to accept these terms or keep their stories off the airwaves. Moments of suffering packaged and made public are inherently risky. Through mapping a particular instance of failed listening and its reverberations, this article traces the complicated ethical entanglements that can arise between storytellers and producers when editing audio for broadcast. How personal stories are disseminated and by whom impacts how these stories are then taken up and understood as meaningful by listeners. Listening occurs within gendered and raced bodies, and our positionality impacts how we understand the significance of the stories we hear. As their narratives traveled farther from the recording studio through radio and online spaces, participants contended with their inability to control the soundtrack of their experiences.
Kishōtenketsu as Leitmotif
Authors: Anatone Richard
Published: November 2023

Final Fantasy VII (1997) is perhaps best known for its compelling story and memorable soundtrack. Like many of the other games within the franchise, storytelling within FF7 is heavily rooted in the Kishōtenketsu storytelling format. This four-part structure favors character development over conflict and establishes strong psychological connections between the characters. Nobuo Uematsu’s penchant for leitmotivic scoring strengthens these bonds further, creating a tripartite connection between story, music, and the audience. And while his compositional styles draw heavily from Western traditions found in film and opera throughout much of his oeuvre, it is apparent that Kishōtenketsu bears tremendous influence on his treatment of FF7’s score, especially as it pertains to the game’s main theme.

This article addresses the musico-dramatic influences that Kishōtenketsu has on Uematsu’s compositional strategies regarding FF7’s main theme, its various transformations, and their strategic deployment over the course of the game. After discussing FF7 through the principles of Kishōtenketsu, I provide a thorough leitmotivic analysis of the self-titled “Main Theme to Final Fantasy VII,” identifying the Tarnhelm progression within its opening phrase as Cloud’s leitmotif. I suggest that the harmonic and tonal ambiguity inherent within the infamous progression symbolizes Cloud’s own struggles with identity and memory. Uematsu musically depicts the entire game’s story arc within the “Main Theme” through his use of musical allusion to other characters, as well as his subtle approach to harmonic and motivic development. As Cloud’s leitmotif is only found in a handful of the main theme’s transformations, I conduct leitmotivic analyses on these themes, emphasizing their strategic deployment within scenes that depict his struggles with his trauma. Moreover, these different transformations are all paired together at key moments in the game, suggesting a wider leitmotivic network surrounding the “Main Theme.” Ultimately, the symbiotic relationship between Uematsu’s leitmotivic language and the story’s Kishōtenketsu structure help us to identify new symbolic meaning within the game, its story, and the soundtrack.
Where Are the Ancients? The Place of the “Voices of the Lifestream” in Final Fantasy VII
Authors: Courcelle Kevin
Published: November 2023

In video game music, as in cinema, a particular instrument can be linked to a particular event, character, item, or feeling. This article focuses on composer Nobuo Uematsu’s use of the voice in Final Fantasy VII. The article studies the use of the voice as an instrument with its semantic dimension. In every track where vocals are used, music is used to signify the presence of a group of characters who have never appeared on screen: the Ancients. We find the Ancients’ heritage in game mechanics, and they serve as a narrative link binding together the protagonists and antagonists. With the help of the vocals, a distinctive leitmotif articulates the Ancients’—the “Moan”—which is heard in several forms, and its influence is found in themes of other characters, including that of Sephiroth. The Ancients go beyond their simple status as unseen characters and encompass, through their musical presence, a major part of the music in Final Fantasy VII.
Removal of Chlortetracycline Chlorhydrate by Photo-Fenton Process
Authors: Boucherit Nabila , Hanini Salah , Ibrir Abdellah , Laidi Maamar , Roubehie-Fissa Mohamed
Published: November 2023

The present work aimed to study the feasibility of photo-Fenton oxidation for the degradation of chlortetracycline chlorhydrate (CTC) in aqueous solutions, as well as the modelling of system behaviour by artificial neural networks. The removal performance of CTC oxidation by the Photo-Fenton process was studied under solar radiation. Different parameters were studied, such as pH (3 to 5), and initial concentrations of CTC (0.1 to 10 mg l–1), hydrogen peroxide (1.701 to 190.478 mg l–1), and ferrous ions (2.8 to 103.6 mg l–1). Results showed that a high removal efficiency of 92 % was achieved at pH 3 under optimised conditions, such as 10 mg l–1 of CTC, 127.552 mg l–1 of H2O2, and 36.4 mg l–1 of Fe2+. The transformation of CTC molecules was proved by UV-visible and HPLC analyses, which showed that almost no CTC molecules were remaining in the treated solution. A multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network has been developed to predict the experimental removal efficiency of CTC based on four dimensionless inputs: molecular weight, and initial concentrations of CTC, hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ions. The best network has been found with a high determination coefficient of 0.9960, and with a very acceptable root mean square error 0.0108. In addition, the global sensitivity analysis confirms that the most influential parameter for the CTC removal by photo-Fenton oxidation is the initial concentration of ferrous cations with a relative importance of 33 %.
Dragutin Fleš – utemeljitelj organske stereokemije u Hrvatskoj
Authors: Šunjić Vitomir
Published: November 2023

Prikaz stereokemijskih istraživanja kiralnih malih organskih molekula i optički aktivnih polimera otkriva akademika Dragutina Fleša kao utemeljitelja ovih područja organske kemije u Hrvatskoj. Izdvojeno su prikazani najznačajniji znanstveni rezultati sinteze kiralnih β-aminokiselina i njihovih analoga, korelacija apsolutne konfiguracije u biološki značajnim strukturama kao što su efedrin i antibiotik kloramfenikol. Kronološki su slijedila istraživanja na području optički aktivnih polimera pripravljenih iz kiralnih derivata cisteina preko reaktivnih β-tiolaktona te iz mono- i disupstituiranih butadiena i vinil-alkil etera.
Experimental study on modified fruit shell carbon for methane adsorption and decarbonization
Authors: Mao Yan , Huang Li , Hao Zhiqiang , Tao Hongge , Qing Chunyao , Liu Shengyong , Wang Guangtao , Ma Qingyan
Published: November 2023

Modification of activated carbon has the potential to improve its adsorption and separation capacity. Different concentrations of ammonia (6%, 9%, 12%, 15%) and treatment times (4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 10 h) were used to modify jujube shell carbon and coconut shell carbon in ultrasonic washing equipment. Biogas adsorption experiments were carried out with modified activated carbon to study the effect of adsorption and decarbonization on activated carbon surface functional groups. After modification, the surface alkaline functional groups of activated carbon increased, the acidic functional groups decreased, and the adsorption performance of CO2 was enhanced. In addition, the specific surface area and total pore volume of activated carbon decreased, the average pore size increased, and the degree of graphitization increased. In the experimental research range, under ultrasonic conditions, jujube shell carbon impregnated with 12% ammonia water for 4 h and coconut shell carbon impregnated with 9% ammonia water for 10 h had the best modification effect. The adsorption capacity for CO2 was 1.83 and 1.745 mmol/g, respectively, which increased by 0.8 mmol/g and 0.599 mmol/g, respectively, compared with the unmodified sample.
Ecological stoichiometry within plant organs of four forest trees in Sygera National Forest
Authors: Wang Jiaxiang , Wang Luqi , Li Yueyao
Published: November 2023

Four typical forest types in Sygera Mountain, namely, Pinus armandii (PA), Picea likiangensis var. linzhiensis (PLL), Abies georgei var. smithii (AGS), and Juniperus saltuaria (JS) were considered using methods such as analysis of variance and stoichiometry. Effects of changes of nutrient content and stoichiometric ratio of various organs of arbor plants were evaluated. Compared with global plant nutrients, this study area had lower N and P contents. The growth of the Juniperus saltuaria forest was jointly restricted by N and P, and as the environmental gradient decreased, the growth of the other three forest types changed from N and P joint restrictions to N restrictions. The distribution order of element content in various organs among different forest types was consistent as follows: leaf>branch>root>trunk. There was a strong domestication reaction between N and P contents. This led to a significantly higher C/N ratio of the square branch Berlin compared to the other three forest types, while the C/P and N/P ratios were opposite. This may be due to the “optimal allocation principle” of nutrients in various organs under different environmental conditions. The nutrient allocation patterns of plant organs in different forest types were not the same, which reflects the differences in life strategies and nutrient utilization among different forest species.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARC VOLTAGE PID-CONTROLLER MODEL DURING SURFACING
Authors:   E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NAS of Ukraine, 11, Kazymyr Malevich Str., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine, Solovyov V.G. , Ryabtsev I.O. ,   E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NAS of Ukraine, 11, Kazymyr Malevich Str., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine, Lankin Yu.M. ,   E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NAS of Ukraine, 11, Kazymyr Malevich Str., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine, Romanova I.Yu. ,   E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NAS of Ukraine, 11, Kazymyr Malevich Str., Kyiv, 03150, Ukraine
Published: November 2023

The development and testing of a PID-controller model capable of automatically adjusting and maintaining the specified arc voltage during electric arc welding are presented. Some features of arc surfacing processes are analyzed. In particular, the choice of surfacing modes, as well as the main devices - potentiometers, which are used in the electrical circuits of surfacing installations to regulate the main parameters of surfacing modes - voltage and current. Evidence is presented for the need to control the voltage directly on the arc, rather than the voltage on the power source, to regulate the welding process. Based on this analysis, a model of the PID- controller of the arc voltage during arc welding was created using the Simulink MATLAB program. The test results of the PID-controller show that the device provides more accurate and stable setting of the deposition mode than traditional control methods. The PID-controller will make it possible to significantly reduce possible errors in the development and use of technologies of automatic arc welding of various parts and products. References 10, figures 6, table 1.
INFLUENCE OF CONTROL CURRENT WAVEFORM ON ROTOR NUTATION OF THREE-DEGREES-OF-FREEDOM ELECTRIC MACHINE
Authors:   Institute of Electrodynamics National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Beresteiskyi Ave., 56, Kyiv, 03057, Ukraine, Petukhov I.S. , Akinin K.P. ,   Institute of Electrodynamics National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Beresteiskyi Ave., 56, Kyiv, 03057, Ukraine, Kireyev V.G. ,   Institute of Electrodynamics of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Beresteiskyi Ave., 56, Kyiv, 03057, Ukraine, Lavrinenko V.A. ,   Institute of Electrodynamics of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Beresteiskyi Ave., 56, Kyiv, 03057, Ukraine
Published: November 2023

The design of the electric machine with three degrees of freedom of the rotor with an external magnetic core, containing permanent magnets, and an internal magnetic core is considered. The both magnetic cores are rotating. The stator windings (control winding and two-phase rotation winding) are located in the air gap between the magnetic cores. The windings are powered by alternating current of corresponding phase. The positive property of rotor gyrostabilization in such structure is shown. At the same time, the negative fact consists in the nutation under the conditions of forced change in the orientation of rotation axis. There are no magnetic losses in the structure due to synchronous rotation of both external and internal magnetic cores. The immobility of the center of mass is assumed. There are no losses that give a non-conservative mechanical system. The mathematical model of the mechanic system and magnetic field is developed to compute the electromagnetic torques acting on the rotor. The expressions for electromagnetic torque components are obtained to use them in the Comsol Multiphysics interface. The effect of the sinusoidal and pulse currents in the control winding on the nutation swing is studied. The optimality of the control winding supplied by undisturbed sinusoidal current or the pulse current having square-wave length of about one-third of the period is revealed. References 15, figures 6, table 1.