bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Near-infrared Supernova Ia Distances: Host Galaxy Extinction and Mass-step Corrections Revisited
Authors: Johansson J. , Cenko S. B. , Fox O. D. , Dhawan S. , Goobar A. , Stanishev V. , Butler N. , Lee W. H. , Watson A. M. , Fremling U. C. , Kasliwal M. M. , Nugent P. E. , Petrushevska T. , Sollerman J. , Yan L. , Burke J. , Hosseinzadeh G. , Howell D. A. , McCully C. , Valenti S.
Published: December 2021

We present optical and near-infrared (NIR, Y-, J-,
H-band) observations of 42 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) discovered by the untargeted intermediate Palomar Transient Factory survey. This new data set covers a broad range of redshifts and host galaxy stellar masses, compared to previous SN Ia efforts in the NIR. We construct a sample, using also literature data at optical and NIR wavelengths, to examine claimed correlations between the host stellar masses and the Hubble diagram residuals. The SN magnitudes are corrected for host galaxy extinction using either a global total-to-selective extinction ratio, R

V
= 2.0, for all SNe, or a best-fit R

V
for each SN individually. Unlike previous studies that were based on a narrower range in host stellar mass, we do not find evidence for a “mass step,” between the color- and stretch-corrected peak J and H magnitudes for galaxies below and above

log
(

M

*

/

M

⊙

)
=
10

. However, the mass step remains significant (3σ) at optical wavelengths (g, r, i) when using a global R

V
, but vanishes when each SN is corrected using their individual best-fit R

V
. Our study confirms the benefits of the NIR SN Ia distance estimates, as these are largely exempted from the empirical corrections dominating the systematic uncertainties in the optical.
Rare Event Sampling Improves Mercury Instability Statistics
Authors: Abbot Dorian S. , Webber Robert J. , Hadden Sam , Seligman Darryl , Weare Jonathan
Published: December 2021

Due to the chaotic nature of planetary dynamics, there is a non-zero probability that Mercury’s orbit will become unstable in the future. Previous efforts have estimated the probability of this happening between 3 and 5 billion years in the future using a large number of direct numerical simulations with an N-body code, but were not able to obtain accurate estimates before 3 billion years in the future because Mercury instability events are too rare. In this paper we use a new rare-event sampling technique, Quantile Diffusion Monte Carlo (QDMC), to estimate that the probability of a Mercury instability event in the next 2 billion years is approximately 10−4 in the REBOUND N-body code. We show that QDMC provides unbiased probability estimates at a computational cost of up to 100 times less than direct numerical simulation. QDMC is easy to implement and could be applied to many problems in planetary dynamics in which it is necessary to estimate the probability of a rare event.
Star-forming Dwarf Galaxies in Filamentary Structures around the Virgo Cluster: Probing Chemical Pre-processing in Filament Environments
Authors: Chung Jiwon , Kim Suk , Rey Soo-Chang , Lee Youngdae
Published: December 2021

It has been proposed that the filament environment is closely connected to the pre-processing of galaxies, where their properties may have been changed by environmental effects in the filament before they fell into the galaxy cluster. We present the chemical properties of star-forming dwarf galaxies (SFDGs) in five filamentary structures (Virgo III, Leo Minor, Leo II A, Leo II B, and Canes Venatici) around the Virgo cluster using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey optical spectroscopic data and Galaxy Evolution Explorer ultraviolet photometric data. We investigate the relationship between stellar mass, gas-phase metallicity, and specific star formation rate (sSFR) of the SFDGs in the Virgo filaments in comparison to those in the Virgo cluster and field. We find that, at a given stellar mass, SFDGs in the Virgo filaments show lower metallicity and higher sSFR than those in the Virgo cluster on average. We observe that SFDGs in the Virgo III filament show enhanced metallicities and suppressed star formation activities comparable to those in the Virgo cluster, whereas SFDGs in the other four filaments exhibit similar properties to the field counterparts. Moreover, about half of the galaxies in the Virgo III filament are found to be morphologically transitional dwarf galaxies that are supposed to be on the way to transforming into quiescent dwarf early-type galaxies. Based on the analysis of the galaxy perturbation parameter, we propose that the local environment represented by the galaxy interactions might be responsible for the contrasting features in chemical pre-processing found in the Virgo filaments.
VLA and NOEMA Views of Bok Globule CB 17: The Starless Nature of a Proposed First Hydrostatic Core Candidate
Authors: Spear Stephanie , José Maureira María , Arce Héctor G. , Pineda Jaime E. , Dunham Michael , Caselli Paola , Segura-Cox Dominique
Published: December 2021

We use 3 mm continuum NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array and NH3 Very Large Array observations toward the First Hydrostatic Core (FHSC) candidate CB 17 MMS in order to reveal the dust structure and gas properties to 600–1100 au scales and to constrain its evolutionary stage. We do not detect any compact source at the previously identified 1.3 mm point source, despite expecting a minimum signal-to-noise ratio of 9. The gas traced by NH3 exhibits subsonic motions, with an average temperature of 10.4 K. A fit of the radial column density profile derived from the ammonia emission finds a flat inner region of radius ∼1800 au and a central density of ∼6 × 105 cm−3. Virial and density structure analysis reveals the core is marginally bound (α
vir = 0.73). The region is entirely consistent with that of a young starless core, hence ruling out CB 17 MMS as an FHSC candidate. Additionally, the core exhibits a velocity gradient aligned with the major axis, showing an arc-like structure in the position–velocity diagram and an off-center region with high velocity dispersion, caused by two distinct velocity peaks. These features could be due to interactions with the nearby outflow, which appears to deflect due to the dense gas near the NH3 column density peak. We investigate the specific angular momentum profile of the starless core, finding that it aligns closely with previous studies of similar radial profiles in Class 0 sources. This similarity to more evolved objects suggests that motions at 1000 au scales are determined by large-scale dense cloud motions, and may be preserved throughout the early stages of star formation.
SILVERRUSH. XI. Constraints on the Lyα Luminosity Function and Cosmic Reionization at z = 7.3 with Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam
Authors: Goto Hinako , Shimasaku Kazuhiro , Yamanaka Satoshi , Momose Rieko , Ando Makoto , Harikane Yuichi , Hashimoto Takuya , Inoue Akio K. , Ouchi Masami
Published: December 2021

The Lyα luminosity function (LF) of Lyα emitters (LAEs) has been used to constrain the neutral hydrogen fraction in the intergalactic medium (IGM) and thus the timeline of cosmic reionization. Here we present the results of a new narrowband imaging survey for z = 7.3 LAEs in a large area of ∼3 deg2 with Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam. No LAEs are detected down to L
Lyα
≃ 1043.2 erg s−1 in an effective cosmic volume of ∼2 × 106 Mpc3, placing an upper limit on the bright part of the z = 7.3 Lyα LF for the first time and confirming a decrease in bright LAEs from z = 7.0. By comparing this upper limit with the Lyα LF in the case of fully ionized IGM, which is predicted using an observed z = 5.7 Lyα LF on the assumption that the intrinsic Lyα LF evolves in the same way as the UV LF, we obtain the relative IGM transmission

T

Ly
α

IGM

(
7.3
)

/

T

Ly
α

IGM

(
5.7
)
<
0.77

and then the volume-averaged neutral fraction x
H I(7.3) > 0.28. Cosmic reionization is thus still ongoing at z = 7.3, consistent with results from other x
H I estimation methods. A similar analysis using literature Lyα LFs finds that at z = 6.6 and 7.0, the observed Lyα LF agrees with the predicted one, consistent with full ionization.
Radio Proper Motions of the Energetic Pulsar PSR J1813–1749
Authors: Dzib Sergio A. , Rodríguez Luis F.
Published: December 2021

PSR J1813–1749 has peculiarities that make it a very interesting object of study. It is one of the most energetic and the most scattered pulsars known. It is associated with HESS J1813–178, one of the brightest and most compact TeV sources in the sky. Recently, Ho et al. used archival X-ray Chandra observations separated by more than 10 yr and determined that the total proper motion of PSR J1813–1749 is ∼66 mas yr−1, corresponding to a velocity of ∼1900 km s−1 for a distance of 6.2 kpc. These results would imply that this pulsar is the fastest neutron star known in the Galaxy and, by estimating the angular separation with respect to the center of the associated supernova remnant, has an age of only ∼300 yr, making it one of the youngest pulsars known. Using archival high angular resolution VLA observations taken over 12 yr we have estimated the radio proper motions of PSR J1813–1748 to be much smaller: (

μ

α

·
cos
(
δ
)
,

μ

δ

) = (−5.0 ± 3.7, −13.2 ± 6.7) mas yr−1, or a total proper motion of 14.8 ± 5.9 mas yr−1. The positions referenced against quasars make our results reliable. We conclude that PSR J1813–1749 is not a very fast moving source. Its kinematic age using the new total proper motion is ∼1350 yr. This age is consistent within a factor of a few with the characteristic age of the pulsar and with the age estimated from the broadband spectral energy distribution of HESS J1813–178, as well as the age of the associated supernova remnant.
Weak Damping of Propagating MHD Kink Waves in the Quiescent Corona
Authors: Morton Richard J. , Tiwari Ajay K. , Van Doorsselaere Tom , McLaughlin James A.
Published: December 2021

Propagating transverse waves are thought to be a key transporter of Poynting flux throughout the Sun’s atmosphere. Recent studies have shown that these transverse motions, interpreted as the magnetohydrodynamic kink mode, are prevalent throughout the corona. The associated energy estimates suggest the waves carry enough energy to meet the demands of coronal radiative losses in the quiescent Sun. However, it is still unclear how the waves deposit their energy into the coronal plasma. We present the results from a large-scale study of propagating kink waves in the quiescent corona using data from the Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (CoMP). The analysis reveals that the kink waves appear to be weakly damped, which would imply low rates of energy transfer from the large-scale transverse motions to smaller scales via either uniturbulence or resonant absorption. This raises questions about how the observed kink modes would deposit their energy into the coronal plasma. Moreover, these observations, combined with the results of Monte Carlo simulations, lead us to infer that the solar corona displays a spectrum of density ratios, with a smaller density ratio (relative to the ambient corona) in quiescent coronal loops and a higher density ratio in active-region coronal loops.
Protective Effect of Eugenol against Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anti-Necrotic Potency
Authors: Florenly Florenly , Sugianto Liena , Lister I Nyoman Ehrich , Girsang Ermi , Ginting Chrismis Novalinda , Afifah Ervi , Kusuma Hanna , Rizal Rizal , Widowati Wahyu
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND: Overdoses acetaminophen (APAP) could cause acute liver failure, even though it used is for analgesics. APAP could cause hepatotoxicity due to multiple mediators of inflammation and oxidative stress. Eugenol has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity but its hepatoprotective effect has not been widely reported.
AIM: The purpose of this research is to know if eugenol could protect HepG2 cells from APAP.
METHODS: HepG2 that induced by APAP as hepatotoxicity cells model was treated by using eugenol at 6.25 and 25 μg/mL. The protective effects of eugenol toward hepatotoxicity were evaluated by determine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentration, apoptotic activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, also cytochrome (CYP)2E1 and GPX gene expression.
RESULTS: Eugenol at 6.25 and 25 μg/mL concentration can reduce TNF-α concentration, the apoptotic, necrotic, dead cells, and ROS level. Besides it can increase the gene expression (GPX and CYP2E1). The best hepatoprotective effect was found when using the eugenol at 25 μg/mL.
CONCLUSION: Therefore, eugenol can be used to protect HepG2 cells against APAP.
Community Knowledge and Attitudes about the Transmission of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and Its Relationship to Prevention Behaviour in Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Minarti Minarti , Anwar Chairil , Irfannuddin Irfannuddin , Irsan Chandra
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND: PSN 3 M Plus is a long-running program in Indonesia for the prevention and control of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).

AIM: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, behavior, attitudes, and beliefs of the community toward PSN 3 M Plus in preventing and controlling the spread of DHF.

METHODS: A cluster random sampling method was used to recruit 200 respondents in endemic areas and 100 respondents in sporadic locations of Indonesia from August 2020 to February 2021. The respondents were interviewed directly by interviewers and the relationships between demographics and characteristics with the practice of PSN 3M Plus prevention behavior on the incidence of DHF were analyzed.

RESULTS: Most respondents had good knowledge regarding the cause of DHF. Although respondents recognized and understood the dangers of and how to control DHF, most did not follow PSN 3 M Plus and believed that fogging was the most effective control measure. There was a significant relationship between the characteristics of the respondents in terms of education, occupation, and attitude on vector control practice.

CONCLUSION: Although community environmental modifications can be a cost-effective approach to reduce the incidence of DHF, there is a need to raise public awareness regarding preventive vector control measures as good knowledge does not guarantee good compliance with PSN 3M Plus recommendations.
Detection of Cardiac Tissues using K-means Analysis Methods in Nuclear Medicine Images
Authors: Abdallah Yousif
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND: Nuclear cardiology uses to diagnose the cardiac disorders such as ischemic and inflammation disorders. In cardiac scintigraphy, unraveling closely adjacent tissues in the image are challenging issue.

AIM: The aim of the study is to detect of cardiac tissues using K-means analysis methods in nuclear medicine images. This study also aimed to reduce the existence of fleck noise that disturbs the contrast and make its analysis more difficult.

METHODS: Thus, digital image processing uses to increase the detection rate of myocardium easily using its color-based algorithms. In this study, color-based K-means was used. The scintographs were converted into color space presentation. Then, each pixel in the image was segmented using color analysis algorithms.

RESULTS: The segmented scintograph was displayed in distinct fresh image. The proposed technique defines the myocardial tissues and borders precisely. Both exactness rate and recall reckoning were calculated. The results were 97.3 + 8.46 (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The proposed technique offered recognition of the heart tissue with high exactness amount.
Die Linke . Analyse d’un quasi-désastre électoral
Authors: Landwehrlen Thomas
Published: December 2021

Die Linke apparaît de loin comme le principal perdant des élections fédérales allemandes de 2021. Avec seulement 4,9 % des voix, le parti de la gauche radicale allemande a enregistré sa plus mauvaise performance à un scrutin fédéral depuis sa création en 2007, et n’est parvenu à sauver sa représentation parlementaire au Bundestag que par l’élection directe de trois de ses candidats de circonscription. Par rapport au précédent scrutin de 2017, le parti a perdu un peu plus de deux millions de suffrages, soit près de 53 % de son électorat. Résultat : sur les 736 nouveaux députés entrés au Bundestag à l’issue des élections, seuls 39 portent les couleurs de La Gauche, qui dispose désormais du plus petit groupe parlementaire d’opposition à la chambre basse du Parlement allemand. L’ampleur de la défaite électorale subie par Die Linke ne peut qu’interroger. Après en avoir dressé un état des lieux, le présent article souhaite ainsi en présenter les causes. Sont-elles conjoncturelles ou structurelles ? Sont-elles spécifiques à l’Allemagne ou déploient-elles aussi leurs effets au-delà des frontières de la République fédérale ? Le déclin électoral du parti étant repérable dès 2012-2013, il apparaît que les facteurs explicatifs conjoncturels ne sont pas les plus déterminants. Des facteurs bien plus profonds sont responsables de la débâcle électorale de Die Linke , tels que la progressive érosion de sa spécificité programmatique ou le déplacement du vote protestataire au profit de l’AfD dans les Länder de l’Est.
Élaboration du corpus DEMOCRAT : procédures d’annotation et d’évaluation
Authors: Quignard Matthieu , Le Mené Marine , Landragin Frédéric
Published: December 2021

S’il existe déjà plusieurs corpus annotés manuellement en expressions référentielles et en chaînes de référence, il n’en existe aucun pour la langue française, ou alors pour des annotations qui relèvent plus de l’anaphore que de la coréférence. Le projet DEMOCRAT a produit un tel corpus, avec qui plus est une dimension diachronique. Sa conception a posé un ensemble de difficultés non seulement linguistiques mais aussi au niveau de l’homogénéité des annotations, de leur vérification et de l’évaluation de leur qualité. C’est cette dimension que nous proposons ici d’explorer et de discuter, en nous focalisant sur les conventions d’annotation et l’évaluation des annotations obtenues, procédure impliquant un calcul de l’accord inter-annotateurs. Cet article met ainsi en perspective le contenu du corpus democrat , pour légitimer les exploitations qui en seront faites.
Le laboratoire environnemental latino-américain au XXI e siècle
Authors: Gautreau Pierre
Published: December 2021

Source intarissable de modèles et de contre-modèles pour penser la question environnementale contemporaine, l’Amérique latine occupe une place singulière sur la scène internationale au xxi e  siècle. Cet article montre en quoi cette situation a pu entraîner des analyses biaisées des innovations que cet ensemble de pays a développé, en magnifiant certaines ou en invisibilisant d’autres. Les analyses critiques du « bilan » environnemental de la période négligent en général trois processus : la globalisation segmentaire des questions environnementales latino-américaines, la profondeur des contraintes politiques contraires aux volontés de régulation environnementale, ainsi que des évolutions décoloniales complexes. En décalant le regard, plusieurs phénomènes peuvent être considérés comme caractéristiques du continent, marquant son originalité : le rôle décisif des conflits populaires, la « latinisation » de l’extractivisme, et le maigre bilan de la néolibéralisation de la nature.
Vers l’émergence d’un nouveau paradigme ?
Authors: Balzani Bernard , Hirlet Philippe
Published: December 2021

Aujourd’hui, il y a un large consensus au sein de la communauté scientifique pour dire que l’évaluation est présente partout, dans tous les secteurs d’activités, publics et privés, au sein de la société civile et salariale tout entière. Il est important de rappeler que ces deux notions de participation et d’évaluation sont anciennes. Les pratiques d’évaluation et de participation, anciennes et répétées à l’occasion des multiples réformes, de l’évolution des politiques sociales et projets dans les institutions sociales et médico-sociales, révèlent des enjeux conséquents qui méritent d’être exposés et discutés. Souvent, les désaccords ou controverses scientifiques proviennent d’un manque de clarification ou d’une imprécision dans leur définition. Nous souhaitons, dans le cadre du dossier thématique, réfléchir et proposer de dépasser cette conception ancrée, fruit d’approches isolées et parcellaires. En effet, poser la question de leur articulation, de leur intrication ou encore de leur imbrication, tant au niveau des idées que des pratiques, ce qui est notre hypothèse de départ et qui nous anime dans ce numéro de la revue Pensée plurielle , permet de travailler des enjeux d’ordre différents et centraux pour l’action publique, pour la démocratie sanitaire et sociale et pour les institutions et les professionnels des secteurs concernés. Il n’est plus possible de ne pas réfléchir aux articulations possibles et nécessaires entre ces deux notions en provenance d’univers de pensées aux soubassements théoriques, pratiques et culturels distincts, et de ce fait, il nous semble nécessaire de s’engager dans une réflexion permettant d’ouvrir les esprits et les pratiques vers un maillage fort de ces deux notions de manière à ce qu’un véritable bouclage des processus évaluatifs ou participatifs soit désormais conçu et intégré par les institutions ou les politiques publiques de manière à garantir l’émancipation des personnes.
Participation des usagers : du champ des possibles aux modalités réelles de représentation
Authors: Scheider-Yilmaz Marion , Morales La Mura Raúl
Published: December 2021

Au tournant des années 2000, les principes de démocratie participative dans le champ sanitaire ont connu un fort développement en France, déclinant la représentation des usagers dans un nombre important d’espaces de consultation. En cela, ils assoient et légitiment la figure du « représentant des usagers » dans les processus décisionnels visant l’élaboration ou la redéfinition des politiques publiques. Pour le handicap, comme pour les autres secteurs de l’action publique, une place est généralement destinée à cette figure spécifique au sein d’un collège intitulé « représentants des usagers ». À rebours de la consécration du « représentant des usagers » dans les espaces de consultation, nous choisissons de déconstruire cette formulation pour en interroger la pertinence sémantique. Ce sont plus généralement aussi les enjeux démocratiques relatifs à la participation des usagers que nous questionnons.
Direct fuel cell—supercapacitor hybrid power source for personal suburban transport
Authors: Bonnet Caroline ,   Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LRGP, F-54000 Nancy, France, Raël Stéphane , Hinaje Melika , Guichard Sophie , Habermacher Théophile , Vernier Julian , François Xavier , Péra Marie-Cécile , Lapicque François ,   Université de Lorraine, GREEN, F-54000 Nancy, France,   H2SYS SAS, H2Sys, Campus of the Technology University of Belfort Montbéliard, 19 rue Becquerel, F-90000 Belfort, France,   FCLAB, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UTBM, CNRS, F-90000 Belfort, France,   FEMTO-ST Institute, FCLAB, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, CNRS, F-90000 Belfort, France
Published: December 2021

In view to proposing an alternative to oversized energy sources currently installed in electric vehicles for suburban transport, a direct hybrid fuel cell (FC)-supercapacitors (SC) source has been designed and tested on a test bench. The rated 15.6 kW source—with an air-cooled 5.6 kW FC and a 165 F SC storage device—was shown perfectly suited to traction of a 520 kg vehicle along the NEDC cycle, then validating the previously developed concept of a one-ton car propelled by a 10 kW FC in the rated 30 kW hybrid source for this cycle. In comparison with a FC used alone, hybridization was shown to allow the power demand for the cell to vary in quite a narrower range, as formerly observed. Moreover, the rates of fuel cell voltage and current generated in the driving cycle, were shown to be reduced by one order of magnitude by the direct hybridization which is to contribute to the FC durability. Two operating parameters were shown to have a significant effect on the hybrid source efficiency, namely the capacity of the SC at 110 or 165 F, and the recovery of deceleration power—emulated by an external power supply—which can decrease by 25% the fuel consumption in NEDC cycle conditions, as predicted by the model.
Smash product construction of modular lattice vertex algebras
Authors: Mu Qiang
Published: December 2021

Motivated by a work of Li, we study nonlocal vertex algebras and their smash products over fields of positive characteristic. Through smash products, modular vertex algebras associated with positive definite even lattices are reconstructed. This gives a different construction of the modular vertex algebras obtained from integral forms introduced by Dong and Griess in lattice vertex operator algebras over a field of characteristic zero.
Porosity in minerals
Authors: Salje Ekhard K.H. ,   Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK
Published: December 2021

Minerals typically form porous assemblies with porosity extending from a few percent to ca. 35% in porous sandstones, and over 50% in tuff, clays, and tuff. While transport of gases and liquids are widely researched in these materials, much less is known about their mechanical behaviour under stress. With the development of artificial porous materials such questions become more pertinent, e.g., for applications as fillers in car bumpers and airplane wings, and nanoscale applications in memistors and neuromorphic computers. This article argues that elasticity and related dielectric and magnetic properties can be described‑to some extend-as universal in porous materials. The collapse of porous materials under stress triggers in many cases avalanches of collapsed regions which are scale invariant and follow irreversible power law energy emission. Emphasis is given to a recent simple collapse model by Casals and Salje which covers many of the observed phenomena.
Robust $ {H}_{\infty} $ output feedback finite-time control for interval type-2 fuzzy systems with actuator saturation
Authors: Liu Chuang ,   School of automation, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, CO 100083, China, Wu Jinxia , Yang Weidong ,   College of Control Science and Engineering, BoHai University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, China,   College of Science, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou, Liaoning, 121001, China
Published: December 2021

The finite-time $ {H_\infty } $ performance of the interval type-2 Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy system (IT2 T-S) in presence of immeasurable states and input saturation is investigated. At first, an observer associated with IT2 T-S states is considered to address the problem of immeasurable states. After that, the input saturation is described based on the polyhedron model, and accordingly, a robust $ {H_\infty } $ observer-based finite-time controller is proposed via non-PDC algorithm. Then, on the basis of the Lyapunov function method and LMIs theory, the sufficient conditions for the finite time stability of fuzzy systems are derived. At last, the feasibility of the designed algorithm is verified by two examples of the nonlinear mass-spring-damping system and tunnel diode circuit system, respectively.
Skin and obesity in childhood: an update
Authors: Hirschler Valeria ,   Argentine Society of Diabetes, Paraguay 1307, Buenos Aires (1057), Argentina
Published: December 2021

Overweight and obesity have grown in children in the last decades and are now an epidemic, leading to significant public health issues in developed and underdeveloped nations. Obese children have a higher prevalence of skin lesions than normal weight children. The present study is an updated-on state of the art of studies describing the association between childhood obesity and related skin lesions. The most frequent obesity-associated dermatological complications in children are acanthosis nigricans and acrochordons, atopic dermatitis, skin infections, and endocrinological changes including hyperinsulinism and hyperandrogenism. Other common skin manifestations associated with obesity are striae distensae and plantar hyperkeratosis. Although the causes of the majority of the skin lesions associated with obesity are not known, the larger mass of adipose tissue and the secretion of peptides (cytokines, hormones, etc.) from enlarged fat cells due to obesity could lead to skin lesions. Therefore, the prevention of obesity is essential to avoid most skin-associated lesions.
Radial solutions for Hénon type fully nonlinear equations in annuli and exterior domains
Authors: Maia Liliane ,   Departamento de Matemática, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, 70910900 - Brasília, DF, Brazil, Nornberg Gabrielle ,   Departamento de Matemática, Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e de Computação, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, Centro, 13566590 - São Carlos, SP, Brazil
Published: December 2021

In this note we study existence of positive radial solutions in annuli and exterior domains for a class of nonlinear equations driven by Pucci extremal operators subject to a Hénon type weight. Our approach is based on the shooting method applied to the corresponding ODE problem, energy arguments, and the associated flow of an autonomous quadratic dynamical system.
“Easy to learn” (rTogs par sla ba) (1737) as a source for the study of Tibetan-Mongolian lexicographic relations
Authors: Dorjsuren Burnee
Published: December 2021

“Easy to learn” is the title of a Tibetan-Mongolian dictionary composed by Гomboǰab (Cl. Mo. mGonbo skyabs) et al. in 1737 for the purpose of teaching the Tibetan language to Mongols. Through a comparative analysis of its macro- and microstructures with related dictionaries, this paper finds that this dictionary was composed based on a Sanskrit and Tibetan lexicography, describes its distinctive lexicographic methodology, and illustrates how this source represents the Mongolian and Tibetan lexicographic relationships.
Potential Phytochemical Nanoemulsions in the Treatment of Oral Cancer and Oral Health
Authors: Barhoi Dharmeswar , Nath Barbhuiya Sweety , Giri Sarbani
Published: December 2021

Oral cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and lifestyle factors like extensive consumption of tobacco, betel quid, and alcohol are the major etiological factors of oral cancer. Treatment of oral cancer includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, but this treatment possesses lots of side effects. Therefore, scientists and medical experts are utilizing natural products and medicinal plants for new drug development. Natural products and phytochemicals showed better efficacy with less toxicity. However, most of the phytochemicals showed poor permeability and less bioavailability. To combat this problem, scientists developed nanosized nanoemulsions of phytochemicals to treat various ailments. Nanoemulsions of phytochemicals exhibited better efficacy than their free form due to increased permeability and bioavailability. Numerous phytopharmaceuticals have been formulated for nanoemulsions to date and tested for their anticancer potential against various cancers, including oral cancer and oral health management.
Healthcare Applications of Nanoemulsions
Authors: Malik Dr.Sumira , Kishore Shristi , Kumari Shradha A. , Kumari Anjali
Published: December 2021

The area of healthcare needs new innovative methods and tools for improvisation and to impart better efficiencies. Nanoemulsions are pharmaceutical formulations containing nanometre-sized particles used for controlled and systemic delivery of bioactive pharmaceuticals. Various advantageous properties of nanoemulsions such as the presence of hydrophobic core region, higher stability, and smaller size have made them useful to a large extent in the biomedical field. They have been employed in transdermal drug delivery, intranasal drug delivery, pulmonary drug delivery, parenteral drug delivery, and improvised delivery of hydrophobic drugs. This chapter aims to discuss various applications of nanoemulsions in healthcare including cosmetics, antimicrobials, vaccine delivery, targeted drug delivery, gene delivery, cancer therapy, and many more in detail.
Creative Destinations and the Rooster of Barcelos (“Galo de Barcelos”)
Authors: Gonçalves Francisco Barbosa , Costa Carlos
Published: December 2021

This chapter aims at understanding the Rooster of Barcelos (Galo de Barcelos) as local intangible cultural heritage, being the case study of a research leading to the proposal of this explanatory model for developing and implementing tourism creative destinations. The Barcelos Rooster is the result of two ancestral customs of this territory, namely handicrafts and the Jacobin legend of the miracle of the rooster. These two customs, eternalized in time, were associated by the intervention of tourism. In addition, handicrafts, the Camino de Santiago, gastronomy (roast rooster from this legend), wine (vinho verde) and the traditional market, and heritage associated with the Rooster of Barcelos emerge as the main tourist attractions of this territory. It might be concluded that the Rooster of Barcelos, as one of the main symbols of Portuguese tourism, local heritage, and tourism product honey pot has the potential to leverage the sustainable development of this territory as a creative tourist destination.
Applications of Nanomaterials in the Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Bou-Hamdan Kamel Fahmi
Published: December 2021

The petroleum industry has been an ever-growing industry. New technologies are always being introduced to encompass the challenges that are encountered. Nanomaterials are being included in these technologies to improve the operation of different processes. Their distinctive physical and chemical characteristics encourage their use in different sectors such as the upstream, midstream, and downstream of the oil and gas industry. In this chapter, the nanomaterials that are utilized in the oil and gas industries are highlighted. Their implementation in various applications is also provided. These applications include hydrocarbon exploration, well drilling and completion, production operations, enhanced oil recovery mechanisms, transportation, and refining operations. There is also a discussion about existing problems and possibilities for future uses.
Role of Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Bhutta Zeeshan Ahmad , Kanwal Ayesha , Ashar Ambreen , Ali Moazam , Mahfooz Ashar , Kulyar Muhammad Fakhar-e-Alam , Shoaib Muhammad , Ahmed Rizwan , Li Kun
Published: December 2021

The rapid growth of nanotechnology towards the development of nanomedicines has improved cancer treatment. Nanomedicine provides the opportunity to implement complex and targeted multifunctional strategies. Today, nanoparticles (NPs) have many uses in a number of scientific fields. In recent years, it has been repeatedly reported that NPs hold a significant place in the regulation of modern medicine by implementing a varying number of clinical approaches like drug carrying substances, genetic material delivery to tumors, as well as in radiography as a contrast media agent. Various nanomaterials based on organic, inorganic, lipid or glycan compounds, and synthetic polymers have been used to develop and improve new cancer treatments. In this chapter, the authors discussed the role of NPs in cancer treatment among various anticancer drug delivery methods.
Recent Advances on Nanomaterials for Diagnostic, Treatment, and Prevention of COVID-19
Authors: Vargas-Bernal Rafael
Published: December 2021

Since the end of 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, commonly known as COVID-19, has become an infectious disease that has produced a severe global public health problem that requires solutions from different scientific initiatives. Nanomaterials are used to diagnose, treat, and prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Its potential is highlighted through specific applications and developments carried out by researchers around the world. In addition to highlighting the characteristics and properties of the COVID-19 virus, the purpose of the chapter is focused on describing the role that nanomaterials are playing and that must be overcome due to the pandemic. Future research directions are described to guide readers on the innovations that are required related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. The impact that nanomaterials will have on COVID-19 will reduce the time for humans to return to the rhythm of life before the pandemic.
The Balkan Migration Route
Authors: Khudoliy Anatoliy
Published: December 2021

The purpose of the chapter is to assess and link the issues of migration flows with the accession process of the Balkan countries and the European Union enlargement policy. The chapter argues that despite the recent changes in the EU commission's policy towards the candidate countries there is more to be done to foster the process and encourage domestic reforms in the countries. The chapter examines the process of migration along the Balkan migration route from 2001 till 2021 and its influence on the European Union policy and the policy of Balkan countries. The author links the issue of migration flows with the accession process of the Balkan countries, traces the connection between the issue of migration flows with the European Union enlargement, and analyzes the legal steps taken by the EU and the countries of the region in order to control the process of migration.
The EU's Transformative Power in Albania
Authors: Lula Lutjona
Published: December 2021

South-Eastern Europe has always been a vital region with continuous socio-political changes. After the fall of communism and the wars that accompanied the disintegration of Yugoslavia, countries in the region turned towards the European Union. Upon signing the SAA, the countries of the Western Balkans, such as Albania, have had a green light to move forward in the EU's pre-accession process. As Albania works toward membership, how do domestic political actors in Albania (not) change their with agendas according to EU requirements? This chapter will address the puzzle of the transformative power of EU's conditionality in main political parties in Albania.
A Conceptual Framework for IT Governance Mechanisms in Uganda's Higher Institutions of Learning
Authors: Ndagire Lillian , Maiga Gilbert , Oyo Benedict
Published: December 2021

Poor implementation of Information Technology Governance (ITG) leads to several IT systems performing poorly. Resulting to discontinuity of services, user frustration, loss of IT investment, increased redundancy, duplication of efforts, poor decision-making, and reputation loss. In Uganda, implementation of ITG is low as many public sector organizations are yet to streamline. Yet, for Higher Institutions of Learning (HILs), the implementation of ITG is unexplored. Therefore, this study sought to determine the required mechanisms to design an ITG framework for HILs in Uganda (IGHU). A descriptive field study was conducted and the data were analyzed using SmartPLS 2.3.9 software. The causal relationships and validity of the constructs of IGHU were tested using partial least square path modeling. The coefficient of determination was 0.35; the path coefficient indicated both positive and negative relationships of independent to dependent constructs, and hypotheses such as accountability of IT projects and awareness campaigns were statistically significant.
Offline Handwritten Character and Numeral Recognition
Authors: Sethy Abhisek , Patra Prashanta Kumar , Nayak Soumya Ranjan , Poonia Ramesh Chandra
Published: December 2021

Automatic Character Recognition for the handwritten Indic script has listed up as most the challenging area for research in the field of pattern recognition. Although a great amount of research work has been reported, but all the state-of-art methods are limited with optimal features. This article aims to suggest a well-defined recognition model which harnessed upon handwritten Odia characters and numerals by implementing a novel process of decomposition in terms of 3rd level Fast Discrete Curvelet Transform (FDCT) to get higher dimension feature vector. After that, Kernel-Principal Component Analysis (K-PCA) considered to obtained optimal features from FDCT feature. Finally, the classification is performed by using Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN) on handwritten Odia character and numeral dataset from both NIT Rourkela and IIT Bhubaneswar. The outcome of proposed scheme outperforms better as compared to existing model with optimized Gaussian kernel-based feature set.
Exploring User Acceptance Determinants of COVID-19-Tracing Apps to Manage the Pandemic
Authors: Krüger Nicolai , Behne Alina , Beinke Jan Heinrich , Stibe Agnis , Teuteberg Frank
Published: December 2021

Tracing infectious individuals and clusters is a major tactic for mitigating the pandemic. This paper explores the factors impacting the intentions and actual use of COVID-19 contact tracing apps based on a technology acceptance model. A partial least squares structural equation model has been applied to understand determinants for the usage of tracing apps based on a large sample (N = 2,398) from more than 30 countries (mainly from Germany and USA). Further, the paper presents a classification of COVID-19 apps and users. Through that, the study provides insights for technologists and designers of tracing apps as well as policy makers and practitioners to work toward enhancing user acceptance. Moreover, the results are abstracted to general social participation with apps in order to manage future strategies. The theoretical contribution of this work includes the results of our acceptance model and a classification of COVID-19 tracing and tracking apps.
Hybrid Filtering Recommendation System in an Educational Context
Authors: Baidada Mohammed , Mansouri Khalifa , Poirier Franck
Published: December 2021

In education, the needs of learners are different in the majority of the time, as each has specificities in terms of preferences, performance and goals. Recommendation systems have proven to be an effective way to ensure this learning personalization. Already used and tested in other areas such as e-commerce, their adaptation to the educational context has led to several research studies that have tried to find the best approaches with the best expected results. This article suggests that a hybridization of recommendation systems filtering methods can improve the quality of recommendations. An experiment was conducted to test an approach that combines content-based filtering and collaborative filtering. The results proved to be convincing.
Standardization of resazurin use in susceptibility testing of natural products against yeasts in planktonic cells and in biofilms formation
Authors: Barros Isabella Letícia Esteves , Veiga Flávia Franco , Corrêa Jakeline Luiz , Jarros Isabele Carrilho , Negri Melyssa , Svidzinski Terezinha Inez Estivalet
Published: December 2021

Natural products, such as the ethanolic propolis extract (PE), have been shown to be a safe and effective therapeutic alternative for the treatment of fungal skin and nail diseases. However, the presence of the resin and the physicochemical characteristics of the extract sometimes difficult the reading and determination of breakpoints of the in vitro tests, evidencing the need for alternatives that facilitate the reading. The present study aimed to standardize the use of resazurin in tests of susceptibility of PE with planktonic yeast cells and biofilm forms. The antifungal activity of PE was determined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and we observed that, for all Candida spp. tested, the most reproducible MIC results were obtained when resazurin was placed after 24 hours of incubation and remained more 24 hours with yeasts plus PE. For encapsulated yeasts, there was no dye reduction and color transition. Resazurin was also used for the evaluation of minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration and minimal biofilm eradication concentration and it was metabolized and reproduced the action of PE on Candida biofilms. In addition, microdilution checkerboard plates were made with the dye, which assisted reading the result of the interaction between PE and nystatin. We observed that the resin, the color and the turbidity of the PE slightly changed the color of the resazurin in high concentrations of the extract and did not impair the reading. Therefore, the resazurin standardization tests were proven to be efficient and grounds that it should be used as an auxiliary methodology for reading and interpretation of the susceptibility tests for non-encapsulated yeasts with natural products, which form turbidity or precipitation, such as propolis.
In vivo and in vitro prospection of the anti-ophidic properties exercised by the extracts of Jacaranda decurrens L.
Authors: Trento Marcus Vinícius Cardoso , Carapiá Mateus Santos , César Pedro Henrique Souza , Braga Mariana Aparecida , Soares Andreimar Martins , Marcussi Silvana
Published: December 2021

The research and development of alternative treatments for snakebites (e.g., medicinal plants) is necessary due to the high costs of the existing ones. The effects of the aqueous extracts from Jacaranda decurrens leaves, roots, and xylopodium were analyzed upon the venom-induced (Bothrops spp. and Crotalus spp.) systemic and local toxicity. The extracts were able to partially inhibit the phospholipase activity of the venoms from Bothrops jararacussu and Crotalus durissus terrificus. The myotoxic, edema-inducing, coagulant, and hemorrhagic activities were also inhibited. The SDS-PAGE showed that the venom proteins were intact after their incubation with the extracts. This suggests that the possible mechanism of inhibition is not related to the degradation of the protein but rather to their binding to specific sites of the enzymes. The extracts significantly prolonged the survival time of animals in the lethality assay performed with Crotalus durissus terrificus venom and its toxin (crotoxin). The anti-ophidic activity of medicinal plants may aid in the management of snakebites in distant locations by reducing the victim’s local effects and time to heal.
Analysis of a dose-response assay in Scaptotrigona bipunctata bees, Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) using the logistic regression model under the Bayesian approach
Authors: Silva Breno Gabriel da , Santos Paula Ribeiro , Lobos Cristian Marcelo Villegas , Diniz Tamiris de Oliveira , Pereira Naiara Climas , Ruvolo-Takasusuki Maria Claudia Colla
Published: December 2021

This paper shows the results of a dose-response study in Scaptotrigona bipunctata bees, Lepeletier, 1836 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) exposed to the insecticide Fastac Duo. The aim was to evaluate the lethal concentration that causes the death of 50% of bees (LC50) and investigate the odd of mortality after exposure to different concentrations, using the logistic regression model under the Bayesian approach. In this approach, it is possible to incorporate a prior information and gives more accurate inferential results. Three independent dose-response experiments were analyzed, dissimilar in their lead time according to guidelines from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in which each assay contained four replicates at the concentration levels investigated, including control. Observing exposure to the agrochemical, it was identified that the higher the concentration, the greater the odd of mortality. Regarding the estimated lethal concentrations for each experiment, the following values were found, 0.03 g a.i. L-1, for 24 hours, 0.04 g a.i. L-1, for 48 hours and 0.06 g a.i. L-1 for 72 hours, showing that in experiments with longer exposure times there was an increase in LC50. Concluding, the study showed an alternative approach to classical methods for dose-response studies in Scaptotrigona bipunctata bees exposed to the insecticide Fastac Duo.