bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
United States Pharmacopeia comprehensive safety review of Styphnolobium japonicum flower and flower bud
Authors: Madden Emily , McLachlan Caleb , Oketch‐Rabah Hellen , Calderón Angela I.
Published: March 2022

The dried flower and flower bud of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott (Japanese Sophora flower and Japanese Sophora flower bud, respectively) have long been used as herbal medicines in Asia. Today, they are marketed as dietary supplements in the United States for their anti‐oxidative properties and as a source of flavonoids, including rutin and quercetin. This review focused on the safety of S. japonicum flower and flower bud as dietary supplement ingredients. No serious adverse events or toxicity were reported in the clinical or experimental animal studies we reviewed. Although some studies indicated that rutin or quercetin may have potential for drug interactions, none were identified for S. japonicum flower or flower bud. S. japonicum flower and flower bud are not known to have been associated with serious health risks when appropriately consumed in dietary supplements and have been admitted to the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention monograph development process. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women should seek the advice of a healthcare professional because no data are available on their use by these special populations.
Determination of Sr2+ mobility in viscous bovine bone marrow by cryo‐time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry
Authors: Kern Christine , Pauli Anna , Rohnke Marcus
Published: March 2022

Rationale

In osteoporosis research, strontium ions (Sr2+) have emerged as promising therapeutic agent in modified bone cements for better fracture healing. Modeling of Sr2+ dispersion in bone could be used as a predictive tool for the evaluation of functionalized biomaterials in future. Therefore, determination of experimental parameters for Sr2+ transport in bone is essential. In this study, we focus on the determination of Sr2+ diffusion in viscous bovine bone marrow by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS).

Methods

For this comparatively fast diffusion (FD) experiment, a specific experimental protocol of ToF‐SIMS depth profiling under cryogenic conditions was developed. The validity of our experimental approach is proven by a time‐dependent experimental series. Furthermore, 2D and 3D mass spectrometric imaging analysis was used to study Sr2+ surface and bulk distribution within bovine bone marrow.

Results

Detailed 2D and 3D mass spectrometric imaging analysis revealed that Sr2+ diffusion is slower in bone marrow areas with high intensity of lipid and fatty acid signals than in areas with less lipid content. The Sr2+ transport within this passive model can be described by Fickian diffusion. Average diffusion coefficients of Sr2+ in bovine bone marrow were obtained from diffusion profiles in FD areas (Dbovine,FD = [2.09 ± 2.39]·10−9 cm2s−1), slow diffusion areas (Dbovine,SD = [1.52 ± 1.80]·10−10 cm2s−1), and total area diffusion (Dbovine,TA = [1.94 ± 2.40]·10−9 cm2s−1).

Conclusions

We were able to show that cryo‐ToF‐SIMS is a useful tool for the characterization of rapid diffusion in water‐containing highly viscous media. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported experimental approach for the investigation of the distribution of low concentrated therapeutic agents in bone marrow. Overall, our results provide important insights about Sr2+ diffusion in bovine bone marrow.
Policy mandates and organizational compliance: A spatial analysis of the factors affecting the adoption and implementation of emergency power plans by nursing homes
Authors: Sapat Alka , Mitsova Diana , Balilaj Arjola , Esnard Ann‐Margaret
Published: March 2022

We examine the adoption and implementation of emergency preparedness power plans by nursing homes in response to a state legislative mandate following hurricane Irma, which struck Florida in September 2017. Due to that storm, power failures at a nursing home in South Florida led to the death of 14 nursing home residents. To analyze the policy changes following this disaster that required nursing homes to adopt and implement back‐up power plans, we apply theories of organizational performance and disaster preparedness. Regression and spatial modeling techniques are used to analyze several internal determinants (such as organizational factors and administrative practices), external determinants (such as the level of hazard risks due to physical vulnerabilities and prior exposure), and spatial determinants (location in urban areas) affecting implementation. The findings indicate that ownership (public, private, or nonprofit), administrative capacities, organizational performance, and prior regulatory compliance history are important, along with environmental factors such as external risks and location, in determining nursing home compliance. This study contributes to the research on improving disaster governance and the protection of elderly populations, while shedding light on the unique vulnerability of nursing home residents and the recurring problem of power outages in hazard‐prone areas.
Static output‐feedback stabilization of discrete‐time linear parameter‐varying systems under actuator saturation
Authors: Peixoto Márcia L. C. , Coutinho Pedro H. S. , Bessa Iury , Palhares Reinaldo Martínez
Published: March 2022

This paper introduces a novel local synthesis condition for gain‐scheduling static output‐feedback control of discrete‐time linear parameter‐varying (LPV) systems under actuator saturation and state constraints. The proposed condition is formulated as a set of parameter‐dependent linear matrix inequalities that are incorporated into a convex optimization procedure to provide an enlarged estimate of the region of attraction of the closed‐loop equilibrium. In contrast with related works, the proposed approach allows handling a wider class of LPV systems since no rank condition is required to employ the so‐called equality constraints.
Dihydrophenazine‐Derived Redox Polymer from Industrial By‐Product as Lithium‐ion Battery Cathode Material
Authors: Huang Yuanzhu , Li Zhen , Hua Ying , Wang Yujie , Wang Bo , Du Ya , Yang Haishen
Published: March 2022

Advantaged with broad availibility and environmental sustainability, redox‐active organic polymers have recently been studied intensively as sustainable cathode materials for rechargeable lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). Other than the inexhaustible biomass, wastes from the contemporary chemical industries are alternative sustainable resources to be explored as electrode materials. Phenazine, a by‐product from RT‐base industrial with annual yield of about 1,000 tonnes in China, releases about 3,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year to the environment when disposed of by burning directly. In this work, a novel phenazine‐derived polymer, poly(5‐methyl‐10‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐phenazine) (PVBPZ) featured with a robust redox‐active dihydrophenazine moiety, was achieved through a facile two‐pot synthetic procedure and explored as excellent cathode material of LIBs. PVBPZ exhibited robust cycling stability, outstanding rate performance, and high capacity retention (up to 90 %) after 300 cycles at 0.2 A g−1. This work provides a feasible way to utilize phenazine as a valuable material, avoiding the release of huge amount of greenhouse gases and contributing to the relief of environmental deterioration.
Chromatographic Study of High Amylose Corn Starch Genotypes – Investigation of Molecular Properties after Specific Enzymatic Digestion
Authors: Ulbrich Marco , Scholz Fanni , Flöter Eckhard
Published: March 2022

Two high amylose corn starches (HACS; HYLON V and HYLON VII) are dissolved completely and subjected to specific enzymatic degradation by means of different amylases (AMY). The starches are digested using α‐, β‐, and γ‐AMY (single) as well as in combination with the debranching enzyme pullulanase (PUL; α‐AMY‐PUL and β‐AMY‐PUL), and the products are characterized by means of size exclusion chromatography (SEC)‐techniques including multi angle laser light scattering‐differential refractive index detection (SEC‐MALS‐DRI) and conventional calibration‐differential refractive index detection (SEC‐cal‐DRI). Enzymolysis is resulted in largely maltose (Mal; α‐ and β‐AMY and respective combinations with PUL) or glucose (Glc; γ‐AMY; almost complete digestion) as the major fraction, but also other residual fractions of higher molar mass (MM), i.a. α‐ and β‐limit dextrins (α‐/β‐LDs). The quantity (relative portion) and quality (specific molecular properties) of the reaction products are found to be strongly dependent on both the enzymatic treatment by itself (kind of enzyme/‐combination and associated specificity of action) and the molecular composition of the initial starch (portion and specific molecular properties of the amylose [AM], intermediate [IM], and amylopectin [AP] fraction), which is further investigated in detail.
Effects of selective orexin receptor‐2 and cannabinoid receptor‐1 antagonists on the response of medial prefrontal cortex neurons to tramadol
Authors: Hasanpour Razmanjani Neda , Reisi Parham
Published: March 2022

Tramadol is widely used to control pain in various diseases, but the relevant mechanisms are less known despite the severe risks of abuse. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is one of the critical centers of the reward system. Studies have shown that orexins and endocannabinoids are likely to play an important role in addiction. In this study, the effect of orexin receptor‐2 (OX2R) and endocannabinoid receptor‐1 (CB1R) blockade on the neuronal activity of mPFC was investigated in response to tramadol in male rats. Tramadol was injected intraperitoneally, and its effects on the firing of mPFC pyramidal neurons were investigated using in vivo extracellular single‐unit recording. Tramadol affected the pyramidal neuronal activity of the mPFC. AM251 (18 nmol/4 μl), as a selective CB1R antagonist, and TCS‐OX2‐29 (50 nmol/4 μl), as a selective OX2R antagonist, individually or simultaneously were microinjected into the lateral ventricle of the brain (intracerebroventricular, ICV). The results showed that the ratio of neurons with the excitatory/inhibitory or no responses was significantly changed by tramadol (p < .05). These changes were prevented by blockade of CB1Rs alone or blockade of OX2Rs and CB1Rs simultaneously (p < .05). However, blockade of these receptors in the vehicle group had no significant effect on neuronal activity. The findings of this study indicate the potential role of orexin and endocannabinoid systems in mediating the effects of tramadol in mPFC and the possible interaction between the two systems via OX2 and CB1 receptors. However, further studies are needed to identify these effects by examining intracellular signaling.
Harnessing DNA as a Designable Scaffold for Asymmetric Catalysis: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives
Authors: Yum Ji Hye , Sugiyama Hiroshi , Park Soyoung
Published: March 2022

Since the first report of DNAzyme by in vitro selection in 1994, catalytic DNA has investigated extensively, and their application has expanded continually in virtue of rapid advances in molecular biology and biotechnology. Nowadays, DNA is in the second prime time by way of DNA‐based hybrid catalysts and DNA metalloenzymes in which helical chirality of DNA serves to asymmetric catalysis. DNA‐based hybrid catalysts are attractive system to respond the demand of the times to pursuit green and sustainable society beyond traditional catalytic systems that value reaction efficiency. Herein, we highlight the recent advances and perspective of DNA‐based hybrid catalysts with various aspects of DNA as a versatile scaffold for asymmetric synthesis. We hope that scientists in a variety of fields will be encouraged to join and promote remarkable evolution of this interesting research.
Artificial Intelligence Project Success Factors—Beyond the Ethical Principles
Authors: Miller Gloria J.
Published: March 2022

The algorithms implemented through artificial intelligence (AI) and big data projects are used in life-and-death situations. Despite research that addresses varying aspects of moral decision-making based upon algorithms, the definition of project success is less clear. Nevertheless, researchers place the burden of responsibility for ethical decisions on the developers of AI systems. This study used a systematic literature review to identify five categories of AI project success factors in 17 groups related to moral decision-making with algorithms. It translates AI ethical principles into practical project deliverables and actions that underpin the success of AI projects. It considers success over time by investigating the development, usage, and consequences of moral decision-making by algorithmic systems. Moreover, the review reveals and defines AI success factors within the project management literature. Project managers and sponsors can use the results during project planning and execution.
Association between migration status and subsequent labour market marginalisation among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder: a Swedish nationwide register-based cohort study
Authors: He Jiangchuan , Hollander Anna-Clara , Rahman Syed
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among migrants in Europe is widely reported. Our research aimed to investigate the association between migration status and subsequent labour market marginalisation (LMM) events, i.e., long-term unemployment (LTU), long-term sickness absence (LTSA), and disability pension (DP) among individuals with PTSD, and to elucidate how the sociodemographic factors and the pre-existing health conditions influence such association.

Methods

We established a cohort of 36,714 individuals born between 1960 and 1995, living in Sweden during 2004–2009, aged 19 years or above, with PTSD diagnosis during 2006–2009. Migration status, categorized as refugees, non-refugees, second-generation migrants, and Swedish-born with Swedish-born parents (reference group) was considered as exposure and LMM events as outcome. The cohort was followed from 01-Jan-2010 until LMM, death, or end of follow-up (31-Dec-2016). Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by Cox regression with a seven-year follow-up.

Results

Refugees (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.86–2.30), and non-refugees (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.85–2.07) had almost doubled relative risk of long-term unemployment, compared with the Swedish-born. The hazards of long-term sickness absence were similar across the groups. Refugees (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.24–1.77), and non-refugees (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.30–1.56) also had elevated relative risk of disability pension, whereas second-generation migrants had moderately increased relative risks for all three labour market marginalisation events compared with the Swedish-born.

Conclusion

Among the individuals with PTSD, being a migrant increases the risk of LMM, refugees being the foremost among migrants. Further research may benefit from including more recent migrant population, pre-migration information and measuring PTSD clinical severity.
Cross-validation of a semantic segmentation network for natural history collection specimens
Authors: de la Hidalga Abraham Nieva , Rosin Paul L. , Sun Xianfang , Livermore Laurence , Durrant James , Turner James , Dillen Mathias , Musson Alicia , Phillips Sarah , Groom Quentin , Hardisty Alex
Published: March 2022

Semantic segmentation has been proposed as a tool to accelerate the processing of natural history collection images. However, developing a flexible and resilient segmentation network requires an approach for adaptation which allows processing different datasets with minimal training and validation. This paper presents a cross-validation approach designed to determine whether a semantic segmentation network possesses the flexibility required for application across different collections and institutions. Consequently, the specific objectives of cross-validating the semantic segmentation network are to (a) evaluate the effectiveness of the network for segmenting image sets derived from collections different from the one in which the network was initially trained on; and (b) test the adaptability of the segmentation network for use in other types of collections. The resilience to data variations from different institutions and the portability of the network across different types of collections are required to confirm its general applicability. The proposed validation method is tested on the Natural History Museum semantic segmentation network, designed to process entomological microscope slides. The proposed semantic segmentation network is evaluated through a series of cross-validation experiments designed to test using data from two types of collections: microscope slides (from three institutions) and herbarium sheets (from seven institutions). The main contribution of this work is the method, software and ground truth sets created for this cross-validation as they can be reused in testing similar segmentation proposals in the context of digitization of natural history collections. The cross-validation of segmentation methods should be a required step in the integration of such methods into image processing workflows for natural history collections.
When to operate after SARS-CoV-2 infection? A review on the recent consensus recommendation of the DGC/BDC and the DGAI/BDA
Authors: Noll J. , Reichert M. , Dietrich M. , Riedel J. G. , Hecker M. , Padberg W. , Weigand M. A. , Hecker A.
Published: March 2022

Since the eruption of the worldwide SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in late 2019/early 2020, multiple elective surgical interventions were postponed. Through pandemic measures, elective operation capacities were reduced in favour of intensive care treatment for critically ill SARS-CoV-2 patients. Although intermittent low-incidence infection rates allowed an increase in elective surgery, surgeons have to include long-term pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications of SARS-CoV-2 infections (especially “Long Covid”) in their perioperative management considerations and risk assessment procedures. This review summarizes recent consensus statements and recommendations regarding the timepoint for surgical intervention after SARS-CoV-2 infection released by respective German societies and professional representatives including DGC/BDC (Germany Society of Surgery/Professional Association of German Surgeons e.V.) and DGAI/BDA (Germany Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine/Professional Association of German Anesthesiologists e.V.) within the scope of the recent literature. The current literature reveals that patients with pre- and perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection have a dramatically deteriorated postoperative outcome. Thereby, perioperative mortality is mainly caused by pulmonary and thromboembolic complications. Notably, perioperative mortality decreases to normal values over time depending on the duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
ApplianceNet: a neural network based framework to recognize daily life activities and behavior in smart home using smart plugs
Authors: Fahim Muhammad , Kazmi S. M. Ahsan , Khattak Asad Masood
Published: March 2022

A smart plug can transform the typical electrical appliance into a smart multi-functional device, which can communicate over the Internet. It has the ability to report the energy consumption pattern of the attached appliance which offer the further analysis. Inside the home, smart plugs can be utilized to recognize daily life activities and behavior. These are the key elements to provide human-centered applications including healthcare services, power consumption footprints, and household appliance identification. In this research, we propose a novel framework ApplianceNet that is based on energy consumption patterns of home appliances attached to smart plugs. Our framework can process the collected univariate time-series data intelligently and classifies them using a multi-layer, feed-forward neural network. The performance of this approach is evaluated on publicly available real homes collected dataset. The experimental results have shown the ApplianceNet as an effective and practical solution for recognizing daily life activities and behavior. We measure the performance in terms of precision, recall, and F1-score, and the obtained score is 87%, 88%, 88%, respectively, which is 11% higher than the existing method in terms of F1-score. Furthermore, our scheme is simple and easy to adopt in the existing home infrastructure.
Pre-processing Waste Tomatoes into Separated Streams with the Intention of Recovering Protein: Towards an Integrated Fruit and Vegetable Biorefinery Approach to Waste Minimization
Authors: Baker Paul W. , Preskett Dave , Krienke Dominik , Runager Kasper S. , Hastrup Anne C. S. , Charlton Adam
Published: March 2022

Purpose

A large proportion of the European Union’s tomato crop is discarded during harvesting and there is a valorisation potential to recover proteins from this waste.

Methods

Cherry tomatoes were segregated into three separate components: juice, pomace (peels and skins), and seeds. The peels and skins, and seeds were separately hydrolyzed with carbohydrases to determine whether protein recovery could be increased. In addition, a strategy to fractionate the seeds was developed using sequential washing of milled tomato seeds, followed by low-speed centrifugation to remove the denser seed hulls and to collect the protein rich kernels remaining in suspension.

Results

The protein content of the seeds was highest with 27.4% while the peels and skins contained 7.6%. Carbohydrase mediated hydrolysis resulted in a minor increase in protein recovery of 10% from seeds using Filta 02L (cellulase, xylanase and β-glucanase), and the quantity of protein recovered from peels and skins increased by 210% using Tail 157 (pectinase, hemicellulase). The strategy to separate the seeds into two fractions, revealed that a higher proportion of the fibre (65%) was associated with the hull fraction compared with the original seeds (47%). A significant proportion of the fibre in this fraction was composed of lignin although the protein contents between both fractions was similar ranging from 27.4 to 29.9%.

Conclusions

These results reveal that carbohydrases were quite effective in protein extraction from peels and skins, but not from seeds. An alternative strategy was developed to remove the seed hulls from the milled seeds and to collect a fraction containing protein and dietary fibre where oil could be removed at this stage.

Graphical Abstract
Mapping human papillomavirus, Epstein–Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and p16 in laryngeal cancer
Authors: Schindele Alexandra , Holm Anna , Nylander Karin , Allard Annika , Olofsson Katarina
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Apart from tobacco and alcohol, viral infections are proposed as risk factors for laryngeal cancer. The occurrence of oncogenic viruses including human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) varies in the world. Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process, and the role of viruses in LSCC progression has not been clarified. We aimed to analyze the presence and co-expression of HPV, EBV, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and human adenovirus (HAdV) in LSCC. We also investigated if p16 can act as surrogate marker for HPV in LSCC.

Methods

Combined PCR/microarrays (PapilloCheck®) were used for detection and genotyping of HPV DNA, real-time PCR for EBV, HCMV and HAdV DNA detection, and EBER in situ hybridization (EBER-ISH) for EBV detection in tissue from 78 LSCC patients. Additionally, we analyzed p16 expression with immunohistochemistry.

Results

Thirty-three percent (26/78) of LSCC tumor samples were EBV positive, 9% (7/78) HCMV positive and 4% (3/78) HAdV positive. Due to DNA fragmentation, 45 samples could not be analyzed with PapilloCheck®; 9% of the remaining (3/33) were high-risk HPV16 positive and also over-expressed p16. A total of 14% (11/78) of the samples over-expressed p16.

Conclusion

These findings present a mapping of HPV, EBV, HCMV and HAdV, including the HPV surrogate marker p16, in LSCC in this cohort. Except for EBV, which was detected in a third of the samples, data show viral infection to be uncommon, and that p16 does not appear to be a specific surrogate marker for high-risk HPV infection in LSCC.
Estimation Method of Parking Space Conditions Using Multiple 3D-LiDARs
Authors: Yamada Shunya , Watanabe Yousuke , Kanamori Ryo , Sato Kenya , Takada Hiroaki
Published: March 2022

In the early stages of the spread of autonomous vehicles, it is conceivable to operate an automated valet parking system in parking lots where autonomous vehicles and non-autonomous vehicles coexist. Since non-autonomous vehicles may park beyond the parking space, it is necessary to estimate parking space conditions three-dimensionally. This paper proposes a method to estimate the parking space conditions using multiple 3D-LiDARs that can detect the space three-dimensionally. In the evaluation experiment, multiple 3D-LiDARs were installed in the parking lot of a public facility, and the estimation accuracy of the proposed method was evaluated in various situations.
GIS-based multi-criteria approach to delineate groundwater prospect zone and its sensitivity analysis
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , Singh Sudhir Kumar , Kundu Arnab , Tyagi Krishan , Menon Jagadeesh , Frederick Alex , Raj Aditya , Lal Deepak
Published: March 2022

This study was aimed at delineating groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) using geo-spatial techniques for Ranchi district, Jharkhand (India). Data including Cartosat-1 digital elevation model (DEM), Landsat 8 satellite images, lithology, geology, soil, and water yield data were utilised in this study. The relative importance of multiple parameters including lithology, soil, slope, geology, rainfall, drainage density, and land use/land cover (LULC) that influence the availability of groundwater was determined subjectively. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) along with pair-wise comparison decision theory was utilized to calculate the weights for each aforementioned parameter. The delineated GWPZ were categorized into four classes viz., very good zone (31.57%), good zone (45.43%), moderate zone (13.09%), and poor zone (8.53%). The sensitivity analysis indicated lithology and soil type as the most and least sensitive parameters, respectively influencing the presence of groundwater in the study area. Comparison between well discharge data and delineated GWPZ yielded a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.59. This study contributes to identifying priority areas where appropriate water conservation programs as well as strategies for sustainable groundwater development can be implemented.
Trivariate joint frequency analysis of water resources deficiency signatures using vine copulas
Authors: Nazeri Tahroudi Mohammad , Ramezani Yousef , De Michele Carlo , Mirabbasi Rasoul
Published: March 2022

Investigating the interaction of water resources such as rainfall, river flow and groundwater level can be useful to know the behavior of water balance in a basin. In this study, using the rainfall, river flow and groundwater level deficiency signatures for a 60-day duration, accuracy of vine copulas was investigated by joint frequency analysis. First, while investigating correlation of pair-variables, tree sequences of C-, D- and R-vine copulas were investigated. The results were evaluated using AIC, Log likelihood and BIC statistics. Finally, according to the physics of the problem and evaluation criteria, D-vine copula was selected as the best copula and the relevant tree sequence was introduced. Kendall’s tau test was used to evaluate the correlation of pair-signatures. The results of the Kendall’s tau test showed that pair-signatures studied have a good correlation. Using D-vine copula and its conditional structure, the joint return period of groundwater deficiency signature affected by rainfall and river flow deficiency signatures was investigated. The results showed that the main changes in the groundwater level deficiency is between 0.3 and 2 m, which due to the rainfall and the corresponding river flow deficiency, return periods will be less than 5 years. Copula-based simulations were used to investigate the best copula accuracy in joint frequency analysis of the studied signatures. Using copula data of the studied signatures, the groundwater deficiency signature was simulated using D-vine copula and a selected tree sequence. The results showed acceptable accuracy of D-vine copula in simulating the copula values of the groundwater deficiency signature. After confirming the accuracy of D-vine copula, the probability of occurrence of groundwater deficiency signature was obtained from the joint probability of occurrence of other signatures. This method can be used as a general drought monitoring system for better water resources management in the basin.
Review on generating optimal operation for dam and reservoir water system: simulation models and optimization algorithms
Authors: Saab Saad Mawlood , Othman Faridah Binti , Tan Chee Ghuan , Allawi Mohammed Falah , El-Shafie Ahmed
Published: March 2022

Accurate and reliable optimization and simulation of the dam reservoir system to ensure optimal use of water resources cannot be achieved without precise and effective models. Providing insight into reservoir system operation and simulation modeling through a comprehensive overview of the previous studies and expanding research horizons can enhance the potential for accurate and well-designed models. The current research reviews previous studies that have used optimization methods to find optimal operating policies for a reservoir system over the past 20 years. Indeed, successful operating policies cannot be obtained without achieving accurate predictions of the main hydrological parameters in the reservoir system, which are inflow and evaporation. The present study focuses on giving an overview of the applications of AI-based models for predicting reservoir inflow and evaporation. The advantages and disadvantages of both optimization algorithms and predictive models have been summarized. Several recommendations for future research have also been included in the present review paper.
Groundwater quality evaluation: a case study of Igando waste dumpsite, southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Ige Olusegun O. , Owolabi Adebowale T. , Olabode Oluwaseun F. , Obasaju Daniel O.
Published: March 2022

The quality of groundwater samples around Igando area, Lagos State, Nigeria was investigated with the aim of detecting possible influence of dumpsites on nearby aquifers. Thirty-seven (37) groundwater samples were evaluated for their suitability in drinking and agricultural purposes. Physical parameters were determined in situ using portable multi-meter. Flame absorption was used to determine the concentrations of major cations while ion chromatography and titrimetry was used for anions’ concentration. Bacteriological test was conducted using multiple tube technique. Results of in-situ physical parameters revealed pH range of 7.01–7.79, EC range of 20–880 μS/cm while TDS range from 13–590 mg/L. Laboratory analyses showed Ca2+ concentration ranging 1.60–72.80 mg/L and HCO3− ranging 19.52–204.96 mg/L as the dominant ions. None of the ions’ concentrations exceed the WHO drinking limit. Water Quality Index (WQI) classification showed that all samples fall within good to excellent water categories. The majority of the samples are suitable for irrigation using indices such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Kelly’s ratio (KR), and Magnesium Hazard (MH). Bacteriological analyses revealed low total bacterial count and E-coli absence making the samples safe for drinking. Piper diagram indicated two main water-facies (Ca–HCO3 and the Mixed Ca–Mg–Cl). Gibbs’s plots showed that the samples are primarily influenced by rock weathering, while precipitation also contributed. Chloro-Alkaline Index confirmed direct ion-exchange process. Cluster analyses revealed four groups: the first revealed influence of groundwater by anthropogenic activities in the study area, the second and third revealed lithological origin of ions in the water while group 4 indicated pH low influence on the dissolved ions in the waters. The groundwater quality can be said to be fair-good, thus suggestive of minimal interactions between the dumpsites and the groundwater in the area at the time of testing.
Identification of groundwater potential zones in southern India using geospatial and decision-making approaches
Authors: Rajasekhar M. , Upendra B. , Raju G. Sudarsana , Anand
Published: March 2022

The present study was carried out to identify of the groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) in the northern part of the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh State, India using Remote Sensing (RS), Geographical information system (GIS), and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approaches. In this study, various thematic maps categorized viz. geomorphology (GM), lineament density (LD), drainage density (DD), geology, land use/land cover (LULC), soils, slope, and rainfall for assessment of GWPZs, which is generated using RS and GIS technique. Furthermore, the relative weights were allocated to various thematic maps using the AHP approach and the relative rank assigned to each sub-criterion based on expert advice. The combination of the eight thematic layers in ArcGIS resulted in a groundwater potential map, providing the information about very good 2.45% (87.06 km2), good 12.76 (452.56 km2), moderate 63.47% (2250.75 km2), poor 15.99% (567.16 km2), and very poor 5.32% (188.73 km2) groundwater possible zones. The acquired outcomes were validated with the area under the curve (AUC/ROC) method. The results show that there is a strong positive correlation between the GWPZs with 78% validation high performance and decreases to the low yield potential with poor areas. This study concludes that the AHP model will be a more reliable for the assessment of the GWP. Any groundwater management project carried out in these favourable regions would benefit the stack holders.
Experimental and numerical comparison of heat accumulation during laser powder bed fusion of 316L stainless steel
Authors: Chaudry Mohsin Ali , Mohr Gunther , Hilgenberg Kai
Published: March 2022

Heat accumulation during laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of metallic build parts can adversely affect their microstructure and mechanical properties. To study the heat accumulation during 316L steel based parts manufactured by LPBF, a finite element method (FEM) based numerical study is carried out. For the investigation, a computationally efficient FEM based model, where the whole layer is simultaneously exposed to a heat source, is used. The simulation results are compared with experimental results to validate the numerical model. While considering different influencing factors such as volumetric energy density (VED) and inter-layer time (ILT), the FEM model is shown to successfully simulate the process of heat accumulation during LPBF based manufacturing of a cuboidal shaped geometry. It is shown that ILT and VED have a significant effect on heat accumulation. The validated numerical model provides a good basis for the optimization of processing parameters and geometries for a future investigation of a reduction of heat accumulation effects. Furthermore, it can be used to quickly provide preheating boundary conditions for detailed investigations by different model approaches at a finer scale for future studies.
The world trade network: country centrality and the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Antonietti Roberto , Falbo Paolo , Fontini Fulvio , Grassi Rosanna , Rizzini Giorgio
Published: March 2022

International trade is based on a set of complex relationships between different countries that can be modelled as an extremely dense network of interconnected agents. On the one hand, this network might favour the economic growth of countries, but on the other, it can also favour the diffusion of diseases, such as COVID-19. In this paper, we study whether, and to what extent, the topology of the trade network can explain the rate of COVID-19 diffusion and mortality across countries. We compute the countries’ centrality measures and we apply the community detection methodology based on communicability distance. We then use these measures as focal regressors in a negative binomial regression framework. In doing so, we also compare the effects of different measures of centrality. Our results show that the numbers of infections and fatalities are larger in countries with a higher centrality in the global trade network.
Treatment of Provoked Vulvodynia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bohm-Starke Nina , Ramsay Karin Wilbe , Lytsy Per , Nordgren Birgitta , Sjöberg Inga , Moberg Klas , Flink Ida
Published: March 2022

Background

Treatment recommendations for provoked vulvodynia (PVD) are based on clinical experiences and there is a need for systematically summarizing the controlled trials in this field.

Aim

To provide an overview of randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of intervention for PVD, and to assess the certainty of the scientific evidence, in order to advance treatment guidelines.

Data Sources

The search was conducted in CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane Library, Embase (Embase.com), Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO (EBSCO) and Scopus. Databases were searched from January 1, 1990 to January 29, 2021.

Study Eligibility Criteria

Population: Premenopausal women with PVD. Interventions: Pharmacological, surgical, psychosocial and physiotherapy, either alone or as combined/team-based interventions. Control: No treatment, waiting-list, placebo or other defined treatment. Outcomes: Pain during intercourse, pain upon pressure or touch of the vaginal opening, sexual function/satisfaction, quality of life, psychological distress, adverse events and complications. Study design: Randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies of interventions with a control group.

Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods

2 reviewers independently screened citations for eligibility and assessed relevant studies for risk of bias using established tools. The results from each intervention were summarized. Studies were synthesized using a narrative approach, as meta-analyses were not considered appropriate. For each outcome, we assessed the certainty of evidence using grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE).

Results

Most results of the evaluated studies in this systematic review were found to have very low certainty of evidence, which means that we are unable to draw any conclusions about effects of the interventions. Multimodal physiotherapy compared with lidocaine treatment was the only intervention with some evidential support (low certainty of evidence for significant treatment effects favoring physiotherapy). It was not possible to perform meta-analyses due to a heterogeneity in interventions and comparisons. In addition, there was a heterogeneity in outcome measures, which underlines the need to establish joint core outcome sets.

Clinical Implications

Our result underscores the need of stringent trials and defined core outcome sets for PVD.

Strength and Limitations

Standard procedures for systematic reviews and the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome model for clinical questions were used. The strict eligibility criteria resulted in limited number of studies which might have resulted in a loss of important information.

Conclusion

This systematic review underlines the need for more methodologically stringent trials on interventions for PVD, particularly for multimodal treatments approaches. For future research, there is a demand for joint core outcome sets.
Diagnostic ability of mid-upper arm circumference-to-length ratio in detecting wasting among infants aged 1–6 months in Ethiopia
Authors: Jima Beshada Rago , Hassen Hamid Yimem , Bahwere Paluku , Gebreyesus Seifu Hagos
Published: March 2022

Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is an age-sensitive anthropometric measurement in infants. However, exact age is difficult to know, particularly in low-income countries. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of an age-independent mid-upper arm circumference-to-length (MUAC/L) ratio measurement in detecting wasting among infants aged 1–6 months in Ethiopia. A facility-based diagnostic accuracy study was conducted on 467 in-patient infants aged 1–6 months from March to May 2019. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the ability of MUAC/L to detect wasting. Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. The magnitude of severe wasting was 21⋅6 % and moderate wasting was 13⋅0 %. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of MUAC/L was 0⋅77 (95 % CI 0⋅73, 0⋅81) for detecting moderate wasting and 0⋅92 (95 % CI 0⋅89, 0⋅94) for detecting severe wasting. MUAC/L had a sensitivity of 91⋅1 % (95 % CI 81⋅3, 94⋅4), a specificity of 84⋅7 % (95 % CI 80⋅6, 88⋅2), a positive likelihood ratio of 5⋅82 (95 % CI 4⋅53, 7⋅48) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0⋅13 (95 % CI 0⋅07, 0⋅22) in total infants. The optimal MUAC/L cut-off was <0⋅190 for boys and <0⋅185 for girls. MUAC/L had an AUC of 0⋅77 and 0⋅92 in predicting moderate and severe wasting in infants aged 1–6 months, respectively. Using MUAC/L to treat Ethiopian infants with severe wasting and infants with similar characteristics in other countries could improve treatment coverage.
BP-cohomology of projective Stiefel manifolds
Authors: Basu Samik , Dasgupta Debanil
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we compute the $BP$-cohomology of complex projective Stiefel manifolds. The method involves the homotopy fixed point spectral sequence, and works for complex oriented cohomology theories. We also use these calculations and $BP$-operations to prove new results about equivariant maps between Stiefel manifolds.
Effects of sodium intake and cardiorespiratory fitness on body composition and genetic susceptibility to obesity: results from the Quebec Family Study
Authors: Tremblay Angelo , Pérusse Louis , Bertrand Catherine , Jacob Raphaëlle , Couture Christian , Drapeau Vicky
Published: March 2022

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Na intake and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on body composition. The study was also intended to assess whether Na intake and/or CRF mediate the genetic susceptibility to obesity. Analyses were performed on a sample of 526 adult participants from the Quebec Family Study for whom a complete data set was available for nutrient and energy intake, CRF and body composition variables. The effects of Na, CRF and their interaction were analysed by comparing sex-specific tertiles using general linear mixed models. In both males and females, we observed a significant effect of Na intake and CRF on all body composition variables. However, in females only, we found that the effect of Na intake on body composition variables varies according to CRF level such that high Na intake was associated with increased body fatness, but only in females with low CRF. This interaction effect remained significant after statistical adjustment for total sugar, fat and energy intake. Using mediation analysis, we also found Na intake and CRF to be significant mediators of the relationship between a polygenic risk score of obesity based on > 500 000 genetic variants and BMI or waist circumference. In conclusion, the current study shows that Na intake influences body composition via mechanisms that interact with aerobic fitness, especially in females. Furthermore, both Na intake and CRF seem to be involved in the expression of the genetic susceptibility to obesity.
CE Marking, Business, and European Market Integration
Authors: Ballor Grace
Published: March 2022

Many products—from consumer electronics to children's toys—bear the CE mark, the symbol of conformity to the “essential requirements” of European standards. This article traces the development of CE marking from its origins in the European Community's (EC) efforts to relaunch the Single European Market in the mid-1980s to its full implementation in the mid-1990s across the European Economic Area (EEA). It focuses in particular on the reforms made to the “New Approach to Technical Harmonization” and the “Global Approach to Testing and Certification” and examines the ways business groups responded to the creation of common systems for assessing conformité européenne. This history offers an expansive view of regional market integration and a new perspective on the dynamic between companies and regulators in the European business environment.
The finite dual of commutative-by-finite Hopf algebras
Authors: Brown K. A. , Couto M. , Jahn A.
Published: March 2022

The finite dual
$H^{\circ}$
of an affine commutative-by-finite Hopf algebra H is studied. Such a Hopf algebra H is an extension of an affine commutative Hopf algebra A by a finite dimensional Hopf algebra
$\overline{H}$
. The main theorem gives natural conditions under which
$H^{\circ}$
decomposes as a crossed or smash product of
$\overline{H}^{\ast}$
by the finite dual
$A^{\circ}$
of A. This decomposition is then further analysed using the Cartier–Gabriel–Kostant theorem to obtain component Hopf subalgebras of
$H^{\circ}$
mapping onto the classical components of
$A^{\circ}$
. The detailed consequences for a number of families of examples are then studied.
Women and Crime: Exploring the Role of Gender, Sexuality, and Race in Constructions of Female Criminality
Authors: Takla Nefertiti
Published: March 2022

This roundtable on women and crime was inspired by a discussion at a CUNY Dissections Seminar in April 2021, where Gülhan Balsoy presented her work in progress on Ottoman crime fiction in the early 20th century. The focus of her paper was a popular murder mystery series called The National Collection of Murders, which had been published in Istanbul in 1914. The protagonists of this fictional crime series were a mother and daughter known as the Dark Witch and the Bloody Fairy, who led an underground criminal gang living in a secret subterranean world beneath the city of Istanbul. While reading her paper the night before the seminar, I could not help but notice striking parallels between this fictional Ottoman murder mystery and the sensationalized media coverage of a 1921 Egyptian serial murder case, popularly known by the name of its alleged perpetrators, Raya and Sakina. In both the fictive Ottoman story and the Egyptian media coverage of a real crime, two sets of female relatives were presented as the respective leaders of a criminal gang that stole luxury goods from respectable families and turned their homes into human slaughterhouses. In both cases, the female gang leaders used “superstition” to deceive and trap their victims while continually outwitting the police, all against a backdrop of illicit sex.
Female Culpability for Fornication in Ottoman Law and Everyday Life
Authors: Tuğ Başak
Published: March 2022

Depiction of Bertrande, the wife of Martin Guerre, by Natalie Zemon Davis in her famous bookThe Return of Martin Guerrehas been revolutionary in its attempt to recover the criminal agency of women in historical writing. Davis challenged the representation of women as “deceived” actors of history. Although the story of Martin Guerre has been retold many times, Bertrande has almost always been depicted as being fooled by Arnaud, the false husband; indeed the court that investigated the case decided to accept her testimony that she was “tricked” for more than three years. Despite being suspicious of adultery, the court excused her by considering “the weakness of her sex, easily deceived by the trickery and finesse of men,” and thus mitigated female responsibility. Yet, Davis read the same documents from a different perspective and asserted the possibility that Bertrande might have been “acquiescent” rather than “deceived” and may even have been an accomplice of Arnaud by preferring him, both sexually and socially, to Martin Guerre, her real husband who had abandoned her. In the end, the accused has not been Bertrande, but Natalie Zemon Davis, by a male historian, Robert Finlay, for creating a “proto-feminist of peasant culture” out of Bertrande.