bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New metal free organic dyes incorporating heterocyclic Benzofuran core as conjugated spacer: Synthesis, Opto‐electrochemical, DFT and DSSC studies
Authors: Mashraqui Sabir Hussain , Chilekar Aniket , Mestri Rupesh , Upadhyay Jyoti , Badani Purav , Nemala Siva Sankar , Bhargava Parag
Published: August 2022

Synthesis of a series of new organic photosensitizers, designated as BZ1‐BZ4, was achieved by incorporating benzofuran core as π‐spacer, triphenylamine (TPA) and 4‐methoxy triphenylamine (4‐MeO‐TPA) as donors and cyanoacrylic acid (CAA) and rhodanine‐3‐acetic acid (RAA) as acceptor/anchoring groups. Structurally, dyes BZ1 and BZ2 carry TPA and 4‐MeO‐TPA as donors, respectively, whereas CAA constitutes as a common acceptor. On the other hand, BZ3 and BZ4 incorporate TPA and 4‐MeO‐TPA as donors, respectively, and RAA serves as a common acceptor. Key steps to access BZ1‐BZ4 involved Wittig olefination, reduction of cyano groups to aldehyde, and finally Knoevenagel condensation. In UV–visible spectra, dyes BZ1‐BZ4 exhibited intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) maxima in the range of 503 nm to 534 nm and their extinction coefficients varied from 22,600 to 40,400 M−1 cm−1. Using cyclic voltammetry and UV–visible data, we calculated the optical band gaps, (E0−0) of BZ1‐BZ4 to be 2.09, 2.00, 2.01, and 1.93 eV, respectively. DFT studies revealed that HOMOs of dyes were localized essentially on the donors triphenylamine groups, whereas the LUMOs are largely confined over electron acceptors CAA and RAA as well as partly diffused into the benzofuran spacer. DSSCs, configured using BZ1‐BZ4 as photosensitizers, showed fill factors (ff) in the range of 0.57 to 0.76, comparable to standard N3 dye (0.67). In addition, BZ1 and BZ2 dyes with CAA as an acceptor also exhibited decent open circuit voltage (Voc) in the range of 0.61 to 0.63 relative to the 0.66 observed for N3 dye. Dyes BZ1‐BZ2 carrying CAA as an acceptor exhibited an efficiency (η) of 2.03% and 1.49%, respectively, against the benchmark N3 dye, showing η of 5.02%. Due to poor Voc and short circuit current density (Isc), dyes BZ3‐BZ4 carrying RAA as acceptor/anchoring group performed significantly poor, showing η of 0.08%, and 0.32%, respectively.
Investigating consumers' brand desirability for upcycled luxury brands
Authors: Phau Ian , Akintimehin Olamide Oluwabusola , Lee Sean
Published: August 2022

This paper investigates consumers' values on attitude and brand desirability for upcycled luxury designer shirts. Consumer values in the present study's context consist of terminal and instrumental values. Findings show that terminal values do not strongly influence the attitude towards the Burberry previous collection shirts nor brand desirability for the Burberry leftover fabric shirts and the Burberry previous collection shirts compared to Burberry generic shirts. Instrumental values do not strongly influence the attitude towards the Burberry leftover fabric shirts. Still, a stronger influence on brand desirability for the Burberry previous collection shirts than Burberry generic shirts. Managerial and strategic implications should focus on instrumental values to evoke favorable luxury brand desirability.
Difference of microbial community and gene composition with saccharification function between Chinese nongxiangxing daqu and jiangxiangxing daqu
Authors: Xia Yu , Zhou Wen , Du Yake , Wang Yan , Zhu Min , Zhao Yajiao , Wu Zhengyun , Zhang Wenxue
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

The saccharification function of daqu is usually characterized by two indicators: saccharification power and liquefaction power. Daqu provides diverse microbial saccharifying enzymes for hydrolyzing carbohydrate in Baijiu fermenting grain. Obviously, the composition of microbial communities and enzymatic genes in different types of daqu cultured at varied temperatures is different. However, these differences in saccharification function are not fully understood.

RESULTS

The findings suggested that the saccharification power and liquefaction power of jiangxiangxing daqu were lower than those of nongxiangxing daqu throughout the production process. We employed metagenomics to find evidence that a mode of multiple saccharifying enzymes involving amylase, cellulase and hemicellulase originating from various microbes exists in daqu. Moreover, a totality of 541 related differential genes were obtained, some of which, annotated to genera of Aspergillus, Lactobacillus and Weissella, were significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in nongxiangxing daqu, while others, annotated to thermophilic genera of Virgibacillus, Bacillus, Kroppenstedtia and Saccharopolyspora, showed a higher relative abundance in jiangxiangxing daqu (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Various microbial communities of daqu showed diverse saccharification capacity during cultivation of different parameters. These findings are helpful in comprehending the saccharification functional genes of daqu. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Spermidine alleviates oxidative damage and enhances phenolic compounds accumulation in barley seedlings under UV‐B stress
Authors: Xie Chong , Wang Pei , Gu Zhenxin , Yang Runqiang
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

Ultraviolet B (UV‐B) radiation can enhance the accumulation of phenolic compounds (PCs) in barley seedling, although this may result in severe oxidative damage. In the present study, the role of spermidine in alleviating oxidative damage and regulating synthesis of PCs in barley seedlings under UV‐B stress was investigated.

RESULTS

Exogenous spermidine increased the length and fresh weight as well as PCs contents of barley seedlings under UV‐B stress. Application of dicyclohexylamine, an inhibitor of endogenous spermidine synthesis, significantly inhibited the growth and PC accumulation of barley seedlings under UV‐B stress, although this inhibitory effect can be alleviated by exogenous spermidine. Exogenous spermidine increased the contents of vanillic acid, syringic acid, protocatechuic acid and p‐coumaric acid in barley seedlings under UV‐B stress by 20–200% through enhancing the activities of enzymes related to synthesis of these acids. In addition, exogenous spermidine enhanced activities and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in barley seedlings under UV‐B stress, including peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S‐transferase.

CONCLUSION

Spermidine can alleviate oxidative damage of barley seedlings under UV‐B stress and enhance the accumulation of PCs. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Effect of thermal process on the key aroma components of green tea with chestnut‐like aroma
Authors: Qu Feng‐Feng , Li Xiao‐Han , Wang Pei‐Qiang , Han Ya‐Hui , Wu Ying , Hu Jian‐Hui , Zhang Xin‐Fu
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

Chestnut‐like aroma is one of the unique qualities of Chinese green tea and has become an important factor influencing consumer decisions. However, the chemical formation mechanism of chestnut‐like aroma during green tea processing remains unclear. In this study, the dynamic changes of key components contributing to chestnut‐like aroma and their precursors were analyzed in fresh leaves, fixation leaves, first baking tea leaves, and green tea.

RESULTS

The thermal process had an important effect on volatile components in tea leaves, causing a significant decrease of alcohols and esters and a significant increase of ketones, acids, phenols, and sulfur compounds. Furthermore, 31 volatiles were identified as the key odorants responsible for chestnut‐like aroma of green tea, including dimethyl sulfide, methyl isobutenyl ketone, 2‐methylbutanal, 2,4‐dimethylstyrene, d‐limonene, methyl 2‐methylvalerate, linalool, decanal, longifolene, phenylethyl alcohol, l‐α‐terpineol, jasmone, and so on. And the majority of these odorants were only formed in the drying stage. Additionally, isoleucine, theanine, methionine, and glucose were found to be involved in the formation of chestnut‐like aroma of green tea.

CONCLUSION

The drying process played a vital important role in the formation of chestnut‐like aroma of green tea. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Outcomes after repeat hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases from the colorectal liver operative metastasis international collaborative (COLOMIC)
Authors: Valenzuela Cristian D. , Moaven Omeed , Gawdi Rohin , Stauffer John A. , Del Piccolo Nico R. , Cheung Tan To , Corvera Carlos U. , Wisneski Andrew D. , Cha Charles , Pourhabibi Zarandi Nima , Dourado Justin , Perry Kathleen C. , Russell Gregory , Shen Perry
Published: August 2022

Background

Resection of colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) is beneficial when feasible. However, the benefit of second hepatectomy for hepatic recurrence in CLM remains unclear.

Methods

The Colorectal Liver Operative Metastasis International Collaborative retrospectively examined 1004 CLM cases from 2000 to 2018 from a total of 953 patients. Hepatic recurrence after initial hepatectomy was identified in 218 patients. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed for overall survival (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to offset selection bias. Cox proportional‐hazards regression was performed to identify risk factors associated with OS.

Results

A total of 51 patients underwent second hepatectomy. Unadjusted median OS was 60.1 months in repeat‐hepatectomy versus 38.3 months in the single‐hepatectomy group (p = 0.015). In the PSM population, median OS remained significantly better in the repeat‐hepatectomy group (60.1 vs. 33.1 months; p = 0.0023); median RFS was 12.4 months for the repeat‐hepatectomy group, versus 9.8 months in the single‐hepatectomy group (p = 0.0050). Repeat hepatectomy was associated with lower risk of death (hazard ratio: 0.283; p = 0.000012). Obesity, tobacco use, and high intraoperative blood loss were associated with significant risk of death (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In CLM with hepatic recurrence, second hepatectomy was beneficial for OS. With PSM, the OS benefit of performing a second hepatectomy remained significant.
Precision of region of interest‐based tri‐exponential intravoxel incoherent motion quantification and the role of the Intervoxel spatial distribution of flow velocities
Authors: Simchick Gregory , Hernando Diego
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this work was to obtain precise tri‐exponential intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) quantification in the liver using 2D (b‐value and first‐order motion moment [M1]) IVIM‐DWI acquisitions and region of interest (ROI)‐based fitting techniques.

Methods

Diffusion MRI of the liver was performed in 10 healthy volunteers using three IVIM‐DWI acquisitions: conventional monopolar, optimized monopolar, and optimized 2D (b‐M1). For each acquisition, bi‐exponential and tri‐exponential full, segmented, and over‐segmented ROI‐based fitting and a newly proposed blood velocity SDdistribution (BVD) fitting technique were performed to obtain IVIM estimates in the right and left liver lobes. Fitting quality was evaluated using corrected Akaike information criterion. Precision metrics (test–retest repeatability, inter‐reader reproducibility, and inter‐lobar agreement) were evaluated using Bland–Altman analysis, repeatability/reproducibility coefficients (RPCs), and paired sample t‐tests. Precision was compared across acquisitions and fitting methods.

Results

High repeatability and reproducibility was observed in the estimations of the diffusion coefficient (Dtri = [1.03 ± 0.11] × 10−3 mm2/s; RPCs ≤ 1.34 × 10−4 mm2/s), perfusion fractions (F1 = 3.19 ± 1.89% and F2 = 16.4 ± 2.07%; RPCs ≤ 2.51%), and blood velocity SDs (Vb,1 = 1.44 ± 0.14 mm/s and Vb,2 = 3.62 ± 0.13 mm/s; RPCs ≤ 0.41 mm/s) in the right liver lobe using the 2D (b‐M1) acquisition in conjunction with BVD fitting. Using these methods, significantly larger (p < 0.01) estimates of Dtri and F1 were observed in the left lobe in comparison to the right lobe, while estimates of Vb,1 and Vb,2 demonstrated high interlobar agreement (RPCs ≤ 0.45 mm/s).

Conclusions

The 2D (b‐M1) IVIM‐DWI data acquisition in conjunction with BVD fitting enables highly precise tri‐exponential IVIM quantification in the right liver lobe.
Meta‐analysis of Red List conservation assessments of Mexican endemic and near endemic tree species shows nearly two thirds of these are threatened
Authors: Samain Marie‐Stéphanie , Guzmán Díaz Salvador , Machuca Machuca Karina , Dolores Fuentes Alejandra Celeste , Zacarías Correa Ana Gabriela , Valentín Martínez Dagoberto , Aldaba Núñez Fabián Augusto , Redonda‐Martínez Rosario , Oldfield Sara F. , Martínez Salas Esteban Manuel
Published: August 2022

Societal Impact Statement

Mexico's extraordinary tree diversity is threatened by the increasing demand for resources because of the tenfold population growth in the last century. The conservation status of trees and both urban and rural livelihoods are also negatively affected by agriculture, mining and tourism. Nearly 60% of the Mexican endemic and near endemic tree species whose conservation status we have assessed for the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature are threatened, almost double the percentage of threatened trees worldwide. If no measures are taken to protect this tree diversity properly, these resources will be forever lost for human sustainability.

Mexico is floristically the fourth most species‐rich country in the world. Currently, 3620 native tree species are reported from this country. Mexico has been a forerunner at global level in recognising the need for plant conservation, yet this is in stark contrast with governmental programmes and actions, past and present that negatively affect(ed) immense areas of primary vegetation. In the framework of the Global Tree Assessment, to date, we have assessed the conservation status of nearly 1500 Mexican endemic and near endemic tree species for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the distribution data of which we use here for a first meta‐analysis of conservation statuses and spatial distribution patterns in a newly delimited area we call Natural Mexico.

Our database consists of 112,416 taxonomically and geographically very carefully curated distribution points of 1474 tree species endemic to Mexico and adjacent areas, belonging to 98 flowering plant families. The extensive curation methodology we consider essential for both research and conservation purposes is emphasised.

Nearly 60% of the assessed tree species are threatened, almost double the percentage of threatened arborescent species at global level. Tropical rainforests and cloud forests house the highest proportions of threatened trees.

These assessments have an extensive impact, as they not only are the starting point of urgent species conservation actions but also allow for comprehensive studies including extinction risk estimation, gap analyses for conservation planning and species reintroductions, all this in a framework of land use change, climate change and landscape composition and configuration.
5G meets satellite: Non‐terrestrial network architecture and 3GPP
Authors: Masini Gino , Reininger Philippe , El Jaafari Mohamed , Vesely Alexander , Chuberre Nicolas , Baudry Benjamin , Houssin Jean‐Michel
Published: August 2022

With 3GPP Release‐17, global 5G standards now support non‐terrestrial mobile networks comprising radio access network, terminals, and core network. This enables multi‐vendor interoperability as well as interoperability with 3GPP‐compliant 5G systems. This paper describes the key features enabling the NG‐RAN architecture defined for 5G to support non‐terrestrial networks. Starting from a general overview of NG‐RAN and of the new paradigms of NTN, we introduce the NTN functionality in NG‐RAN specifications with respect to feeder link switchover, cell handling, terminal registration, and OAM aspects. We also discuss different scenarios combining satellite access with 3GPP‐defined core networks. We also describe some further enhancements expected to be seen in the next 3GPP release (Rel‐18). We believe current and upcoming 3GPP work for NTN represents a solid basis on which 5G satellite networks can be built in the upcoming future.
Phishing website detection: How effective are deep learning‐based models and hyperparameter optimization?
Authors: Almousa May , Zhang Tianyang , Sarrafzadeh Abdolhossein , Anwar Mohd
Published: August 2022

Phishing websites are fraudulent websites that appear legitimate and trick unsuspecting users into interacting with them, stealing their valuable information. Because phishing attacks are a leading cause of data breach, different anti‐phishing solutions have been explored for cybersecurity management including machine learning‐based technical approaches. However, there is a gap in understanding how robust deep learning‐based models together with hyperparameter optimization are for phishing website detection. In this vein, this study pursues the tasks of developing parsimonious deep learning models and hyperparameter optimization to achieve high accuracy and reproducible results for phishing website detection. This paper demonstrates a systematic process of building detection models based on three deep learning algorithm architectures (Long Short‐Term Memory‐based detection models, Fully Connected Deep Neural Network‐based detection models, and convolutional neural network‐based detection models) that are built and evaluated using four publicly available phishing website datasets, achieving the best accuracy of 97.37%. We also compared two different optimization algorithms for hyperparameter optimization: Grid Search and Genetic Algorithm, which contributed to 0.1%–1% increase in accuracy.
The Defect in René Ouvrard’s Harmonic Proportions
Authors: Taraldsen Simen Dalen
Published: August 2022

In 1679, René Ouvrard published a pamphlet about the relationship between musical harmonies and architectural proportions called Architecture Harmonique, ou Application de la Doctrine des Proportions de la Musique à l’Architecture. The pamphlet presents a normative system of correlations between musical harmonies and architectural proportions, based on an analogous understanding of hearing and vision. Ouvrard claims that the system is infallible. In this paper, evidence regarding problems associated with Ouvrard’s normative system based on the correlations between musical harmonies and architectural proportions presented in Architecture Harmonique is showcased, implying that the system to a certain extent is fallible. Based on the argument, the problems are made possible by Ouvrard’s philosophical framework.
The effect of contact conditions on the performance of flexural seismic metasurfaces
Authors: Alzaidi Ahmed S. M. , Kaplunov Julius , Prikazchikova Ludmila , Wootton Peter , Nikonov Anatolij
Published: August 2022

Plane-strain motion of a flexural seismic metasurface in the form of a regular array of thin Kirchhoff plates attached to the surface of an elastic half-space is analysed. Two types of contact conditions, including simply supported plates and plates moving along horizontal rails are studied. Dispersion of time harmonic waves is investigated both asymptotically and numerically. A major effect of the contact conditions on metasurface behaviour is discovered. In particular, it is shown that frequency band gaps are not the feature of the array composed of simply supported plates. It is also demonstrated that the scaling laws, expressed through geometric and material problem parameters, drastically differ from each other for two considered setups.
Coral and Seawater Metagenomes Reveal Key Microbial Functions to Coral Health and Ecosystem Functioning Shaped at Reef Scale
Authors: Lima Laís F. O. , Alker Amanda T. , Papudeshi Bhavya , Morris Megan M. , Edwards Robert A. , de Putron Samantha J. , Dinsdale Elizabeth A.
Published: August 2022

The coral holobiont is comprised of a highly diverse microbial community that provides key services to corals such as protection against pathogens and nutrient cycling. The coral surface mucus layer (SML) microbiome is very sensitive to external changes, as it constitutes the direct interface between the coral host and the environment. Here, we investigate whether the bacterial taxonomic and functional profiles in the coral SML are shaped by the local reef zone and explore their role in coral health and ecosystem functioning. The analysis was conducted using metagenomes and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) associated with the coral Pseudodiploria strigosa and the water column from two naturally distinct reef environments in Bermuda: inner patch reefs exposed to a fluctuating thermal regime and the more stable outer reefs. The microbial community structure in the coral SML varied according to the local environment, both at taxonomic and functional levels. The coral SML microbiome from inner reefs provides more gene functions that are involved in nutrient cycling (e.g., photosynthesis, phosphorus metabolism, sulfur assimilation) and those that are related to higher levels of microbial activity, competition, and stress response. In contrast, the coral SML microbiome from outer reefs contained genes indicative of a carbohydrate-rich mucus composition found in corals exposed to less stressful temperatures and showed high proportions of microbial gene functions that play a potential role in coral disease, such as degradation of lignin-derived compounds and sulfur oxidation. The fluctuating environment in the inner patch reefs of Bermuda could be driving a more beneficial coral SML microbiome, potentially increasing holobiont resilience to environmental changes and disease.
Die Zerstörung der Agilität
Authors: Wiesmann Dirk
Published: August 2022

Der Begriffagilwird in der IT und speziell in der Softwaretechnik häufig genutzt. Diese breite Verwendung ist verwunderlich, da der Begriffagilin der Softwaretechnik gar nicht ausreichend definiert ist.

Die Beliebigkeit des Begriffsagilbirgt die Gefahr von unbegründeten Entscheidungen und ideologischen Diskussionen. Beides bremst den weiteren Erkenntnisgewinn in der Softwaretechnik aus. Der Begriffagilsollte daher im professionellen und wissenschaftlichen Umfeld nicht weiter verwendet werden.

In diesem Artikel wird der Begriffagilkritisch beleuchtet und es wird herausgearbeitet, welcher Begriff den Kerngedanken der Agilität besser ausdrückt.
Age-related changes of the periocular morphology: a two- and three-dimensional anthropometry study in Caucasians
Authors: Liu Jinhua , Rokohl Alexander C. , Liu Honglei , Fan Wanlin , Li Senmao , Hou Xiaoyi , Ju Sitong , Guo Yongwei , Heindl Ludwig M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To determine age-and sex-related changes in periocular morphology in Caucasians using a standardized protocol.

Methods

Healthy Caucasian volunteers aged 18–35 and 60–90 years old were recruited from the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Cologne, between October 2018 and May 2020. Volunteers with facial asymmetry, facial deformities, history of facial trauma, facial surgery, botox injection, eyelid ptosis, strabismus, or nystagmus, were excluded. Standardized three-dimensional facial photos of 68 young volunteers and 73 old volunteers were taken in this clinical practice. Position changes of endocanthion, pupil center, and exocanthion were analyzed in different age and gender groups, including palpebral fissure width (PFW): distance between endocanthions (En-En), pupil centers (Pu–Pu), exocanthions (Ex-Ex), endocanthion and nasion (En-Na), pupil center and nasion (Pu-Na), exocanthion and nasion (Ex-Na), endocanthion and pupil center (Pu-En), exocanthion and pupil center (Pu-Ex), and palpebral fissure inclination (PFI); angle of endocanthions to nasion (En-Na-En), pupils to nasion (Pu-Na-Pu), exocanthions to nasion (Ex-Na-Ex); endocanthion inclination (EnI), and exocanthion inclination (ExI).

Results

PFW, En-En, Ex-Na, Pu-Ex, PFI, ExI, and Ex-Na-Ex were significantly different between the young and old groups (p ≤ 0.004). There were sex-related differences in PFW, Ex-Ex, En-Na, Pu-Na, Ex-Na, Pu-En, PFI, and EnI between both groups (p ≤ 0.041).

Conclusion

The position change of the pupil is minimal relative to age; it is preferred to establish the reference plane to describe periocular changes. The endocanthion tends to move temporally and inferiorly, while the exocanthion tends to shift nasally and inferiorly with age.
Body size in Batesian mimicry
Authors: Taylor Christopher H.
Published: August 2022

A variety of traits is available for predators to distinguish unpalatable prey from palatable Batesian mimics. Among them, body size has received little attention as a possible mimetic trait. Size should influence predator behaviour if it shows variation between models and mimics, is detectable by the predator in question, and is not overshadowed by other traits more salient to the predator. Simple predictions within mimetic populations are that perfect mimics receive the lowest predation rate. However, prey body size is typically tightly linked to the nutritional yield and handling time for a successful predator, as well as likely being correlated with a model’s levels of defence. In certain circumstances, these confounding factors might mean that (a) selection pressures on a mimic’s size either side of the model’s phenotype are not symmetrical, (b) the optimal body size for a mimic is not necessarily equal to that of the model, and/or (c) for predators, attacking better mimics of a model’s body size more readily is adaptive. I discuss promising avenues for improving our understanding of body size as a mimetic trait, including the importance of treatments that range in both directions from the model’s size. Further work is required to understand how body size ranks in saliency against other mimetic traits such as pattern. Comparative studies could investigate whether mimics are limited to resembling only models that are already similar in size.
The “open family firm”: openness as boundary work in family enterprises
Authors: Lambrechts Frank , Huybrechts Jolien , De Massis Alfredo , Lehmann Erik E.
Published: August 2022

“Openness” has become an established norm in the contemporary business environment. However, despite the crucial importance of boundaries and boundary work in organization and management theory, openness—as opening up boundaries of family firms and entrepreneurial families in collaborating with external actors—has received only nascent attention in the family business domain. We introduce the notion of openness in the family business field. Drawing on the organizational boundary and family business literatures, we develop a conceptual framework of family firm openness as boundary work and examine and discuss the drivers, mechanisms, and consequences of openness in family enterprises. Then, drawing on this framework, we set out an agenda for future research that will contribute to a better understanding of openness, boundaries, and boundary work in family firms and entrepreneurial families. We conclude by discussing some contemporary examples of research on the “open family firm.”
Space allowance: a tool for improving behavior, milk and meat production, and reproduction performance of buffalo in different housing systems—a review
Authors: El Sabry Mohamed I. , Almasri Obaida
Published: August 2022

Buffalo population has dramatically increased during the last two decades, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Although buffalo are important milk and meat-producing animal, still practices of buffalo farming and welfare aspects are not well established. Housing system and stocking density are significant factors that affect the welfare and production of animals; however, no space allowance standards have been demonstrated for buffalo at different ages. This review article presents the following: (1) an overview of buffalo subtypes and the geographical distribution of buffalo populations and their production; (2) the effect of housing systems and space allowance on the social behavior and welfare indices; (3) the effects of space allowance on milk production and growth performance of buffalo; and (4) the relationship between space allowance and reproductive performance. Although the limited data in this area of research, it can be driven that a larger space allowance with access to a pool, especially during the hot season, maintains buffalo production at optimal levels. Moreover, optimal floor space improves the welfare and social indices of buffalo; however, there are discrepancies in aggressive and agonistic behavior results. Surprisingly, the reproductive performance of buffalo was not affected by space allowance. Therefore, further research is needed to identify the impact of the housing aspects, including space allowance and enrichment tools, on the productive performance, and welfare indices of buffalo. This would assist in implementing welfare-economic standards for buffalo production and reveal the potentiality of this eco-friendly animal.
Water Transfer Redistributes Sediment in Small Mountain Reservoirs
Authors: Li Tingyu , Pasternack Gregory B.
Published: August 2022

Reservoir sedimentation management has become an important topic for large dams in the United States due to their historical design, current age, and increased environmental regulation. Less attention has been paid to small dams (hydraulic size < 0.01) in remote mountains with urgent sedimentation problems. In drier climates, such reservoirs may be frequently drained and trans-catchment flows routed over their sediment deposits heading from one mountain tunnel to another. This study asked an unexplored scientific question focusing on this special setting: how do different amounts of water transfers interact with different reservoir stages to affect sediment erosion and its redistribution in the backwater zone? Mindful timing and magnitude adjustment of water transfer, involving water diverted across watersheds by tunnels, through a reservoir were hypothesized to strategically redistribute sediment erosion for sites with water transfer/diversion facilities in the main channel. For a study site in the north-central Sierra Mountains of California, 2D hydrodynamic modeling revealed that sediment erosion within the backwater zone increased by > 100% when water transfer was maximized, involving a flow 12 times higher than mean annual discharge. With reservoir stage drawdown, the increment of sediment erosion was further increased by > 50% compared with water-transfer-only scenarios. The natural upstream inflow with daily flow occurrence of 5–25% was the optimal water transfer to avoid disturbing sediment. These results indicated that water transfer and stage drawdown optimization is a promising strategy to promote or abate redistribution of deposited sediment through a smaller reservoir.
Gas Flow and Pressure Drop in Charge Material in Silicon Production
Authors: Ringdalen Eli , Einarsrud Kristian E. , Nordhus Astrid
Published: August 2022

Gassing, outbursts of high-rate gas flows through the taphole, is a phenomenon that sometimes occurs during tapping of silicon furnaces. In addition to being an HSE challenge, this might also affect the tapping, while the warm gas might harm the equipment in the tapping area. The pressure above the metal bath, influencing the gassing, is affected by permeability, and the gas flow through the charge materials in the furnace. Pressure drop and permeability have been measured for different gas velocities through particle beds of different charge mixtures, with the raw materials and particle sizes used in industrial silicon production. The experimental results have been upscaled to conditions in industrial furnaces through modeling flow in a packed bed. The findings are compared with results from measurements of pressure drop in industrial furnaces.
Competency in trauma surgery: a national survey of trainees and consultants
Authors: Flanagan Michael , Ryan Jessica , Bass Gary , Barry Kevin , Traynor Oscar , McMonagle Morgan
Published: August 2022

Background

The current sparsity of surgical trainees’ exposure to training in operative trauma surgery is multifactorial. This concern has been addressed in the revised Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) for general and vascular surgery (2021). In the lead up to its implementation, we aimed to assess both trainee and consultant confidence levels as a surrogate reflection in the core competency operative skills in general emergency trauma surgery, identify individual experience in commonly performed trauma procedures and gauge interest in a career in trauma surgery.

Method

An online survey was circulated to general surgery and vascular surgery trainees and consultants. Self-reported competencies were assessed using a 1–10 confidence rating scale. Most questions were based on competencies in emergency trauma surgery as set out by the ISCP.

Results

Out of 251 surgical trainees and consultants, 119 responded to our survey (47.4% response rate). Less than half (44.1%; n = 52) of respondents had experienced a trauma thoracotomy. Respondents scored ‘somewhat’ or ‘not at all’ competent in the majority of competencies assessed.

Conclusion

Self-reported competencies in operative trauma skills across all subgroups were sub-standard with incremental levels of perceived competence proportional to years of surgical training. Our data supports the necessity of the new curriculum, in addition to modern training pathways with direct exposure to operative trauma surgery involving dedicated trauma centres and networks, and responsibility of training pathways in the provision of training trauma surgery.
A novel anomaly detection scheme for high dimensional systems using Kantorovich distance statistic
Authors: Madakyaru Muddu , Kini K. Ramakrishna
Published: August 2022

The partial least squares (PLS) is a commonly applied multi-variate method in anomaly detection problems. The PLS strategy has been amalgamated with $$T^{2}$$

T
2

and squared prediction error (SPE) based statistical indicators to detect anomalies in process. These traditional indicators have few setbacks that has made them ineffective in monitoring applications. Hence, a statistical indicator based on Kantorovich distance (KD) is proposed for detecting sensor anomalies in this study. The proposed strategy integrates anomaly indicator based on KD metric with PLS based multi-variate method. The KD metric computes difference between the residuals of anomaly-free data and the data with anomaly and uses this distance as an indicator of anomaly. The proposed strategy’s critical feature is that a single anomaly indicator is sufficient to be integrated with PLS modeling framework. The Tennessee Eastman process benchmark and experimental distillation column processes data are used for assessing the performance of the proposed strategy. Further, comparisons have been provided between KD, $$T^{2}$$

T
2

, SPE and Generalized Likelihood Ratio indicators. The results demonstrate the superiority of the KD statistical indicator in detecting sensor anomalies in comparison to the traditional indicators of PLS based strategy. The KD indicator integrated with PLS framework also enhances the detection of small magnitude anomalies.
Gender in Earlier Bronze Age Ireland and Scotland
Authors: Haughton Mark
Published: August 2022

Gender has long been recognized as an important structuring agent in Bronze Age communities across Europe. A strong impression of binary gender emerges from some Early Bronze Age cemeteries, and models of social organization developed from this evidence have greatly influenced understandings of gender across the continent. This article focuses on two regions with more equivocal evidence: Ireland and Scotland, where idiosyncratic practices characterize individual cemeteries alongside wider trends. Expressions of gender varied in radical ways between different communities, and this cannot be captured or explained by the current grand narratives for the European Bronze Age. Instead, the author argues that gender could be subtle, contextual, and of varying importance to individual communities at different times, not necessarily a common feature unifying the European Bronze Age.
Decline and substitution of Spanish future subjunctive in northwest and southwest Colombia from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries
Authors: López-Barrios Wílmar
Published: August 2022

The use of future subjunctive (FS) has suffered a steady decline in written Spanish from the fourteenth century. It is not clear whether it disappeared similarly in each clause, and whether its use was determined by regional distinctions to be considered as a dialectal feature. Granda (1986) suggested that the Hispanic Caribbean countries in the Americas were more conservative in the use of FS in contrast to other regions in a southerly direction. Ramírez-Luengo (2008), however, argued that FS decline occurred uniformly in the Americas, with the eighteenth century being the critical time for the substitution. In a sample of 45 legal documents (60,852 words) from the sixteenth, seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries, issued in northwest and southwest Colombia, the proportions of FS and other alternating forms were equally likely in both regions. FS tabulations were less likely to occur in the nineteenth century within relative clauses, while they were equally likely to occur in conditional protases. This suggests that FS in written Spanish does not show dialectal differences and that its decline might have occurred earlier in relative clauses than conditional protases, probably due to a stylistic motivation.
Characterization of random variables with stationary digits
Authors: Cornean Horia D. , Herbst Ira W. , Møller Jesper , Sørensen Kasper S. , Støttrup Benjamin B.
Published: August 2022

Let
$q\ge2$
be an integer,
$\{X_n\}_{n\geq 1}$
a stochastic process with state space
$\{0,\ldots,q-1\}$
, and F the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of
$\sum_{n=1}^\infty X_n q^{-n}$
. We show that stationarity of
$\{X_n\}_{n\geq 1}$
is equivalent to a functional equation obeyed by F, and use this to characterize the characteristic function of X and the structure of F in terms of its Lebesgue decomposition. More precisely, while the absolutely continuous component of F can only be the uniform distribution on the unit interval, its discrete component can only be a countable convex combination of certain explicitly computable CDFs for probability distributions with finite support. We also show that
$\mathrm{d} F$
is a Rajchman measure if and only if F is the uniform CDF on [0, 1].
Microbial degradation of Pleistocene permafrost-sealed fossil mammal remains
Authors: Calábková Gabriela , Chlachula Jiří , Ivanov Martin , Hložková Michaela , Czerniawska Jolanta , Vašinová-Galiová Michaela , Prokeš Lubomír , Gadas Petr
Published: August 2022

Paleontological remains retrieved from permafrost represent the most informative records of Pleistocene ecosystems. Different levels of past microbial activity affecting fossil material preservation are presented for two selected bone samples—an almost intactBisonsp. metacarpus (45.0 ± 5.014C ka BP) and a weatheredEquussp. metacarpus (37.8 ± 1.714C ka BP) from the recently exposed cryogenic geo-contexts in the Yana River basin, NE Yakutia. Diagenetic changes in bone porosity and chemical composition as a result of the past microbial activity were investigated by multiple analytical methods. In the bison bone, which was permafrost-sealed shortly after death of the animal and conserved for ca. 45 ka in a frozen state in a cryolithic formation, only superficial microbial degradation processes were detected. Progressive microbial attacks characterize the horse bone, which was exposed to MIS 3 sub-aerial biogenic decay and modern surficial weathering. This is evidenced by extensive bacterial micro-boring with the typical focal destructions, an increase in microbial porosity, and de-mineralized osseous zones due to waterlogged and poorly oxygenated past depositional conditions. New information contributes to better understanding of the diagenesis particularities and the associated chemical and biological agents of the fossil osteological assemblages with respect to their taphonomic and paleoenvironmental implications.
Death and meaning(lessness): re-examining the African view
Authors: Attoe Aribiah David
Published: August 2022

In much of the emerging literature in African philosophy on the question of life's meaning, little, if anything, has been said about the relationship between African conceptions of death and the question of life's meaning. Drawing from clues in the literature on African metaphysics/philosophy of religion, this article will argue that within the context of an African conception of death, life is ultimately meaningless. To do this, I will begin by curating an African conception of death that sees death as primarily the disembodiment of subjective consciousness. Through this disembodiment, the individual can approach death with meaning in life and pivot into meaning after life. However, I will show this view to be mistaken on several grounds – the implausibility of the metaphysics grounding the possibility of disembodiment; and the idea of a second death inherent in the African conception of death. Thus, I will conclude that the finality of death provides good reason to acknowledge that life is ultimately meaningless.
Childlessness and social and emotional loneliness in middle and later life
Authors: Penning Margaret J. , Wu Zheng , Hou Feng
Published: August 2022

Despite theoretical accounts asserting the importance of children for the wellbeing of individuals as they age, research evidence suggests that children may be inconsequential when it comes to loneliness. Yet, there is reason to expect some subgroups may be more vulnerable to the impact of childlessness than others and this may also differ depending on the type of loneliness being assessed. This paper addresses the relationship between childlessness and social and emotional loneliness in middle and later life, including differential vulnerability associated with age, gender and marital/partner status. The study drew on data from three waves (2007, 2012 and 2018) of the Canadian General Social Survey for a nationally representative sample of adults aged 45 and older (N = 49,892). In general, childlessness assumed greater importance with regard to social than emotional loneliness. Women reported lower levels of social loneliness in conjunction with childlessness than men. Further, childlessness was associated with higher levels of overall and social loneliness among older than middle-aged adults. Fewer interactions were evident between marital/partner status and childlessness. Among women specifically, those who were co-habiting, separated/divorced or never married reported lower levels of social loneliness than their married counterparts. In contrast, childlessness was linked to greater emotional loneliness only among separated/divorced men and widowed women. Overall, our results suggest that having children available does matter for feelings of loneliness in middle and later life but that the relationship varies and is contingent on the social contexts (age, gender, marital/partner status) and the type of loneliness (social, emotional) involved.
Vote markets, democracy and relational egalitarianism
Authors: Lippert-Rasmussen Kasper
Published: August 2022

This paper expounds and defends a relational egalitarian account of the moral wrongfulness of vote markets according to which such markets are incompatible with our relating to one another as equals qua people with views on what we should collectively decide. Two features of this account are especially interesting. First, it shows why vote markets are objectionable even in cases where standard objections to them, such as the complaint that they result in inequality in opportunity for political influence across rich and poor people, are inapplicable. Second, it specifies the sense in which, politically speaking, we should relate as equals, and in doing provides a richer version of recent relational egalitarian accounts of the ideal of democracy.
Effects of acute aerobic exercise on mnemonic discrimination performance in older adults
Authors: Callow Daniel D. , Pena Gabriel S. , Stark Craig E. L. , Smith J. Carson
Published: August 2022

Objectives:

Ample evidence suggests exercise is beneficial for hippocampal function. Furthermore, a single session of aerobic exercise provides immediate benefits to mnemonic discrimination performance, a highly hippocampal-specific memory process, in healthy younger adults. However, it is unknown if a single session of aerobic exercise alters mnemonic discrimination in older adults, who generally exhibit greater hippocampal deterioration and deficits in mnemonic discrimination performance.

Methods:

We conducted a within subject acute exercise study in 30 cognitively healthy and physically active older adults who underwent baseline testing and then completed two experimental visits in which they performed a mnemonic discrimination task before and after either 30 min of cycling exercise or 30 min of seated rest. Linear mixed-effects analyses were conducted in which condition order and age were controlled, time (pre vs. post) and condition (exercise vs. rest) were modeled as fixed effects, and subject as a random effect.

Results:

No significant time by condition interaction effect was found for object recognition (p = .254, η2=.01), while a significant reduction in interference was found for mnemonic discrimination performance following the exercise condition (p = .012, η2=.07). A post-intervention only analysis indicated that there was no difference between condition for object recognition (p = .186, η2=.06), but that participants had better mnemonic discrimination performance (p < .001, η2=.22) following the exercise.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest a single session of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may reduce interference and elicit better mnemonic discrimination performance in healthy older adults, suggesting benefits for hippocampal-specific memory function.