bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dispersion compensation of optical systems utilizing fiber Bragg grating at 15 Gbits/s
Authors: Ali Alaa Hussein , Mutashar Saad , Hammadi Ali Mahdi
Published: April 2021

Nowadays the technological advancement of the information transmission is developing very rapidly and it becomes necessary to achieve a high speed in the transmission of data as well as higher data rate. Developments in optical communication systems address these needs. However, despite all the features and advantages of optical communication systems, the dispersion is still the main challenges. In this paper and to this end, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is used in order to overcome the dispersion issue in the wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission system. The WDM transmission system is simulated using the advanced tools of Optisystem 13. The simulation program was used at a speed of 15 Gbits/s with 50Km optical fiber length based on the different input design parameters such as input signal power, optical fiber length and attenuation coefficient. In addition, the output performance parameters are discussed in terms of quality factor (Q-factor) and eye diagram. Moreover, a comparison between the proposed design and previous related works is presented.
Developing collaboration tool for virtual team using UML models
Authors: Mohialden Yasmin Makki , Abdulaali abdulbaqi Huda , Mezaal Shati Narjis
Published: April 2021

Computer aided software engineering (CASE) uses the unified modelling language UML to produce executable code to visualize software architectural blueprint systems. UML is a standard software modeling language for specifying, constructing, documenting and visualizing the artifacts of produced software-intensive systems. However, UML lacks virtual collaboration regardless of their geographical location. The present work developed a prototype of web-based CASE tool that enables UML modes to manage software projects as a virtual collaboration tool. The present methodology starts with the specification of a set of UML triplets; then, the tool generates the visual models automatically with high quality SVG graphs. The system eliminates the manual diagram requirements based on the UML possibility and supported by three diagrams that involves class and use cases. The independent scripting language was PHP7 and MYSQL 8.0 which was used to save the system data.
New efficient GAF routing protocol using an optimized weighted sum model in WSN
Authors: Aznaoui Hanane , Ullah Arif , Raghay Said , Aziz Layla , Hayat Khan Mubashir
Published: April 2021

A wireless sensor network (WSN) composed by a large number of sensor nodes that are insufficient in terms of processing power, storage and energy. The principal tasks of nodes is gathering and transmitting data collected to the base station (BS). Consequently the major essential criteria for designing a WSN are the network lifetime. In this paper an efficient GAF routing protocol for gathered data is introduced. It proposes an energy-efficient routing in WSN based on the basic version. In this system sensor nodes are distributed using Gaussian law and an active leader is elected for each virtual grid to reduce the energy dissipated using an optimized weighted sum model where maximum remaining energy and minimum distance criteria are considered. Moreover routing data is based on transmission range for enhancing the energy efficiency during data routing. The experimental results shows that the proposed EE-GAF produces better performance than the existing GAF basic and optimized-GAF routing protocol in terms of number of dead node  and energy consumption. It is obviously proves that the proposed EE-GAF can improve the network lifetime
Embedding the three pass protocol messages into transmission control protocol header
Authors: Suherman Suherman , Dikmawanto Deddy , Hasan Syafruddin , Al-Akaidi Marwan
Published: April 2021

Transmission control protocol provides reliable communication between two or more parties. Each transmitted packet is acknowledged to make sure successful deliveries. Transport layer security protocols send security information exchange as TCP loads. As results, the handshaking stage experiences longer delay as TCP acknowledgement process has already been delay prone. Furthermore, the security message transfers may have their own risks as they are not well protected yet. This paper proposes TCP-embedded three pass protocol for dynamic key exchange. The key exchange is embedded into TCP headers so that transmission delay is reduced, and message transfer is secured. The proposed protocol was assessed on self network by using socket programming in lossless environment. The assessments showed that the proposed protocol reduced three-pass protocol message transfer delay up to 25.8% on lossless channel. The assessment on security also showed that TCP-embedded three pass protocol successfully secured each transmitted TCP load using a unique key; that is much securer than the compared method.
Designing consensus algorithm for collaborative signature-based intrusion detection system
Authors: Arip Winanto Eko , Yazid Idris Mohd , Stiawan Deris , Sulkhan Nurfatih Mohammad
Published: April 2021

Signature-based collaborative intrusion detection system (CIDS) is highly depends on the reliability of nodes to provide IDS attack signatures. Each node in the network is responsible to provide new attack signature to be shared with other node. There are two problems exist in CIDS highlighted in this paper, first is to provide data consistency and second is to maintain trust among the nodes while sharing the attack signatures. Recently, researcher find that blockchain has a great potential to solve those problems. Consensus algorithm in blockchain is able to increase trusts among the node and allows data to be inserted from a single source of truth. In this paper, we are investigating three blockchain consensus algorithms: proof of work (PoW), proof of stake (PoS), and hybrid PoW-PoS chain-based consensus algorithm which are possibly to be implemented in CIDS. Finally, we design an extension of hybrid PoW-PoS chain-based consensus algorithm to fulfill the requirement. This extension we name it as proof of attack signature (PoAS).
Securing sensor data transmission with ethernet elliptic curve cryptography secure socket layer on STM32F103 device
Authors: Seniman Seniman , Siregar Baihaqi , Masyithah Pelle Rani , Fahmi Fahmi
Published: April 2021

Currently there is no method, feature, or ability in securing data transmission in microcontroller systems and applications with client-server scheme communication, while major modern computer systems using secure socket layer (SSL) for establishing secure communication. However, ESP espressif based microcontroller has supported SSL communication to secure data transmission, but only works on the Wi-Fi network. A single-board computer based embedded system has fully supported SSL communication, but it costs a very high price. On the other hand, STM32F103 microcontrollers with a very affordable price even cheaper than the Arduino board has the opportunity to build secure data communication using SSL protocol based on MbedTLS library. In addition to wiznet W5100/W5500 ethernet shield, an STM32F103 SSL client device has been successfully built in this study. The SSL client device supports ECDHE ECDHA AES128 CBC SHA256 SSL cipher suite. The Apache web server must also be configured to support this cipher suite by generating OpenSSL ECC (elliptic curve cryptography) certificate. The system was tested with the LM35 analog temperature sensor, and as a result, the STM32F103 SSL client has successfully secured the data transmission to the Apache SSL web server. The communication time was 3 seconds for the first connection and 42 ms for the next data transmission.
Organizing sports matches with a hybrid monkey search algorithm
Authors: Zedan Shaban Ruqaya , Natheer Alkallak Isra
Published: April 2021

This academic piece of the paper illustrates an approach of organizing sports matches to be as a tool of sports schedule maker via a proposed hybrid Monkey search algorithm by doubles elimination tournament. Input are a set of teams represented by monkeys. It states that the natural behavior of monkeys and its climbing to obtain (solution) through uphill (climbing), watch-jumping, and somersault process. The parameters in the climb were represented by whether or not sports team won. The distribution of the teams, whether in the upper or the lower half, represented in the watch-jumping by mathematical equations, in addition to representing the variables in somersault process. The consequences behind the suggested algorithm used have tackled steps to reach an optimal schedule for a variety of teams for the same championship. The team cannot play more than two consecutive matches with the condition of starting with a random population of feasible solutions. The performance of the presented algorithm was very well through providing a flexible and easy organization of sports matches without using classic or manual routine. Furthermore, the search space reduced so that can give a guarantee to achieve a globally optimum solution. The software platform was MATLAB m-files.
Design and analysis of RNS-based sign detector for moduli set {2^n, 2^n - 1, 2^n + 1}
Authors: Kumar Raj , Mishra Ram Awadh
Published: April 2021

Magnitude comparison, sign detection and overflow detection are essential operations of residue number system (RNS) that are used in digital signal processing (DSP) applications. Moreover, sign detection attracts significant attention in RNS as it can also be used in division and magnitude comparison operations. However, these operations are not easy to perform in RNS. So, there is a need arise to propose a computationally advanced RNS based sign detector. This paper presents an area and power-efficient sign detection circuit for modulo  {2n - 1, 2n, 2n + 1} using mixed radix conversion technique. The proposed sign detector is constructed using a carry save adder (CSA), a modified parallel prefix adder and a carry-generation circuit. Based on the synthesized results using synopsys design compiler, the introduced design offers better results in terms of the area required and power consumption. Although, the speed will remain the same when compared to the recent sign detectors for the same moduli set.
Nighttime Home Blood Pressure in Children: Association with Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Preclinical Organ Damage
Authors: Stambolliu Emelina , Kollias Anastasios , Bountzona Ioanna , Ntineri Angeliki , Servos George , Vazeou Andriani , Stergiou George S.
Published: April 2021

This study aimed to investigate a novel technique for nighttime blood pressure evaluation using a home blood pressure (HBP) monitor in children and adolescents, in terms of association with ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and preclinical organ damage. Children and adolescents (aged 6–18 years) referred for elevated blood pressure were evaluated with ABP (24 hours) and HBP monitoring during daytime (7 days, duplicate morning and evening measurements) and nighttime (automated asleep measurements for 3 nights with 3 hourly measurements/night; Microlife WatchBP Home N). Preclinical organ damage was assessed by echocardiographic left ventricular mass index, carotid intima-media thickness, carotid distensibility coefficient, and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. Ninety-one individuals were analyzed (mean age 13.3±2.8 years; 54 men; 17 with elevated ABP). There was a close association between daytime (awake) ABP and HBP (r=0.81/0.77, systolic/diastolic) and between nighttime (asleep) values (r=0.78/0.60) (all
P
<0.05). Daytime HBP was slightly lower than daytime ABP (difference, −2.0±6.5/−0.9±5.1 mm Hg, systolic/diastolic,
P
<0.01/NS), whereas nighttime HBP was slightly higher than nighttime ABP (2.6±7.2/2.2±6.1 mm Hg,
P
<0.01 for both). Nighttime systolic ABP and HBP were correlated with left ventricular mass index (r=0.37 and 0.29, respectively), carotid intima-media thickness (0.45, 0.47), carotid distensibility coefficient (−0.22, −0.20), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (0.47, 0.53) (
P
=NS for comparisons between methods). The agreement between nighttime HBP and ABP in identifying individuals with nighttime hypertension (≥95th percentile for nighttime ABP) was 82% (κ=0.49;
P
<0.01) and nondippers 57% (κ=0.19;
P
=0.03). In conclusion, in children and adolescents, nighttime HBP monitoring is feasible, is closely associated with nighttime ABP and similarly associated with preclinical organ damage.
Mature Adult Mice With Exercise-Preconditioning Show Better Recovery After Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Kinoshita Keita , Hamanaka Gen , Ohtomo Ryo , Takase Hajime , Chung Kelly K. , Lok Josephine , Lo Eng H. , Katsuki Hiroshi , Arai Ken
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose:

Physical exercise offers therapeutic potentials for several central nervous system disorders, including stroke and cardiovascular diseases. However, it is still mostly unknown whether and how exercise preconditioning affects the prognosis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In this study, we examined the effects of preconditioning on ICH pathology in mature adult mice using treadmill exercise.

Methods:

Male C57BL/6J (25-week old) mice were subjected to 6 weeks of treadmill exercise followed by ICH induction. Outcome measurements included various neurological function tests at multiple time points and the assessment of lesion volume at 8 days after ICH induction. In addition, plasma soluble factors and phagocytotic microglial numbers in the peri-lesion area were also measured to determine the mechanisms underlying the effects of exercise preconditioning.

Results:

The 6-week treadmill exercise preconditioning promoted recovery from ICH-induced neurological deficits in mice. In addition, mice with exercise preconditioning showed smaller lesion volumes and increased numbers of phagocytotic microglia. Furthermore, the levels of several soluble factors, including endostatin, IGFBP (insulin-like growth factor-binding protein)-2 and -3, MMP (matrix metallopeptidase)-9, osteopontin, and pentraxin-3, were increased in the plasma samples from ICH mice with exercise preconditioning compared with ICH mice without exercise.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that mice with exercise preconditioning may suffer less severe injury from hemorrhagic stroke, and therefore, a habit of physical exercise may improve brain health even in middle adulthood.
Cerebral Hemodynamics and Executive Function in Sickle Cell Anemia
Authors: Prussien Kemar V. , Compas Bruce E. , Siciliano Rachel E. , Ciriegio Abagail E. , Lee Chelsea A. , Kassim Adetola A. , DeBaun Michael R. , Donahue Manus J. , Jordan Lori C.
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose:

Individuals with sickle cell anemia experience cognitive deficits, even in the absence of cerebral infarcts or strokes. This study tested the hypothesis that elevated cerebral blood flow and oxygen extraction fraction are associated with lower executive function in individuals with sickle cell anemia.

Methods:

Three-Tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed, including anatomic, gray matter cerebral blood flow, and global oxygen extraction fraction imaging. Executive function was measured using the working memory index from an age-appropriate Wechsler battery and tasks from the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Bivariate and multivariate models were examined (significance:
P
<0.05).

Results:

Fifty-four participants (age range=6–31 years) with sickle cell anemia were enrolled. Hematocrit was positively related to fluid cognition, cerebral blood flow was inversely related to working memory and inhibitory control, and oxygen extraction fraction was inversely related to processing speed. Associations remained significant in multivariate analyses controlling for age, income, and infarcts.

Conclusions:

Elevated cerebral blood flow and oxygen extraction fraction, markers of hemodynamic impairment, are associated with deficits in executive function in individuals with sickle cell anemia.
Denominational Mobility among Palestinian Christians
Authors: Parkkinen Mari
Published: April 2021

This article examines denominational mobility – switching or crossing denominational lines – among Palestinian Christians in Palestine. The study uses qualitative methods and content-driven analysis of interviews with thirty-five Palestinian Christians, conducted in February, March, April and November 2017. The results suggest that denominational mobility is happening among Palestinian Christians between Orthodox, Catholic, mainline Protestant, and Evangelical communities. The analysis revealed three main motives for this denominational mobility: personal belief, marital and family reasons and socio/economic related reasons. Interviewees most often mentioned personal belief as the primary reason for denominational mobility, followed by marital or family matters. Additionally, within the population interviewed, young adults and women were the most mobile in their denominational affiliation. Furthermore, this research suggests that an individualistic impulse in denominational mobility is present within the Palestinian Christian community where denominational mobility traditionally is not encouraged.
Saintsavaism(s) and Nationalism: An Overview of the Development of the Serbian Orthodox Phenomenon of Saintsavaism, with a Special Focus on the Contribution of Justin Popovic (1894–1979)
Authors: Vukic Neven
Published: April 2021

This article provides a reflection on a relatively controversial phenomenon in the Serbian Orthodox Church, namely saintsavaism (serb. svetosavlje). The controversy accompanying the term is related to its association with the Serbian nationalism that erupted during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990’s. This article aims to demonstrate that this particular interpretation of saintsavaism is, in fact, only one of at least four distinct understandings of the notion. Moreover, this article will argue that the author who contributed most significantly to the development of saintsavaism as the guiding principle of the Serbian Church to this day, namely, Justin Popovic (1894–1979), envisioned saintsavaism as, indeed, a totalizing worldview, and recognized its national significance, without, however, reducing it to simple ‘nationalism’. In order to make this case clear, the article will analyze in detail Popovic’s seminal work on saintsavaism (available only in Serbian), Saintsavaism as a Philosophy of Life (1953).
Sellaphora pelagonica (Bacillariophyceae), a new species from dystrophic ponds in the Republic of North Macedonia
Authors: KOCHOSKA HRISTINA , ZAOVA DUŠICA , VIDESKA ANASTASIJA , MITIC-KOPANJA DANIJELA , NAUMOVSKA HRISTINA , WETZEL CARLOS E. , ECTOR LUC , LEVKOV ZLATKO
Published: April 2021

Lowland intermittent ponds, although biologically important, are poorly studied water habitats. During the analyses of the material taken from lowland pond in Pelagonia Valley, and Vitachevo, Republic of North Macedonia, the diatom Sellaphora pelagonica sp. nov. was recorded and described based on light and scanning electron microscopy. The species is characterized by a strictly linear valve outline with parallel to slightly concave margins and broadly rounded ends, 15.0–40.0 µm long and 5.0–7.0 µm wide. These features, together with raphe structure and areolar shape are compared with several similar taxa currently ascribed to Sellaphora.
Pluteus hubregtseorum (Pluteaceae), a new species from Australia and New Zealand
Authors: ŠEVČÍKOVÁ HANA , BOROVIČKA JAN , GATES GENEVIEVE
Published: April 2021

A new species and its new form, Pluteus hubregtseorum and Pluteus hubregtseorum f. horakianus, are described and illustrated based on material from Australia and New Zealand. Pluteus hubregtseorum is characterized by a squamulose to finely granulose pileus, velutinous at centre and translucently striate at the margin, a pruinose stipe, pileipellis a cutis with transition to a trichoderm, predominantly fusiform to lageniform pleurocystidia and cylindrical to clavate caulocystidia in tufts. Pluteus hubregtseorum f. hubregtseorum has a yellow pileus and a whitish to yellow stipe with distinct floccules, whereas P. hubregtseorum f. horakianus has a brown pileus sometimes darker and radially wrinkled; and a white to cream stipe which becomes tinged yellow-tan or grey-tan near the base with age. The pileipellis structure indicates its placement in the section Hispidoderma, Pluteus plautus group. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of ITS rDNA and EF1-α genes showed Pluteus hubregtseorum is related to P. semibulbosus. Differences of Pluteus hubregtseorum with similar species are also discussed. In addition, Pluteus minor is discussed in detail and as it is not possible to establish a taxon to which it should be unambiguously referred, we reject this dubious name.
Novelties in Croton (Euphorbiaceae) from southern South America

Authors: VALDUGA EDUARDO , MOLZ MARTIN , CORDEIRO INÊS , IGANCI JOÃO
Published: April 2021

During a taxonomic revision of the genus Croton from the Pampas grasslands, some necessary taxonomic adjustments were identified and are here presented. The study was based on new collections, field work and analyses of protologues and type specimens. We treat C. allemii as a synonym of C. triqueter, C. stenotrichus as a synonym of C. hilarii, and we designate a lectotype for C. stenotrichus. Croton lombardianus is newly reported for Brazil and C. macrobothrys as a new record for the Atlantic Moist Forest in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Updated information on the geographic distributions of these species is also provided.
50°31’29.7”N 22°46’39.1”E 50°30’56.2”N 22°46’01.0”E 50°30’41.0”N 22°45’49.5”E
Authors: Macocha Dominika
Published: April 2021

50°31’29.7”N 22°46’39.1”E 50°30’56.2”N 22°46’01.0”E 50°30’41.0”N 22°45’49.5”EThis richly illustrated text is a descriptive introduction to Dominika Macocha’s video-sculptural installation, detailing the idea behind the work, the process of its creation, and its suggested interpretations. The file is concluded with a link to the film The Mystery of Forest Lakelet. 50°31’29.7”N 22°46’39.1”E 50°30’56.2”N 22°46’01.0”E 50°30’41.0”N 22°45’49.5”EBogato ilustrowany tekst stanowi opis wstępny instalacji wideo-rzeźbiarskiej Dominiki Macochy - pokazuje zamysł tej pracy, proces jej powstawania i proponowane interpretacje. Na końcu zamieszczony jest link do filmu Tajemnica leśnego jeziorka.
Workers’ Culture – an Unfinished Project: From Scepticism to Historical Cultural Studies
Authors: Matysek-Imielińska Magdalena
Published: April 2021

The research on workers’ culture carried out in Poland from the 1960s to the late 1980s has been recognised in this article as a failure. The author discusses the numerous attempts to conceptualise research programmes and their actual implementation in the fields of sociology, anthropology and the emerging cultural studies. She looks for the sources of their failure, reflecting on its nature and possible causes. She asks whether the failure of the research on workers’ culture was not due to the scepticism of the researchers themselves, who might have overlooked important attempts at demonstrating self-awareness and pro-active attitude on the part of the workers, treating them as politically manipulated and therefore inauthentic. She raises the question about both ideological and methodological reasons behind this stance, the latter having to do with a clash between quantitative research and humanistic orientation. She calls for “preposterous” research (as proposed by Mieke Bal) to be undertaken, which would give a different interpretation of the workers’ various cultural initiatives from today’s perspective. Perhaps this would inspire the creation of a counter-history of workers’ culture.
Wim Wenders’ Most Ambitious Film
Authors: Waniek Laura
Published: April 2021

Until the End of the World by Wim Wenders was a large project. This essay discusses the slow process of the film’s creation, its distribution, its content and critical response, in order to point at failure as the question key to each of those topics. Purpose, success, resolution, ending, the end of the world – those notions appear either irrelevant or impossible in the context of this film. The research material consists mainly of reviews and director’s comments. Content analysis displays many references to classic film genres, references which, however, prove dysfunctional. An important theme of the movie is wandering. This is a recurring motif in Wenders’s work, which some interpretations derive from the identity-seeking typical of his generation. In his case, this search is often expressed by crossing state borders. Central Europe is nevertheless poorly represented in his work.
Obrazki porażki [Images of Failure]
Authors: Stańczyk Xawery
Published: April 2021

Images of FailureOn the one hand, the sphere of art offers the possibility to imagine a different, less oppressive and normative world, where just as in the case of cartoons even the greatest gawks, misfits, and outcasts would build friendships and alliances helping them to reach a happy ending. On the other hand, there is something of an artistic performance, at least of an illusionist show, to an intentional act of failure. To perform failure, one has to improvise, to operate randomly, blunderingly, and ostentatiously, as well as to resist the social norms and rules. The artworks that are presented here pertain to all of these meanings of the “art of failure”. Obrazki porażkiSztuka jest z jednej strony sferą, w której można wyobrazić sobie inny, mniej opresyjny i normatywny świat; w nim – jak w kreskówkach – międzygatunkowe przyjaźnie i sojusze nawet największych gamoni, odmieńców i wyrzutków prowadzą do szczęśliwego zakończenia. Z drugiej strony w intencjonalnym uprawianiu porażki jest coś ze sztuki, a przynajmniej sztuczki prestidigitatora. Performowanie porażki wymaga zdolności improwizacji, podążania po omacku, dyletanctwa, fanfaronady oraz przeciwstawiania się społecznym normom i regułom. Prezentowane tu prace nawiązują do tych sensów „sztuki porażki”.
Historia mówiona jako wybór źródeł. Wokół „O tym nie wolno mówić…” Zagłada Żydów w opowieściach wspomnieniowych ze zbiorów Dionizjusza Czubali [Oral History as a Selection of Sources: Discussion Around „O tym nie wolno mówić…” Zagłada Żydów w opowieściach wspomnieniowych ze zbiorów Dionizjusza Czubali [“We Are Not Allowed to Speak About It...” The Extermination of Jews in Memoirs from the Collection of Dionizjusz Czubala]]
Authors: Filipkowski Piotr
Published: April 2021

Oral History as a Selection of Sources: Discussion Around „O tym nie wolno mówić…” Zagłada Żydów w opowieściach wspomnieniowych ze zbiorów Dionizjusza Czubali [“We Are Not Allowed to Speak About It...” The Extermination of Jews in Memoirs from the Collection of Dionizjusz Czubala]This article reviews the book „O tym nie wolno mówić…” Zagłada Żydów w opowieściach wspomnieniowych ze zbiorów Dionizjusza Czubali [“We Are Not Allowed to Speak About It...” The Extermination of Jews in Memoirs from the Collection of Dionizjusz Czubala], selected and edited by Piotr Grochowski, Wydawnictwo Naukowe UMK, Toruń 2019, 236 pp. Historia mówiona jako wybór źródeł Wokół „O tym nie wolno mówić…” Zagłada Żydów w opowieściach wspomnieniowych ze zbiorów Dionizjusza CzubaliRecenzja książki „O tym nie wolno mówić....” Zagłada Żydów w opowieściach wspomnieniowych ze zbiorów Dionizjusza Czubali, wybór i opracowanie Piotr Grochowski, Wydawnictwo Naukowe UMK, Toruń 2019, s. 236.
Anomalous Tropical Instability Wave activity hindered the development of the 2016/2017 La Niña
Authors: Xue Aoyun , Zhang Wenjun , Boucharel Julien , Jin Fei-Fei
Published: April 2021

Although the 1997/98 and 2015/16 El Niño events are considered to be the strongest on record, their subsequent La Niña events exhibited contrasted evolutions. In this study, we demonstrate that the extremely strong period of Tropical Instability Waves (TIWs) at the beginning of boreal summer of 2016 played an important role in hindering the subsequent La Niña’s development by transporting extra off-equatorial heat into the Pacific cold tongue. By comparing the TIWs contribution based on an oceanic mixed-layer heat budget analysis for the 1998 and 2016 episodes, we establish that TIW-induced nonlinear dynamical heating (NDH) is a significant contributor to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase transition in 2016. TIW-induced NDH contributed to around 0.4°C per month warming during the early boreal summer (May-June) following the 2015/16 El Niño’s peak, which is found to be an essential inhibiting factor that prevented the subsequent La Niña’s growth. A time-mean eddy kinetic energy analysis reveals that anomalous TIWs during 2016 mainly gained their energy from the baroclinic instability conversion due to a strong SST warming in the northeastern off-equatorial Pacific that promoted an increased meridional SST gradient. This highlights the importance of accurately reproducing TIW activity in ENSO simulation and the benefit of off-equatorial SST anomalies in the eastern Pacific as an independent precursor for ENSO predictions.
The identification of long-lived Southern Hemisphere flow events using archetypes and principal components
Authors: Risbey James S. , Monselesan Didier P. , Black Amanda S. , Moore Thomas S. , Richardson Doug , Squire Dougal T. , Tozer Carly R.
Published: April 2021

From time to time atmospheric flows become organized and form coherent long-lived structures. Such structures could be propagating, quasi-stationary, or recur in place. We investigate the ability of Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Archetypal Analysis (AA) to identify long-lived events, excluding propagating forms. Our analysis is carried out on the Southern Hemisphere mid-tropospheric flow represented by geopotential height at 500hPa (Z500). The leading basis patterns of Z500 for PCA and AA are similar and describe structures representing (or similar to) the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and Pacific South American (PSA) pattern. Long-lived events are identified here from sequences of 8 days or longer where the same basis pattern dominates for PCA or AA. AA identifies more long-lived events than PCA using this approach. The most commonly occurring long-lived event for both AA and PCA is the annular SAM-like pattern. The second most commonly occurring event is the PSA-like Pacific wavetrain for both AA and PCA. For AA the flow at any given time is approximated as weighted contributions from each basis pattern, which lends itself to metrics for discriminating among basis patterns. These show that the longest long-lived events are in general better expressed than shorter events. Case studies of long-lived events featuring a blocking structure and an annular structure show that both PCA and AA can identify and discriminate the dominant basis pattern that most closely resembles the flow event.
All-cellulose composites prepared by partial dissolving of cellulose fibers from musaceae leaf-sheath waste
Authors: Montoya-Rojo Úrsula , Álvarez-López Catalina , Gañán-Rojo Piedad
Published: April 2021

Self-reinforced all-cellulose composites were produced in situ by partial dissolution in lithium chloride/N,N dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc) of cellulose fibers isolated from Musaceae leaf sheaths resides. These composites show two phases, a continuous phase formed by the dissolution of fibers that transformation to cellulose II and another phase non-dissolved fibers of cellulose I, which acts as self-reinforcing as shown in SEM images. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the coexistence of cellulose I and cellulose II polymorphs. The higher Young’s modulus (4.6 GPa) and tensile strength (95 MPa) are resulting in the optimum relationship between fibers/matrix due to enough LiCl/DMAc to form the matrix and unify fibers with a good interface and optical transparency. These results are seven and twenty-one times higher than that of C0, respectively. In addition, the use of these agro-industrial waste as a raw material in the production of all-cellulose composites offers an opportunity to obtain sustainable and environmentally friendly materials as an alternative for packaging industries.
Analysis of luminescence, morphological and thermal behaviour of conjugated polymer/CdS electrospun nanofiber
Authors: Umabharathi PS , Karpagam S
Published: April 2021

Electro spun composite nanofibers of three series were prepared using different polymers (P1, P2, P3) and cadmium sulphide (CdS). Organic polymers of carbazole based quinoline (P1), quinoxaline (P2), and pyrazine (P3) hybrid with inorganic CdS nanofibers were characterized by XRD and FTIR technique. Collective arrangement of spiderweb-like morphology was observed for all nanofibers. Deviations of absorption and photoluminescence were monitored and a significant blue shift was found after doping CdS and PVA. It was found that the changes in the PL spectra of polymers originated from the chemical interactions between polymer and CdS. The diameter of nanofibers was observed as 127-347 nm from SEM analysis and 66-213 nm from TEM analysis. Optimum thermal stability of the composite nanofibers was achieved up to 200 °C. Compared with pure polymers and CdS, present nanofibers were good thermal stability, apparent blue shift with bluish emission which is suitable for optoelectronics application.
“We’re a Little Biased”: Medicine and the Management of Bias through the Case of Contraception
Authors: Manzer Jamie L. , Bell Ann V.
Published: April 2021

There is a wealth of literature demonstrating the presence of bias throughout the American health care system. Despite acknowledging such presence, however, little is known about how bias functions within medical encounters, particularly how providers grapple with bias in their patient counseling and decision-making. We explore such processes through the case of contraceptive counseling, a highly raced, classed, and gendered context. In-depth interviews with 51 health care providers reveal that providers use four primary strategies to navigate and minimize bias in their care—using scientific rationale, employing “safe” biases, standardizing counseling, and implementing patient-centered care. Paradoxically, using these strategies can exacerbate rather than resolve bias. Understanding these bias management strategies reveals provider-held biases, how they manifest within appointments, and the potential consequences for patients’ health autonomy. Such knowledge informs interventions that promote contraceptive use among women in the United States, addresses bias in health care broadly, and thus ultimately helps combat health disparities.
Peace agreements and women’s political rights following civil war
Authors: Reid Lindsay
Published: April 2021

Approximately one-quarter of civil war peace agreements contain some reference to gender, prompting the question of whether or not gender provisions within peace agreements are effective tools for improving women’s rights following conflict. As calls by the United Nations and the international community place increasing emphasis on women’s involvement in peace processes, this article generates insight into whether peace agreements, a key component of peace processes, help to spur greater political rights for women. The theoretical expectations of the article posit that peace agreements generate legal frameworks for post-conflict states. Specifically, peace agreements have the potential to tie actors’ hands to new policies and generate shifts in societal norms and practices; the direction of new policies and practices, however, is dependent on the contents of agreements. When agreements are gender-inclusive, they increase the likelihood of improvements in women’s political rights. The expectations are quantitatively tested using civil war peace agreements signed between 1981 and 2011. The findings indicate that the content of agreements matters; gender-inclusive agreements lay the foundations for improvements in women’s political rights following conflict. The article demonstrates that peace agreements, when crafted to include gender provisions, are meaningful tools that international and domestic actors can harness to strengthen women’s rights after civil war.
The comparative effects of brief or multidisciplinary intervention on return to work at 1 year in employees on sick leave due to low back pain: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Langagergaard Vivian , Jensen Ole Kudsk , Nielsen Claus Vinther , Jensen Chris , Labriola Merete , Sørensen Vibeke Neergaard , Pedersen Pernille
Published: April 2021

Objective:

To compare return to work (RTW) rates among patients with low back pain (LBP) and different job relations randomized to brief or multidisciplinary intervention.

Design:

A randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up.

Setting:

Silkeborg Regional Hospital, Denmark.

Subjects:

Four hundred seventy-six participants were divided into two groups concerning job relations: strong (influence on job and no fear of losing it) or weak (no influence on job and/or fear of losing it), and afterwards randomized to brief or multidisciplinary intervention.

Interventions:

Brief intervention included examination and advice by a rheumatologist and a physiotherapist. Multidisciplinary intervention included brief intervention plus coaching by a case manager making a plan for RTW with the patient.

Main measures:

Primary outcome was 1-year RTW rate. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity (LBP rating scale), disability (Roland Morris disability scale), and psychological measures (Common Mental Disorder Questionnaire, Major Depression Inventory, and EQ-5D-3L).

Results:

Mean (SD) age was 43.1 (9.8) years. Among 272 participants with strong job relations, RTW was achieved for 104/137 (76%) receiving brief intervention compared to 89/135 (66%) receiving multidisciplinary intervention, hazard ratio 0.73 (CI: 0.55–0.96). Corresponding results for 204 participants with weak job relations were 69/102 (68%) in both interventions, hazard ratio 1.07 (CI: 0.77–1.49). For patients with strong job relations, depressive symptoms and quality of life were more improved after brief intervention.

Conclusion:

Brief intervention resulted in higher RTW rates than multidisciplinary intervention for employees with strong job relations. There were no differences in RTW rates between interventions for employees with weak job relations.
Co-cultivation of progenitor cells enhanced osteogenic gene expression and angiogenesis potential in vitro
Authors: Jia Yongsheng , Zhang Cuicui , Zheng Xiangqian , Gao Ming
Published: April 2021

Objectives

The efficiencies of osteogenesis and angiogenesis present challenges that need to be overcome before bone tissue engineering can be widely applied to clinical uses. We aimed to optimize an in vitro culture system to enhance osteogenesis and angiogenesis. We investigated if hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) promoted osteogenesis in vitro when co-cultured with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

Methods

MSC/HSC, MSC/EPC/HSC, and MSC/EPC co-cultures were incubated for 21 days. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium content were analyzed to assess mineralization. Expression levels of genes encoding osteogenesis-related proteins (ALP ( ALPL), collagen type IA ( COL1A1), osteocalcin ( BGLAP), and osteopontin ( OSTP)) were also evaluated by measuring mRNA levels at day 28. Angiogenesis was evaluated by tube-formation assay.

Results

COL1A1, OSTP, ALPL, and BGLAP genes were upregulated in MSC/HSC and MSC/EPC/HSC co-cultures compared with the MSC/EPC group. Upregulation was strongest in the MSC/EPC/HSC co-cultures. There were no significant changes in ALP levels and calcium content, but ALP activity was slightly higher and calcium content was relatively lower in the MSC/EPC and MSC/EPC/HSC groups.

Conclusions

Co-culture of MSCs with HSCs or EPCs/HSCs upregulated the expression of osteogenesis-related genes but did not affect the efficiency of osteogenesis.
Subcutaneous tunneling technique to improve outcomes for patients undergoing chemotherapy with peripherally inserted central catheters: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Xiao Mao-fang , Xiao Cai-qiong , Li Jia , Dai Can , Fan Yu-ying , Cao Hui-jiao , Qin Hui-ying
Published: April 2021

Objective

To compare the value of the subcutaneous tunneling technique versus the normal technique in improving the outcomes of patients undergoing chemotherapy with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs).

Methods

One hundred thirty patients were randomly divided into an experimental group (subcutaneous tunneling technique) and control group (normal technique) according to the PICC placement technique, and clinical data were compared between the groups.

Results

In total, 129 PICCs were successfully inserted. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had a lower occurrence of complications after placement (especially catheter dislodgement: 3.1% vs. 15.4%, venous thrombosis: 3.1% vs. 15.4%, and wound oozing: 14.1% vs. 27.7%), lower occurrence of unscheduled PICC removal (3.1% vs. 13.8%), greater comfort during placement (14.16 ± 2.21 vs. 15.09 ± 2.49 on a scale ranging from 6 to 30 points, with higher scores indicating lower degrees of comfort), and lower costs of PICC maintenance (median (interquartile range) per-day maintenance cost: 13.90 (10.99–32.83) vs. 15.69 (10.51–57.46) Yuan). The occurrence of complications and amount of bleeding during placement were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions

The subcutaneous tunneling technique can improve PICC placement by reducing complications and costs of maintenance with better patient comfort during placement.
Development of a Simulated Three-Dimensional Truck Model to Predict Excess Fuel Consumption Resulting from Pavement Roughness
Authors: Liu Xiuyu , Al-Qadi Imad L.
Published: April 2021

Excess vehicle fuel consumption, the percentage change in fuel consumption caused by road roughness, is an important part of the environmental and cost assessment of a pavement’s life cycle. Flexible and efficient computational methods make it possible to use mechanistic models to estimate excess fuel consumption. A stochastic pavement–vehicle interaction model was developed recently based on a half-truck model and stationary road roughness profiles. Although the introduced method was a step forward, it does not allow roll vibration. In addition, the error caused by stationary assumption on roughness profiles has not been quantified. This study proposes a numerical approach to assess the roughness-induced fuel consumption of a semi-trailer truck on non-deformable rough pavements. A three-dimensional (3D) semi-trailer truck model is formulated with a nonstationary parallel road roughness model. The simulation results of the integrated truck–pavement model are validated against empirical formulas. Tire stiffness is identified as the most important truck property, followed by suspension damping, suspension stiffness, and cargo loading. For road roughness characteristics, local roughness variance—overlooked by the stationary assumption—can underestimate excess fuel consumption by 42%. Using the 3D truck model and corresponding roughness profiles as excitation inputs would reduce the computation error by more than 10%. This study also proposes an extended roughness–speed–impact model, considering a second-order International Roughness Index term and effect of local roughness variance. The new regression model increases the prediction explanation R2 from 88.7% to 99.2%.
Predicting Autologous Hamstring Graft Diameter in the Pediatric Population Using Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Demographic Data
Authors: Partan Matthew J. , Stapleton Erik J. , Atlas Aaron M. , DiMauro Jon-Paul
Published: April 2021

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction before 18 years of age has been linked with an increased risk for failure when the graft diameter is <8 mm.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether autologous hamstring graft size can be reliably predicted with the use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements. We hypothesized that the average of multiple axial cross-sectional area MRI measurements for the semitendinosus tendon and gracilis tendon would alone accurately predict graft diameter. Additionally, factoring in specific demographic data to the MRI cross-sectional areas would provide a synergistic effect to the accuracy of graft diameter predictions.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 51 pediatric patients undergoing ACL reconstructions (age <18 years) performed using either a quadruple-strand semitendinosus tendon or combined double-bundle semitendinosus tendon–gracilis tendon autograft. Preoperative axial MRI scans at multiple points along the craniocaudal axis—specifically, at the level of the joint line, 3 cm cephalad to the medial tibial plateau, and 5 cm cephalad to the medial tibial plateau—were used to determine the combined cross-sectional area of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons. The MRI measurements were analyzed using Pearson correlation as well as regression analysis to evaluate strength of correlation between measurements. Binomial linear regression was used to analyze the same predictive variables assessed by multiple regression.

Results:

The predicted graft diameter was within 0.5 mm of the intraoperative graft size in 37 of 51 (72.5%) patients and within 1 mm of the intraoperative graft size in 49 of 51 (96.1%). With the addition of demographics, the accuracy of predictions increased to 78.4% within 0.5 mm and 98% within 1 mm of the actual graft size. Additionally, 38 of 42 patients whose true graft diameter was ≥8 mm were correctly classified, giving a sensitivity of 90.4%. For those whose true graft diameter was <8 mm, 8 of 9 patients were correctly classified; therefore, the specificity was 88.9%.

Conclusion:

The results of our study suggest that taking the average of multiple preoperative MRI measurements can be used to accurately predict autologous hamstring graft size when approaching pediatric patients undergoing ACL reconstruction.
Healthcare waste management assessment: Challenges for hospitals in COVID-19 pandemic times
Authors: de Aguiar Hugo Andreza , Lima Renato da Silva
Published: April 2021

With the spread of the new Coronavirus, there was an increase in the generation of contaminated waste. Thus, healthcare waste management (HCWM) became even a greater challenge in hospitals due to Coronavirus easily spread. In this context, it was necessary to create tools that could aid healthcare facilities in evaluating their HCWM. Therefore, the objective of this article was to elaborate a support tool that helps in identifying the shortcomings of hospitals’ HCWM. For this purpose, the Health Service Waste Management Index was developed based on the selection of indicators in the area. The index was applied to six hospitals in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Its application meet the purpose of this research, since the results in the form of an index objectively summarize the reality of the HCWM in healthcare facilities. From the six hospitals investigated, four were classified as highly efficient. However, even though most of them were well evaluated, they still have difficulties with properly training their employees, which can be even a worse problem during a pandemic, when every precaution is extremely important to reduce the spread of the disease. Therefore, beyond this article contribution related to sustainability by demanding the hospitals to check which points of HCWM should be improved, it also adds academically by developing a tool with indicators that evaluate operational, human, economic and environmental factors in an innovative way.