bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Threshold adjusted vagus nerve stimulation after asphyxial cardiac arrest results in neuroprotection and improved survival
Authors: Choudhary Rishabh C. , Ahmed Umair , Shoaib Muhammad , Alper Eric , Rehman Abdul , Kim Junhwan , Shinozaki Koichiro , Volpe Bruce T. , Chavan Sangeeta , Zanos Stavros , Tracey Kevin J. , Becker Lance B.
Published: July 2022

Background

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown therapeutic potential in a variety of different diseases with many ongoing clinical trials. The role of VNS in reducing ischemic injury in the brain requires further evaluation. Cardiac arrest (CA) causes global ischemia and leads to the injury of vital organs, especially the brain. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of customized threshold-adjusted VNS (tVNS) in a rat model of CA and resuscitation.

Methods

Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 12 min asphyxia-CA followed by resuscitation. Rats were assigned to either post-resuscitation tVNS for 2 h or no-tVNS (control). tVNS was applied by electrode placement in the left cervical vagus nerve. To optimize a threshold, we used animal’s heart rate and determined a 15–20% drop from baseline levels as the effective and physiological threshold for each animal. The primary endpoint was 72 h survival; secondary endpoints included neurological functional recovery, reduction in brain cellular injury (histopathology), cardiac and renal injury parameters (troponin I and creatinine levels, respectively).

Results

In comparison to the control group, tVNS significantly improved 72 h survival and brain functional recovery after 12 minutes of CA. The tVNS group demonstrated significantly reduced numbers of damaged neurons in the CA1 hippocampal region of the brain as compared to the control group. Similarly, the tVNS group showed decreased trend in plasma troponin I and creatinine levels as compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that using tVNS for 2 h after 12 minutes of CA attenuates ischemia neuronal cell death, heart and kidney damage, and improves 72 h survival with improved neurological recovery.
Does liver diffusion tensor imaging (L-DTI) has a role in differentiation of hepatic focal lesions? Analytic study for assessment of the value of L-DTI in differentiating hepatic focal lesions according to LI-RADS
Authors: Mahmoud Bahaa Eldin , Metwally Lamiaa I. A. , Salama Rabab Maamoun , Yehia Mahmoud , Ibrahim Iman Mohamed Hamdy , Mikhael Hisham S. Wahba
Published: July 2022

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the differentiation of hepatic focal lesions and diagnosis of hepatic malignancy, especially hepatocellular carcinoma which is a major health problem worldwide. Diffusion imaging is a functional MRI technique that became an essential part of MRI study of the liver. Recently, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is diffusion variant that can provide more information than conventional diffusion imaging based on the tissue anisotropy. The aim of this study was to present the role of DTI in the assessment and differentiation between hepatic focal lesions.

Results

Fifty-one patients having 95 hepatic focal lesions who underwent dynamic MRI with conventional diffusion imaging and DTI acquisition were included in the study. A positive moderate significant correlation was found between Fractional anisotropy (FA) values and Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category while substantial negative significant correlation and moderate negative significant correlation were found between DTI-ADC and DWI-ADC values, respectively, with the LI-RADS category. There was a significant negative correlation between DTI-ADC and FA values. DTI-ADC showed a significant role in differentiation of benign from malignant lesions with cut-off value 0.905 × 10−3 having 88.7% sensitivity and 88.3% specificity compared to 78.5% and 68.7% for DWI-ADC, respectively. Also, it was found that FA value had a significant role in differentiation between benign and malignant lesions with cut-off value 0.34 having 87.1% sensitivity and 73.9% specificity.

Conclusions

DTI can be included in liver MRI studies for better tissue characterization as it may perform better than conventional DWI with higher sensitivity and specificity of DTI-ADC and FA values than conventional DWI-ADC.
Lessons Learned from a Physically Active Learning Intervention: Texas I-CAN!
Authors: Bartholomew John B. , Jowers Esbelle M. , Golaszewski Natalie M.
Published: July 2022

The Texas Initiatives for Children’s Activity and Nutrition (Texas I-CAN!) has focused on the development of interventions to provide physically active learning (PAL) to regular education, elementary classroom. This article provides an overview of our approach and the iterations through which we have progressed in the intervention. We adopt a framework that considers PAL along continuums of relatedness to and integration with the academic goals of the lessons. This provides a lens through which to view our iterations of I-CAN!, as we sought a version of PAL that is both acceptable to teachers and effective for physical activity and academic outcomes. As such, this provides an overview of the choices that must be made to translate theory to practice.
Physical Environments for Active Schools: Future Directions for Transdisciplinary Research
Authors: Laboy Michelle
Published: July 2022

The rise in childhood obesity coincides with children spending more of their formative years in child care or school environments, settings found to be strong predictors of children’s physical activity. Although most efforts focus on the social environment of the school, studies show there is potential to develop better evidence-based design guidelines for interventions in the physical environment that can afford more physical activity and support or complement other initiatives. In the context of the school, multiple studies long established that physical activity is correlated with time spent outside, but more recent studies found that the intentional design of outdoor spaces to have certain characteristics results in more participation of different groups and higher physical activity generally. However, there are many documented physical and social barriers to going outside, some of which could potentially be overcome through better design of the relationship between inside and outside, but there has been far less research into how the physical environment of the school building enables or hinders going outside in the first place. This article reviews and summarizes important findings in the literature that provide evidence of the effects that the physical environment of the school has on children’s health and resilience generally, and on their physical activity more specifically; presents field observations from research on the design of schools in Finland—one of the best school systems in the world in one of the most challenging climates with a strong tradition of outdoor learning and frequent time outside; and identifies gaps in knowledge and future directions for transdisciplinary research specifically focused on the design of active schools.
What did you do to stay ‘sane’ during the pandemic? A qualitative study to identify self-care mental health strategies utilized in a socially vulnerable population
Authors: Fischer Ronald , Bozza Beatriz , Victorino Carolina , Motta Marina , Arouca Luna , Bozza Fernando A.
Published: July 2022

Background

Mental health has deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts are likely to be more severe in socially vulnerable communities. Previous research has identified useful self-help strategies that individuals may use to maintain and improve mental health. However, these studies have typically ignored economically and socially marginalized communities and have used researcher pre-defined practices. Little is known what activities or actions members of poor urban communities from low and middle income countries may utilize to take care of their mental health. 

Methods

During March and April 2021, we conducted open-ended interviews with 317 community members in Complexo de Favelas da Maré, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one of the largest slum areas in South America. Individuals were interviewed in selected public spaces to provide a representative sample of the wider area. Our sample consisted of 178 (56.1%) cis women, 133 (41.9%) cis men, 3 (0.9%) trans men, and 3 (0.9%) classified themselves as other. The majority of participants had incomplete middle school or less (54.2%) and were between 30 and 60 years (54.1%). 

Results

Using thematic analysis, we identified eight major themes in the responses. The most common themes that emerged were work, leisure activities (including watching TV & physical exercise) and religion/prayer. These findings did not clearly align with previous mental health recommendations. Some results were noteworthy by their absence, e.g., cost-effective mental health practices such as yoga, meditation or mindfulness were not mentioned. Only 4 individuals reported consulting mental health professionals during the pandemic. 

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the need for better public health campaigns that disseminate information for effective mental health practices during acute crises, especially for communities that are most vulnerable during public health crises.
Identification of anti-schistosomal, anthelmintic and anti-parasitic compounds curated and text-mined from the scientific literature
Authors: Coghlan Avril , Padalino Gilda , O'Boyle Noel M. , Hoffmann Karl F. , Berriman Matthew
Published: July 2022

More than a billion people are infected with parasitic worms, including nematodes, such as hookworms, and flatworms, such as blood flukes. Few drugs are available to treat worm infections, but high-throughput screening approaches hold promise to identify novel drug candidates. One problem for researchers who find an interesting ‘hit’ from a high-throughput screen is to identify whether that compound, or a similar compound has previously been published as having anthelmintic or anti-parasitic activity. Here, we present (i) data sets of 2,828 anthelmintic compounds, and 1,269 specific anti-schistosomal compounds, manually curated from scientific papers and books, and (ii) a data set of 24,335 potential anthelmintic and anti-parasitic compounds identified by text-mining PubMed abstracts. We provide their structures in simplified molecular-input line-entry system (SMILES) format so that researchers can easily compare ‘hits’ from their screens to these anthelmintic compounds and anti-parasitic compounds and find previous literature on them to support/halt their progression in drug discovery pipelines.
The Immigration of Galician Jews to Hungary in the Age of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, 1867-1914
Authors: Csíki Tamás
Published: July 2022

This study is concerned with the immigration of Galician Jews to Hungary. The first section examines the newspapers in circulation in the counties along the border and asks: What rhetorical devices did they use, and what commonplaces did they employ to justify their stereotypical and biased lines of argument in relation to the coexistence of Jews and established local societies. This section is followed by a description of the central government’s efforts to regulate migration. The study concludes with a study of the different types of migration (temporary, circular, repetitive, etc.) and provides an opportunity to interpret the contradiction between statistical data and contemporaries’ perception of “reality.”
The Polish Village in the Face of Political, Social and Economic Changes From 1772-1815: A Study of Western Lesser Poland (Małopolska)
Authors: Jewuła Łukasz , Kargol Tomasz , Ślusarek Krzysztof
Published: July 2022

The article examines the impact of social, economic and political changes of the second half of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century on the functioning of rural society of Lesser Poland province. The study considers the situation of peasants, nobles and the clergy. The first part of the article presents the state of research on the problem and the available sources. The second part is devoted to the presentation of selected examples of social relations observed in contemporary Lesser Poland rural society. Conflicts between landowners and lease owners over abused peasant labour, debates over tithes, abuses of state officials and peasant resistance (i.e. peasant desertions, court cases) are discussed.
Studying Proposes Requirements for Deabetics’ Shoes in Viet Nam
Authors: Chung Cao Thi Kien
Published: July 2022

Complications of Foot’s diabetics such as foot pain, skin changes, callus, foot deformity, foot ulcer, amputation are common. Diabetic shoes play an important role in protecting the feet from injury. The article was based on the opinions of 412 female diabetic patients, 110 male diabetic patients and 20 doctors at medical centers on shoe evaluation criteria such as structural features, materials, and comfort. From that result, the requirements for diabetic shoes were proposed in Vietnam. This requirement is an important basis for the design and selection of suitable materials for diabetics.
Fading-free Φ-OTDR evaluation based on the statistical analysis of phase hopping
Authors: Qian Heng , Luo Bin , He Haijun , Zhou Yin , Zou Xihua , Pan Wei , Yan Lianshan
Published: July 2022

In phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (Φ-OTDR), false phase peaks caused by interference fading have been observed experimentally; however, the statistical law has not yet been disclosed. In this work, after clarifying that the false phase peaks originate from the phase hopping of demodulated phase noise during the unwinding process, we define the phase hopping rate (PHR) to evaluate the degree of fading and study the quantitative relationship between the PHR and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the measured signal through theoretical derivation and experimental verification. In addition, a moving rotated-vector-average (MRVA) method is proposed to suppress the fading and eliminate the false phase peaks. In the experiment, after MRVA processing with a 25 ns sliding window, the lowest SNR is pulled from 0.003 to 14.9, and the corresponding PHR is reduced from 0.237 to less than 0.0001, which is consistent with the theoretical analysis.
Fiber coupling efficiency of a Bessel–Gaussian beam received by a
Cassegrain antenna under atmospheric turbulence
Authors: Shang Shunyuan , Zhang Jinyue , Qi Yuan , Zeng Bowen , Jiang Ping , Yang Huajun
Published: July 2022

A coupling efficiency calculation method for a Bessel–Gaussian (BG) beam in a free space optical communication system received by a parabolic Cassegrain antenna and coupled into a few-mode fiber is proposed. The system of the antenna and the coupling lens is approximate to a ring-shaped lens. The effect of the antenna in the coupling system is analyzed, and maximum coupling efficiency is increased by 76.25% averagely by applying the antenna. With the application of the antenna, the configurations to generate the maximum point of coupling efficiency among BG beams of different topological charges are restricted to being almost the same, which is useful for the simultaneous propagation of multiple BG beams. The effects of radial displacement and atmospheric turbulence on coupling efficiency are researched as well. Coupling efficiency becomes more sensitive to radial displacement, while the influence of turbulence on coupling efficiency remains almost the same after applying the antenna. Our calculation method has an average absolute error of only 0.6625% while increasing the calculation speed greatly, which is practical for further studies of vortex beams.
Spatial–temporal phase demodulation decoding superimposed ghost reflections in optical testing
Authors: Ordones Sotero , Park Jae-Hyeung , Quach Henry , Kim Daewook , Choi Heejoo
Published: July 2022

We introduce a method of phase demodulation to distinguish the ghost reflection commonly observed in optical testing. The method digitally processes a sequence of fringe patterns to separate the reflections from the front and rear surfaces. First, we use a phase-shifting algorithm to compute an analytic signal with the two reflections coupled, and then we decouple them through a maximized spatial filtering. The process requires the acquisition of at least three fringe patterns, as well as fulfilling opposite signs for the magnifications of the two reflections. We demonstrate the decoding process through a real phase measuring deflectometry data processing example.
Sheltering of deleterious mutations explains the stepwise extension of recombination suppression on sex chromosomes and other supergenes
Authors: Jay Paul , Tezenas Emilie , Véber Amandine , Giraud Tatiana
Published: July 2022

Many organisms have sex chromosomes with large nonrecombining regions that have expanded stepwise, generating “evolutionary strata” of differentiation. The reasons for this remain poorly understood, but the principal hypotheses proposed to date are based on antagonistic selection due to differences between sexes. However, it has proved difficult to obtain empirical evidence of a role for sexually antagonistic selection in extending recombination suppression, and antagonistic selection has been shown to be unlikely to account for the evolutionary strata observed on fungal mating-type chromosomes. We show here, by mathematical modeling and stochastic simulation, that recombination suppression on sex chromosomes and around supergenes can expand under a wide range of parameter values simply because it shelters recessive deleterious mutations, which are ubiquitous in genomes. Permanently heterozygous alleles, such as the male-determining allele in XY systems, protect linked chromosomal inversions against the expression of their recessive mutation load, leading to the successive accumulation of inversions around these alleles without antagonistic selection. Similar results were obtained with models assuming recombination-suppressing mechanisms other than chromosomal inversions and for supergenes other than sex chromosomes, including those without XY-like asymmetry, such as fungal mating-type chromosomes. However, inversions capturing a permanently heterozygous allele were found to be less likely to spread when the mutation load segregating in populations was lower (e.g., under large effective population sizes or low mutation rates). This may explain why sex chromosomes remain homomorphic in some organisms but are highly divergent in others. Here, we model a simple and testable hypothesis explaining the stepwise extensions of recombination suppression on sex chromosomes, mating-type chromosomes, and supergenes in general.
Impact of intensified tuberculosis case finding at health facilities on case notifications in Cameroon: A controlled interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Adamou Mana Zourriyah , Beaudou Chrysal Ngouateu , Hilaire Kamga Fotue Jean , Konso Joceline , Ndahbove Carole , Waindim Yvonne , Ganava Maurice , Malama Toussaint , Matip Christian , Meoto Paul , Wandji Irene Adeline Goupeyou , Fundoh Mercy , Mbuli Cyrille , Comfort Vuchas , Teyim Pride , Alba Sandra , Creswell Jacob , Mbassa Vincent , Sander Melissa
Published: July 2022

There is a large gap between the number of people who develop tuberculosis (TB) and those who are diagnosed, treated and notified, with only an estimated 71% of people with TB notified globally in 2019. Implementing better TB case finding strategies is necessary to close this gap. In Cameroon, 1,597 healthcare workers at 725 health facilities were trained and engaged to intensively screen and test people for TB, then follow-up to link people to appropriate care. Primary care centers were linked to TB testing through a locally-tailored specimen referral network. This intervention was implemented across 6 regions of the country, with a population of 16 million people, while the remaining 4 regions in the country, with 7.3 million people, served as a control area. Controlled interrupted time series analyses were used to compare routinely-collected programmatic TB case notification rates in the intervention versus control area for 12 quarters prior to (2016–2018) and for 8 quarters after the start of the intervention (2019–2020). In 2019–2020, a total of 167,508 people were tested for TB at intervention sites, including 52,980 people attending primary care facilities that did not previously provide organized TB services. The number of people tested for TB increased by 45% during the intervention as compared to prior to the intervention. The controlled interrupted time series analyses showed that after two years of the intervention, the all-forms TB case notification rate in the intervention population increased by 9% (ratio of case notification rate ratios = 1.09, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.12), as compared with the counterfactual estimated from pre-intervention trends. This increase was observed even during a negative national impact on case finding from the COVID-19 pandemic. These results support the use of this health-facility based intervention to improve access to TB testing and care in this setting.
Trapped in my inner prison—Cross-sectional examination of internal and external entrapment, hopelessness and suicidal ideation
Authors: Höller Inken , Kremers Amelie , Schreiber Dajana , Forkmann Thomas
Published: July 2022

Background

Within the integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidal behavior, entrapment that consecutively leads to hopelessness is considered as a proximal risk factor for suicidal ideation. Entrapment can refer to both external and internal circumstances whereby results of recent studies indicate that internal entrapment plays a more important role than external entrapment in the development of suicidal ideation. It has been considered that to escape internal entrapment might be more complicated than to change external circumstances. However, it remains unclear whether the greater effect of internal entrapment on suicidal ideation is due to greater feelings of hopelessness. Therefore, the aim of this study was to address this research gap and to examine the effects of internal and external entrapment on hopelessness and suicidal ideation.

Methods

N = 454 participants from a community sample (75% female) aged between 18 and 73 years (M = 29.91, SD = 11.56) conducted a cross-sectional online survey. All participants were assessed for suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and internal as well as external entrapment. Pearson product-moment correlations and two mediation analyses were conducted.

Results

All constructs were significantly correlated. For both internal and external entrapment, an effect on suicidal ideation was found. Both effects were partially mediated by hopelessness, this mediation was larger for external entrapment. The completely standardized indirect effect used to compare the mediation models was larger for external entrapment than for internal entrapment.

Conclusions

Hopelessness mediated the association between external entrapment as well as internal entrapment and suicidal ideation. This effect was larger for external entrapment.
ICU strain and outcome in COVID-19 patients—A multicenter retrospective observational study
Authors: Demoule Alexandre , Fartoukh Muriel , Louis Guillaume , Azoulay Elie , Nemlaghi Safaa , Jullien Edouard , Desnos Cyrielle , Clerc Sebastien , Yvin Elise , Mellati Nouchan , Charron Cyril , Voiriot Guillaume , Picard Yoann , Vieillard-Baron Antoine , Darmon Michael
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To compare the characteristics, management, and prognosis of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) for coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 during the first two waves of the outbreak and to evaluate the relationship between ICU strain (ICU demand due to COVID-19 admissions) and mortality.

Methods

In a multicentre retrospective study, 1166 COVID-19 patients admitted to five ICUs in France between 20 February and 31 December 2020 were included. Data were collected at each ICU from medical records. A Cox proportional-hazards model identified factors associated with 28-day mortality.

Results

640 patients (55%) were admitted during the first wave (February to June 2020) and 526 (45%) during the second wave (July to December 2020). ICU strain was lower during the second wave (-0.81 [-1.04 –-0.31] vs. 1.18 [-0.34–1.29] SD when compared to mean COVID-19 admission in each center during study period, P<0.001). Patients admitted during the second wave were older, had more profound hypoxemia and lower SOFA. High flow nasal cannula was more frequently used during the second wave (68% vs. 39%, P<0.001) and intubation was less frequent (46% vs. 69%, P<0.001). Neither 28-day mortality (30% vs. 26%, P = 0.12) nor hospital mortality (37% vs. 31%, P = 0.27) differed between first and second wave. Overweight and obesity were associated with lower 28-day mortality while older age, underlying chronic kidney disease, severity at ICU admission as assessed by SOFA score and ICU strain were associated with higher 28-day mortality. ICU strain was not associated with hospital mortality.

Conclusion

The characteristics and the management of patients varied between the first and the second wave of the pandemic. Rather than the wave, ICU strain was independently associated with 28-day mortality, but not with hospital mortality.
Prácticas mercantiles en el tráfico marítimo del mediterráneo occidental (1620-1650)
Authors: San Ruperto Albert Josep
Published: July 2022

La navegación mercantil en el Mediterráneo occidental de la primera mitad del siglo XVII ha producido una amplia discusión historiográfica. Los historiadores han querido captar los cambios estructurales que dieron paso a una realidad de tensiones y colaboraciones por la hegemonía de diferentes potencias, comprender a los múltiples actores participantes y examinar la complejidad marítima del periodo. En esa línea, el presente trabajo centra su atención en analizar las relaciones entre las compañías mercantiles mediterráneas y los transportistas marítimos en los años treinta del siglo XVII. Por ello se plantean dos importantes fenómenos que arrojan luz sobre las transformaciones marítimas del Mediterráneo: (1) la «mediterraneización» de la navegación nórdica, que se analiza en este trabajo con los contratos de negociantes mediterráneos de barcos ingleses y neerlandeses; y (2) el uso de las galeras de la Monarquía Hispánica para transportar productos comerciales de magnates mercantiles. El artículo problematiza el tráfico marítimo a partir de la actividad de los propios mercaderes. Ello es posible por un acercamiento al estudio de caso de las compañías Cernezzi y Odescalchi y el análisis de su correspondencia mercantil.
KEBIJAKAN KESEHATAN PUBLIK : UPAYA PENANGGULANGAN PENYAKIT MALARIA DI REPUBLIK TANZANIA
Authors: Hudaya Dhani S. , Sugandi Yogi Suprayogi
Published: July 2022

Kebijakan publik sektor kesehatan hal yang sangat kompleks karena menyangkut hajat hidup orang banyak dan kepentingan masyarakat luas. Dalam perkembangan sistem kesehatan dunia, diperlukan kebijakan dari setiap negara untuk mengatasi  permasalahan  kesehatan. Salah satu penyakit yang mengancam kehidupan masyarakat dunia adalah penyakit Malaria.Sedangkan Negara Republik Tanzania merupakan salah satu negara yang memiliki masalah penyakit malaria yang menyebabkan banyak kematian. Namun kebijakan kesehatan dalam penanggulangan penyakit malaria mengalami kendala. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif yang bersifat deskriptif. Data diperoleh menggunakan data sekunder dengan studi literatur. Hasil analisis bahwa keterbatasan dan ketidakmampuan pemerintah dalam pengalokasian anggaran untuk kesehatan sehingga pemerintah tidak mampu menyediakan fasilitas kesehatan yang memadai dan dalam penanggulangan penyakit malaria di Tanzania sudah menunjukan keberhasilan salah satunya di wilayah Zanzibar, namun hal ini tidak terlepas dari keterlibatan negara asing baik melalui organisasi internasional dan NGO yang memegang peranan penting.Kata kunci : Kebijakan Kesehatan Publik, Penanggulangan Penyakit Malaria, Tanzania.
The Nexus between FDI, Per Capita Income, Energy Consumption, Trade Openness, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Panel Data Analysis of ASEAN Plus Six
Authors: Rahma Luthfiana , Firmansyah Rudy , Revindo Mohamad D.
Published: July 2022

ASEAN and ASEAN Plus countries’ commitment in following the Paris Agreement requires them to utilize trade and investment to balance economic growth and improve environment quality. Using observational data from eleven ASEAN Plus countries from 1979–2018, this study aims to assess how income, energy consumption, FDI, and trade openness jointly cause CO2 emissions in ASEAN Plus countries using panel data estimates. This research proves the existence of the Inverted-U Environmental Kuznets Curve phenomenon in ASEAN Plus countries. In addition, a significant increase in energy consumption explains the increase in CO2 emissions levels in this region. FDI inflows have been found to have a negative relationship with the level of CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, trade openness has been found to positively influence the level of CO2 emissions. This FDI and trade relationship with CO2 emissions shows the need for a new harmonization of a more environmental-friendly integrated production system in the region.
Using Total Equivalent Temperature Difference Approach to Estimate Air Conditioning Cooling Load In Buildings
Authors: Hammoodi Karrar A. , Mohsen A. M. , Omar Ihab , Al-Tajer Ammar  M. , Basem Ali
Published: July 2022

The objective of this study is to provide a simplified worksheet based on the Total Equivalent Temperature Difference (TETD) Approach to estimate a building's cooling load under Iraqi climate conditions. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system was applied to scientific laboratories at the College of Engineering, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Karbala, Iraq. The study estimates the cooling load of the building, which consists of 10 zones. Cooling load elements such as ventilation, lighting, walls, floors, roofs, windows, infiltration, and human factors were considered. The worksheet provides an appropriate alternative for easy and fast prediction within Iraq's climate conditions.
Triangular Director Dipole Antenna with Rectangular Impedance Balun
Authors: Lee Hyeonjin , Baek Sung June
Published: July 2022

This study presents a triangle director dipole antenna with a rectangular impedance balun (RIB). The proposed antenna consists of a triangular director, a coplanar waveguide (CPW) to coplanar stripline (CPS) transition line, and the RIB. The proposed triangle director substitutes a typical director of a planar quasi-Yagi dipole antenna. The triangle director has modified a director of a planar quasi-Yagi dipole antenna. The triangle director generates a circular polarization. Also, the RIB has proposed to match an impedance between the CPW-fed to the CPS transition line. It obtains an ultra-wide frequency band of 4020 MHz (2160 - 6180 MHz), and a peak realized gain of 12.5 – 6.2 dBi in the operating frequency band. The proposed antenna shifts the resonant frequency to a lower frequency band of 75% than the typical planar dipole antennas. The proposed antenna uses widely for wireless medical communication, both ISM bands and C-V2X applications.
Design of O-Ring with No-Groove Arrangement
Authors: Muzakkir S M
Published: July 2022

The O-rings are the very commonly employed solution for creating sealing to prevent the loss of pressurized fluid or gases. In the present work the design of an O-ring with no-groove arrangement is presented.
Activation of 2‐oxoglutarate receptor 1 (OXGR1) by α‐ketoglutarate (αKG) does not detectably stimulate Pendrin‐mediated anion exchange in Xenopus oocytes
Authors: Heneghan John F. , Majmundar Amar J. , Rivera Alicia , Wohlgemuth Jay G. , Dlott Jeffrey S. , Snyder L. Michael , Hildebrandt Friedhelm , Alper Seth L.
Published: July 2022

SLC26A4/Pendrin is the major electroneutral Cl−/HCO3− exchanger of the apical membrane of the Type B intercalated cell (IC) of the connecting segment (CNT) and cortical collecting duct (CCD). Pendrin mediates both base secretion in response to systemic base load and Cl− reabsorption in response to systemic volume depletion, manifested as decreased nephron salt and water delivery to the distal nephron. Pendrin‐mediated Cl−/HCO3− exchange in the apical membrane is upregulated through stimulation of the β‐IC apical membrane G protein‐coupled receptor, 2‐oxoglutarate receptor 1 (OXGR1/GPR99), by its ligand α‐ketoglutarate (αKG). αKG is both filtered by the glomerulus and lumenally secreted by proximal tubule apical membrane organic anion transporters (OATs). OXGR1‐mediated regulation of Pendrin by αKG has been documented in transgenic mice and in isolated perfused CCD. However, aspects of the OXGR1 signaling pathway have remained little investigated since its original discovery in lymphocytes. Moreover, no ex vivo cellular system has been reported in which to study the OXGR1 signaling pathway of Type B‐IC, a cell type refractory to survival in culture in its differentiated state. As Xenopus oocytes express robust heterologous Pendrin activity, we investigated OXGR1 regulation of Pendrin in oocytes. Despite functional expression of OXGR1 in oocytes, co‐expression of Pendrin and OXGR1 failed to exhibit αKG‐sensitive stimulation of Pendrin‐mediated Cl−/anion exchange under a wide range of conditions. We conclude that Xenopus oocytes lack one or more essential molecular components or physical conditions required for OXGR1 to regulate Pendrin activity.
Evaluation of Mixed Reality Support for Bridge Inspectors Using BIM Data
Authors: Riedlinger Urs , Klein Florian , Hill Marcos , Lambracht Christian , Nieborowski Sonja , Holst Ralph , Bahlau Sascha , Oppermann Leif
Published: July 2022

Bridge inspectors work for the safety of our infrastructure and mobility. In regular intervals, they conduct structural inspections – a manual task with a long-lasting and firmly normed analogue tradition. In our collaborative research project, we developed Mixed Reality (MR) and Virtual Reality (VR) prototypes to support that work digitally. We propose a mixed analogue and digital workflow using Building Information Modeling (BIM) data that can be ready-to-hand for bridge inspectors during their work on-site at a bridge. In this paper, we describe the system and the evaluation results of our final MR demonstrator at a autobahn-bridge in Germany. We identified a need for a digital MR tool to support the bridge inspection in-situ. In general, this matches with the trend to bring the computer-supported office-work out into the real world. However, there are also challenges to consider, like lacking BIM data for existing bridges and structures, appropriate user-interfaces in this new application domain, or the need to adopt norms and guidelines for public tender. We argue to consider a user-centered design approach for future developments to best profit from the bridge inspectors’, as well as the MR- and CSCW-researchers expertise, and ultimately increase the acceptance of the developed information systems.
Evaluation of Priority-Dependent Notifications for Smart Glasses Based on Peripheral Visual Cues
Authors: Faulhaber Anja K. , Hoppe Moritz , Schmidt Ludger
Published: July 2022

Smart glasses are increasingly commercialized and may replace or at least complement smartphones someday. Common smartphone features, such as notifications, should then also be available for smart glasses. However, notifications are of disruptive character given that even unimportant notifications frequently interrupt users performing a primary task. This often leads to distractions and performance degradation. Thus, we propose a concept for displaying notifications in the peripheral field of view of smart glasses and with different visualizations depending on the priority of the notification. We developed three icon-based notifications representing increasing priority: a transparent green icon continuously becoming more opaque (low priority), a yellow icon moving up and down (medium priority), and a red and yellow flashing icon (high priority). To evaluate the concept, we conducted a study with 24 participants who performed a primary task and should react to notifications at the same time using the Nreal Light smart glasses. The results showed that reaction times for the low-priority notification were significantly higher and it was ranked as the least distracting. The medium- and high-priority notifications did not show a clear difference in noticeability, distraction, or workload. We discuss implications of our results for the perception and visualization of notifications in the peripheral field of view of smart glasses and, more generally, for augmented reality applications.
A hybrid of Bees algorithm and regulatory on/off minimization for optimizing lactate and succinate production
Authors: Yong Mohd Izzat , Mohamad Mohd Saberi , Choon Yee Wen , Chan Weng Howe , Adli Hasyiya Karimah , Syazwan WSW Khairul Nizar , Yusoff Nooraini , Remli Muhammad Akmal
Published: July 2022

Metabolic engineering has expanded in importance and employment in recent years and is now extensively applied particularly in the production of biomass from microbes. Metabolic network models have been employed extravagantly in computational processes developed to enhance metabolic production and suggest changes in organisms. The crucial issue has been the unrealistic flux distribution presented in prior work on rational modelling framework adopting Optknock and OptGene. In order to address the problem, a hybrid of Bees Algorithm and Regulatory On/Off Minimization (BAROOM) is used. By employing Escherichia coli as the model organism, the most excellent set of genes in E. coli that can be removed and advance the production of succinate can be decided. Evidences shows that BAROOM outperforms alternative strategies used to escalate in succinate production in model organisms like E. coli by selecting the best set of genes to be removed.
Artificial neural network for predicting the mechanical performance of additive manufacturing thermoset carbon fiber composite materials
Authors: Nawafleh Nashat , AL-Oqla Faris M.
Published: July 2022

Composites have been evolved rapidly due to their unique performance in comparison with other conventional materials, such as metals. Although additive manufacturing (AM) has attracted considerable attention in recent years to produce reinforced complex composite structures as in reinforced carbon fiber composites, it is difficult to control the fiber content concentration within the composites to obtain tailored materials properties, especially at high loads of fibers. In fact, high load of fibers usually leads to technical issues, such as nozzle clogging and fiber agglomeration that hinder the 3D printing process. Therefore, a customized artificial neural network (ANN) system was developed in this work to predict the mechanical characteristics of 3D printing thermoset carbon fiber composites at any carbon fiber concentration. The developed ANN system was consisting of three model techniques for predicting the bending stress as well as the flexural modulus of the thermoset carbon fiber composites, even when handling small experimental datasets. The system architecture contained connected artificial neurons governed by non-linear activation functions to enhance precise predictions. Various schemes of ANN models were utilized namely: 1-4-1, 1-4-8-1, and 1-4-8-12-1 models. The developed models have revealed various accuracy levels. However, the 1-4-8-12-1 model has demonstrated a very high level of predictions for the mechanical performance of the AM epoxy/carbon fiber composites. This would enhance predicting the performance of such composites in 3D printing with very minimal experimental work to optimize the fiber content for the desired overall mechanical performance.
Consensus on scales for an interdisciplinary health assessment tool for the elderly population
Authors: Monteiro Maria Clara Duarte , Martins Maria Manuela Ferreira Pereira da Silva , Schoeller Soraia Dornelles
Published: July 2022

Objective: to describe the consensus of the content of an instrument for assessing interdisciplinary health care of the elderly population. Methods: consensus study conducted among physicians, nurses, and social workers, contemplating the construction of instrument and the pre-test for selection of scales for use in practice. Questionnaire consisting of questions that identified representative scales in the assessment of the elderly. The scales that obtained consensus criterion of equal to or greater than 75% were considered selected by the experts. Sample was composed through snowball sampling, resulting in 101 participants. Results: of the 13 scales submitted,the professionals indicated that eight were suitable for use and two were already applied within their practice. The excluded became part of the recommendations for good practices in elderly care. A discrepancy was identified between what they consider to be useful and of interest versus what is applied in practice. Conclusion: consensus among experts allowed us to identify and select interdisciplinary assessment data for a proposed instrument to support the care process. Contributions to practice: this contributes to awareness about the use of recommended scales for the elderly and to avoid the overlapping of the same interventions by several professionals, with significant gains for this population.
Bhagavad Gita and Beyond
Authors: Balkaran Raj
Published: July 2022

Paying particular attention to narrative frames, this paper explores five avenues of hermeneutic import availed by the interlocking structure of such texts: inception import, association import, exposition import, framing import and impetus import. It demonstrates the utility of this methodology by applying it to shed new light on the Bhagavad Gita’s place within the Mahabharata.
An exact test for equality of two normal mean vectors with monotone missing data
Authors: YU Jianqi , WANG Bin , ZHANG Tao
Published: July 2022

The problem of testing equality of two normal mean vectors with incomplete data when the covariance matrices are equal is considered. For data matrices with monotone missing pattern, an exact test is proposed as an alternative one to the traditional likelihood ration test. Numerical power comparisons show that the powers of the proposed test and the likelihood ration test are comparable. However, the proposed test is an exact one. It is easy to use and useful to identify the component that caused the rejection of null hypothesis. It is illustrated using an example.
Науково-методичні засади організації переробних підприємств в регіональних економічних системах
Authors: Лайко О. І. , Єжов М. Б. , Циналєвська І. А.
Published: July 2022

Обґрунтовано необхідність формування ефективних господарюючих суб’єктів в територіально-господарських системах всіх рівнів як основи для забезпечення економічної спроможності. Розробле-но науково-методичні засади створення та забезпечення розвитку підприємств в громадах районів таобластей з апробацією такого наукового підходу на прикладі громад Подільського району Одеськоїобласті. Вдосконалені теоретико-концептуальні засади забезпечення розвитку регіональних економіч-них систем в сучасних умовах на основі формування в адміністративно-територіальних одиницяхелементів функціональних територій - точок зростання у вигляді підприємств, здатних продукуватизначну додану вартість і забезпечувати фінансово-бюджетну спроможність. Розроблено підхід до оці-нки доцільності та ефективності організації виробничих підприємств в регіональних системах на основіврахування ключових факторів ресурсної, інфраструктурної забезпеченості територій, ефективне ви-користання яких сприятиме кращому включенню територіально-господарських систем в національнийта економічний обмін. На основі факторів матеріально-ресурсної, трудової, інфраструктурно-логістичної забезпеченості функціональної території Подільського району Одеської області обґрунто-вано доцільність та ефективність організації виробництва з місцевої сировини хлібопродуктів, олії, бі-одизелю.
Управління персоналом в умовах глобальних інформаційних процесів
Authors: Седікова І. О. , Козак К. Б. , Седіков Д. В.
Published: July 2022

Використання інформаційних технологій та систем для управління підприємством підвищує конкуре-нтоспроможність за рахунок швидкої адаптації до змін ринкової кон’юнктури і дає змогу підвищити ефек-тивність управління шляхом отримання повної, оперативної, достовірної. Завдяки цифровізації процеспостановки завдань та оцінки якості їх виконання стає автоматизованим, прозорим, централізованим,ефективним і головне – його результатом стає накопичувана структурована інформація. Сьогодні можнавідстежувати, як розвивався той чи інший співробітник із моменту його вступ на посаду. У статті розгля-дається сучасний стан цифровизації технологій управління персоналом на основі досвіду окремих підп-риємств. Розкривається сутність, роль та проблеми, що виникають у процесі цифрової трансформації.При проведенні дослідження особлива увага приділяється існуючим на сьогоднішній день новим спо-собам в управлінні персоналом за допомогою електронних технологій.
Механізм оцінки, відновлення й підвищення темпів розвитку готельного бізнесу
Authors: Жигулін О. А.
Published: July 2022

Досліджено процеси оцінки, відновлення й підвищення темпів розвитку готельного бізнесу підвпливом економічних, санітарних і політичних кризових явищ. Розроблено управлінський механізм,який дозволяє виявити й оперативно (протягом місяця) нейтралізувати дію неефективного методууправління («фактор мінімум»), який унеможливлює розвиток готельного підприємства. Методом дос-лідження є метод, за яким розвиток суб’єкта господарювання оцінюється через показник зі складови-ми: рівень сталості й стан розвитку. Вважається, якщо сплановані на рік показники діяльності (дохід,виробництво, витрати, фінанси, рентабельність, співвідношення «якість/ціна») не виконуються та (або)тренд динаміки продажів спадний, то це свідчить про відсутність розвитку підприємницької структуриготельного бізнесу. Апробація роботи механізму оцінки, відновлення й підвищення темпів розвиткуготельного бізнесу проводилася на підприємствах України й дала позитивний результат.
Talking Comics with Nick Sousanis
Authors: DeHart Jason D.
Published: July 2022

In this Study & Scrutiny interview, Jason (an Assistant Professor of Reading Education at Appalachian State) had the pleasure of discussing the comics medium with scholar and artist Nick Sousanis. Sousanis is the author of Unflattening, a dissertation that draws on the affordances of the graphic novel medium to explore the ontology of visual storytelling. Topics include salient titles, steps in making comics with university students, and the inspiration behind Sousanis’s work.
Through the Space and Time of Educational Experiences
Authors: Sheppard Riesco Holly , Yates Grizzle Megan
Published: July 2022

This paper applies the Bakhtinian theory of chronotope, literally “time-space,” to Jerry Craft’s graphic novel New Kid. We examine the definition of chronotope and explore its role in the ELA classroom, as well as its relation to multimodal texts and critical literacies. We argue that an awareness of chronotopic spaces can guide students as they move through the intertextuality of their everyday spaces that shape aspects of their personal and social identities. We begin by outlining our theoretical framework and conclude with an analysis of chronotope, multimodality, and critical literacies in New Kid.