bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INTENSIFICATION OF THE PROCESS OF EXTRACTING FAT FROM FAT-CONTAINING RAW MATERIALS BY DIELECTRIC HEATING
Authors: Prosviryakova Mar'yana , Tikhonov Aleksandr , Ziganshin Bulat , Mihaylova Ol'ga , Novikova Galina
Published: November 2022

The article substantiates the effective modes of heat treatment of fat-containing raw materials in a radiohermatic ultrahigh-frequency installation with a metal-dielectric resonator.

The raw material for the study was the internal fat of cattle, sheep, chickens, their dielectric characteristics were systematized according to I.A. Rogov.

The purpose of this work is to develop a continuous-flow microwave installation with air-cooled magnetrons and a resonator in the form of a truncated cone with an exponential generator, which contributes to increasing thermal efficiency and maintaining high electric field strength and radio tightness without a shielding housing when heating disinfected fat from fat-containing raw materials. The electrophysical parameters of the fat-containing raw material are analyzed, including the change in dielectric parameters from the frequency of the electromagnetic field (EMF), fat content, density. The intensity of the electric field is matched with the heating rate, the specific power of the generator. A continuous-flow microwave installation with a resonator in the form of a truncated cone with an exponential generator made of non-ferromagnetic material and a ceramic concave mirror base, inside of which a dielectric screw with a decreasing pitch and a diameter of a screw is located, has been developed. A concave ceramic mirror is installed coaxially on the large base of the resonator. A dielectric screw is inscribed along the resonator. Two sluice gates with non-magnetic bent blades are installed on the resonator. The melted fat flows down through the perforation on the surface of the resonator. Magnetrons with waveguides are installed with a shift of 120 degrees along the perimeter of the resonator base. The general properties of a resonator with dielectric inclusions (ceramic mirror, fluoro-formation auger) are analyzed. In such a metal-dielectric resonator, the reflection of the field from the non-magnetic walls of the resonator and critical sections can be combined with full internal reflection in the dielectric.

The exponential generator of the resonator and the ceramic mirror contribute to an increase in the concentration of the electric field strength in it to 2 kV/cm when placing three magnetrons with a shift of 120 degrees along the perimeter of the large base. With a specific power of the generator of 2 W/g, the productivity of the microwave installation for heat treatment of fat-containing raw materials is 18-20 kg/h.; With a frequency of rotation of the electric screw drive of 1 rpm, 0.5-0.6 kg of raw materials is heated in 120 seconds. The specific energy costs compared to the prototype (0.2-0.25 kWh/kg) is reduced to 0.14-0.15 kWh/kg.
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT AND ITS GROWTH PROSPECTS
Authors: Anokhina Marina
Published: November 2022

Agrarian growth is relevant for Russia in the face of geopolitical challenges. We introduce a new concept of national agricultural product to determine the potential for agricultural growth. We propose a methodology for assessing the national agricultural product. The national agricultural product is the volume of agricultural products produced, taking into account its availability, sufficiency and quantity to meet the needs of the country’s population. Using this technique, we estimated the national agricultural product of Russia and developed a forecast for the production of the main types of agricultural products based on ARIMA (Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average) econometric models. We consider these data not optimistic. Russia will not be able to achieve breakthrough agricultural growth. The agricultural production index will decline moderately. Grain production will also have a slight negative trend. Milk production will increase by 300 thousand tons annually. This will not allow reaching the level of 90% self-sufficiency in the country. We also predict a moderate decline in meat production. Therefore, Russian agriculture will not be able to enter the trajectory of dynamic development and will not be able to adequately respond to political and economic events. We believe that it is necessary to change approaches to managing agricultural growth. To do this, we have developed a strategy for managing the economic growth of agriculture. We used fuzzy cognitive logic technologies. We have proposed a set of strategic initiatives for the dynamic growth of the national agricultural product. We substantiated the strategy on the basis of forecasts of the parameters of the national agricultural product.
THE DEPENDENCE OF THE ROTATION FREQUENCY OF THE BLADES OF THE WET DUST COLLECTOR AGITATOR ON THE DENSITY OF THE LIQUID
Authors: Ivanov Aleksey , Shirobokov Vladimir , Kalimullin Marat
Published: November 2022

One of the undesirable factors when grinding grain with hammer crushers is the formation of flour dust, which is fire and explosive, as well as harmful to the health of service personnel. The applied fabric dust collectors ineffectively purify the air coming out of the pneumatic system of the crusher. One of the directions of development of dust collection equipment is the development of wet dust collectors or the improvement of existing ones. The proposed two-stage wet dust collector gives greater efficiency of air purification from dust, which is shown by laboratory studies. One of the factors affecting the quality of cleaning is the speed of rotation of the agitator blade, which varies depending on the concentration of dust in the liquid of the first stage. Not the entire dust-air mixture passes through the upgraded dust collector, but only the part that is redundant. This allows you to increase the life of the dust collector before the next service. The aim of the work is to study the dependence of the rotation speed of the blade of the agitator of the first stage of the dust collector on the density of the liquid. Methods of mathematical modeling of the agitator operation, approximation and regression analysis were used for the research, correlation analysis was performed. Theoretical studies have revealed a hyperbolic dependence of the rotation frequency of the paddle agitator on the density of the colloidal solution, however, experimental data provided other quantitative indicators. To determine the necessary parameters of the equation, the least squares method was used to approximate the experimental data. The calculated data obtained were compared with the experimental ones by the coefficient of determination, and the model was highly adequate, R2 = 0,9705. The presented method of selecting the regression equation shows good convergence with the experiment. The equations derived for a laboratory installation can be converted to an industrial design using the theory of similarity.
Diet and its association with reduced semen quality
Authors: Ochyra Łukasz , Łopuszyńska Anna , Pawlicki Mateusz , Piecewicz-Szczęsna Halina
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child for at least 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse and may affect up to 15% of couples of reproductive age. Reduced semen quality may be caused by trauma, inflammation, or an inappropriate lifestyle. Research suggests that diet may be a factor in influencing sperm parameters.Material and methods: The literature of the PubMed scientific base was searched in 2015-2022 using the following keywords: semen, diet, infertility.Results: Analyzes of eating patterns showed that eating a diet high in red meat, high-fat dairy, sweet energy drinks, and snacks could negatively affect semen, and a pattern based on the consumption of fish, chicken, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains was associated with with an increased concentration of sperm. A high-fat diet (HFD) leads to obesity, endocrine disorders, dysbiosis of the intestinal microflora, and may be a factor that activates autophagy, which results in reduced sperm quality. A ketogenic diet can positively affect the semen of obese, infertile men. Studies analyzing the Mediterranean diet suggest that higher compliance rates are associated with a higher percentage of mobility as well as a reduced risk of low sperm concentration. The way you prepare your meals can also play a role as glycation end products are produced when grilling, baking and frying, which can damage sperm DNA.Conclusions: Diet may be an important factor influencing the quality of sperm in men, however, there is a need for further extensive, multi-center studies that will systematize this knowledge, which will enable the creation of specific nutritional recommendations for this group of people.
Cashing Out Retirement Savings at Job Separation
Authors: Wang Yanwen , Zhai Muxin , Lynch John G.
Published: November 2022

We investigate the impact of employer matching contributions on leakage at job termination.
Trust in Financial Markets: Evidence from Reactions to Earnings News
Authors: Wei Chishen , Zhang Lei
Published: November 2022

This paper studies the effect of trust on the perceived credibility of earnings news. Using earnings response coefficients, we find that firms located in low-trust regions of the United States experience significantly lower stock price reactions to earnings news. Additional tests indicate that managers can counterbalance investors’ dependence on trust by employing reputable auditors or signaling the quality of their earnings using dividends to improve the perceived credibility of their financial reports. Overall, our findings suggest that trust affects the pricing of earnings news in capital markets.

This paper was accepted by Brian Bushee, accounting.

Funding: This work was supported by Ministry of Education (Singapore) [Grant RG161/14].

Supplemental Material: Data and the online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4569 .
Cardiovascular complications of treatment for prostate cancer
Authors: Ferreira Vera Vaz , Ângelo Inês , Thomas Boban , Ghosh Arjun K
Published: November 2022

Prostate cancer, an androgen-dependent disease, is one of the leading causes of mortality in men. It can present as localised disease, locally advanced or distant metastatic disease. Treatment options for patients with prostate cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, brachytherapy, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy. There are multiple treatment options for each stage of the disease, but hormone therapy is usually reserved for advanced stages. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with prostate cancer and both diseases share common risk factors. Hormone therapy improves prognosis in patients with more advanced disease, albeit at the cost of cardiovascular toxicity. Hormone therapy can be achieved with the use of agonists and antagonists of gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors, androgen receptor blockers and enzyme inhibitors of androgen synthesis. Drug-specific cardiotoxicity caused by treatments for prostate cancer has not been fully elucidated. Cardiovascular disease in patients with prostate cancer is mainly managed via an ABCDE approach, a strategy to optimise common risk factors. With newer agents improving the prognosis for patients with prostate cancer, cardiovascular toxicity will have a greater impact on the outcomes of these patients. This article reviews cardiovascular risks associated with therapy for prostate cancer with a focus on hormonal therapy.
Monkeypox virus - an overview for primary care nurses
Authors: Kipps Sarah
Published: November 2022

Sarah Kipps explains what nurses need to know when treating a suspected case of monkeypox
Quantitative phase imaging based on polarization encoding
Authors: Cui Shengwei , Gao Shan , Li Changheng , Zhang Wei , Yao X. Steve
Published: November 2022

Most optical characterization methods rely on measuring the complex optical fields emerging from the interaction between light and material systems. Nevertheless, inherent scattering and absorption cause ambiguities in both interferometric and noninterferometric attempts to measure phase. Here we demonstrate that the complete information about a probe optical field can be encoded into the states of polarization, and develop a topography measurement method by blindly varying the ambient refractive index surrounding the sample in a wedged cuvette, which is capable of simultaneously measuring the thickness and the ambient refractive index of the sample in real time, as well as extending the measurement range of the sample thickness. With the method, we have successfully measured the topography of a 136.7 µm thick coverslip by blindly changing the ambient refractive index by 0.001246, resulting in the thickest sample characterization ever achieved by quantitative phase imaging, to the best of our knowledge. An efficient and complete characterization of optical fields is critical for any high-resolution imaging approach and the technique demonstrated here should prove attractive for applications ranging from microscopy to remote sensing. Thanks to the high precision and fast response speed, this method may pave a new way for measuring the topography of the thick samples, such as biological tissues.
In-situ measurement and cancellation of the light-shift in fiber-coupled atomic magnetometers
Authors: Zhao Binbin , Tang Junjian , Li Lin , Zhang Yaohua , Cao Li , Liu Ying , Zhai Yueyang
Published: November 2022

In optical atomic magnetometers (AMs), the light-shift caused by the circularly polarized pumping beam have a significant impact on the response and is also one of the non-negligible sources of the noise. In this paper, we develop a novel method whereby utilizing the symmetry of the frequency response in an AM to measure and cancel the light-shift. Furthermore, we theoretically analyze and experimentally verify a rapid method of magnetic field compensation and the approach is convenient to measure and cancel of the light-shift. Moreover, the influence of intensity and frequency of the pumping beam is also investigated. The proposed method of in − situ measurement and cancellation of light-shift will be particularly profitable to other optical systems based on AMs.
Toward a best-form CPC-like nonimaging optical concentrator
Authors: Metcalf Isaac , Chen Gang , Cooper Thomas A.
Published: November 2022

We present near-ideal axisymmetric numerically optimized spline concentrators (OSCs) which outperform the compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). By perturbing the profile of the revolved CPC by a variable-offset spline defined in tangent-normal space, we show that ray rejection can be reduced to nearly half of that of the CPC, without increasing concentrator length. The resulting OSCs achieve acceptance efficiencies as high as 99.3% for an acceptance angle of 45°, the highest reported for any finite-length CPC-like light concentrator. A set of design curves is presented which can be used to generate near “best-form” OSCs for any acceptance angle in the range 10° to 45°.
Modelling of an intersubband quantum confined Stark effect in Ge quantum wells for mid-infrared photonics
Authors: Barzaghi A. , Falcone V. , Calcaterra S. , Marris-Morini D. , Virgilio M. , Frigerio J.
Published: November 2022

In this work we theoretically investigate quantum confined Stark effect of intersubband transitions in asymmetric Ge/SiGe quantum wells for intensity modulation in the mid-infrared. Our calculations show that extinction ratios up to 1 dB and modulation speeds of several tens of GHz could be obtained in 100 µm long waveguides.
Effect of chirped factors on the abrupt autofocusing ability of a chirped circular Airyprime beam
Authors: Zang Xiang , Dan Wensong , Zhou Yimin , Wang Fei , Cai Yangjian , Mei Zhangrong , Zhou Guoquan
Published: November 2022

Recently, a new type of abruptly autofocusing beam called circular Airyprime beam (CAPB) has been reported. Its abrupt autofocusing ability has been proven to be approximately seven times that of a circular Airy beam under the same conditions. Further improving the abrupt autofocusing ability of the CAPB without changing the beam parameters is a concern in optical research. In this study, we investigated the effect of introducing first- and second-order chirped factors on the abrupt autofocusing ability of the CAPB. When the positive first-order chirped factor was below the saturated chirped value, the abrupt autofocusing ability of the chirped CAPB was stronger and the focus position was smaller compared with those of the conventional CAPB. Regarding the abrupt autofocusing ability, there was an optimal value for the first-order chirped factor. At the optimal value, the abrupt autofocusing ability of the chirped CAPB was the strongest. On the other hand, a positive second-order chirped factor promoted the abrupt autofocusing ability of the CAPB and shortened the focus position. The introduction of such value was more effective than the introduction of a positive first-order chirped factor in promoting abrupt autofocusing of the CAPB. The abrupt autofocusing ability of the CAPB was further improved by combining the optimal first-order chirped factor and a positive second-order chirped factor. Finally, the chirped CAPB was experimentally generated, and the corresponding abrupt autofocusing behaviors were measured, validating the theoretical results. Overall, we provide an approach for improving abruptly autofocusing CAPBs.
Fabrication and transfer printing based integration of free-standing GaN membrane micro-lenses onto semiconductor chips
Authors: Wessling Nils Kolja , Ghosh Saptarsi , Guilhabert Benoit , Kappers Menno , Hinz Alexander M. , Toon Miles , Oliver Rachel A. , Dawson Martin D. , Strain Michael J.
Published: November 2022

We demonstrate the back-end integration of optically broadband, high-NA GaN micro-lenses by micro-assembly onto non-native semiconductor substrates. We developed a highly parallel process flow to fabricate and suspend micron scale plano-convex lens platelets from 6" Si growth wafers and show their subsequent transfer-printing integration. A growth process targeted at producing unbowed epitaxial wafers was combined with optimisation of the etching volume in order to produce flat devices for printing. Lens structures were fabricated with 6 − 11 µm diameter, 2 µm height and root-mean-squared surface roughness below 2 nm. The lenses were printed in a vertically coupled geometry on a single crystalline diamond substrate and with µm-precise placement on a horizontally coupled photonic integrated circuit waveguide facet. Optical performance analysis shows that these lenses could be used to couple to diamond nitrogen vacancy centres at micron scale depths and demonstrates their potential for visible to infrared light-coupling applications.
Rural livelihood diversification is associated with lower vulnerability to climate change in the Andean-Amazon foothills
Authors: Beltrán-Tolosa Lucila Marcela , Cruz-Garcia Gisella S. , Ocampo Jhon , Pradhan Prajal , Quintero Marcela
Published: November 2022

The Andean-Amazon foothills region, one of the richest biodiversity ecoregions on earth, is threatened by climate change combined with unsustainable agricultural and extensive livestock farming. These land-use practices tend to reduce the diversification of rural farming, decreasing households’ livelihood alternatives and rendering them more vulnerable to climate change. We studied the relationship between rural livelihood diversification and household-level vulnerability to climate change in a sample of Andean-Amazon foothills households in Colombia and Peru. Firstly, we determined typologies of households based on their rural livelihood diversification, including farming diversification (agrobiodiversity and farming activities) and agroecological management practices. Secondly, we evaluated each household typology’s vulnerability to climate change by assessing sensitivity and adaptive capacity based on the ‘livelihood assets pentagon’, which encompasses the five human capitals: natural, social, human, physical, and financial. We concluded that households with higher rural livelihood diversification are less vulnerable to climate change. However, it is impossible to draw significant conclusions about the relationship between the factors of diversification of management practices and vulnerability to climate change because most households have few agroecological practices. Results may inform future interventions that aim to decrease Andean-Amazon foothills households’ sensitivity and strengthen their adaptive capacity to climate change.
Evaluation of physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) labels’ impact on energy purchased in cafeterias: A stepped-wedge randomised controlled trial
Authors: Reynolds James P. , Ventsel Minna , Hobson Alice , Pilling Mark A. , Pechey Rachel , Jebb Susan A. , Hollands Gareth J. , Marteau Theresa M.
Published: November 2022

Background

A recent meta-analysis suggested that using physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) labels results in people selecting and consuming less energy. However, the meta-analysis included only 1 study in a naturalistic setting, conducted in 4 convenience stores. We therefore aimed to estimate the effect of PACE labels on energy purchased in worksite cafeterias in the context of a randomised study design.

Methods and findings

A stepped-wedge randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to investigate the effect of PACE labels (which include kcal content and minutes of walking required to expend the energy content of the labelled food) on energy purchased. The setting was 10 worksite cafeterias in England, which were randomised to the order in which they introduced PACE labels on selected food and drinks following a baseline period. There were approximately 19,000 workers employed at the sites, 72% male, with an average age of 40. The study ran for 12 weeks (06 April 2021 to 28 June 2021) with over 250,000 transactions recorded on electronic tills. The primary outcome was total energy (kcal) purchased from intervention items per day. The secondary outcomes were: energy purchased from non-intervention items per day, total energy purchased per day, and revenue. Regression models showed no evidence of an overall effect on energy purchased from intervention items, −1,934 kcals per site per day (95% CI −5,131 to 1,262), p = 0.236, during the intervention relative to baseline, equivalent to −5 kcals per transaction (95% CI −14 to 4). There was also no evidence for an effect on energy purchased from non-intervention items, −5 kcals per site per day (95% CI −513 to 504), p = 0.986, equivalent to 0 kcals per transaction (95% CI −1 to 1), and no clear evidence for total energy purchased −2,899 kcals per site (95% CI −5,810 to 11), p = 0.051, equivalent to −8 kcals per transaction (95% CI −16 to 0). Study limitations include using energy purchased and not energy consumed as the primary outcome and access only to transaction-level sales, rather than individual-level data.

Conclusion

Overall, the evidence was consistent with PACE labels not changing energy purchased in worksite cafeterias. There was considerable variation in effects between cafeterias, suggesting important unmeasured moderators.

Trial registration

The study was prospectively registered on ISRCTN (date: 30.03.21; ISRCTN31315776).
Grazing and light modify Silene latifolia responses to nutrients and future climate
Authors: Jessen Maria-Theresa , Auge Harald , Harpole W. Stan , Hautier Yann , Eskelinen Anu
Published: November 2022

Altered climate, nutrient enrichment and changes in grazing patterns are important environmental and biotic changes in temperate grassland systems. Singly and in concert these factors can influence plant performance and traits, with consequences for species competitive ability, and thus for species coexistence, community composition and diversity. However, we lack experimental tests of the mechanisms, such as competition for light, driving plant performance and traits under nutrient enrichment, grazer exclusion and future climate. We used transplants ofSilene latifolia, a widespread grassland forb in Europe, to study plant responses to interactions among climate, nutrients, grazing and light. We recorded transplant biomass, height, specific leaf area (SLA) and foliar carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) in full-factorial combinations of future climate treatment, fertilization, grazer exclusion and light addition via LED-lamps. Future climate and fertilization together increased transplant height but only in unlighted plots. Light addition increased SLA in ambient climate, and decreased C:N in unfertilized plots. Further, transplants had higher biomass in future climatic conditions when protected from grazers. In general, grazing had a strong negative effect on all measured variables regardless of added nutrients and light. Our results show that competition for light may lead to taller individuals and interacts with climate and nutrients to affect traits related to resource-use. Furthermore, our study suggests grazing may counteract the benefits of future climate on the biomass of species such asSilene latifolia. Consequently, grazers and light may be important modulators of individual plant performance and traits under nutrient enrichment and future climatic conditions.
Risk association of RANKL and OPG gene polymorphism with breast cancer to bone metastasis in Pashtun population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Hayat Faiza , Khan Najeeb Ullah , Khan Aakif Ullah , Ahmad Iftikhar , Alamri Ahmad M. , Iftikhar Bushra
Published: November 2022

Introduction

The receptor activator NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and Osteoprotegrin (OPG) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with the risk of breast cancer to bone metastasis. This study was designed to investigate the association of RANKL and OPG gene polymorphisms with breast to bone metastasis in Pashtun population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Materials and methods

A total of 215 participants were enrolled containing 106 breast cancer patients, 58 breast to bone metastasis and 51 age and gender matched healthy controls. RANKL (rs9533156) and OPG (rs2073618, rs3102735) polymorphisms were genotyped in genomic DNA, using Tetra-ARMS PCR protocol. The results were analyzed among the three groups and P-value less then 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Our results displayed significant association of OPG (rs3102735) risk allele and corresponding genotypes in breast cancer vs healthy controls, bone metastasis vs healthy controls and breast cancer vs breast to bone metastasis as a disease risk. However, there was no association observed for OPG (rs2073618) risk allele and corresponding genotypes with the diseases risk. Similarly, RANKL (rs9533156) risk allele and corresponding genotypes in breast cancer vs healthy controls, bone metastasis vs healthy controls and breast cancer vs breast to bone metastasis exhibited significant association except for the risk allele carrying genotypes in breast to bone metastasis.

Conclusion

OPG (rs3102735) and RANKL (rs9533156) exhibited significant association with breast to bone metastasis while OPG (rs2073618) didn’t show significant association with breast to bone metastasis in Pashtun population of Pakistan. However, this study unlocks more questions to investigate the exact scenario of genetic predisposition of breast to bone metastasis.
Caring for Carers (C4C): Results from a feasibility randomised controlled trial of positive written disclosure for older adult carers of people with psychosis
Authors: Jones Christina J. , Hazell Cassie M. , Hayward Mark , Pandey Aparajita , Papamichail Alexandra , Bremner Stephen A. , O’Connor Daryl B. , Pinfold Vanessa , Smith Helen E.
Published: November 2022

Background

Older adult carers of people who experience psychosis are at increased risk of developing physical and mental health problems due to the compounding factors of supporting their care-recipient and the health changes associated with ageing. Effective interventions exist but can be difficult to access and maintain prolonged engagement. Self-directed writing therapies, frequently referred to as Written Emotional Disclosure (WED), might be a suitable alternative intervention to improve the wellbeing of carers.

Methods

This study aimed to determine the feasibility (recruitment, retention and primary outcome completion) and acceptability of a specific WED intervention known as Positive Written Disclosure (PWD). Informal carers of people with psychosis were randomised to PWD, neutral writing or no writing. Quantitative outcomes including positive and negative affect, carer wellbeing, quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress, self-efficacy, leisure time satisfaction as well as health care utilisation were collected at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-month assessments. Qualitative feedback was also collected via questionnaire and semi-structured interviews from those randomised to either writing group.

Results

We successfully met our progression criteria, recruiting to target and within timeframes whilst attaining 97% retention and 84% primary outcome data completed at 6 months. Carers randomised to the positive writing group described the intervention as enabling them to have a more positive attitude and focus on activities for themselves. Both writing groups described their tasks as providing distraction from caring responsibilities. However, some carers found the narrow positive emotion focus challenging.

Conclusions

PWD is a feasible and acceptable intervention for older adult carers of people with psychosis within a community setting. Further refinement of the writing protocol to include choice in type of emotion disclosed in addition to screening for some level of need may be required in future trials to reduce floor/ceiling effects of outcomes which may explain the lack of change observed.
Can digital skill protect against job displacement risk caused by artificial intelligence? Empirical evidence from 701 detailed occupations
Authors: Chen Ni , Li Zhi , Tang Bo
Published: November 2022

To identify the role of digital skill in the skill-biased technological changes caused by artificial intelligence, this study estimates the impacts of displacement risk on occupational wage and employment and examines the moderation effects of digital skill through the occupational data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics through the methods of fixed-effects modeling, heterogeneity analyzing and moderation effect testing. The results highlight three main points that (1) the displacement risk by artificial intelligence has significantly negative effects on occupational wage and employment, (2) the heterogeneous effects across occupational characteristics are significant, and (3) the digital skill exerts a significant moderation effect to protect against displacement risk. The core policy implication is suggested to emphasize digital skill in education and training across occupations to accommodate job requirements in the future.
Effect of linear accelerator carbon fiber couch on radiotherapy dose
Authors: Kong Fantu , Lu Meiting , Dong Jie , Wang Donghui , Shi Junyue , Li Zhenghuan
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to explore the effect of carbon fiber couch on radiotherapy dose attenuation and gamma pass rate in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans. A phantom inserted with an ionization chamber was placed at different positions of the couch, and the dose was measured by the chamber. Under the same positioning, the phantom dose was calculated using the real and virtual couch images, and the difference in the planned dose of radiotherapy was compared. Ten clinical IMRT plans were selected as dose verification data, and the gamma pass rates were compared between couch addition and non-addition conditions. When the radiation field was near 110° and 250°, the measured value attenuation coefficient of the ionization chamber at the joint of the couch was up to 34%; the attenuation coefficient of the treatment couch from the actual couch image calculated using the treatment planning system (TPS) was up to 33%; the attenuation coefficient of the virtual couch calculated using the TPS was up to 4.0%. The gamma pass rate of the dose verification near gantry angles 110° and 250° was low, and that of the joint could be lower than 85% under the condition of 3%/3 mm. The gamma pass rates of the radiation field passing through the couch were all affected. The dose was affected by the radiation field passing through the couch, with the largest effect when passing through the joint part of the treatment couch, followed by that of the main couch plate and extension plate. When the irradiation field passed through the joint and near 110° and 250° of the main couch, the dose difference was large, making it unsuitable for treatment.
FlowUTI: An interactive web-application for optimizing the use of flow cytometry as a screening tool in urinary tract infections
Authors: Martín-Gutiérrez Guillermo , Martín-Pérez Carlos , Toledo Héctor , Sánchez-Cantalejo Emilio , Lepe José Antonio
Published: November 2022

Due to the high prevalence of patients attending with urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms, the use of flow-cytometry as a rapid screening tool to avoid unnecessary cultures is becoming a widely used system in clinical practice. However, the recommended cut-points applied in flow-cytometry systems differ substantially among authors, making it difficult to obtain reliable conclusions. Here, we present FlowUTI, a shiny web-application created to establish optimal cut-off values in flow-cytometry for different UTI markers, such as bacterial or leukocyte counts, in urine from patients with UTI symptoms. This application provides a user-friendly graphical interface to perform robust statistical analysis without a specific training. Two datasets are analyzed in this manuscript: one composed of 204 urine samples from neonates and infants (≤3 months old) attended in the emergency department with suspected UTI; and the second dataset including 1174 urines samples from an elderly population attended at the primary care level. The source code is available on GitHub (https://github.com/GuillermoMG-HUVR/Microbiology-applications/tree/FlowUTI/FlowUTI). The web application can be executed locally from the R console. Alternatively, it can be freely accessed at https://covidiario.shinyapps.io/flowuti/. FlowUTI provides an easy-to-use environment for evaluating the efficiency of the urinary screening process with flow-cytometry, reducing the computational burden associated with this kind of analysis.
Heavy metal made for children? Interrogating the adult/child divide in Heavysaurus’s heavy metal humour
Authors: Barratt-Peacock Ruth
Published: November 2022

Heavysaurus (a German act founded in 2017, from a concept that originated in Finland in 2009) is marketed as metal music made for children. As with most children’s media, Heavysaurus’s music utilizes a dual address, entertaining both parents and children, particularly through its comedic value. The following article examines the implications of combining metal aesthetics with children’s media, and the resulting music’s relationship to humour. Although humour in metal music has been brought into connection with the Bakhtinian carnival, this article argues that Heavysaurus’s use of the carnivalesque and other elements of heavy metal humour does not represent a Bakhtinian upheaval of power structures (by challenging dominant constructions of childhood for instance) but instead challenges and makes visible the constructed nature of adulthood itself.
The didactic role of feminist art in metal music: Coven bands as a relational device for personal improvement and social justice
Authors: González-Martínez Susana
Published: November 2022

This article presents an analysis of the feminist artistic practices that some bands are adopting through metal music to show how their approaches are linked to a tradition in the history of feminist art. For this purpose, I addressed these feminist metal bands to demonstrate how their practices align with feminist and artistic pedagogies that evolved during the 1970s women’s liberation movement. I examine how artists, like second-wave feminist art groups, create an integrating framework that transcends the scope of art, managing to simultaneously convene and attend to various personal and social processes, based on a reflection substantiated on social group theory, feminist art, feminist pedagogies and ritual studies. Similarly, I highlight and differentiate their specific strategies by analysing their practices in order to understand, on the one hand, these feminist bands as a powerful relational device, which I have termed ‘coven bands’, and, on the other hand, the set of their practices as a didactic action of feminist resistance for personal improvement and social justice. Therefore, I will show how coven bands – whose name is a metaphor that evokes a gathering or circle of witches – are both a collective critical conscience and a multifunctional platform where several of life’s processes can be conjured up, such as relational learning, mutual help, psycho-emotional healing, creativity, empowerment and social action simultaneously.
Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music, Robert Walser ([1993] 2014)
Authors: Brown Andy R.
Published: November 2022

Review of: Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music, Robert Walser ([1993] 2014)

Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 230 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-81957-514-2, p/bk, £18.50
Red Metal: Die Heavy-Metal-Subkultur der DDR, Nikolai Okunew (2021)
Authors: Pichler Peter
Published: November 2022

Review of: Red Metal: Die Heavy-Metal-Subkultur der DDR, Nikolai Okunew (2021)

Berlin: Christoph Links, 334 pp.,

ISBN 978-3-96289-138-1, p/bk, €25.00
Typical Girls: The Rhetoric of Womanhood in Comic Strips, Susan Kirtley (2021)
Authors: Stewart-Taylor Fi
Published: November 2022

Review of: Typical Girls: The Rhetoric of Womanhood in Comic Strips, Susan Kirtley (2021)

Columbus, OH: Ohio State Press, 268 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-81425-793-7, p/bk, $36.95
22 Contos Escolhidos
Authors: Moutinho José Viale
Published: November 2022

São variados os temas destes contos, todos eles marcados pelo insólito, o que tem merecido estudos de especialistas (caso de Flavio Garcia, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro). Os temas dominantes são a Guerra Civil de Espanha, aspectos da vida madeirense, um conto versa a morte de Camilo Castelo Branco, as revoltas de 3 de Fevereiro de 27 no Porto, e a revolta da Madeira, em 31. Vivências e dramas em Trás-os-Montes. Ainda o Porto, em especial um drama em torno do S. João. Veneza e Trieste através de figuras carismáticas – Baffo, Voghera e o Barão Corvo. Outras histórias são de caracter mais intimista.
Impressões Sobre a Música Portuguesa e outros temas (II)
Authors: Martins José Eduardo
Published: November 2022

Prioritariamente, Impressões sobre a Música Portuguesa e outros temas (II) concentra-se na Música portuguesa. Não obstante, há resenhas sobre algumas obras escritas por autores portugueses. Nos 63 textos, escritos de Novembro de 2011 a Dezembro de 2021, nenhum deles foge desse pensar Portugal.
Apetrechos e técnicas de pesca utilizados por pescadores artesanais em lagos periurbanos no Baixo Amazonas (Pará-Brasil)
Authors: Serrão Elizabete de Matos , Imbiriba Luan Campos , Santos Zaqueu dos , Zacardi Diego Maia
Published: November 2022

O estudo descreve os apetrechos de pesca utilizados pelos pescadores de quatro lagos periurbanos de Santarém, na região do Baixo Amazonas, no estado do Pará, baseado nos seus conhecimentos tradicionais acerca do uso dessas artes e as principais espécies capturadas. Nos anos de 2015, 2016 e 2017 foram realizadas visitas de campo em ações junto às comunidades e bairros no entorno dos lagos estudados obtendo-se informações detalhadas sobre as artes de pesca mediante a aplicação de formulários semiestruturados. Os pescadores utilizam 11 tipos diferentes de rede, três métodos de pesca com linha e anzol e três tipos distintos de arte de lançar na região. A utilização dos apetrechos de pesca é limitada as espécies alvos a serem capturadas e oscilam entre as mudanças dos ambientes e momentos do ciclo hidrológico local.Palavras-chave: Artes de pesca. Ambiente lacustre. Conhecimento Tradicional. Amazônia.
Maternal knowledge and attitudes towards rotavirus diarrhea and vaccine acceptance in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: a qualitative study
Authors: Sitaresmi Mei Neni , Seale Holly , Heywood Anita E. , Padmawati Retna Siwi , Soenarto Yati , MacIntyre Chandini Raina , Atthobari Jarir
Published: November 2022

Abstract

Background Rotavirus is a leading cause of hospitalized diarrhea cases in Indonesia. Despite the rotavirus vaccine being recommended by the Indonesian Pediatric Society since 2011, it has yet to be been included in the Indonesian national immunization program (NIP) schedule.

Objective To explore maternal knowledge of and attitudes towards rotavirus diarrhea, as well as barriers to vaccine acceptance in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Methods We conducted 26 in-depth interviews in two districts (rural and urban areas) of Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia. Participants included women in their third trimester of pregnancy and mothers of infants younger than 14 weeks. We then proceeded with thematic analysis.

Results Participants did not perceive diarrhea as being a priority health problem. Very few had heard of rotavirus diarrhea or were aware of vaccine availability. While participants would accept vaccinating their children against rotavirus, some key barriers impacted vaccine use. As the rotavirus vaccine is not included in the Indonesian NIP, parents perceived it as not essential. Parents were concerned about the safety and benefit of the vaccine due to its perceived newness. Other concerns were cost and halal status. Participants expressed a need for more information on the vaccine's effectiveness and safety, with their primary healthcare providers (HCPs) considered to play the most important role in vaccine acceptance.

Conclusions In Yogyakarta, Indonesia, awareness of the seriousness of rotavirus disease and the availability of the rotavirus vaccine is low. Its newness, safety, efficacy, and cost, and doubts about its halal status, were barriers to vaccine acceptance. Information and recommendations from HCPs play an essential role in vaccine acceptance.
Determinants of Urban Poverty in the Case of Female Headed Households of Ibinat Town
Authors: Birhane Bezabh Getish , Kumar Bhupendra , Rajput, Namita , Srivastava Monika
Published: November 2022

The aim of this study was to examine the determinants of urban poverty in the case of Female headed household of Ibinat town. Both primary and secondary data sources are used. Primary data was collected directly from sample respondents of female headed households. To collect the data structured questionnaire was prepared and distributed for the respondents. To select the appropriate sample households, simple random sampling technique was used. A total of 180female headed households have been taken as a sample. To analyze the collected data both descriptive and econometric model have been used. To identify the status of poverty

Foster- Greer –Thorbecke measures of poverty was used. The headcount ratio(Po) shows that about 45 percent of the sampled female headed households are below the poverty line. The poverty gap index (P1) indicates that

average poverty gap in the sample living below the poverty line is 11%. The severity of the poverty indicates that the poorest people in Ibinat town are 9 percent worse off compared to those total households living below the poverty line.

To identify the determinants of urban poverty in the case of female headed household, binary logistic regression model was used. The results of logistic regression revealed that family size, age of the household head, number of dependent family member and access to credit are significantly affecting urban poverty. It is recommended to policy makers to act accordingly on credit policies, family planning activities and investments (both public and private. Government policies should encourage financial institutions (both formal and informal) so that households get an access to credit and reduce poverty. There should be family planning practice by local level governments to increase the number of family size, since an increase in family size is negatively associated with household poverty. To reduce the number of dependent people government and other stakeholders should encourage investment in the town so that those dependent people will be employed and generate income. If every family member is generating income, household poverty will decline.
Students’ perception on Synchronous (virtual chat) or Asynchronous learning (Discussion board)
Authors: Chelluboyna Ravi Teja Yadav
Published: November 2022

Due to increase in business and Covid-19 the usage of online education has increased a lot. Synchronous (virtual chat) and asynchronous (discussion board) are by products of online education. In this research paper I am going to find out students’ perception on virtual class vs discussion board. A questionnaire was made and sent it through Microsoft forms and a total of100 teachers from three different colleges 3 educational platforms and a total of 100 students from 5 different colleges and universities have participated and results are taken. Results were further analyzed using SPSS tool and it came to my observation that there is no significant difference on students’ perception on synchronous vs asynchronous. But what I found out is slight majority of students are preferring for discussion board type because it’s convenient for them to use at any time.
Bangla Sign Language Gesture Recognition System
Authors: Hassan Nazmul
Published: November 2022

Sign language is a form of communication used by the deaf and dumb. However, integrating them into society is challenging because most people do not speak their language. It is a method of generating and disseminating ideas, information, points of view, facts, and sentiments to establish a shared understanding. Unfortunately, almost 5% of the world's population is not blessed with the ability of verbal communication. The situation is the same for Bangladesh. This paper presents a simple, low-cost Bangla sign language (BdSL) recognition model with maximum accuracy to convert signs into Bangla text. We've manually captured images for Bangla sign language following the BdSL model and implemented the dataset to train the system and show output. We used neural networks as a deep learning method to train individual signs to achieve our goals in the suggested model. Using a CNN, we separated the dataset into two parts: training data and test data. The action is mapped to the relevant text in the training data using image processing techniques, and neural networks, so raw images or videos are turned into text that can be read and comprehended with accuracy near 92%. Finally, the system will turn the user's signs and motions into text. It is referred to as "sign language recognition." In the future, This research can also open doors to numerous other applications, like sign language tutorials or dictionaries, and can also help the deaf and dumb search the web or send emails more conveniently. We hope this system will be an excellent opportunity for people who have speaking or hearing disabilities by helping them explore more.