bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modes of Occurrence, Elemental Relationships, and Economic Viability of Rare Earth Elements in West Virginia Coals: A Statistical Approach
Authors: Yesenchak Rachel , Sharma Shikha , Maxwell Aaron E.
Published: August 2022

Rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) are essential for manufacturing technologies vital to economic and national security. As the demand for REY increases and conventional ores become depleted, attention is turning to unconventional resources like coal as a source for these elements. As the nation’s second-largest coal producer, West Virginia (WV) has the potential to transition into producing REY. This study utilizes open-access coal chemistry data from the USGS COALQUAL database in order to assess the potential of WV coal deposits as resources for REY and to gain insight into elemental modes of occurrence and possible enrichment mechanisms. Results suggest that clay minerals dominate the inorganic fraction of most samples and that REY concentrations are primarily proportional to the inorganic content. A few samples deviate from this trend due to mineralogic differences and impacts of post-depositional processes, including possible hydrothermal fluid influences. An ash-basis economic assessment identified 71 promising samples in the data set. The majority of promising samples were sourced from lower to lower-middle Pennsylvanian coal seams in the Kanawha, New River, and Pocahontas formations. Future studies should investigate these deposits using direct analytical methods to better characterize vertical and lateral heterogeneity in REY concentrations and confirm modes of occurrence.
Effect of Silicate Additive on Structural and Electrical Properties of Germanium Nanowires Formed by Electrochemical Reduction from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Eremina Anna S. , Gavrilin Ilya M. , Pokryshkin Nikolay S. , Kharin Alexander Yu. , Syuy Alexander V. , Volkov Valentin S. , Yakunin Valery G. , Bubenov Sergei S. , Dorofeev Sergey G. , Gavrilov Sergey A. , Timoshenko Victor Yu.
Published: August 2022

Layers of germanium (Ge) nanowires (NWs) on titanium foils were grown by metal-assisted electrochemical reduction of germanium oxide in aqueous electrolytes based on germanium oxide without and with addition of sodium silicate. Structural properties and composition of Ge NWs were studied by means of the scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. When sodium silicate was added to the electrolyte, Ge NWs consisted of 1–2 at.% of silicon (Si) and exhibited smaller mean diameter and improved crystallinity. Additionally, samples of Ge NW films were prepared by ultrasonic removal of Ge NWs from titanium foils followed with redeposition on corundum substrates with platinum electrodes. The electrical conductivity of Ge NW films was studied at different temperatures from 25 to 300 °C and an effect of the silicon impurity on the thermally activated electrical conductivity was revealed. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of Ge NW films on corundum substrates exhibited a strong sensor response on the presence of saturated vapors of different liquids (water, acetone, ethanol, and isopropanol) in air and the response was dependent on the presence of Si impurities in the nanowires. The results obtained indicate the possibility of controlling the structure and electrical properties of Ge NWs by introducing silicate additives during their formation, which is of interest for applications in printed electronics and molecular sensorics.
Evaluation of the Photocatalytic Activity of Distinctive-Shaped ZnO Nanocrystals Synthesized Using Latex of Different Plants Native to the Amazon Rainforest
Authors: Matos Robert , Attah-Baah John , Monteiro Michael , Costa Benilde , Mâcedo Marcelo , Da Paz Simone , Angélica Rômulo , de Souza Tiago , Ţălu Ştefan , Oliveira Rosane , Ferreira Nilson
Published: August 2022

ZnO nanocrystals with three different morphologies have been synthesized via a simple sol-gel-based method using Brosimum parinarioides (bitter Amapá) and Parahancornia amapa (sweet Amapá) latex as chelating agents. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron diffraction patterns (SAED) patterns showed the ZnO nanocrystals were a pure hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO. XRD-based spherical harmonics predictions and HRTEM images depicted that the nanocrystallites constitute pitanga-like (~15.8 nm), teetotum-like (~16.8 nm), and cambuci-like (~22.2 nm) shapes for the samples synthesized using bitter Amapá, sweet Amapá, and bitter/sweet Amapá chelating agent, respectively. The band gap luminescence was observed at ~2.67–2.79 eV along with several structural defect-related, blue emissions at 468–474 nm (VO, VZn, Zni), green emissions positioned at 513.89–515.89 (h-VO+), and orange emission at 600.78 nm (VO+–VO++). The best MB dye removal efficiency (85%) was mainly ascribed to the unique shape and oxygen vacancy defects found in the teetotum-like ZnO nanocrystals. Thus, the bitter Amapá and sweet Amapá latex are effective chelating agents for synthesizing distinctive-shaped ZnO nanocrystals with highly defective and remarkable photocatalytic activity.
Harvesting Wind Energy Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators
Authors: Dong Xuanyi , Liu Zhaoqi , Yang Peng , Chen Xiangyu
Published: August 2022

The utilization of various distributed energy is becoming a prominent research topic due to the rapid development of the Internet of Things and wireless condition monitoring systems. Among the various distributed energy sources, wind energy has the advantages of being widely distributed, renewable and pollution-free, and is a very promising mechanical energy for power supply. Traditional wind energy harvesting methods based on electromagnetic and piezoelectric effects have issues with complex structure, large size, severe mechanical structures, and high installation costs. The low frequency and irregular nature of ambient mechanical energy makes these methods generally inefficient and inevitably hinders the further exploitation of wind energy. The triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) based on frictional charging and electrostatic effects can also be used for wind power generation and are increasingly favored by researchers as TENGs are easier to be miniaturized and assembled, and can realize large-scale manufacturing in comparison. This paper reviews the research on TENGs for wind energy utilization in terms of structural design, material selection and potential applications. In addition, the potential difficulties and possible developments in this field are summarized and discussed.
Association of Different Malnutrition Parameters and Clinical Outcomes among COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Study
Authors: Gregoriano Claudia , Voelkle Manyola , Koch Daniel , Hauser Stephanie Isabelle , Kutz Alexander , Mueller Beat , Schuetz Philipp
Published: August 2022

Background: Malnutrition is highly prevalent in medical inpatients and may also negatively influence clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. We analyzed the prognostic implication of different malnutrition parameters with respect to adverse clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods: In this observational study, consecutively hospitalized adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 at the Cantonal Hospital Aarau (Switzerland) were included between February and December 2020. The association between Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) on admission, body mass index, and admission albumin levels with in-hospital mortality and secondary endpoints was studied by using multivariable regression analyses. Results: Our analysis included 305 patients (median age of 66 years, 66.6% male) with a median NRS 2002-score of 2.0 (IQR 1.0, 3.0) points. Overall, 44 patients (14.4%) died during hospitalization. A step-wise increase in mortality risk with a higher nutritional risk was observed. When compared to patients with no risk for malnutrition (NRS 2002 < 3 points), patients with a moderate (NRS 2002 3–4 points) or high risk for malnutrition (NRS 2002 ≥ 5 points) had a two-fold and five-fold increase in risk, respectively (10.5% vs. 22.7% vs. 50.0%, p < 0.001). The increased risk for mortality was also confirmed in a regression analysis adjusted for gender, age, and comorbidities (odds ratio for high risk for malnutrition 4.68, 95% CI 1.18 to 18.64, p = 0.029 compared to patients with no risk for malnutrition). Conclusions: In patients with COVID-19, the risk for malnutrition was a risk factor for in-hospital mortality. Future studies should investigate the role of nutritional treatment in this patient population.
Nutritional Management and Role of Multidisciplinary Follow-Up after Endoscopic Bariatric Treatment for Obesity
Authors: Negi Anuradha , Asokkumar Ravishankar , Ravi Rajesh , Lopez-Nava Gontrand , Bautista-Castaño Inmaculada
Published: August 2022

The prevalence of obesity has risen exponentially, and patients living with obesity suffer from its debilitating consequences. The treatment options for obesity have expanded significantly and include lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy, endoscopic bariatric therapies (EBTs), and bariatric surgery. Endoscopic bariatric therapies comprise volume-reducing procedures such as endoscopic gastroplasty and gastric space-occupying devices such as intragastric balloons. Because of its minimally invasive nature and ease of delivery, EBTs are increasingly being adopted as a treatment option for obesity in several centers. These procedures mainly achieve weight loss by inducing early satiety and reducing meal volume. While the technical aspects of EBTs have been well explained, the nutritional management surrounding EBTs and the effectiveness of multidisciplinary team for maximizing weight loss is less described. There is considerable variation in post-EBT care between studies and centers. In this paper, we review the existing literature and share our experience on nutrition and the role of multidisciplinary management of obesity following EBT.
α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibitory Potentials of Quinoline–1,3,4-oxadiazole Conjugates Bearing 1,2,3-Triazole with Antioxidant Activity, Kinetic Studies, and Computational Validation
Authors: Cele Nosipho , Awolade Paul , Seboletswe Pule , Olofinsan Kolawole , Islam Md. Shahidul , Singh Parvesh
Published: August 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifaceted metabolic disorder that remains a major threat to global health security. Sadly, the clinical relevance of available drugs is burdened with an upsurge in adverse effects; hence, inhibiting the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase while preventing oxidative stress is deemed a practicable strategy for regulating postprandial glucose levels in DM patients. We report herein the α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition and antioxidant profile of quinoline hybrids 4a–t and 12a–t bearing 1,3,4-oxadiazole and 1,2,3-triazole cores, respectively. Overall, compound 4i with a bromopentyl sidechain exhibited the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 15.85 µM) relative to reference drug acarbose (IC50 = 17.85 µM) and the best antioxidant profile in FRAP, DPPH, and NO scavenging assays. Compounds 4a and 12g also emerged as the most potent NO scavengers (IC50 = 2.67 and 3.01 µM, respectively) compared to gallic acid (IC50 = 728.68 µM), while notable α-glucosidase inhibition was observed for p-fluorobenzyl compound 4k (IC50 = 23.69 µM) and phenyl-1,2,3-triazolyl compound 12k (IC50 = 22.47 µM). Moreover, kinetic studies established the mode of α-glucosidase inhibition as non-competitive, thus classifying the quinoline hybrids as allosteric inhibitors. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations then provided insights into the protein–ligand interaction profile and the stable complexation of promising hybrids at the allosteric site of α-glucosidase. These results showcase these compounds as worthy scaffolds for developing more potent α-glucosidase inhibitors with antioxidant activity for effective DM management.
Classical Limits of Light Quanta
Authors: Fuchs Clara Valeria , Filk Thomas
Published: August 2022

It is argued that from a formal point of view, the classical limit of light quanta or photons is not that of a point-like particle but that of a geometric ray. According to this view, standard particle-wave dualism, which is often used in schools to describe the quantum behavior of massive objects, could be replaced by a ray-wave dualism (or even a particle-ray-wave trialism), which seems to be more appropriate for massless quantum objects such as photons. We compare the limits leading from quantum electrodynamics to a classical (Hamiltonian) theory of particles for electrons with those leading from photons via Maxwell’s equations to geometric ray optics. We also discuss the question to which extent Maxwell’s theory for electromagnetic waves should be considered as being on the same formal level as Schrödinger’s or Dirac’s theory.
Synthesis, Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of a Novel Nano Bagasse Xylan/Andrographolide Grafted and Esterified Derivative
Authors: Tian Kexin , Li Heping , Zhao Bin , Su Yue , Zou Zhiming , Wang Wenli
Published: August 2022

In the in-depth research that has been conducted on nanometer biomaterials, how to use the biomass resources with high activity and low toxicity to prepare nanomaterials for biomedical applications has attracted much attention. To realize efficient and comprehensive utilization of biomass, bagasse xylan/andrographolide (BX/AD) was ued as a raw material and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) as an esterification agent to synthesize bagasse xylan/andrographolide esterified derivative (GA-BX/AD). Then, the bagasse xylan/andrographolide grafted and esterified derivative (GA-BX/AD-g-IA) was synthesized by the graft crosslinking reactions using itaconic acid (IA) as graft monomer. The better synthesis conditions were optimized by single factor experiments, the degree of esterification substitution (DS) was 0.43, and the grafting rate (G) of the product reached 42%. The structure and properties of the product were characterized by FTIR, XRD, DTG, SEM, and 1H NMR. The results showed that the product morphology was significantly changed, and the nanoparticles were spherical with a particle size of about 100 nm. The anti-cancer activity of the product was measured. The molecular docking simulations revealed that the product had good docking activity with human glucocorticoid protein (6CFN) with a binding free energy of 14.38 kcal/mol. The MTT assay showed that the product had a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of human liver cancer cells (BEL-7407) and gastric cancer cells (MGC80-3), with inhibition ratio of 38.41 ± 5.32% and 32.69 ± 4.87%. Therefore, this nanomaterial is expected to be applied to the development and utilization of drug carriers and functional materials.
On the Thermochemical Transition Depression of Cellulose Acetate Composite Membranes
Authors: Tsioptsias Costas , Foukas George-Romanos P. , Papaioannou Savvina-Maria , Tzimpilis Evangelos , Tsivintzelis Ioannis
Published: August 2022

Gallic acid (GA) and quercetin (QU) are two important bioactive molecules with increased biomedical interest. Cellulose acetate (CA) is a polymer derived from cellulose and is used in various applications. In this work, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to study the thermal behavior of electrospun CA membranes loaded with quercetin or gallic acid. It was found that gallic acid and quercetin depress the thermochemical transition (simultaneous softening and decomposition) of CA, in a mechanism similar to that of the glass transition depression of amorphous polymers by plasticizers. The extensive hydrogen bonding, besides the well-known effect of constraining polymer’s softening by keeping macromolecules close to each other, has a secondary effect on the thermochemical transition, i.e., it weakens chemical bonds and, inevitably, facilitates decomposition. This second effect of hydrogen bonding can provide an explanation for an unexpected observation of this study: CA membranes loaded with quercetin or gallic acid soften at lower temperatures; however, at the same time, they decompose to a higher extent than pure CA. Besides optimization of CA processing, the fundamental understanding of the thermochemical transition depression could lead to the design of more sustainable processes for biomass recycling and conversion.
Quantitative mRNA and Protein Analyses of ZPB1, ZPB2, and ZPC in Different Genetic Strains of Broiler Breeders
Authors: Benson Andrew , Steed Josh , Malloy Mia , Bramwell R. Keith , Davis Adam J.
Published: August 2022

The avian inner perivitelline layer (IPVL), containing the zona pellucida (ZP) family of proteins, surrounds the ovulated ovum. Sperm binding at the germinal disc (GD) region of the IPVL initiates fertilization in avian species, and the amount of sperm binding at the GD reflects female fertility. RT-PCR and quantitative Western blot analyses were used to determine differences in ZP protein mRNA expression and protein concentration between GD and nongerminal disc (NGD) regions among four genetic strains of broiler breeders. Both the mRNA expression and protein concentration of chicken ZPB2 was greater in the GD region, compared to the NGD region, and ZPB2 protein was more abundant in the small prehierarchical follicles. Chicken ZPC mRNA, but not ZPC protein, was greater in the NGD region compared to the GD region, and hepatically expressed ZPB1 protein was more concentrated in the NGD region. Testosterone increased the expression of both ZPC mRNA and protein in cultured granulosa cells from prehierarchical follicles. The current research is the first to investigate the relative amount of ZP proteins between the GD region and NGD region in chicken IPVL. The results provide further evidence that ZPB2 may be critical for avian sperm binding at the GD region of the IPVL.
Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore from 2020 to 2021: A Revisit
Authors: Liao Zehuan , Menon Devika , Zhang Le , Lim Ye-Joon , Li Wenhan , Li Xuexin , Zhao Yan
Published: August 2022

The first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case was detected in Singapore on 23 January 2020. Over the two years, Singapore witnessed tightening and easing of policies in response to and in anticipation of new variants, stress on the healthcare sector, and new waves of infection. Upon confirming the reliability of the data using Benford’s analysis, the collated COVID-19 data and trends were analyzed alongside the policies between 2020 and 2021 in Singapore. Due to the proactive nature of these policies, Singapore was largely successful in reducing the imported cases that would spill over and result in community waves of infection and death. The government has taken necessary steps to support the citizens and reduce the impact of the pandemic on the economy of the country. Furthermore, there were policies that were more responsive and there are lessons to be learned from neighboring countries on their management of the pandemic. Given the endemic approach the government has adopted, the efficacy of these policies comes down to its sustainability. Since the pandemic requires frequent revisiting of these policies, Singapore’s long-term management of the pandemic (or endemic) and its impact comes down to the ability of the government to introduce sustainable policies and update these according to new developments in treatments, variants, and vaccines, bearing in mind the socioeconomic condition of the country.
Real Valued MUSIC Method for Height Measurement of Meter Wave Polarimetric MIMO Radar Based on Matrix Reconstruction
Authors: Zheng Guimei , Chen Chen , Song Yuwei
Published: August 2022

Combining the advantages of diversity provided by polarization MIMO radar and good decoherence ability of matrix reconstruction technology, a method for height measurements based on matrix reconstruction after real valued processing is developed. To solve height measurement problem in meter wave polarization MIMO radar, we first derive the corresponding flat ground signal model; then, the received data matrix is reconstructed to eliminate the influence of multipath coherent signal on height measurements. Then, the reconstructed data matrix is transformed into a real valued matrix using a unitary matrix. In order to reduce the influence of noise on the signal subspace and reduce the data dimension, singular value decomposition technology is applied to receive the signal data. Finally, the elevation and height of the target are estimated according to the principle that the signal subspace is orthogonal to the noise subspace. The proposed method does not require prior knowledge, such as the reflection coefficient, wave path difference and polarization information. Simulation experiments show that the proposed algorithm has better estimation performance and less computational complexity than conventional algorithms.
Volunteer Working during COVID-19 in Jordanian Community: Advantages and Challenges
Authors: Alhajjaj Huda A. , Al Nabulsi Hana H.
Published: August 2022

This study deals with the crisis volunteering during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan. This study aims to identify the skills that volunteers acquire during voluntary work. Moreover, it aims to identify whether there are significant differences for volunteer difficulties and advantages regarding gender, age, and education level. Researchers employed a quantitative method, using a questionnaire to achieve the goals of this study. The sample was 121 voluntary people (females and males) during the pandemic in a Jordanian community. The results of this study have shown that volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic has had a positive impact on volunteers during this period in terms of acquiring a variety of skills. Furthermore, there were numerous difficulties faced by volunteers, and there were no statistically significant differences in the level of skills acquired by volunteers as a result of their participation in volunteering.
Integrating Sustainability and Users’ Demands in the Retrofit of a University Campus in China
Authors: Chen Guorui , Cheng Li , Li Foyuan
Published: August 2022

Green retrofit is essential for the sustainable development of Chinese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Limited by time and cost, a campus retrofit plan needs to consider both sustainability principles and usage demands to set feasible priorities. By integrating usage demands with sustainability principles, this paper aims to observe the relationship between the sustainability assessment tool (SAT) indicators of campus retrofit and users’ needs in this process. The Chinese official SAT for campuses was combined with the campus environment components from six investigated HEIs, and then processed by a group of 15 members to establish an implementable framework of retrofit objectives. Taking the Weijin Campus of Tianjin University as an example, feedback from 432 users on the sample environment was analyzed according to our framework. The results show the difference between the users’ perspective and sustainability indicators, emphasizing the importance of the sustainable development of HEIs and leading to the implementation of measures to improve sustainability awareness and guide a retrofit.
Exploring the Relationship between Data Analytics Capability and Competitive Advantage: The Mediating Roles of Supply Chain Resilience and Organization Flexibility
Authors: Rezaei Ghazal , Hosseini Seyed Mohammad Hassan , Sana Shib Sankar
Published: August 2022

In today’s business environment, data analytics capability has gained popularity among organizations as a source of competitive advantage. Furthermore, due to the current business outsourcing, supply chain management is known to be an extremely challenging task. Most previous studies focused on the relationship between data analytics capability and competitive advantage regardless of the role of organizational characteristics, particularly supply chain resilience. This paper aimed to assess the impact of data analytics capability on competitive advantage in the textile industry concerning the mediating role of supply chain resilience and organizational flexibility. To this end, a new conceptual model was developed to investigate the relationships and partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied for analysis. The population of this study comprised 450 qualified persons and four well-known brands of sleep products. In addition, a pilot survey was conducted with 30 respondents before the questionnaire was used for the final survey. Based on the results, data analytics capability positively affected competitive advantage, supply chain resilience, and organizational flexibility. Additionally, supply chain resilience and organizational flexibility played mediating roles in the relationship between data analytics capability and competitive advantage. Finally, some management insights are presented that are of interest to top managers. However, the results of this study were limited to the area of the textile industry (sleeping goods manufacturers) in Iran in order to maintain the uniformity of the research constructs.
A Bi-Level Programming Model for the Integrated Problem of Low Carbon Supplier Selection and Transportation
Authors: Zhu Hongli , Liu Congcong , Song Yongming
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we investigate an integrated problem of low-carbon supplier selection and transportation. The supplier selection decision depends on the location and energy consumption level of batching plants at the manufacturing stage. Meanwhile, ready-mixed concrete is allocated and delivered to construction sites by concrete mixer trucks at the transportation stage. A bi-level programming model for the integrated problem is established. The bi-level optimization problem is transformed into a single-level problem by KKT (Karush–Kuhn–Tucker) optimality conditions. In order to validate the proposed model, a case study is conducted based on real-world problems. Experimental results show that the proposed method efficiently solves the integrated problem and the model can not only reduce carbon emissions but also optimize transportation time.
Spatial Variations of Village-Level Environmental Variables from Satellite Big Data and Implications for Public Health–Related Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Liu Xue , Kim Rockli , Zhang Weixing , Guan Weihe Wendy , Subramanian S. V.
Published: August 2022

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include 17 interlinked goals designed to be a blueprint for the world’s nations to achieve a better and more sustainable future, and the specific SDG 3 is a public health–related goal to ensure healthy living and promote well-being for all population groups. To facilitate SDG planning, implementation, and progress monitoring, many SDG indicators have been developed. Based on the United Nations General Assembly resolutions, SDG indicators need to be disaggregated by geographic locations and thematic environmental and socioeconomic characteristics for achieving the most accurate planning and progress assessment. High-resolution data such as those captured at the village level can provide comparatively more precise insights into the different socioeconomic and environmental factors relevant to SDGs, therefore enabling more effective sustainable development decision-making. Using India as our study area and the child malnutrition indicators stunting, underweight, and wasting as examples of public health–related SDG indicators, we have demonstrated a process to effectively derive environmental variables at the village level from satellite big datasets on a cloud platform for SDG research and applications. Spatial analysis of environmental variables regarding vegetation, climate, and terrain have shown spatial grouping patterns across the entire study area, with each village group having different statistics. Correlation analysis between these environmental variables and stunting, underweight, and wasting indicators show a meaningful relationship between these indicators and vegetation index, land surface temperature, rainfall, elevation, and slope. Identifying the spatial variation patterns of environmental variables at the village level and their correlations with child malnutrition indicators can be an invaluable tool to facilitate a clearer understanding of the causes of child malnutrition and to improve area-specific SDG 3 implementation planning. This analysis can also provide meaningful support in assessing and monitoring SDG implementation progress at the village level by spatially predicting SDG indicators using available socioeconomic and environmental independent variables. The methodology used in this study has the potential to be applied to other similar regions, especially low-to-middle income countries where a high number of children are severely affected by malnutrition, as well as to other environmentally related SDGs, such as Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 2 (Zero Hunger).
Subordination Results on the q-Analogue of the Sălăgean Differential Operator
Authors: Alb Lupaş Alina
Published: August 2022

Aspects related to applications in the geometric function theory of q-calculus are presented in this paper. The study concerns the investigation of certain q-analogue differential operators in order to obtain their geometrical properties, which could be further developed in studies. Several interesting properties of the q-analogue of the Sălăgean differential operator are obtained here by using the differential subordination method.
Fledgling Quantum Spin Hall Effect in Pseudo Gap Phase of Bi2212
Authors: Tyagi Udai Prakash , Bera Kakoli , Goswami Partha
Published: August 2022

We studied the emergence of the quantum spin Hall (QSH) states for the pseudo-gap (PG) phase of Bi2212 bilayer system, assumed to be D-density wave (DDW) ordered, starting with a strong Rashba spin-orbit coupling (SOC) armed, and the time reversal symmetry (TRS) complaint Bloch Hamiltonian. The presence of strong SOC gives rise to non-trivial, spin-momentum locked spin texture tunable by electric field. The emergence of quantum anomalous Hall effect with TRS broken Chiral DDW Hamiltonian of Das Sarma et al. is found to be possible.
Quality Evaluation Method of Automatic Software Repair Using Syntax Distance Metrics
Authors: Dong Yukun , Tang Daolong , Cheng Xiaotong , Yang Yufei
Published: August 2022

In recent years, test-based automatic program repair has attracted widespread attention. However, the test suites in practice are not perfect ways to guarantee the correctness of patches generated by repair tools, and weak test suites lead to a large number of incorrect patches produced by the existing repair tool. To reduce the number of incorrect patches generated by repair tools, we propose a patch quality evaluation method based on syntax distance metrics, which measures the syntax distance of patches through four evaluation features—variable, expression, structure, and repair location. By fusing the distance values of the four features, the quality of a patch can be evaluated. Our method evaluates 368 patches from multiple famous repair tools, such as jKali, Nopol, SimFix, DynaMoth, and CapGen; 95% of the correct patches were ranked in the top one of the plausible patches for each defect, which indicates our method can find high-quality patches.
Using Routinely Collected Health Records to Identify the Fine-Resolution Spatial Patterns of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in Rwanda
Authors: Nyandwi Elias , Veldkamp Tom , Amer Sherif , Ruberanziza Eugene , Rujeni Nadine , Umulisa Ireneé
Published: August 2022

Background. Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are parasitic diseases with significant public health impact. Analysis is generally based on cross-sectional prevalence surveys; outcomes are mostly aggregated to larger spatial units. However, recent research demonstrates that infection levels and spatial patterns differ between STH species and tend to be localized. Methods. Incidence data of STHs including roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms per primary health facility for 2008 were linked to spatially delineated primary health center service areas. Prevalence data per district for individual and combined STH infections from the 2008 nationwide survey in Rwanda were also obtained. Results. A comparison of reported prevalence and incidence data indicated significant positive correlations for roundworm (R2 = 0.63) and hookworm (R2 = 0.27). Weak positive correlations were observed for whipworm (R2 = 0.02) and the three STHs combined (R2 = 0.10). Incidence of roundworm and whipworm were found to be focalized with significant spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I > 0: 0.05–0.38 and p ≤ 0.03), with (very) high incidence rates in some focal areas. In contrast, hookworm incidence is ubiquitous and randomly distributed (Moran’s I > 0: 0.006 and p = 0.74) with very low incidence rates. Furthermore, an exploratory regression analysis identified relationships between helminth infection cases and potential environmental and socio-economic risk factors. Conclusions. Findings show that the spatial distribution of STH incidence is significantly associated with soil properties (sand proportion and pH), rainfall, wetlands and their uses, population density and proportion of rural residents. Identified spatial patterns are important for guiding STH prevention and control programs.
The Kinetic Monte Carlo Model of the Auroral Electron Precipitation into N2-O2 Planetary Atmospheres
Authors: Bisikalo Dmitri , Shematovich Valery , Hubert Benoit
Published: August 2022

Auroral events are the prominent manifestation of solar/stellar forcing on planetary atmospheres. They are closely related to the energy deposition by and evolution of planetary atmospheres, and their observations are widely used to analyze the composition, structure, and chemistry of the atmosphere under study, as well as energy fluxes of the precipitating particles that affect the atmosphere. A numerical kinetic Monte Carlo model had been developed, allowing us to study the processes of precipitation of high-energy auroral electrons into the N2-O2 atmospheres of the rocky planets in the Solar and exosolar planetary systems. This model describes on a molecular level the collisions of auroral electrons and atmospheric gas, taking into account the stochastic nature of collisional scattering at high kinetic energies. The current status of the kinetic model is illustrated in the applications to the auroral events on the Earth such as the production of suprathermal nitrogen atoms due to the electron impact dissociation of N2. It was found that electron impact dissociation of N2 can potentially be an important source of suprathermal N atoms in the auroral regions of the N2-O2 atmosphere of terrestrial-type planets. Such research will allow us to study the odd nitrogen chemistry as an atmospheric marker of the N2-O2 atmosphere of rocky exoplanets.
Possible Consequences of Climate Change on Survival, Productivity and Reproductive Performance, and Welfare of Himalayan Yak (Bos grunniens)
Authors: Sapkota S. , Acharya K. P. , Laven R. , Acharya N.
Published: August 2022

Yak are adapted to the extreme cold, low oxygen, and high solar radiation of the Himalaya. Traditionally, they are kept at high altitude pastures during summer, moving lower in the winter. This system is highly susceptible to climate change, which has increased ambient temperatures, altered rainfall patterns and increased the occurrence of natural disasters. Changes in temperature and precipitation reduced the yield and productivity of alpine pastures, principally because the native plant species are being replaced by less useful shrubs and weeds. The impact of climate change on yak is likely to be mediated through heat stress, increased contact with other species, especially domestic cattle, and alterations in feed availability. Yak have a very low temperature humidity index (52 vs. 72 for cattle) and a narrow thermoneutral range (5–13 °C), so climate change has potentially exposed yak to heat stress in summer and winter. Heat stress is likely to affect both reproductive performance and milk production, but we lack the data to quantify such effects. Increased contact with other species, especially domestic cattle, is likely to increase disease risk. This is likely to be exacerbated by other climate-change-associated factors, such as increases in vector-borne disease, because of increases in vector ranges, and overcrowding associated with reduced pasture availability. However, lack of baseline yak disease data means it is difficult to quantify these changes in disease risk and the few papers claiming to have identified such increases do not provide robust evidence of increased diseases. The reduction in feed availability in traditional pastures may be thought to be the most obvious impact of climate change on yak; however, it is clear that such a reduction is not solely due to climate change, with socio-economic factors likely being more important. This review has highlighted the large potential negative impact of climate change on yak, and the lack of data quantifying that impact. More research on the impact of climate change in yak is needed. Attention also needs to be paid to developing mitigating strategies, which may include changes in the traditional system such as providing shelter and supplementary feed and, in marginal areas, increased use of yak–cattle hybrids.
Seasonal Total Nitrogen and Phosphorus Variation, Speciation, and Composition in the Maowei Sea Affected by Riverine Flux Input, South China Sea
Authors: Ren Chaoxing , Peng Demeng , Shi Xiangyang , Yang Shuang , Zhang Peng , Zhang Jibiao
Published: August 2022

Human activities have altered global nutrient cycling and have significantly changed marine systems. This is evidenced by the significant changes in nitrogen and phosphorus availability. The Maowei Sea (MWS) is the largest oyster culture bay in southwest China. From August 2018 to May 2019, the spatial and temporal nutrient concentrations and fluxes in MWS using system-wide scale seasonal data were assessed from river estuaries and adjacent coastal waters. The annual average concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the three estuaries of Maolingjiang River (MLJR), Dalanjiang River (DLJR) and Qinjiang River (QJR) were 3.00 mg/L and 0.183 mg/L, respectively. Therein, the highest TN and TP concentrations were in DLJR, the lowest TN concentration was in MLJR, and the lowest TP concentration was in QJR. DIN and DIP were the main forms of TN and TP, accounting for 80.9% and 59.4%, respectively. The main form of DIN in MLJR and QJR was NO3−, accounting for 86.8% and 84.4%, respectively, while the main form of DIN in DLJR was NH4+, accounting for 55.9%. The annual flux of pollutants discharged into MWS from the three estuaries is 10,409.52 t for TN and 556.21 t for TP. The month with the largest contribution to the annual load was July, accounting for 29.2% and 24.2% of TN and TP, respectively, and the fluxes of TN and TP were significantly different among the three seasons (p < 0.05). The annual average concentrations in the surface waters of the MWS were 1.07 mg/L for TN and 0.129 mg/L for TP, and there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of TN and TP among the three seasons. The annual average N/P ratios of the river water and seawater were 43 and 18, respectively, which were higher than the Redfield ratio (N/P = 16), indicating that the growth of phytoplankton in MWS may be limited by phosphorus. Eutrophication owing to nutrient pollution in the three estuaries may be persistent in adjacent coastal waters, and land–ocean integrated mitigation measures should be taken to effectively improve the water quality in the river estuary and coastal water.
Zoning Strategy for Basin Land Use Optimization for Reducing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution in Guizhou Karst Watershed
Authors: Zhou Xu , Zhang Wenbin , Pei Yu , Jiang Xiao , Yang Shengtian
Published: August 2022

Eutrophication caused by excessive total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) emissions is of wide concern for society at large. Studies have revealed certain relationships among land use, TN, and TP. However, the relationships among land use compound topographic position, TP, and TN have seldom been studied. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to construct optimal zoning of land use and reduce the nutrient load of lakes. Spearman correlation and redundancy analyses were used to reveal the relationship between land use comprehensive topographic position and TN and TP in the lakes of Guizhou Plateau. The results show that the nutritional state of the research area is medium. The trophic level index (TLI) value and TN concentration were high during flood periods, while TP concentration was high in dry periods. The TN concentration in the tributaries was higher than that in the reservoir area. Construction land and valley were the sources of the pollution, whereas forest land and gentle slope were the sink. According to the ”source–sink” effect, once the optimal zoning of land use is completed, the governance of urban land pollution governed areas should be strengthened next. This paper can provide decision support for water environment management and sustainable development decision-making.
Current approaches to forecasting and modeling population morbidity in Russia (review)
Authors:   The N. A. Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health, Moscow, Russia, Zagoruychenko A. A , Karpova O. B. ,   The N. A. Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health, Moscow, Russia
Published: August 2022

In modern conditions, new methods and approaches to forecasting and modeling the spread of new types of diseases and their impact on the world economy, the health of the population, resource and technological capabilities, as well as the effectiveness of management measures to control it by health care, industry and governments of different countries and regions of the world are becoming particularly relevant. The purpose of this study was to study and generalize the existing domestic experience in predicting and modeling population morbidity, analyze the use of basic methods and approaches to its prediction. This article provides an overview and analysis of Russian scientific publications on the issues of population morbidity forecasting at the population level. it also discusses the features of various approaches and methods for predicting different classes, groups and types of diseases, including in the territorial context in Russia. Thus, this study will also determine the disadvantages and advantages of using certain methodological approaches, especially when identifying new viruses and infectious diseases, which is very important for timely planning and conducting anti-epidemic and preventive measures.
On the influence of meteorological factors on population health in the conditions of the Kamchatsky Region
Authors:   Privolzhsky Research Medical University, the Russian Federation, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, Rakhmanov R. S. , Bogomolova E. S. ,   Privolzhsky Research Medical University, the Russian Federation, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, Spirin S. A. ,   Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of Military Unit 10283, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
Published: August 2022

In the context of the intensification of the development of Kamchatka, the assessment of its comfort in terms of weather and climatic conditions is updated to prevent the influence of meteorological indicators on the health of the population. According to indicators for 2010–2020 air temperature (average and minimum), wind (average and maximum), relative humidity assessed the bioclimatic comfort of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky as a health risk factor. At an average temperature, the warm period of the year is June-September, there is no cold one; minimum — warm in August, cold in December-March. Average wind is strong (5 months) and strong to very strong (7 months); maximum — strong (7 months), from strong to very strong (5 months); in gusts —very strong (3 months), from very strong to stormy (6 months). The air from October to April is moderately dry, then moderately humid. With average meteorological indicators for effective temperature, the warm period of the year is in July-August (September could be both warm and transitional), cold — December-March. At the minimum temperature and maximum wind, there is no warm period of the year, cold — October-May. The influence of physical factors is inadequate for the body: uncomfortable positive temperatures in June-September, high humidity (May-September), year-round strong winds. According to the effective temperature, determined from the average values of physical factors, the warm season is shorter by 2 months, the cold 4 months. At the minimum temperature and maximum wind in the summer season, habitat conditions refer to the transition period, 8 months. to the cold season. There is no health risk based on average effective temperature data; at extreme values, the risk of cold injury within 3 months. (January, February — absolute, December — possible); with increased wind, the risk arises in the month of March.
Federal Industry Agreement on Communications and Information Technology Organizations: Duplication and Collisions
Authors:   Higher School of Economics, ATiSO, Moscow, Petrov A.Ya.
Published: August 2022

The article, based on the norms of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, the doctrine of modern labor law, analyzedthe Federal Sectoral Agreement on Communications and Information Technology Organizations for 2021–2023, identifiedduplicate and conflict of laws, as well as other controversial aspects
Rate Capability of LiFePO4 Cathodes and the Shape Engineering of Their Anisotropic Crystallites
Authors: Bobyl Alexander , Nam Sang-Cheol , Song Jung-Hoon , Ivanishchev Alexander , Ushakov Arseni
Published: August 2022

For cuboid and ellipsoid crystallites of LiFePO4 powders, by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microscopic (TEM) studies, it is possible to determine the anisotropic parameters of the crystallite size distribution functions. These parameters were used to describe the cathode rate capability within the model of averaging the diffusion coefficient D over the length of the crystallite columns along the [010] direction. A LiFePO4 powder was chosen for testing the developed model, consisting of big cuboid and small ellipsoid crystallites (close to them). When analyzing the parts of big and small rate capabilities, the fitting values D = 2.1 and 0.3 nm2/s were obtained for cuboids and ellipsoids, respectively. When analyzing the results of cyclic voltammetry using the Randles-Sevcik equation and the total area of projections of electrode crystallites on their (010) plane, slightly different values were obtained, D = 0.9 ± 0.15 and 0.5 ± 0.15 nm2/s, respectively. We believe that these inconsistencies can be considered quite acceptable, since both methods of determining D have obvious sources of error. However, the developed method has a clearly lower systematic error due to the ability to actually take into account the shape and statistics of crystallites, and it is also useful for improving the accuracy of the Randles-Sevcik equation. It has also been demonstrated that the shape engineering of crystallites, among other tasks, can increase the cathode capacity by 15% by increasing their size correlation coefficients.