bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in funeral home workers in Ecuador: Is it an occupational risk for COVID-19?
Authors: Ortiz-Prado Esteban , Vásconez Jorge Eduardo , Vallejo-Janeta Alexander Paolo , Morales-Jadán Diana , Henriquez-Trujillo Aquiles R. , Rivera-Olivero Ismar A. , Andrade Felipe , Lozada Tannya , Garcia-Bereguiain Miguel Angel ,   UDLA COVID-19 Team
Published: November 2022

Aim

The COVID-19 outbreak has already caused more than 6.5 million deaths, overwhelming health systems worldwide. The unusual demand for funeral home services could make these workers a potential risk group for occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 associated with corpses management for COVID-19 patients.

Methodology

This is a cross-sectional study aimed to describe the infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in funeral home staff by testing them with RT-qPCR in Quito, Ecuador. A total of 232 funeral home workers, representing more than 40% of funeral home personnel in Quito, were included in the study, in June 2020, immediately after the population lockdown was lifted in Ecuador.

Results

A total of 48 individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, yielding an infection rate of 20.7%. The SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was 18.1 and 20.0% among personnel managing corpses or not managing corpses, respectively. Among the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, 81.3% reported no symptoms related to COVID-19, and 3 individuals had high viral loads over 108 copies/ml.

Conclusion

The high SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in funeral home staff suggested a potential occupational risk for COVID-19 but not related to corpses management. Public health guidelines for safe corpses management for COVID-19 victims and safe funeral services should be reinforced.
Machine learning-optimized Combinatorial MRI scale (COMRISv2) correlates highly with cognitive and physical disability scales in Multiple Sclerosis patients
Authors: Kelly Erin , Varosanec Mihael , Kosa Peter , Prchkovska Vesna , Moreno-Dominguez David , Bielekova Bibiana
Published: November 2022

Composite MRI scales of central nervous system tissue destruction correlate stronger with clinical outcomes than their individual components in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Using machine learning (ML), we previously developed Combinatorial MRI scale (COMRISv1) solely from semi-quantitative (semi-qMRI) biomarkers. Here, we asked how much better COMRISv2 might become with the inclusion of quantitative (qMRI) volumetric features and employment of more powerful ML algorithm. The prospectively acquired MS patients, divided into training (n = 172) and validation (n = 83) cohorts underwent brain MRI imaging and clinical evaluation. Neurological examination was transcribed to NeurEx™ App that automatically computes disability scales. qMRI features were computed by lesion-TOADS algorithm. Modified random forest pipeline selected biomarkers for optimal model(s) in the training cohort. COMRISv2 models validated moderate correlation with cognitive disability [Spearman Rho = 0.674; Lin's concordance coefficient (CCC) = 0.458; p < 0.001] and strong correlations with physical disability (Spearman Rho = 0.830–0.852; CCC = 0.789–0.823; p < 0.001). The NeurEx led to the strongest COMRISv2 model. Addition of qMRI features enhanced performance only of cognitive disability model, likely because semi-qMRI biomarkers measure infratentorial injury with greater accuracy. COMRISv2 models predict most granular clinical scales in MS with remarkable criterion validity, expanding scientific utilization of cohorts with missing clinical data.
Active-sensing-based decentralized control of autonomous mobile agents for quick and smooth collision avoidance
Authors: Kano Takeshi , Kanno Takeru , Mikami Taishi , Ishiguro Akio
Published: November 2022

There is an increasing demand for multi-agent systems in which each mobile agent, such as a robot in a warehouse or a flying drone, moves toward its destination while avoiding other agents. Although several control schemes for collision avoidance have been proposed, they cannot achieve quick and safe movement with minimal acceleration and deceleration. To address this, we developed a decentralized control scheme that involves modifying the social force model, a model of pedestrian dynamics, and successfully realized quick, smooth, and safe movement. However, each agent had to observe many nearby agents and predict their future motion; that is, unnecessary sensing and calculations were required for each agent. In this study, we addressed this issue by introducing active sensing. In this control scheme, an index referred to as the “collision risk level” is defined, and the observation range of each agent is actively controlled on this basis. Through simulations, we demonstrated that the proposed control scheme works reasonably while reducing unnecessary sensing and calculations.
Climate change impacts on sea level rise to flood depth and extent of Sarawak River
Authors: Kuok King Kuok , Mersal Mohd. Elfy , Chiu Po Chan , Chin Mei Yun , Rahman Md. Rezaur , Bakri Muhammad Khusairy Bin
Published: November 2022

This study focuses on the impact of climate change on Sarawak River flow due to heavy rainfall and the backflow of sea level. The sea level around Sarawak is expected to rise at 3.6 mm/year. When surface runoff meets seawater backflow, especially during king tides, determining the flood inundation level at low-lying regions along the Sarawak River is critical to prepare appropriate mitigation measures. The hydrodynamic model was developed using Infoworks River Simulation (RS) software. The flow of the Sarawak River is modeled from Git Station to Muara Tebas port. Various data are input into the hydrodynamic model for calibration and validation, including boundary conditions, river networks, ground models, river cross-section, water level, and rainfall data. The simulation was carried out for the years 2050 and 2080. The flood maps were generated to depict flood depth, extent, and submerged areas. In 2020, the backflow of seawater did not overwhelm Kuching City, which is located within the Sarawak River Basin. However, many low-lying locations along Sarawak River are expected to be inundated by 2050, with the flood depth ranging from 1 to 4 m. In 2080, the average increment of flood depth is predicted to be 1 m especially for low-lying areas compared to year 2050. Hence, the relevant authorities must take proactive efforts to manage the growing flood challenges caused by climate change, particularly in low-lying areas.
What Would the Child of a Human and a Neanderthal Look Like?
Authors: Warren Kerryn A. , Ritzman Terrence B. , Ackermann Rebecca R.
Published: November 2022

Long ago there were many different species (or kinds) of humans. These included our ancestors, as well as another group, called the Neanderthals, who went extinct and no longer exist. Neanderthals looked very different from us: big muscles, big brains, and no chins. In 2010, scientists managed to study the DNA (genetic code) from these ancient Neanderthals and found, with surprise, that our ancestors had children with them. Neanderthal DNA exists in many people alive today. But we still did not know what the children of humans and Neanderthals (known as hybrids) would look like. By looking at the hybrid children of different kinds of mice, scientists realized that hybrids look very strange indeed. Based on this research, scientists think that human-Neanderthal children would have large heads (even bigger than the Neanderthals) and that their faces would look a little more like humans than Neanderthals.
Mangrove Madness: What Are Mangroves and Why Do We Care About Them?
Authors: Whelan Kevin R. T. , Prats Michelle C.
Published: November 2022

Mangrove communities are found in tropical regions of the world. They live along coastlines in the intertidal zone, where the land meets the sea. Mangroves provide many ecological services—a fancy term for benefits. They capture valuable sediments flowing into the ocean from streams, lower impacts from harmful substances, support many creatures, and prevent coastline erosion. At the heart of mangrove communities is the mighty mangrove tree. Mangrove trees have a unique system of roots and other structures to help them survive in a salty world. They tolerate regular flooding but can drown if they are under water too long. To adjust to rising sea levels, mangroves can bio-generate or capture materials to create soil. National Park Service scientists are studying this process. By building soil, mangroves capture and store carbon dioxide, which helps fight climate change. Mangroves are important to us all!
A Sea of Colors
Authors: Gonçalves-Araujo Rafael , Stedmon Colin A. , Bracher Astrid
Published: November 2022

Although we always associate the oceans to the blue color, other colors such as green, brown, and even yellowish can be observed. The diverse color palette presented in the oceans and other water bodies is due to the presence of colored components that interact with the light in the water. Those components are, for instance, (1) the water itself, which gives a blue color to the oceans; (2) very tiny plants that can give a greenish color to the water; (3) dissolved compounds that turns the water into a brown-yellowish color; and (4) sediments, which gives a milky color to the oceans. In this article, we explain how those components change the color of the water and how marine scientists use satellites to capture those changes from space and convert them into information for their research.
Using Lyman-α to probe the interior and edges of the heliosphere
Authors: Mayyasi Majd , Quémerais Eric , Katushkina Olga , Clarke John , Izmodenov Vlad , Brandt Pontus , Sokol Justyna , Linsky Jeffry , Baliukin Igor
Published: November 2022

Understanding the role of neutral atoms in the heliospheric interface (between the bow shock and heliopause) is critical to identifying dynamics within our local bubble. This article recommends building upon existing measurements with new, high-spectral resolution observations of H Lyman-α, from a heliospheric mapping mission, to resolve the momentum exchange in reactions between the solar wind and energetic neutral atoms that are key to identifying the most important heliospheric processes.
Evaluating the relationship between neurological function, neuromuscular fatigue, and subjective performance measures in professional rugby union players
Authors: Daly Ed , Pearce Alan J. , Esser Patrick , Ryan Lisa
Published: November 2022

Managing the health and wellbeing of full-time professional athletes is a multifaceted task. In elite high-performance environments, medical staff and strength training coaches attempt to identify improved methods to monitor player health. Monitoring player health could indicate potential injury risk and assist in adjustments to training and workload management. Measuring fatigue is a notable component of monitoring player readiness before and after training sessions, and after competitive fixtures. In the present study, a novel method of gathering non-invasive player data was investigated by utilizing the Omegawave (OW) to monitor direct current (DC) potential brainwave activity. This method allowed for non-invasive data gathering to assess recovery, player readiness and indicators of workload that may affect optimal performance. DC potential is based on recording low electrical frequencies (>0.5 Hz) that is derived from (1) Stabilization point of DC potential (mV), (2) Stabilization time (1.0–7.0) and (3) Curve shape (1.0–7.0). These measures evaluate the athlete's internal stress, readiness to perform, and neurological function through DC potential brain wave activity and heart rate variability (HRV) assessments. The primary aim of this case series was to compare the efficacy of objective DC potential brainwave activity measurements (neurological function) with neuromuscular fatigue data using reactive strength index modified (RSImod) and profile of mood states (POMS) questionnaires to assess a player's state of readiness to train. The participants in this study were eleven male senior professional rugby union players with a mean stature (±SD) of 185.2 ± 8.6 cm, mass of 101.1 ± 12.9 kg, and age of 27.1 ± 2.1 years. All players were tested 3 days per week over a 6-week mid-season period. Results from this case study suggest that DC potentials could be used as an objective measure to indicate player readiness and managing individual player workload. The final analyses identified a weak negative correlation (r = −0.17) between the RSImod data and the DC potential data was observed. DC potential brainwave activity data could be used in conjunction with subjective measures such as POMS, RSImod and reported injury status to adjust player daily activity.
Socioeconomic diversity and typology of Bedouin communities in the hot dry Coastal Zone of Western Desert, Egypt
Authors: Aboul-Naga Adel M. , Mogahed Waheed , Fahmy Faten , Elshafi Mohamed , Abdel-Aal Ehab S. , Abdel-khalek Tarek , Abdelsabour Taha H. , Alary Veronique
Published: November 2022

The study was carried out to assess the diversity of the farming system and the associated development needs of Bedouin communities in the rural area of the hot dry Coastal Zone of Western Desert (CZWD), Egypt with the objective of improving surveillance of the Bedouin communities to the harsh desert conditions. The area has low irritated rainfall (60–140 mm/yr.) and frequent incidences of drought. Specially designed questionnaires were adopted on 151 householders and 51 women groups in 4 locations. More than 50% of the householders are fully engaged in agriculture activities, whereas 31% of them are partially engaged in other businesses. The householders are extended families of 12.2 members on average. Gender differences in education are recognizable; 20% of boys ≥15 years of age are illiterate vs. 60% of girls. Dominant agricultural activities of the householders are sheep raising (98.7%), goat raising (89.4%), olive and figs cultivation (84%), and rain-fed barley (78%). Land tenure averages 31.3 acres/ household. Crop cultivation relies on rainfall, 29% of the householders apply supplement irrigation for fruit trees and vegetables. Natural pasture is an important asset for livestock, where small householders do not hold pastureland. Females do not contribute to field cropping, while 53% of them participate in animal husbandry, especially at the house. The typology of the studied stakeholders showed clear diversification in farming systems. They are clustered into four groups; depending mainly on the livestock assets, followed by the land/crop and human assets. Number of species and flock size are the most important variables for the diversity of stakeholders. The cultivated area is the main variable within land/crop assets, family members in livestock and family size are the main variables from human assets. Most of the householders (95%) give their top need for water cisterns, water reservoirs ranked second (78.6%), followed by raising and improving goats. Pasture development got the lowest priority. Goat and poultry rearing, followed by dairy processing got the top needs of women.
Single-port laparoscopy-assisted trans-scrotal hernia sac ligation for pediatric male inguinal hernia
Authors: Hang Tian , Ma Qichao , Hong Zhihua , Wang Jianfeng , Ling Zhicai , Lin Houwei
Published: November 2022

Objective

We report the introduction of a novel single-port laparoscopic-assisted trans-scrotal hernia sac ligation (LAT-HSL) technique for the treatment of inguinal hernias in pediatric males. In this article, we describe the LAT-HSL technique and the outcomes.

Methods

Twenty-five male children with confirmed unilateral inguinal hernia who underwent surgical treatment from January 2020 to September 2021 were selected for this study. All children underwent surgical treatment with LAT-HSL, and the operative time, hospital stay, and postoperative results and complications were recorded.

Results

All 25 cases underwent LAT-HSL with minimal perioperative complications, and all children were successfully discharged from the hospital postoperatively. At the postoperative follow-up, there was no retraction or atrophy of the testes, no incisional infection, no chronic pain, no urinary retention, and no recurrent hernias.

Conclusion

Single-port LAT-HSL allows for rapid and accurate localization of the extra-abdominal hernia sac. The method is safe, easy to perform, and adaptable. Additionally, the scar is hidden, and the operation time is short.
A minimally invasive bipolar surgical approach for the treatment of patellar fracture using the tension-band wiring technique
Authors: Lin Zhangxiong , Chen Yaoqing , Wang Hai , Lan Wenbin , Xie Yun , Wu Gui
Published: November 2022

Objective

Minimally invasive surgical techniques are becoming increasingly popular for the treatment of traumatic injuries. Although some minimally invasive techniques in the management of patellar fractures have been reported, the limited exposure in such methods may cause technical difficulties during surgery and restrict their wide application. In this context, this study aims to introduce a bipolar incision and assess the clinical outcomes of patellar fractures treated via this type of incision.

Materials and methods

Patients who suffered patellar fractures and who received surgical treatment via bipolar incision between 2018 and 2020 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed and included in this study. The clinical and radiological records of all patients were reviewed. A classification of the fractures was done and intraoperative parameters, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, knee range of motion, and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score of the patients were evaluated and summarized.

Results

The study included 19 patients who met the inclusion criteria. All patellar fractures were operated through the minimally invasive bipolar surgical approach. The mean time of operation was 69.0 ± 8.5 min. The mean time to union was 12.8 ± 2.1 weeks. The average total knee range of motion was 131.8 ± 4.4°, and the average HSS score was 97.1 ± 2.6 at 1-year post-operation. No surgical-related complications were observed.

Conclusions

The knee functional outcomes were favorable when patellar fractures were treated through the minimally invasive bipolar incision method. This bipolar surgical approach was found to be a feasible method for treating patellar fractures.
Coxiella burnetii in ticks, livestock, pets and wildlife: A mini-review
Authors: Celina Seyma S. , Cerný Jirí
Published: November 2022

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium with an obligatory intracellular lifestyle and has a worldwide distribution. Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever in humans and coxiellosis in animals. Since its discovery in 1935, it has been shown to infect a wide range of animal species including mammals, birds, reptiles, and arthropods. Coxiella burnetii infection is of public and veterinary health and economic concern due to its potential for rapid spread and highly infectious nature. Livestock are the primary source of C. burnetii infection in most Q fever outbreaks which occurs mainly through inhalation of contaminated particles. Aside from livestock, many cases of Q fever linked to exposure to wildlife. Changes in the dynamics of human-wildlife interactions may lead to an increased potential risk of interspecies transmission and contribute to the emergence/re-emergence of Q fever. Although C. burnetii transmission is mainly airborne, ticks may act as vectors and play an important role in the natural cycle of transmission of coxiellosis among wild vertebrates and livestock. In this review, we aim to compile available information on vectors, domestic, and wild hosts of C. burnetii, and to highlight their potential role as bacterial reservoirs in the transmission of C. burnetii.
A Novel Plug-in Board for Remote Insect Monitoring
Authors: Suto Jozsef
Published: November 2022

The conventional approach to monitoring insect swarming is based on traps that are periodically checked by human operators. However, human checking of trap contents is expensive, and in many environments, the pest species most frequently encountered in the traps can be detected and monitored automatically. To achieve this goal, a dedicated data acquisition device is necessary, which makes real-time and online pest monitoring possible from a distant location. In addition, it is beneficial for the device to run machine learning algorithms that count and identify insects automatically from pictures. Thanks to the advantages of integrated circuits, more systems have been designed to improve integrated pest management in the context of precision agriculture. However, in our opinion, all of those systems have one or more disadvantages, such as high cost, low power autonomy, low picture quality, a WIFI coverage requirement, intensive human control, and poor software support. Therefore, the aim of this work is to present a novel plug-in board for automatic pest detection and counting. The plug-in board is dedicated to Raspberry Pi devices, especially the Raspberry Pi Zero. The proposed board, in combination with a Raspberry Pi device and a Pi camera, overcomes the limitations of other prototypes found in the literature. In this paper, a detailed description can be found about the schematic and characteristics of the board with a deep-learning-based insect-counting method.
Climate Behaviour and Plant Heat Activity of a Citrus Tunnel Greenhouse: A Computational Fluid Dynamic Study
Authors: Bekraoui Adil , Chakir Sanae , Fatnassi Hicham , Mouqallid Mhamed , Majdoubi Hassan
Published: November 2022

Response to the expanding demand for high-quality citrus saplings plants requires optimisation and a deep understanding of production climate behaviour. In this context, greenhouse production is the most used technique because it allows farmers to effectively monitor plant growth through production condition control, especially climatic parameters. The current work presents an analysis of climate behaviour and plant heat activity of a citrus sapling tunnel greenhouse in the middle region of Morocco. In this regard, a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was developed and validated with respect to temperature and relative humidity measured values. The specificity of this model is the inclusion of a new non-grey radiative and heat transfers physical sub-models to couple the convective and radiative exchanges at the plastic roof cover and crop level. The findings showed that using a green shade net increased the greenhouse shadow, and the layering of plastic and shade net significantly reduced solar radiation inside the greenhouse by 50%. Also, the greenhouse airflow speed was deficient; it cannot exceed  0.3 ms−1, hence the dominance of the chimney effect in heat transfer. Despite the previous results, analyses of greenhouse temperature and relative humidity fields clearly showed the greenhouse climate behaviour heterogeneity, where spatial greenhouse air temperature and relative humidity difference values reached a maximum of 29.7 °C and 23%, respectively. For citrus plants, heat activity results showed that a weak fraction (1.44%) of the short wavelength radiation is converted to latent heat, which explains the low plant transpiration under these conditions. While the convective currents are the primary source of temperature and relative humidity heterogeneity inside the greenhouse, the presence of crop rows tends to homogenise the climate inside the greenhouse. We also concluded the necessity of proper condensation modelling near ground surfaces and inside the crop, and the water vapour effect on climate determination.
Ensuring the Durability of Buildings through the Use of Insulation Systems Based on Polyethylene Foam
Authors: Zhukov Aleksey , Stepina Irina , Bazhenova Sofia
Published: November 2022

In modern polymer composite technology, the use of waste products from other industries or processed waste is reasonable, but this requires more research. The purpose of the research presented in the article was to develop a methodology for selecting the composition of modified polyethylene foam and to assess the flammability of the materials obtained. In these studies, the content of recycled polyethylene, as a result of solving optimization problems, was taken to be equal to 23% of the mass of the polymer. CO2 was used as the foaming gas. The structure of the polymer was modified with flame retardant. This made it possible to obtain materials belonging to the group of flammable, self-extinguishing materials, which significantly expanded the field of application of products based on polyethylene foam. Taking into account the possibilities of seamless insulation casings, the following systems of application of products based on polyethylene foam are considered: floors under mechanical load on the ground; permafrost soil insulation; insulation of external building elements in harsh climatic conditions; floating floors.
Effects of Preparation Methods of Pd Supported on (001) Crystal Facets Exposed TiO2 Nanosheets for Toluene Catalytic Combustion
Authors: Yu Guiyun , Ge Chengyan , Wan Haiqin
Published: November 2022

A series of TiO2 nanosheets-supported Pd catalysts were individually prepared by impregnation, deposition–precipitation, photo-deposition and in situ reduction by NaBH4. For comparison, Pd supported on P25 was prepared by the impregnation method. The experimental results show that the catalytic efficiency of the catalyst prepared with titanium dioxide nano sheet as the support is higher than that of the catalyst supported with P25. Its excellent properties are as follows: The resulting sample indicates that TiO2 nanosheets-supported Pd catalyst display an improved activity than Pd/P25, whose temperature of 100% complete conversion of toluene decreased by 40 ℃ at the most. The Pd particles on the catalyst synthesized by the light deposition method and the NaBH4 reduction method are more obvious, while the Pd particles on the catalyst synthesized by the immersion method and the deposition–precipitation method are less obvious, which shows that the latter two methods are more conducive to the dispersion of Pd. The good catalytic activity may be due to the better exposed mirror and dispersion of titanium dioxide nanosheets. This is mainly related to the exposed crystal plane of the nanosheet TiO2 (001), which made it easier to form the oxygen vacancy. Moreover, among all of the TiO2 nanosheets-supported Pd catalysts, Pd/TiO2 NS (TiO2 NS means TiO2 nanosheets) prepared by the impregnation method show the highest catalytic activity. The XRD results show that Pd prepared by impregnation is more dispersed and smaller. This is due to PdO being dispersed more efficiently than the others, leading to more Pd active sites.
Promotion Effect of Ce Doping on Catalytic Performance of LaMnO3 for CO Oxidation
Authors: Wang Nan , Wang Shan , Yang Jie , Xiao Ping , Zhu Junjiang
Published: November 2022

In this paper, Ce-doped La1-xCexMnO3 perovskite catalysts are prepared by the sol–gel method, and the promotion effect of Ce doping on LaMnO3 catalysts for CO oxidation is investigated. The catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffractograms, Raman, N2 physisorption isotherms, temperature-programed reduction with H2, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that the Ce doping greatly improves the catalytic activity of LaMnO3 for CO oxidation. Among the La1-xCexMnO3 catalysts, La0.8Ce0.2MnO3 shows the best CO catalytic activity, with 100% CO conversion obtained at 180 °C. The characteristic results show that the LaMnO3 perovskite phase exists in all Ce-doped catalysts, and the CeO2 crystalline phase begins to appear at x ≥ 0.1. The high activity of La0.8Ce0.2MnO3 for CO oxidation could be that: (1) it possesses large surface area (25.8 m2/g) to contact with reactants; (2) it has a high surface Ce3+/(Ce3+ + Ce4+) ratio of 0.27, which means high content of oxygen vacancies used for O2 adsorption and activation; and (3) it exhibits strong reducibility that is beneficial to CO activation.
Optical Properties of Five Esthetic Ceramic Materials Used for Monolithic Restorations: A Comparative In Vitro Study
Authors: Almohammed Saleh N. , Alshorman Belal , Abu-Naba’a Layla A.
Published: November 2022

Zirconia has generated tremendous interest in the esthetic materials used for dental restorations. However, using conventional zirconia has some limitations especially in highly esthetically demanding situations, as it lacks the translucency that other ceramic materials possess. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the optical properties (shade, translucency, and opalescence) of three CAD-CAM monolithic multilayer zirconia ceramics (GNX; Ceramill Zolid® Gen-X, ZCP; IPS e.max® ZirCAD, and UPC; Upcera® Esthetic Explore Prime) and one CAD-CAM monolithic multilayer polymer-infiltrated hybrid ceramic (ENM; Vita® Enamic) with a CAD-CAM monolithic lithium disilicate ceramic as control (EMX; IPS e.max® CAD). 200 discs (GNX = 40, ZCP = 40, UPC = 40, ENM = 40, and EMX = 40) were cut, polished, and fully crystallized. Half of the samples for each group were subjected to hydrothermal aging. Descriptive analysis and ANOVA tests were used to compare the groups. Zirconia GNX, ZCP, and UPC groups showed significantly lower optical properties than ENM and EMX groups for both the non-aged and aged samples (p < 0.05). UPC and ENM groups showed a significant decrease in translucency and opalescence after aging (p < 0.05). The optical properties of monolithic multilayer zirconia ceramics were lower than monolithic multilayer polymer-infiltrated hybrid ceramic and lithium disilicate ceramic. Polymer-infiltrated hybrid ceramic was significantly affected by aging.
Coordination Chemistry of Polynitriles, Part XI. Influence of 4,4′-Bipyridine and Solvent on the Crystal and Molecular Structures of Alkaline Earth Pentacyanocyclopentadienides
Authors: Nimax Patrick R. , Sünkel Karlheinz
Published: November 2022

The reaction of alkaline earth pentacyanocyclopentadienides with 4,4′-bipyridine in MeOH yielded undefined products of composition [M(PCC)2(Bipy)x(MeOH)y(H2O)z] (PCC = [C5(CN)5]−). Recrystallization from MeOH, EtOH, or n-BuOH gave crystals of [Mg(H2O)4(4,4′-bipy)2](PCC)2∙2BuOH (1), [Ca(H2O)4(4,4′-bipy)2](PCC)2∙(4,4′-bipy) (2), [Sr(MeOH)8](PCC)2∙3(4,4′-bipy) (3), [Sr2(H2O)4(BuOH)4(PCC)2(µ-PCC)2 (µ-4,4′-bipy)]∙4 (4,4′-bipy)∙0.29 (BuOH) (4), [Ba3(H2O)4(EtOH)10 (PCC)2(µ-PCC)2 (µ-4,4′-bipy)2(4,4′-bipy)](PCC)2 ∙3(4,4′-bipy)∙2EtOH∙H2O (5) and [Ba4(H2O)8(BuOH)6 (PCC)2(µ-PCC)6 (4,4′-bipy)6]∙3(4,4′-bipy) (6). 4,4′-Bipyridine functions either as monodentate or bidentate ligand and is present in all cases except for 2 as lattice guest. While in compounds 1 and 2 only water is present as O-donor, the alcohol coordinates in the other compounds either exclusively (3) or together with water (4–6). The pentacyanocyclopentadienide does not coordinate in 1–3, but is present as mono-, bi-, or tridentate ligand in 4–6. In all compounds, a more or less complicated interplay of hydrogen bridges and π–π stacking is observed.
Evaluating the Economic and Environmental Repercussions of the Price Paradox in Natural Resource Commodities: Market Drivers and Potential Challenges for Sustainable Development
Authors: Rashad Tayyba , Zaman Khalid , Khan Haroon ur Rashid , Rashid Awais
Published: November 2022

The natural resource commodity price paradox is a phenomenon that has been observed in the past. The price of a commodity constantly and unpredictably fluctuates. This phenomenon makes it difficult for businesses to plan for future needs and investments. This study examined the relationship between natural resource commodity prices, renewable energy demand, economic growth, high-technology exports, inbound FDI, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Pakistan, using the 1975 to 2020 time period. The robust least squares (RLS) regression results showed that natural resource commodity prices and economic growth increased GHG emissions. In contrast, there was a negative relationship between renewable energy demand (and high-tech exports) and GHG emissions in Pakistan. The results verified the resource price curse hypothesis and growth-associated emissions in a country. The Granger causality estimates showed the unidirectional relationship of renewable energy consumption with GHG emissions, natural resource pricing, and inbound FDI. Further, high-technology exports Granger caused GHG emissions and GDP per capita. The results verified the country’s growth-led green energy sources and inbound FDI, resource pricing-led inbound FDI, and GHG emissions-led resource pricing. The impulse response function suggested that resource commodity pricing and the country’s economic growth will likely increase GHG emissions in the next ten years. At the same time, green energy demand, technological advancements, and sustainable investment in cleaner production would help decrease GHG emissions over time. The variance decomposition analysis suggested that technology advancements would likely have greater variance shock on GHG emissions, followed by commodity resource pricing and green energy demand. The resource price paradox hampers economic and environmental outcomes, which need to be resolved through advancement in cleaner production technologies, adoption of green energy demand, and stabilization of resource commodity pricing that helps to move forward toward the sustainable development of the country.
The Accuracy of Prehospital Fluid Resuscitation of Burn Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alsaqabi Fahad , Ahmed Zubair
Published: November 2022

Early management of burns is an essential component of achieving desirable patient outcomes. One of the earliest points of patient management in the case of burn injuries is in the prehospital setting. Unlike first aid, which can be provided by a non-healthcare worker, fluid resuscitation can be provided in the prehospital setting by emergency medical services personnel. This systematic review aims to investigate whether burn patients are receiving accurate fluid resuscitation in the prehospital setting. In addition, it will investigate if existing inaccuracies could impact patient outcomes negatively. This systematic review was completed in accordance with the guidelines from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The search for eligible studies started by searching relevant databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Google Scholar). The selected studies were screened, and data were extracted and analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria of this review, with a total of 961 patients. All seven studies included in this review reported that the volume of fluids for resuscitation purposes received by burn patients in the prehospital setting was inaccurate. However, most reported that the patient outcomes were not affected. Most of the studies were rated as “good,” however, and further high-quality randomized control studies are required before strong recommendations can be made.
How Seasonal Grazing Exclusion Affects Grassland Productivity and Plant Community Diversity
Authors: Bai Zhenyin , Jia Aomei , Liu Dongwei , Zhang Chengyu , Wang Mingjun
Published: November 2022

The Sanjiang Plain is famous for its concentrated distribution of natural wet grasslands. These wet grasslands are an important source of seasonal pasture or hay in the area. However, changes in community structure and ecosystem function have already occurred in wet grasslands because of overgrazing and climate change, resulting in severe grassland degradation. Exploring a reasonable grazing management strategy is crucial for improving grassland species diversity, increasing grassland productivity, and maintaining sustainable grassland utilization. We investigated the effects of five grazing management (GM) strategies (no grazing through the growing season (CK), spring grazing exclusion (Spr-GE), summer grazing exclusion (Sum-GE)), autumn grazing exclusion (Aut-GE), and grazing through the growing season (G)) on the productivity, community composition and structure of wet grasslands in the Sanjiang Plain under three grazing intensities (GI) (light (L), moderate (M), and heavy (H)). Results showed that Spr-GE and Sum-GE were beneficial in increasing total aboveground biomass (AGB), but decreased plant community diversity in Spr-GE due to increased intraspecies and interspecies competition. The exclusion of different seasonal grazings changed the composition of plant communities. At the level of functional groups and dominant species, Spr-GE had a significant effect on most functional groups and dominant species’ characteristics, while Aut-GE had little effect on most functional groups and dominant species’ characteristics. However, different functional groups and dominant species had different responses to seasonal grazing exclusion. In addition, under M, there were significantly improved grassland total AGB and PF AGB. The results indicated that Spr-GE with M may be an effective livestock-management strategy to protect grassland vegetation and community diversity, as well as to restore degraded grassland.
Shipwrecks and Storytelling
Authors: Castro Filipe , Medina Susana
Published: November 2022

Shipwreck stories have the potential to attract the attention of a wide public in different ways. Based on the Portuguese situation, of a country with a mythical past connected to the sea but a public policy for maritime archeology that lacks vision, purpose, or strategy and tends to exclude the public, this paper proposes a reflection on the social value of archeology and the potential it has for education and entertainment.
The World Court and the Iran-Contra Scandal: Nicaragua, the International Court of Justice, Public Opinion, and the Origins of Iran-Contra
Authors: Onate-Madrazo Andrea
Published: November 2022

In November 1986, a Lebanese weekly published an article stating that high level officials within the administration of U.S. President Ronald Reagan had sold weapons to an embargoed Iran and diverted the profits to counterrevolutionary forces fighting the government of Nicaragua. Both of these facts violated domestic and international law. What ensued was the Iran-Contra scandal that almost ended Reagan’s presidency and jeopardized the credibility of U.S. foreign policy. Drawing from periodicals from the U.S. and international presses, as well as U.S. Congressional records, this article demonstrates that studies on the origins of Iran-Contra have overlooked one critical cause of the scandal—a lawsuit that Nicaragua presented against the United States at the International Court of Justice in April 1984. While the case “Nicaragua v the United States of America” played an important causal role in the history of the Iran-Contra affair, its importance goes beyond mere causality. As this article demonstrates, the impact that this international lawsuit had on the origins of Iran-Contra elucidates the influence of public opinion on shaping domestic and foreign policy, on the extent to which foreign policy is driven by domestic political realities, and on the importance of international courts as the theaters where battles for legitimacy are waged.
Willingness and Its Associated Factors for Blood Donation in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zeleke Agerie Mengistie , Azene Zelalem Nigussie
Published: November 2022

Background: Although the World Health Organization recommends 100% willingness for blood donation, the percentage of blood collected from willing blood donors and the average annual blood collection rate is extremely low in Ethiopia. Adults can serve as an essential pool formeeting the demand of safe blood. Thus, this study is aimed at examining willingness and its associated factors for blood donation among the adult population in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on548 respondents from 1–30 October2021. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select the study participants. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Epi-data version 4.6 and SPSS version 23 software was used for data entry and analysis, respectively. A binary logistic regression (bivariable and multivariable) was performed to identify the statistically significant variables. Results: Less than half, 45.3% (95% CI: 41.4, 49.9), of the study participants hadthe willingness to donate blood. Participants who were renters of their own houses [AOR: 3.19; (95% CI: 2.09, 4.62)], had a history of blood donation practice [AOR: 1.90(95% CI: 1.16, 3.19)], had witnessed blood being donated [AOR: 2.56 (95% CI:1.65, 6.95)], had a history of relatives who have died through blood loss [AOR: 2.28 (95% CI:1.19, 4.36)], and had good knowledge [AOR: 2.23; (95% CI: 1.49, 3.34)] were more willing to donate blood, with these factors being the significant predictors. Conclusions: Generally, willingness towards blood donation is low in the study area. In order to increase community willingness to donate blood, healthcare providers, national blood banks, and transfusion agencies should design strategies to promote and motivate their communities. In addition to this, participants should receive information on the health benefits of donating blood, the volume of blood donated, and the number of patients benefiting from a single unit of blood donated.
Monopole Antenna Miniaturization with Magneto-Dielectric Material Loading Combined with Metal Parasitic Element
Authors: Finet Thomas , Sharaiha Ala , Tarot Anne-Claude , Pouliguen Philippe , Potier Patrick , Le Meins Cyrille
Published: November 2022

In this paper is shown a new way to use Magneto-Dielectric Materials (MDM) in order to miniaturize monopole antennas. It is proposed to load an antenna with MDM to use the relative permeability to achieve the first 17% miniaturization rate. Then, in order to achieve better miniaturization, it is proposed to add metal parasitic plates on both sides of the material to use the relative permittivity to ensure capacitance useful to shift the antenna’s resonant frequency. By combining material loading, metallic plates’ capacitances and matching circuit designed with the real frequency technic, an antenna’s frequency shift from 350 MHz to 200 MHz is achieved corresponding to 43% of height reduction. A matching circuit has been designed to match the antenna at −5 dB. The obtained frequency bandwidth is 15% (185–215 MHz) with a realized gain of over −2.5 dBi.
The Scope of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in a Tertiary Hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the Change in Seasonal Pattern during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Alkharsah Khaled R.
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of morbidity and hospital admission due to respiratory tract infection among infants and young children. The current study aims to describe the prevalence and the seasonal pattern of RSV during the previous seven years. Materials and Methods: Clinical data and RSV antigen and PCR test results were collected from patients’ medical records at King Fahd Hospital of the University in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia between January 2015 and February 2022. Results: The overall percentage of RSV detection was 26.3% (336/1279) among the tested individuals. RSV infection was more common among children below five years and elderly above 60 years of age. Two-thirds of the cases required hospitalization. The average hospital stay due to RSV infection was 6.5 days (range 0–56 days). The rate of hospitalization was higher among infants and younger children and decreased with age (p-value < 0.001). RSV infection was more prevalent between August and February and decreased appreciably between March and July. The peak level of infection was during December and January. No RSV infections were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic and the following winter. The cases increased again in August 2021, with an unusual out-of-season peak. Conclusions: RSV infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and hospitalization among infants and young children in Saudi Arabia. The seasonal pattern of infection has changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the physicians should be aware that infection may happen currently at different times throughout the year.
Association between Serum Oxytocin, Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition in Chinese Adult Females
Authors: Yu Wei-Jia , Shi Hong-Li , Wu Xiao-Qing , Du Yan-Ping , Li Hui-Lin , Tang Wen-Jing , Chen Min-Min , Zhang Xue-Mei , Shen Liu , Cheng Qun
Published: November 2022

Background and Objectives: Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide hormone which is known for its classical effects in pregnancy and lactation. Recently, growing evidence demonstrated a close relation between OT and bone. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between OT, bone and osteoporosis risk in Chinese adult females. Materials and Methods: in total, 149 adult females were enrolled. The serum OT levels were measured using ELISA kits. Bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The study subjects were divided into two groups according to their menopause status and then divided into tertiles based on their serum OT level. Results: Serum OT, serum estradiol and BMD at three skeletal sites were significantly higher in the premenopausal group than in the postmenopausal group (p < 0.001, p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively). In the tertile analysis, relative to tertile 1, significant associations were found for tertile 3 for OT levels and higher BMD in the femoral neck and total hip, in both pre- and postmenopausal groups. Using logistic regression analysis, tertile 3 appeared less likely to have low-BMD osteoporosis than tertile 1 (OR = 0.257, 95% CI = 0.073, 0.910). In multivariate stepwise regression analysis, OT and total lean mass were two positive determinants of BMD in the femoral neck and total hip in the premenopausal group (adjusted R2 for the model = 0.232 and 0.199, respectively; both p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated positive associations between serum OT levels and BMD in a Chinese (non-Caucasian) population. OT appeared to be more strongly associated with hip BMD in premenopausal females. These results may suggest a protective role and potential therapeutic use of OT in osteoporosis, especially for premenopausal women.
Autonomous and Operator-Assisted Electric Rope Shovel Performance Study
Authors: Yaghini Ali , Hall Robert , Apel Derek
Published: November 2022

Automation has been changing the mining industry for the past two decades. Material handling is a critical task in a mining operation, and truck-shovel handling systems are the primary method for surface mining. Mines have deployed autonomous trucks, and their positive impact on both production and safety has been reported. This paper aims to study the extent to which autonomous and operator-assisted loading units could improve different aspects of a mining operation. Four different levels of automation ranging from operator-assisted swing and return to fully autonomous for a shovel were considered. A discrete event simulation model was developed and verified using detailed data from a shovel monitoring system. Later, the developed model was deployed to assess how each of the proposed technologies could improve productivity and efficiency. Results show that up to a 41% increase in production can be achieved. Both mining companies and equipment manufacturers can use the methodology and results of this study for future decision-making and product development.