bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tax Evasion Attitudes of Small Firms in Low‐ and Middle‐income Countries: Evidence from Nigeria
Authors: Moerenhout Tom , Yang Joonseok
Published: January 2022

Motivation

The need to tax small firms for revenue generation alongside the aim of establishing a sustainable tax system for such firms that encourages economic growth has long been a challenge for lower‐middle income countries, especially those with large informal economies, such as Nigeria. This article explores the drivers of tax morale of small firms in lower‐middle income countries.

Purpose

This article investigates what determines the attitudes of small firms on their potential evasion of taxes on profits, defined here as tax morale. Our objective is to use a new, dedicated small firm survey in Nigeria with high power to construct regressions that can help explore, and contribute to, hypotheses about tax evasion attitudes of small firms.

Methods and approach

We use a new nationally representative dataset of 8000 small firms in Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria, based on in‐person interviews conducted in the summer of 2018. To investigate key factors shaping tax morale of small firms in Nigeria, we estimate an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model using a comprehensive set of explanatory variables based on the large‐N power of our survey.

Findings

We find that in Nigeria the normative dimension and business development dimension appear more important. Small firms that have a higher trust in the government seem to have better tax morale. But firms that believe corruption is relatively frequent have notably worse morale. Firms that are registered and have positive expectations of their own growth also appear to have better tax morale.

Policy implications

Small companies play an important role in Nigerian society as both employers and drivers of economic growth. Yet, tax compliance among small companies in Nigeria remains very low, as evidenced through our survey. Investigating tax morale and compliance of small firms is critical to design strategies to incorporate them in the tax base to the benefit of the entire country. In particular, the findings suggest that building trust in government and business development policies is important to improve tax morale.
(Not) bringing your whole self to work: The gendered experience of upward mobility in the UK Civil Service
Authors: Friedman Sam
Published: January 2022

Women from working‐class backgrounds face a multiplicative earnings penalty in Britain's elite occupations. In this paper, I explore one driver of this “double disadvantage”; a strong gender divide in who discusses and displays a working‐class identity in the workplace. Drawing on data from the 2019 UK Civil Service People Survey (n = 300,788) and 104 interviews with civil servants, I find that men from working‐class backgrounds are more likely (than women) to identify as coming from a working‐class background, to talk openly about their background, and to feel comfortable displaying embodied markers of their origin. For some men such “origin talk” can even confer advantage, allowing them to resist dominant behavioral codes or “brand” themselves as senior leaders with a unique perspective. In contrast, women from working‐class backgrounds overwhelmingly choose to conceal their backgrounds at work, presuming that such disclosures will only leave them vulnerable to negative judgment. Such suppression often leaves a significant emotional imprint, with many women reporting a lingering sense of shame and inferiority. It can also have implications for their careers; feeling unable to inhabit one's “authentic self” at work often elicits a sense of withdrawal and self‐elimination from the stakes of career progression.
Effect of magnetic field with different dimensions on quality of avocado puree during frozen storage
Authors: Wang Ting , Jin Yamei , Yang Na , Xu Dan , Yang Zixuan , Tan Yinying , Xu Xueming , Jin Zhengyu , Cui Bo
Published: January 2022

The magnetic field‐assisted freezing (MFAF) has been identified as an emerging physical method used for food preservation, characterised by its high penetrability in food materials. However, effects of magnetic fields in different dimensions on food freezing process and its products quality have not been previously compared. Thus, the alternating magnetic fields (4 mT and 50 Hz) were applied in different directions and its impact on the physiochemical properties of frozen avocado puree during the storage were investigated. In comparison with the conventional freezing process, the application of MFAF could reduce the weight loss and soluble solids rise. The transformation between different types of water and their corresponding redistribution were also limited under MFAF. The decrease of total polyphenol content with extended storage time was reduced due to the inhibitory effect of MFAF on the polyphenol oxidase activity. In general, the MFAF of avocado purees presented better texture characteristics and higher sensory qualities than the controls. The more directions the magnetic field was applied, the better it performed in maintaining the quality of avocado puree. This study provides a reference for the application of the MFAF on food cryopreservation.
How increased job demand affects nurses' task mastery and deviance in the pandemic era
Authors: Zhou Jinyi , Zhang Ke‐fu
Published: January 2022

Aim

Although normative and ethical procedures are extremely critical for health care providers, during this unique time, when the pandemic suddenly increased job requirements and workloads, maintaining a morally appropriate working style became an increasingly difficult challenge for nurses. Few previous studies have examined whether these highly increased job demands influence nurses' resource condition, in turn affecting their deviance and task mastery.

Designs

In the current study, we proposed a theoretical model examining whether nurses' job demands (the predictor) will affect task mastery and deviance (the outcomes) by increasing resource depletion.

Methods

A multiwave field study of 172 nurses from two comprehensive hospitals was conducted to test the proposed theoretical model from April to August 2020. Descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analyses, correlation coefficients and linear regressions were used to test the hypotheses.

Results

The results suggested that even though job demands may temporarily increase nurses' task mastery and decrease their organizational deviance, they ultimately have a negative influence since resource depletion acts as a side effect that suppresses the two direct effects.

Conclusion

The theoretical contributions and practical implications of our findings were discussed. Specifically, we suggested that healthcare institutions should provide abundant support for nurses to supplement their resource reserves to avoid the risk of potential medical malpractice.

Impact

Practically, this study tried to emphasize the important role of nurses' resource condition. Especially we aimed to remind managers and leaders cannot just improve nurses' job demand to deal with the public health crises. They also need to focus on their resource condition during pandemics.
Annual Research Review: The contributions of the RDoC research framework on understanding the neurodevelopmental origins, progression and treatment of mental illnesses
Authors: Pacheco Jennifer , Garvey Marjorie A. , Sarampote Christopher S. , Cohen Elan D. , Murphy Eric R. , Friedman‐Hill Stacia R.
Published: January 2022

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) proposed the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative as an alternate way to organize research of mental illnesses, by looking at dimensions of functioning rather than being tied to categorical diagnoses. This paper briefly discusses the motivation for and organization of RDoC, and then explores the NIMH portfolio and recent work to monitor the utility and progress that RDoC has afforded developmental research. To examine how RDoC has influenced the NIMH developmental research portfolio over the last decade, we employed a natural language processing algorithm to identify the number of developmental science grants classified as incorporating an RDoC approach. Additional portfolio analyses examine temporal trends in funded RDoC‐relevant grants, publications and citations, and research training opportunities. Reflecting on how RDoC has influenced the focus of grant applications, we highlight examples from research on Attention‐Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), childhood irritability, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Lastly, we consider how the dimensional and transdiagnostic approaches emphasized in RDoC have facilitated research on personalized intervention for heterogeneous disorders and preventive/early interventions targeting emergent or subthreshold psychopathology.
Different platelet‐rich plasma preparation protocols in Female pattern hair loss: Does it affect the outcome? A pilot study
Authors: Moftah Nayera Hassan , Taha Nour EL‐Eman , Alhabibi Alshaymaa Mohammed , Hamdino Mervat
Published: January 2022

Background

Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) injection is a promising modality for hair regeneration in female pattern hair loss (FPHL). A standard protocol on best methods for PRP preparation has not been established.

Objectives

To optimize standard PRP preparation protocols and evaluate its clinical efficacy in FPHL.

Methods

Comparative study enrolled 40 female patients with FPHL divided randomly into 4 equal groups. Each group received 3 sessions of monthly intradermal injection of PRP prepared by different methods regarding number of spins, centrifugation speeds, type of the centrifuge, and the size of PRP tube. Patients were evaluated by trichoscan before and 1 month after the 3rd session for number of terminal, vellus hair, and average hair width.

Results

A statistically significant increase in platelet count in PRP prepared by combination of digital centrifuge, large‐sized sodium citrate tube, and low centrifugation speed (900 rpm). All patients showed statistically significant increase in percentage of terminal hair and average width of hair after treatment as assessed by trichoscan, without statistically significant difference between studied groups.

Conclusions

Digital centrifuge, large‐sized sodium citrate tubes, and a single spin with low centrifugation speed (900 rpm) were ideal for PRP preparation. PRP is an effective and safe modality in FPHL therapy.
Critical phenomenology and the banality of white supremacy
Authors: Ngo Helen
Published: January 2022

Critical phenomenology is a rapidly flourishing field of research within philosophical phenomenology. This article undertakes a genealogy of the critical philosophical enterprise, drawing out its key commitments, motivations, tensions, and productive potential. In the second half of this article, I explore the promise of critical phenomenology, by examining how a critical phenomenological approach to questions of racism and racialised embodiment can help extend our understanding of white supremacy, opening up new possibilities for thinking its banality and ubiquity in contemporary social and political life.
Orchestrating coordination among humanitarian organizations
Authors: Ruesch Lea , Tarakci Murat , Besiou Maria , Van Quaquebeke Niels
Published: January 2022

Disasters mobilize hundreds of organizations, but coordination among them remains a challenge. This is why the United Nations has formed clusters to facilitate information and resource exchange among humanitarian organizations. Yet, coordination failures in prior disasters raise questions as to the effectiveness of the cluster approach in coordinating relief efforts. To better understand barriers to coordination, we developed a grounded theory and augmented the theory with an agent‐based simulation. Our theory discerns a cluster lead's roles of facilitating coordination, but also investing in its own ground operations. We find that specifically serving such a dual role impairs swift trust and consequent coordination among cluster members. The additional simulation findings generalize the detrimental effect of the cluster lead's dual role versus a pure facilitator role and specify it against various boundary conditions.
Investigation of natural RIN4 variants reveals a motif crucial for function and provides an opportunity to broaden NLR regulation specificity
Authors: Kim Haseong , Prokchorchik Maxim , Sohn Kee Hoon
Published: January 2022

Multiple bacterial effectors target RPM1‐INTERACTING PROTEIN4 (RIN4), the biochemical modifications of which are recognized by several plant nucleotide‐binding and leucine‐rich repeat immune receptor (NLR) proteins. Recently, a comparative study of Arabidopsis and apple (Malus domestica) RIN4s revealed that the RIN4 specificity motif (RSM) is critical for NLR regulation. Here, we investigated the extent to which the RSM contributes to the functions of natural RIN4 variants. Functional analysis of 33 natural RIN4 variants from 28 plant species showed that the RSM is generally required yet sometimes dispensable for the RIN4‐mediated suppression of NLR auto‐activity or effector‐triggered NLR activation. Association analysis of the sequences and fire blight resistance gene originating from Malus × robusta 5 (FB_MR5) activation functions of the natural RIN4 variants revealed H167 to be an indispensable residue for RIN4 function in the regulation of NLRs. None of the tested natural RIN4 variants could suppress RESISTANCE TO PSEUDOMONAS SYRINGAE PV. MACULICOLA1 (RPM1) auto‐activity and activate FB_MR5. To engineer RIN4 to carry broader NLR compatibility, we generated chimeric RIN4 proteins, several of which could regulate RPM1, RESISTANT TO PSEUDOMONAS SYRINGAE2 (RPS2), and FB_MR5. We propose that the intrinsically disordered nature of RIN4 provides a flexible platform to broaden pathogen recognition specificity by establishing compatibility with otherwise incompatible NLRs.
Effects of Nonaxisymmetric Volute on Rotating Stall in the Vaneless Diffuser of Centrifugal Compressors
Authors: Niu Zitian , Sun Zhenzhong , Wang Baotong , Zheng Xinqian
Published: January 2022

Rotating stall is an important unstable flow phenomenon that leads to performance degradation and limits the stability boundary in centrifugal compressors. The volute is one of the sources inducing nonaxisymmetric flows in centrifugal compressors, which has an important effect on compressors' aerodynamic performance. However, the influence of volute on rotating stall is not clear. Therefore, the effects of volute on rotating stall behavior have been explored in this paper by experiments and numerical simulations. The frequency of the rotating stall captured by the experiments is 43.9% of the impeller passing frequency (IPF), while it is 44.7% of IPF calculated from the numerical results, which proves the accuracy and capability of the numerical method in this work to study the rotating stall behavior. The flow fields from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations further reveal that one stall cell initializing in a particular location deforms into several stall cells while rotating along the circumferential direction and becomes much smaller in a specific location during the evolution process, and finally, it is suppressed in another specific location as a result of the distorted flow field caused by the volute. Moreover, stall cells' behavior, including shrinking and enlarging along the spanwise direction during rotation, is closely related to the circumferentially nonaxisymmetric pressure distribution caused by the volute. The existence of volute makes rotating stall incept in the flow rate 32% larger than that of the centrifugal compressor without volute. By optimizing volute geometry to reduce the distortion of the flow field, it is expected that the rotating stall can be weakened or suppressed, which is helpful to extend the stable operating range of centrifugal compressors.
Quantum effects in rotating reference frames
Authors: Kish S. P. , Ralph T. C.
Published: January 2022

We consider the time delay of interfering single photons oppositely traveling in the Kerr metric of a rotating massive object. Classically, the time delay shows up as a phase difference between coherent sources of light. In quantum mechanics, the loss in visibility due to the indistinguishability of interfering photons is directly related to the time delay. We can thus observe the Kerr frame dragging effect using the Hong–Ou–Mandel dip, a purely quantum mechanical effect. By Einstein's equivalence principle, we can analogously consider a rotating turntable to simulate the Kerr metric. We look at the feasibility of such an experiment using optical fiber and note a cancellation in the second order dispersion but a direction dependent difference in group velocity. However, for the chosen experimental parameters, we can effectively assume light propagating through a vacuum.
In situ x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of electrochemical interfaces in battery: Recent advances and remaining challenges
Authors: Wi Sungun , Shutthanandan Vaithiyalingam , Sivakumar Bhuvaneswari M. , Thevuthasan Suntharampillai , Prabhakaran Venkateshkumar , Roy Swadipta , Karakoti Ajay , Murugesan Vijayakumar
Published: January 2022

An in-depth understanding of charge transfer processes at the electrochemical interfaces is a critical knowledge gap impeding the design of energy storage materials. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy plays an important role in analyzing electronic structures of heterogeneous interfaces, such as electrode-electrolyte interphases. Correspondingly, ex situ studies based on postmortem analysis of electrode materials using x-ray techniques are widely reported in the literature but often fail to capture intermediate and transient species, which are critical for a predictive understanding of the charge transfer process. The lack of extensive in situ/operando x-ray analysis of buried interfaces in energy storage systems can be mainly attributed to technical limitations, such as the requirement of high vacuum conditions. However, in the past decade, considerable efforts have been devoted to overcoming these technical barriers and enable investigation of the solid/solid and solid/liquid interfaces. This review catalogs some of the recent progresses and new experimental designs in the application of in situ and operando x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy toward characterizing interfacial processes and emergent properties, which can help build the design strategy for advanced batteries. The remaining challenges and future research directions are also discussed, as potential paths forward in this field.
Comparison of single and concentric split-ring resonator generated microplasmas
Authors: Walsten Andrew T. , Dextre Roberto A. , Polzin Kurt A. , Xu Kunning G.
Published: January 2022

Microplasmas generated by a single split-ring resonator and a dual concentric split-ring resonator operating at the same frequency are compared. Argon is used as the working gas and held at a pressure of 0.5 Torr. The surface electric fields in the resonators were simulated to gain insight into the behavior of the fields in each device. Double Langmuir probes were used to measure the plasma density and electron temperature in a 2D plane 2 mm above the surface of the resonators. The single and the concentric ring resonators both had a maximum electron temperature in the discharge gap of 2.5 eV. The single and concentric split-ring resonators had the same maximum measured plasma density of 1.19 × 1017 m−3. Plots of the measured properties and comparisons with electric field simulations show the field coupling to the concentric ring and ignition produced in the secondary discharge gap. The concentric ring resonator has more spatially uniform temperature and density distributions relative to the single split-ring resonator.
Photoinduced carrier transport mechanism in pn- and nn-GaN/GaON heterojunctions
Authors: Sun Xiaojun , Wu Chao , Wang Yachao , Guo Daoyou
Published: January 2022

The unexpected high persistent photoconductivity effect in Ga2O3 material hinders the application of deep-ultraviolet photodetectors, while GaON can effectively avoid the effect caused by oxygen vacancies through anion engineering. As the behaviors of the carrier’s transport are crucial and essential to the photoelectric conversion processes, analysis of the carrier transport mechanism is helpful to propose feasible and effective strategies for high-performance photodetectors. In this work, GaN/GaON pn- and nn-heterojunctions with various thicknesses of GaON thin films were obtained by oxidizing the n-GaN and p-GaN films, and their photoinduced carrier transport mechanism has been comprehensively investigated. At a low bias, as the electric field is limited in the GaON layer and only the carriers generated in the GaON layer can be collected by the electrodes for both GaN/GaON pn- and nn-heterojunctions, the current increases linearly with an increase in the voltage. At a high bias, the electric field can affect the GaN/GaON heterojunction interface. For the GaN/GaON nn-heterojunction, the current continues to increase with increasing voltage as a small potential barrier is created between GaON and n-GaN to separate and transport the photogenerated carriers. However, for the GaN/GaON pn-heterojunction, the current increases slowly and then rapidly with an increase in the high voltage, because the electric field is not strong enough to help the carriers cross the potential barrier caused by the reverse GaN/GaON pn-heterojunction first and then overcome the barrier with a higher voltage.
Velocity differences in laryngeal adduction and abduction gestures
Authors: Kleiner Christian , Kainz Marie-Anne , Echternach Matthias , Birkholz Peter
Published: January 2022

The periodic repetitions of laryngeal adduction and abduction gestures were uttered by 16 subjects. The movement of the cuneiform tubercles was tracked over time in the laryngoscopic recordings of these utterances. The adduction velocity and abduction velocity were determined objectively by means of a piecewise linear model fitted to the cuneiform tubercle trajectories. The abduction was found to be significantly faster than the adduction. This was interpreted in terms of the biomechanics and active control by the nervous system. The biomechanical properties could be responsible for a velocity of abduction that is up to 51% higher compared to the velocity of adduction. Additionally, the adduction velocity may be actively limited to prevent an overshoot of the intended adduction degree when the vocal folds are approximated to initiate phonation.
Impact of Integrase Sequences from HIV-1 Subtypes A6/A1 on the
In Vitro
Potency of Cabotegravir or Rilpivirine
Authors: Jeffrey Jerry L. , St. Clair Marty , Wang Ping , Wang Chunfu , Li Zhufang , Beloor Jagadish , Talarico Christine , Fridell Robert , Krystal Mark , White C. Thomas , Griffith Sandy , D’Amico Ronald , Smith Kimberly , Van Eygen Veerle , Vingerhoets Johan , Vandermeulen Kati , Spreen William , van Lunzen Jan
Published: January 2022

The FLAIR study demonstrated noninferiority of monthly long-acting cabotegravir + rilpivirine versus daily oral dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine for maintaining virologic suppression. Three participants who received long-acting therapy had confirmed virologic failure (CVF) at Week 48, and all had HIV-1 that was originally classified as subtype A1 and contained the baseline integrase polymorphism L74I; updated classification algorithms reclassified all 3 as HIV-1 subtype A6.
RAA Enzyme Is a New Family of Class A Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase from Riemerella anatipestifer Strain RCAD0122
Authors: Luo Hongyan , Zhu Dekang , Li Mengru , Tang Yunhan , Zhang Wenyu , Wang Haoju , Li Pei
Published: January 2022

Whole-genome sequencing of
Riemerella anatipestifer
isolate RCAD0122 revealed a chromosomally located β-lactamase gene,
bla
RAA-1
, which encoded a novel class A extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), RAA-1. RAA-1 shared ≤65% amino acid sequence identity with other characterized β-lactamases.
Supplemental Material: Ordovician–Silurian back-arc silicic magmatism in the southernmost Appalachians
Authors: Barineau Clinton I. , al. et
Published: January 2022

Sample Preparation and Geochemical Analysis Methodology; Table S1: Major oxide percentages for metaigneous rocks of the Wedowee-Emuckfaw-Dahlonega basin; Table S2: Measured isotope ratios and normalized U-Pb ages calculated without 204Pb Correction; Table S3: Lu-Hf isotope analyses; Table S4: Latitude-longitude (WGS84), geologic unit, and age information for samples analyzed as part of this project.
Effect of the interaction between physical activity and estimated macronutrient intake on HbA1c: population-based cross-sectional and longitudinal studies
Authors: Furukawa Takuma , Nishida Yuichiro , Hara Megumi , Shimanoe Chisato , Koga Kayoko , Iwasaka Chiharu , Higaki Yasuki , Tanaka Keitaro , Nakashima Ryoko , Ikezaki Hiroaki , Hishida Asahi , Tamura Takashi , Kato Yasufumi , Tamada Yudai , Matsuo Keitaro , Ito Hidemi , Mikami Haruo , Kusakabe Miho , Ibusuki Rie , Shibuya Keiichi , Suzuki Sadao , Nakagawa-Senda Hiroko , Ozaki Etsuko , Matsui Daisuke , Kuriki Kiyonori , Nakamura Yasuyuki , Kadota Aya , Arisawa Kokichi , Katsuura-Kamano Sakurako , Takeuchi Kenji , Wakai Kenji
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Healthy diet and physical activity (PA) are essential for preventing type 2 diabetes, particularly, a combination of diet and PA. However, reports on interaction between PA and diet, especially from large epidemiological studies, are limited. We investigated the effect of interaction between PA and macronutrient intake on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in the general population.

Research design and methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 55 469 men and women without diabetes who participated in the baseline survey of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study. A self-administered questionnaire ascertained PA and macronutrient intake (carbohydrate, fat, and protein). Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to adjust for confounding variables and examine the interactions. In addition, we conducted a longitudinal study during a 5-year period within a subcohort (n=6881) with accelerometer-assessed PA data.

Results

Overall, PA had a weak inverse association (β=−0.00033, p=0.049) and carbohydrate intake had a strong positive association (β=0.00393, p<0.001) with HbA1c. We observed a tendency of interactions between PA and carbohydrate or fat intake, but not protein intake, on HbA1c levels after adjusting for age, sex, study area, total energy intake, alcohol consumption, smoking, and medication for hypertension or hypercholesterolemia (Pinteraction=0.054, 0.006, and 0.156, respectively). The inverse associations between PA and HbA1c level were more evident in participants with high-carbohydrate (or low-fat) intake than in participants with low-carbohydrate (or high-fat) intake. Although further adjustment for body mass index slightly attenuated the above interactions (Pinteraction=0.098 for carbohydrate and 0.068 for fat), the associations between PA and HbA1c level in stratified analyses remained unchanged. Similar associations and interactions were reproduced in the longitudinal study.

Conclusions

The present results suggest that the effect of PA on HbA1c levels is modified by intake of macronutrient composition.
Double-blind cross-over pilot trial protocol to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of long-term adaptive deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Marceglia Sara , Conti Costanza , Svanidze Oleg , Foffani Guglielmo , Lozano Andres M , Moro Elena , Volkmann Jens , Arlotti Mattia , Rossi Lorenzo , Priori Alberto
Published: January 2022

Introduction

After several years of brain-sensing technology development and proof-of-concept studies, adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) is ready to better treat Parkinson’s disease (PD) using aDBS-capable implantable pulse generators (IPGs). New aDBS devices are capable of continuous sensing of neuronal activity from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and contemporaneous stimulation automatically adapted to match the patient’s clinical state estimated from the analysis of STN activity using proprietary algorithms. Specific studies are necessary to assess superiority of aDBS vs conventional DBS (cDBS) therapy. This protocol describes an original innovative multicentre international study aimed to assess safety and efficacy of aDBS vs cDBS using a new generation of DBS IPG in PD (AlphaDBS system by Newronika SpA, Milan, Italy).

Methods

The study involves six investigational sites (in Italy, Poland and The Netherlands). The primary objective will be to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the AlphaDBS System, when used in cDBS and aDBS mode. Secondary objective will be to evaluate the potential efficacy of aDBS. After eligibility screening, 15 patients with PD already implanted with DBS systems and in need of battery replacement will be randomised to enter a two-phase protocol, including a ‘short-term follow-up’ (2 days experimental sessions during hospitalisation, 1 day per each mode) and a ‘long-term follow-up’ (1 month at home, 15 days per each mode).

Ethics and dissemination

The trial was approved as premarket study by the Italian, Polish, and Dutch Competent Authorities: Bioethics Committee at National Oncology Institute of Maria Skłodowska-Curie—National Research Institute in Warsaw; Comitato Etico Milano Area 2; Comitato Etico IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta; Comitato Etico interaziendale AOUC Città della Salute e della Scienza—AO Ordine Mauriziano di Torino—ASL Città di Torino; De Medisch Ethisch Toetsingscommissie van Maastricht UMC. The study started enrolling patients in January 2021.

Trial registration number

NCT04681534.
Danish validation of the Multimorbidity Treatment Burden Questionnaire (MTBQ) and findings from a population health survey: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Pedersen Marie Hauge , Duncan Polly , Lasgaard Mathias , Friis Karina , Salisbury Chris , Breinholt Larsen Finn
Published: January 2022

Objective

To validate the Danish Multimorbidity Treatment Burden Questionnaire (MTBQ) and obtain a population-based evaluation of treatment burden.

Design

Mixed-methods.

Setting

Danish population-based survey.

Participants

Translation by professional translators and an expert group. The scale was tested by 13 407 participants (aged ≥25 years) in treatment.

Measures

The 10-item MTBQ was translated into Danish using forward-backward translation and used in a large population health survey. A global MTBQ score was calculated and factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha assessed dimensional structure and internal consistency reliability, respectively. Spearman’s rank correlations between global MTBQ scores and scores of self-rated health, health-related quality of life and the number of long-term conditions, respectively, assessed construct validity. MTBQ scores were grouped into four categories (no, low, medium, high burden) to assess interpretability and population-based evaluation of treatment burden.

Results

The scale showed high internal consistency (α=0.87), positive skewness and large floor effects. Factor analysis supported a one-dimensional structure of the scale with a three-dimensional structure as a less parsimonious alternative. The MTBQ score was negatively associated with self-rated health (rS−0.45, p<0.0001) and health-related quality of life (rS−0.46/−0.51, p<0.0001), and positively associated with the number of long-term conditions (rS0.26, p<0.0001) and perceived stress (rS0.44, p<0.0001). Higher treatment burden was associated with young age, male sex, high educational level, unemployment, being permanently out of work, not living with a spouse/cohabitant, living with child(ren) and long-term conditions (eg, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and mental illness).

Conclusion

The Danish MTBQ is a valid measure of treatment burden with good construct validity and high internal reliability. This is the first study to explore treatment burden at a population level and provides important evidence to policy makers and clinicians about sociodemographic groups at risk of higher treatment burden.
Hospital accreditation processes in Saudi Arabia: a thematic analysis of hospital staff experiences
Authors: Al Mansour Ali , Merry Alan F , Jowsey Tanisha , Weller Jennifer M
Published: January 2022

Background

Hospital accreditation by an international organisation can play an important role in health quality and safety. However, little is known about how managers and front-line employees experience and perceive the effects of accreditation. Their views could inform quality improvement processes and procedures.

Objective

To explore perceptions of employees at the managerial level on the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation process and its impact on quality of patient care in Saudi Arabian JCI-accredited hospitals.

Methods

We undertook a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to explore the perspectives of senior staff from three accredited public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Interviews were transcribed prior to thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty managers participated in the interviews. The following inter-related themes emerged concerning the JCI accreditation process and its impact on quality of patient care: drivers for the change; the plan for the change; the process of the change; maintaining changes post-accreditation and patients’ issues. Participants were positive in their accounts of: drivers for the change; planning for the change needed to achieve accreditation and managing patients’ issues. However, participants reported less favourably on: the process of the change; and maintaining changes post-accreditation.

Conclusion

The planning stage was perceived as the easiest component of JCI accreditation. Implementing and maintaining changes post-accreditation that demonstrably promote patient safety and quality of care was perceived as more difficult. When planning for accreditation, institutions need to incorporate strategies to ensure that improvements to care continue beyond the accreditation period.
Gravitational effect of plasma particles on the shadow of Schwarzschild black holes
Authors: Li Qiang , Zhu Yanni , Wang Towe
Published: January 2022

Considering a Schwarzschild black hole surrounded by a fully ionized hydrogen plasma, we study the effect of the gravitational field of the plasma particles on the shadow. We take a formalism in which this effect is unified with the refractive effect of the plasma medium studied previously, but the two effects are characterized by two independent parameters. For semi-realistic values of parameters, we find their corrections to the shadow radius are both negligible, and the gravitational correction can overtake the refractive correction for active galactic nuclei of masses larger than $$10^9M_{\odot }$$

10
9

M
⊙

. With unrealistically large values of parameters, we illustrate the two effects on the light trajectories and the intensity map.
MetaLearning with Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Mandal Debmalya , Medya Sourav , Uzzi Brian , Aggarwal Charu
Published: January 2022

Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), a generalization of deep neural networks on graph data have been widely used in various domains, ranging from drug discovery to recommender systems. However, GNNs on such applications are limited when there are few available samples. Meta-learning has been an important framework to address the lack of samples in machine learning, and in recent years, researchers have started to apply meta-learning to GNNs. In this work, we provide a comprehensive survey of different metalearning approaches involving GNNs on various graph problems showing the power of using these two approaches together. We categorize the literature based on proposed architectures, shared representations, and applications. Finally, we discuss several exciting future research directions and open problems.
Review of A Short Course in Computational Geometry and Topology by Herbert Edelsbrunner
Authors: Gassama Abdulai , Green Frederic
Published: January 2022

Computational geometry and topology are huge branches of mathematics. Focussing on concepts that lead to computation is one strategy to provide a concrete conceptual basis for ideas that hold in a more general context. Indeed, this short book gives an introduction to a surprisingly broad range of ideas that can serve as a good introduction to geometry and topology (even broadly conceived) for undergraduates.
SIGACT News Complexity Theory Column 111
Authors: Hemaspaandra Lane A.
Published: January 2022

This issue's complexity theory column is by Ben Lee Volk on algebraic natural proofs. My warmest thanks to Ben Lee for his terrific article.
The Spectroscopic and Antimicrobial Yield of Sol-Gel Derived Zinc Copper Silicate/E102 Nanoclusters
Authors: Mansour A. M. , Hemdan Bahaa A. , Abou Hammad Ali B. , Saleh Hisham A. , El Nahrawy Amany M.
Published: January 2022

The structural and optical properties of 30 ZnO: 50 SiO2: (20-x) CuO (ZSC) loaded with E102 (tartrazine dye) (where x = 0.02, 0.05, 0.07 wt.%) nanoclusters have been explored. These nanoclusters were synthesized by a sol-gel route followed by a very controlled crystallization process at 500 °C. The phase formation, structural modification, and particle distribution behavior of these nanoclusters have been studied using XRD and TEM analysis to monitor the domestic environment for ZCS-E102. The optical transmission and reflection properties of nanoclusters in the UV–Vis-NIR range were studied for the present nanoclusters from which the optical absorption was calculated. Tauc method is employed to estimate the type and value of energy needed to gap transition from absorption data. The direct and indirect gap shows decreased energy need for its transition by E102 concentration increase. The antimicrobial potentials of four synthesized nanoclusters were performed against some pathogenic microbes. The toxicity performance of all studied nanoclusters is measured. Results revealed that ZSC-0.07E102 is showed an effective antimicrobial action against four tested pathogenic microbes in terms of excellent inhibitory effect and biocompatibility show noticeable potential in the antimicrobial application. Therefore, this proficient nanomaterial is a promising choice for biomedical purposes.
HF-QSRAM: Half-Select Free Quaternary SRAM Design with Required Peripheral Circuits for IoT/IoVT Applications
Authors: Ghasemian Arsalan , Abiri Ebrahim , Hassanli Kourosh , Darabi Abdolreza
Published: January 2022

By using CNFET technology in 32 nm node by the proposed SQI gate, two split bit-lines QSRAM architectures have been suggested to address the issue of increasing demand for storage capacity in IoT/IoVT applications. Peripheral circuits such as a novel quaternary to binary decoder for QSRAM have been offered. Various simulations on temperature, supply voltage, and access frequency have been done to evaluate and ensure the performance of the proposed SQI gate, suggested cells, and quaternary to binary decoder. Moreover, 1000 Monte-Carlo analyses on the fabrication parameters have been done to classify read and write delay and standby power of proposed cells along with PDP of the proposed quaternary to binary decoder. It is worth mentioning that the PDP of the proposed SQI gate, decoder, and average power consumption of suggested HF-QSRAM cell reached 0.92 aJ, 4.13 aJ, and 0.15 μW, respectively, which are approximately 80%, 91%, and 33% improvements in comparison with the best existing designs in the literature.
Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction at Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) Electrode in Neutral Solution: 5-amino-2-naphthalene-sulfonic acid (ANS) as a Reducing Agent for AgNPs
Authors: Arumugam Balamurugan , Kuppuswamy Guru Prasad , Sivalingam Yuvaraj
Published: January 2022

We report electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) electrodes. The AgNPs was obtained in a general one-pot synthesis using 5-amino 2-naphthalene-sulfonic acid (ANS) as a reducing agent in aqueous and room-temperature conditions. The simultaneous formation of AgNPs and oxidation of ANS were monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy. The surface morphology of AgNPs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, which revealed that AgNPs appeared as a sphere. The average size of AgNPs was found to be 16 ± 2 nm. Furthermore, the chemical identity of the nanostructures was established using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The prepared AgNPs showed electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of oxygen in neutral pH. Rotating disk electrode voltammetry was used to elucidate the kinetics of ORR at the AgNPs electrode. These results reveal that oxygen reduction reaction at AgNPs-PANS electrode involved direct four-electron pathways.
Preparation of Ideally Ordered Anodic Porous Alumina by Prepatterning Process Using a Flexible Mold
Authors: Yanagishita Takashi , Kato Kenya , Shirano Naoto , Masuda Hideki
Published: January 2022

Ideally ordered anodic porous alumina with controlled interpore distances was formed by fabricating a resist mask using a flexible mold and subsequent anodization. Prior to forming the resist pattern on the surface of an Al substrate, Al was pre-anodized at 10 V to prepare the fine porous structure, which acts as a resist adhesive layer. After the formation of the resist mask using a flexible mold, an arranged array of cavities with Al exposed at the bottom was formed by the selective dissolution of the oxide layer at resist openings. The subsequent anodization of the sample with the cavity array generated ideally ordered anodic porous alumina because alumina holes were formed at the bottom of cavities during anodization. This process allows the preparation of ideally ordered anodic porous alumina even on a curved Al surface owing to the flexibility of the mold. In addition, this process can also be applied to the preparation of an ideally ordered anodic porous alumina with a large sample area because the Al substrate can be patterned without high pressure. The obtained sample can be used for various applications requiring an ideally ordered hole array structure.
Optimal System for Improved Internal Model Control of Argon-Oxygen Decarburization Process Based on the Piecewise Linear Model and Time Constant of Filter Optimization
Authors: Guan Changjun , You Wen
Published: January 2022

This paper presents an improved internal model control system to raise the efficiency of refining low-carbon ferrochrome. This control system comprises of a piecewise linearized transfer function and an improved internal model controller based on optimized time constant of the filter. The control system is mainly used to control the oxygen supply rate during the argon-oxygen refining for controlling the smelting temperature. The regulatory performance and servo of two closed-loop control schemes are compared between the improved internal model controller based on the optimized filter time 0000-0002-7606-6546and the internal model controller based on the fixed filter time constant. The simulation analysis shows that the piecewise linearized model and the optimization of the time constant of the filter improves the response time, stability, and anti-interference ability of the controller. Then, the proposed improved internal model controller is used to adjust the gas supply flow in 5 ton AOD furnace to control the smelting temperature. Ten production tests performed the effectiveness of the controlling refining optimal system. The analysis of the experimental data shows that the improved internal model control system can shorten the melting time and improve the melting efficiency. Thus, the application of the improved internal model control system in low-carbon ferrochrome refining is an interesting potential direction for future research.
Effect of Pin Geometry and Orientation on Friction and Wear Behavior of Nickel-Coated EN8 Steel Pin and Al6061 Alloy Disc Pair
Authors: Singh Yadav Shiv Pratap , Lakshmikanthan Avinash , Ranganath Siddappa , Gowdru Chandrashekarappa Manjunath Patel , Anand Praveena Bindiganavile , Shankar Vijay Kumar , Avvari Muralidhar
Published: January 2022

Most mechanical systems (in particular, gear transmission system) undergo relative motion which results in increased friction phenomenon (friction coefficient, stresses, and wear rate) and thereby results in loss of efficiency. Mechanical parts undergo relative motion in different geometry configurations and orientations that induce a different state of stress as a result of friction. Till date, attempts are being made to minimize the friction with full sphere pin geometry configuration. The present work focused to reduce the frictional and wear rate, and experiments are conducted with tribo-pairs. i.e., nickel-coated pin surface slide against Al6061 alloy disc. The friction studies are carried out at different loads and geometries of pin surfaces (sphere and hemisphere configured at different orientations such as full sphere and hemisphere configured at 0°, 45°, and 90°) to induce different stress states with reference to sliding directions. Change in the geometry of EN8 pin material and their orientation with reference to sliding direction resulted in a different state of stress. The resulting stress levels were examined under the scanning electron microscope, which revealed the mechanisms of adhesion, abrasion, and extrusion. At a lower magnitude of orientation and load, the extent of asperity breaking lessens and material removal from pin surface decreases. Abrasion wear mechanism was observed corresponding to full sphere configuration on Al 6061 disc, whereas adhesive wear mechanisms are seen with hemisphere pins. The amount of aluminum transfer on pin surface with a hemisphere pin is comparatively more than that of full sphere configuration. At a lower magnitude of state of stress, the mechanism of sliding was dominated by the adhesion effect. At a higher level of state of stress, the mechanism of sliding was dominated by abrasion and extrusion.