bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lightweight ANU-II block cipher on field programmable gate array
Authors: Nihad Hatif Yousif , Amer Abbas Yasir , Hussein Ali Mudhafar
Published: March 2022

Nowadays the number of embedded devices communicating over a network is increasing. Thus, the need for security appeared. Considering various constraints for the limited resources devices is very important. These constraints include power, memory, area and latency. A perfect environment for satisfying requirements of security in limited resources devices is lightweight cryptography. A recent lightweight algorithm that has a low area and high throughput which is the ANU-II block cipher. Many technologies like the internet of things (IoT) needed lightweight hardware architectures to provide security for it. In IoT issues like the size of memory, power consumption and smaller gate counts need to take care of by using lightweight cryptography. This paper presents hardware lightweight data path implementation for the ANU-II algorithm using field programmable gate array (FPGA). This paper presents a hardware implementation of a 64-bit ANU-II block cipher. Also, this research presents comparisons based on various design metrics among our data path for the ANU-II cipher and other existing data path designs. The result of the proposed design shows a high throughput of 1502.31, 1951.86, and 2696.47 Mbps. Also, it shows the high efficiency of 7.0201, 31.9977, and 10.6579 Mbps/slice as compared to other ciphers in this paper.
Electrical impedance’s effects of flying insects on selectivity of electrical insecticides
Authors: Neddar Lahouaria , Flazi Samir
Published: March 2022

The history of controlling destructive insects in the twentieth century makes it clear that the difficulties we encounter today in dealing with these types of insects come from our almost total reliance on one single controlling method, namely the use of chemical insecticides. These toxic and suspected carcinogenic products pose a serious threat to agriculture and the environment. However, the possibility of directing researchers in developing a new way considered as more efficient, more selective and less toxic has proved to be possible. The principle of this approach is based on an attractive effect and an electric effect. Nevertheless, the development of a bio and selective electrical system requires taking into account certain parameters involved in the attraction of insects and electrical discharge such as the electrical impedance. The results showed that the threshold at which the insect is disturbed depends on its conductivity.
Effect of silica nanofiller in cross-linked polyethylene as electrical tree growth inhibitor
Authors: Moh Nazar Nazatul Shiema , Syazwani Mansor Noor , Khayam Umar , Asiah Muhamad Nor , Jaafar Mustapha Mariatti , Izzani Mohamed Amir , Mohd Jamil Mohamad Kamarol
Published: March 2022

One of the main phenomena that contributes to the non-success of cable insulation made of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is electrical treeing. To improve the XPLE cable insulation, the use of nanofiller has been introduced. Adding the nanofiller in the based composite offers better cable lifetime and resistance to deal with the cable failure. One of the potential nanofillers that can increase the insulation performance of XLPE cable is silica nanofiller. To this extent, the studies on silica nanofiller in XLPE are focusing on the impulse breakdown strength, dielectric loss, permittivity, space charge, alternating current (AC), and partial discharge. The studies reveal that the dielectric properties of the XLPE nanocomposite have significant improvement. Therefore, this work investigates the effect of various concentrations of silica nanofiller in XLPE composite as electrical tree inhibitor. The concentrations of silica nanofiller in XLPE were 0.25 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 0.75 wt%, 1.0 wt%, 1.25 wt%, 1.5 wt%, and 1.75 wt%. The silica nanofillers have 96%-99% purity, 20-30 nm sizes and the shapes are spherical. As a result, the XLPE composite containing 1.5 wt% silica nanofiller demonstrate higher tree inception voltage and detaining the tree propagation speed, which could be considered as an inhibitor medium of electrical tree growth.
Energy distribution and economic analysis of a residential house with the net-energy metering scheme in Malaysia
Authors: Mohamed Suhaime Norshahidatul Shahida , Zishan Suheel Shaikh , Safwan Ahmad Afif , Jarimi Hasila , Faizal Mohd , Ibrahim Adnan , Mat Sohif , Fazlizan Ahmad
Published: March 2022

Malaysia demonstrates its commitment to alleviating the negative climate and energy issues through various initiatives. One of the latest initiatives is the amendment of the net-energy metering (NEM) scheme that takes effect from 2019. This paper presents the distribution of energy to the residential house that has a grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed. The study quantifies the percentage of energy consumed from the PV system and the grid as well as the percentage of PV generated energy that is exported to the grid. On average, 38% of generated energy was used for self-consumption that contributed to 28% of the total consumption. Economic evaluation over a 25-year lifecycle of the PV system is also conducted shows that the simple payback period for NEM 2019 and NEM 2016 is 8 years and 20 years, respectively. The latest version of NEM shows a superior advantage compared to the previous one which may attract more investments in PV generation.
Control of shunt-wound motors with DC/DC converters using the pole placement technique
Authors: Shalash Nadheer Abdulridha , Abdul-Adheem Wameedh Riyadh , Abdul Jabbar Yasir Khaldoon
Published: March 2022

Many techniques have been developed for the speed manipulation of shunt-wound direct current motors (SWDCMs) established based on armature and field control. The current research proposes a controller based on the pole placement (PP) control technique and compares it with a proportional integral (PI) controller for trajectory speed control of SWDCM with uncertainty. The circuit of the DC/DC converters energizes the DC motor. The responses are analyzed according to the dynamic mathematical model of the implemented controllers and the model of the DC/DC converters. Comparison of the motor dynamical response of the conventional PI and proposed PP controllers indicates that the PP controller exhibits improved performance in terms of rise time and steady-state error
Control of the humidity percentage of a bioreactor using a fuzzy controller to grow bonsai
Authors: Cruz-Alejo Jesus de la , Cuellar Hugo Beatriz , Alcocer Guillermo Irving Cardiel
Published: March 2022

Different controllers have been designed and used to cultivate bonsai, which need specific conditions to grow and survive in a different place or climate, for this case, humidity. In this work, theoretical, simulation and experimental level are compared and presented in terms of performance characteristics such as complexity, accuracy and convergence of an algorithm proposed to design and implement a fuzzy controller used in a bioreactor to control the humidity percentage to grow bonsai. The MATLAB™ script and fuzzy logic Toolbox™ were used for the analysis and simulation. The controller implementation was done on an Arduino Uno board, and 25850 bytes or 80% of the memory were used to implement it. A sensor to monitor the humidity percentage, a stepper motor connected to a water tap, and a DC motor connected to a propeller were used to adjust the humidity percentage of the bioreactor. The controller results show a maximum error of ±1% for all entire range, and a processing time of 5 milliseconds for one iteration. The results of the tests carried out in the bioreactor are in accordance with the predictions and theoretical simulations, which presents a maximum error of 3%, and a convergence time of 50 seconds for the worst case.
English speaking proficiency assessment using speech and electroencephalography signals
Authors: Hanani Abualsoud , Abusara Yanal , Maher Bisan , Musleh Inas
Published: March 2022

In this paper, the English speaking proficiency level of non-native English speakers
was automatically estimated as high, medium, or low performance. For this purpose, the speech of 142 non-native English speakers was recorded and electroencephalography (EEG) signals of 58 of them were recorded while speaking in English. Two systems were proposed for estimating the English proficiency level of the speaker; one used 72 audio features, extracted from speech signals, and the other used 112 features extracted from EEG signals. Multi-class support vector machines (SVM) was used for training and testing both systems using a cross-validation strategy. The speech-based system outperformed the EEG system with 68% accuracy on 60 testing audio recordings, compared with 56% accuracy on 30 testing EEG recordings.
Corn leaf image classification based on machine learning techniques for accurate leaf disease detection
Authors: Noola Daneshwari Ashok , Rangapura Basavaraju Dayanand
Published: March 2022

Corn leaf disease possesses a huge impact on the food industry and corn crop yield as corn is one of the essential and basic nutrition of human life especially to vegetarians and vegans. Hence it is obvious that the quality of corn has to be ideal, however, to achieve that it has to be protected from the several diseases. Thus, there is a high demand for an automated method, which can detect the disease in early-stage and take necessary steps. However, early disease detection possesses a huge challenge, and it is highly critical. Thus, in this research work, we focus on designing and developing enhanced-K nearest neighbour (EKNN) model by adopting the basic K nearest neighbour (KNN) model. EKNN helps in distinguishing the different class disease. Further fine and coarse features with high quality are generated to obtain the discriminative, boundary, pattern and structural related information and this information are used for classification procedure. Classification process provides the gradient-based features of high quality. Moreover, the proposed model is evaluated considering the Plant-Village dataset; also, a comparative analysis is carried out with different traditional classification model with different metrics.
Brain tumor visualization for magnetic resonance images using modified shape-based interpolation method
Authors: El-Torky Dina Mohammed Sherif , Roushdy Mohamed Ismail , Al-Berry Maryam Nabil , Abd El-Mageed Salem Mohammed
Published: March 2022

3D visualization plays an essential role in medical diagnosis and setting treatment plans especially for brain cancer. There have been many attempts for brain tumor reconstruction and visualization using various techniques. However, this problem is still considered unsolved as more accurate results are needed in this critical field. In this paper, a sequence of 2D slices of brain magnetic resonance Images was used to reconstruct a 3D model for the brain tumor. The images were automatically segmented using a wavelet multi-resolution expectation maximization algorithm. Then, the inter-slice gaps were interpolated using the proposed modified shape-based interpolation method. The method involves three main steps; transferring the binary tumor images to distance images using a suitable distance function, interpolating the distance images using cubic spline interpolation and thresholding the interpolated values to get the reconstructed slices. The final tumor is then visualized as a 3D isosurface. We evaluated the proposed method by removing an original slice from the input images and interpolating it, the results outperform the original shape-based interpolation method by an average of 3% reaching 99% of accuracy for some slice images.
EEIT2-F: energy-efficient aware IT2-fuzzy based clustering protocol in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Al-Husain Enaam Abd , Al-Suhail Ghaida Abdulrazzaq
Published: March 2022

Improving the network lifetime is still a vital challenge because most wireless sensor networks (WSNs) run in an unreached environment, and offer almost impossible human access and tracking. Clustering is one of the most effective methods for ensuring that the relevant device process takes place to improve network scalability, decrease energy consumption and maintain an extended network lifetime. Many research have been developed on the numerous effective clustering algorithms to address this problem.  Such algorithms almost dominate on the cluster head (CH) selection and cluster formation; using the intelligent type1 fuzzy-logic (T1-FL) scheme. In this paper, we suggest an interval type2 FL (IT2-FL) methodology that assumes uncertain levels of a decision to be more efficient than the T1-FL model. It is the so-called energy-efficient interval type2 fuzzy (EEIT2-F) low energy adaptive clustering hierarchical (LEACH) protocol. The IT2-FL system depends on three inputs of the residual energy of each node, the node distance from the base station (sink node), and the centrality of each node. Accordingly, the simulation results show that the suggested clustering protocol outperforms the other existing proposals in terms of energy consumption and network lifetime.
Promoting fractional frequency reuse performance for combating pilot contamination in massive multiple input multiple output
Authors: Atallah Hany A. , Almutairi Saad , Abdel-Rahman Adel Bedair , Elwekeil Mohamed
Published: March 2022

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) improves spectrum efficiency by increasing the capacity of the wireless structure. Therefore, massive MIMO is promising for fifth generation (5G) wireless communications. In massive MIMO, channel estimation is a crucial part that should achieve reliable performance. Pilots are sent from the end-users to be used for estimating the channel. However, the problem of interference in pilot contamination affects the performance for cell-edge users. Specifically, pilot contamination appears when the same pilot sequence is utilized at the same time by more than one terminal. This lead to an inaccurate estimation of the channel. Consequently, the decoded data will not be reliable. For mitigating these pilot contamination effects, an enhanced fractional frequency reuse (eFFR) scheme is proposed that uses an algorithm in the allocation of pilot sequences to end users’ devices based on the locations of the users from the target base station (BS). The simulation results exhibit that the proposed scenario outweighs the traditional FFR within both signal to interference, and noise ratio (SINR), and capacity. Consequently, the suggested scenario enhances the performance of more than 80% of the cell terminals and the other 20% of the terminals have a slightly lower performance compared to the FFR.
Formation control of non-identical multi-agent systems
Authors: Djamari Djati Wibowo , Fikri Muhamad Rausyan , Budiman Bentang Arief , Triawan Farid
Published: March 2022

The problem considered in this work is formation control for non-identical linear multi-agent systems (MASs) under a time-varying communication network. The size of the formation is scalable via a scaling factor determined by a leader agent. Past works on scalable formation are limited to identical agents under a fixed communication network. In addition, the formation scaling variable is updated under a leader-follower network. Differently, this work considers a leaderless undirected network in addition to a leader-follower network to update the formation scaling variable. The control law to achieve scalable formation is based on the internal model principle and consensus algorithm. A biased reference output, updated in a distributed manner, is introduced such that each agent tracks a different reference output. Numerical examples show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Depth-DensePose: an efficient densely connected deep learning model for camera-based localization
Authors: Abozeid Amr , Farouk Hesham , Mashali Samia
Published: March 2022

Camera/image-based localization is important for many emerging applications such as augmented reality (AR), mixed reality, robotics, and self-driving. Camera localization is the problem of estimating both camera position and orientation with respect to an object. Use cases for camera localization depend on two key factors: accuracy and speed (latency). Therefore, this paper proposes Depth-DensePose, an efficient deep learning model for 6-degrees-of-freedom (6-DoF) camera-based localization. The Depth-DensePose utilizes the advantages of both DenseNets and adapted depthwise separable convolution (DS-Conv) to build a deeper and more efficient network. The proposed model consists of iterative depth-dense blocks. Each depth dense block contains two adapted DS-Conv with two kernel sizes 3 and 5, which are useful to retain both low-level as well as high-level features. We evaluate the proposed Depth-DensePose on the Cambridge Landmarks dataset, which shows that the Depth-DensePose outperforms the performance of related deep learning models for camera based localization. Furthermore, extensive experiments were conducted which proven the adapted DS-Conv is more efficient than the standard convolution. Especially, in terms of memory and processing time which is important to real-time and mobile applications.
Towards smart modeling of mechanical properties of a bio composite based on a machine learning
Authors: Moumen Aziz , Lakhdar Abdelghani , Laabid Zineb , Mansouri Khalifa
Published: March 2022

The main interest in many research problems in polymer bio composites and machine learning (ML) is the development of predictive models to one or several variables of interest by the use of suitable independent inputs or variables. Nevertheless, these fields have generally adopted several approaches, while bio composite behavior modeling is usually based on phenomenological theories and physical models. These latter are more robust and precise, but they are generally under the restricted predictive ability due to the particular set of conditions. On the other hand, Machine learning models can be highly efficient in the modeling phase by allowing the management of high and massive dimensional sets of data to predict the best behavior of bio composites. In this situation, biomaterial scientists would like to benefit from the comprehension and implementation of the powerful ML models to characterize or predict the bio composites. In this study, we implement a smart methodology employing supervised neural network models to predict the bio composites properties presenting more significant environmental and economic advantages than composites reinforced by synthetic fibers.
Optimization of power consumption in data centers using machine learning based approaches: a review
Authors: Kumar Rajendra , Khatri Sunil Kumar , Diván Mario José
Published: March 2022

Data center hosting is in higher demand to fulfill the computing and storage requirements of information technology (IT) and cloud services platforms which need more electricity to power on the IT devices and for data center cooling requirements. Because of the increased demand for data center facilities, optimizing power usage and ensuring that data center energy quality is not compromised has become a difficult task. As a result, various machine learning-based optimization approaches for enhancing overall power effectiveness have been outlined. This paper aims to identify and analyze the key ongoing research made between 2015 and 2021 to evaluate the types of approaches being used by researchers in data center energy consumption optimization using Machine Learning algorithms. It is discussed how machine learning can be used to optimize data center power. A potential future scope is proposed based on the findings of this review by combining a mixture of bioinspired optimization and neural network.
Morphological Development at the Evolutionary Timescale: Robotic Developmental Evolution
Authors: Benureau Fabien C. Y. , Tani Jun
Published: March 2022

Evolution and development operate at different timescales; generations for the one, a lifetime for the other. These two processes, the basis of much of life on earth, interact in many non-trivial ways, but their temporal hierarchy—evolution overarching development—is observed for most multicellular life forms. When designing robots, however, this tenet lifts: It becomes—however natural—a design choice. We propose to inverse this temporal hierarchy and design a developmental process happening at the phylogenetic timescale. Over a classic evolutionary search aimed at finding good gaits for tentacle 2D robots, we add a developmental process over the robots’ morphologies. Within a generation, the morphology of the robots does not change. But from one generation to the next, the morphology develops. Much like we become bigger, stronger, and heavier as we age, our robots are bigger, stronger, and heavier with each passing generation. Our robots start with baby morphologies, and a few thousand generations later, end-up with adult ones. We show that this produces better and qualitatively different gaits than an evolutionary search with only adult robots, and that it prevents premature convergence by fostering exploration. In addition, we validate our method on voxel lattice 3D robots from the literature and compare it to a recent evolutionary developmental approach. Our method is conceptually simple, and it can be effective on small or large populations of robots, and intrinsic to the robot and its morphology, not the task or environment. Furthermore, by recasting the evolutionary search as a learning process, these results can be viewed in the context of developmental learning robotics.
Split-Screen: Videogame History Through Local Multiplayer Design
Authors: Karhulahti Veli-Matti , Grabarczyk Pawel
Published: March 2022

By looking at videogame production through a two-vector model of design—a practice determined by the interplay between economic and technological evolution—we argue that shared screen play, as both collaboration and competition, originally functioned as a desirable pattern in videogame design, but has since become problematic due to industry transformations. This is introduced as an example of what we call design vestigiality: momentary loss of a design pattern's contextual function due to techno-economical evolution.
The Design of Firms: Part 1 – Theory of the Firm
Authors: Dong Andy , Kleinsmann Maaike , Snelders Dirk
Published: March 2022

The theory of the firm addresses the economic choice concerning the coordination of production: direct control by an entrepreneur on the one hand or an open market pricing mechanism on the other. We draw upon design theory to offer new thinking on the choice to integrate economic activities within the boundaries of the firm. By drawing on the scholarship in the field of design studies, we show that the coordination of production could both be created and eliminated by a design. It is a design that specifies the labor and material inputs, thus defining the type and number of factors of production. An important factor is the formality of the design, which influences the potential for its modularization into discrete units of production that can be contracted on the open market. In sum, the article argues that design theory can contribute novel conceptualizations to theory of the firm questions on firm existence, scale, and scope.
Scoping a Justificatory Narrative for Design Practice in Research: Some Epistemological Intersections in Dewey, Wittgenstein, and Heidegger
Authors: Dixon Brian
Published: March 2022

Design research involving practice (i.e., practice-based and practice-led research) can be seen to offer a unique approach to knowledge production grounded in imagination and transformation. Yet, in spite of this apparent uniqueness, the approach largely lacks a justificatory epistemological narrative—a way of describing and qualifying its underlying theory of knowledge. It takes the view that any attempt to frame such a narrative requires deep philosophic engagement. This article aims to cohere the perspectives of three key philosophers—Dewey, Wittgenstein, and Heidegger—drawing their voices together around the coupled themes of experience-being, language-meaning, and knowing-truth and representing the whole in design terms.
Using High-Density Electroencephalography to Explore Spatiotemporal Representations of Object Categories in Visual Cortex
Authors: Gurariy Gennadiy , Mruczek Ryan E. B. , Snow Jacqueline C. , Caplovitz Gideon P.
Published: March 2022

Visual object perception involves neural processes that unfold over time and recruit multiple regions of the brain. Here, we use high-density EEG to investigate the spatiotemporal representations of object categories across the dorsal and ventral pathways. In , human participants were presented with images from two animate object categories (birds and insects) and two inanimate categories (tools and graspable objects). In , participants viewed images of tools and graspable objects from a different stimulus set, one in which a shape confound that often exists between these categories (elongation) was controlled for. To explore the temporal dynamics of object representations, we employed time-resolved multivariate pattern analysis on the EEG time series data. This was performed at the electrode level as well as in source space of two regions of interest: one encompassing the ventral pathway and another encompassing the dorsal pathway. Our results demonstrate shape, exemplar, and category information can be decoded from the EEG signal. Multivariate pattern analysis within source space revealed that both dorsal and ventral pathways contain information pertaining to shape, inanimate object categories, and animate object categories. Of particular interest, we note striking similarities obtained in both ventral stream and dorsal stream regions of interest. These findings provide insight into the spatio-temporal dynamics of object representation and contribute to a growing literature that has begun to redefine the traditional role of the dorsal pathway.
Preparing for Success: Neural Frontal Theta and Posterior Alpha Dynamics during Action Preparation Predict Flexible Resolution of Cognitive Conflicts
Authors: Kaiser Jakob , Iliopoulos Panagiotis , Steinmassl Konstantin , Schütz-Bosbach Simone
Published: March 2022

Cognitive conflicts typically arise in situations that call for sudden changes in our behavior. Resolving cognitive conflicts is challenging and prone to errors. Humans can improve their chances to successfully resolve conflicts by mentally preparing for potential behavioral adjustments. Previous studies indicated that neural theta oscillations (4–7 Hz), as well as alpha oscillations (8–14 Hz), are reflective of cognitive control processes during conflict resolution. However, the role or neural oscillations for conflict preparation is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine which oscillatory changes during conflict preparation predict subsequent resolution success. Participants performed a cued change-signal task, in which an anticipatory cue indicated if the upcoming trial might contain a cognitive conflict or not. Oscillatory activity was assessed via EEG. Cues that indicated that a conflict might arise compared with cues that indicated no conflict led to increases, directly followed by decreases, in theta power, as well as to decreases in alpha power. These cue-induced changes in theta and alpha oscillations occurred widespread across the cortex. Importantly, successful compared with failed conflict trials were characterized by selective increases in frontal theta power, as well as decreases in posterior alpha power during preparation. In addition, higher frontal theta power and lower posterior alpha power during preparation predicted faster conflict resolution. Our study shows that increases in frontal theta power, as well as decreases in posterior alpha power, are markers of optimal preparation for situations that necessitate flexible changes in behavior.
The Tactile Comics of Shapereader
Authors: Manouach Ilan
Published: March 2022

Shapereader is a system for tactile storytelling specifically designed for visually impaired readers and makers of comics. Its interface is built on a repertoire of free-floating tactile ideograms intended to provide haptic translations of the semantic features, conceptual functions and attributes of a textual expression. Shapereader works challenge the assumptions and exclusions of graphic literature and explore the conditions for synthesizing language through embodied notions of materiality and performativity. Shapereader situates touch as a conduit for vibrant artistic exploration and demonstrates that comics can address a diverse readership. Promoting an embodied, nonretinal narrative experience with an ongoing outreach plan, Shapereader has been unfolding worldwide in a variety of formats, contexts and collaborations.
Redescription of Hemidactylus giganteus Stoliczka, 1871 with the description of three new allied species (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820) from peninsular India
Authors: KUMAR GANDLA CHETHAN , SRINIVASULU ADITYA , SRINIVASULU CHELMALA
Published: March 2022

We revise the systematics of Hemidactylus giganteus—an Indian endemic leaf-toed gecko based on recent collections from the type locality and other localities in peninsular India. We provide a comprehensive redescription of H. giganteus sensu stricto and describe three new allied species from the Karnataka and Telangana states in India. We analysed the phylogenetic relationships between the three new species, H. raya sp. nov., H. saxicolus sp. nov., and H. aemulus sp. nov., and found them to be nested within the H. giganteus sensu lato branch. The pairwise genetic divergence between these new cryptic taxa from H. giganteus sensu stricto ranged from 5.88% to 10.95% for the Cyt b gene. The new species also differ from H. giganteus sensu stricto based on number of femoral pores on each thigh and poreless scales separating them (18–23 femoral pores and seven or eight poreless scales versus 17 femoral pores and seven poreless scales in H. raya sp. nov., 26 or 27 femoral pores and nine poreless scales in H. saxicolus sp. nov., and 22–25 femoral pores and nine to ten poreless scales in H. aemulus sp. nov.), corroborated by linear discriminant analysis based on 29 morphometric and meristic characters. Our species delimitation analysis shows the presence of three additional putative new species awaiting formal description within the H. giganteus sensu lato branch.
Two new species of the millipede family Trichopolydesmidae from Bahia state, northeastern Brazil, including a remarkable threatened troglobiont (Diplopoda, Polydesmida)
Authors: GOLOVATCH SERGEI I. , GALLO JÉSSICA S. , BICHUETTE MARIA E.
Published: March 2022

Phaneromerium troglopterygotum sp. nov. and Moojenodesmus schubarti sp. nov. are described from Bahia state, northeastern Brazil. The former species is a remarkable troglobiont relict endemic to a single limestone cave from the Serra do Ramalho karst area; it shows some clear-cut troglomorphic traits, and particular biology and ecology. The latter species occurs close to limestone outcrops of the Serra do Iuiu karst area. Both regions generally support a typical dry tropical climate, but the cave and outcrop habitats represent sites with high humidity, this being essential for the survival of these and other species.
The identities of Pulvinaria camelicola Signoret 1873, stat. nov., and the related species, Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood 1870) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) in Japan
Authors: TANAKA HIROTAKA , KAMITANI SATOSHI
Published: March 2022

The soft scale, Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood 1870) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is a well-known agricultural and horticultural plant pest; however, there is some confusion surrounding its true taxonomic identity. The type specimens of P. floccifera differ morphologically from specimens described under this name in several recent studies. This confusion has arisen because the original description is too brief, and subsequent redescriptions were based on non-conspecific material. This taxonomically problematic situation has led to further confusion regarding the identity of P. floccifera. Herein, the oldest junior synonym of P. floccifera, i.e., Pulvinaria camelicola Signoret 1873 stat. rev., is revived to confer taxonomic stability to P. floccifera. The revived name, P. camelicola, is applied to a distinct species hitherto misidentified as P. floccifera. Morphological details of the adult female of P. camelicola stat. rev. are updated; and the adult female of P. floccifera is redescribed, based on specimens collected in Japan and some type specimens. A lectotype of P. floccifera are designated to stabilise the species identity. A key to the species of Pulvinaria found in Japan, and a table of diagnostic morphological character states of P. floccifera, P. camelicola stat. rev. and the type species of the genus, P. vitis (Linnaeus 1758), are provided to facilitate further taxonomic revision of the genus in the future.
Climate Change Impact Chains: A Review of Applications, Challenges, and Opportunities for Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments
Authors: Menk Linda , Terzi Stefano , Zebisch Marc , Rome Erich , Lückerath Daniel , Milde Katharina , Kienberger Stefan
Published: March 2022

Shifting from effect-oriented toward cause-oriented and systemic approaches in sustainable climate change adaptation requires a solid understanding of the climate-related and societal causes behind climate risks. Thus, capturing, systemizing, and prioritizing factors contributing to climate risks are essential for developing cause-oriented climate risk and vulnerability assessments (CRVA). Impact chains (IC) are conceptual models used to capture hazard, vulnerability, and exposure factors that lead to a specific risk. IC modeling includes a participatory stakeholder phase and an operational quantification phase. Although ICs are widely implemented to systematically capture risk processes, they still show methodological gaps concerning, for example, the integration of dynamic feedback or balanced stakeholder involvement. Such gaps usually only become apparent in practical applications, and there is currently no systematic perspective on common challenges and methodological needs. Therefore, we reviewed 47 articles applying IC and similar CRVA methods that consider the cause–effect dynamics governing risk. We provide an overview of common challenges and opportunities as a roadmap for future improvements. We conclude that IC should move from a linear-like to an impact web–like representation of risk to integrate cause–effect dynamics. Qualitative approaches are based on significant stakeholder involvement to capture expert-, place-, and context-specific knowledge. The integration of IC into quantifiable, executable models is still highly underexplored because of a limited understanding of systems, data, evaluation options, and other uncertainties. Ultimately, using IC to capture the underlying complex processes behind risk supports effective, long-term, and sustainable climate change adaptation.
Management and staff reception to overdose prevention in NYC nightlife venues
Authors: LaSane Kendall , Ko Charles , Dolatshahi Jennifer , Nolan Michelle L , Libou Molly , Barrasse Danielle , Paone Denise
Published: March 2022

Background:

Fentanyl has become increasingly present in the illicit drug supply, including in cocaine. Interventions that target non-opioid use are a necessary component of overdose prevention due to the increased presence of fentanyl.

Objectives:

To assess management and staff reception to overdose prevention messaging and access to naloxone in New York City nightlife venues.

Methods:

Between June and August 2019, we conducted a public awareness intervention in 75 nightlife venues (bars, nightclubs and music venues) to visibly display coasters and posters containing overdose prevention messaging for 6 weeks. As part of the intervention, staff were offered overdose education and a naloxone kit. A post-intervention survey assessed reception of intervention materials, staff and patron responses to intervention messaging and staff awareness of fentanyl, naloxone and access to naloxone.

Results:

Forty-one venues displayed posters and coasters and staff at 28 of these venues (68%) completed naloxone training. Respondents reported learning about naloxone and fentanyl through the intervention, and a majority of staff (92%) were receptive to the intervention’s messages. Partnerships with community-facing stakeholders and earned media facilitated the reach of the intervention.

Conclusion:

Venue management and staff were receptive to the intervention, its messaging and keeping a naloxone kit on the premises. Overdose prevention efforts in nightlife venues should consider low-cost strategies such as disseminating intervention materials through television, print and social media, collaborating with community partners to enhance venue recruitment and providing venues with naloxone training and communal kits. Further research is needed to explore retention of overdose prevention messaging and subsequent short- and long-term behaviour change.
Study on the effect of tailoring the hard copolymer polyurethane on the thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of hard copolymer polyurethane/multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposites
Authors: Albozahid Muayad , Naji Haneen Zuhair , Alobad Zoalfokkar Kareem , Saiani Alberto
Published: March 2022

This study focusses on the effect of the addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the morphology and thermal, rheological and electrical properties of hard copolymer polyurethane (HCPU) using 1,5 pentane-diols as a chain extender, containing 85% of hard segment blocks. Step-growth polymerisation was used to synthesise a HCPU polymer matrix, followed by melt compounding to prepare the nanocomposites. SEM investigation of the neat HCPU structure and its nanocomposites indicated the uniform dispersion of MWCNTs within the polymer matrix; further TEM morphology investigation showed some agglomeration regions, attributed to the high MWCNT content (2 wt%). An XRD test confirmed a homogeneous distribution of MWCNTs by observing the remaining location of the highest peaks of MWCNTs and amorphous peaks of the HCPU matrix. Analysis of the melt rheology test results showed an improvement in complex viscosity combined with an increase in the G’ and G” of nanocomposites from those of pure HCPU due to the presence of MWCNTs. Finally, electrical conductivity of nanocomposites demonstrated a significant improvement in its value at high loading of MWCNTs from that of pure HCPU matrix.
Navigating Politically Muddy Waters: Charter Management Organizations and Their Efforts to Craft a Counternarrative
Authors: Hernández Laura E.
Published: March 2022

In the face of growing critiques, charter management organizations (CMOs) increasingly contend with criticism as they maintain their presence in districts, particularly with school board members who often serve as gatekeepers for charter authorization. Yet, little is known about how CMOs navigate these politically muddy waters in local settings. The localized political maneuvers of CMOs are the central focus of this case study, which demonstrates how CMOs in one city deployed strategic discourse to buffer anticipated critiques and assuage concerns though questions as to the equitable and democratic character of their actions and rhetoric remain.
Effect of High-Fidelity Simulation on Clinical Judgment Among Nursing Students
Authors: Ayed Ahmad , Khalaf Inaam A. , Fashafsheh Imad , Saleh Ali , Bawadi Hala , Abuidhail Jamila , Thultheen Imad , Joudallah Hasan
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Nursing education needs to be improved in order to bridge the gap between education and clinical practice. However, clinical placements for nursing students are limited and student nurses often take merely an observer role, especially in critical situations. High-fidelity simulation (HFS) is a teaching method that can bridge the gap between education and clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of using HFS as a teaching method on clinical judgment among pediatric nursing students at the Arab American University utilizing a bacterial meningitis case scenario.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study with a convenience sample of one hundred and fifty baccalaureate nursing students enrolled in a pediatric health nursing course. Nursing students were randomly assigned to high-fidelity simulation experience or traditional methods. The clinical judgment was assessed using Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric Tool.

Results

Results revealed that the high-fidelity simulation experience has improved pediatric nursing students’ clinical judgment. The mean clinical judgment differed significantly at post-test in the intervention group after the simulation (t (148) = 7.20, P < .001).

Conclusion

The HFS can be an effective tool to provide a safe and effective learning environment for pediatric nursing students, consequently improving their clinical judgment
Racial Microaggressions and African American Undergraduates’ Academic Experiences: Preparation for Bias Messages as a Protective Resource
Authors: McGee Taylor , Kruger Ann Cale
Published: March 2022

Using a sample of 108 African American undergraduates at a minority serving institution, this quantitative study investigated the relationships among aspects of parental racial socialization messages, on-campus racial microaggressions, and academic outcomes. The analysis indicated a negative relationship between academic inferiority microaggressions and school belonging. Results showed a positive intercorrelation between the academic outcomes (academic engagement and school belonging). Findings from multiple linear regressions, using Hayes PROCESS model, revealed the frequency of receiving preparation for bias messages (PBM) moderated the relationship between academic engagement and academic inferiority microaggressions. For undergraduates who reported receiving a low amount of PBM from their parents, experiencing high amounts of academic inferiority microaggressions predicted lower academic engagement. In contrast, among students who reported receiving a high amount of PBM, experiencing more academic inferiority microaggressions predicted higher academic engagement. These results indicated PBM can serve as a protective factor for the extent to which African American undergraduates’ academic engagement is harmed by experiences of academic-related racial microaggressions.
Co-Constructing Defensive Discourses of Service-Learning in Psychology: A Psychosocial Understanding of Anxiety and Service-Learning, and the Implications for Social Justice
Authors: Haselau Tracey , Saville Young Lisa
Published: March 2022

Background

This paper describes findings from research conducted on students who participated in a service-learning course in South Africa.

Objective

The study aimed to understand how participants constructed their experiences of service-learning and to interrogate their emotional investments in these constructions.

Method

Data were collected and analyzed using a psychosocial methodology, consisting of discursive and psychoanalytic readings of interview transcripts, reflective journal entries, and researcher field notes.

Results

The discursive findings focus on how participants employed liberal traditional learning discourses to construct service-learning as linear resulting in subject positions that reinforced prejudices and the power structures supporting these. A psychoanalytic reading of the data suggests that participants invested in these constructions to defend against their own anxiety related to uncertainty and guilt about privilege in an unfamiliar context.

Conclusion

Students invest in liberal traditional discourses of service-learning for defensive reasons, which can be understood as arising from the intersubjective and social context in which the service-learning takes place.

Teaching Implications

Recognizing prejudice as emanating from anxiety generated by the affective work required for service-learning means thinking creatively about how to both contain and allow this affective work to take place in service-learning activities.
The neoliberal influence on South Africa’s early democracy and its shortfalls in addressing economic inequality
Authors: Fourie Danelle
Published: March 2022

In this article, I will argue that early post-Apartheid South Africa adopted certain neoliberal principles which compromised the efforts to combat economic inequality. In particular, I will show that the economic policies that South Africa adopted during its early democracy reflect core neoliberal principles which promote a neoliberal political rationality. These economic policies indicate a pivotal approach from the African National Congress government in addressing economic inequality in South Africa. The dramatic shift from traditional Marxist policies to neoliberal policies reveals the significant influence of a neoliberal global market system during South Africa’s early democracy. However, the neoliberal policies failed to address the problem of economic inequality in South Africa. Instead, these policies seem to have deepened the existing economic inequality in contemporary South African society.
Complete repair for Scimitar syndrome with transitional atrioventricular canal
Authors: Watanabe Naruhito , Manohar Naveen , Hapak Ashley , Nasirov Teimour
Published: March 2022

We describe an extremely rare case of a 15-year-old female, who underwent a complete repair for transitional atrioventricular canal with Scimitar syndrome by a two-patch technique including translocation of the Scimitar vein. This surgical technique offered superior patch shapes in order to better repair both anomalies.
The Shift of the Centre of Gravity of the Church from the West to the Majority World: A Response
Authors: Brown Lindsay
Published: March 2022

This is a response to Hwa Yung's paper on the shift of the centre of the gravity of the church from the West into the Majority World. It reflects on the reasons why the church grew in the West, particularly in Europe, in the past and suggests what can be learned from the strengths of the Western church, as well as its weaknesses and failures. Three periods of Western church history are covered: The Early Church from AD 30 to AD 330, the sixteenth century European Reformation, and the modern missionary expansion in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the subsequent decline of the Western church.