bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED: Study on the Removal Efficiency and Mechanism of Tetracycline in Water Using Biochar and Magnetic Biochar
Authors: Sun Hongwei , Yang Jingjie , Wang Yue , Liu Yucan , Cai Chenjian , Davarpanah Afshin
Published: November 2021

In this study, a new type of sludge-derived biochar material with high tetracycline removal efficiency, named magnetic Fe3O4 biochar, was accomplished by KOH activated and loaded with magnetic Fe3O4. The particles with spherical pellets observed by SEM, as well as the XRD patterns, indicated that magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto the biochar. We studied the adsorption effects and mechanisms of the following three different adsorption materials for tetracycline: biochar (BC), magnetic Fe3O4, and magnetic biochar (MBC), and the loading conditions and reusability of the materials were also considered. The adsorption effects were as follows: Fe3O4 (94.3%) > MBC (88.3%) > BC (65.7%), and the ratio of biochar to ferric salt was 0.2:1; the removal effect reached the best result. Under an acidic condition, the adsorption capacity of all the materials reached the maximum, and the adsorption of tetracycline in water, by three adsorbents, involves chemical adsorption as the leading process and physical adsorption as the auxiliary process. Various characterizations indicated the removal of tetracycline, including pore filling, electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bond action, and cationic-π action. Complex bridging is a unique adsorption mechanism of magnetic Fe3O4 and magnetic biochar. In addition, the magnetic biochar also possesses π–π bond interaction. The magnetic materials can still maintain a certain amount of adsorption capacity on tetracycline after five cycles. This study proved that the magnetic sludge-based biochar are ideal adsorbents for the removal of tetracycline from water, as well as an effective route for the reclamation of waste sludge.
Hybridization of MMT/Lignocellulosic Fiber Reinforced Polymer Nanocomposites for Structural Applications: A Review
Authors: Alias Aisyah Humaira , Norizan Mohd Nurazzi , Sabaruddin Fatimah Athiyah , Asyraf Muhammad Rizal Muhammad , Norrrahim Mohd Nor Faiz , Ilyas Ahmad Rushdan , Kuzmin Anton M. , Rayung Marwah , Shazleen Siti Shazra , Nazrin Asmawi , Sherwani Shah Faisal Khan , Harussani Muhammad Moklis , Atikah Mahamud Siti Nur , Ishak Mohamad Ridzwan , Sapuan Salit Mohd , Khalina Abdan
Published: November 2021

In the recent past, significant research effort has been dedicated to examining the usage of nanomaterials hybridized with lignocellulosic fibers as reinforcement in the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites. The introduction of nanoparticles like montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay was found to increase the strength, modulus of elasticity and stiffness of composites and provide thermal stability. The resulting composite materials has figured prominently in research and development efforts devoted to nanocomposites and are often used as strengthening agents, especially for structural applications. The distinct properties of MMT, namely its hydrophilicity, as well as high strength, high aspect ratio and high modulus, aids in the dispersion of this inorganic crystalline layer in water-soluble polymers. The ability of MMT nanoclay to intercalate into the interlayer space of monomers and polymers is used, followed by the exfoliation of filler particles into monolayers of nanoscale particles. The present review article intends to provide a general overview of the features of the structure, chemical composition, and properties of MMT nanoclay and lignocellulosic fibers. Some of the techniques used for obtaining polymer nanocomposites based on lignocellulosic fibers and MMT nanoclay are described: (i) conventional, (ii) intercalation, (iii) melt intercalation, and (iv) in situ polymerization methods. This review also comprehensively discusses the mechanical, thermal, and flame retardancy properties of MMT-based polymer nanocomposites. The valuable properties of MMT nanoclay and lignocellulose fibers allow us to expand the possibilities of using polymer nanocomposites in various advanced industrial applications.
Impact of Impurities on Crystallization and Product Quality: A Case Study with Paracetamol
Authors: Urwin Stephanie J. , Yerdelen Stephanie , Houson Ian , ter Horst Joop H.
Published: November 2021

A thorough, systematic study into the effect that structurally related impurities have on both the process and product quality during the crystallization of an active pharmaceutical ingredient is presented. The presence of acetanilide and metacetamol influences the crystallization and product quality of paracetamol. Where high concentrations of either impurity were present in the crystallization feed, product recovery decreased by up to 15%. Acetanilide is included in the final product through adsorption onto the particle surface in concentrations up to 0.79 mol%, which can be reduced to acceptable levels through product reslurrying. The presence of metacetamol results in much higher concentrations—up to 6.78 mol% in the final product, of which approximately 1 mol% is incorporated into the crystal lattice, resulting in the perturbation of the unit-cell dimensions. The incidental crystallization and subsequent isolation of metastable Form II paracetamol increased product purity in the presence of a low metacetamol concentration. This metastable product converts to stable paracetamol Form I through reslurrying, offering an efficient metacetamol impurity rejection route. The morphology of the product is modified consistently by both impurities. An elongation of the normal prismatic shape is observed, which in the extreme case of high metacetamol contamination results in the isolation of fine, fragile needles. This problematic morphology is also improved by a reslurrying of the crystallization product to give a more equilateral shape. This systematic study of the influence of acetanilide and metacetamol on the crystallization of paracetamol builds a well-rounded picture of the concomitant impact of impurities on the principal quality attributes of a crystallization product.
The Relationship between the Static and Dynamic Balance of the Body, the Influence of Eyesight and Muscle Tension in the Cervical Spine in CAA Patients—A Pilot Study
Authors: Olczak Anna , Truszczyńska-Baszak Aleksandra , Gniadek-Olejniczak Katarzyna
Published: November 2021

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is one form of disease of the small vessels of the brain and can cause frequent cerebral hemorrhages as well as other types of stroke. The aim of the study was to analyze the static and dynamic balance of the body and changes in the tension of selected muscles of the cervical spine in patients with CAA after stroke, depending on visual control or its absence, compared to healthy volunteers. Eight stroke patients and eight healthy subjects were examined. The functional Unterberger test and the Biodex SD platform were used to test the dynamic equilibrium, on which the static equilibrium was also assessed. Muscle tension was tested with the Luna EMG device. In static tests, the LC muscle (longus colli) was significantly more active with and without visual control (p = 0.016; p = 0.002), and in dynamic tests, significantly higher results for MOS (p = 0.046) were noted. The comparison of the groups led to the conclusion that the more functional deficits, the more difficult it is to keep balance, also with eye control.
Feature-Based Interpretation of the Deep Neural Network
Authors: Lee Eun-Hun , Kim Hyeoncheol
Published: November 2021

The significant advantage of deep neural networks is that the upper layer can capture the high-level features of data based on the information acquired from the lower layer by stacking layers deeply. Since it is challenging to interpret what knowledge the neural network has learned, various studies for explaining neural networks have emerged to overcome this problem. However, these studies generate the local explanation of a single instance rather than providing a generalized global interpretation of the neural network model itself. To overcome such drawbacks of the previous approaches, we propose the global interpretation method for the deep neural network through features of the model. We first analyzed the relationship between the input and hidden layers to represent the high-level features of the model, then interpreted the decision-making process of neural networks through high-level features. In addition, we applied network pruning techniques to make concise explanations and analyzed the effect of layer complexity on interpretability. We present experiments on the proposed approach using three different datasets and show that our approach could generate global explanations on deep neural network models with high accuracy and fidelity.
Intelligent Performance Prediction: The Use Case of a Hadoop Cluster
Authors: Uzunidis Dimitris , Karkazis Panagiotis , Roussou Chara , Patrikakis Charalampos , Leligou Helen C.
Published: November 2021

The optimum utilization of infrastructural resources is a highly desired yet cumbersome task for service providers to achieve. This is because the optimal amount of such resources is a function of various parameters, such as the desired/agreed quality of service (QoS), the service characteristics/profile, workload and service life-cycle. The advent of frameworks that foresee the dynamic establishment and placement of service and network functions further contributes to a decrease in the effectiveness of traditional resource allocation methods. In this work, we address this problem by developing a mechanism which first performs service profiling and then a prediction of the resources that would lead to the desired QoS for each newly deployed service. The main elements of our approach are as follows: (a) the collection of data from all three layers of the deployed infrastructure (hardware, virtual and service), instead of a single layer of the deployed infrastructure, to provide a clearer picture on the potential system break points, (b) the study of well-known container based implementations following that microservice paradigm and (c) the use of a data analysis routine that employs a set of machine learning algorithms and performs accurate predictions of the required resources for any future service requests. We investigate the performance of the proposed framework using our open-source implementation to examine the case of a Hadoop cluster. The results show that running a small number of tests is adequate to assess the main system break points and at the same time to attain accurate resource predictions for any future request.
Effect of Ellagic Acid on Fermentation Quality and Bacterial Community of Stylo Silage
Authors: Zou Xuan , Chen Dandan , Lv Hongjian , Zhang Qing , Zheng Peng
Published: November 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ellagic acid on the bacterial community and fermentability of stylo silage. Three treatments of stylo silage were used: control (CK) and treated with 1% or 2% ellagic acid (EA1 and EA2) on a fresh matter basis. All silage was stored at ambient temperature and opened on days 3, 7, 14, and 30. Fermentation characteristics, protein fraction, and bacteria community of all periods of silage were analyzed. Results showed that dry matter and crude protein content were increased, and pH value, number of coliform bacteria, contents of acetic acid, and ammonium nitrogen were decreased with the addition of ellagic acid. The antioxidant activity of 1% and 2% ellagic acid treated silages was significantly higher than the control. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of Klebsiella and Clostridium was decreased with the addition of ellagic acid, and the abundance of Lactobacillus, Weissella, and Enterococcus was increased with prolonged days of ensiling. Adding ellagic acid to stylo silage could improve the fermentation quality and preservation of protein, and reduce the abundance of harmful bacteria.
Trivariate Copula for Modeling Barriers Crash Severity, Accounting for Policy Endogeneity
Authors: Rezapour Mahdi , Ksaibati Khaled
Published: November 2021

Studies have been implemented in the literature to enhance the safety of traffic barriers by identification of the contributory factors to those crashes. However, almost all those past studies are subject to potential pitfalls of just answering the cause-and-effect question by traditional statistical methods, which fail to account for possible endogeneity. Modeling traffic barrier crash severity with traditional statistical methods might be biased as many parameters such as barrier’s types is endogenous to unseen factors including policy makers’ decisions in allocating those barriers. Not accounting for the possible endogeneity in the dataset and ignoring correlation between regressors’ error terms might result in biased or erroneous coefficients’ estimates. That is especially true in the presence of strong correlations across models’ error terms. Thus, this study was conducted to model barriers’ crash severity by taking into consideration the endogeneity and correlations across the models’ error terms. Here, the trivariate copula-based method was implemented to simultaneously model traffic barrier crash severity, shoulder width and barrier’s types, while accounting for interrelationships across the models’ error terms. The results provide strong evidence of correlations between the unseen factors to the selections of barrier’s types, shoulder width installation, and crash injury levels. For instance, we found in the presence of accounting for endogeneity and correlation between unseen factors, concrete traffic barrier type and higher shoulder width installation are negatively correlated with unseen factors contributing to severe barriers’ crashes That is despite the fact that the observed factors of those predictors were found to have a reverse impact on the severity of barriers’ crashes.
“Horsin’ Around”? #MeToo, the Sadcom, and BoJack Horseman
Authors: Sawallisch Nele
Published: November 2021

The animated series BoJack Horseman has garnered much critical acclaim for its mix of tragic and comic portrayals of its eponymous protagonist, washed-up actor and cynic BoJack, and his friends in the anthropomorphic Hollywoo setting. The term “sadcom” has been applied to BoJack and other series that operate on similar premises—an interesting response to larger critical investigations of the intersections of tragic and comic modes of humor that find expression, for example, in the awkward and in cringe. This article investigates how this mixture comes to bear in season 5 of the series from 2018, which deals with several topics related to the #MeToo movement. Through several formal elements as well as plotlines that lay bare superficial performances and complicitness in a sexist system, the season supports notions of authenticity and solidarity that lie the heart of sadcoms, which invites closer inspection not just of BoJack Horseman but the genre as a whole.
Gene Therapy Targeting p53 and KRAS for Colorectal Cancer Treatment: A Myth or the Way Forward?
Authors: Hasbullah Hidayati Husainy , Musa Marahaini
Published: November 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide and is responsible as one of the main causes of mortality in both men and women. Despite massive efforts to raise public awareness on early screening and significant advancements in the treatment for CRC, the majority of cases are still being diagnosed at the advanced stage. This contributes to low survivability due to this cancer. CRC patients present various genetic changes and epigenetic modifications. The most common genetic alterations associated with CRC are p53 and KRAS mutations. Gene therapy targeting defect genes such as TP53 (tumor suppressor gene encodes for p53) and KRAS (oncogene) in CRC potentially serves as an alternative treatment avenue for the disease in addition to the standard therapy. For the last decade, significant developments have been seen in gene therapy for translational purposes in treating various cancers. This includes the development of vectors as delivery vehicles. Despite the optimism revolving around targeted gene therapy for cancer treatment, it also has various limitations, such as a lack of availability of related technology, high cost of the involved procedures, and ethical issues. This article will provide a review on the potentials and challenges of gene therapy targeting p53 and KRAS for the treatment of CRC.
Plasma Exchange in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis: A Narrative Review
Authors: Tsiakas Stathis , Marinaki Smaragdi , Lionaki Sophia , Boletis John
Published: November 2021

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an adjunctive intervention to immunosuppression for the treatment of severe renal involvement or lung hemorrhage in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Patients with AAV have an increased risk for progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or death despite advances in immunosuppressive therapy. The potential pathogenicity of ANCA makes TPE a reasonable treatment approach for the life-threatening complications of AAV. The efficacy of intensive TPE in rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis was originally described in small studies almost four decades ago. Further randomized trials examined the addition of TPE to standard of care, exhibiting mixed results in both patient and renal survival. The largest clinical trial to date, PEXIVAS, failed to demonstrate a clear benefit for TPE in severe AAV. In light of new evidence, the role of TPE remains controversial across the vasculitis medical community. The purpose of this review is to summarize the clinical indications and the current available data for the use of TPE in patients with severe AAV.
Association between Vitamin D Supplementation and Mental Health in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Guzek Dominika , Kołota Aleksandra , Lachowicz Katarzyna , Skolmowska Dominika , Stachoń Małgorzata , Głąbska Dominika
Published: November 2021

Vitamin D is considered to be a crucial factor that influences symptoms of depression, negative emotions, and quality of life, but to date, no systematic review has been conducted with regard to its effect on other domains of mental health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in healthy adults. The systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020155779) and performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science databases and included intervention studies published until October 2019. The human studies were included if the supplementation regimen involved the administration of a specified dosage of vitamin D to an adult sample. A total of 7613 records were screened and assessed independently by two researchers, based on their title, abstract, and full text sequentially. Finally, 14 studies were included, and their risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). The studies were included if they presented the results of various doses of vitamin D, compared the supplementation results with the placebo effect, compared the outcome with no supplementation, or observed effect of specific dose applied. The assessed mental health outcomes mainly included depressive symptoms, or depression, well-being, quality of life, mood, general mental component, and anxiety, but single studies also included other parameters such as distress, impression of improvement, and fear of falling and flourishing. The results of the majority of studies did not confirm a positive influence of vitamin D supplementation. None of the high-quality studies (assessed using NOS), which evaluated outcomes other than depression, supported the hypothesis that vitamin D supplementation effectively ameliorates mental health issues, while they present conflicting evidence for depression. Some studies indicated that supplementation should be combined with physical activity to provide effective results, and that supplementation is less effective than vitamin D supply from food sources. The included studies were conducted in diverse populations and followed various doses and intervals of administration, so the results may be incomparable, which should be considered as a limitation. The conducted systematic review did not provide strong evidence for a positive effect of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in healthy adults.
Automated Measurements of Ankle-Brachial Index: A Narrative Review
Authors: Danieluk Aleksandra , Chlabicz Sławomir
Published: November 2021

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic disease that causes obstruction in lower limb arteries. It increases cardiovascular risk even in asymptomatic patients. Accurate diagnostic tools for identification of affected individuals are needed. Recently, there have been attempts to establish a reliable method of automated ankle-brachial index (ABI) identification. A search of PubMed database to identify studies assessing automatic ABI measurements in agreement with standard PAD diagnosis methods was conducted in December 2020. A total of 57 studies were analyzed in the review. The majority of analyzed studies found ABI measured by automatic oscillometric devices to be potentially feasible for use. Some note that, even though the Doppler and oscillometric methods are not fully interchangeable, the oscillometric devices could be used in screening. Significantly fewer publications are available on automatic plethysmographic devices. For photoplethysmography, most studies reported either good or moderate agreement with reference standards. For air plethysmography, poorer agreement with Doppler ABI is suggested. It is noted that pulse volume recording (PVR) function may improve the diagnostic accuracy of the devices.
Probable Factors Associated with Response to Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Stroke Patients: A Post Hoc Analysis of the STARTING-2 Trial
Authors: Chang Won Hyuk , Lee Jungsoo , Chung Jong-Won , Kim Yun-Hee , Bang Oh Young ,   The STARTING-2 Collaborators
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with improved motor function of the lower extremities in response to mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in patients with ischemic stroke. This study was a post hoc analysis of data from a prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial of MSC therapy for patients with ischemic stroke patients associated with severe middle cerebral artery territory (STARTING-2 trial). Lower limb motor function was scored based on the lower limb of Fugl–Meyer assessment (FMA-LL) score before MSC therapy and at 3 months after stroke. All FMA-LL changes greater than or equal to six points were considered clinically significant. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to determine possible predictors of clinically significant lower limb motor response to MSC therapy. Twelve (33%) of the thirty-six patients receiving MSC therapy reached a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of FMA-LL. The two independent factors with the greatest impact on response to MSC therapy for achieving an MCID in FMA-LL score were: (1) the time from stroke onset to MSC therapy, and (2) age (p < 0.05). In addition, obese stroke patients responded better to MSC therapy than stroke patients with normal weight. In conclusion, this post hoc analysis might suggest the need for recruiting stroke patients at younger and early after stroke onset in future clinical trials of MSC therapy for stroke.
CVD Risk Factors in the Ukrainian Roma and Meta-Analysis of Their Prevalence in Roma Populations Worldwide
Authors: Zajc Petranović Matea , Rizzieri Ashley Elizabeth , Sivaraj Dharshan , Smolej Narančić Nina , Škarić-Jurić Tatjana , Celinšćak Željka , Stojanović Marković Anita , Peričić Salihović Marijana , Kalászi Julia , Kalászi Marianna , Lin John Q. , Mehta Sanica , Burleson Jill , Rizzieri David A.
Published: November 2021

The Roma population suffers from severe poverty, social exclusion, and some of the worst health conditions in the industrialized world. Herein, we report on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the Ukrainian Roma and present a meta-analysis of the prevalence of CVD risk factors in 16 Roma populations worldwide. The meta-analyses of CVD risk factors in Roma (n = 16,552) vs. non-Roma majority population of the same country (n = 127,874) included publicly available data. Ukrainian field survey included 339 adults of both sexes and outcomes of interest were hypertension, body mass index (BMI), smoking, education, and employment status. Furthermore, 35.7% of the Ukrainian Roma were hypertensive, 69.3% unemployed, and 48.4% never went to school. Ukrainian Roma women were more likely to be underweight and more prone to be hypertensive, with odds of hypertension increasing with age, BMI, and positive smoking status. Meta-analyses showed that, in comparison with non-Roma worldwide, the Roma bear significantly higher risk factor loads related to smoking (OR = 2.850), diabetes (OR = 1.433), abdominal obesity (OR = 1.276), and metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.975), with lower loads for hypertension (OR = 0.607) and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (OR = 0.872). To conclude, the CVD risk factors which are more common in Roma than in the majority population may reflect their poor health-related behaviors and inadequate access to health education.
Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies and Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rossignol Daniel A. , Frye Richard E.
Published: November 2021

The cerebral folate receptor alpha (FRα) transports 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) into the brain; low 5-MTHF in the brain causes cerebral folate deficiency (CFD). CFD has been associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and is treated with d,l-leucovorin (folinic acid). One cause of CFD is an autoantibody that interferes with the function of the FRα. FRα autoantibodies (FRAAs) have been reported in ASD. A systematic review was performed to identify studies reporting FRAAs in association with ASD, or the use of d,l-leucovorin in the treatment of ASD. A meta-analysis examined the prevalence of FRAAs in ASD. The pooled prevalence of ASD in individuals with CFD was 44%, while the pooled prevalence of CFD in ASD was 38% (with a significant variation across studies due to heterogeneity). The etiology of CFD in ASD was attributed to FRAAs in 83% of the cases (with consistency across studies) and mitochondrial dysfunction in 43%. A significant inverse correlation was found between higher FRAA serum titers and lower 5-MTHF CSF concentrations in two studies. The prevalence of FRAA in ASD was 71% without significant variation across studies. Children with ASD were 19.03-fold more likely to be positive for a FRAA compared to typically developing children without an ASD sibling. For individuals with ASD and CFD, meta-analysis also found improvements with d,l-leucovorin in overall ASD symptoms (67%), irritability (58%), ataxia (88%), pyramidal signs (76%), movement disorders (47%), and epilepsy (75%). Twenty-one studies (including four placebo-controlled and three prospective, controlled) treated individuals with ASD using d,l-leucovorin. d,l-Leucovorin was found to significantly improve communication with medium-to-large effect sizes and have a positive effect on core ASD symptoms and associated behaviors (attention and stereotypy) in individual studies with large effect sizes. Significant adverse effects across studies were generally mild but the most common were aggression (9.5%), excitement or agitation (11.7%), headache (4.9%), insomnia (8.5%), and increased tantrums (6.2%). Taken together, d,l-leucovorin is associated with improvements in core and associated symptoms of ASD and appears safe and generally well-tolerated, with the strongest evidence coming from the blinded, placebo-controlled studies. Further studies would be helpful to confirm and expand on these findings.
Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy with the Use of an Implant and Serratus Anterior Fascia Flap—Initial Clinical Evaluation
Authors: Tarallo Mauro , Lo Torto Federico , Ricci Fabio , Dicorato Paolo , Mori Francesco Luca Rocco , Vinci Federica , Parisi Paola , Greco Manfredi , De Masi Carlo , La Manna Alessandra Rita , Piroli Silvia , Ribuffo Diego
Published: November 2021

Prosthesis-based techniques are the predominant form of breast reconstruction worldwide. The most performed surgical technique involves the placement of the expander in a partial submuscular plane. The coverage of the implant remains a difficult management problem that can lead to complications and poor outcomes. The use of the serratus fascia flap may be the best choice to create a subpectoral pocket for the placement of a tissue expander, with excellent results in terms of morbidity and cost-effectiveness. A total of 20 breast reconstructions with the inferolateral coverage with the serratus fascia were performed. Patients demonstrated a low overall complication rate (9.5%), such as seroma and infection, with complete resolution during the follow-up and no major complications. The US examination of the soft tissues over the implant reported thickness measurements that demonstrated a good coverage over the inferolateral area. Our study shows that using the serratus fascia flap to create a pocket with the pectoralis major for the placement of the tissue expander is an effective technique during two-stage breast reconstruction. The resulting low rate of morbidity and the US findings collected reveal the safety of this procedure. Its success relies on appropriate patient selection and specific intraoperative technique principles.
Political Stress and the Sustainability of Funded Pension Schemes: Introduction of a Financial Theory
Authors: Wolf Ishay
Published: November 2021

This study introduces multiplayer game in the modern pension market. Particularly, this study claims that low earners and high earners have different interests when playing in funded pension market scheme. This differentiating is enabled by avoiding the entire society as a single earning cohort. This study using financial position, demonstrates a socio-economic anomaly in the funded pension system, which is in favor of high-earning cohorts at the expense of low-earning cohorts. This anomaly is realized by a lack of insurance and exposure to financial and systemic risks. Furthermore, the anomaly could lead to a pension re-reform back to an unfunded scheme system, due mostly to political pressure. This study found that a minimum pension guarantee is a rebalance mechanism for this anomaly, which increases the probability of a sustainable pension scheme. Nowadays when countries try to balance between social expenses and awaking financial markets, one may find this theory highly relevant. It is obviously one of the cases where social targets meat financial equilibrium and here they are in the same side. Specifically, it is argued that implementing the guarantee with an intra-generational, risk-sharing mechanism is the most efficient way to reduce the effect of this abnormality.
Machine Learning Enabled Food Contamination Detection Using RFID and Internet of Things System
Authors: Sharif Abubakar , Abbasi Qammer H. , Arshad Kamran , Ansari Shuja , Ali Muhammad Zulfiqar , Kaur Jaspreet , Abbas Hasan T. , Imran Muhammad Ali
Published: November 2021

This paper presents an approach based on radio frequency identification (RFID) and machine learning for contamination sensing of food items and drinks such as soft drinks, alcohol, baby formula milk, etc. We employ sticker-type inkjet printed ultra-high-frequency (UHF) RFID tags for contamination sensing experimentation. The RFID tag antenna was mounted on pure as well as contaminated food products with known contaminant quantity. The received signal strength indicator (RSSI), as well as the phase of the backscattered signal from the RFID tag mounted on the food item, are measured using the Tagformance Pro setup. We used a machine-learning algorithm XGBoost for further training of the model and improving the accuracy of sensing, which is about 90%. Therefore, this research study paves a way for ubiquitous contamination/content sensing using RFID and machine learning technologies that can enlighten their users about the health concerns and safety of their food.
Beyond Speech: Students’ Civil Rights in Schools
Authors: Decker Janet R. , Fetter-Harrott Allison , Rippner Jennifer
Published: November 2021

Educators, including school leaders, must be able to handle legal dilemmas involving student speech, but these do not occur in a vacuum. Often, speech issues are commingled with other legal challenges. This article explores student rights beyond free speech that are guaranteed at PK-12 U.S. public schools. We clarify when educators must attend to students’ unique needs, especially when courts have identified that certain students are members of protected classes. This article explains the overarching constitutional framework in which the U.S. Supreme Court has applied the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause to protect the rights of students to be free from invidious discrimination. We describe how modern U.S. courts apply levels of review, including strict scrutiny, intermediate scrutiny, and rational basis review to equal protection cases. We then synthesize federal statutory law and case law that protect students. Specifically, we discuss how Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI 1964) prohibits discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, language proficiency, and religion. Next, we delve into the recent changes relevant to the application of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX 1972) to students based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Our final focus covers students with disabilities, including medical conditions, who are protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 1990) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504 1973).
Social Media, Students, and the Law
Authors: McCarthy Martha
Published: November 2021

Escalating social media use has become a worldwide phenomenon, with easier access each day. Teenagers seem particularly likely to use these expanding platforms. This article focuses on one aspect of social media developments—the school’s ability to intervene to curtail the harmful impact of cyberbullying on students. After presenting data on social media use and the scope of cyberbullying, it addresses the authority of school personnel to discipline students for harmful internet expression initiated off school grounds, including threats, harassment, and bullying. The Supreme Court’s decision in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. (2021) is addressed in detail as it is the high court’s first ruling in a case involving student off-campus expression. This article concludes with a discussion of legal guidance that is currently available and provides suggestions for school personnel in their efforts to curtail cyberbullying and create a positive school environment. Given the Supreme Court’s ambiguity as to when students can be disciplined for their off-campus speech, school personnel need strategies to prevent hurtful student expression before it takes place, thus avoiding pain to victims and perpetrators. Education is our greatest resource to combat the escalating cyberbullying that is plaguing American youth.
Copper Cathode Contamination by Nickel in Copper Electrorefining
Authors: Sahlman Mika , Aromaa Jari , Lundström Mari
Published: November 2021

Nickel behavior has a significant role in the electrorefining of copper, and although it has been extensively studied from the anode and electrolyte point of view over the past decades, studies on nickel contamination at the cathode are limited. In the current paper, three possible contamination mechanisms—particle entrapment, electrolyte inclusions and co-electrodeposition—were investigated. Copper electrorefining (Cu-ER) was conducted at the laboratory scale, and the cathodes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Particle entrapment was studied by adding NiO and Fe2O3 to the system to simulate nickel anode slime, and the experiments were replicated with industrial anode slime material. The possibility of electrolyte entrapment due to nodulation was explored through the addition of graphite to produce nodules on the cathode. Co-electrodeposition was analyzed by experiments that utilized a Hull cell. The results indicate that particle entrapment can occur at the cathode and is a major source of the nickel contamination in Cu-ER, whereas nickel compounds were not shown to promote nodulation. Inclusions of bulk electrolytes within the surface matrix were observed, proving that electrolyte entrapment is possible. As co-electrodeposition of Ni in Cu-ER is thermodynamically unlikely, these experimental results also verify that it does not occur to any significant extent.
Effects of Environmental Factors on the Leaching and Immobilization Behavior of Arsenic from Mudstone by Laboratory and In Situ Column Experiments
Authors: Arima Takahiko , Sasaki Ryosuke , Yamamoto Takahiro , Tabelin Carlito Baltazar , Tamoto Shuichi , Igarashi Toshifumi
Published: November 2021

Hydrothermally altered rocks generated from underground/tunnel projects often produce acidic leachate and release heavy metals and toxic metalloids, such as arsenic (As). The adsorption layer and immobilization methods using natural adsorbents or immobilizer as reasonable countermeasures have been proposed. In this study, two sets of column experiments were conducted, of which one was focused on the laboratory columns and other on the in situ columns, to evaluate the effects of column conditions on leaching of As from excavated rocks and on adsorption or immobilization behavior of As by a river sediment (RS) as a natural adsorbent or immobilizer. A bottom adsorption layer consisting of the RS was constructed under the excavated rock layer or a mixing layer of the excavated rock and river sediment was packed in the column. The results showed that no significant trends in the adsorption and immobilization of As by the RS were observed by comparing laboratory and in situ column experiments because the experimental conditions did not influence significant change in the leachate pH which affects As adsorption or immobilization. However, As leaching concentrations of the in situ experiments were higher than those of the laboratory column experiments. In addition, the lower pH, higher Eh and higher coexisting sulfate ions of the leachate were observed for the in situ columns, compared to the results of the laboratory columns. These results indicate that the leaching concentration of As became higher in the in situ columns, resulting in higher oxidation of sulfide minerals in the rock. This may be due to the differences in conditions, such as temperature and water content, which induce the differences in the rate of oxidation of minerals contained in the rock. On the other hand, since the leachate pH affecting As adsorption or immobilization was not influenced significantly, As adsorption or immobilization effect by the RS were effective for both laboratory and in situ column experiments. These results indicate that both in situ and laboratory column experiments are useful in evaluating leaching and adsorption of As by natural adsorbents, despite the fact that the water content which directly affects the rate of oxidation is sensitive to weathering conditions.
The Ripple Effect of Graphite Nanofilm on Stretchable Polydimethylsiloxane for Optical Sensing
Authors: Min-Dianey Kossi A. A. , Le Top Khac , Qadir Akeel , M’Bouana Noé Landry Privace , Malik Muhammad , Kim Sok Won , Choi Jeong Ryeol , Pham Phuong V.
Published: November 2021

Graphene-based optical sensing devices have been widely studied for their broad band absorption, high carrier mobility, and mechanical flexibility. Due to graphene’s weak light absorption, studies on graphene-based optical sensing thus far have focused on hybrid heterostructure devices to enhance photo-absorption. Such hybrid devices need a complicated integration process and lead to deteriorating carrier mobility as a result of heterogeneous interfaces. Rippled or wrinkled graphene has been studied in electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, concrete demonstrations of the impact of the morphology of nanofilms (e.g., graphite and graphene) associated with light absorption in optical sensing devices have not been fully examined. This study explored the optical sensing potential of a graphite nanofilm surface with ripples induced by a stretchable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) supporting layer under different stretch:release ratios and then transferred onto silicon, both under experimental conditions and via simulation. The optical sensing potential of the rippled graphite nanofilm was significantly enhanced (260 mA/W at the stretch–release state of 30%), as compared to the pristine graphite/PDMS (20 mA/W at the stretch–release state of 0%) under laser illumination at a wavelength of 532 nm. In addition, the results of our simulated computation also confirmed the improved light absorption of rippled graphite nanofilm surface-based optical sensing devices, which was comparable with the results found in the experiment.
Polymer-Coated Nanoparticles for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Non-10B Enriched Polymer-Coated Boron Carbon Oxynitride (BCNO) Nanoparticles as Potent BNCT Drug
Authors: Chiang Chen-Wei , Chien Yun-Chen , Yu Wen-Jui , Ho Chia-Yu , Wang Chih-Yi , Wang Tzu-Wei , Chiang Chi-Shiun , Keng Pei-Yuin
Published: November 2021

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a powerful and selective anti-cancer therapy utilizing 10B-enriched boron drugs. However, clinical advancement of BCNT is hampered by the insufficient loading of B-10 drugs throughout the solid tumor. Furthermore, the preparation of boron drugs for BNCT relies on the use of the costly B-10 enriched precursor. To overcome these challenges, polymer-coated boron carbon oxynitride (BCNO) nanoparticles, with ~30% of boron, were developed with enhanced biocompatibility, cell uptake, and tumoricidal effect via BNCT. Using the ALTS1C1 cancer cell line, the IC50 of the PEG@BCNO, bare, PEI@BCNO were determined to be 0.3 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, and 0.05 mg/mL, respectively. As a proof-of-concept, the engineered non-10B enriched polymer-coated BCNO exhibited excellent anti-tumor effect via BNCT due to their high boron content per nanoparticle and due to the enhanced cellular internalization and retention compared to small molecular 10B-BPA drug. The astrocytoma ALTS1C1 cells treated with bare, polyethyleneimine-, and polyethylene glycol-coated BCNO exhibited an acute cell death of 24, 37, and 43%, respectively, upon 30 min of neutron irradiation compared to the negligible cell death in PBS-treated and non-irradiated cells. The radical approach proposed in this study addresses the expensive and complex issues of B-10 isotope enrichment process; thus, enabling the preparation of boron drugs at a significantly lower cost, which will facilitate the development of boron drugs for BNCT.
Determination of ROS Scavenging, Antibacterial and Antifungal Potential of Methanolic Extract of Otostegia limbata (Benth.) Boiss.
Authors: Sadaf Huma Mehreen , Bibi Yamin , Ishaque Muhammad , Nisa Sobia , Qayyum Abdul , Safdar Naila , Shah Zahid Hussain , Alsamadany Hameed , Chung Gyuhwa
Published: November 2021

Wide spectrum medicinal significance augments plant utilization as the primary source of significant pharmaceutical agents. In vitro investigation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity highlights the therapeutic potential of Otostegia limbata. Methanol extract of the plant (MEP) shows considerable dose dependent antioxidant ability at six concentrations (7.81 µg/mL to 250 µg/mL) in 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, phosphomolybdate assay (PMA) and reducing power assay (RPA). The plant capability to scavenge free radicals in the mixture ranged from 37.89% to 63.50% in a concentration-dependent manner. MEP was active against five tested bacterial strains in the agar-well diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus, gram-positive bacteria was found to be most susceptible followed by S. epidermidis with 18.80 mm and 17.47 mm mean zone of inhibition. The mean inhibition zone against gram-negative strains Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas spp. and Escherichia coli were 15.07 mm, 14.73 mm, and 12.17 mm. MEP revealed potential against Alternaria spp. and Aspergillus terreus fungal strains evaluated through agar-tube dilution assay. Aspergillus terreus was more sensitive than Alternaria spp. with an average 78.45% and 68.0% inhibition. These findings can serve as a benchmark for forthcoming scrutiny such as bioactive components discovery and drug development.
Potential Use of Ascophyllum nodosum as a Biostimulant for Improving the Growth Performance of Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal
Authors: Verma Nidhi , Sehrawat Krishnan D. , Mundlia Poonam , Sehrawat Anita R. , Choudhary Ravish , Rajput Vishnu D. , Minkina Tatiana , van Hullebusch Eric D. , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Alamri Saud
Published: November 2021

The fertilizers that are derived from seaweed are known as Seaweed Liquid Fertilizers (SLF). SLF is a modern, cheap, non-toxic, and natural bioactive fertilizer. Among different studied seaweeds, Ascophyllum nodosum is significant as having bioactive ingredients that potentially regulate the molecular, physiological, and biochemical processes of crop plants. In the present study, the effects of the application of different concentrations (0.00%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.50%, and 1.00%) of A. nodosum Extract (ANE) to the Vigna aconitifolia through roots (Pot Root Application, PRA) and on the leaves (Pot Foliar Application, PFA) were monitored via the plant growth. The lower concentrations of ANE in both the PRA and PFA experiments showed positive growth on V. aconitifolia. The 0.10% ANE stimulated the maximum shoot growth when applied through the roots, while 0.05% ANE in both PFA and PRA experiments led to an increase in the number of pods, nodules, organic content, and moisture percentage. The 0.10% ANE also increased the leaf numbers, leaf area, and photosynthetic pigments. Hence, the application of 0.05% and 0.10% of A. nodosum extract in two ways (i.e., Pot Foliar Application, PFA, and Pot Root Application, PRA) ameliorated the growth capabilities of V. aconitifolia.
Range Dividing MIMO Waveform for Improving Tracking Performance
Authors: Kim Eun-Hee , Kim Han-Saeng , Lee Ki-Won
Published: November 2021

A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) method that shares the same frequency band can efficiently increase radar performance. An essential element of a MIMO radar is the orthogonality of the waveform. Typically, orthogonality is obtained by spreading different signals into divided domains such as in time-domain multiplexing, frequency-domain multiplexing, and code domain multiplexing. This paper proposes a method of spreading the interference signals outside the range bins of interest for pulse doppler radars. This is achieved by changing the pulse repetition frequency under certain constraints, and an additional gain can be obtained by doppler processing. This method is very effective for improving the angular accuracy of the MIMO radar for a small number of air targets, although it may have limitations in use for many targets or in high clutter environments.