bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Past climates and plant migration – the significance of the fossil record
Authors: Hill Robert S. , Khan Raees
Published: April 2023

This article is a Commentary on Denk et al. (2023), 238: 2668–2684.
Comprehensive framework for integrated action on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of anemia: An introduction
Authors: Wilson Shelby E. , Rogers Lisa M. , Garcia‐Casal Maria Nieves , Barreix María , Bosman Andrea , Cunningham Jane , Goga Ameena , Montresor Antonio , Tunçalp Özge
Published: April 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced in 2021 a commitment to develop a comprehensive framework for integrated action on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of anemia and to establish an Anaemia Action Alliance to support the implementation of the framework. WHO commissioned four background papers to provide reflections about the most pressing issues to be addressed for accelerating reductions in the prevalence of anemia. Here, we provide a complete vision of the framework.
Moving through places: Trauma and dislocation in Elizabeth Bowen's The House in Paris
Authors: He Qiong
Published: April 2023

In The House in Paris, Elizabeth Bowen presents the traumatic spatial experience of dislocation and homelessness of a number of characters centered around an upper‐middle‐class woman, Karen Michaelis, who defies the spatial confinement imposed by the dominant ideology regarding women in the interwar period, but ultimately becomes traumatized due to her failed quest for a place of identity, of belonging. The existing scholarship on The House in Paris tends to read the motifs of trauma and place separately. Those critics exploring place mainly concentrate on the Parisian house and tend to regard it as a symbol of the past and entrapment (Kershner, 1986, 407; Lytovka, 2016, 40), while those studying trauma mainly center on the psychological aspects of trauma, investigating either the structure and effects of psychic trauma or the effects of trauma on the narration of the novel (Bennett & Royle, 1995, 43; Gildersleeve, 2014, 50). This essay argues that a fuller understanding of Bowen's writing of women's trauma in the interwar period in The House in Paris must examine how their trauma is related to spatial experience. Linking the temporal experience of trauma—especially forgetting and repetition—with the spatial experience of Karen and the characters around her unfolds the historical and social contexts behind trauma, that is, it is impossible for women to rebel against the national ideology of womanhood embodied by her family home and to find a place of dwelling. For Bowen the voyage of the subjectivity of women in the interwar period merely renders her protagonists traumatized rather than enabling them to find an attachment to place. So detrimental is the effect that it is impossible for them to “work through” their trauma.
Eco‐evolutionary implications for a possible contribution of cuticle hardening system in insect evolution and terrestrialisation
Authors: Asano Tsunaki , Hashimoto Kosei , Everroad R. Craig
Published: April 2023

Previously we proposed one aspect of how insects could adapt to terrestrial environments during their evolution. The hypothesis is based on a theory that insects have evolved an insect‐specific system for cuticle formation mediated by an insect‐specific enzyme. This enzyme, multicopper oxidase‐2 (MCO2), catalyses the oxidation of catecholamines using molecular oxygen as the acceptor of electrons from the substrates. A potential advantage of this MCO2‐mediated system is the utilization of molecular oxygen abundant in the atmosphere, which is different from the case in crustaceans (close relatives of insects) that utilize calcium ions. Accumulation of calcium ions leads to an increase in weight, but the lightweight cuticle without calcification might have been a critical factor enabling insects to evolve flight first in the history of Metazoa. Our theory also provides a simple explanation to a long‐standing question of why insects are so rare in marine environments. In previous reviews, we have mainly focused on the details of the biochemical processes occurring in arthropod cuticles, but here only the essence of our theory is extracted and briefly summarized with newly added information.
Rigidity in crisis: The impact of OHSAS 18001 certification on production repurposing during COVID‐19
Authors: Ye Yuxiao , Jiang Shenyang , Fan Di , Huo Baofeng , Liu Maggie Wenjing
Published: April 2023

It is important for firms to repurpose production responsively during a crisis such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, to seize the market opportunity and create social value. However, occupational health and safety (OHS) can also be a concern in a crisis, and adherence to OHS management systems can undermine a firm's responsiveness in repurposing decision making. We adopt the “capability–rigidity” lens to construct a connection between OHS management standards (i.e., OHSAS 18001) and firms’ adaptation responsiveness. After sampling 734 listed Chinese manufacturing firms, our match‐based analysis reveals that firms certified with OHSAS 18001 were less responsive during COVID‐19 in terms of production repurposing than those without the certification. Yet, certain experience, namely, prepandemic manufacturing of related products, experience of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, and being geographically located close to firms that produced medical supplies, could attenuate this effect. We discuss the implications of our findings in the context of and adding to the literature on safety management, certified management standards, and organizational adaptation and learning.
Narrowing the gender digital divide in Pakistan: Mobile phone ownership and female labor force participation
Authors: Amber Hina , Chichaibelu Bezawit Beyene
Published: April 2023

The unprecedented growth in access to mobile phones and smartphones has opened up new possibilities in the way people live and work. However, women in developing countries are unable to take advantage of this growth due to certain factors and socio‐cultural norms that give rise to the gender digital divide. In this study, using the nationally representative Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (2019–2020), we investigate the gender and rural–urban (female) digital divide in a country with one of the most considerable digital divides. Furthermore, we employ an instrumental variable approach to study the effect of mobile or smartphone ownership on female labor force participation. The results indicate that institutional and sociocultural norms explain most of the ownership gap of mobile or smartphones between men and women. The instrumental variable approach demonstrates that mobile or smartphone ownership increases the participation of women in the labor force. We also find that the differences between observable characteristics, especially literacy and education, explain the rural–urban digital divide among females. Considering the importance of mobile or smartphone ownership in facilitating women's labor supply decisions, providing women with digital tools and upskilling them has wider implications for their economic well‐being.
Assessing the allogenic realness of the Cw1/12/15 pattern occurring in the LABScreen single antigen assay
Authors: Devriese Magali , Usureau Cédric , Lion Julien , Sayegh Caroline , Carmagnat Maryvonnick , Caillat‐Zucman Sophie , Mooney Nuala , Lemonnier François , Taupin Jean Luc
Published: April 2023

Several technical limitations of Luminex single antigen (LSA) assays have been described so far. This study focused on a reactivity pattern observed in many sera that cannot be explained by eplets described in the Epitope Registry database and sometimes appearing against a self‐HLA allele or antigen. In most cases, this pattern is revealed by a discrepant result when compared with other assays (Luminex PRA, cell‐binding assays such as flow cytometry cross match, LSA from another manufacturer…). We focus here on the Cw1/12/15 pattern appearing on the LABScreen class I LSA provided by One Lambda. We documented its behavior using this LSA after acid denaturation of the beads, using Lifecodes LSA from Immucor, and adsorption of sera either on spleen mononuclear cells from deceased donors or on single HLA transfected cell clones. We studied 33 sera from different patients positive for the three Cw beads, selected from our routine patients' LSA database. Nine patients had transplants from a Cw12 or Cw15 donor without any pejorative evolution of the graft, nor post‐transplant MFI (mean fluorescence intensity) increase of the Cw1/12/15 beads. A significant increase of MFI was observed after acid denaturation of the LABScreen beads. All sera tested by Lifecodes LSA were negative for these Cw beads. Finally, we found no significant difference of MFI after adsorption on cells from either origin. Therefore, the Cw1/12/15 pattern appears to be a false positive reactivity of the LABScreen single antigen assay.
Temporal trend, spatial analysis and spatiotemporal clusters of infant mortality associated with congenital toxoplasmosis in Brazil: Time series from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Melo Matheus Santos , Cabrera Luís Antônio Alvarado , Lima Shirley Verônica Melo Almeida , dos Santos Allan Dantas , Oliveira Lilian Maria Garcia Bahia , de Oliveira Renata Carla , de Sousa Menezes Janaína , de Figueiredo Josivânia Arrais , de Moura Lane Viviane Fragoso , de Lima Júnior Francisco Edilson Ferreira , da Rocha Moreira Rosalynd Vinicios
Published: April 2023

Objective

To analyse the spatial, temporal and spatial–temporal patterns of infant mortality associated with congenital toxoplasmosis in Brazil between the years 2000 and 2020.

Methods

Ecological study of time series, with spatial analysis and spatiotemporal scan of infant mortality associated with congenital toxoplasmosis from the records of deaths of the Mortality Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The rates were smoothed by the Local Empirical Bayesian model. The Global Moran Index, Global Geary's Contiguity and Getis‐Ord General statistics were calculated for spatial autocorrelation assessment. The trends were evaluated by the Joinpoint method.

Results

We identified 1183 infant deaths associated with congenital toxoplasmosis in Brazil between 2000 and 2020. The predominant characteristics were male sex (52.1%), post‐neonatal age group (51.9%), white race/colour (45.7%), and Southeast region of residence (40.0%). The infant mortality rate associated with congenital toxoplasmosis showed an increasing trend in the country in the years analysed. The spatial analysis showed heterogeneous distribution of mortality in the Brazilian territory and found no evidence of spatial autocorrelation; but spatial–temporal analysis identified three risk clusters involving 703 municipalities.

Conclusion

Infant mortality associated with congenital toxoplasmosis is a persistent public health problem in Brazil. The risk factors male sex, indigenous race/colour, early neonatal age, North and Northeast regions and risk clusters mapped in this study should be observed for future analysis and planning of health care policies in the control of infant deaths associated with congenital toxoplasmosis. Health surveillance strategies and public health policies need to be strengthened.
Cortical potentials time‐locked to discrete postural events during quiet standing are facilitated during postural threat exposure
Authors: Zaback Martin , Missen Kyle J. , Adkin Allan L. , Chua Romeo , Inglis J. Timothy , Carpenter Mark G.
Published: April 2023

During unperturbed bipedal standing, postural control is governed primarily by subcortical and spinal networks. However, it is unclear if cortical networks begin to play a greater role when stability is threatened. This study investigated how initial and repeated exposure to a height‐related postural threat modulates cortical potentials time‐locked to discrete centre of pressure (COP) events during standing. Twenty‐seven young adults completed a series of 90‐s standing trials at LOW (0.8 m above the ground, away from edge) and HIGH (3.2 m above the ground, at edge) threat conditions. Three LOW trials were completed before and after 15 consecutive HIGH trials. Participants stood on a force plate while electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded. To examine changes in cortical activity in response to discrete postural events, prominent forward and backward peaks in the anterior–posterior COP time series were identified. EEG data were waveform‐averaged to these events and the amplitude of event‐related cortical activity was calculated. At the LOW condition, event‐related potentials (ERPs) were scarcely detectable. However, once individuals stood at the HIGH condition, clear ERPs were observed, with more prominent potentials being observed for forward (edge‐directed), compared to backward, COP events. Since forward COP peaks accelerate the centre of mass away from the platform edge, these results suggest there is intermittent recruitment of cortical networks that may be involved in the detection and minimization of postural sway toward a perceived threat. This altered cortical engagement appears resistant to habituation and may contribute to threat‐related balance changes that persist following repeated threat exposure.

image

Key points

While standing balance control is regulated primarily by subcortical and spinal processes, it is unclear if cortical networks play a greater role when stability is threatened.

This study examined how cortical potentials time‐locked to prominent peaks in the anterior–posterior centre of pressure (COP) time series were modulated by exposure to a height‐related postural threat.

While cortical potentials recorded over the primary sensorimotor cortices were scarcely detectable under non‐threatening conditions, clear cortical potentials were observed when individuals stood under conditions of height‐related threat.

Cortical potentials were larger in response to COP peaks directed toward, compared to away from, the platform edge, and showed limited habituation with repeated threat exposure.

Since forward COP peaks accelerate the centre of mass away from the platform edge, these findings suggest that when balance is threatened, there is intermittent recruitment of cortical networks, which may minimize the likelihood of falling in the direction of a perceived threat.
Pressure Distribution in Oil Films of Journal Bearings
Authors: McKee S. A. , McKee T. R.
Published: April 2023

One fact which is becoming widely recognized by users of journal bearings is that under proper conditions of operation the load applied to a journal bearing is supported by the hydrostatic pressures built up in a film of lubricant wedged between and completely separating the journal and bearing. This paper describes an investigation at the Bureau of Standards the purpose of which was to determine the distribution of pressure in the oil film of a full journal bearing for various conditions of operation and of bearing construction. A specially designed apparatus provided a means for measuring the film pressures at practically all points on the surface of a bearing when operating under different conditions of load, speed, and viscosity of the lubricant. The results of nine tests made under conditions involving changes in clearance, load, speed, and viscosity are presented graphically in the form of pressure-distribution curves. In conclusion the characteristics of the film-pressure distribution are summarized, and further steps toward a better understanding of the pressure distribution are outlined.
Torsional Vibration of Aircraft Engine Crankshafts
Authors: Lundquist W. G.
Published: April 2023

Results of the study of torsional vibration of aircraft engine crankshafts are presented. Almost all engines have one or more easily detectable critical speeds for torsional crankshaft vibration. If one such critical speed should fall in the operating range of the engine, it is likely to cause trouble. Many apparently unrelated failures of engine parts can be traced to crankshaft vibration. It is therefore important that the vibration characteristics of every engine model be known so as to intelligently develop its design for maximum reliable power output.
Making Robotic Swarms Trustful: A Blockchain-Based Perspective
Authors: Thakur Atul , Sahoo Swagatika , Mukherjee Arnab , Halder Raju
Published: April 2023

Lately, the importance of swarm robotics has been recognized in a wide range of areas, including logistics, surveillance, disaster management, agriculture, and other industrial applications. The swarm intelligence introduced by the existing paradigm of artificial intelligence and machine learning often ignores the aspect of providing security and reliability guarantees. Consider a futuristic scenario wherein self-driving cars will transport people, self-driving trucks will carry cargo between warehouses, and a combination of legged robots/drones will ship cargo from warehouses to doorsteps. In the case of such a heterogeneous swarm of robots, it is crucial to ensure a trustful and reliable operating platform for smooth coordination, collaborative decision-making via appropriate consensus, and seamless information sharing while ensuring data security. In this direction, blockchain has been proven to be an effective technology that maintains the transactions (records) in a trustful manner after being validated through consensus. This guarantees accountability, transparency, and trust concerning the storage, safeguarding, and sharing of information among the parties. In this paper, we provide a walkthrough demonstrating the feasibility of using blockchain technology to make the robotic swarm trustful systems in their adoption to critical applications at large-scale. We highlight the pros and cons of the use of cloud vis-a-vis blockchain in swarm robotics. Finally, we present various future research opportunities pertaining to the adoption of blockchain technology in swarm robotics applications.
Vacuum discharge analysis of CNT field cathode using a computerized field projector
Authors: Kolosko Anatoly G. , Filippov Sergey V. , Popov Eugeni O.
Published: April 2023

The mechanism of vacuum discharge of a multitip field cathode based on carbon nanotubes has been studied. The analysis was carried out using a multichannel field emission information collection system, a computerized field projector, and a program for recording and cyclic playback of the experimental results. The discharge under study occurred in the regime of a relatively stable emission current without an increase in the external voltage level. The time dependences of the local currents of all individual emission sites registered on the cathode surface were obtained. It is shown that the discharge consists of several successive phases, the key of which are an explosion in the region of one of the most active carbon nanotubes and a plasma torch above it. The effect of the discharge on neighboring nanotubes, which is associated with both the destruction of emission sites and their appearance, is also described.
Intra- and inter-speaker variation in eight Russian fricatives
Authors: Ulrich Natalja , Pellegrino François , Allassonnière-Tang Marc
Published: April 2023

Acoustic variation is central to the study of speaker characterization. In this respect, specific phonemic classes such as vowels have been particularly studied, compared to fricatives. Fricatives exhibit important aperiodic energy, which can extend over a high-frequency range beyond that conventionally considered in phonetic analyses, often limited up to 12 kHz. We adopt here an extended frequency range up to 20.05 kHz to study a corpus of 15 812 fricatives produced by 59 speakers in Russian, a language offering a rich inventory of fricatives. We extracted two sets of parameters: the first is composed of 11 parameters derived from the frequency spectrum and duration (acoustic set) while the second is composed of 13 mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs). As a first step, we implemented machine learning methods to evaluate the potential of each set to predict gender and speaker identity. We show that gender can be predicted with a good performance by the acoustic set and even more so by MFCCs (accuracy of 0.72 and 0.88, respectively). MFCCs also predict individuals to some extent (accuracy = 0.64) unlike the acoustic set. In a second step, we provide a detailed analysis of the observed intra- and inter-speaker acoustic variation.
Impact of Wood Age on Termite Microbial Assemblages
Authors: Chakraborty Amrita , Šobotník Jan , Votýpková Kateřina , Hradecký Jaromír , Stiblik Petr , Synek Jiří , Bourguignon Thomas , Baldrian Petr , Engel Michael S. , Novotný Vojtěch , Odriozola Iñaki , Větrovský Tomáš
Published: April 2023

Termites can feed on wood thanks to their association with their gut microbes. However, the current understanding of termites as holobiont is limited.
Geochemistry and geochronology of the Bay of Islands metamorphic sole, Newfoundland, Canada: Protoliths and implications for subduction initiation
Authors: Fournier-Roy François , Guilmette Carl , Larson Kyle , Godet Antoine , Soret Mathieu , van Staal Cees , Bédard Jean H.
Published: April 2023

The Bay of Islands complex, Newfoundland, Canada, represents a fossil subduction system that was obducted onto the Laurentian margin during the Taconic Orogeny. We present whole-rock geochemistry and geochronology for the Bay of Islands metamorphic sole from the Table Mountain and North Arm Mountain massifs. The Bay of Islands metamorphic sole can be subdivided into three units: a high metamorphic-grade Grt-Cpx amphibolite and Grt-Cpx granulite unit, a medium metamorphic-grade common amphibolite unit, and a medium metamorphic-grade metasedimentary-dominated unit. Based on their major and trace element contents, two types of protoliths can be inferred for the Bay of Islands sole metabasites: cumulate gabbroic protoliths with high Mg numbers and depleted trace element contents, and basaltic protoliths with trace element contents defining a normal mid-oceanic-ridge basalt (N-MORB) affinity. Titanite in situ U-Pb analyses of two common amphibolite samples yield dates of 486 ± 7 Ma and 484 ± 4 Ma, which are interpreted as a metamorphic age (ca. 485 Ma). One sample from the metasedimentary unit yields detrital zircon dates that range from Archean to Ordovician, with the youngest dates defining the most dominant peak at ca. 490 Ma. This youngest peak is consistent with an arc-related source that may be linked with arc magmatism of the upper plate during the Taconic Orogeny. These observations suggest that (1) the subduction responsible for the formation of the Bay of Islands complex nucleated in an oceanic domain before ca. 485 Ma; and (2) the sediments that form the metasedimentary unit were partly sourced from the upper plate and were deposited on the lower plate while subduction was active.
Patient appropriateness for total knee arthroplasty and predicted probability of a good outcome
Authors: Hawker Gillian A , Bohm Eric , Dunbar Michael J , Faris Peter , Jones C Allyson , Noseworthy Tom , Ravi Bheeshma , Woodhouse Linda J , Marshall Deborah A
Published: April 2023

Objectives

One-fifth of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recipients experience a suboptimal outcome. Incorporation of patients’ preferences in TKA assessment may improve outcomes. We determined the discriminant ability of preoperative measures of TKA need, readiness/willingness and expectations for a good TKA outcome.

Methods

In patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) undergoing primary TKA, we preoperatively assessed TKA need (Western Ontario-McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC) Pain Score and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) function, arthritis coping), health status, readiness (Patient Acceptable Symptom State, depressive symptoms), willingness (definitely yes—yes/no) and expectations (outcomes deemed ‘very important’). A good outcome was defined as symptom improvement (met Outcome Measures in Rheumatology and Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OMERACT–OARSI) responder criteria) and satisfaction with results 1 year post TKA. Using logistic regression, we assessed independent outcome predictors, model discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUC) and the predicted probability of a good outcome for different need, readiness/willingness and expectations scenarios.

Results

Of 1,053 TKA recipients (mean age 66.9 years (SD 8.8); 58.6% women), 78.1% achieved a good outcome. With TKA need alone (WOMAC pain subscale, KOOS physical function short-form), model discrimination was good (AUC 0.67, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.71). Inclusion of readiness/willingness, depressive symptoms and expectations regarding kneeling, stair climbing, well-being and performing recreational activities improved discrimination (p=0.01; optimism corrected AUC 0.70, 0.66–0.74). The predicted probability of a good outcome ranged from 44.4% (33.9–55.5) to 92.4% (88.4–95.1) depending on level of TKA need, readiness/willingness, depressive symptoms and surgical expectations.

Conclusions

Although external validation is required, our findings suggest that incorporation of patients’ TKA readiness, willingness and expectations in TKA decision-making may improve the proportion of recipients that experience a good outcome.
Speed monitoring and fault detection in bearings using an embedded piezoelectric transducer under speed-varying condition
Authors: Safian Ali , Liang Xihui
Published: April 2023

For more than three decades, vibration monitoring by accelerometers has been a common technique in the health monitoring of bearings and rotating machines. These sensors are typically mounted on the housing of the system to collect the vibration data. However, the susceptibility of accelerometers to surrounding noise and vibration has attracted more attention toward embedded sensors in bearings. Also, the current trend toward intelligent manufacturing and the Internet of Things (IoT) requires mechanical components with integrated sensors to monitor their health status. In this research, a previously developed piezoelectric transducer embedded in a bearing housing is further investigated for condition monitoring of bearings. By using this transducer, the rotational speed of the bearing in the variable speed condition is measured. The results show a great correlation between the estimated speed compared with an encoder. Moreover, the performance of the transducer in local fault detection in the speed-varying condition is investigated. According to the results, it can be concluded that this low-cost and self-sensing transducer can be successfully used for condition monitoring and speed measurement in bearings.
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for Allergic Diseases: A Review
Authors: Ai Chenyang , Zou Yi , Liu Hao , Yang Zheqiong , Xi Jinlei
Published: April 2023

The prevalence of allergic disorders has increased in recent years, lowering patients’ quality of life and increasing the demand for drugs to treat these diseases. Western drugs such as glucocorticoids, antihistamines, and leukotrienes are routinely utilized in clinics. However, drawbacks like high recurrence rates and adverse effects limit their use. As one of the most promising natural medicine systems, traditional Chinese medicine offers distinct benefits in treating allergic illnesses, such as maintaining long-term treatment, preventing disease recurrence, and producing fewer adverse reactions. We analyzed and discussed recent developments in traditional Chinese medicine used in allergic diseases from three perspectives: Chinese herbal formula, Chinese patent medicine, and active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine, and explained their main components, efficacy, and mechanisms of action. We also reviewed the modification of Chinese herbal formulas and the combined application of Chinese medicine with Western medicine or nonpharmaceutical therapies. Traditional Chinese medicines are becoming increasingly important in treating allergic disorders. Improving traditional Chinese herbal formulas and developing safe and effective Chinese patent medicines are currently the most pressing and important aspects of research on traditional Chinese medicine.
Ginsenosides are Promising Medicine for Tumor and Inflammation: A Review
Authors: Li Jiawei , Li Fangfang , Jin Dan
Published: April 2023

Ginseng is a valuable medicinal plant in Asian countries with thousands of years of history. Ginsenosides, one of the active components of ginseng, are considered to be of potential value in the treatment of various diseases. The antitumor effects of ginsenosides, such as Rg3, Rh2, Rg5, and CK, are well known, and their potential mechanisms are thought to be related to inducing apoptosis, enhancing the immune response, reversing drug resistance to chemotherapy, and regulating signaling pathways, such as MAPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Wnt/[Formula: see text]-catenin, NF-[Formula: see text]B, ASK-1/JNK, AMPK, and EGFR/Akt/SOX2. On the other hand, ginsenosides also have anti-inflammatory effects, including reducing the release of inflammatory factors, regulating the balance of immune cells, regulating the diversity of intestinal flora, and activating MAPK, NF-[Formula: see text]B, and NLRP3 inflammasomes. These data suggest that ginsenosides may provide new insights as promising drugs for the treatment of malignant tumors and inflammatory diseases.
A Novel Chaotic System with Exponential Nonlinearity and its Adaptive Self-Synchronization: From Numerical Simulations to Circuit Implementation
Authors: Suneja Kriti , Pandey Neeta , Pandey Rajeshwari
Published: April 2023

In this paper, a new three-dimensional chaotic system with two exponential nonlinearities is presented. The analysis of fixed points of the proposed system suggests existence of one hyperbolic index-2 spiral saddle-type fixed point. The proposed system fulfils Shilnikov criterion and nature of the chaos is found to be dissipative. Bifurcation diagrams, maximum Lyapunov exponents and Kaplan–Yorke dimension are examined through numerical simulations to investigate dynamics of proposed system. The hardware feasibility of the proposed system is illustrated through current feedback operational amplifier (CFOA)-based circuit implementation. The proposed circuit uses six CFOAs, two diodes to establish nonlinearity, eleven resistors and three capacitors. The absence of analog multiplier in the proposed circuit makes it superior to the existing counterpart in the sense that it does not require area and power-consuming active building block. To confirm the chaotic nature of the proposed circuit, LTspice simulations are done to obtain phase portraits which are found to be strange attractors and are topologically different from the shape of the existing attractors. Moreover, we have investigated the synchronization of the proposed chaotic system using adaptive control scheme and proposed CFOA-based complete circuit design of the adaptively synchronized system. Also, the effect of the tolerance of passive components and temperature on the behavior of the proposed chaotic circuit and the complete synchronization circuit has also been studied. It is found that the circuit is sensitive to the value of resistors and temperature to an extent and can work properly within their limits.
Effects and safety of hypertonic saline combined with airway clearance in non-hospitalized children with recurrent wheezing
Authors: González-Bellido Vanesa , Veláz-Baza Verónica , Rama-Suárez Noelia , Jimeno-Esteo Carmen , Sirvent-Gomez Josep , Cuenca-Zaldívar Juan Nicolás , Mayorales-lises Sari , Donadio Márcio Vinícius Fagundes , Fernández-Carnero Samuel
Published: April 2023

Background: The International Study of Wheezing in Infants defines recurrent wheezing as the presence of three or more medically documented episodes of wheezing within one year. To date, there is no evidence on the use of hypertonic saline (HS) combined with airway clearance techniques (ACT) for children with recurrent wheezing treated in an outpatient setting. Therefore, this is the first study to explore the use of such interventions in infants with recurrent wheezing.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects and safety of a three-month protocol including HS and ACT for non-hospitalized infants with recurrent wheezing.

Methods: Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, including outpatient infants with recurrent wheezing. Children were randomized to either 3% HS or 0.9% saline groups and were treated with bronchodilator and nebulized with the respective solutions before ACT. The primary outcome was the Wang score. Secondary outcomes included the number of hospitalizations and respiratory crisis, need for rescue medication, and school absences. All variables were measured during the three previous months from inclusion and during intervention period. The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04331496) on March, 31, 2020.

Results: Forty children were included. Regarding immediate effects, significant differences ([Formula: see text]) were found for time, but not for group or interaction (group × time), in all outcome variables (increase in SpO2, decrease in heart and respiratory rate, wheezing episodes, retraction, and Wang score). Comparing the previous three months with the study period, there were significant differences in both groups for the severity of crisis ([Formula: see text]) and medication steps ([Formula: see text]).

Conclusion: A three-month protocol including HS and ACT for outpatient infants with recurrent wheezing was safe and reduced morbidity. No differences were found between the use of HS and 0.9% saline.
Geopressure: an introduction to the thematic collection
Authors: Swarbrick Richard E.
Published: April 2023

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Geopressure collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/geopressure
Digitization, Virtual Reality and Robotic Sculpture for the Preservation and Enhancement of the Public Heritage of the Sculpted Rocks of Rothéneuf
Authors: Barreau Jean-Baptiste , Jouneau Joëlle , Charlet Christophe , Ferré Ghyslain , Robert Jérémie
Published: April 2023

The sculpted rocks of Rothéneuf, located between St-Malo and Cancale, are one of Brittany’s best-known spontaneous environments in the form of monumental sculptures in the Outsider art. They were made between the end of 1894 and 1907 by “Abbé Adolphe Julien Fouéré”, known as “Abbé Fouré” (1839–1910), and range from bas-relief to fully exposed faces. The site welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. Old photographs of the sculpted rocks, the “Abbé Fouré” and his Hermitage have been digitized and can be consulted on the internet. “Abbé Fouré” also produced wooden sculptures which he kept in a hermitage with a garden which was transformed after his death into a museum in the village. The wooden works disappeared at an unspecified date. The hermitage has also been extensively modified since that time. The sculpted rocks of the site are increasingly eroded by maritime conditions (salt, wind, water spray and run-off), mosses and lichens, as well as by the frequentation of the site (repeated passage of visitors). This erosion seriously compromises the legibility of the sculptures, which are clearly seriously altered when compared with old photographs of the site. Created in 2010, the association Les “Amis de l’Œuvre de l’Abbé Fouré” has set itself the mission of memory: to make the “Abbé Fouré” known. The association organizes exhibitions, guided walks and other events to promote the site and Outsider art. A collaboration between this association, a national school of land surveyors and a public research organization has led to the creation of a methodology combining virtual reconstitution and real reproduction by robotic sculpture. This is now presented in an interpretation centre to seal the dissemination and preservation process.
Detection of Hateful Social Media Content for Arabic Language
Authors: Al-Ibrahim Rogayah M. , Ali Mostafa Z. , Najadat Hassan M.
Published: April 2023

Social media is a common medium for expression of views, discussion, sharing of content, and promotion of products and ideas. These views are either polite or obscene. The growth of hate speech is one of the negative aspects of the medium and its emergence poses risk factors for society at various levels. Although there are rules and laws for these platforms, they cannot oversee and control all types of content. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop modern algorithms to automatically detect hateful content on social media. Arab society is not isolated from the world, and the usage of social media by its members has highlighted the importance of automated systems that help build an electronic society free of hate and aggression. This article aims to detect hate speech based on Arabic context over the Twitter platform by proposing different novel deep learning architectures in order to provide a thorough analytical study. Also, a comparative study is presented with a different well-known machine learning algorithm, as well as other state-of-the-art algorithms from the literature to be used as a beacon for interested researchers. These models have been applied to the Arabic tweets dataset, which included 15K tweets and 14 features. After training these models, the results obtained for the top two models included an improved bidirectional long short-term memory with an accuracy of 92.20% and a macro F1-score of 92% and a modified convolutional neural network with an accuracy of 92.10% and a macro F1-score of 91%. The results also showed the superiority of the performance of the deep learning models over other models in terms of accuracy.
Delay and Price Differentiation in Cloud Computing: A Service Model, Supporting Architectures, and Performance
Authors: Wu Xiaohu , De Pellegrini Francesco , Casale Giuliano
Published: April 2023

Many cloud service providers (CSPs) offer an on-demand service with a small delay. Motivated by the reality of cloud ecosystems, we study non-interruptible services and consider a differentiated service model to complement the existing market by offering multiple service level agreements (SLAs) to satisfy users with different delay tolerance. The model itself is incentive compatible by construction. Two typical architectures are considered to fulfill SLAs: (i) non-preemptive priority queues and (ii) multiple independent groups of servers. We leverage queueing theory to establish guidelines for the resultant market: (a) Under the first architecture, the service model can only improve the revenue marginally over the pure on-demand service model and (b) under the second architecture, we give a closed-form expression of the revenue improvement when a CSP offers two SLAs and derive a condition under which the market is viable. Additionally, under the second architecture, we give an exhaustive search procedure to find the optimal SLA delays and prices when a CSP generally offers multiple SLAs. Numerical results show that the achieved revenue improvement can be significant even if two SLAs are offered. Our results can help CSPs design optimal delay-differentiated services and choose appropriate serving architectures.
Analytical Techniques for Single-Cell Biochemical Assays of Lipids
Authors: Yao Ming , Vaithiyanathan Manibarathi , Allbritton Nancy L.
Published: April 2023

Lipids are essential cellular components forming membranes, serving as energy reserves, and acting as chemical messengers. Dysfunction in lipid metabolism and signaling is associated with a wide range of diseases including cancer and autoimmunity. Heterogeneity in cell behavior including lipid signaling is increasingly recognized as a driver of disease and drug resistance. This diversity in cellular responses as well as the roles of lipids in health and disease drive the need to quantify lipids within single cells. Single-cell lipid assays are challenging due to the small size of cells (∼1 pL) and the large numbers of lipid species present at concentrations spanning orders of magnitude. A growing number of methodologies enable assay of large numbers of lipid analytes, perform high-resolution spatial measurements, or permit highly sensitive lipid assays in single cells. Covered in this review are mass spectrometry, Raman imaging, and fluorescence-based assays including microscopy and microseparations.
The Association between Indoor Carbon Dioxide Reduction by Plants and Health Effects
Authors: Chuang Kai-Jen , Lee Chien-Yu , Wang Sen-Te , Liu I-Jung , Chuang Hsiao-Chi , Ho Kin-Fai
Published: April 2023

Residents and workers exposure to high carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in buildings may cause headache, dyspnea, fatigue, or drowsiness. However, the effect of plants on in-building CO2 reduction and adverse effect relief is largely unknown. We recruited 36 healthy participants from an office room with plants and 32 healthy participants from another office room without plant in the same office building in Taipei. The participants in the office room with plants during 2020 would move to the office room without plant in 2021. The twelve repeated measurements per year of CO2, fine particles (PM2.5), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), blood pressure (BP), serum CO2 (TCO2), and four rating questions of headache, dyspnea, fatigue, and drowsiness were obtained for each participant. The statistical results showed that levels of drowsiness and systolic BP were significantly lower among participants in the office room with plants compared to those in the office room without plants by

t

-test and paired

t

-test. The associations between increased indoor CO2 and increased serum CO2 were observed in the office room with plants (1.32%) and without plant (4.52%) by mixed-effects models. Also, the associations between indoor CO2 and drowsiness were observed in office rooms (with plants: 14.57%; without plant: 3.82%). The conclusion of the present study is that plants in office environment can reduce CO2 levels and may lower CO2-related health effects.
An Explanatory Model of Violent Behavior, Self‐Concept, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Consumption in Secondary Education Students
Authors: Melguizo-Ibáñez Eduardo , González-Valero Gabriel , Badicu Georgian , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Silva Ana Filipa , Puertas-Molero Pilar
Published: April 2023

Background. Current scientific evidence establishes that regular physical activity engagement provides numerous physical and mental benefits. Thus, the present research aims at examining the relationships between violent behavior, self‐concept, and consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. Specifically, two objectives were defined: (a) analyze and establish the relationships between violent behaviors, the different dimensions of self‐concept, and the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis as a function of physical activity engagement, (b) define and examine a proposed explanatory model, and (c) analyze the effect of self‐concept on alcohol and tobacco consumption and physical activity engagement based on the explanatory model developed. Methods. For this purpose, a nonexperimental (ex post facto), descriptive, and cross‐sectional study was conducted. For data collection, a sociodemographic questionnaire was administered alongside the Self‐Concept Form 5 and the School Victimization Scale. Results. It was shown that individuals engaging in more than three hours of physical exercise per week scored more highly on the social, family, physical, and emotional aspects of self‐concept, whilst those who do not meet this criterion scored more highly on the academic aspect and on physical and verbal victimization. Conclusions. The present research concludes that engagement in more than 3 hours of physical activity per week led to benefits in a number of domains of self‐concept whilst, at the same time, increasing levels of violence.
A Geometric Morphometrics Approach for Sex Estimation Based on the Orbital Region of Human Skulls from Bosnian Population
Authors: Ajanović Zurifa , Ajanović Uzeir , Dervišević Lejla , Hot Haris , Voljevica Alma , Talović Elvira , Dervišević Emina , Hašimbegović Selma , Sarač-Hadžihalilović Aida
Published: April 2023

Background. Understanding the anatomy and morphological variability of the orbital region is of great importance in clinical practice, forensic medicine, and biological anthropology. Several methods are used to estimate sex based on the skeleton or parts of the skeleton: classic methods and the geometric morphometric method. The objective of this research was to analyse sex estimation of the orbital region on a sample of skulls from a Bosnian population using the geometric morphometric method. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted on three-dimensional models of 211 human adult skulls (139 males and 72 females) from the Osteological Collection at the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo. The skulls were recorded using a laser scanner to obtain skull 3D models. We marked 12 landmarks on each model to analyse sexual dimorphism. Landmarks were marked using the program Landmark Editor. After marking the landmarks, we used the MorphoJ program to analyse the morphological variability between male and female orbital regions. Results. After Procrustes superimposition, generating a covariant matrix, and introducing sex as a variable for classification, a discriminant functional analysis (DFA) was applied which determined the estimation for males with 86.33% accuracy and for females with 88.89% based on the form of the orbital region. The results of regression analysis showed that the size of the orbital region has a statistically significant effect on its shape’s sexual dimorphism. After excluding the influence of size and providing DFA, we concluded that sex estimation was possible with 82.01% accuracy for males and 80.55% accuracy for females based on the shape of the orbital region in the examined sample. Conclusion. Sex estimation based on the orbital region was possible with more than 80% accuracy for both sexes, which is a high percentage of correct estimation. Therefore, we recommend using the orbital region of the skull for sex estimation.
Atypical Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis Presentation Mimicking Rectal Cancer
Authors: Fikre Helina , Teklehaimanot Ermias , Mohammed Rezika , Mengistu Miklol , Abebe Bewketu , van Griensven Johan , van Henten Saskia
Published: April 2023

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting mostly the exposed skin, causing severe and disfiguring lesions in Ethiopia. In this report, we present two cases of atypical mucocutaneous leishmaniasis; one HIV positive and one HIV negative patient. Cases. A 32-year-old male HIV patient presented with 40 days of bleeding per-rectum and a perianal lesion of 5 years. An erythematous nontender plaque measuring 5 cm by 5 cm was observed over the right perianal area with circumferential constricting firm swelling of the rectum. The patient was cured with AmBisome and miltefosine after an incisional biopsy revealed leishmaniasis. A 40-year-old presented with bleeding per-rectum and stool incontinence of 3 months, generalized body swelling of 2 months, and mass around his anus for ten years. A 6 by 3 cm indurated ulcerating mass surrounding the anus and a fungating circumferential mass of 8 cm were seen above the proximal anal verge. An excisional biopsy revealed leishmaniasis, and the patient was treated with AmBisome but passed away due to complications with colostomy diarrhea. Conclusion. Clinicians should consider atypical mucocutaneous leishmaniasis as a possible diagnosis in patients with chronic skin lesions resembling hemorrhoids and colorectal masses, especially in endemic areas such as Ethiopia, regardless of their HIV status.