bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
French Dis-integration: New identity formation processes in 30° Couleur
Authors: Fache Caroline , Sainte-Claire Linsey
Published: February 2021

‘Integration’ expects immigrants to conform to a certain idea of Frenchness. While ‘integration’ has been and continues to be the watchword in French politics, recent directors contend that new and decolonized French identities are formed through different mechanisms. This article argues that Lucien Jean-Baptiste and Philippe Larue in30° Couleurpresent a protagonist of Martinican descent who comes to terms with his previously compartmentalized Frenchness through a process that this research conceives as a process ofdis-integration, challenging the perceived notion that ‘integration’ is the only valid path to being French. The process of dis-integration has three fundamental steps: (1) the physical dissociation of the protagonist from his space of integration, (2) the rediscovery and reconnection with a deep part of his identity that he had (un)consciously repressed and subsequently erased and (3) the acceptance of his double or plural identity and the creation of a space where these identities can co-exist without dominating or annihilating one another.
‘Because we’re worth it’: Young banlieue writers in France striving for inclusion
Authors: Linn Stella
Published: February 2021

French banlieue literature written by immigrant and ‘post-migration’ writers often involves a paradoxical mix of both ‘high’ and ‘low’ language varieties – use of slang alternating with poetic utterances – as well as references to popular culture alternating with ‘high culture’, which may range from American movies to intertextual references to canonized authors. What is the extratextual message of this intriguing mix, what do the predominantly young writers aim at, and what audience do they address in this way? By distinguishing four different strategies, this article argues that this hybrid blend is intended to act as a signal to the French reader, and thus indirectly to publishers and critics, that the writers conform to national standards and values, show full integration into French society, and therefore are entitled to claim a legitimate place in the French literary field.
Clinical and Genetic Risk Factors of Recurrent Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Satapathy Sanjaya K. , Tran Quynh T. , Kovalic Alexander J. , Bontha Sai Vineela , Jiang Yu , Kedia Satish , Karri Saradashri , Mupparaju Vamsee , Podila Pradeep S. B. , Verma Rajanshu , Maluf Daniel , Mas Valeria , Nair Satheesh , Eason James D. , Bridges Dave , Kleiner David E.
Published: February 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasingly reported among recipients of liver transplantation (LT). We aimed to identify clinical and genetic risk factors responsible for the development of early recurrent NAFLD in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis transplant recipients.

METHODS:

Forty-six total single nucleotide polymorphisms with known association with NAFLD were tested among both recipient and donor liver samples in 66 LT recipients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis to characterize influences on NAFLD recurrence at ∼1 year post-LT (median interval from LT to biopsy: 377 days).

RESULTS:

Recurrent NAFLD was identified in 43 (65.2%) patients, 20 (30.3%) with mild recurrence, and 23 (34.8%) with moderate to severe NAFLD. On adjusted analysis, change in the body mass index (BMI) (ΔBMI) was significantly associated with NAFLD recurrence, whereas post-LT diabetes mellitus was associated with increased severity of NAFLD recurrence. ADIPOR1 rs10920533 in the recipient was associated with increased risk of moderate to severe NAFLD recurrence, whereas the minor allele of SOD2 rs4880 in the recipient was associated with reduced risk. Similar reduced risk was noted in the presence of donor SOD2 rs4880 and HSD17B13 rs6834314 polymorphism.

DISCUSSION:

Increased BMI post-LT is strongly associated with NAFLD recurrence, whereas post-LT diabetes mellitus was associated with increased severity of NAFLD recurrence. Both donor and recipient SOD2 rs4880 and donor HSD17B13 rs6834314 single nucleotide polymorphisms may be associated with reduced risk of early NAFLD recurrence, whereas presence of the minor allele form of ADIPOR1 rs10920533 in the recipient is associated with increased severity NAFLD recurrence.
Pre-emptive intervention and its effect on student attainment and retention
Authors: Morrison Murray , Blake Canan , Embleton-Smith Fraser , Gosiewski Jan , Zvesper Jonathan
Published: February 2021

This paper describes how a small educational technology (edtech) company worked with academics, combining technological expertise, science content expertise, pedagogy and social research methodology to develop and evaluate the effect of video feedback on learners’ ability to answer science questions correctly. The investigation was carried out by the research team in Tassomai as part of their involvement with the EDUCATE programme. The Tassomai team worked with the research mentors in EDUCATE to find the best ways of helping students both to understand science concepts and to help them correctly answer science questions in exams. Findings indicated that, as expected, the video feedback helped learners to answer the question correctly, but also that, after a delay of around one week, a higher proportion of those students were still able to answer the question correctly compared to those in a control group of learners who did not have access to the related instructive video. The collaborative work between the Tassomai research team and the EDUCATE business and research mentors provided an environment to share expertise and channel it to improve Tassomai’s offering to learners. As a result of this study, Tassomai is now investing in the production of more instructive videos to help students understand difficult science concepts, and students will be offered these videos if they are having difficulty in answering the questions correctly.
Development of the School Science Club at Cardiff University
Authors: Blaxland James , Thomas Rhys , Baillie Les
Published: February 2021

Challenges faced by schools include how to make science interesting, relevant and engaging for their pupils. This can perhaps be made more difficult by staff members not having direct experience in many areas of the science they are tasked to teach, and therefore lacking the confidence to teach in these areas (Murphy et al., 2007). Within the higher education sector, there is demand for researchers to actively engage with the local community (Linder and Spear, 2003; Wynne, 2006). Working with eight schools, we co-developed a programme that both highlights academic research and complements the Key Stage 2 national curriculum with the aims of improving science aspirations, knowledge and confidence in Key Stage 2 (Year 6) children, supporting teachers in the delivery of areas of the curriculum identified as challenging, and increasing science communication and engagement within the university. We delivered two separate sessions with all eight primary schools, interacting with approximately three hundred and fifty pupils. Overall, the project had a positive impact on teachers, children and academic staff. Key findings indicated that 92.9 per cent of 348 children surveyed felt that they had learned something new, while 85.7 per cent surveyed felt they were more interested in science, and 14.3 per cent reported no change in their feelings towards science. The School Science Club represents a collaborative engagement project which highlights the requirement of accurate co-development and outcome settings from both the university and school in order to have a positive impact on all those involved. Findings suggested improvements in planning and delivery for future such endeavours.
Communal Challenges for Child Education in the Digital Era: A Perspective from Gender and Family Power Relations
Authors: Syamsiyatun Siti
Published: February 2021

The paper investigates how the digital technology’ advancement has affected our communal being and what could be done to address these challenges. In doing the research, I employ qualitative research to gather the data by documentation, observation, and interview technique with willing and selected informants. My study finds that excessive usage and inability to control the technology endanger human beings, make them submissive to the technology’ logic, and divide community. Community resilience can be achieved if every family units in the neighbourhood are strong and stable. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic enhances the widespread use of digital technology in many things, such as the learning process, economic transactions; it has changed the social structure. Despite bringing new opportunities, digital technology also presents significant challenges on issues such as gender relations in the family, patterns of parent-child relationships, and even on community health and cohesion. Digital technology might influence the shift of habitus. Still, parents and educational institutions also have the opportunities to contend the digital technological-based habitus and become the axis for the formation of a new habitus for people to navigate their lives guided by love, compassion, and respect.
Zoom (Virtual) Happy Hours and Drinking During COVID-19 in the US: An Exploratory Qualitative Study
Authors: Pakdaman Sheila , Clapp John
Published: February 2021

Objective: In this study, we investigated video conferencing platforms (eg, Zoom) used as a means to gather virtually as a unique drinking environment during the pandemic. Methods: Using online recruitment strategies, we conducted 42 qualitative Zoom® interviews. Interviewees were 21-64 years of age from various locations in the United States. Results: During the pandemic, most individuals reported higher drinking intake to offset boredom and stress. As a drinking environment, video conferencing calls were perceived as poor substitutes for in-person drinking interactions. Conclusions: Our data suggest drinking behaviors and contexts changed during the pandemic restrictions, but virtual happy hours did not drive this change.
The Gap between Perception and Reality: Obstacles to Public School Use of Produce from Small Local Farms in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Boys Kathryn , Fraser Angela
Published: February 2021

Objective: Connecting farms to school foodservice operations is complex. Our purposes in this study were to: (1) identify and assess self-reported benefits and challenges to procurement and use of produce purchased directly from small farms in school foodservice operations, and (2) determine if opinions about procurement from small farms significantly differs between those with and without experience purchasing these products. Methods: An online survey was conducted with child nutrition directors from 3 southeastern states in the United States. Statistical tests assessed differences in opinions between those with and without experience purchasing with these products. Results: Directors without experience understood the benefits but significantly overestimated the difficulty in obtaining and using these products. Experience shaped director perceptions regarding perceived procurement challenges related to contract terms, ordering challenges, food safety practices, and ability of small farms to supply foodservice needs. Conclusions: Challenges exist in procuring produce from small farms (eg, lack of coordinated ordering, delivery, and communications processes, insufficient availability of products, and limited value-added processing). Sourcing products directly from these farms is not as onerous as perceived to be. Bridging
An Evidence Base for School Health Policy during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Badran Saif , Musa Omran , Al-maadeed Somaya , Toft Egon , Doi Suhail
Published: February 2021

Objective: Children represent a small fraction of confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a low case fatality rate (CFR). In this paper, we lay out an evidence-based policy for reopening schools. Methods: We gathered age-specific COVID-19 case counts and identified mortality data for 14 countries. Dose-response meta-analysis was used to examine the relationship of the incremental case fatality rate (CFR) to age. In addition, an evidence-to-decision framework (EtD) was used to correlate the dose-response data with other epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in childhood. Results: In the dose-response analysis, we found that there was an almost negligible fatality below age 18. CFR rose little between ages 5 to 50 years. The confidence intervals were narrow, suggesting relative homogeneity across countries. Further data suggested decreased childhood transmission from respiratory droplets and a low viral load among children. Conclusions: Opening up schools and kindergartens is unlikely to impact COVID-19 case or mortality rates in both the child and adult populations. We outline a robust plan for schools that recommends that general principles not be micromanaged, with authority left to schools and monitored by public health authorities.
Sleep Duration and Weight Gain among Students at a Historically Black University
Authors: Sa Jaesin , Choe Siyoung , Seo JangDong , Chaput Jean-Philippe , Cho Beomyoung , Gazmararian Julie , Shin Jong Cheol , Nelson Beatrice , Hwang Sungjae , Jackson-Bowen Darlene , Moen Joshua
Published: February 2021

Objective: We investigated sex differences in sleep and examined the association between objectively-measured sleep characteristics and weight gain among 54 black students at a historically black university in spring 2018. Methods: Participants wore a wearable tracker (Fitbit Alta) for an average of 68 days of sleep over the spring semester and 5.5 days of sleep over the spring break. They also completed a questionnaire. Results: Average sleep duration was 6 hours 35 minutes. More women had short sleep (< 7 hours / night) than men (92.1% vs 43.8%; p < .001). Women had shorter sleep (6 hours 24 minutes vs 7 hours 1 minute; p = .003), shorter naps (2 hours 4 minutes vs 2 hours 30 minutes; p = .043), and lower sleep efficiency (93.0% vs 94.1%; p = .048) than men. More women than men experienced weight gain (79.0% vs 68.8%, p < .05). We found an inverse relationship between sleep duration and weight gain in both sexes (r = -0.42, p < .05). Conclusions: Appropriate sleep and weight management should be considered to address sex disparities in sleep and weight gain among black students at historically black universities.
El recuento automatizado de células en líquidos biológicos: una revisión
Authors: Alcaide Martín María José , Queral Laura Altimira , Frías Laura Sahuquillo , Valiña Amado Laura , Merino Anna , García de Guadiana-Romualdo Luis
Published: February 2021

El recuento de células en líquidos biológicos proporciona una información valiosa para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de diferentes patologías. El recuento en cámara y el estudio de la celularidad mediante microscopía óptica han sido consideradas tradicionalmente como método de referencia. Sin embargo, esta metodología implica un tiempo de respuesta del laboratorio elevado, carece de la reproducibilidad adecuada y requiere de personal experto. El avance tecnológico ha permitido el desarrollo de módulos de análisis específicos para los líquidos biológicos, incorporados en analizadores de hematología y de orinas, que permiten la automatización del recuento celular y han sido rápidamente incorporados a la práctica asistencial de los laboratorios En la actualidad diferentes analizadores están disponibles para ofrecer soluciones de automatización en el recuento de células en líquidos biológicos. Sin embargo, el empleo de dichos analizadores no está exento de limitaciones y su utilización requiere de un profundo conocimiento por los especialistas de la Medicina de Laboratorio. En esta revisión, se describen las principales tecnologías para la automatización del recuento celular en líquidos biológicos, el significado de los parámetros informados por los analizadores, sus principales características analíticas, así como el papel de la microscopía óptica en un contexto de utilización creciente de estas tecnologías.
Rheological behavior of a bentonite mud
Authors: Marum Daniela Martins , Afonso Maria Diná , Ochoa Brian Bernardo
Published: February 2021

Predicting drilling fluids rheology is crucial to control/optimize the drilling process and the gas extraction from drilling fluids in logging systems. A Couette viscometer measured the apparent viscosity of a bentonite mud at various shear rates and temperatures. The bentonite mud behaved as a yield-pseudoplastic fluid, and a modified Herschel-Bulkley model predicted the shear rate and temperature effects upon the shear stress. A pipe viscometer was built to seek a correlation between the mud flow rate and the pressure drop and thereby determine refined Herschel-Bulkley parameters. Coupling a rheological model to a pipe viscometer enables the continuous acquisition of apparent viscosities of Newtonian or non-Newtonian fluids at a rig-site surface.
Altruistic Punishment: The Golden Keystone of Human Cooperation and Social Stability?
Authors: Lewisch Peter
Published: February 2021

‘Altruistic punishment’ (i.e., costly punishment that serves no instrumental goal for the punisher) could serve, as suggested by the pertinent experimental literature, as a powerful enforcer of social norms. This paper discusses foundations, extensions, and, in particular, limits and open questions of this concept-and it does so mostly based on experimental evidence provided by the author. Inter alia, the paper relates the (standard) literature on negative emotions as a trigger of second party punishment to more recent experimental findings on the phenomenon of ‘spontaneous cooperation’ and ‘spontaneous punishment’ and demonstrates its (tight) emotional basis. Furthermore, the paper discusses the potential for free riding on altruistic punishment. While providing valuable insights into the understanding of social order, ‘altruistic punishment’ is thus not the golden keystone of social stability.
Précis: Our Moral Fate: Evolution And The Escape From Tribalism
Authors: Buchanan Allen
Published: February 2021

The book uses evolutionary principles to explain tribalism, a way of thinking and acting that divides the world into Us versus Them and achieves cooperation within a group at the expense of erecting insuperable obstacles to cooperation among groups. Tribalism represents political controversies as supreme emergencies in which ordinary moral constraints do not apply and as zero-sum, winner take all contests. Tribalism not only undermines democracy by ruling out compromise, bargaining, and respect for the Other; it also reverses one of the most important milestones of progress in how we understand morality: the insight that morality is not a list of commands to be unthinkingly followed, but rather that morality centrally involves the giving and taking of reasons among equals. Tribalism rejects this insight by branding the Other as a being who is incapable of reasoning.
Virtual simulation of otolith movement for the diagnosis and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Authors: Kong Lingyi , Wu Jun , Feng Mingjie , Zhang Yin , Liu Zhaobang , Yang Xiaokai
Published: February 2021

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a clinical condition. The existing diagnostic methods cannot determine the specific location of otolith on the short or long brachial sides. Thus, visual and quantitative evaluation of the existing clinical standard diagnostic modality Dix–Hallpike test is needed to improve medical efficiency. Our goal was to develop a real-time virtual simulation system to assess a BPPV treatment manipulation. In this study, we used the proposed simulation system to observe otolith movement during a posterior semicircular canal BPPV diagnostic test, and to analyze the diagnostic mechanisms and strategies. Through visual cluster analysis of otolith position and analysis of otolith movement time in the standard Dix–Hallpike test, we can find that the positions of otoliths are relatively scattered, especially on the z-axis (z
1 = 10.67 ± 3.98), and the fall time of otoliths at different positions has relatively large changes (t
1 = 22.21 ± 1.40). But in the modified experiment z
2 = 4.93 ± 0.32 and t
2 = 26.21 ± 0.28. The experimental results show that the simulation system could track the state and the movement of otolith in real-time, which is of great significance for understanding the diagnostic mechanisms of BPPV evaluations and improving the diagnostic method.
A corpus-based study of the time orientation of qian “front” and hou “back” in Chinese
Authors: Wu Shuqiong
Published: February 2021

Based on corpus data and adopting a behavioral profile approach, this study examines the time orientation of Chinese words qian “front” and hou “back.” The corpus analysis yields the following findings. First, the primary temporal meaning of qian and hou is indicating time sequence, with qian meaning “earlier” and hou meaning “later.” Second, Chinese speakers tend to conceptualize the future as being ahead of them and the past behind them. Both qian and hou are found to refer to the past and the future. Their contradictory usage arises from the lack of a distinction between Ego-Reference-Point and Time-Reference-Point. Third, qian and hou are used mainly in five constructions as temporal words. Their constructional profiles reveal that their time orientation correlates with the constructions in which they occur. Based on the corpus results, I also discuss the motivations underlying their time orientation in various constructions and argue that their time orientation stems from an interplay of temporal metaphors, the constructions in which they occur, and context. These findings suggest that speakers’ metaphorical representations of time are shaped by a multitude of factors rather than single space-to-time mappings.
Null se constructions in Brazilian and European Portuguese: Morphosyntactic deletion or emergence of new constructions?
Authors: Soares da Silva Augusto , Afonso Susana , Palú Dafne , Franco Karlien
Published: February 2021

Se constructions designate a set of polysemous constructions along a transitivity continuum marked by the clitic se that perform various functions: reflexive/reciprocal, middle, anticausative, passive, and impersonal. A counterpart of these constructions without the clitic – the null se construction – is also attested. Based on an extensive usage-feature and profile-based analysis, and using multivariate statistical methods, we analyze, considering Cognitive Grammar, the conceptual, structural, and lectal factors that determine the choice between overt and null se constructions. The results of the study show that the null constructions are far more frequent in Brazilian (BP) than in European Portuguese (EP). In BP, the focus on the moment of change is a crucial factor for the overt/null variation in reflexive/reciprocal, middle, anticausative, and impersonal constructions. If the moment of the change of state is profiled, the overt se construction is usually produced. If the moment of change is not profiled, the null se construction is preferred. External factors also play a role in the variation. Register is an important predictor for the observed variation of the anticausative construction, and the only predictor for the overt/null variation in the case of the passive construction. In EP, the null se variant is mainly limited to anticausative constructions. In all cases of null constructions, there is a shift to an absolute construal, which has an impact on the way that the transitivity continuum is conceptualized.
Syzygies in equivariant cohomology in positive characteristic
Authors: Allday Christopher , Franz Matthias , Puppe Volker
Published: February 2021

We develop a theory of syzygies in equivariant cohomology
for tori as well as p-tori and coefficients in

𝔽
p

{\mathbb{F}_{p}}

.
A noteworthy feature is a new algebraic approach to the partial exactness
of the Atiyah–Bredon sequence, which also covers all instances considered so far.
Reactivity of a benzylic lignin-carbohydrate model compound during enzymatic dehydrogenative polymerisation of coniferyl alcohol
Authors: Shimizu Kimiaki , Matsushita Yasuyuki , Aoki Dan , Mitsuda Hayato , Fukushima Kazuhiko
Published: February 2021

Lignin is thought to be covalently bound to carbohydrates like hemicellulose during biosynthesis to form a lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC). However, successive polymerisation with monolignols after the formation of LCC has not yet been clarified. To investigate the reaction of LCC, its enzymatic dehydrogenative polymerisation was conducted using deuterium-labelled coniferyl alcohol and model compounds, i.e., a lignin model (β-O-4 dimer model) compound (LM) and an LCC model (benzyl ether type) compound (LCCM). The obtained polymers (DHPs) were methylated and subjected to thioacidolysis, and the degradation products were quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the amount of coniferyl alcohol connected to the LCCM via β-O-4 binding was almost the same as that bound to the LM. However, the amount of unreacted LCCM was larger than that of LM, suggesting that the LCCM is less likely to form condensed structures, i.e., 5-5, β-5, and 4-O-5 structures. This could be due to the steric hindrance of the carbohydrate at the benzylic position.
COVID-19 and pregnancy: are they friends or enemies?
Authors: Gulic Tamara , Blagojevic Zagorac Gordana
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is rapidly spreading all over the world. Although in many cases the infection causes very weak symptoms, it can be severe in patient with diverse chronical diseases and immunological compromising patients. Pregnancy is a unique condition in which mother and fetus peacefully collaborate. Diverse endocrine-immune mechanisms, mostly under progesterone control work together to protect the fetus from maternal immunocompetent cell activation driven rejection. The physiological shift to Th2 dominant environment, while favourable for fetus, it makes mothers susceptible to infective pathogens, making pregnancy during COVID-19 pandemic challenging.

Materials and methods

Studies involving COVID-19 in pregnancy and those analysing changes of immune system induced by COVID-19 were searched in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. Databases were searched using a keyword COVID-19/coronavirus, that was combined with following terms: immune system, pregnancy, oestrogen, or progesterone. Search included studies published up to 01.07.2020. Almost 1,500 articles were found, but only 18 met criteria.

Results

Most frequent symptoms of COVID-19 in mothers infected in the late pregnancy were fever and cough accompanied with lymphopenia and elevated C-reactive protein. Mothers reported to have severe disease had comorbidities and were obese. Low rate of neonatal complications of maternal Sars-Coc-2 infection without neonatal mortality was observed.

Conclusions

Currently available data didn’t show significant relationship between COVID-19 severity and pregnancy and there is no strong evidence that mother’s infection can lead to adverse pregnancy outcome, but further studies are needed to determinate the possible effects of COVID-19 gained during earlier pregnancy.
The study of ischemia modified albumin as an early biomarker of epilepsy in adolescent population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Asia Priyanka , Sharma Anuj , Kumar Ahirwar Ashok , Garg Seema , Elgiva John Jyoti , Gopal Niranjan
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, diagnosis of which is challenging as many unrelated conditions may mimic seizure. Epilepsy impairs the quality of life of patients due to associated physical and psychological trauma. Epileptic patients are also at increased risk of premature death due to autonomic disturbance and fatal accidents. The aim of the present research work was to study ischemia modified albumin (IMA) as an early biomarker of epilepsy in the adolescent population.

Methods

Twenty-five diagnosed cases of epilepsy and 25 healthy volunteers as control of adolescent group were recruited as study subjects. The study subjects were age and sex matched. Clinical evaluation, routine biochemical parameters and IMA estimation were carried out. Serum IMA was measured by spectrophotometric method.

Results

The mean serum IMA levels were significantly raised in epileptic patients (0.69 ± 0.1 absorbance units [ABSU]) as compared to the healthy control group (0.52 ± 0.24 ABSU) (p=0.004). ROC curve of IMA predicted that at cut off of 0.59 ABSU, the IMA has 96% sensitivity and 52% specificity for diagnosing epilepsy.

Conclusions

IMA may be used as a biomarker for early diagnosis of epilepsy as well as to differentiate epileptic seizure from various non epileptic disorders in the adolescent population.
The association of animated sitcom viewing with humor styles and humor types
Authors: Zsila Ágnes , Urbán Róbert , Orosz Gábor , Demetrovics Zsolt
Published: February 2021

Recently, animated sitcoms such as Family Guy and American Dad have generated considerable interest internationally. This genre is known for its portrayal of controversial political and social issues combined with strategies of malicious humor, exaggeration, and stereotyping. This study addresses the question of whether humor styles and humor types predict viewer interest in animated sitcoms. A total of 1,052 Hungarian adults (41.6% male, M
age = 24.7 years, SD = 7.2) participated in an online survey focusing on animated sitcom viewing habits and the use of humor. It was found that males and younger individuals were more likely to watch animated sitcoms regularly than females and older individuals. As a result of multiple regressions, it was also found that individuals with high levels of self-enhancing and aggressive humor, and low levels of self-defeating humor were more likely to view animated sitcoms. Regarding humor types, individuals with low levels of all humor styles were less likely to watch animated sitcoms regularly. These findings can possibly contribute to a more nuanced understanding of media selection preferences in the level of individual differences.
CFD simulations of stirred-tank reactors for gas-liquid and gas-liquid-solid systems using OpenFOAM®
Authors: Hu Xiaofei , Ilgun Aziz Dogan , Passalacqua Alberto , Fox Rodney O. , Bertola Francesco , Milosevic Miran , Visscher Frans
Published: February 2021

An open-source CFD software OpenFOAM® is used to simulate two multiphase stirred-tank reactors relevant to industrial processes such as slurry polymerization and fuel production. Gas-liquid simulations are first performed in a single-impeller stirred-tank reactor, studied experimentally by Ford, J. J., T. J. Heindel, T. C. Jensen, and J. B. Drake. 2008. “X-Ray Computed Tomography of a Gas-Sparged Stirred-Tank Reactor.” Chemical Engineering Science 63: 2075–85. Three impeller rotation speeds (200, 350 and 700 rpm) with three different bubble diameters (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mm) are investigated. Flow patterns compared qualitatively to those from experiments. Compared to the experimental data, the simulations are in relatively good agreement for gas holdup in the reactor. The second multiphase system is a multi-impeller stirred-tank reactor, studied experimentally by Shewale, S. D., and A. B. Pandit. 2006. “Studies in Multiple Impeller Agitated Gas-Liquid Contractors.” Chemical Engineering Science 61: 486–504. Gas-liquid simulations are performed at two impeller rotation speeds (3.75 and 5.08 RPS). The simulated flow patterns agree with published pictures from the experiments. Gas-liquid-solid simulations of the multi-impeller stirred-tank reactor are also carried out at impeller rotation speed 5.08 RPS. The addition of solid particles with a volume fraction characteristic of slurry reactors changes the flow pattern significantly. The bottom Rushton turbine becomes flooded, while the upper pitched-blade downflow turbines present a radial-pumping flow pattern instead of down-pumping. Nonetheless, the solid phase has a similar flow pattern to the liquid phase, indicating that the particles modify the effective density of the fluid.
Analysis between graph-based and Power Transfer Distribution Factors (PTDF)-based model reduction methods in Electric Power Systems
Authors: Monroy-Ortiz Diego A. , Dorado-Rojas Sergio A. , Mojica-Nava Eduardo , Rivera Sergio
Published: February 2021

This article presents a comparison between two different methods to perform model reduction of an Electrical Power System (EPS). The first is the well-known Kron Reduction Method (KRM) that is used to remove the interior nodes (also known as internal, passive, or load nodes) of an EPS. This method computes the Schur complement of the primitive admittance matrix of an EPS to obtain a reduced model that preserves the information of the system as seen from to the generation nodes. Since the primitive admittance matrix is equivalent to the Laplacian of a graph that represents the interconnections between the nodes of an EPS, this procedure is also significant from the perspective of graph theory. On the other hand, the second procedure based on Power Transfer Distribution Factors (PTDF) uses approximations of DC power flows to define regions to be reduced within the system. In this study, both techniques were applied to obtain reduced-order models of two test beds: a 14-node IEEE system and the Colombian power system (1116 buses), in order to test scalability. In analyzing the reduction of the test beds, the characteristics of each method were classified and compiled in order to know its advantages depending on the type of application. Finally, it was found that the PTDF technique is more robust in terms of the definition of power transfer in congestion zones, while the KRM method may be more accurate.
Reactive power and harmonic compensation in a grid-connected photovoltaic system using fuzzy logic controller
Authors: Behera Maheswar Prasad , Ray Pravat Kumar
Published: February 2021

This work investigates the performance of a single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system under non-ideal source voltage conditions using a fuzzy logic controller. The single-phase instantaneous reactive power theory has been modified to explore the harmonic and reactive power compensation with distorted grid voltage excitation while transferring active and reactive power to the grid and the non-linear load. Instead of a traditional Proportional-Integral (PI) controller, the proposed method implements a fuzzy logic controller for the extraction of the reference compensating current. This method is compared with the traditional single-phase instantaneous reactive power theory. The advantage associated with a fuzzy logic controller is that it does not need accurate mathematical modeling of the system, instead, it is based upon the linguistic characterization of the input and output variables. Besides, care has been taken to provide uninterrupted compensation throughout the variation of the solar irradiation level. The proposed method has also been verified through a laboratory-developed prototype using a DS1103 processor.
A novel non-isolated dual-input DC-DC boost converter for hybrid electric vehicle application
Authors: Daya John Lionel Febin , Dias Jacintha , Krishna Srinivasan Mohan , Parandhaman Balamurugan , Prabhakaran Prajof
Published: February 2021

This paper proposes a novel non-isolated multi-input dc-dc boost converter for electrical vehicle application. A hybrid system balances the power of the system by using two or more sources. The power between the input sources can be flexibly distributed without any distortion. The charging or discharging of the energy storage systems by other input energy sources can also be monitored in a proper manner and is a feasible task. The design consists of only one inductor and the charging and discharging of the energy storage system decides the operation modes of the converter. In this paper, every operating mode has a small signal model that leads to the control system design for the converter. Simulation and experimental results are provided to prove the validity of the converter and the performance of its control system.
Characterization of H13 steel powder oxidation at different temperatures
Authors: Liu Hengsan , Wang Miaohui , Xu Yifei , Ge Xueyuan , Li Jing , Liang Jinming
Published: February 2021

The oxidation behavior of two kinds of H13 steel powders were studied at different temperatures in air. Both oxidation kinetics and oxidation products were investigated, and the effect of powder particle size distribution on the powder oxidation was also evaluated. In addition, elemental and microstructural analyses were also conducted to characterize the oxide phase formation. Results showed that chromia and spinel were the main phases for both samples after oxidation for 24 h, irrespective of significant descaling.
Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and properties of 25Cr2MoVA petroleum casing steel
Authors: Cao Pengjun , Zhang Yilong , Li Kejian , Dong Jiling , Wu Wei
Published: February 2021

The 25Cr2MoVA steel was subjected to various heat treatments. We found that the hardness increased when the quenching temperature was in the range of 870 – 910 °C, and then it decreased for the temperature of 910 – 990 °C. The maximum hardness was 553 HV after quenching from 910 °C. Following quenching from 910°C, the 25Cr2Mo-VA steel was tempered in the temperature range of 560 to 750 °C. With an increase in the tempering temperature, the hardness and tensile strength of the material decreased, while the impact toughness increased; the corrosion resistance increased initially and then decreased. The best heat treatment process for the 25Cr2MoVA steel involved quenching form 910 °C and tempering at 650°C for 1 h, the hardness was 362 HV, the tensile strength reached 1 310 MPa, the impact energy reached 149 J, and the material exhibited the best corrosion resistance.
Modeling and analysis of dynamics for a 3D mixed Lorenz system with a damped term
Authors: Li Xianyi , Mirjalol Umirzakov
Published: February 2021

The work in this paper consists of two parts. The one is modelling. After a method of classification for three dimensional (3D) autonomous chaotic systems and a concept of mixed Lorenz system are introduced, a mixed Lorenz system with a damped term is presented. The other is the analysis for dynamical properties of this model. First, its local stability and bifurcation in its parameter space are in detail considered. Then, the existence of its homoclinic and heteroclinic orbits, and the existence of singularly degenerate heteroclinic cycles, are studied by rigorous theoretical analysis. Finally, by using the Poincaré compactification for polynomial vector fields inR3${\mathbb{R}}^{3}$, a global analysis of this system near and at infinity is presented, including the complete description of its dynamics on the sphere near and at infinity. Simulations corroborate corresponding theoretical results. In particular, a possibly new mechanism for the creation of chaotic attractors is proposed. Some different structure types of chaotic attractors are correspondingly and numerically found.
Exploring the effects of awareness and time delay in controlling malaria disease propagation
Authors: Basir Fahad Al , Banerjee Arnab , Ray Santanu
Published: February 2021

In this article, a mathematical model has been derived for studying the dynamics of malaria disease and the influence of awareness-based interventions, for control of the same, that depend on ‘level of awareness’. We have assumed the disease transmission rates from vector to human and from human to vector, as decreasing functions of ‘level of awareness’. The effect of insecticides for controlling the mosquito population is influenced by the level of awareness, modelled using a saturated term. Organizing any awareness campaign takes time. Therefore a time delay has been incorporated in the model. Some basic mathematical properties such as nonnegativity and boundedness of solutions, feasibility and stability of equilibria have been analysed. The basic reproduction number is derived which depends on media coverage. We found two equilibria of the model namely the disease-free and endemic equilibrium. Disease-free equilibrium is stable if basic reproduction number (ℛ0) is less than unity (ℛ0 < 1). Stability switches occur through Hopf bifurcation when time delay crosses a critical value. Numerical simulations confirm the main results. It has been established that awareness campaign in the form of using different control measures can lead to eradication of malaria.
Lipschitz stability of nonlinear ordinary differential equations with non-instantaneous impulses in ordered Banach spaces
Authors: Chen Pengyu , Xin Zhen , Zhang Xuping
Published: February 2021

We consider Lipschitz stability of zero solutions to the initial value problem of nonlinear ordinary differential equations with non-instantaneous impulses on ordered Banach spaces. Using Lyapunov function, Lipschitz stability of zero solutions to nonlinear ordinary differential equation with non-instantaneous impulses is obtained.
The effects of extensive reading on young Korean students’ construction development
Authors: Ro Eunseok , Kim Hyunwoo
Published: February 2021

This study explores how input-focused implicit learning through extensive reading (ER) facilitates construction development in Korean-speaking young EFL students. Twenty-four EFL students, 10–13 years old, participated in ER as an after-school activity for four weeks (ER group). Their construction development in writing was assessed using seven argument structure constructions. The ER group’s performance preceding and following ER activities was compared to 24 young EFL students who did not engage in ER (baseline group). The results showed that the ER group improved their production of ditransitive and caused-motion constructions. Compared to the baseline group, the ER group not only produced a greater number of these constructions, but also used a wider variety of verbs not observed prior to the ER experiences, indicating an expansion of their linguistic knowledge with the target constructions. We conclude by addressing the pedagogical implications for using ER with young EFL students.
The Carbon and Land Footprint of Certified Food Products
Authors: Bellassen Valentin , Drut Marion , Antonioli Federico , Brečić Ružica , Donati Michele , Ferrer-Pérez Hugo , Gauvrit Lisa , Hoang Viet , Knutsen Steinnes Kamilla , Lilavanichakul Apichaya , Majewski Edward , Malak-Rawlikowska Agata , Mattas Konstadinos , Nguyen An , Papadopoulos Ioannis , Peerlings Jack , Ristic Bojan , Tomić Maksan Marina , Török Áron , Vittersø Gunnar , Diallo Abdoul
Published: February 2021

The carbon and land footprint of 26 certified food products – geographical indications and organic products and their conventional references are assessed. This assessment goes beyond existing literature by (1) designing a calculation method fit for the comparison between certified food and conventional production, (2) using the same calculation method and parameters for 52 products – 26 Food Quality Schemes and their reference products – to allow for a meaningful comparison, (3) transparently documenting this calculation method and opening access to the detailed results and the underlying data, and (4) providing the first assessment of the carbon and land footprint of geographical indications. The method used is Life Cycle Assessment, largely relying on the Cool Farm Tool for the impact assessment. The most common indicator of climate impact, the carbon footprint expressed per ton of product, is not significantly different between certified foods and their reference products. The only exception to this pattern are vegetal organic products, whose carbon footprint is 16% lower. This is because the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from the absence of mineral fertilizers is never fully offset by the associated lower yield. The climate impact of certified food per hectare is however 26% than their reference and their land footprint is logically 24% higher. Technical specifications directly or indirectly inducing a lower use of mineral fertilizers are a key driver of this pattern. So is yield, which depends both on terroir and farming practices. Overall, this assessment reinforces the quality policy of the European Union: promoting certified food is not inconsistent with mitigating climate change.
Consumer Preferences for Green Skin Avocados in the US Market: The Role of Experienced Quality Attributes, Credence Attributes, and Demographic Factors
Authors: Ballen Fredy H. , Evans Edward , Parra-Acosta Yenny Katherine
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this paper is to assess the effect of experienced quality attributes, credence quality attributes and demographic factors affecting green-skin avocado consumption. Data for the present study came from a consumer online survey to 355 avocado consumers. Consumer preferences were modeled by an ordered logit model. Results indicate that experienced quality attributes are the main drivers for green-skin avocado followed by origin and health credence attributes, respectively. Demographic factors other than ethnicity do not play a significant role for green-skin avocado consumption. Among other things, the findings indicate that consumers place a higher valuation on higher fat content compared to low calorie content, implying that the latter attribute should not be touted at the expense of the former. To the extent possible, the industry should focus on cultivars with higher fat content and develop promotional activities to target non-Hispanic consumers. The present study constitutes an effort to contribute to the existing literature as it explores the role of health credence attributes, a topic that has not received much attention.
Comparison of instability resistance training, traditional resistance training and plyometric training on athletic performance parameters
Authors: Amar Amit Kumar , Nuhmani Shibili , Khan Moazzam Hussain , John Melbin , Kachanathu Shaji John , Kadyan Gaurav , Muaidi Qassim I.
Published: February 2021

Objectives

The objective of the study was to compare traditional resistance, instability resistance, and plyometric training methods on measures of athletic performance in healthy subjects.

Methods

Sixty five healthy, physically active male students were randomly assigned to the following groups: traditional resistance training (RT, n=22), instability training (IT, n=22), and plyometric training (PLY, n=21).Athletic performance parameters were assessed pre- and post-training using chair squat test, standing stork test, shuttle run test, t-test, and vertical jump test.

Results

General linear univariate model with baseline as covariate (ANCOVA) was used for analyzing the change in outcome from baseline to post-treatment. Statistically significant improvement was observed in all the athletic performance parameters in all three groups after seven weeks of training (p-value<0.05). The highest change in chair squat test was reported for RT compared to IT (p-value<0.001) and PLY (p-value<0.001). The change in standing stork test among the IT group was substantially higher than that among RT (p-value=0.007) but did not significantly differ from that among the PLY (p-value=0.27). No statistically significant difference was observed in post-test values of vertical jump test among three groups. The highest change in t-test and shuttle run test was reported for PLY compared to IT (p-value<0.001) and RT (p-value<0.001).

Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested that IT and PLY can be included with traditional RT to improve various aspects of athletic performance in healthy physically active individuals. The current study will give an insight to athletes, coaches, and trainers regarding utilization of appropriate training methods in enhancing athletic performance. However, further research is required to establish the effectiveness