bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PotteryVR: virtual reality pottery
Authors: Dashti Sarah , Prakash Edmond , Navarro-Newball Andres Adolfo , Hussain Fiaz , Carroll Fiona
Published: June 2022

Handcrafting ceramic pottery in the traditional method or virtual reality (VR) with intricate surface details is still challenging for the ceramic and graphic artist. Free-form pottery modeling can be efficiently geometrically modeled with the right tools with detailed 3D print outputs, yet challenging to be manufactured using traditional art. The new advanced pottery VR simulation is a promising method to recreate the traditional pottery simulation for a better experience with some barriers. The challenges that arise from surface detail in pottery are a tedious task accomplished by mesh blending and retopology. This paper focuses on refining the VP application’s performance by adding unique sound resonance as a more likely infinite geometric phenomenon textures, blending it into the basic shapes. This paper combines creativity and visual computing technologies such as VR, mesh blending, fixing errors, and 3D printing to bring the ceramic artist’s imagination to life. We have used sound resonance with virtual pottery (VP) systems refinements to demonstrate several standard pottery methods from free form deformed pottery, retopology, mesh blended for surface details, and 3D printed pottery with materials including polymer and ceramic resins.
Association of polygenic risk for schizophrenia with fast sleep spindle density depends on pro-cognitive variants
Authors: Schilling Claudia , Zillich Lea , Schredl Michael , Frank Josef , Schwarz Emanuel , Deuschle Michael , Meyer-Lindenberg Andreas , Rietschel Marcella , Witt Stephanie H. , Streit Fabian
Published: June 2022

Cognitive impairment is a common feature in schizophrenia and the strongest prognostic factor for long-term outcome. Identifying a trait associated with the genetic background for cognitive outcome in schizophrenia may aid in a deeper understanding of clinical disease subtypes. Fast sleep spindles may represent such a biomarker as they are strongly genetically determined, associated with cognitive functioning and impaired in schizophrenia and unaffected relatives. We measured fast sleep spindle density in 150 healthy adults and investigated its association with a genome-wide polygenic score for schizophrenia (SCZ-PGS). The association between SCZ-PGS and fast spindle density was further characterized by stratifying it to the genetic background of intelligence. SCZ-PGS was positively associated with fast spindle density. This association mainly depended on pro-cognitive genetic variants. Our results strengthen the evidence for a genetic background of spindle abnormalities in schizophrenia. Spindle density might represent an easily accessible marker for a favourable cognitive outcome which should be further investigated in clinical samples.
Dermatitis linearis outbreak associated with Paederus balcanicus in Austria
Authors: Bakran-Lebl Karin , Harmankaya Kaan , Fuehrer Hans-Peter , Heidenreich Erich , Marton Lilla , Zechmeister Thomas , Allerberger Franz , Preusser Matthias
Published: June 2022

Background

Dermatitis linearis is a toxic skin lesion caused by contact with certain beetles of the genus Paederus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Dermatitis linearis outbreaks have been described mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, but so far not in Central Europe, and are considered an emerging public health concern potentially associated with climate change.

Material and methods

Following diagnosis of dermatitis linearis in a cluster of six adults and one child with reported exposure to beetles with morphological characteristics of Paederus species at a recreational public open-air bath at Lake Neusiedl (Illmitz, Burgenland, Austria), we performed on-site inspection and installed light and pitfall traps. Collected beetle specimens of the genus Paederus were classified using morphological characteristics and DNA barcoding.

Results

A total of 32 Paederus beetles were collected using an aspirator (n = 2) and light traps (n = 30). No individuals of the genus Paederus were captured with the pitfall traps. Morphological analyses identified them as members of the Paederus balcanicus species, which was confirmed by genetic specification of four arbitrarily chosen individuals. Dermatitis linearis lesions were treated with topical steroids and healed but partly leaving scars and hyperpigmentation, over the course of a few weeks in all affected persons.

Conclusion

We report for the first time (a) an outbreak of dermatitis linearis associated with exposure to autochthonous Paederus species in Austria, and (b) that contact to the species Paederus balcanicus may cause dermatitis linearis in humans. Adequate measures should be taken to prevent dermatitis linearis outbreaks in areas with resident Paederus occurrence.
When and how teachers intervene in group discussions on experiences from practice in postgraduate medical education: an interactional analysis
Authors: van Braak Marije , Huiskes Mike , Veen Mario
Published: June 2022

Medical educators constantly make decisions on when and how to intervene. Current literature provides general suggestions about types of teacher interventions. Our study aims to specify that knowledge by describing in detail the actions teachers do when intervening, the interactional consequences of those actions, and how these relate to teacher roles in group discussions. We collected all first teacher interventions (n = 142) in 41 videorecorded group discussions on experiences from practice at the Dutch postgraduate training for General Practice. We analyzed the interventions using Conversation Analysis. First, we described the timing, manner, actions, and interactional consequences of each intervention. Next, we inductively categorized actions into types of actions. Finally, we analyzed the distribution of these types of actions over the group discussion phases (telling, exploration, discussion, conclusion). First teacher interventions were done at observably critical moments. Actions done by these interventions could be categorized as moderating, expert, and evaluating actions. Moderating actions, commonly done during the telling and exploration phase, are least directive. Expert and evaluator actions, more common in the discussion phase, are normative and thus more directive. The placement and form of the actions done by teachers, as well as their accounts for doing those, may hint at a teacher orientation to intervene as late as possible. Since the interventions are occasioned by prior interaction and responded to in different ways by residents, they are a collaborative interactional accomplishment. Our detailed description of how, when and with what effect teachers intervene provides authentic material for teacher training.
The effect of ply properties in paperboard converting operations: a way to increase formability
Authors: Lindberg Gustav , Kulachenko Artem
Published: June 2022

This study addresses the question of how the difference in mechanical properties of the individual layers in a multi-ply commercial paperboard affects the outcome of the tray-forming operation. Two commercially produced paperboards with nearly identical mechanical properties when conventionally tensile tested were considered. These boards are produced on different machines with the same target grammage and density. Despite the similar mechanical properties, their performance in a given tray-forming operation was drastically different, with one of the boards showing an unacceptable failure rate. To investigate the difference seen during converting operations, a detailed multi-ply finite element model was built to simulate the converting operation. The present model considers a critical area of the paperboard known to exhibit failures. To derive the constitutive relations for each ply in the sub-model, both boards were split to single out individual plies which were then tensile tested. Including the properties of individual plies revealed large differences between the boards when it comes to the distribution of the properties in the thickness direction. In particular, the top plies differed to a large extent. This is attributed to the difference in refining energies for the plies. The results from the three-ply sub-model demonstrated the importance of including the multi-ply structure in the analysis. Weakening of the top ply facing the punch by using lower refining energy considerably increased the risk of failure of the entire board. These results suggest that there is room for optimizing the board performance by adjusting the refining energy at the ply level.

Graphical abstract
The extended coset leader weight enumerator of a twisted cubic code
Authors: Blokhuis Aart , Pellikaan Ruud , Szőnyi Tamás
Published: June 2022

The extended coset leader weight enumerator of the generalized Reed–Solomon $$[q+1,q-3,5]_q$$

[
q
+
1
,
q
-
3
,
5
]

q

code is computed. In this computation methods in finite geometry, combinatorics and algebraic geometry are used. For this we need the classification of the points, lines and planes in the projective three space under projectivities that leave the twisted cubic invariant. A line in three space determines a rational function of degree at most three and vice versa. Furthermore, the double point scheme of a rational function is studied. The pencil of a true passant of the twisted cubic, not in an osculation plane gives a curve of genus one as double point scheme. With the Hasse–Weil bound on $${\mathbb F}_q$$

F
q

-rational points we show that there is a 3-plane containing the passant.
Potential risks associated with the use of ionizing radiation for imaging and treatment of colorectal cancer in Lynch syndrome patients
Authors: Sun Mingzhu , Moquet Jayne , Ellender Michele , Bouffler Simon , Badie Christophe , Baldwin-Cleland Rachel , Monahan Kevin , Latchford Andrew , Lloyd David , Clark Susan , Anyamene Nicola A. , Ainsbury Elizabeth , Burling David
Published: June 2022

The aim of this review is to investigate the literature pertaining to the potential risks of low-dose ionizing radiation to Lynch syndrome patients by use of computed tomography (CT), either diagnostic CT colonography (CTC), standard staging CT or CT surveillance. Furthermore, this review explores the potential risks of using radiotherapy for treatment of rectal cancer in these patients. No data or longitudinal observational studies of the impact of radiation exposure on humans with Lynch syndrome were identified. Limited experimental studies utilizing cell lines and primary cells exposed to both low and high radiation doses have been carried out to help determine radio-sensitivity associated with DNA mismatch repair gene deficiency, the defining feature of Lynch syndrome. On balance, these studies suggest that mismatch repair deficient cells may be relatively radio-resistant (particularly for low dose rate exposures) with higher mutation rates, albeit no firm conclusions can be drawn. Mouse model studies, though, showed an increased risk of developing colorectal tumors in mismatch repair deficient mice exposed to radiation doses around 2 Gy. With appropriate ethical approval, further studies investigating radiation risks associated with CT imaging and radiotherapy relevant doses using cells/tissues derived from confirmed Lynch patients or genetically modified animal models are urgently required for future clinical guidance.
Teachers’ Error-handling Practices Within and Across Lesson Phases in the Mathematics Classroom
Authors: Kaufmann Odd Tore , Larsson Maria , Ryve Andreas
Published: June 2022

Multiple studies have been conducted regarding teachers’ error-handling practices, and how errors can be treated as opportunities for learning, albeit in the context of whole-class discussions. The aim of the present research is to continue to investigate teachers’ error-handling practices as they occur in different phases of maths lessons: introduction of the task, when students are working alone, and when students are working in pairs and finally, as part of the whole-class discussion. The study included 51 lessons from twelve teachers. A cross-case analysis was made across the individual teacher cases to look for similarities and differences between different teachers’ error-handling practices across the lesson phases in order to create teaching profiles with similar handling of student errors across the lesson phases. Five error-handling teaching profiles were identified; correcting errors throughout all phases, correcting errors during students’ work while few errors are brought up in whole class, correcting errors during students’ work while using a variety of practices in whole class, ignoring errors while using some of them in whole class, and discussing and explaining errors.
Abrupt change from moderate positive to colossal negative thermal expansion caused by imidazolate composite formation
Authors: Burazer Sanja , Horák Lukáš , Filinchuk Yaroslav , Černý Radovan , Popović Jasminka
Published: June 2022

This work describes temperature-induced crystallization processes and reaction mechanisms occurring in the borohydride-imidazolate system. In the course of thermal evolution, crystal structures of two novel bimetallic imidazolates AMnIm3 (A = Na, K) were solved using synchrotron radiation powder diffraction data. Both the alkali metal cation and the Mn cations exhibit distorted octahedral coordination while each imidazolate is surrounded by two alkali metal and two manganese atoms. Extensive study of the thermal expansion behaviour revealed that the expansion of the bimetallic imidazolates does not proceed uniformly over the entire temperature range but rather abruptly changes from a colossal negative to a moderate positive volume expansion. Such behaviour is caused by the coherent intergrowth of the coexisting phases which form a composite, a positive lattice mismatch and a tensile strain during the coexistence of NaMIm3 (M = Mg and Mn) and NaIm or HT-NaIm. Such coherent coalescence of two materials opens the possibility for targeted design of zero thermal expansion materials.

Graphical abstract

Crystal structures of AMnIm3 (A = Na, K) were determined. Coherently intergrown NaMIm3/NaIm (M = Mg, Mn) present colossal negative thermal expansion.
Enhancing the properties of PVDF/MFe2O4; (M: Co–Zn and Cu–Zn) nanocomposite for the piezoelectric optronic applications
Authors: El-Masry Mai M. , Ramadan Rania
Published: June 2022

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer is considered as an encouraging piezoelectric material whose optical properties need to be enhanced. Zinc ferrite is an excellent photoelectric material, in the present work it was doped separately by (cobalt and copper) ferrite. Co-ZnFe2O4 and Cu-ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized using auto-combustion method and characterized using XRD, FTIR, FESEM and HRTEM. The crystallite size was (28.8, 35.8, 22 and 31) nm for the Co-ZnFe2O4 and Cu-ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles, while the estimated particle size from HRTEM were 55 nm for the Co-ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles and 75 nm for the Cu-ZnFe2O4. The obtained samples used as PVDF fillers, aiming to improve its optical properties. The optical properties as well as, the piezoelectric response of the prepared PVDF/(Co-ZnFe2O4 and Cu-ZnFe2O4) nanocomposites were investigated. The maximum value for refractive index was related to PVDF/Co-ZnFe2O4 nanocomposite. While, Cu-ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles have limited improvement of the PVDF optical properties. Co-ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles increases the PVDF optical conductivity σopt. four times its original value as well as the dielectric values was increased from 0.05 for neat PVDF to 2. The piezoelectric response of the PVDF polymer is clearly increased by the addition of both Co-ZnFe2O4 and Cu-ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles.
Default meanings: language’s logical connectives between comprehension and reasoning
Authors: Lobina David J. , Demestre Josep , García-Albea José E. , Guasch Marc
Published: June 2022

Language employs various coordinators to connect propositions, a subset of which are “logical” in nature and thus analogous to the truth operators of formal logic. We here focus on two linguistic connectives and their negations: conjunctionandand (inclusive) disjunctionor. Linguistic connectives exhibit a truth-conditional component as part of their meaning (their semantics), but their use in context can give rise to various implicatures and presuppositions (the domain of pragmatics) as well as to inferences that go beyond semantic/pragmatic properties (the result of reasoning processes). We provide a comprehensive review of the role of the logical connectives in language and argue that three sets of factors—semantic, pragmatic, and those related to reasoning—are separate and separable, though some details may differ cross-linguistically. As a way to showcase the argument, we present two experiments in language comprehension in Spanish wherein pragmatic content was minimised and reasoning processes neutered, thus potentially highlighting what might be the default meanings of the connectives under study. In Experiment 1 we show that the conjunctive reading of inclusive disjunction is available in positive contexts other than in syntactically intricate cases such as downward entailing and free choice contexts, contrary to what has been claimed in the literature. In Experiment 2 we show that negated conjunctions and disjunctions in Spanish can easily receive the same interpretation when contrasted against the same context and, moreover, that these interpretations match those available in English, despite claims from the literature that linguistic connectives and local negation interact differently in English and Romance languages.
The effect of glucose dynamics on plasma copeptin levels upon glucagon, arginine, and macimorelin stimulation in healthy adults
Authors: Atila Cihan , Monnerat Sophie , Urwyler Sandrine Andrea , Refardt Julie , Winzeler Bettina , Christ-Crain Mirjam
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Non-osmotic stimulation tests using glucagon, arginine, or macimorelin were recently evaluated for their ability to assess posterior pituitary function. Glucagon and arginine, but not macimorelin, stimulated copeptin secretion (a surrogate marker of vasopressin) and, therefore, provide novel tests to assess the posterior pituitary. The exact underlying mechanism behind their stimulatory effect remains elusive.

Methods

This analysis combined data from three diagnostic studies conducted at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. In total, 80 healthy adults underwent the glucagon (n = 22), arginine (n = 30), or macimorelin (n = 28) stimulation tests. The primary objective was to investigate glucose course upon glucagon, arginine, and macimorelin stimulation tests and its effect on plasma copeptin release.

Results

Upon glucagon stimulation, the median [IQR] glucose level at baseline was 5.0 [4.6, 5.2] mmol/l, peaked at 8.1 [7.2, 9.4] mmol/l after 30 min and decreased to a minimum of 3.8 [3.5, 4.5] mmol/l after 120 min. The median copeptin increase upon glucagon stimulation was 7.7 [2.6, 28.0] pmol/l. Upon arginine, the glucose level at baseline was 4.9 [4.8, 5.5] mmol/l, peaked at 6.0 [5.2, 6.4] mmol/l after 30 min and decreased to a minimum of 4.3 [3.8, 4.8] mmol/l after 60 min. The median copeptin increase upon arginine stimulation was 4.5 [2.9, 7.5] pmol/l. Upon macimorelin, glucose levels showed no notable dynamics over the 120 min, and no major change in copeptin was observed.

In the pooled dataset, a decrease in glucose levels was significantly correlated with copeptin increase (ρ = 0.53, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

A similar course in plasma glucose was observed in the copeptin-stimulating test, i.e., after glucagon and arginine, while macimorelin had no effect on glucose and copeptin levels. We hypothesize that a drop in glucose levels observed upon glucagon and arginine might stimulate copeptin.
Financial experts of top management teams and corporate social responsibility: evidence from China
Authors: Li Zhe , Wang Bo , Zhou Dan
Published: June 2022

This study examines how the financial experience of senior executives influences corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and reporting activities. With a sample of Chinese listed companies over the period 2009–2018, we find that companies with senior executives with financial expertise are associated with higher CSR performance and tend to issue lengthier sustainability reports than companies without; in addition, the percentage of financial experts on the top management team (TMT) is positively related to CSR. We next find that such improvement in CSR is mainly driven by senior executives who have work experience in regulatory-oriented financial institutions. By examining the role of the TMT’s latitude of action, we find that the positive influence of senior executives’ financial experience on CSR is more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises and in cash-abundant companies. Last, further analysis demonstrates that the enhancement in CSR driven by financially sophisticated executives drives firm value. The results are robust to alternative measures, sensitivity tests, and various controls for endogeneity concerns.
Scalable performance analysis method for SPMD applications
Authors: Tirado Felipe , Wong Alvaro , Rexachs Dolores , Luque Emilio
Published: June 2022

The analysis of parallel scientific applications allows us to understand their computational and communication behavior. One way of obtaining performance information is through performance tools. One such tool is parallel application signatures for performance prediction (PAS2P), based on parallel application repeatability, focusing on performance analysis and prediction. The same resources that execute the parallel application are used to perform its analysis, creating a machine independent model of the application and identifying its common patterns. However, the analysis is costly in terms of execution time due to the high number of synchronization communications performed by PAS2P, degrading performance as the number of processes increases. To solve this problem, we propose a model that reduces data dependency between processes, reducing the number of communications performed by PAS2P in the analysis stage and taking advantage of the characteristics of single program, multiple sata applications. Our analysis proposal allows us to decrease the analysis time by 29 times when the application scales to 256 processes, while keeping error levels below 11% in the runtime prediction. It is important to mention that the analysis time is not considerably affected by increasing the number of application processes.
Problematic Shopping Behavior: An Item Response Theory Examination of the Seven-Item Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale
Authors: Zarate Daniel , Fullwood Lana , Prokofieva Maria , Griffiths Mark D. , Stavropoulos Vasileios
Published: June 2022

There has been an increasing amount of research examining problematic shopping behavior (PSB), often referred to in the psychological literature as “compulsive buying” or “shopping addiction.” A popular scale for assessing the risk of PSB is the seven-item Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS). To expand our knowledge of the psychometric properties of this instrument, the present study employed Item Response Theory (IRT) and differential item functioning analyses (DIF) while concurrently attempting to determine a preliminary cut-off point. A relatively large community sample completed the BSAS online (N = 968, Mage = 29.5 years, SDage = 9.36, 32.5% women). IRT analyses showed differences regarding the BSAS items’ discrimination, difficulty, and precision, with a raw score exceeding 23 (out of 28) indicating a higher risk of shopping addiction. Finally, while most BSAS items operated equally among males and females, Item 2 (mood modification) required a higher level of shopping addiction behaviors to be endorsed by males. The BSAS functions as a reliable assessment of the risk of shopping addiction, particularly between average and high levels of the trait. Clinical implications are discussed in light of these findings.
Widerstände gegen Präventionsmaßnahmen während der COVID-19-Pandemie: Ursachen und Strategien für ihre Minimierung
Authors: Hastall Matthias R. , Scherenberg Viviane
Published: June 2022

Hintergrund

Während der COVID-19-Pandemie („coronavirus disease 2019“) kam es immer wieder zu Widerständen gegenüber nachweislich wirksamen Präventionsmaßnahmen. Eine solche durch Verärgerung und negativen Kognitionen gekennzeichnete „Reaktanz“ erleben Menschen (gemäß der psychologischen Reaktanztheorie) bei einer wahrgenommenen Bedrohung subjektiv wichtiger Freiheiten oder wahrgenommenen Versuchen, ihre Einstellungen oder ihr Verhalten zu ändern.

Fragestellung

Der vorliegende Beitrag beleuchtet die Rolle defensiver Prozesse im Kontext der COVID-19-Pandemie aus der Perspektive einer evidenzbasierten und abwehrsensiblen Risiko- und Krisenkommunikation. Nach einem Überblick über wesentliche Auslöser und Ausprägungen werden Möglichkeiten zur Minimierung von Abwehr diskutiert.

Ergebnis

Widerstände sind in einem gewissen Umfang immer zu erwarten, lassen sich aber durch bestimmte formale und inhaltliche Gestaltungen der Informationen minimieren. Hierzu zählen beispielsweise eine professionelle Anmutung, eine respektvoll wertschätzende und stigmasensible Grundhaltung, eine positive und selbstwirksamkeitsstärkende Ansprache sowie eine Vermeidung emotional überfordernder Informationen wie z. B. stark negative emotionale Appelle oder starkes Verlust-Framing.

Schlussfolgerung

Akteure sollten müssen sich darüber im Klaren darüber sein, dass Abwehrmechanismen durch die Kommunikation sowohl gefördert als auch reduziert werden können. Sie sollten wesentliche Auslöser hierfür kennen und durch eine konsistente, verständliche und adressatengerechte Kommunikation dazu beitragen, Unsicherheiten, Widerstände und Irritationen zu vermeiden.
Bildung und Schule im Spannungsfeld pandemiebedingter Herausforderungen: Eine thematische Analyse von Akteur-Struktur-Dynamiken
Authors: Herzog Christian , Beil Alessandro Immanuel , Kelly Peter
Published: June 2022

Im deutschen Schulsystem wurde auf die Coronapandemie mit vielfältigen, teilweise schnelllebigen Maßnahmen reagiert. Insbesondere drei Akteursgruppen versuchten dabei Einfluss zu nehmen: Schulen, Familien und Politik. Theoretisch gerahmt von Schimanks (2010) Akteur-Struktur-Dynamiken, wird im Beitrag empirisch der Fragestellung nachgegangen, wie Schulen, Familien und Politik sich in Presseberichten positionieren bzw. positioniert werden. Auf der Grundlage dieser medialen Konstruktion erschließen wir, wie sich die Akteursgruppen selbst und wie sie die jeweils beiden anderen sehen. Untersucht wurde die deutsche Presseberichterstattung während zwei Drei-Monats-Zeiträumen im Jahr 2020. Aus einer Vielzahl verschiedenartiger bundesweiter und regionaler in der Datenbank LexisNexis verzeichneter Quellen wurden zwei Datensätze erstellt (n = 178) und einer qualitativen thematischen Analyse unterzogen. Datensatz 1 wurde induktiv, Datensatz 2 deduktiv codiert. Sechs Themen wurden aus den Daten herausgearbeitet, die aus indirekter Perspektive tiefgehende Einblicke in die Selbst- und Fremdwahrnehmung jeder Akteursgruppe sowie deren Entwicklung im Zeitverlauf bieten. Wie die Analyse zeigt, gibt es von Seiten der schulischen AkteurInnen eine wachsende Digitalisierungsbereitschaft. Darüber hinaus folgt aus den als zu kurz-greifend aufgefassten politischen Maßnahmen der Gestaltungswille, den Digitalisierungsschub nachhaltig bestmöglich zu nutzen. Es lässt sich ferner ein zunehmender Zusammenhalt zwischen Schulen und Familien beobachten. Beide bringen in ansteigendem Maße Verständnis für die Situation und die Handlungen der anderen Gruppe auf. Gleichzeitig stehen Schulen und Familien der Akteursgruppe Politik zunehmend kritisch gegenüber und nehmen deren Handeln als nicht zukunftsorientiert, wenig kohärent und soziale Disparitäten vergrößernd wahr. Um Handeln und Handlungsintentionen besser verstehen, nachvollziehen und teilweise erklären zu können, werden die drei untersuchten Gruppen Schimanks vier partiellen Akteursmodellen zugeordnet. Auf Basis der Analyse werden Dynamiken in der Entwicklung von Akteurskonstellationen diskutiert.
Performance Assessment of Low-Temperature A-CAES (Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage) Plants
Authors: Tola Vittorio , Marcello Francesca Carolina , Cocco Daniele , Cau Giorgio
Published: June 2022

The widespread diffusion of renewable energy sources calls for the development of high-capacity energy storage systems as the A-CAES (Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage) systems. In this framework, low temperature (100°C–200°C) A-CAES (LT-ACAES) systems can assume a key role, avoiding some critical issues connected to the operation of high temperature ones.

In this paper, two different LT-ACAES configurations are proposed. The two configurations are characterized by the same turbomachines and compressed air storage section, while differ in the TES section and its integration with the turbomachinery. In particular, the first configuration includes two separated cycles: the working fluid (air) cycle and the heat transfer fluid (HTF) cycle. Several heat exchangers connect the two cycles allowing to recover thermal energy from the compressors and to heat the compressed air at the turbine inlet. Two different HTFs were considered: air (case A) and thermal oil (case B). The second configuration is composed of only one cycle, where the operating fluid and the HTF are the same (air) and the TES section is composed of three different packed-bed thermal storage tanks (case C). The tanks directly recover the heat from the compressors and heat the air at each turbine inlet, avoiding the use of heat exchangers.

The LT-ACAES systems were modelled and simulated using the ASPEN-Plus and the MATLAB-Simulink environments. The main aim of this study was the detailed analysis of the reciprocal influence between the turbomachinery and the TES system; furthermore, the performance evaluation of each plant was carried out assuming both on-design and off-design operating conditions. Finally, the different configurations were compared through the main performance parameters, such as the round-trip efficiency.

A total power output of around 10 MW was set, leading to a TES tank volume ranging between 500 and 700 m3. The second configuration with three TES systems appears to be the most promising in terms of round-trip efficiency since the energy produced during the discharging phase is greater. In particular, the round-trip efficiency of the LT-ACAES ranges between 0.566 (case A) to 0.674 (case C). Although the second configuration assures the highest performance, the effect of operating at very high pressures inside the tanks should be carefully evaluated in terms of overall costs.
IOSIG: Declarative I/O-Stream Properties Using Pragmas
Authors: Gholami Masoud , Schintke Florian
Published: June 2022

Non-functional properties of IO-streams are typically not specified and passed to the used middleware or operating system. Knowing properties such as the expected access pattern, reliability, and visibility for data would allow a better storage resource selection by the infrastructure and thus could improve overall performance. With pragma annotations, we let developers declare the intended data access for their file descriptors and automatically redirect the corresponding input/output to the most appropriate storage device of the user’s system. Our automatic resource selection lets applications leverage system storage capabilities better, often delivers improved performance (in some cases by orders of magnitude), and relieves uninformed users from having to make the best choice manually.
Generation and evolution of the oceanic lithosphere in the North Atlantic
Authors: Ligi Marco , Cuffaro Marco , Muccini Filippo , Bonatti Enrico
Published: June 2022

Half a century ago, our view of the Earth shifted from that of a Planet with fixed continents and ancient stable ocean basins to one with wandering continents and young, active ocean basins, reviving Wegener’s Continental Drift that had rested dormant for years. The lithosphere is the external, mostly solid and relatively rigid layer of the Earth, with thickness and composition different below the oceans and within the continents. We will review the processes leading to the generation and evolution of the Earth’s lithosphere that lies beneath the oceans. We will discuss how the oceanic lithosphere is generated along mid-ocean ridges due to upwelling of convecting hot mantle. We will consider in particular lithosphere generation occurring along the northern Mid Atlantic Ridge (MAR) from Iceland to the equator, including the formation of transform offsets. We will then focus on the Vema fracture zone at 10°–11° N, where a ~ 300 km long uplifted and exposed sliver of lithosphere allows to reconstruct the evolution of lithosphere generation at a segment of the MAR from 25 million years ago to the Present. This axial ridge segment formed 50 million years ago, and reaches today 80 km in length. The degree of melting of the subridge mantle increased from 16 million years ago to today, although with some oscillations. The mantle presently upwelling beneath the MAR becomes colder and/or less fertile going from Iceland to the Equator, with “waves” of hot/fertile mantle migrating southwards from the Azores plume. Scientific revolutions seem to occur periodically in the history of Science; we wonder when the next revolution will take place in the Earth Science, and to what extent our present views will have to be modified.
A novel fuzzy approach to gas pipeline risk assessment under influence of ground movement
Authors: Malinowska Agnieszka , Cui Ximin , Salmi Ebrahim Fathi , Hejmanowski Ryszard
Published: June 2022

The gas transport infrastructure is frequently localized in areas subjected to anthropogenic movements and strains. The potential impact of the ground movements on the gas pipeline in the aspect of its damage can be properly assessed e.g. by predicting strains, taking into account the causes of terrain movement. On the other hand, the hazard is also related to technological factors like design of the pipeline. The presented method is based on artificial intelligence methods allowing for evaluation of probability of failure risk in gas supply pipeline sections. The Mamdani fuzzy inference was used in this study. Uncertainty of variables characterizing the resistance of the gas pipeline and predicted continuous deformations of ground surface were accounted for in the model by using triangular-shaped membership functions. Based on the surface deformations and gas pipeline resistance and the inference model one can make prediction when the gas pipeline is hazarded. There were estimated two the most hazarded parts for two pipelines. We proved that the proposed model can contribute to the protection, costoptimization of the designed pipelines and to the repairs of the existing gas pipelines.
Polypharmacy, comorbidity and frailty: a complex interplay in older patients at the emergency department
Authors: van Dam Carmen S. , Labuschagne Helena A. , van Keulen Kris , Kramers Cornelis , Kleipool Emma E. , Hoogendijk Emiel O. , Knol Wilma , Nanayakkara Prabath W. B. , Muller Majon , Trappenburg Marijke C. , Peters Mike J. L.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Older adults at the emergency department (ED) with polypharmacy, comorbidity, and frailty are at risk of adverse health outcomes. We investigated the association of polypharmacy with adverse health outcomes, in relation to comorbidity and frailty.

Methods

This is a prospective cohort study in ED patients  ≥ 70 years. Non-polypharmacy was defined as 0–4 medications, polypharmacy 5–9 and excessive polypharmacy ≥ 10. Comorbidity was classified by the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Frailty was defined by the Identification of Seniors At Risk—Hospitalized Patients (ISAR-HP) score. The primary outcome was 3-month mortality. Secondary outcomes were readmission to an ED/hospital ward and a self-reported fall < 3 months. The association between polypharmacy, comorbidity and frailty was analyzed by logistic regression.

Results

881 patients were included. 43% had polypharmacy and 18% had excessive polypharmacy. After 3 months, 9% died, 30% were readmitted, and 21% reported a fall. Compared with non-polypharmacy, the odds ratio (OR) for mortality ranged from 2.62 (95% CI 1.39–4.93) in patients with polypharmacy to 3.92 (95% CI 1.95–7.90) in excessive polypharmacy. The OR weakened after adjustment for comorbidity: 1.80 (95% CI 0.92–3.52) and 2.32 (95% CI 1.10–4.90). After adjusting for frailty, the OR weakened to 2.10 (95% CI 1.10–4.00) and OR 2.40 (95% CI 1.15–5.02). No significant association was found for readmission or self-reported fall.

Conclusions

Polypharmacy is common in older patients at the ED. Polypharmacy, and especially excessive polypharmacy, is associated with an increased risk of mortality. The observed association is complex given the confounding effect of comorbidity and frailty.
Teachers’ Ideological Dilemmas During the Pandemic at Higher Education Institutions: a Discursive Psychological Approach
Authors: Murakami Kyoko , Kondo Sachihiko , Hong Jianzhong
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted higher education (hereinafter “HE”) teaching and learning approaches globally since 2020. It has compelled a major shift from face-to-face to online delivery, affecting the ways HE teachers teach and communicate with students. In this paper, we explore an under-researched area, teachers’ ideological dilemmas surrounding online teaching and issues related to remote or technologically mediated communication adopted in three countries, China, Japan and the UK. Drawing on the theoretical and methodological framework of discursive psychology, we focus on the concepts called ideological dilemmas and the kaleidoscope of common sense in order to examine common sense views of HE teachers regarding online and onsite teaching as well as blended learning where these constitute ideological dilemmas. Taking an exploratory, small case study approach, we present a discourse analysis of interviews with HE teachers and reveal their ideological dilemmas over online teaching. We identify the patterns of shifting justifications in the interviews. Our discussion highlights the dynamic and dilemmatic nature of the HE teachers’ views, some of which are shaped by the local university context, as well as the different ways in which the spread of COVID-19 is taking place and the various measures taken by each country’s government against the damaging effects of the pandemic.
Identification and Characterization of Nanoclays in Gamalama Volcanic Soil of Northern Maluku
Authors: Cipta I. , Febiyanto F. , Syoufian A. , Kartini I.
Published: June 2022

Clay minerals in Gamalama volcanic soil have not yet been identified thoroughly. The soil is estimated to contain nanoscale natural clays, such as halloysite or imogolite. The occurrence of nanoclays in the soil will support the development of many applications in nanotechnologies from nature. The objective of the present study was to characterize soil samples from five different locations around the volcano at three different depths from the soil surface. A total of 50 g of dry soil sample was stirred slowly in 300 mL of distilled water. Stirring was stopped after the addition of 10 mL of 30% H2O2 and then allowed to stand for 24 h. The small floating particles with dimensions of <2 μm were separated from the mixture and collected using a centrifuge at 4000 rpm (1790×g) for 30 min. About 5 g of solid sample was obtained for further characterization. X-ray diffraction results showed the presence of halloysite, allophane, and kaolinite. Morphology analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy of some representative samples showed short tubes 10–20 nm in diameter and 50–100 nm long with the halloysite structure. Halloysite was found at 70 cm depth from the soil surface at almost all locations. The surface area determined by the surface area analyzer using the BET equation was as much as 112.51 m2/g. This surface area is thought to be the largest ever determined for a natural nanoclay, paving the way for future application as catalytic or photocatalytic-supporting materials.
Multilevel modelling approach to analysing life course socioeconomic status and understanding missingness
Authors: Byrne Adrian , Shlomo Natalie , Chandola Tarani
Published: June 2022

This paper investigated the extent to which parental socioeconomic status was associated with life course socioeconomic status heterogeneity between adult cohort members of the 1958 National Child Development Study and how this association differed depending on methods used to address longitudinal missing data. We compared three variants of the full information maximum likelihood approach, namely available case, complete case and partially observed case and two methods designed to compensate for missing at random data, namely multilevel multiple imputation and multiple imputation chained equations. Our results highlighted the important contribution of parental socioeconomic status in explaining the divergence in achieved socioeconomic status over the adult life course, how the available case approach increasingly overestimated socioeconomic attainment as age increased and survey sample size decreased and how the complete case approach downwardly biased the effect of parental socioeconomic status on adult socioeconomic status.
Moral transparency of and concerning algorithmic tools
Authors: Hayes Paul , van de Poel Ibo , Steen Marc
Published: June 2022

Algorithms and AI tools are becoming increasingly influential artefacts in commercial and governance contexts. Algorithms and AI tools are not value neutral; to some extent they must be rendered knowable and known as objects, and in their implementation and deployment, to see clearly and understand their implications for moral values, and what actions can be undertaken to optimise them in their design and use towards ethical goals, or whether they are even suitable for particular goals. Transparency is a term with variable uses and interpretations, a problem which can challenge its use in design and policy. Here, we attempt to further clarify transparency. We argue that transparency is the state of affairs that obtains when relevant and understandable information about some X is available and accessible to some target audience (A), so that this information is sufficient for A for the purpose (P). Moreover, we connect this conceptualisation with transparency’s moral value, where P is to provide an account about X’s supportive or conflicting relationship with relevant values and goals. Such teleological ends in our context here can be the ability to account for the degree to which an algorithm, process or organisation respects certain values and is conducive to (social) goals.
Developing computable sustainable urbanization science: interdisciplinary perspective
Authors: Chen Mingxing , Chen Liangkan , Li Yang , Xian Yue
Published: June 2022

In this era of drastic global change, the Anthropocene, carbon neutrality and sustainable development have become common twenty-first century human challenges and goals. Large-scale urbanization is indicative of human activities and provides an important impetus for environmental changes; therefore, cities have become an important stage in which to promote a more sustainable future development of human society. However, current researchers study urbanization issues based on the perspectives and tools of their respective disciplines; therefore, a holistic and comprehensive understanding of urbanization is lacking due to the insufficient integration of multidisciplinary study perspectives. We explored the construction of interdisciplinary computable sustainable urbanization and introduces a conceptual framework for interdisciplinary urbanization, as scientific computing supports and integrates the natural sciences and humanities to simulate urban evolution and further observe, explain, and optimize human and environment interactions in urban areas. We advocated for the establishment of major international research programs and organizations in the field of sustainable urbanization, and the cultivation of talented young professionals with broad-ranging interdisciplinary interests. Expectantly, we hope a livable planet in the Anthropocene era could be created by developing sustainable urbanization and achieving carbon neutrality.
Compliance with wearing facemasks by university teaching staff during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: a cross sectional study
Authors: Yosef Mostafa , Mokhtar Fatma Amr Gamil , Hussein Wafaa Mohamed
Published: June 2022

Objective

We aimed to explore compliance with and barriers to wearing facemasks at the workplace among university teaching staff in Egypt.

Methods

An online survey was shared with teaching staff members at 11 public and 12 private Egyptian universities and high institutes, and 218 responses were received. All participants were asked about beliefs related to wearing facemasks. For participants who taught in-person classes, compliance with and barriers to wearing facemasks at the workplace were assessed. Compliance level was classified into: Non-compliance, inadequate and adequate, based on the degree of adherence to having facemasks on and not taking them off at five main work settings. We compared demographic characteristics, beliefs, and barriers scores across compliance levels.

Results

Most participants (81.7%) believed that facemasks reduce infection risk to others and 74.3% believed facemasks can reduce risk to the wearer. Around 80% of the respondents who taught in-person classes wore facemasks, but only 37.8% met the criteria of adequate compliance. Difficulty breathing and impaired communication were cited as major barriers by 42.2% and 30.3% of in-person class tutors respectively. The risk of reporting COVID-19 like symptoms among non-compliant participants was double the risk among those with adequate compliance (45.9% vs 25.7% respectively). Adequate compliance was significantly associated with higher positive beliefs scores and lower barriers scores.

Conclusion

Adequate compliance with wearing facemasks at the workplace was low. Addressing negative beliefs may improve compliance. Difficulty breathing, and impaired communication were important barriers, therefore we recommend replacing in-person interactions with online classes whenever applicable.
Systems of collaboration: challenges and solutions for interdisciplinary research in AI and social robotics
Authors: Zeller Frauke , Dwyer Lauren
Published: June 2022

This article examines the challenges and opportunities that arise when engaging with research across disciplines, contributing to the growth of social robotics and artificially intelligent systems. Artificial intelligence has a significant role to play in human–machine communication; however, there are barriers to its adoption and considerations towards systematic implementation for the good of people and societies. This perspective piece considers the position of artificial intelligence in systems of human–machine communication. The study of artificial intelligent systems is one of discovery, trial, and error through a melting pot of methodologies, and this interdisciplinary nature is explored through the perspective of researchers at the centre of collaboration coming from artificial intelligence, robotics, and communication.