bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional Response of Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates to Ciprofloxacin Stress
Authors: Alvi Roman Farooq , Aslam Bilal , Rasool Muhammad Hidayat , Muzammil Saima , Siddique Abu Baker , Yasmeen Nafeesa , Khurshid Mohsin , Sarwar Noreen , Almatroudi Ahmad , Hussain Riaz , Baloch Zulqarnain
Published: November 2021

Background. The term “persisters” refers to a small bacterial population that persists during treatment with high antibiotic concentration or dose in the absence of genetic resistance. The present study was designed to investigate the transcriptional response in indigenous Klebsiella pneumoniae under the ciprofloxacin stress. Methods. Isolation and identification of K. pneumoniae were carried out through standard microbiological protocols. The characterization of quinolone resistance was performed by estimating the quinolone susceptibility testing, MIC estimation, and detecting the QRDR and PMQR. Transcriptional response of the isolates to ciprofloxacin was determined using qPCR. Results. Among 34 isolates, 23 (67%) were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Both QRDR (gyrA and gyrB) and PMQR (qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS) were detected in the isolates, and all were found resistant to ciprofloxacin. The mRNA levels of both mutS and euTu under the influence of ciprofloxacin were significantly increased. On ciprofloxacin exposure, the mRNA levels of the DNA damage response element (mutS) were raised in a time-dependent fashion. K. pneumoniae showed high-level resistance to ciprofloxacin in the presence of mutations in QRDR and PMQR genes. Conclusion. The transcriptional response revealed the upregulation of DNA repair and protein folding elements (mutS and euTu) in ciprofloxacin stress and delayed cell division. The ciprofloxacin was found to trigger various stress responses in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.
Treatment of Radiation Bone Injury with Transplanted hUCB-MSCs via Wnt/β-Catenin
Authors: Zhang Yufeng , Deng Huaxin , Yang Zhiqiang , Chen Zhe , Zhang Sheng , Zhu Yufan , Yang Min , Zhong Houcheng , Zhou Fuling , Xie Yuanlong , Cai Lin
Published: November 2021

Radiation-induced bone injury (RIBI) is one of the complications after radiotherapy for malignant tumors. However, there are no effective measures for the treatment of RIBI in clinical practice, and the mechanism of RIBI is unclear. We use a single high-dose ionizing radiation (6Gy) to analyze the effect of radiotherapy on osteoblast function. Human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) were cocultured with irradiated osteoblasts to examine their therapeutic effects and mechanisms on osteoblast injury. The hUCB-MSC transplantation mouse model is used to confirm the in vivo role of hUCB-MSC treatment in radiation bone injury. Western blot analysis, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining were used to analyze gene expression and angiogenesis. The apoptosis and migration of osteoblasts were measured by Hoechst staining, scratch test, and transwell. The differentiation of osteoblasts was measured by ALP and Alizarin red staining and transmission electron microscopy. The bone-related parameters of mice were evaluated by micro-CT analysis. We found that radiation can damage the DNA of osteoblasts; induce apoptosis; reduce the differentiation, migration, and adhesion of osteoblasts, leading to lipogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and reducing the source of osteoblasts; and increase the number of osteoclasts in bone tissue, while MSC treatment prevents these changes. Our results reveal the inhibitory effect of radiation on osteoblast function. hUCB-MSCs can be used as a therapeutic target for the development of new therapeutic strategies for radiotherapy of bone injury diseases.
Small Triple-Band Meandered PIFA for Brain-Implantable Biotelemetric Systems: Development and Testing in a Liquid Phantom
Authors: Pournoori Nikta , Sydänheimo Lauri , Rahmat-Samii Yahya , Ukkonen Leena , Björninen Toni
Published: November 2021

We present a meandered triple-band planar-inverted-F antenna (PIFA) for integration into brain-implantable biotelemetric systems. The target applications are wireless data communication, far-field wireless power transfer, and switching control between sleep/wake-up mode at the Medical Device Radiocommunication Service (MedRadio) band (401–406 MHz) and Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands (902–928 MHz and 2400–2483.5 MHz), respectively. By embedding meandered slots into the radiator and shorting it to the ground, we downsized the antenna to the volume of 11 × 20.5 × 1.8 mm3. We optimized the antenna using a 7-layer numerical human head model using full-wave electromagnetic field simulation. In the simulation, we placed the implant in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at a depth of 13.25 mm from the body surface, which is deeper than in most works on implantable antennas. We manufactured and tested the antenna in a liquid phantom which we replicated in the simulator for further comparison. The measured gain of the antenna reached the state-of-the-art values of −43.6 dBi, −25.8 dBi, and −20.1 dBi at 402 MHz, 902 MHz, and 2400 MHz, respectively.
Skin Advanced Glycation End Products among Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with or without Distal Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy
Authors: Papachristou Stella , Pafili Kalliopi , Trypsianis Grigorios , Papazoglou Dimitrios , Vadikolias Konstantinos , Papanas Nikolaos
Published: November 2021

Aim of the Study. To examine the correlation between skin AGEs and parameters of distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods. We included 132 subjects (88 men) with a mean age of 64.57 years and median T2DM duration of 14.5 years. Skin AGEs were measured with AGE reader mu connect (Diagnoptics) on the dominant arm. The device enables single and automated triplicate measurements: both of these were performed. DSPN was diagnosed through the neuropathy disability score (NDS). Small nerve fibre function was assessed by temperature and pinprick sensation on the foot. Bilateral measurement of the vibration perception threshold (VPT) on the hallux was carried out by using a neurothesiometer (Horwell Scientific Laboratory Supplies). Results. Single and triplicate AGE measurements were positively correlated with each other (Pearson’s correlation coefficient

r
=
0.991

,

95
%
CI
=
0.987

-0.994,

p
<
0.001

). AGEs were higher among subjects with vs. those without DSPN (

p
<
0.001

). Furthermore, they were higher among subjects with reduced vs. normal temperature sensation (

p
<
0.001

), among subjects with reduced vs. normal pinprick sensation (

p
=
0.002

), among those with abnormal vs. normal monofilament examination (

p
<
0.001

), and among those with abnormal vs. normal VPT (

p
<
0.001

). AGEs were correlated with NDS, VPT, and monofilament score. Conclusions. In T2DM, skin AGEs are increased in the presence of DSPN. This holds true both for large and for small nerve function impairment. Moreover, AGEs are correlated with DSPN severity.
Pregnancy Rate after Myomectomy and Associated Factors among Reproductive Age Women Who Had Myomectomy at Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Jeldu Meseret , Asres Tadios , Arusi Temesgen , Gutulo Muluken Gunta
Published: November 2021

Introduction. Uterine myoma occurs in 20-50% of reproductive age women. Uterine myomas may be associated with 5-10% of cases of infertility, but it is the sole cause or factor in only 2-3% of all infertility cases. Myomectomy is surgery done to remove myoma regardless of the methods. Objective. To assess impact of myomectomy on pregnancy rate and associated factors among reproductive age women who had myomectomy at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, in Addis Ababa. Methodology. Hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to determine pregnancy rate after myomectomy and its associated factors. Patients who had myomectomy in SPHMMC from September 2012 to September 2017 were enrolled. Information was retrieved from hospital records and phone interviews with the patients. The strength of statistical association was measured by adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was declared at

p

value < 0.05. Result. Among 180 females participated in this study, 52.2% got pregnant after myomectomy. The result showed that females with

age
>
35

years were 0.31 times less likely to get pregnant after surgery than those ages 20-25 years [

AOR
=
0.31

(95% CI: 0.29-0.54)]. People with no infertility before surgery were 1.19 times more likely to be pregnant after surgery than those with unexplained infertility before the surgery [

AOR
=
1.19

(95% CI: 1.06-1.57)]. People with two uterine incisions were 0.06 times less likely [

AOR
=
0.06

(95% CI: 0.043-0.51)] while those with three or more than three incisions were 0.02 times less likely [

AOR
=
0.02

(95% CI: 0.002-0.22)] to get pregnant compared with those with one incision on uterine wall. Conclusion. Age, number of incision, and infertility before surgery were significantly associated with rate of pregnancy after myomectomy.
Full‐Range Optical Imaging of Planar Collagen Fiber Orientation Using Polarized Light Microscopy
Authors: Turčanová Michaela , Hrtoň Martin , Dvořák Petr , Novák Kamil , Hermanová Markéta , Bednařík Zdeněk , Polzer Stanislav , Burša Jiří
Published: November 2021

A novel method for semiautomated assessment of directions of collagen fibers in soft tissues using histological image analysis is presented. It is based on multiple rotated images obtained via polarized light microscopy without any additional components, i.e., with just two polarizers being either perpendicular or nonperpendicular (rotated). This arrangement breaks the limitation of 90° periodicity of polarized light intensity and evaluates the in‐plane fiber orientation over the whole 180° range accurately and quickly. After having verified the method, we used histological specimens of porcine Achilles tendon and aorta to validate the proposed algorithm and to lower the number of rotated images needed for evaluation. Our algorithm is capable to analyze 5·105 pixels in one micrograph in a few seconds and is thus a powerful and cheap tool promising a broad application in detection of collagen fiber distribution in soft tissues.
Knowledge on Newborn Life Support among the Healthcare Providers in a Tertiary Care Maternity Hospital in the Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Authors: Liyanarachchi N. D. , Pradeepa B. H. H.
Published: November 2021

Introduction. The newborn life support (NLS) is a set of educational guidelines established by the academies of Paediatrics that outline the proper procedures for resuscitation of a newborn. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge on NLS among the healthcare providers (HCPs) in a tertiary care maternity hospital in the Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Methods. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out among doctors, nurses, and midwives, using a self-administered questionnaire. Comparison of knowledge among different categories was made using the chi-square test. Total sample of 191 consisted of 118 (61.8%) nurses, 33 (17.3%) midwives, and 36 (18.8%) doctors. The majority of HCPs (76.7%) had good knowledge of NLS; however, following guidelines on NLS among HCPs was poor (33%). According to the category, 91% of doctors and 78% of nurses had good knowledge, whereas only 48% of midwives had good knowledge. The difference of knowledge on NLS among different categories of HCPs was statistically significant (

p
<
0.001

). Only 33% of HCPs had good knowledge of following NLS guidelines. Of them, 52% were doctors, 31% were nurses, and only 18% were midwives. The difference in adherence to NLS guidelines among different categories of HCPs was highly significant statistically (

p
=
0.003

). Conclusion. The majority of the healthcare providers had good knowledge of NLS. There was a significant difference in the level of knowledge on NLS among different categories of HCPs. Gaps in the knowledge in following guidelines of NLS were noted in the majority. Newborn resuscitation has to be included in nursing and midwifery curricula, and training on NLS is essential in the orientation programs for newly recruited HCPs in maternity hospitals.
Prediction for Various Drought Classes Using Spatiotemporal Categorical Sequences
Authors: Niaz Rizwan , Almazah Mohammed M. A. , Zhang Xiang , Hussain Ijaz , Faisal Muhammad
Published: November 2021

Drought frequently spreads across large spatial and time scales and is more complicated than other natural disasters that can damage economic and other natural resources worldwide. However, improved drought monitoring and forecasting techniques can help to minimize the vulnerability of society to drought and its consequent influences. This emphasizes the need for improved drought monitoring tools and assessment techniques that provide information more precisely about drought occurrences. Therefore, this study developed a new method, Model‐Based Clustering for Spatio‐Temporal Categorical Sequences (MBCSTCS), that uses state selection procedures through finite mixture modeling and model‐based clustering. The MBCSTCS uses the functional structure of first‐order Markov model components for modeling each data group. In MBCSTCS, the suitable order K of the components is selected by Bayesian information criterion (BIC). In MBCSTCS, the estimated mixing proportions and the posterior probabilities are used to compute probability distribution associated with the future steps of transitions. Furthermore, MBCSTCS predicts drought occurrences in future time using spatiotemporal categorical sequences of various drought classes. The MBCSTCS is applied to the six meteorological stations in the northern area of Pakistan. Moreover, it is found that MBCSTCS provides expeditious information for the long‐term spatiotemporal categorical sequences. These findings may be helpful to make plans for early warning systems, water resource management, and drought mitigation policies to decrease the severe effects of drought.
An IPv6 Passive‐Aware Network Routing Algorithm Based on Utility Value Combined with Deep Neural Network
Authors: Wan Zhiping , Xu Zhiming , Zou Jiajun , Liu Shaojiang , Ni Weichuan , Ye Shitong
Published: November 2021

Passive sensing networks can maintain the operation of the network by capturing energy from the environment, thereby solving the energy limitation problem of network nodes. Therefore, passive sensing networks are widely used in data collection in complex environments. However, the complexity of the network deployment environment makes passive sensing nodes unable to obtain stable energy from the surroundings. Therefore, better routing strategies are needed to save network energy consumption. In response to this problem, this paper proposes an IPv6 passive‐aware network routing algorithm for the Internet of Things. This method is based on the characteristics of passive sensing networks. By analyzing the successful transmission rate of the network node transmission link, transmission energy consumption, end‐to‐end transmission delay, and waiting delay of IPv6 packets, the utility evaluation function of the route is obtained. After the utility evaluation function is obtained, the network routing is selected through the utility evaluation function. Then, the utility value and the deep neural network method are combined to train the classification model. The classification model assigns the best routing strategy according to the characteristics of the current network, thereby improving the energy consumption and delay performance of the network.
Influence of Exchange Rate on Foreign Direct Investment Inflows: An Empirical Analysis Based on Co-Integration and Granger Causality Test
Authors: Tan Lan , Xu Yifan , Gashaw Alemayehu
Published: November 2021

Although it is widely recognized that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows have a dominant effect on economic growth of host countries, the determinants of FDI inflows are still unclear. Especially, about the effect of exchange rate on FDI inflow, the results reached by scholars vary across countries or regions. It is of great practical and theoretical significance to explore the influencing effects of exchange rate on FDI inflow and identify the mechanisms that underlie them in close association with regional economic characters so as to help local government implement targeted government policies to achieve sustainable FDI inflow and sustainable economic growth. For this purpose, the influencing effects and the influencing mechanisms of the exchange rate on FDI inflows are investigated for Zhejiang province, China, over 1985–2019 by employing the co-integration tests, vector error correction models, Granger causality tests, and impulse response tests. Empirical results indicate that there are long-term stable and unidirectional causal relationship between the exchange rate and FDI inflow. Continuous appreciation of RMB against USD discourages FDI inflow. The mechanism which underlies the long-term relationship is the wealth effect, rather than the cost effect or the demand effect. By contrast, in the short run, neither the exchange rate nor the three influencing mechanism has a significant impact on FDI inflow. These results suggest policy recommendations for improving FDI by accumulating human capital and improving infrastructure. These findings are also applicable for other countries or regions with similar economic characters.
Group‐Based Atrous Convolution Stereo Matching Network
Authors: Zou Qijie , Yu Jing , Fang Hui , Qin Jing , Zhang Jie , Liu Shengkai
Published: November 2021

Stereo matching is the key technology in stereo vision. Given a pair of rectified images, stereo matching determines correspondences between the pair images and estimate depth by obtaining disparity between corresponding pixels. The current work has shown that depth estimation from a stereo pair of images can be formulated as a supervised learning task with an end‐to‐end frame based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). However, 3D CNN puts a great burden on memory storage and computation, which further leads to the significantly increased computation time. To alleviate this issue, atrous convolution was proposed to reduce the number of convolutional operations via a relatively sparse receptive field. However, this sparse receptive field makes it difficult to find reliable corresponding points in fuzzy areas, e.g., occluded areas and untextured areas, owing to the loss of rich contextual information. To address this problem, we propose the Group‐based Atrous Convolution Spatial Pyramid Pooling (GASPP) to robustly segment objects at multiple scales with affordable computing resources. The main feature of the GASPP module is to set convolutional layers with continuous dilation rate in each group, so that it can reduce the impact of holes introduced by atrous convolution on network performance. Moreover, we introduce a tailored cascade cost volume in a pyramid form to reduce memory, so as to meet real‐time performance. The group‐based atrous convolution stereo matching network is evaluated on the street scene benchmark KITTI 2015 and Scene Flow and achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance.
A Novel Prediction Method Based on Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things for Detecting Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Authors: Jing Shenqi , Qian Qijie , She Hao , Shan Tao , Lu Shan , Guo Yongan , Liu Yun
Published: November 2021

Novel coronavirus spreads fast and has a huge impact on the whole world. In light of the spread of novel coronaviruses, we develop one big data prediction model of novel coronavirus epidemic in the context of intelligent medical treatment, taking into account all factors of infection and death and implementing emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning. Based on the different application characteristics of various machine learning algorithms in the medical field, we propose one artificial intelligence prediction model based on random forest. Considering the loose coupling between the data preparation stage and the model training stage, such as data collection and data cleaning in the early stage, we adopt the IoT platform technology to integrate the data collection, data cleaning, machine learning training model, and front- and back-end frameworks to ensure the tight coupling of each module. To validate the proposed prediction model, we perform the evaluation work. In addition, the performance of the prediction model is analyzed to ensure the information accuracy of the prediction platform.
Marine Data Prediction: An Evaluation of Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Statistical Predictive Models
Authors: Ali Ahmed , Fathalla Ahmed , Salah Ahmad , Bekhit Mahmoud , Eldesouky Esraa
Published: November 2021

Nowadays, ocean observation technology continues to progress, resulting in a huge increase in marine data volume and dimensionality. This volume of data provides a golden opportunity to train predictive models, as the more the data is, the better the predictive model is. Predicting marine data such as sea surface temperature (SST) and Significant Wave Height (SWH) is a vital task in a variety of disciplines, including marine activities, deep‐sea, and marine biodiversity monitoring. The literature has efforts to forecast such marine data; these efforts can be classified into three classes: machine learning, deep learning, and statistical predictive models. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study compared the performance of these three approaches on a real dataset. This paper focuses on the prediction of two critical marine features: the SST and SWH. In this work, we proposed implementing statistical, deep learning, and machine learning models for predicting the SST and SWH on a real dataset obtained from the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency. Then, we proposed comparing these three predictive approaches on four different evaluation metrics. Experimental results have revealed that the deep learning model slightly outperformed the machine learning models for overall performance, and both of these approaches greatly outperformed the statistical predictive model.
Intelligent Internet of Things Medical Technology in Implantable Intravenous Infusion Port in Children with Malignant Tumors
Authors: Liu Shaohong , Jiang Luxing , Wang Xin
Published: November 2021

Due to the recent technological revolution that is centered around information technology, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has become an important research domain. IoMT is a combination of Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing, ubiquitous network, and three-dimensional holographic technology, which is used to build a smart medical diagnosis and treatment system. Additionally, this system should automate various activities, such as the patient’s health record and health monitoring, which is an important issue in the development of modern and smart healthcare system. In this paper, we have thoroughly examined the role of a smart healthcare system architecture and other key supporting technologies in improving the health status of both indoor and outdoor patients. The proposed system has the capacity to investigate and predict (if feasible) the clinical application and nursing effects of totally implantable intravenous port (TIVAP) in pediatric hematological tumors. For this purpose, seventy children with hematologic tumors were treated with TIVAP, and IoMT-enabled care was provided to them, where the occurrence of adverse events, specifically after the treatment, was observed. The experimental results collected after the 70 children were treated and cared for by TIVAP show that there were five cases of adverse events, whereas the incidence rate of the adverse events was 7.14%. Moreover, TIVAP has significant efficacy in the treatment of hematologic tumors in children, and it equally reduces the vascular injury caused by chemotherapy in younger patients. Likewise, targeted care reduces the incidence of adverse events in children with expected ratio.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy for Bone Metastases: Specific Microenvironment and Current Situation
Authors: Liu Chang , Wang Miao , Xu Changli , Li Bo , Chen Juxiang , Chen Jianchun , Wang Zhiwei
Published: November 2021

The treatment of bone metastases is a thorny issue. Immunotherapy may be one of the few hopes for patients with unresectable bone metastases. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are the most commonly used immunotherapy drugs currently. In this review, the characteristics and interaction of bone metastases and their immune microenvironment were systematically discussed, and the relevant research progress of the immunological mechanism of tumor bone metastasis was reviewed. On this basis, we expounded the clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitors for bone metastasis of common tumors, including non-small-cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, melanoma, and breast cancer. Then, the deficiencies and limitations in current researches were summarized. In-depth basic research on bone metastases and optimization of clinical treatment is needed.
Quantitative Prediction of the Location of Carotid Bifurcation and Neurovascular Structures in the Carotid Region: A Cross-Sectional Cadaveric Study
Authors: Griepp Daniel W. , Sajan Abin , DiRaimo Robert , Starikov Lev , Márquez Samuel
Published: November 2021

Introduction. The carotid region is encountered in vascular and neurological surgery and carries a potential for vascular and cranial nerve trauma. The carotid bifurcation is an especially important landmark and difficult to predict based on currently established landmarks. This study is a detailed analysis of the carotid region and proposes a novel methodology to predict the height of the bifurcation. Materials and Methods. Superficial and deep dissections were performed on the anterior triangle of the neck to expose the carotid region in twenty-one formalin-fixed donor cadavers. Musculoskeletal and neurovascular structures were assessed in relation to the carotid bifurcation and the medial border of the clavicle (MBC). Results. The carotid bifurcation occurred, on average, 11.4 mm higher on the left (

p
<
0.001

; 95% CI: 9.28, 13.54). The superior thyroid artery (

p
<
0.001

), facial vein (

p
<
0.001

), and cranial nerve XII (

p
<
0.001

) were all more distal on the left side when measured from the MBC while the angle of the mandible and stylohyoid muscle remained symmetric. Left- and right-sided vascular structures were symmetric when measured from the carotid bifurcation. Conclusions. Neurovascular structures within the carotid region are likely to be anatomically superior on the left side while vessels are likely to remain symmetric in relation to the carotid bifurcation. When measured from the MBC, the bifurcation height can be predicted by multiplying the distance between the MBC and mastoid process by 0.65 (right side) or 0.74 (left side). This novel methodological estimation may be easily learned and directly implemented in clinical practice.
Finite Element Analysis of Vertical and Horizontal Drainage Structures under Vacuum Combined Surcharge Preloading
Authors: Wang Daqing , Wei Dong , Lin Guoyi , Zheng Jiannan , Tang Zhiting , Fan Litao , Yuan Bingxiang
Published: November 2021

Combined vacuum and surcharge preloading has gradually been widely used because of its advantages of low cost, green environmental protection, and good treatment effect. The conventional prefabricated vertical drain presents obvious defects in vacuum preloading treatment, such as obvious silting, serious bending of the drainage board, large attenuation of vacuum degree of drainage board along the depth, long construction period, and so on, which affect the final reinforcement effect. In this paper, the MIDAS finite element simulation of combined vacuum and surcharge preloading of prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) and prefabricated horizontal drains (PHDs) is established through the comparative experiment of the engineering field. The comparative experimental study is carried out from the aspects of the vertical settlement, horizontal displacement, and pore water pressure. The results show that under combined vacuum and surcharge preloading, the consolidation effect of soft soil with PHDs is better than that with PVDs. When PHDs are used, the vertical settlement increases by 7.2% compared with PVDs; the horizontal displacement is larger; and the pore water pressure dissipates faster. This is because when the PHDs are adopted, the consolidation direction of the soil is consistent with the direction of the vacuum suction, which is mainly caused by vertical settlement. With the consolidation, the spacing between PHDs is gradually shortened, and the drainage distance is reduced, which can effectively reduce the consolidation time and improve the reinforcement effect of the soil. In addition, the PHDs can move downward uniformly with the soil during the consolidation process and have almost no bending deformation, which makes the vacuum transfer more uniform and effective.
Construction Cost Simulation Based on Artificial Intelligence and BIM
Authors: Du Xingliang
Published: November 2021

Quickly estimating the main engineering quantity and project cost of the project is conducive to the management staff to have an overall grasp of the project in the early stage and to grasp the development direction of the project in advance. Moreover, it can play an important guiding role in the further construction management of the project and can help managers prevent the emergence of unfavorable factors in the project, make corresponding construction deployments, and avoid risks. This paper combines artificial intelligence technology to construct a construction project cost simulation system. In this system, BIM is mainly used to simulate construction engineering, and the construction engineering cost is simulated and analyzed in combination with the pricing file. Finally, the results of experimental research show that the intelligent model proposed in this paper can play an important role in the cost of construction projects.
Impact of Foliar Application of Zinc and Magnesium Aminochelate on Bean Physiology and Productivity in Ghana
Authors: Yeboah Stephen , Asibuo James , Oteng-Darko Patricia , Asamoah Adjei Emmanuel , Lamptey Maxwell , Owusu Danquah Eric , Waswa Boaz , Butare Louis
Published: November 2021

Foliar application of fertilizers can guarantee nutrient availability to beans, leading to higher yield and seed quality. Different approaches including glycine have been used to improve mineral nutrient status of plants toward safer products and improved human health. However, limited research has been undertaken to understand the response of beans to amino Zn and Mg foliar fertilizer application in Ghana. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc, magnesium, and combined zinc and magnesium foliar fertilizer application on two improved common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties locally referred to as Adoye and Nsroma in the forest (Fumesua) and forest-savannah transition (Akumadan) agro-ecological zones of Ghana during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons. The treatments were arranged in split-plot design with the two improved common bean varieties as the main plot, and foliar fertilizer options (zinc, 200 g/ha; magnesium, 224 g/ha; combined zinc and magnesium, 100 g/ha Zn and 112 g/ha Mg) and water spray (control) as the subplot treatments. The zinc and combined zinc and magnesium treatments had similar and significantly (

P
≤
0.05

) higher plant height of 37.1 cm and 38.7 cm compared to the control and magnesium treatments. The results also showed that chlorophyll content was approximately 15.6% higher in plants treated with zinc plus magnesium compared to the other treatments. Similarly, stomatal conductance was significantly (

P
≤
0.05

) increased by 35.6% with zinc plus magnesium treatment relative to the other treatments. The improved chlorophyll content and stomatal conductance in those treatments resulted in ∼55.3–80.6% increase in crop biomass and seed yield. Crop performance parameters such as plant height, canopy spread, and chlorophyll content were significantly higher (

P
≤
0.05

) at Akumadan, resulting in a greater seed yield of 1486.2 kg/ha compared to 1365.3 kg/ha at Fumesua. Combined application of zinc and magnesium appears to be a potential soil improvement strategy for common bean production in tropical soil environment of Ghana.
“Green” Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles by Sonoelectrochemical and Sonogalvanic Replacement Methods
Authors: Kuntyi Оrest , Zozulya Galyna , Kytsya Andriy
Published: November 2021

The main features of the “green” synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) by the sonoelectrochemical methods are manufacturability, environmental friendliness, and the possibility of controlling the geometry of the forming particles. The electrochemical reduction technique allows efficiently designing the metal nanoparticles and provides the control of the content of components of bimetallic nanoparticles, as well as minimizing the number of precursors in working solutions. Due to the generation of turbulence, microjets, and shock waves, ultrasound increases mass transfer and formation of radicals in aqueous solutions and, accordingly, accelerates the processes of nucleation and growth of MNPs. Therefore, this hybrid method, which combines electrolysis and ultrasound, has attracted the interest of researchers in the last two decades as one of the most promising techniques. The present work presents a short analysis of the reference literature on sonoelectrochemical synthesis of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles. The main factors influencing the geometry of nanoparticles and their size distribution are analyzed. The use of pulsed ultrasound and pulsed current supply during sonoelectrochemical synthesis is especially effective in designing MNPs. Emphasis is placed on the role of surfactants in the formation of MNPs and sacrificial anodes in providing the algorithm: “anodic dissolution-electrochemical reduction of metal-nucleation and formation of МNPs.” It is noted that ultrasound allows synthesizing the MNPs and M1M2NPs during the galvanic replacement, and an analogy of the formation of nanoparticles by sonogalvanic replacement and sonoelectrochemical method is shown.
The Halalisation of Islam
Authors: Gauthier François
Published: November 2021

This article charts the history of the invention of halal and of its extension to an increasingly diverse range of goods, services and even modes of behaviour. Following the works of Bergeaud-Blackler, it argues that halal is not the industrialization of traditional practices but rather that it is ‘born industrial’ as the result of the encounter between neoliberal economic globalization and the spread of consumerism across the Muslim world. It argues that the wild development of halal and its extension well beyond the edible is part of a wider reconfiguration of Islam within a Global-Market frame, away from Nation-State bound forms. From its inception within industrial processes of meat production, halal has been extended to qualify vacation packages, refrigerators and proper sexual morality.
Kemalism and Populism
Authors: Balci Tamer
Published: November 2021

This article examines the trajectory of populism/halkçilik, one of the least studied principles of Kemalism, from its origins in the ideas of Enlightenment to its practices in modern Turkey. Unlike its commonly perceived negative connotation that is often associated with irrational political objectives, populism is a manifestation of equality premise of Enlightenment. Populism gained popularity among the nineteenth-century American and Russian farmers as well as fin de siècle French intellectuals and politicians. Neither the Russian Narodnik movement nor the American Populist Party were as influential as the French solidarists who were backed by Vatican to carve a middle path between unrefined Capitalism and revolutionary Marxism. Inspired by its earlier counterparts in France and Russia, Kemalist principle of Populism aimed to end inherited socio-economic inequalities that had existed in the former Ottoman Empire. While modern Turkey curbed some inequalities, it has stumbled upon the same core obstacle, unequal distribution of resources. The never-ending human fight for equality will carry on whether it carries the banner of Kemalism or any other ideology.
A checklist of halacarid and hydrachnid mites (Acari, Halacaridae & Hydrachnidia) associated with sponges (Porifera)
Authors: CHATTERJEE TAPAS
Published: November 2021

A compilation of halacarid and hydrachnid mite species found associated with sponges has been carried out based on published records. Altogether 78 halacarid mites species belonging to 15 genera viz. Agaue (9 species), Agauopsis (7 species), Arhodeoporus (1 species), Atelopsalis (1 species), Bradyagaue (1 species), Copidognathus (27 species), Halacarellus (7 species), Halacaropsis (2 species), Halacarus (5 species), Lohmannella (3 species), Maracarus (3 species), Rhombognathides (3 species), Rhombognathus (4 species), Spongihalacarus (1 species), and Thalassarachna (4 species) are reported. Twenty-four hydrachnid mite species belonging to three families viz. Hygrobatidae (2 species), Unionicolidae (20 species) and Pontarachnidae (2 species) are included. Some species of Unionicolidae are mentioned as possible sponge-mite species. Further studies, emphasizing developmental studies of unionicolid mites to get better ideas about associations with freshwater sponges are needed. Molecular sequencing will reveal more cryptic species and improve the quality of re-descriptions of currently recognized species in these sponge associated mites.
Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) caatingensis sp. nov. (Diptera: Culicidae) from the semi-arid region of Brazil
Authors: ANDRADE DAVID CAMPOS , CORTE ROSELI LA
Published: November 2021

This publication describes a new species of mosquito of the genus Toxorhynchites Theobald, 1901, subgenus Lynchiella Lahille, 1904. The species was found during an exploratory survey of the Culicidae in the Caatinga biome, which is unique to Brazil and characterized by a semi-arid climate. Because of the specific characteristics of the biome, it has potential for endemism of species that have adapted to its restrictive conditions, particularly those imposed by severe drought. The new species, Toxorhynchites (Lynchiella) caatingensis, is a phytotelmic species that inhabits bromeliads and has an unknown biology. It belongs to a species complex that is hereafter referred to as the Violaceus Complex, which comprises three species that are found in the same type of habitat and have similar morphology: Tx. caatingensis n. sp., Tx. mariae (Bourroul, 1904) and Tx. violaceus (Wiedemann, 1820). We describe the larva, pupa, adult female and male genitalia of specimens collected as larvae from the tank bromeliad Aechmea aquilega (Salisb.) Griseb. The main distinctive characteristics of the species are the presence of three lateral tufts on the terminal abdominal segments (one pale and the others dark); a blue midline on the abdominal sterna; in the pupa, the pentagonal shape of the paddle and the length of seta 6-V. PCR reactions were carried out for the mitochondrial CO1 gene fragment, which placed the new species in the subgenus Lynchiella. No match was found with any species recorded in GenBank. The subgenus now includes 17 species.
The genus Brycon Müller & Troschel (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Bryconidae) of Espírito Santo State, Brazil: new records and comments on conservation
Authors: RODRIGUES LEYDIANE NUNES , DA SILVA JULIANA PAULO , LIMA FLÁVIO CÉSAR THADEO , DA SILVA INGENITO LEONARDO FERREIRA , DUBOC LUIZ FERNANDO , MACHADO DÉBORA FERREIRA , SARMENTO-SOARES LUISA MARIA
Published: November 2021

The occurrence of the species of the genus Brycon (Characiformes: Bryconidae) in Espírito Santo State is herein reviewed. Brycon opalinus, a species formerly known only from the upper rio Paraíba do Sul and upper rio Doce basins, is recorded for the first time in the rio Itapemirim, an independent coastal basin in southern Espírito Santo State, Brazil. With the records of B. opalinus, four Brycon species are now known from Espírito Santo State: B. insignis in the rio Itabapoana basin, on the boundary between Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, B. opalinus in the rio Itapemirim basin, B. dulcis in the rio Doce basin, and B. ferox in the rio Barra Seca, rio Itaúnas and the rio São Mateus basins. Additionally worth highlighting is that several fisherman and local inhabitants report the occurrence Brycon vermelha in the rio Cotaxé, a tributary of the rio São Mateus in Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais states, although there are no preserved specimens of B. vermelha from river basins other than the rio Mucuri, in Minas Gerais state.
A new species of genus Prosopigastra A. Costa (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae: Crabroninae) from China, with a key to the Chinese species
Authors: ZHAO LIYUAN , LI QIANG , MA LI
Published: November 2021

The Chinese species of Prosopigastra A. Costa (Crabronidae: Crabroninae) are reviewed, including one species previously recorded from China and two species newly recorded from there. A new species, Prosopigastra simpliclypeata from Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China is described and illustrated. A key to the Chinese species of Prosopigastra is provided.
First record of the parasitic barnacle Anelasma squalicola Darwin, 1852 (Pollicipedomorpha: Pollicipedidae) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and a new host report: Etmopterus benchleyi Vásquez, Ebert & Long, 2015 (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae)
Authors: ANGULO ARTURO , SIBAJA-CORDERO JEFFREY A.
Published: November 2021

Anelasma squalicola is a parasitic barnacle of members of the deep-water shark families Etmopteridae, Pentanchidae and Scyliorhinidae. We report the first published confirmation of this species in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, based on material collected off Costa Rica, its first record as a parasite of the Ninja lantern shark, Etmopterus benchley (Etmopteridae), and a new size record for the host. The information presented herein expands the knowledge (distribution and host usage) of this enigmatic species.
A new member of the Stictochironomus caffrarius group from West Bengal, India, with emendation of generic diagnosis (Diptera, Chironomidae)
Authors: KONAR SANGHAMITRA
Published: November 2021

Stictochironomus bengalensis n. sp. is described based on the male adult, pupa and larva from West Bengal, India. The species is a new member of the S. caffrarius group. Generic diagnoses for the pupa and larva are emended to accommodate the characteristics of the species group. In addition, a key to the known males of Stictochironomus from the Oriental region is provided.
Description of the final instar larva of Anisocentropus diana Malicky & Chantaramongkol 1994 (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae) in Thailand
Authors: POEPETCH SAKOL , PROMMI TAENG-ON , LAUDEE PONGSAK
Published: November 2021

The last instar larval stage of a Southeast Asian species Anisocentropus diana Malicky & Chantaramongkol 1994 (Trichoptera: Calamoceratidae) is described and illustrated based on Thai specimens. The larva of A. diana is different from known larvae of the other East Asian species A. kawamurai (Iwata) and A. magnificus (Ulmer) in its reddish-brown head without any patterns, the head’s large ventral apotome, and the abdominal gill arrangement.
Two new species of subgenus Tripodura Towns (Diptera, Chironomidae, Polypedilum) from Oriental China
Authors: CHEN JINXIAN , ZHANG RUILEI
Published: November 2021

P. (T.) anningense sp. n. and P. (T.) biloborum sp. n. are described and illustrated as male imagines from Oriental China. DNA barcodes of two new species are also presented. A key to known male imagines of the subgenus Tripodura from China is given.
Upper Gila, Salt, and Verde Rivers: Arid Land Rivers in a Changing Climate
Authors: Woodhouse Connie A. , Udall Bradley
Published: November 2021

The major tributary of the lower Colorado River, the Gila River, is a critical source of water for human and natural environments in the southwestern United States. Warmer and drier than the upper Colorado River basin, with less snow and a bimodal precipitation regime, the Gila River is controlled by a set of climatic conditions that is different from the controls on upper Colorado River flow. Unlike the Colorado River at Lees Ferry in Arizona, the upper Gila River and major Gila River tributaries, the Salt and Verde Rivers, do not yet reflect significant declines in annual streamflow, despite warming trends. Annual streamflow is dominated by cool-season precipitation, but the monsoon influence is discernable as well, variable across the basin and complicated by an inverse relationship with cool-season precipitation in the Salt and Verde River basins. Major multiyear streamflow droughts in these two basins have frequently been accompanied by wet monsoons, suggesting that monsoon precipitation may partially offset the impacts of a dry cool season. While statistically significant trends in annual streamflow are not evident, decreases in autumn and spring streamflow reflect warming temperatures and some decreases in spring precipitation. Because climatic controls vary with topography and the influence of the monsoon, the impact of warming on streamflow in the three subbasins is somewhat variable. However, given relationships between climate and streamflow, current trends in hydroclimate, and projections for the future, it would be prudent to expect declines in Gila River water supplies in the coming decades.

Significance Statement

This research investigates the climatic controls on the Gila River and its major tributaries, the Verde and Salt Rivers, to gain insights on how trends in climate may impact future water supply. The Gila River is the major tributary of the lower Colorado River, but, unlike the situation for the upper Colorado River, no significant decreasing trends in annual streamflow are evident despite warming temperatures. Climate–streamflow relationships are more complex in this part of the Colorado River basin, and several factors may be buffering streamflow to the impact of warming. However, given the key climatic controls on streamflow, current and emerging trends in climate, and projections for the future, declines in streamflow should be expected in the future.
Associations between indoor soundscapes, building services and window opening behaviour during the COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Torresin Simone , Albatici Rossano , Aletta Francesco , Babich Francesco , Oberman Tin , Kang Jian
Published: November 2021

Results of an online survey conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown among 848 home workers living in London (United Kingdom) and in Italy are reported with a focus on (1) the impacts of building services on the perception of the acoustic environment while working and relaxing at home and (2) the factors associated with window opening behaviour. The analyses showed no significant difference in soundscape appropriateness for relaxation depending on the heating, ventilation and cooling system typologies, and in soundscape appropriateness for working from home (WFH) based on the ventilation strategy. Higher soundscape appropriateness for WFH was associated with houses equipped only with radiant floors for heating in Italy and with air-cooling systems in London. In London, air systems resulted in higher perceived dominance of noise from building services compared to other systems. Overall, rooms with less dominant sounds from building services were evaluated as more appropriate for working and relaxing. The dominance of sky or buildings from the window view, outdoor noisiness, noise sensitivity, age and gender were not significantly associated with participants’ window opening behaviour while WFH. Differently, participants viewing more vegetation from windows in Italy were more likely (odds ratio: 1.279) to keep the window open while WFH.