bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data-driven geometric system identification for shape-underactuated dissipative systems
Authors: Bittner Brian , Hatton Ross L , Revzen Shai
Published: November 2021

Modeling system dynamics becomes challenging when the properties of individual system components cannot be directly measured, and often requires identification of properties from observed motion. In this paper, we show that systems whose movement is highly dissipative have features which provide an opportunity to more easily identify models and more quickly optimize motions than would be possible with general techniques. Geometric mechanics provides means for reduction of the dynamics by environmental homogeneity, while the dissipative nature minimizes the role of second order (inertial) features in the dynamics. Here we extend the tools of geometric system identification to ‘shape-underactuated dissipative systems (SUDS)’—systems whose motions are more dissipative than inertial, but whose actuation is restricted to a subset of the body shape coordinates. Many animal motions are SUDS, including micro-swimmers such as nematodes and flagellated bacteria, and granular locomotors such as snakes and lizards. Many soft robots are also SUDS, particularly robots that incorporate highly damped series elastic actuators to reduce the rigidity of their interactions with their environments during locomotion and manipulation. We motivate the use of SUDS models, and validate their ability to predict motion of a variety of simulated viscous swimming platforms. For a large class of SUDS, we show how the shape velocity actuation inputs can be directly converted into torque inputs, suggesting that systems with soft pneumatic or dielectric elastomer actuators can be modeled with the tools presented. Based on fundamental assumptions in the physics, we show how our model complexity scales linearly with the number of passive shape coordinates. This scaling offers a large reduction on the number of trials needed to identify the system model from experimental data, and may reduce overfitting. The sample efficiency of our method suggests its use in modeling, control, and optimization in robotics, and as a tool for the study of organismal motion in friction dominated regimes.
Recycling of Waste Plastic into Fine-Grained Concrete Without Strength Reduction
Authors: Chekanovich M , Romanenko S , Andriievska Ya
Published: November 2021

The problem of recycling plastic waste is quite acute both in Ukraine and for most countries of the world. The use of plastic processing products can be considered an urgent problem of society from the point of view of environmental protection and environmental safety. Today, developments are underway in the field of using polymers in one of the largest sectors of production – the construction industry. In recent years, the scientific community has been actively studying the issue of using plastic waste in the manufacture of reinforced concrete structures, that is, partial replacement of the filler with plastic particles. At the same time, in the short term, sufficient resources of plastic waste will be provided, which will come in value for collection and recycling. The use of plastic in concrete production technology will not only reduce the negative impact of waste on the environment, but also develop concrete of more sustainable quality and lower cost. The aim of the study is determining the amount of plastic waste that can be utilized through introducing it into concrete mix without reducing the strength of the concrete. Here we have considered the issue of the impact of the degree of plastic grinding on concrete strength. The research findings show that the introduction of plastic in an amount up to 3.5% of the volume of concrete as a substitute for the aggregate does not reduce its compressive or flexural strength.
Species diversity of unionid mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionidae) as a bioindicator of the state water environment of river basins of Ukraine
Authors: Shevchuk L , Vasilіeva L , Romaniuk R , Pavliuchenko O
Published: November 2021

Species diversity and frequency index of bivalve mollusks’ of unionid family are researched within river basins of Ukraine. The largest frequency index of mussels is identified in the Prypiat and Desna basins (84 and 79% respectively), then (as the indicator declines) – the Dnieper and Severskiy Donets basins (74 and 67%), the Southern Bug and Danube (47 and 46%), the Southern and Western Bug (47 and 28%), the Crimea (17%). No mollusks were found in the Azov basin at all. Most often (33%) there were found groups consisting of only three unpretentious species (Unio pictorum, U. tumidus, Anodonta anatina). In general, settlements from one to three species make up 70% of all researched collecting sites. Settlements formed by four species are identified only in 23% of habitats. Only 6% of settlements consisted of five aboriginal species and about 1% – of six. Locations where six species lived together were identified only in the Danube and Prypiat basins. There are no settlements of five species in the Western Bug and Desna basins at all, and there are not any even four species settlements in the Crimea. The obtained data can be used for organizing environmental activities and assessing water environment quality
The problem of the Black Sea pollution in Odessa region of Ukraine
Authors: Shypotilova O , Kozhanov A , Lohinova L , Lohinov O
Published: November 2021

The article considers the problem of Black Sea pollution in Odessa region. The researchers made a comparative analysis based on archival and modern materials, statistics on the assessment of pollution of the Black Sea coast around the city of Odessa, as well as adjacent areas to the region. The urgent task of Ukraine as a maritime state is to ensure optimal and sustainable functioning of the maritime complex. The Black Sea has been significantly affected by anthropogenic and man-made activities, which affects its water regime and properties. Therefore, researchers raise the issue of efficient use of natural resources as one of the most important conditions for sustainable social-economic development. In the article we come to the conclusion that the Black Sea ecosystem is affected by the reduction of fresh water, which leads to the influx of inorganic, organic and toxic substances etc. Thus, the researchers highlighted important issues of marine pollution in Ukraine, trying to draw the attention of scientists and the public to address pressing issues and find additional funding for the conservation of the Black Sea ecosystem.
Methodological approach to the assessment of the level of intellectualization of the green economy in terms of sustainable development
Authors: Orlovska Ju , Dryhola K , Khlivitskaya A
Published: November 2021

As part of the global course for sustainable development and the green economy, socio-economic processes are acquiring intellectual content. The purpose of this study is to form a methodology for assessing the level of intellectualization of the green economy. The author’s index GIEI has been formed in this research on the basis of selected indicators that reflect green policy, green intellectual capital and goals of the green economy. Within the index, there are three subindices, which are assigned weight coefficients, which were calculated based on the results of expert analysis. The results showed that the green policy has the greatest weight coefficient. The obtained index can be used to assess the level of intellectualization of the green economy of world countries and to provide a basis for further research on key elements of the world’s green policies to identify effective tools that can be used in the green development strategies of states.
Socio-economic determinants of the ecosystem of sustainable development of Ukraine
Authors: Lopuschnyak H , Chala N , Poplavska O
Published: November 2021

Now the world has felt the effects of events (pandemic, digitalization, etc.), which provoked a change in the socio-economic ecosystem, which the authors propose to understand as a set of objects and subjects, and grouped according to certain interests, including on professional interests related to the definition of priorities and directions of adaptation of society and the state to the existing environment, which includes rules, laws, moral and ethical norms, and thus forms a single whole with them. Realizing the irreversibility of these events and their consequences, it becomes obvious that the transformation of national ecosystems is accelerating, especially under the influence of the ecological program. Thus, the process of adaptation to the new ecosystem of state development and ensuring its sustainability actualizes the study of determinants of socio-economic nature. The author’s research, based on his own methodology, proves that the key factors in ensuring the sustainability of this ecosystem are compliance with high standards of quality of life, maintaining partnerships and public trust in various institutions, taking into account various aspects of security (individual to collective), assessment of the present and forecasting the future.
Bayesian networks application to forecast the national economies development taking into account the water factor
Authors: Savina N , Kovshun N , Kostrychenko V , Voronenko M , Koval V
Published: November 2021

The influence of this factor on the development of national economies is studied. This study uses the Bayesian network, which illustrates the interaction of indicators of water supply and water use and includes nodes that are formally represented as vectors. The most valuable result of the modelling is not the general forecast obtained with the help of the model, but the structure of the network itself, which allows to identify connections within the model and explain the reason for the emerging interdependencies. modelling using Bayesian networks confirmed the fact that there is a direct relationship between GDP and water consumption and drainage. The obtained results confirm the possibility of achieving an increase in the overall GDP of the country with an increase in the amount of water resources used for production needs. However, this should be implemented in combination with a simultaneous reduction in the volume of return (wastewater) discharged into surface water bodies.
Determinants of regions smart specialization in eco-clustering
Authors: Mazaraki A , Prisyaznyuk A , Bai S , Drozdova Yu
Published: November 2021

The article identifies and substantiates the determinants of regions smart specialization, highlights the connection with the processes of environmental clusters formation to more effectively overcome the passivity of innovation and industrial policies in combination with the model of structural and organizational reconfiguration. The authors thoroughly studied the experience of EU countries in creating ecological clusters and producing eco-innovations. The main barriers of smart regions specialization in Ukraine and its problematic aspects in ensuring the development of ecological clusters are identified. The authors systematized the main ecological innovations in clusters. The article gives recommendations for the development of environmental clusters in Ukraine under the context of smart specialization.
Project management as a development tool for greening of enterprises of the national economy
Authors: Shmatko N , Bondar Iu , Tokareva V , Kovalenko N , Klenin O , Kotlubai V
Published: November 2021

The article reveals the essence of project management, the feature of which is the implementation of multifaceted technological characteristics and subject area of design solutions. It is proved that the methods of project management allow to analyze the issues and determine the objectives of the project, justify the project and develop an appropriate set of documents; determine the necessary amounts and sources of funding; identify the structure of the project and schedule its implementation; calculate the necessary resources, estimates and project budget. The peculiarities of project management as a tool for greening the development of enterprises of the national economy in the conditions of constant complication of doing business and finding ways to improve it in the context of improving the efficiency of economic activity are studied. The project activity is covered, covering all spheres of enterprise functioning, such as production, marketing and innovation activity, social sphere. It is substantiated that the wide application of the project approach to economic development has led to the efficiency and versatility of project tools that allow the company to adapt to the business environment, reduce uncertainty and ensure sustainable development in modern business conditions.
Extraction of Phenolic Compound using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent from Biomass Waste
Authors: Aziz A H Abdul , Engliman N S , Mansor M F , Nasaruddin R R
Published: November 2021

Phenolic compounds are aromatic compounds known for their bioactive substances which can be found in plants. It has been widely used in various applications due to its antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and other benefits. There are various methods to extract the phenolic compounds from plants including ionic liquid, liquid-liquid extraction as well as supercritical extraction. However, all of these methods requires energy extensive, laborious processes, advanced technology, and generate toxic waste. Therefore, there is a growing need to find an alternative green extraction method to reduce the environmental impact while improving the efficiency of the extraction process. Thus, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), a combination of two or more components that comes from primary metabolites like organic acids, choline chloride, or sugar, are able to form liquids upon mixing with lower melting point of individual constituents due to hydrogen bond interactions were proposed as alternatives to conventional extraction methods. Therefore, this research determined the suitable combination of NADES solvents (hydrogen bond acceptor/donor ratio) for extraction of phenolic compounds from biomass waste which included young and mature coconut shells and coconut husk, banana peel, empty fruit bunch, and palm oil fruit husk. The extracted compound was analysed using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the functional groups and type of phenolic compounds present. The best biomass waste was coconut shell and the best NADES combination was choline chloride and ascorbic acid at 1:2 molar ratio. The FTIR analysis of coconut shell extracted by NADES showed peaks at 3404 cm−1 and 3523 cm−1 indicating OH stretching followed by 2915 cm−1, 1388 cm−1 to 1473 cm−1, and 1674 cm−1 showing C-H stretching, sp3 C-H band and C=C stretch respectively. As for GC-MS analysis, 26 compounds were detected and four phenolic compounds were identified at peaks 2, 13, 22, and 25. The research was successful in determining the best biomass waste and NADES combination for highest total phenol. The use of NADES was able to extract more phenolic compound from coconut shell than water due to the hydrogen bond between the choline chloride and ascorbic acid.
A Review on Diversity of Anticancer Compounds Derived from Indonesian Marine Sponges
Authors: Murniasih Tutik , Putra Masteria Yunovilsa , Bayu Asep , Wibowo Joko Tri
Published: November 2021

As a tropical archipelago country, Indonesia has a mega diversity of marine organisms, such as sponges. About 850 species of sponges were identified from the east part of Indonesia. The uniqueness of Indonesian marine sponges attracted many researchers to explore the sponge’s potential in producing active substances. During 1995-2016, about 40 genera of Indonesian sponges were investigated for their potential in producing pharmacological activity such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antivirus, multidrug-resistant (MDR), etc. The data showed that 56.7% of 430 reported compounds were confirmed as new compounds. The research trend on Indonesian sponges was high during 2004-2013, but decreasing after 2014. However, researches in the term of active substances from marine sponges should find provide the basic skeleton of anti-cancer drug lead compounds. Chemical structure diversity plays an important role in the exploration of anticancer lead compounds. The purpose of this paper is to review the potential of anticancer diversity compounds derived from Indonesian sponges, to get comprehensive data for further investigation. As the conclusion of our review, the most anticancer compounds derived from Indonesian marine invertebrates are alkaloid groups (such as aaptamine, manzamine, and bromopyrrole derivatives), then terpenoid groups (such as diterpene, coelodiol, and coeloic acid, sesquiterpene aminoquinone, and also (+)-curcuphenol and (+)-curcudiol), and also from the other groups such as sterole, peptide, polyketide, amino acid derivatives, natural organic acid, and quinone. The most effective anticancer compounds were 5-benzoyldemethylaaptamine, isoaaptamine, 3-bromofascaplysin, hyrtioreticulins A, stylissamide X, sigmosceptrellin B, and diacarperoxide S.
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Polylactic Acid-Diol for Polyurethane as Biodegradable Packaging Material
Authors: Razali N I M , Ali F , Azmi A S , Ismail T N M T , Mirghani M E S , Omar M F
Published: November 2021

Since its discovery, plastic has been a part of human life and is widely employed in our daily lives. Excessive use of plastic has raised pollution rates around the world, with plastic ending up in landfills or the sea, posing a threat to both terrestrial and aquatic life. Considering this problem, the widespread use of polyurethanes (PUs) in many industries has resulted in unavoidable PUs pollution in everyday life. A reaction involving prepolymer, isocyanate, and polyol can be used to make PUs. Petroleum-based polyol and vegetable oil-based polyol are the two types of polyols available. Isocyanate will become the hard domain of the polymer in the PUs polymer chain, while polyol will become the soft domain. Polylactic acid-diol is the prepolymer used to make PU (PLA-diol). PLA-diol was previously made using a traditional heating approach, which takes a long time. To overcome this traditional method, microwave-assisted synthesis is proposed to synthesize the PLA-diol. The synthesis process involved synthesizing PLA-diol at different microwave power (450W – 900W) and at different reaction time (1 hour – 2 hours). The peak of hydroxyl group in synthesized PLA-diol was characterized via the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization to determine the functional groups of PLA-diol and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) characterization was done to determine the molecular weight of PLA-diol. The resulting PLA-diol will then be used to synthesis biodegradable PUs in the subsequence study.
Chitin Fiber from Mushroom as Reinforcement for Biobased Polymer
Authors: Zin M I M , Shamsudin N S , Ali F , Nawawi W M F W
Published: November 2021

This project aimed to study the reinforcement effect of fungal chitin at different loading on chitin/PLA composite. The chitin nanofibers were extracted from three mushroom species (oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, shiitake mushroom Lentinula edodes, enoki mushroom Flammulina velutipes) and used as a reinforcement element in PLA. The chitin/PLA composite was fabricated using a solvent-casting method followed by the hot-compress molding method. In the solvent-casting method, the chitin nanofibers were dispersed in PLA/chloroform mixture and the mixture was left for solvent evaporation. The solvent-free chitin/PLA thin film was then filled in dog bone mold before proceeded with hot-compress molding at 190°C and 70 bar. The samples with different chitin loading were tested with tensile test to study the mechanical performance of nanocomposite. The chitin/PLA composite from oyster mushroom shows the optimum result (σ= 43 MPa, E= 12 MPa) at 5% chitin loading. The increment of the chitin loading leads to a decrease in both strength and strain. However, for the samples from enoki and shitake mushrooms, the optimum chitin loading is 10% with 55 MPa and 56 MPa tensile strength, respectively. This study suggests the potential of fungal chitin as reinforcement in PLA.
Enzymatic Glycerolysis of Palm Kernel Olein and Palm Kernel Stearin in different Ratios for Monolaurin Synthesis
Authors: Ngatirah N , Hidayat C , Rahayu ES , Utami T
Published: November 2021

Monolaurin is known as a monoglyceride of lauric acid, which act as an emulsifier and antimicrobial. One potential of monolaurin raw materials is palm kernel oil (PKO), which can be fractionated into palm kernel olein (PKOo) and palm kernel stearin (PKS). This study aims to determine the enzymatic glycerolysis influence of PKOo and PKS mixture in different ratios and time, on monoacylglycerol (MAG), diacylglycerol (DAG), and triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles. The Glycerolysis process of PKOo-PKS fat blends were carried out in different ratios of (60:40, 40:60, and 20:80 w/w) using commercial lipases (Lypozime RM IM) at 50°C, with an oil:glycerol molar ratio of 1:4, in a tert-butanol solvent system, between 3 to 24 hours. The results showed that the glycerolysis of PKOo and PKS in different ratios yielded varying product reactions with similar compositions (1.8-3.9% MAG, 73.2-76.4% DAG, and 20.7-24.2% TAG). A higher and not significant MAG was observed during the period of 24 hours. Also, the monolaurin was obtained at the ratio of 40:60 PKOo:PKS, within the glycerolysis time of 3 to 24 hours, at approximately 2.18±0.59% and 3.47±0.62%, respectively. The FTIR analysis also showed that the monolaurin sample was identical to the standard type, with the formation of OH group at wave number and cluster C=O ester of 3368.64 cm-1 and 1734.03 cm-1, respectively.
Thermoplastic sago starch nanocomposites wound dressing fortified with antibiotic-modified HNT
Authors: Abuhamed N , Ahmad Z , Sarifuddin N
Published: November 2021

Starches were reported to promote wound healing. However, the hydrophilicity of starch help absorbs the exudates from the wounds during the healing process, but it also enables a bacterial infection that slows the healing process. Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) are attracting many biological technologies because of their high loading capacity and biocompatibility. This paper investigates the modified HNT as a carrier for antimicrobials agent in wound healing materials. Halloysite was modified by dispersing it with chloramphenicol solution using a magnetic stirring method. Thermoplastic sago Starch (TPSS)/modified HNT (MHNTs) biocomposite films of different compositions (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 wt. % HNT) were then developed using the solution casting method. SEM revealed that modified HNT shows good dispersion on the TPSS matrix. With the introduction of modified HNT, the FTIR peaks of TPSS have altered at the peak of 3693.21 cm-1 and 1040.05 cm-1. In addition, modified HNT reduced the water absorption rate of the TPSS films. Furthermore, modified HNT showed good resistance to bacterial culture and significantly reduced the biodegradability rate of TPSS compared to pristine HNT. From the findings, HNT can be a potential carrier for antibacterial agents to withstand bacterial attacks.
Antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds of extracts from the Algerian plant Moltkia ciliata
Authors: Chihi Soumaia , Rahim Oumelkheir , Douadi Ali , Zatout Rabab
Published: November 2021

In the present study, we reported the evaluation of antioxidant properties using electrochemical and spectrophotometric assays and determination of total bioactive compounds content of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol (n-BuOH) extracts ofMoltkia ciliatagrowing in Algeria. The results obtained showed that the EtOAc extract was rich in bioactive compounds, which showed the most effective antioxidant capacity in all tests compared to the n-BuOH extract. This was confirmed by the chromatographic analysis and HPLC of the extract of many compounds in different quantities. The difference in antioxidant activity can be explained by differences in the levels of polyphenols and flavonoids. The study concludes this plant is a rich source of phenols and flavonoids, and also showed good in-vitro antioxidant activity by all methods. Thus, the plantM. ciliatacan be explored as a potential source of natural antioxidant.
Valorization of potato peel residues to produce a bioflocculant to be used in the treatment of liquid effluents
Authors: Choumane Fatima Zohra , Zaoui Fatiha , Kandouci Fatma , Maachou Bouhana , Benguella Belkacem
Published: November 2021

The present study aims primarily to investigate the flocculation capacity of a novel potato peel-based bioflocculant in wastewater treatment. The analysis of wastewater revealed high COD and BOD5 contents that could respectively reach the values 529.08 mg O2/l and 317.03 mg O2/l. In addition, the effect of experimental parameters such as the pH, coagulant/flocculant dosage, and contact time, was studied using the coagulation-flocculation treatment technique. The experiments were carried out with a lab-scale jar-test apparatus where aluminum chloride (AlCl3) was used as a coagulant agent. It should be noted that the optimal dose of AlCl3 was equal to 0.6 g at 10 mn, with turbidity reduction of 99.01%. Moreover, the flocculation tests showed higher turbidity removal (98%), for a flocculant dosage of 0.2g. The results obtained in this study indicated that using the natural potato peel-based flocculant, in the presence of a coagulant, provides an effective and environmentally friendly coagulation option for wastewater treatment.
Elaboration of a piezoelectric force sensor for medical application
Authors: Chelli Zakia , Achour Hakim , Saidi Malika , Laghrouche Mourad , Ahcene Chaouchi
Published: November 2021

In this work, a piezoelectric force sensor was fabricated based on Lead-Free ferroelectric particles (Na0.535K0.48)0.966 Li0.058 Nb0.9Ta0.1O3 (NKLNT) synthesized by solid-state route. A piezoelectric characterization by FTIR spectroscopy and dielectric characterization was performed.

The manufactured NKLNT sensor shows excellent sensitivity and response to external mechanical forces, which implies that this sensor presents a promising technology for different applications.
Effects of active mineral admixture on mechanical properties and durability of concrete
Authors: Xupeng Chen , Zhuowen Sun , Jianyong Pang
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this study is to figure out the effects of the active mineral admixture on the mechanical properties and the durability of the concrete. In this paper, the orthogonal test was adopted to study the effects of the metakaolin, the ultra-fine fly ash, and the silica fume on the compressive strength and the splitting tensile strength of the concrete at various curing ages, and to further determine the optimal mix ratio. After that, the ordinary concrete was taken as the control group, the Na2SO4 solution and the MgSO4 + NaCl solution were used as the corrosive medium, and the dry-wet alternation method was adopted to make comparison and micro-analysis on the durability degradation processes of both the admixture concrete with optimal mix ratio and the ordinary concrete in the two solutions as mentioned above. The results show that: as for the concrete mechanical properties, the metakaolin shows the most significant and positive effects on the concrete cured for 7d-14d, while the silica fume affects the concrete with 28 d curing age most. The mechanical properties of the concretes at various curing ages reach their optimal levels when it is added with 10% metakaolin, 15% ultra-fine fly ash, and 3% silica fume. For the concrete durability, the application of mineral admixture could greatly improve the concrete capability in resisting the SO4
2− corrosion. However the complex ions have destructive effects on the mineral admixture concrete. Compared with the ordinary concrete, it shows the most significant growth of corrosion product M–S–H, faster reduction of mechanical properties, and loose and porous micro-structure.
A neuromorphic model of olfactory processing and sparse coding in the Drosophila larva brain
Authors: Jürgensen Anna-Maria , Khalili Afshin , Chicca Elisabetta , Indiveri Giacomo , Nawrot Martin Paul
Published: November 2021

Animal nervous systems are highly efficient in processing sensory input. The neuromorphic computing paradigm aims at the hardware implementation of neural network computations to support novel solutions for building brain-inspired computing systems. Here, we take inspiration from sensory processing in the nervous system of the fruit fly larva. With its strongly limited computational resources of <200 neurons and <1.000 synapses the larval olfactory pathway employs fundamental computations to transform broadly tuned receptor input at the periphery into an energy efficient sparse code in the central brain. We show how this approach allows us to achieve sparse coding and increased separability of stimulus patterns in a spiking neural network, validated with both software simulation and hardware emulation on mixed-signal real-time neuromorphic hardware. We verify that feedback inhibition is the central motif to support sparseness in the spatial domain, across the neuron population, while the combination of spike frequency adaptation and feedback inhibition determines sparseness in the temporal domain. Our experiments demonstrate that such small, biologically realistic neural networks, efficiently implemented on neuromorphic hardware, can achieve parallel processing and efficient encoding of sensory input at full temporal resolution.
Identifying Predictors of Opioid Overdose Death at a Neighborhood Level With Machine Learning
Authors: Schell Robert C , Allen Bennett , Goedel William C , Hallowell Benjamin D , Scagos Rachel , Li Yu , Krieger Maxwell S , Neill Daniel B , Marshall Brandon D L , Cerda Magdalena , Ahern Jennifer
Published: November 2021

Predictors of opioid overdose death in neighborhoods are important to identify, both to understand characteristics of high-risk areas and to prioritize limited prevention and intervention resources. Machine learning methods could serve as a valuable tool for identifying neighborhood-level predictors. We examined statewide data on opioid overdose death from Rhode Island (log-transformed rates for 2016–2019) and 203 covariates from the American Community Survey for 742 US Census block groups. The analysis included a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm followed by variable importance rankings from a random forest algorithm. We employed double cross-validation, with 10 folds in the inner loop to train the model and 4 outer folds to assess predictive performance. The ranked variables included a range of dimensions of socioeconomic status, including education, income and wealth, residential stability, race/ethnicity, social isolation, and occupational status. The R2 value of the model on testing data was 0.17. While many predictors of overdose death were in established domains (education, income, occupation), we also identified novel domains (residential stability, racial/ethnic distribution, and social isolation). Predictive modeling with machine learning can identify new neighborhood-level predictors of overdose in the continually evolving opioid epidemic and anticipate the neighborhoods at high risk of overdose mortality.
The Dermal Advanced REACH Tool (dART): A Bayesian Model for Dermal Exposure Assessment
Authors: McNally Kevin , Goede Henk A , Schinkel Jody , Gorce Jean-Philippe , Warren Nick
Published: November 2021

The dermal Advanced REACH Tool (dART) is a tier 2 exposure model for estimating dermal exposure to the hands (mg min−1) for non-volatile liquid and solid-in-liquid products. The dART builds upon the existing ART framework and describes three mass transport processes (deposition (Dhands), direct emission and direct contact (Ehands), and contact transfer (Thands)) that may each contribute to dermal exposure. The mechanistic model that underpins the dART and calibration of the mechanistic model, such that the dimensionless score that results from encoding contextual information about a task into the determinants of the dART can be converted into a prediction of exposure (mg min−1), have been described in previous work. This paper completes the methodological framework of the dART model through placing the mechanistic model within a wider statistical modelling framework. A mixed-effects model, within a Bayesian framework, is presented for modelling the rate of dermal exposure per minute of activity. The central estimate of exposure for a particular task is provided by a calibrated mechanistic model (and thus based upon contextual information about a task). The model also describes between- and within-worker sources of variability in dermal exposure, with prior distributions for variance components based upon the literature. Estimates of exposure based upon informative prior distributions may be updated using measurement data associated with the task. The dART model is demonstrated using three worked examples, where estimates are initially obtained based upon the prior distributions alone, and then refined through accommodating measurement data on the tasks.
Anxiety-related shifts in smell function in children and adolescents
Authors: Cortese Bernadette M , Uhde Thomas W , Schumann Aicko Y , McTeague Lisa M , Sege Christopher T , Calhoun Casey D , Danielson Carla Kmett
Published: November 2021

Anxious adults show changes in smell function that are consistent with a durable shift in sensitivity toward particular odorants and away from others. Little is known regarding the development of these changes, including whether they exist in youth, are stable during the transition from childhood to adolescence, and whether odorant properties (e.g. trigeminal features, hedonic valence) affect anxiety-related differences in detection. To address this, we measured smell detection thresholds to phenyl ethyl alanine (PEA), a rose-like odorant with little trigeminal properties, and guaiacol (GUA), a smoke-like odorant with high trigeminal properties. These thresholds were measured at baseline and after an acute stress challenge, the Trier Social Stress Tests, in 131 healthy youth (in 4th, 7th, and 10th grades, age 9–16 years) that reported normal to elevated levels of anxiety. At baseline, high anxious youth exhibited heightened sensitivity to GUA coupled with reduced sensitivity to PEA, as well as a further exaggeration of this bias with acute stress. Importantly, sex, age, and hedonic valence moderated the relationship between trait anxiety and sensitivity to both odorants. Smell function and its aberrations are often overlooked in the literature on biomarkers of stress and anxiety. Taken together with the extant literature, these findings suggest that greater attention is warranted to characterize potential novel olfactory therapeutic targets—across the lifespan.
Prevalence ofMycobacterium tuberculosisin Sputum and Reported Symptoms Among Clinic Attendees Compared With a Community Survey in Rural South Africa
Authors: Govender Indira , Karat Aaron S , Olivier Stephen , Baisley Kathy , Beckwith Peter , Dayi Njabulo , Dreyer Jaco , Gareta Dickman , Gunda Resign , Kielmann Karina , Koole Olivier , Mhlongo Ngcebo , Modise Tshwaraganang , Moodley Sashen , Mpofana Xolile , Ndung’u Thumbi , Pillay Deenan , Siedner Mark J , Smit Theresa , Surujdeen Ashmika , Wong Emily B , Grant Alison D
Published: November 2021

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) case finding efforts typically target symptomatic people attending health facilities. We compared the prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) sputum culture-positivity among adult clinic attendees in rural South Africa with a concurrent, community-based estimate from the surrounding demographic surveillance area (DSA).

Methods

Clinic: Randomly selected adults (≥18 years) attending 2 primary healthcare clinics were interviewed and requested to give sputum for mycobacterial culture. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) status were based on self-report and record review. Community: All adult (≥15 years) DSA residents were invited to a mobile clinic for health screening, including serological HIV testing; those with ≥1 TB symptom (cough, weight loss, night sweats, fever) or abnormal chest radiograph were asked for sputum.

Results

Clinic: 2055 patients were enrolled (76.9% female; median age, 36 years); 1479 (72.0%) were classified HIV-positive (98.9% on ART) and 131 (6.4%) reported ≥1 TB symptom. Of 20/2055 (1.0% [95% CI, .6–1.5]) with Mtb culture-positive sputum, 14 (70%) reported no symptoms. Community: 10 320 residents were enrolled (68.3% female; median age, 38 years); 3105 (30.3%) tested HIV-positive (87.4% on ART) and 1091 (10.6%) reported ≥1 TB symptom. Of 58/10 320 (0.6% [95% CI, .4–.7]) with Mtb culture-positive sputum, 45 (77.6%) reported no symptoms. In both surveys, sputum culture positivity was associated with male sex and reporting >1 TB symptom.

Conclusions

In both clinic and community settings, most participants with Mtb culture-positive sputum were asymptomatic. TB screening based only on symptoms will miss many people with active disease in both settings.
Correlates of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Hesitancy Among People Who Inject Drugs in the San Diego-Tijuana Border Region
Authors: Strathdee Steffanie A , Abramovitz Daniela , Harvey-Vera Alicia , Vera Carlos F , Rangel Gudelia , Artamonova Irina , Patterson Thomas L , Mitchell Rylie A , Bazzi Angela R
Published: November 2021

Background

People who inject drugs (PWID) are vulnerable to acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We examined correlates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among PWID in the US-Mexico border region, of whom only 7.6% had received ≥ 1 COVID-19 vaccine dose by September 2021.

Methods

Between October 2020 and September 2021, participants aged ≥ 18 years from San Diego, California, USA, and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, who injected drugs within the last month completed surveys and SARS-CoV-2, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serologic testing. Logistic regressions with robust standard error estimation via generalized estimating equations identified factors associated with being unsure or unwilling to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Results

Of 393 participants, 266 (67.7%) were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccines and 127 (32.3%) were hesitant (23.4% unwilling and 8.9% unsure). Older participants, those with greater food insecurity, and those with greater concern about acquiring SARS-CoV-2 were more willing to be vaccinated. Higher numbers of chronic health conditions, having access to a smart phone or computer, and citing social media as one’s most important source of COVID-19 information were independently associated with vaccine hesitancy. COVID-19-related disinformation was independently associated with vaccine hesitancy (adjusted odds ratio: 1.51 per additional conspiracy theory endorsed; 95% confidence interval: 1.31–1.74).

Conclusions

Nearly one third of people injecting drugs in the US-Mexico border region were COVID-19 vaccine hesitant, which was significantly associated with exposure to social media, disinformation and co-morbidities and inversely associated with food security and high perceived threat of COVID-19. Interventions that improve accurate knowledge of and trust in COVID-19 vaccines are needed in this vulnerable population.
NOX1 mediates metabolic heart disease in mice and is upregulated in monocytes of humans with diastolic dysfunction
Authors: Xu Lifen , Balzarolo Melania , Robinson Emma L , Lorenz Vera , Della Verde Giacomo , Joray Lydia , Mochizuki Michika , Kaufmann Beat A , Valstar Gideon , de Jager Saskia C A , den Ruijter Hester M , Heymans Stephane , Pfister Otmar , Kuster Gabriela M
Published: November 2021

Aims

Microvascular inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diastolic dysfunction (DD) and metabolic heart disease. NOX1 is expressed in vascular and immune cells and has been implicated in the vascular pathology of metabolic disease. However, its contribution to metabolic heart disease is less understood.

Methods and results

NOX1-deficient mice (KO) and male wild-type (WT) littermates were fed a high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFHS) and injected streptozotocin (75 mg/kg i.p.) or control diet (CTD) and sodium citrate. Despite similar weight gain and increase in fasting blood glucose and insulin, only WT-HFHS but not KO-HFHS mice developed concentric cardiac hypertrophy and elevated left ventricular filling pressure. This was associated with increased endothelial adhesion molecule expression, accumulation of Mac-2-, IL-1β-, and NLRP3-positive cells and nitrosative stress in WT-HFHS but not KO-HFHS hearts. Nox1 mRNA was solidly expressed in CD45+ immune cells isolated from healthy mouse hearts but was negligible in cardiac CD31+ endothelial cells. However, in vitro, Nox1 expression increased in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in endothelial cells and contributed to LPS-induced upregulation of Icam-1. Nox1 was also upregulated in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages in response to LPS. In peripheral monocytes from age- and sex-matched symptomatic patients with and without DD, NOX1 was significantly higher in patients with DD compared to those without DD.

Conclusions

NOX1 mediates endothelial activation and contributes to myocardial inflammation and remodelling in metabolic disease in mice. Given its high expression in monocytes of humans with DD, NOX1 may represent a potential target to mitigate heart disease associated with DD.
Concepts of responsibility in the German media debate on sugar taxation: a qualitative framing analysis
Authors: Moerschel Katharina S , von Philipsborn Peter , Hawkins Benjamin , McGill Elizabeth
Published: November 2021

Background

Framing plays an important role in health-policy processes. Responsibility for health is a salient and contested concept in the framing around food policies, such as sugar taxes. To deepen the understanding of the sugar tax process in Germany and contribute to a better understanding of how responsibility frames are used in debates on health policies, this study investigated responsibility concepts underlying the German media debate on sugar taxation.

Methods

We analyzed 114 national German newspaper articles, published between January 2018 and March 2019, following an inductive thematic analysis approach with an additional deductive focus on responsibility. We identified important contested concepts around sugar taxation, analyzed their combination into narrative frames, and scrutinized those narrative frames for underlying responsibility concepts.

Results

First, we identified important contested concepts regarding problems, actors and solutions (i.e. sugar tax and its potential alternatives). Those laid the basis for 13 narrative frames, of which the ‘unscrupulous industry’, ‘government failure’, ‘vulnerable youth’ and the ‘oversimplification’, ‘responsible industry’ and ‘nanny state’ frames were most salient. Within the narrative frames, we found a dominance of societal responsibility framing with a conflict between binding, legislative measures and voluntary solutions in cooperation with the food and beverages industry.

Conclusions

Questions around societal responsibility for health and corporate social responsibility framing become more salient in sugar tax debates. Future research should, therefore, investigate how public health advocates can successfully engage with corporate social responsibility narratives, and how legislative measures can be framed in ways that engender trust in governmental actions.
Development and validation of prognostic and diagnostic model for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma based on scRNA-seq and bulk-seq datasets
Authors: Chen Kai , Liu Xinxin , Liu Weikang , Wang Feng , Tian Xiaodong , Yang Yinmo
Published: November 2021

The 5-year overall survival (OS) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is only 10%, partly owing to the lack of reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The raw gene-cell matrix for single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) analysis was downloaded from the GSA database. We drew cell atlas for PDAC and normal pancreatic tissues. The inferCNV analysis was used to distinguish tumor cells from normal ductal cells. We identified differential expression genes (DEGs) by comparing tumor cells and normal ductal cells. The common DEGs were used to conduct prognostic and diagnostic model using univariate and multivariate Cox or logistic regression analysis. Four genes, MET, KLK10, PSMB9 and ITGB6, were utilized to create risk score formula to predict OS and to establish diagnostic model for PDAC. Finally, we drew an easy-to-use nomogram to predict 2-year and 3-year OSs. In conclusion, we developed and validated the prognostic and diagnostic model for PDAC based on scRNA-seq and bulk-seq datasets.
Decentered? ASEAN's Struggle to Accommodate Great Power Competition
Authors: Beeson Mark
Published: November 2021

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) currently faces a series of major, historically unprecedented, challenges. Perhaps the most consequential of these new threats is the intensifying strategic, economic, and even institutional competition between the United States and China. ASEAN's rather predictable response to this geopolitical contest has been to “hedge” and avoid choosing between the two great powers. While this strategy may be understandable, it threatens to undermine ASEAN's much vaunted “centrality” and the geopolitical and diplomatic relevance of the organization as a whole. This article explores the background to these developments and Southeast Asia's relationship with both the United States and China. I argue that the limited impact of ASEAN-style multilateralism helps to explain why great powers are creating alternative forums or simply paying lip service to the notion of ASEAN centrality.
Banking Regulatory Constraints and Personal Bankruptcy Filings in the US
Authors: Desai Chintal A , Downs David H
Published: November 2021

The economic well-being of a household depends on its access to credit and also its access to a legal system for managing over-indebtedness. Our hypothesis is that the removal of regulatory constraints on a bank’s ability to expand in new geographic markets increases households’ access to credit, which in turn, contributes to a rise in consumer defaults. In the US, we find a net increase in Chapter 13 bankruptcies following a loosening of a state’s restrictions on multi-branch banking, compared to the increase in Chapter 13 bankruptcies in states that did not change their banking rules. The increased mortgage lending after branch deregulation helps explain this rise in Chapter 13 filings, suggesting that homeowners use the Chapter 13 code to save their houses. Further, the effects of the mortgage supply channel are greater in areas with low bank concentration. Overall, our findings are relevant to policymakers in their efforts to either set up a new personal insolvency regime or modify the existing bankruptcy process.