bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic approach to tinea capitis with kerion: A retrospective study
Authors: Shemer Avner , Lyakhovitsky Anna , Kaplan Baruch , Kassem Riad , Daniel Ralph , Caspi Tomm , Galili Eran
Published: May 2022

Background

Kerion is an inflammatory type of tinea capitis manifesting as boggy crusted nodules. Diagnosis of kerion is often challenging due to high rates of false‐negative mycological samples.

Methods

A retrospective study among children with kerion, prior to antifungal treatment, was conducted to assess rates of false‐negative mycological samples. Specimens for direct microscopy and fungal culture were collected at baseline and after administration of an oral antibiotic course, with or without an oral steroid course. Kerion was categorized as highly inflammatory when a painful, moist scalp nodule with spontaneous purulent discharge or exuberant crust was present, or mildly inflammatory when an erythematous, dry scalp nodule was seen.

Results

Twenty‐three children (mean age 7.9 ± 3.0 years) were included in the study. Trichophyton tonsurans was the most common species isolated (69.6%). Highly inflammatory kerions were significantly more likely to be culture negative before treatment than mildly inflammatory kerions (80% vs. 16.7%, p < .01). Non‐inflammatory tinea capitis lesions (n = 13) were culture positive in all cases. Following a combined oral antibiotic and steroid course given to most highly inflammatory kerions (n = 11/13), higher rates of positive fungal cultures were found compared to baseline (90.9% vs. 18.2%, p < .01).

Conclusion

High rates of negative fungal cultures were found only in highly inflammatory kerion. Sampling a highly inflammatory kerion after a combined oral antibiotic and steroid course improved rates of positive fungal cultures. In addition, sampling of non‐inflammatory tinea capitis lesions (when present in addition to the kerion) had the highest culture sensitivity.
Two cases of mammary acinic cell carcinomas with microglandular structures mimicking microglandular adenosis
Authors: Yu Fang , Niu Li , Wang Bicheng , Fan Wei , Xu Jian , Chen Qiongrong
Published: May 2022

Acinic cell carcinoma (AcCC) of breast is a rare subtype of triple‐negative breast carcinoma demonstrating a wide morphologic spectrum. In this study, we perform a detailed morphologic and immunohistochemical description of two cases of the rare entity and review the published relative literature. Histologically, the two cases both showed predominantly microglandular and solid structures overlapping with the histological features of microglandular adenosis (MGA), and one case presented spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma with chondromyxoid matrix as a minor morphologic pattern. In two cases, most of the cancer cells were positive for lysozyme and antitrypsin strongly and extensively, but negative for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), androgen receptors (AR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The true relationship between breast AcCC and MGA or carcinoma arising in MGA(CAMGA) may remain unclear; re‐excision is advised when the MGA‐like content extends to the surgical margins in the setting of breast AcCC. More cases and further molecular investigations are required to elucidate the true histogenesis and give the patients appropriate treatment.
Innovation search: the role of innovation intermediaries in the search process
Authors: Howells Jeremy , Thomas Elisa
Published: May 2022

The aim of this paper is to explore how innovation search is conceptualised, given that firms increasingly use innovation intermediaries. The paper examines the search processes which involves the role of innovation intermediaries in different stages of the innovation search process. The study discovered that innovation search activity is a much more extended and complex process, not being as targeted or as specific than previously conceptualised, and involves a set of search stages, which are associated with a loosely coupled iterative search process. Innovation intermediaries were also discovered to be undertaking new, more extended roles in the search process, through, for example, combining new search procedures with online digital platforms.
Children's disaster knowledge, risk perceptions, and preparedness: A cross‐country comparison in Nepal and Turkey
Authors: Yildiz Ayse , Dickinson Julie , Priego‐Hernández Jacqueline , Teeuw Richard
Published: May 2022

While children are one of the groups at risk in disasters, they can also take an active part in disaster management, provided that the opportunity is given. This research examined the effect of disaster experience, disaster education, country, and city socioeconomic status on children's perceived risk and preparedness with a survey of 1335 children between 11 and 14 years old, in Nepal and Turkey. The survey used questionnaires and the pictorial representation of illness and self measure (PRISM) tool. Results showed that (1) children's risk perceptions were in line with their country‐specific objective risks; (2) there were differences between the countries in relation to perception of risk for all the hazards except wildfire; (3) socioeconomic status had a statistically significant effect on children's perceptions of risk and preparedness for earthquakes, wildfires, that is, children who live in wealthier places had higher perceived risk and preparedness; (4) children in both countries showed similar trends in their knowledge of the correct protective actions to take in the event of a hazard occurrence. However, there is still room to enhance children's knowledge, in terms of safety behaviors, as the children selected many incorrect protective actions. There are important implications in terms of child‐centered disaster management which hopefully will make life safer and help to create more resilience to disaster in society as a whole.
Improving OpenStreetMap missing building detection using few‐shot transfer learning in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Li Hao , Herfort Benjamin , Lautenbach Sven , Chen Jiaoyan , Zipf Alexander
Published: May 2022

OpenStreetMap (OSM) has been intensively used to support humanitarian aid activities, especially in the Global South. Its data availability in the Global South has been greatly improved via recent humanitarian mapping campaigns. However, large rural areas are still incompletely mapped. The timely provision of map data is often essential for the work of humanitarian actors in the case of disaster preparation or disaster response. Therefore, it has become a vital challenge to boost the speed and efficiency of existing humanitarian mapping workflows. We address this challenge by proposing a novel few‐shot transfer learning (FSTL) method to improve the accuracy of OSM missing building detection. We trained two popular object detection models (i.e., Faster R‐CNN and SSD) in a training area in Tanzania and transferred the model to target areas in Cameroon and Mozambique. The FSTL method significantly improved the base model performance even with only one training shot. Moreover, we successfully produced a grid‐based OSM missing building map (DeepVGI) of 10 m spatial resolution with over 96% overall accuracy (ACC) and 0.85 Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) in both Cameroon and Mozambique. Such maps show great potential to assess and estimate the overall completeness of OSM buildings to support humanitarian mapping activities, especially in places where other (e.g., buildings, roads) datasets are not available.
Comparative transcriptomic analysis unveils the deep phylogeny and secondary metabolite evolution of 116 Camellia plants
Authors: Wu Qiong , Tong Wei , Zhao Huijuan , Ge Ruoheng , Li Ruopei , Huang Jin , Li Fangdong , Wang Yanli , Mallano Ali Inayat , Deng Weiwei , Wang Wenjie , Wan Xiaochun , Zhang Zhengzhu , Xia Enhua
Published: May 2022

Camellia plants include more than 200 species of great diversity and immense economic, ornamental, and cultural values. We sequenced the transcriptomes of 116 Camellia plants from almost all sections of the genus Camellia. We constructed a pan‐transcriptome of Camellia plants with 89 394 gene families and then resolved the phylogeny of genus Camellia based on 405 high‐quality low‐copy core genes. Most of the inferred relationships are well supported by multiple nuclear gene trees and morphological traits. We provide strong evidence that Camellia plants shared a recent whole genome duplication event, followed by large expansions of transcription factor families associated with stress resistance and secondary metabolism. Secondary metabolites, particularly those associated with tea quality such as catechins and caffeine, were preferentially heavily accumulated in the Camellia plants from section Thea. We thoroughly examined the expression patterns of hundreds of genes associated with tea quality, and found that some of them exhibited significantly high expression and correlations with secondary metabolite accumulations in Thea species. We also released a web‐accessible database for efficient retrieval of Camellia transcriptomes. The reported transcriptome sequences and obtained novel findings will facilitate the efficient conservation and utilization of Camellia germplasm towards a breeding program for cultivated tea, camellia, and oil‐tea plants.
Vibration and Acoustic Crepitus Sensing Using Piezoelectric Accelerometers
Authors: Roytman Gregory , Budavich Matthew , Pocius Judith D. , Faydenko Jocelyn , Muligano Dana , Cramer Gregory
Published: May 2022

The vibration and acoustic emissions produced within facet joints of the lumbar spine, known as crepitus, can be a potential biomarker to identify decreased joint functioning and the site of low back pain. Using piezoelectric accelerometers and a silicone “phantom” mechanical model, we sought to identify the site of crepitus. Past analyses of these data with human observers have been too time consuming for eventual practical clinical application, and a more expedient algorithmic method of analysis is preferable. In this study, the signal filtering and processing functions of matlab were harnessed to filter aberrant noise as well as determine the location (level and left or right side) from which crepitus originated during induced crepitus events in the phantom model (n = 30). Development of this automated method refined the definition of facet joint crepitus. The automated method was found to be as reliable and valid as assessment by human observers and took significantly less time (p = 0.009). Future studies will assess the reliability of the automated method to detect this phenomenon in humans.
A Probabilistic Learning Approach Applied to the Optimization of Wake Steering in Wind Farms
Authors: Almeida Jeferson O. , Rochinha Fernando A.
Published: May 2022

The wake steering control in wind farms has gained significant attention in the last years. This control strategy has shown promise to reduce energy losses due to wake effects and increase the energy production in a wind farm. However, wind conditions are variable in wind farms, and the measurements are uncertain what should be considered in the design of wake steering control strategies. This paper proposes using the probabilistic learning on manifold (PLoM), which can be viewed as a supervised machine learning method, to enable the wake steering optimization under uncertainty. The expected power generation is estimated considering uncertainties in wind speed and direction with good accuracy and reduced computational cost for two wind farm layouts, which expand the application of machine learning models in wake steering. Furthermore, the analysis shows the potential gain with the application of wake steering control.
Robust Periodical Tracking for Fast Tool Servo Systems With Selective Disturbance Compensation
Authors: Liu Pengbo , Yan Peng
Published: May 2022

Fast tool servo (FTS) systems have emerged as a promising technology in ultraprecision manufacturing, where sophisticated contouring in the manufacturing process poses significant challenges to the dynamical tracking of periodical references at nanoscale. The situation is further complicated by the existence of time delays, load variations, as well as disturbances. Comprehensive handling of these problems in a unified framework is crucial to the manufacturing precision of FTS systems. In this paper, we propose a modified robust repetitive control structure for FTS systems with time delays to improve the tracking performance by loop shaping. On top of the specific structure of the robust repetitive controller, a parallel structure is first introduced to optimize the low-pass filter to increase controller gains at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies, such that an improved tracking performance is obtained but at the cost disturbance rejection capabilities. To this end, a cascaded structure is then introduced to further shape the sensitivity function to compensate the external disturbances especially near the maximum sensitivity frequency. Taking the robustness against model uncertainties into consideration, we further formulate the multistage design of the proposed controller as an H∞ optimization problem solving by skew Toeplitz approach. Real-time experiments are conducted on a prototype of the FTS system demonstrating excellent tracking performance of the proposed control approach.
Effects of Accelerated Oxidation on Fuel Spray and Engine Characteristics of Karanja Biodiesel
Authors: Suraj C. K. , Krishnasamy Anand , Gowrishankar Sudarshan , Sundararajan T.
Published: May 2022

The unsaturated content of biodiesel makes it prone to oxidation resulting in variations in the fuel properties, hindering its widespread application. Variations in biodiesel properties impact injection, spray, evaporation, mixing and combustion processes. The present study investigates the effect of accelerated oxidized Karanja biodiesel on injector flow, macroscopic spray, and engine characteristics. The accelerated oxidation of Karanja biodiesel is carried out by heating and bubbling the air through the fuel. The variations in fuel properties that profoundly influence spray and engine characteristics are analyzed before and after accelerated oxidation. Even though biodiesel viscosity is increased beyond the ASTM specification limit due to accelerated oxidation, the variations in the density, surface tension, and calorific value are marginal. The injector flow and macroscopic spray characteristics are investigated for fresh and oxidized biodiesel using a constant volume spray chamber at different chamber and injection pressures. The results indicate a similar fuel flowrate and injection velocity for the fresh and oxidized biodiesels at identical test conditions. Under identical test conditions, the macroscopic spray characteristics between the test fuels are negligible. Engine experiments with fresh and oxidized biodiesel are carried out in an automotive truck diesel engine at rated torque speed and variable load conditions. A shorter ignition delay (∼20% lower), less intense premixed combustion, and lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions (∼27% lower) are observed with oxidized biodiesel. The study concludes that despite significant variations in the kinematic viscosity of fresh and oxidized biodiesels (∼28% higher), the variations in macroscopic spray and engine performance characteristics are insignificant.
Change of Direction Speed in Youth Male Soccer Players: The Predictive Value of Anthropometrics and Biological Maturity
Authors: Negra Yassine , Sammoud Senda , Nevill Alan M. , Chaabene Helmi
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to develop the optimal allometric body size/shape and a biological maturity model that predicted the change of direction (CoD) mean speed performance in youth male soccer players. One-hundred and fifteen youth soccer players (age: 12.4 [1.3] y) participated in this study. The 505 test was used to assess CoD mean speed performance. Anthropometric measurements comprised body height (cm), sitting height (cm), body mass (kg), fat mass (kg), lower limb length (cm), thigh length (cm), leg length (cm), foot length (cm), thigh girth (cm), and calf girth (cm). The maturity status was determined based on the maturity offset method. To identify size/shape and maturity characteristics associated with CoD speed performance, we computed a multiplicative allometric log-linear regression model, which was refined using backward elimination. The multiplicative allometric model exploring the association between 505 CoD mean speed performance and the different anthropometric characteristics in youth soccer players estimated that fat mass (P < .001), sitting height (P = .02), and maturity offset (P = .004) are the key predictors. More specifically, youths who are more mature and have a lower fat mass and a shorter trunk length, are likely to achieve a better CoD mean speed performance. These findings highlight the relevance of considering anthropometric and maturity characteristics in youth soccer players to support talent identification.
Z-DNA binding protein 1 promotes heatstroke-induced cell death
Authors: Yuan Fangfang , Cai Jizhen , Wu Jianfeng , Tang Yiting , Zhao Kai , Liang Fang , Li Fanglin , Yang Xinyu , He Zhihui , Billiar Timothy R. , Wang Haichao , Su Lei , Lu Ben
Published: May 2022

Heatstroke is a heat stress–induced, life-threatening condition associated with circulatory failure and multiple organ dysfunctions. If global warming continues, heatstroke might become a more prominent cause of mortality worldwide, but its pathogenic mechanism is not well understood. We found that Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1), a Z–nucleic acid receptor, mediated heatstroke by triggering receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)–dependent cell death. Heat stress increased the expression of ZBP1 through heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) and activated ZBP1 through a mechanism independent of the nucleic acid sensing action. Deletion of ZBP1, RIPK3, or both mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) and caspase-8 decreased heat stress–induced circulatory failure, organ injury, and lethality. Thus, ZBP1 appears to have a second function that orchestrates host responses to heat stress.
Cuticular pad–inspired selective frequency damper for nearly dynamic noise–free bioelectronics
Authors: Park Byeonghak , Shin Joo Hwan , Ok Jehyung , Park Subin , Jung Woojin , Jeong Chanho , Choy Seunghwan , Jo Young Jin , Kim Tae-il
Published: May 2022

Bioelectronics needs to continuously monitor mechanical and electrophysiological signals for patients. However, the signals always include artifacts by patients’ unexpected movement (such as walking and respiration under approximately 30 hertz). The current method to remove them is a signal process that uses a bandpass filter, which may cause signal loss. We present an unconventional bandpass filter material—viscoelastic gelatin-chitosan hydrogel damper, inspired by the viscoelastic cuticular pad in a spider—to remove dynamic mechanical noise artifacts selectively. The hydrogel exhibits frequency-dependent phase transition that results in a rubbery state that damps low-frequency noise and a glassy state that transmits the desired high-frequency signals. It serves as an adaptable passfilter that enables the acquisition of high-quality signals from patients while minimizing signal process for advanced bioelectronics.
Emergent ferroelectricity in subnanometer binary oxide films on silicon
Authors: Cheema Suraj S. , Shanker Nirmaan , Hsu Shang-Lin , Rho Yoonsoo , Hsu Cheng-Hsiang , Stoica Vladimir A. , Zhang Zhan , Freeland John W. , Shafer Padraic , Grigoropoulos Costas P. , Ciston Jim , Salahuddin Sayeef
Published: May 2022

The critical size limit of voltage-switchable electric dipoles has extensive implications for energy-efficient electronics, underlying the importance of ferroelectric order stabilized at reduced dimensionality. We report on the thickness-dependent antiferroelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition in zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) thin films on silicon. The emergent ferroelectricity and hysteretic polarization switching in ultrathin ZrO2, conventionally a paraelectric material, notably persists down to a film thickness of 5 angstroms, the fluorite-structure unit-cell size. This approach to exploit three-dimensional centrosymmetric materials deposited down to the two-dimensional thickness limit, particularly within this model fluorite-structure system that possesses unconventional ferroelectric size effects, offers substantial promise for electronics, demonstrated by proof-of-principle atomic-scale nonvolatile ferroelectric memory on silicon. Additionally, it is also indicative of hidden electronic phenomena that are achievable across a wide class of simple binary materials.
Recovering wetland biogeomorphic feedbacks to restore the world’s biotic carbon hotspots
Authors: Temmink Ralph J. M. , Lamers Leon P. M. , Angelini Christine , Bouma Tjeerd J. , Fritz Christian , van de Koppel Johan , Lexmond Robin , Rietkerk Max , Silliman Brian R. , Joosten Hans , van der Heide Tjisse
Published: May 2022

Biogeomorphic wetlands cover 1% of Earth’s surface but store 20% of ecosystem organic carbon. This disproportional share is fueled by high carbon sequestration rates and effective storage in peatlands, mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows, which greatly exceed those of oceanic and forest ecosystems. Here, we review how feedbacks between geomorphology and landscape-building vegetation underlie these qualities and how feedback disruption can switch wetlands from carbon sinks into sources. Currently, human activities are driving rapid declines in the area of major carbon-storing wetlands (1% annually). Our findings highlight the urgency to stop through conservation ongoing losses and to reestablish landscape-forming feedbacks through restoration innovations that recover the role of biogeomorphic wetlands as the world’s biotic carbon hotspots.
Conversion of oxybenzone sunscreen to phototoxic glucoside conjugates by sea anemones and corals
Authors: Vuckovic Djordje , Tinoco Amanda I. , Ling Lorraine , Renicke Christian , Pringle John R. , Mitch William A.
Published: May 2022

The reported toxicity of oxybenzone-based sunscreens to corals has raised concerns about the impacts of ecotourist-shed sunscreens on corals already weakened by global stressors. However, oxybenzone’s toxicity mechanism(s) are not understood, hampering development of safer sunscreens. We found that oxybenzone caused high mortality of a sea anemone under simulated sunlight including ultraviolet (UV) radiation (290 to 370 nanometers). Although oxybenzone itself protected against UV-induced photo-oxidation, both the anemone and a mushroom coral formed oxybenzone–glucoside conjugates that were strong photo-oxidants. Algal symbionts sequestered these conjugates, and mortality correlated with conjugate concentrations in animal cytoplasm. Higher mortality in anemones that lacked symbionts suggests an enhanced risk from oxybenzone to corals bleached by rising temperatures. Because many commercial sunscreens contain structurally related chemicals, understanding metabolite phototoxicity should facilitate the development of coral-safe products.
Bacterial species rarely work together
Authors: Palmer Jacob D. , Foster Kevin R.
Published: May 2022

Competition is prevalent and could be harnessed as an alternative to antibiotics
Bids for Anthropocene’s ‘golden spike’ emerge
Authors: Voosen Paul
Published: May 2022

Sites compete to mark global changes of the 1950s and define new geological age
Census aims for better U.S. statistical portrait
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: May 2022

Agency wants to retool its surveys and decennial census to improve efficiency and generate better data
Doubt cast on inflammation’s stop signals
Authors: Sinha Gunjan
Published: May 2022

Critics challenge data underpinning “resolution immunology,” triggering university probes
Balloon detects first signs of ‘sound tunnel’ in the sky
Authors: Savitsky Zack
Published: May 2022

Atmospheric analog to ocean’s acoustic channel could be used to monitor eruptions and bombs
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of
Elizabethkingia
Species: Report from a Reference Laboratory
Authors: Comba Isin Y. , Schuetz Audrey N. , Misra Anisha , Friedman Daniel Z. P. , Stevens Ryan , Patel Robin , Lancaster Zane D. , Shah Aditya
Published: May 2022

Elizabethkingia
species are Gram-negative bacilli that were most recently linked to a cluster of infections in the Midwestern United States from 2016 to 2017. Inappropriate empirical and directed antibiotic selection for this organism is common among providers and is an independent risk factor for mortality.
Equilibrium Composition of Products Formed by Non-catalytic Conversion of Hydrocarbons
Authors: Savchenko V. I. , Zimin Ya. S. , Busillo E. , Nikitin A. V. , Sedov I. V. , Arutyunov V. S.
Published: May 2022

The kinetic patterns of the attainment of the equilibrium product composition in non-catalytic processes of partial oxidation and of steam and carbon dioxide reforming of hydrocarbons in the temperature range 1400–1800 K, characteristic of these processes, were analyzed. The need for such analysis is caused by the rapidly increasing consumption of natural gas as a chemical feedstock and by growing attention to environmental problems, in particular, to a decrease in СО2 emissions or to partial CO2 utilization. The forward and reverse water gas shift reactions (WGSRs) play an important role in approach to the equilibrium product composition in these processes. Analysis has shown that the elementary reactions characteristic of forward and reverse WGSRs start to play a significant role long before the equilibrium in the system is attained. Already in the intermediate steps of the process, the distribution of the major reaction products, Н2, СО, Н2О, and СО2, almost corresponds to the equilibrium value of Kt = ([H2][CO2])/([CO][H2O]), close to the WGSR equilibrium constant Keq, and further conversion of the products occurs at Kt values close to Keq.
Anaesthetic National Teaching Programme for Students (ANTPS)
Authors: Wicks Saskia K , Kumar Prakrit Raj , Kumar Ranya Vardini , Arthur-Quarm Stella , Gavalas Manolis
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly undermined undergraduate anaesthetic teaching in spite of the vital role of the specialty against the pandemic. Anaesthetic National Teaching Programme for Students (ANTPS) was designed to meet the evolving needs of undergraduates and tomorrow’s doctor by standardising anaesthetic training, preparing for final exams and equipping competencies vital for doctors of all grades and specialties. Our Royal College of Surgeons England-accredited University-College-Hospital-affiliated programme consisted of six-biweekly sessions were delivered online by anaesthetic trainees. Prerandomised and postrandomised session-specific multiple-choice questions (MCQs) assessed students’ improvement in knowledge. Anonymous feedback forms were provided to students after each session and 2 months following the programme. 3743 student feedback forms (92.2% of attendees) across 35 medical-schools were recorded. There was a mean improvement in test score (0.94±1.27, p<0.001). 313 students completed all six sessions. Based on 5-point Likert scale, students who completed the programme showed an improvement in their confidence in knowledge and skills to face common foundation challenges (1.59±1.12, p<0.001) and thus felt better prepared for life as junior doctors (1.60±1.14, p<0.001). With an increase in confidence in students to pass their MCQs, Observed Structured Clinical Examinations and case-based discussion assessments, 3525 students stated they would recommend ANTPS to other students. Unprecedented COVID-19 factors impacting training, positive student feedback and extensive recruitment, demonstrate that our programme is an indispensable learning resource which standardises anaesthetic undergraduate education nationally, prepares undergraduates for their anaesthetic and perioperative exams and lays strong foundations for implementation of clinical skills required by all doctors, to optimise training and patient care.
Ex ante evaluation of the impact of tobacco control policy measures aimed at the point of sale in the Netherlands
Authors: van Deelen Tessa R D , Kunst Anton E , van den Putte Bas , Veldhuizen Els M , Kuipers Mirte A G
Published: May 2022

Introduction

The Netherlands aims to implement stricter tobacco control policies targeting the retail environment. This paper is an ex ante policy evaluation of the potential impact of the current tobacco display and advertising ban as well as future tobacco sales bans on tobacco outlet visibility and availability.

Methods

Between September 2019 and June 2020, all potential tobacco retailers in four Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Haarlem and Zwolle) were visited and mapped using Global Positioning System. For each retailer selling tobacco, we completed a checklist on the visibility of tobacco products and advertising. Expected reductions in tobacco outlet visibility and availability were calculated per policy measure in absolute numbers (percentage or percentage point decrease) as well as density and proximity.

Results

Out of 870 tobacco outlets, 690 were identified with visible tobacco products/advertising. The display ban in supermarkets and small outlets (respectively) is expected to decrease the number (−15; −42 percentage points), outlet density per 10 000 capita (−0.9; −2.6) and proximity in metres (+27 m; +400 m) of outlets with visible products/advertising. The upcoming bans on vending machines and sales in supermarkets are expected to decrease the number (−12%; −31%), density (−0.7; −1.9) and proximity (+12 m; +68 m) of tobacco outlets. Further changes in the number, density and proximity (respectively) of tobacco outlets may be achieved with future sales bans in petrol stations (−7%; −0.4; +60 m) and particularly with a ban on sales in small outlets (−43%; −2.7; +970 m).

Conclusion

A display ban and a sales ban in small outlets will contribute most to reducing tobacco outlet visibility and availability, assuming that no market shift towards other tobacco outlets will take place.
Effects of quintessence and configuration of strings on the black holes of Lovelock-scalar gravity
Authors: Ali Askar , Saifullah Khalid
Published: May 2022

Lovelock gravity containing dimensionally continued Euler densities can be considered as a natural extension of Einstein’s theory of gravity in higher dimensions such that the associated differential equations of motion are still second order. In this paper, the Lovelock gravity is coupled with a scalar field and dimensionally continued hairy black holes in the presence of quintessential matter and cloud of strings are analyzed. Thermodynamics of these black holes is discussed as well. It is shown that the thermodynamic quantities satisfy the generalized first law. The generalized Smarr’s relation is also derived and thermodynamic stability checked. Finally, black holes of general Lovelock-scalar theory are also briefly discussed.
Characterization of Liquid Oscillation and Sloshing Properties of Toroidal TLCDs for Multidirectional Vibration Control
Authors: Ding Hao , Das Anupam , Zhou Tian-Yu , Wang Jin-Ting , Altay Okyay
Published: May 2022

The toroidal tuned liquid column damper (TTLCD) has been known so far only for its multidirectional vibration control capabilities. The details of its liquid motion characteristics and energy dissipation capacity have been missing. To cover this gap, in this paper, experimental studies are carried out by shaking table tests and an effective three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of the TTLCD is developed. All parametric effects and the characteristics of the liquid motion in the TTLCD are addressed. The findings of the paper now clearly reveal that the TTLCD encompasses both an oscillatory liquid deflection as the first mode and a sloshing motion as the second mode vibration response. Accordingly, the results prove that the TTLCD operates not only multidirectionally but also as a unique multimodal device, which unites the properties of tuned liquid dampers (TLDs)/tuned sloshing dampers (TSDs) with tuned liquid column dampers (TLCDs).
Memory Response on the Elasto-Thermodiffusive Interaction Subjected to Harmonically Varying Heat Source
Authors: Bhattacharya Debarghya , Purkait Pallabi , Kanoria Mridula
Published: May 2022

Enlightened by the Caputo type of fractional derivative, this research paper is the analysis of a mathematical model of generalized thermoelastic diffusion with memory-dependent derivative (MDD) for an isotropic infinite medium with a cylindrical cavity in the context of dual-phase lag model. The surface of the cavity is traction free and subjected to harmonically heat sources with constant angular frequency of thermal vibration. Laplace transform technique has been used to solve the problem. Later eigenvalue approach is used to obtain the analytical expressions for different physical fields in the transformed domain. Finally to obtain the solutions in the real-time domain, the Riemann-sum approximation method is used. According to the graphical representations corresponding to the numerical results, the effect of heat source speed on temperature, displacement, stress, mass concentration and chemical potential are studied. The effect of memory-dependent parameters, as well as in the absence of MDD on physical quantities are also demonstrated.
Analysis and prediction of the spread of COVID-19 in North Macedonia
Authors: Lazarova Limonka Koceva , Stojanova Aleksandra , Stojkovikj Natasha , Miteva Marija , Ljubenovska Marija
Published: May 2022

COVID-19 pandemic is one of the worst global disasters in the last century. Its pandemic spread and influence in everyday social life, economics and health is in central interest of concern for all governments in the world. North Macedonia is one of the countries with very high percentage of COVID-19 deaths. The health system in a few periods was before collapse. In this paper, we analyze the COVID-19 epidemic situation in North Macedonia from its beginning. We make analysis and comparisons of the situation in different time epidemic periods. We use regression models and machine learning algorithms in order to make predictions, which can be used as an efficient tool to give directions of the authorities to deal with COVID-19 challenges.
Transfer learning with NASNet-Mobile for Pneumonia X-ray classification
Authors: Naskinova Irina
Published: May 2022

Pneumonia affects 7% of the population worldwide and results in about four million deaths worldwide. The mortality caused by pneumonia can be prevented, as the treatment is low-tech and low-cost, yet it often goes unrecognized. The chest X-ray is the most reliable diagnostic imaging technique for pneumonia. Yet, often it is not used for lack of trained diagnosticians. However, this can be overcome with deep learning computer-aided diagnostic technology, which is shown in this study as well is in previous research to be able to achieve high performance in detecting and classifying between healthy and pneumonia radio graph images. This study presents a comparison between a transfer learning model based on NASNet-Mobile and a custom custom convolutional neural network (CNN) topology. Transfer learning has enhanced the model performance with an average of 5% for accuracy and lowered the loss with 15%. The experiments point to the fact that with fine-tuning, transfer learning can greatly improve custom CNN models. These results are significant as building transfer learning models based on simpler models can be faster and cheaper to industrialize and can be a viable option for providing the needed computer-aided diagnostic support system for pneumonia detection in chest radio graphs.
Nonlocal semilinear evolution inclusions with time lag
Authors: Donchev Tzanko , Kitanov Nikolay , Stefanov Stanislav
Published: May 2022

In this paper, nonautonomous semilinear evolution inclusions with time lag and nonlocal initial conditions are studied. We define the so-called limit and weak solutions. We prove the existence of solutions when the multivalued part of the right-hand side and the initial functions are Lipschitz under natural conditions on the Lipschitz constants. Afterwards, under the same conditions, a variant of the important in optimal control relaxation theorem is proved.
IMPLICIT PRICES OF JOB RISK, CLIMATE, AND AIR POLLUTION: EVIDENCE FROM TAIWAN
Authors: ZHANG NAN , SHAW DAIGEE , LIN CHUAN-YAO
Published: May 2022

We examine the implicit price of job mortality rates, climate, and air pollution in Taiwan under the hedonic wage frame with panel data from 1999 to 2014. We adopt a fixed-effects model to control for the omitted year-specific factors and time-invariant individual, industry, and city factors that may affect the wage. The within-individual variations in climate and air pollution from workers who have changed their job locations make it possible to identify the impacts of climate and air pollution on wages. We find that workers in Taiwan are willing to pay 308 USD (in 2014 value terms) for the January temperature to increase by 1∘C,781 USD for the July temperature to decline by 1∘C, indicating a net loss from global warming. Besides, the implicit price of air quality is 45 USD for PM 10 concentrations to fall by 1 unit ([Formula: see text]), and the implicit price of job risks is 140 USD per unit (1/100,000).
Designing PairBuddy—A Conversational Agent for Pair Programming
Authors: Robe Peter , Kuttal Sandeep Kaur
Published: May 2022

From automated customer support to virtual assistants, conversational agents have transformed everyday interactions, yet despite phenomenal progress, no agent exists for programming tasks. To understand the design space of such an agent, we prototyped PairBuddy—an interactive pair programming partner—based on research from conversational agents, software engineering, education, human-robot interactions, psychology, and artificial intelligence. We iterated PairBuddy’s design using a series of Wizard-of-Oz studies. Our pilot study of six programmers showed promising results and provided insights toward PairBuddy’s interface design. Our second study of 14 programmers was positively praised across all skill levels. PairBuddy’s active application of soft skills—adaptability, motivation, and social presence—as a navigator increased participants’ confidence and trust, while its technical skills—code contributions, just-in-time feedback, and creativity support—as a driver helped participants realize their own solutions. PairBuddy takes the first step towards an Alexa-like programming partner.
Iteratively Designing Gesture Vocabularies: A Survey and Analysis of Best Practices in the HCI Literature
Authors: Xia Haijun , Glueck Michael , Annett Michelle , Wang Michael , Wigdor Daniel
Published: May 2022

Gestural interaction has evolved from a set of novel interaction techniques developed in research labs, to a dominant interaction modality used by millions of users everyday. Despite its widespread adoption, the design of appropriate gesture vocabularies remains a challenging task for developers and designers. Existing research has largely used Expert-Led, User-Led, or Computationally-Based methodologies to design gesture vocabularies. These methodologies leverage the expertise, experience, and capabilities of experts, users, and systems to fulfill different requirements. In practice, however, none of these methodologies provide designers with a complete, multi-faceted perspective of the many factors that influence the design of gesture vocabularies, largely because a singular set of factors has yet to be established. Additionally, these methodologies do not identify or emphasize the subset of factors that are crucial to consider when designing for a given use case. Therefore, this work reports on the findings from an exhaustive literature review that identified 13 factors crucial to gesture vocabulary design and examines the evaluation methods and interaction techniques commonly associated with each factor. The identified factors also enable a holistic examination of existing gesture design methodologies from a factor-oriented viewpoint and highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each methodology. This work closes with proposals of future research directions of developing an iterative user-centered and factor-centric gesture design approach as well as establishing an evolving ecosystem of factors that are crucial to gesture design.
A Survey on Synchronous Augmented, Virtual, andMixed Reality Remote Collaboration Systems
Authors: Schäfer Alexander , Reis Gerd , Stricker Didier
Published: May 2022

Remote collaboration systems have become increasingly important in today’s society, especially during times when physical distancing is advised. Industry, research, and individuals face the challenging task of collaborating and networking over long distances. While video and teleconferencing are already widespread, collaboration systems in augmented, virtual, and mixed reality are still a niche technology. We provide an overview of recent developments of synchronous remote collaboration systems and create a taxonomy by dividing them into three main components that form such systems:
Environment
,
Avatars
, and
Interaction
. A thorough overview of existing systems is given, categorising their main contributions to help researchers working in different fields by providing concise information about specific topics such as avatars, virtual environment, visualisation styles, and interaction. The focus of this work is clearly on synchronised collaboration from a distance. A total of 87 unique systems for remote collaboration are discussed, including more than 100 publications and 25 commercial systems.
Structure Diversity-Induced Anchor Graph Fusion for Multi-View Clustering
Authors: Lu Xun , Feng Songhe
Published: May 2022

The anchor graph structure has been widely used to speed up large-scale multi-view clustering and exhibited promising performance. How to effectively integrate the anchor graphs on multiple views to achieve enhanced clustering performance still remains a challenging task. Existing fusing strategies ignore the structure diversity among anchor graphs and restrict the anchor generation to be same on different views, which degenerates the representation ability of corresponding fused consensus graph. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose a novel structural fusion framework to integrate the multi-view anchor graphs for clustering. Different from traditional integration strategies, we merge the anchors and edges of all the view-specific anchor graphs into a single graph for the structural optimal graph learning. Benefiting from the structural fusion strategy, the anchor generation of each view is not forced to be same, which greatly improves the representation capability of the target structural optimal graph, since the anchors of each view capture the diverse structure of different views. By leveraging the potential structural consistency among each anchor graph, a connectivity constraint is imposed on the target graph to indicate clusters directly without any post-processing such as
k
-means in classical spectral clustering. Substantial experiments on real-world datasets are conducted to verify the superiority of the proposed method, as compared with the state-of-the-arts over the clustering performance and time expenditure.
Graph Neural Networks in Recommender Systems: A Survey
Authors: Wu Shiwen , Sun Fei , Zhang Wentao , Xie Xu , Cui Bin
Published: May 2022

With the explosive growth of online information, recommender systems play a key role to alleviate such information overload. Due to the important application value of recommender systems, there have always been emerging works in this field. In recommender systems, the main challenge is to learn the effective user/item representations from their interactions and side information (if any). Recently, graph neural network (GNN) techniques have been widely utilized in recommender systems since most of the information in recommender systems essentially has graph structure and GNN has superiority in graph representation learning. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of recent research efforts on GNN-based recommender systems. Specifically, we provide a taxonomy of GNN-based recommendation models according to the types of information used and recommendation tasks. Moreover, we systematically analyze the challenges of applying GNN on different types of data and discuss how existing works in this field address these challenges. Furthermore, we state new perspectives pertaining to the development of this field. We collect the representative papers along with their open-source implementations in
https://github.com/wusw14/GNN-in-RS
.
Review—“Knees” in Lithium-Ion Battery Aging Trajectories
Authors: Attia Peter M. , Bills Alexander , Brosa Planella Ferran , Dechent Philipp , dos Reis Gonçalo , Dubarry Matthieu , Gasper Paul , Gilchrist Richard , Greenbank Samuel , Howey David , Liu Ouyang , Khoo Edwin , Preger Yuliya , Soni Abhishek , Sripad Shashank , Stefanopoulou Anna G. , Sulzer Valentin
Published: May 2022

Lithium-ion batteries can last many years but sometimes exhibit rapid, nonlinear degradation that severely limits battery lifetime. In this work, we review prior work on “knees” in lithium-ion battery aging trajectories. We first review definitions for knees and three classes of “internal state trajectories” (termed snowball, hidden, and threshold trajectories) that can cause a knee. We then discuss six knee “pathways”, including lithium plating, electrode saturation, resistance growth, electrolyte and additive depletion, percolation-limited connectivity, and mechanical deformation—some of which have internal state trajectories with signals that are electrochemically undetectable. We also identify key design and usage sensitivities for knees. Finally, we discuss challenges and opportunities for knee modeling and prediction. Our findings illustrate the complexity and subtlety of lithium-ion battery degradation and can aid both academic and industrial efforts to improve battery lifetime.
Websites of Note - Fall 2021
Authors: Suroviec Alice
Published: May 2022

Columnist Alice Suroviec presents a collection of websites that offer free databases and and tutorials.
The Chalkboard: Stretching Cyclic Voltammetry to its Potential Limit
Authors: St-Pierre Jean
Published: May 2022

Electrochemistry’s reach is extensive, from fundamentals, material and commodity synthesis and reactor engineering to energy conversion devices. For most areas of interest, experimental conditions are well controlled. However, in some cases, experimental conditions are significantly more complex because applications are located in the field and exposed to the elements. Sensors and innovations designed to abate corrosion are in contact with the environment. These situations add complexity to design activities and data interpretation. Atmospheric air contains hundreds of species (mostly at trace levels), whereas oceans are effective solvents for ions, inorganic (geological features contact) and organic (biological activity) species. A growing interest in the circular economy will also result in similar and uncontrolled experimental conditions for envisaged electrochemical processes. Nuclear reprocessing of fuel rods to recover uranium involves separating noble, transuranic, lanthanide, and other elements. Battery electrodes recycling by hydrometallurgical processes will lead to multi-component solutions. Polymer recycling in bulk using electrochemical processes is desirable to minimize costs, which will create an assemblage of organic components (diverse polymers, leftover synthesis reactants, dyes, stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors). For process control of electrochemical recycling, effective methods are needed to assess the composition of multi-component solutions.