bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autism and autistic traits in those who died by suicide in England
Authors: Cassidy Sarah , Au-Yeung Sheena , Robertson Ashley , Cogger-Ward Heather , Richards Gareth , Allison Carrie , Bradley Louise , Kenny Rebecca , O'Connor Rory , Mosse David , Rodgers Jacqui , Baron-Cohen Simon
Published: February 2022

Background

Autism and autistic traits are risk factors for suicidal behaviour.

Aims

To explore the prevalence of autism (diagnosed and undiagnosed) in those who died by suicide, and identify risk factors for suicide in this group.

Method

Stage 1: 372 coroners’ inquest records, covering the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2017 from two regions of England, were analysed for evidence that the person who died had diagnosed autism or undiagnosed possible autism (elevated autistic traits), and identified risk markers. Stage 2: 29 follow-up interviews with the next of kin of those who died gathered further evidence of autism and autistic traits using validated autism screening and diagnostic tools.

Results

Stage 1: evidence of autism (10.8%) was significantly higher in those who died by suicide than the 1.1% prevalence expected in the UK general alive population (odds ratio (OR) = 11.08, 95% CI 3.92–31.31). Stage 2: 5 (17.2%) of the follow-up sample had evidence of autism identified from the coroners’ records in stage 1. We identified evidence of undiagnosed possible autism in an additional 7 (24.1%) individuals, giving a total of 12 (41.4%); significantly higher than expected in the general alive population (1.1%) (OR = 19.76, 95% CI 2.36–165.84). Characteristics of those who died were largely similar regardless of evidence of autism, with groups experiencing a comparably high number of multiple risk markers before they died.

Conclusions

Elevated autistic traits are significantly over-represented in those who die by suicide.
First-in-Human Phase I/IB Dose-Finding Study of Adagrasib (MRTX849) in Patients With Advanced KRASG12C Solid Tumors (KRYSTAL-1)
Authors: Ou Sai-Hong Ignatius , Jänne Pasi A. , Leal Ticiana A. , Rybkin Igor I. , Sabari Joshua K. , Barve Minal A. , Bazhenova Lyudmila , Johnson Melissa L. , Velastegui Karen L. , Cilliers Cornelius , Christensen James G. , Yan Xiaohong , Chao Richard C. , Papadopoulos Kyriakos P.
Published: February 2022

PURPOSE

Adagrasib (MRTX849) is an oral, highly selective, small-molecule, covalent inhibitor of KRASG12C. We report results from a phase I/IB study of adagrasib in non–small-cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and other solid tumors harboring the KRAS G12C mutation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with advanced KRAS G12C-mutant solid tumors were treated with adagrasib 150 mg orally once daily, 300 mg once daily, 600 mg once daily, 1,200 mg once daily, or 600 mg orally twice a day using an accelerated titration design, which transitioned to a modified toxicity probability interval design when a predefined degree of toxicity was observed or target adagrasib exposure was achieved. Safety, pharmacokinetics, and clinical activity were evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients were enrolled and received at least one dose of adagrasib. The recommended phase II dose (RP2D) was 600 mg twice a day on the basis of safety, tolerability, and observed pharmacokinetics properties. No maximum tolerated dose was formally defined. After a median follow-up of 19.6 months, eight of 15 patients (53.3%; 95% CI, 26.6 to 78.7) with RECIST-evaluable KRAS G12C-mutant non–small-cell lung cancer treated at 600 mg twice a day achieved a confirmed partial response. The median duration of response was 16.4 months (95% CI, 3.1 to not estimable). The median progression-free survival was 11.1 months (95% CI, 2.6 to not estimable). One of two patients with KRAS G12C-mutant colorectal cancer treated at 600 mg twice a day achieved a partial response (duration of response, 4.2 months). At the RP2D, the most common treatment-related adverse events (any grade) were nausea (80.0%), diarrhea (70.0%), vomiting (50.0%), and fatigue (45.0%). The most common grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse event was fatigue (15.0%).

CONCLUSION

Adagrasib 600 mg twice a day was well tolerated and exhibited antitumor activity in patients with advanced solid tumors harboring the KRAS G12C mutation.
Intrauterine Hyponutrition Reduces Fetal Testosterone Production and Postnatal Sperm Count in the Mouse
Authors: Fujisawa Yasuko , Ono Hiroyuki , Konno Alu , Yao Ikuko , Itoh Hiroaki , Baba Takashi , Morohashi Kenichirou , Katoh-Fukui Yuko , Miyado Mami , Fukami Maki , Ogata Tsutomu
Published: February 2022

Background

Although intrauterine hyponutrition is regarded as a risk factor for the development of “testicular dysgenesis syndrome” (TDS) in the human, underlying mechanism(s) remain largely unknown.

Methods

To clarify the underlying mechanism(s), we fed vaginal plug-positive C57BL/6N female mice with regular food ad libitum throughout the pregnant course (control females) (C-females) or with 50% of the mean daily intake of the C-females from 6.5 dpc (calorie-restricted females) (R-females), and compared male reproductive findings between 17.5-dpc-old male mice delivered from C-females (C-fetuses) and those delivered from R-females (R-fetuses) and between 6-week-old male mice born to C-females (C-offspring) and those born to R-females (R-offspring).

Results

Compared with the C-fetuses, the R-fetuses had (1) morphologically normal external genitalia with significantly reduced anogenital distance index, (2) normal numbers of testicular component cells, and (3) significantly low intratesticular testosterone, in association with significantly reduced expressions of steroidogenic genes. Furthermore, compared with the C-offspring, the R-offspring had (1) significantly increased TUNEL-positive cells and normal numbers of other testicular component cells, (2) normal intratesticular testosterone, in association with normal expressions of steroidogenic genes, (3) significantly reduced sperm count, and normal testis weight and sperm motility, and (4) significantly altered expressions of oxidation stress-related, apoptosis-related, and spermatogenesis-related genes.

Conclusions

The results, together with the previous data including the association between testosterone deprivation and oxidative stress-evoked apoptotic activation, imply that reduced fetal testosterone production is the primary underlying factor for the development of TDS in intrauterine hyponutrition, and that TDS is included in the clinical spectrum of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.
Fred Manville Taylor and the Origins of the Term “Say's Law”
Authors: Béraud Alain , Numa Guy
Published: February 2022

The term “Say's Law” was introduced in the twentieth century by an American economist, Fred Manville Taylor. To this date, no research has thoroughly investigated how the term came to be and what it really meant in Taylor's writings. This paper aims to examine how Taylor defined and used it. Drawing upon Taylor's publications and archival sources, we show that Taylor coined the term in direct reference to Jean-Baptiste Say's writings. Simply put, Say's Law was defined by Taylor as the principle that “total demand must in the long run coincide with the total product or output of goods produced for the market.” Taylor never defined Say's Law as “the impossibility of demand deficiency as a cause of recession.” Like Say, Taylor acknowledged that general demand deficiency could cause economic crises. In such scenarios, public expenditures could have expansionary effects, a position that Say also supported. Taylor rightly credited Say with the earliest and clearest formulation of the law of outlets (loi des débouchés), and in doing so he correctly interpreted the essence of Say's thinking.
Introduction
Authors:   The Editors
Published: February 2022

This is a roundtable discussion about the Basic Law: Israel—The Nation State of the Jewish People, 2018. The contributions by Honaida Ghanim and Lana Tatour situate this law in the longer legal and political history of Israeli settler colonialism in Palestine. The third contribution by Rahul Rao offers a comparative account of the Indian Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, which is similarly marked by racism and exclusion and resonates strongly with the politics of Zionism.
Formation of the Metastable Iron (III) Germanate Fe2GeO5 through Kinetic Control of the Oxidative Reaction
Authors: Kakimoto Kazuo , Ohki Yoshiaki , Takada Saki , Haraguchi Yuya , Yamamoto Ayako , Katori Hiroko Aruga
Published: February 2022

Synthesis of complex oxides requires high temperatures to overcome barriers due to the diffusion of solids. Therefore, the most stable polymorphs are obtained in general reactions. However, it is necessary to design kinetic reactions with low initial energy barriers and control the reaction path and products to synthesize novel and metastable oxides. We report the synthesis of a metastable Fe2GeO5 with a kyanite-type structure via kinetic control of oxidative reaction in Fe2GeO4. It is also found that Fe2GeO5 was not synthesized at all by the conventional method, high-pressure synthesis method, or coprecipitation method. Our result indicates that kinetic control of the oxidative reaction is a promising method for synthesizing metastable materials.
Identification and mapping of post-transcriptional modifications on the HIV-1 antisense transcript Ast in human cells
Authors: Estevez Mariana , Li Rui , Paul Biplab , Daneshvar Kaveh , Mullen Alan C. , Romerio Fabio , Addepalli Balasubrahmanyam
Published: February 2022

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) encodes multiple RNA molecules. Transcripts that originate from the proviral 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR) function as messenger RNAs for the expression of 16 different mature viral proteins. In addition, HIV-1 expresses an antisense transcript (Ast) from the 3′LTR, which has both protein-coding and noncoding properties. While the mechanisms that regulate the coding and noncoding activities of Ast remain unknown, post-transcriptional modifications are known to influence RNA stability, interaction with protein partners, and translation capacity. Here, we report the nucleoside modification profile of Ast obtained through liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. The epitranscriptome includes a limited set of modified nucleosides but predominantly ribose methylations. A number of these modifications were mapped to specific positions of the sequence through RNA modification mapping procedures. The presence of modifications on Ast is consistent with the RNA-modifying enzymes interacting with Ast. The identification and mapping of Ast post-transcriptional modifications is expected to elucidate the mechanisms through which this versatile molecule can carry out diverse activities in different cell compartments. Manipulation of post-transcriptional modifications on the Ast RNA may have therapeutic implications.
Ταξινομητικά και κανονιστικά διαγράμματα στον σχεδιασμό του χώρου
Authors: Μάρη Ιφιγένεια
Published: February 2022

Κύρια πρόθεση της έρευνας είναι η περιγραφή και η διαχείριση της διαδικασίας σχεδιασμού του χώρου. Βασικό εννοιολογικό εργαλείο σε αυτήν την προσέγγιση αποτελεί το διάγραμμα.Η διατριβή αποπειράται μια ανατομία της διαδικασίας σχεδιασμού του χώρου, η οποία τέμνεται ως προς τα πεδία γνώσης που αναπτύσσονται κατά τη διαδικασία. Σε κάθε γνωσιακό πεδίο διακρίνεται το είδος των χωρικών σχέσεων που συγκεκριμενοποιείται, και που περιγράφεται αντίστοιχα με το διάγραμμα. Η διαδικασία σχεδιασμού του χώρου παρακολουθείται σε συγκεκριμένα παραδείγματα σύστασής του (στην αφήγηση του χώρου στη Νέκυια του Ομήρου, και στη δημιουργία του εννοιολογικού χώρου στο έργο του M. Duchamp), με πρόθεση να διακριθούν διαφορετικά είδη διαγραμμάτων, που διαδέχονται το ένα το άλλο με μία τακτική σειρά, παράγοντας και τους μηχανισμούς επαναπροσδιορισμού τους. Με τον τρόπο αυτό συστήνεται στο τέλος μια τυπολογία του διαγράμματος, με την οποία προσδιορίζονται οι διαφορετικού είδους περιγραφές, που αναπτύσσονται κατά τη διαδικασία σχεδιασμού του χώρου. Η τυπολογία του διαγράμματος μπορεί να λειτουργήσει ως ο μηχανισμός διαχείρισης της διαδικασίας σχεδιασμού του χώρου.
Η σημασία των άμεσων ξένων επενδύσεων για την έξοδο από διεθνή προγράμματα προσαρμογής χωρών σε κρίση
Authors: Ευθυμίου Σταύρος
Published: February 2022

Στο παγκοσμιοποιημένο πλέον περιβάλλον, οι επιχειρήσεις, αλλά και οι οικονομίες γενικότερα καλούνται να ανταποκριθούν στις συνεχείς οικονομικές, κοινωνικές, πολιτικές, περιβαλλοντικές και τεχνολογικές προκλήσεις, ώστε να μπορούν να είναι πλήρως ανταγωνιστικές. Η διεθνής οικονομική κρίση 2008/9, η οποία έπληξε την παγκόσμια οικονομία, και η οποία όπως θα αναφερθεί και σε επόμενο κεφάλαιο της παρούσας διατριβής, ξεκίνησε, σε Ευρωπαϊκό επίπεδο, από την Ελλάδα, ανάγκασε με άμεσο και επιτακτικό τρόπο τις επί μέρους οικονομίες να προσαρμοστούν στις τρέχουσες εξελίξεις, ώστε να συνεχίσουν να είναι βιώσιμες και να μπορέσουν να βελτιώσουν την ανταγωνιστικότητά τους.Η παρούσα εργασία αποτελεί μια διεξοδική βιβλιογραφική, αλλά και ερευνητική μελέτη, η οποία διενεργήθηκε με σκοπό να καλυφθούν κενά, τα οποία εντοπίζονται στην τρέχουσα βιβλιογραφία σε συνάρτηση με τις Άμεσες Ξένες Επενδύσεις και την επίδραση που είχαν αυτές σε τέσσερις χώρες της Ένωσης, οι οποίες εισήλθαν σε μηχανισμούς στήριξης από τους Ευρωπαϊκούς θεσμούς(Προγράμματα Δημοσιονομικής Προσαρμογής).Ο απώτερος σκοπός της διατριβής είναι να αποτυπώσει βιβλιογραφικά, αλλά και μέσω της στατιστικής ανάλυσης την επίδραση που είχαν βασικά μακροοικονομικά μεγέθη στις Άμεσες Ξένες Επενδύσεις σε χώρες οι οποίες εντάχθηκαν σε καθεστώς προγραμμάτων προσαρμογής. Προκειμένου να καταστεί δυνατή η πληρέστερη αποτύπωση των ευρημάτων, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν δεδομένα από τον επίσημες στατιστικές βάσεις της ΕΕ, ώστε μέσω ποσοτικής ανάλυσης, να αποτυπωθεί η αλληλοεπίδραση των μεταβλητών και να εξεταστούν τα θεωρητικά συμπεράσματα.Η διάρθρωση της παρούσας διατριβής αποτελείται από τρία μέρη: Στα δύο πρώτα μέρη αποτυπώνονται, μέσω της βιβλιογραφικής ανασκόπησης, υπάρχουσες μελέτες και έρευνες αναφορικά με το υπό μελέτη αντικείμενο. Συγκεκριμένα, η διατριβή αποτελείται από πρωτογενή, αλλά και δευτερογενή στοιχεία, τα οποία χρησιμοποιούνται ώστε να προκύψουν ασφαλή συμπεράσματα αναφορικά με τις Άμεσες Ξένες Επενδύσεις σε χώρες υπό καθεστώς προγραμμάτων δημοσιονομικής προσαρμογής. Το τρίτο μέρος της διατριβής αποτελείται από τη στατιστική ανάλυση των δεδομένων μέσω ποσοτικής ανάλυσης.
Assessment of performance and implementation characteristics of rapid point of care SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing
Authors: Muthamia Eva , Mungai Samuel , Mungai Mary , Bandawe Gama , Qadri Firdausi , Kawser Zannat , Lockman Shahin , Ivers Louise C , Walt David , Suliman Sara , Mwau Matilu , Gitaka Jesse
Published: February 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a need for rapid identification of infectious cases. Testing barriers have prohibited adequate screening for SARS-CoV-2, resulting in significant delays in commencement of treatment and outbreak control measures. This study aimed to generate evidence on the performance and implementation characteristics of the BD Veritor™ Plus System rapid antigen test as compared to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in Kenya.

Methods: This was a field test performance evaluation in adults undergoing testing for SARS-CoV-2. Recruited participants were classified as SARS-CoV-2-positive based on RT-PCR carried out on nasopharyngeal swabs. Antigen tests were performed with simultaneous RT-PCR on 272 participants, allowing estimation of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the rapid antigen test. Implementation characteristics were assessed.

Results: We enrolled 97 PCR negative symptomatic and 128 PCR negative asymptomatic, and 28 PCR positive symptomatic and 19 PCR positive asymptomatic participants. Compared to RT-PCR, the sensitivity of the rapid antigen test was 94% (95% confidence interval [CI] 86.6 to 100.0) while the specificity was 98% (95% CI 96 to 100). There was no association between sensitivity and symptom status, or between the cycle threshold value and sensitivity of the BD Veritor. The rapid test had a quick turnaround time, required minimal resources, and laboratory personnel conducting testing found it easier to use than RT-PCR.

The relatively high sensitivity of BD Veritor may be partially attributed to shortages of RT-PCR testing materials, resulting in specimen analysis delays and potential degradation of viral genetic material. Therefore, in resource-constrained settings, rapid antigen tests may perform better than the reference RT-PCR, resulting in prompt institution of isolation and treatment measures. 

Conclusion: The BD Veritor rapid antigen test’s high sensitivity should be interpreted with consideration to the challenges occasioned by RT-PCR testing in resource-constrained settings.
The genome sequence of the dumpy grass hoverfly, Melanostoma mellinum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Hawkes William , Wotton Karl ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2022

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Melanostoma mellinum (the dumpy grass hoverfly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Syriphidae). The genome sequence is 731 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.67%) is scaffolded into five chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the X and Y sex chromosomes assembled. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 16.1 kilobases in length.
Computing Optimized Path Integrals for Knapsack Feasibility
Authors: Daues Endric , Friedrich Ulf
Published: February 2022

A generating function technique for solving integer programs via the evaluation of complex path integrals is discussed from a theoretical and computational perspective. Applying the method to knapsack feasibility problems, it is demonstrated how the presented numerical integration algorithm benefits from a preoptimized path of integration. After discussing the algorithmic setup in detail, a numerical study is implemented to evaluate the computational performance of the preoptimized integration method, and the algorithmic parameters are tuned to a set of knapsack instances. The goal is to highlight the method’s computational advantage for hard knapsack instances.

Summary of Contribution: A method for evaluating the feasibility of knapsack problems is discussed and connected to the existing theory on generating function techniques for computational integer optimization. Specifically, the number of solutions to knapsack instances is computed using numerical quadrature of complex path integrals. The choice of the path of integration is identified as an important degree of freedom, and it is shown that preoptimizing the path improves the computational performance for hard instances significantly. The scope of this work is to give a self-contained presentation of the mathematical theory, introduce and discuss path optimization as a presolving routine, and demonstrate the computational performance of the overall approach with the help of a detailed numerical study. The main goal is to highlight the computational advantage of the new algorithm for hard knapsack instances.
Stimulating Consumption at Low Budget: Evidence from a Large-Scale Policy Experiment Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Liu Qiao , Shen Qiaowei , Li Zhenghua , Chen Shu
Published: February 2022

We use a novel panel with detailed transaction records of more than one million de-identified individuals to study the effect of a large-scale Chinese government-issued digital coupon program on consumer spending. Exploiting a difference-in-differences approach, we find that the digital coupon is highly effective in stimulating consumption. An effective government subsidy of RMB 1 can drive excess spending of RMB 3.4 to RMB 5.8, and the effect persists across multiple coupon issuance waves. In explaining the results, we find that a behavioral model with mental accounting and loss aversion can match the empirical evidence from the field. Our analysis, by illustrating the importance of embedding behavioral factors into the design and implementation of public policy, informs the current debate about cost-effective policy tools to recover the economy.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.
Measuring the Welfare of Intermediaries
Authors: Donna Javier D. , Pereira Pedro , Pires Tiago , Trindade André
Published: February 2022

We investigate the welfare of intermediaries in oligopolistic markets where intermediaries offer additional services. We exploit the unique circumstance that in the empirical setting studied, outdoor advertising, consumers can purchase from manufacturers or intermediaries. Intermediaries provide additional services to the consumers and charge a margin for them. Intermediaries provide the following additional services: search services (information about products), purchase-aggregation services (access to quantity discounts), and consulting services. We specify an equilibrium model and structurally estimate it using market-level data. The demand includes consumers with costly search and channel-specific preferences. The supply includes two distribution channels. One features bargaining about wholesale prices between manufacturers and intermediaries and downstream price competition. The other is vertically integrated. We show how Google search data can be used to identify the search-cost parameters. We use the estimated model to simulate counterfactual scenarios where intermediaries do not offer additional services. We find that the three services considered provide value to consumers, with search playing a prominent role. Our analysis helps explain why intermediaries are ubiquitous in modern economies despite the double marginalization.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.

Funding: The authors acknowledge the allocation of computing time from the Ohio Supercomputer Center [Grant PAS1350-2]. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001. This work was also supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [Grant UIDB/00315/2020].

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.4266 .
The Price of Belonging: Price Setting in the Market for Champagne Grapes
Authors: Ody-Brasier Amandine
Published: February 2022

Various studies show that social relations between exchange partners affect price setting behaviors. Although scholars expect a broad range of buyer–seller relations to shape price—and different types of relations to have different effects—we have surprisingly little quantitative evidence for these views. This is in part because extant empirical work operationalizes relations rather narrowly, focusing on repeated exchange relations. Drawing on existing theory and fieldwork in the market for Champagne grapes, this paper investigates how community relations and repeated exchange shape price setting behavior. I use unique transaction-level price data to document the effects of these two types of buyer–seller relations. I find that community relations reduce deviations from local pricing norms such that, for an average transaction, grape sellers charge about €1,500 less when the buyer belongs to their village or school district. I draw on rich qualitative data to illustrate what is driving these effects. Interviews reveal not only that social relations infuse in the exchange a logic of action at odds with the logic of markets, but also, importantly, that there is some heterogeneity within the embedded logic of exchange. In particular, community relations appear to be more constraining than repeated exchange for price setters.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1564 .
Optimizing the virtual classroom: A case of intensive English course in the Next Normal
Authors: Kaoropthai Chayaporn
Published: February 2022

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning has automatically become a normal practice of the “Next Normal”. Intensive English is a compact three-week course offered to get first-year students ready for university study. Online learning was something new for both students and instructors. A key challenge in online learning was how to make virtual classroom as lively and interactive as possible. The aim of this study was thus to design an instructional program which integrated various technological tools and applications to optimize the virtual classroom. The 63 first-year students from two intact sections of Intensive English were used as participants of the study. A technology acceptance model (TAM) questionnaire (Davis, 1989; Hernandez, 2021) was adapted to assess the effectiveness of the instructional program. The results of the study revealed that all of the participants achieved the overall objective of the course and the target CEFR’s A2 level. They found their online learning experience rewarding. They were satisfied with this online learning experience and were willing to participate in similar online learning in the future. Additionally, recommendations for further research were discussed.
Developing material for English for Holiday program
Authors: Soviyah Soviyah , Fatimah Nur
Published: February 2022

An English program like English For Holiday (EFH), is concerned with helping children to learn English. In relation to English Education Department of Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, the department has employed an EFH program to help children with English learning during their school break. To accomplish the continuous improvement of the program, it needs research related to it, as these kinds of research provides meaningful data and product, which are important for the improvement of the program’s quality. Generally, the ultimate aim of the research is to contribute to the establishment of a better EFH program, especially of English Education Department, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan. Specifically, this research aims to develop syllabus and material for EFH program of EED UAD. This research started in May and was complete in November 2020 at English Education Department of Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD). It utilized Research and Development (R&D) type with ADDIE model initiated by McGriff (2000) which endeavors a development process encompassing five major stages i.e. analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluation. The research results show that the EFH material is developed to fulfil the children’s needs of material for EFH program. The developed product offers an alternative solution to fill the children’s needs. Based on the evaluation, it is found out that the developed material is considered very good. Through this material, children participating in EFH program can learn English in an enjoyable way. Although the major target is to improve children’s speaking skill, through this material, children can learn and develop their other skills i.e. listening reading and writing as the developed material is written in an integrated way involving all four skills of English.
Developing an Android-based bilingual e-glossary application of English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
Authors: Rohani Siti , Suyono Achmad
Published: February 2022

One effort considered quite effective in assisting vocabulary mastery and facilitating understanding of English texts is the provision of a bilingual glossary (English-Indonesian). This glossary becomes more essential especially for non-English Department students because basically English for Specific Purposes has a higher level of difficulty than general English. This study was a design and development research, with a product cluster and research tool. There were four main stages undergone, namely preliminary study, product development, expert validation, and field-testing. The research subjects were students and lecturers in seven departments of both commerce and engineering schools at State Polytechnic of Malang. Instruments of data collection used were questionnaires, interviews, and focused group discussion. The output of the study is an android application of bilingual E-Glossary of English for Specific Purposes. There were seven fields of glossary, each of which consists of vocabulary in English, the translation or description in Indonesian language, along with example sentences in two languages. Pictures are also displayed for easy understanding of the vocabulary. Field testing proves that the E-Glossary application is quite effective in helping users in comprehending English texts better. The application is also considered attractive, easy to use, and easy to understand.
The Impact of Ginning Rate on Fiber and Seed Quality
Authors: Blake Cody D , Whitelock Derek P , Funk Paul A , Armijo Carlos B , Buser Michael D
Published: February 2022

Highlights

Reducing the ginning rate improved fiber quality properties.

HVI color, leaf grade, and trash area were improved as the ginning rate is reduced.

AFIS gave longer, more uniform, and lower short fiber content results with slower ginning rates.

Economic benefits on lower ginning rates are negated by input cost, i.e., labor costs.

Abstract. Fiber quality needs to be maintained as ginning rates and saw loadings increase. This study utilized two gin stands, which were each operated at three different Ginning Rate Levels to determine if there were significant differences in fiber quality as a function of ginning rate. As ginning rates were reduced, HVI results for leaf grade, trash area, and color grade, were significantly improved. AFIS measurements showed lower ginning rates resulted in longer fibers with less short fiber. Reducing the ginning rate on average from 7.36 to 4.10 bales/h (48.7 to 27.2 kg/saw/h) increased the lint value by $3.92 per 218 kg bale, yet the increase in lint value may be negated by increased labor and other costs due to the additional processing time per bale. Keywords: Fiber quality, Ginning rate, Short fiber content, Neps, Saw gin capacity.
Storing Peanuts in Grain Bags
Authors: Butts Christopher L , Ward Jason K
Published: February 2022

Highlights

Existing bag loading equipment may be used to load both in-shell and shelled oil stock peanuts.

Grain bags can be loaded at 1.2 t/m of in-shell peanuts and 2.3 t/m of shelled oil stock peanuts.

Existing extraction equipment requires modification to unload shelled oil stock peanuts due to poor flow characteristics.

Grain bags not suitable for storing in-shell peanuts due to significant moisture migration and quality reduction under typical Georgia conditions.

Abstract.Edible grade farmers’ stock peanuts and shelled oil stock peanuts were stored in hermetically sealed silo or grain bags to determine their suitability for short-term storage. The objectives of the study were to evaluate equipment for loading and unloading the grain bags, the capacity of the grain bags, and the changes in quality. In May 2015, approximately 90 Mg of farmers’ stock (in-shell) peanuts from the 2014 crop were unloaded from a commercial warehouse, transported to Dawson, Georgia, and loaded into two 2.7 m diameter grain bags. Similarly, 85 Mg of shelled oil stock peanuts were loaded into two 2.7 m diameter grain bags. Farmers’ stock bags were unloaded after 30 and 60-d storage. A vacuum extractor and a skid steer loader were used due to wet peanuts in the top of the bag. Both oil stock bags were unloaded after 60-d storage. A skid steer loader was used to unload the oil stock bags because shelled oil stock peanuts did not flow adequately to use the conventional bag extraction equipment. Oxygen content in the farmers’ stock peanuts decreased from ambient levels (21%) to an average of 8.6% after 15-d storage. After 20-d storage, the oxygen content in the oil stock had decreased to 14%. A layer of high moisture peanuts due to moisture migration and subsequent condensation in the top of both of the farmers’ stock bags resulted in the peanuts being unsuitable for human consumption and reduced the value from $342/Mg to approximately $125/Mg for oil stock, a 63% reduction in value. No moisture problems were observed in the oil stock bags when they were unloaded. Based on these studies, sealed grain bags would be unsuitable for temporarily storing farmers’ stock peanuts under typical Georgia conditions. Sealed grain bags could possibly be used to store oil stock peanuts for 60 d, but suitable unloading equipment would have to be found or developed. Keywords: Grain bag, Groundnut, Handling, Hermetic, Peanut, Silo bag, Storage.
CFD Simulation of Airflow Distribution in a Heat Pump-Assisted Deep-Bed Paddy Dryer
Authors: Kavindi M. A. R. , Amaratunga K. S. P. , Ekanayake E. M. A.C.. , Fernando A. J. , Abesinghe A. M. S. K.
Published: February 2022

Highlights

Uneven drying is an inevitable drawback when using heat pump-based deep-bed dryers in commercial drying industries.

Understanding the drying behavior of the heat pump-based deep-bed dryers is important to optimize the drying technology.

COMSOL Multiphysics is a very helpful tool as it can be used to predict the drying behavior.

Abstract. Heat pump dryers are widely used in drying agricultural products because of its capability in drying products at comparatively lower temperatures in commercial scale. However, deep-bed heat pump drying (HPD) leads to uneven drying because of its poor airflow distribution in the drying chamber. Optimizing the proper design of a heat pump dryer system may reduce the non-uniformity of drying and increases dryer efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the airflow distribution in a deep bed of rough rice dried with a heat pump using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The Navier-Stokes equation, Heat transfer equation, and Fick’s Law were used in the mathematical models for simulation of air velocity, temperature, and relative humidity respectively. COMSOL Multiphysics simulation program v5.4 solved all the models with the boundary conditions of inlet velocity, inlet temperature, and drying air moisture content. The simulation was used to predict the temperature and the humidity of drying air at three different dryer locations during the drying process. Finally, the simulated data were verified using experimental results. The values of relative error and mean relative deviation for drying air temperature in paddy bed were less than ±18.05%, 13.52%. Relative error and mean relative error for air moisture in paddy bed were less than ±15.83% and 14.44%, respectively. The results indicated that the simulation model developed could effectively use for predicting the air temperature and air relative humidity with a reasonable accuracy. Keywords: CFD simulation, COMSOL Multiphysics, Heat pump drying.
Differential and Access Policy Based Privacy-Preserving Model in Cloud Environment
Authors: Gupta Rishabh , Singh Ashutosh Kumar
Published: February 2022

Cloud computing has multiple benefits in terms of minimum cost, maximum efficiency, and high scalability, which prompts shifting a large amount of data from the local machine to the cloud environment for storage, computation, and data sharing among various parties stakeholders. However, owners do not fully trust the cloud platform operated by a third party. Therefore, security and privacy emerge as critical issues while sharing data among different parties. In this paper, a novel privacy-preserving model is proposed by utilizing encryption, differential privacy, and machine learning approaches. It facilitates data owners to share their data securely in the cloud environment. The model defines access policy and communication protocol among the involved untrusted parties for data processing and privacy preservation. The proposed model is evaluated by executing experiments using distinct datasets. The achieved results reveal that the proposed model provides high accuracy, precision, recall, and f1-score up to 98%, 98%, 97%, and 97%, respectively, over the state of the art methods.
A Hybrid Recommendation System Based on the Supply Chain in Social Networks
Authors: Zare Abolfazl , Motadel Mohammad Reza , Jalali Aliakbar
Published: February 2022

With the expansion of virtual social networks, finding and recommending appropriate and favorite information and items to users is one of the severe issues in their development. To this end, recommender systems predict and recommend interests based on past behavior reviews and user preferences. However, less research has been done on people to people in social networks, and it is still based on exploring communication and friendship circles, which is generally not desirable for specialized users. Social networks include a variety of entities such as individuals, businesses, companies, and technical communications that also contain a variety of information related to the supply chain interaction, such as industries, functions, and communications between them and users.
This paper provides a recommendation system framework for recommending people to people in social networks based on supply chain interactions. For this purpose, it has presented five hybrid methods based on artificial neural networks and fuzzy strategies to provide better and more accurate recommendations than basic methods. Eventually, a case study was conducted on the LinkedIn social network to show the improvements in applying this new approach to primary methods. In this regard, seven specific evaluation criteria of recommender systems have been used.
Autofocusing by phase difference in reflective digital holography
Authors: Long Jun , Yan Hao , Li Kaiping , Zhang Yuemeng , Pan Shuyuan , Cai Ping
Published: February 2022

In digital holography (DH), the quality of the reconstructed images relies on the accuracy of the reconstruction distance. Existing autofocusing approaches primarily determine the reconstruction distance by evaluating the sharpness of the features in reconstructed images under different reconstruction distances. The maximum sharpness corresponds to the optimal reconstruction distance. However, the existing approaches often fail for diffuse samples and specular ones with no features. The main challenges are as follows: (1) The spatial features, including edge, contrast, and sparsity do not vary obviously by varying the reconstruction distance. (2) The spectral features do not vary obviously as well by varying the reconstruction distance. Therefore, we propose an autofocusing approach based on phase difference to tackle the above problems. The proposed approach consists of three steps: (1) introducing a phase difference into the measured sample as an artificial feature; (2) recording two holograms before and after the phase change and obtaining the phase difference by reconstruction; and (3) taking the phase difference image as the feature and determining the optimal reconstruction distance by using image sharpness evaluation algorithms. According to simulation and practical experiments, the proposed approach has successfully solved the autofocusing problem of the specular samples with no features and diffuse samples.
Hermite–Gaussian beams in the generalized Lorenz–Mie theory through finite–series Laguerre–Gaussian beam shape coefficients
Authors: Votto Luiz Felipe , Chafiq Abdelghani , Belafhal Abdelmajid , Gouesbet Gérard , Ambrosio Leonardo André
Published: February 2022

Scalar Hermite–Gaussian beams (HGBs) are natural higher-order solutions to the paraxial wave equation in Cartesian coordinates. Their particular shapes make them a valuable tool in the domain of light–matter interaction. Describing these beams in the generalized Lorenz–Mie theory (GLMT) requires a set of beam shape coefficients (BSCs), which may be quite challenging to evaluate. Since their exact analytic form expressions are unlikely to be found in the foreseeable future, we resort to a particular set of strategies. The main idea is to write HGBs as combinations of Laguerre–Gaussian beams (LGBs), which have already been studied in the GLMT framework by using a finite-series algorithm. This paper describes how to deduce the HGB BSCs directly from LGB BSCs, analyzes their behavior, and compares the resulting GLMT-remodeled solutions with their ideal paraxial counterparts.
Spatial shifts of reflected beams from surface polaritons in antiferromagnets
Authors: Wang Xiang-Guang , Zhang Yu-Qi , Wang Xuan-Zhang
Published: February 2022

Goos–Hänchen (GH) and Imbert–Fedorov (IF) shifts of reflected beams and the effects of two Dyakonov surface magnon polaritons (DSMPs) on these shifts are studied in the Otto configuration with an antiferromagnetic substrate. A modified dispersion equation of the DSMPs is proposed to recognize GH and IF shifts related to the DSMPs. Reflected beam shift spectra are simulated for a

F
e

F

2

substrate. Shift features around the two DSMPs are observed by frequency scanning with a fixed incident angle. The GH-shift amplitude corresponding to either DSMP is situated between the immediately adjacent maximum and minimum of a GH-shift curve. The shift-amplitude maximum of an IF-shift curve corresponds to the relevant DSMP accurately. GH and IF shifts also are given by frequency scanning along dispersion curves.
Performance analysis of a spatial diversity coherent free-space optical communication system based on optimal branch block phase correction
Authors: Wang Liqian , Wang Jichen , Tang Xinyu , Chen Huan , Chen Xue
Published: February 2022

Coherent optical communication systems have high receiver sensitivities, high spectral efficiencies, and high-capacity information transmission, which are widely used in free-space optical communications. However, atmospheric turbulence affects the power budget of coherent receiving systems. Diversity can effectively suppress atmospheric turbulence, but relative phase differences caused by phase asynchrony degrade the performances of diversity systems. Hence, spatial diversity reception based on optimal branch block phase correction is proposed herein and verified through simulations and experiments to improve diversity gain and reduce the complexity and outage probability of diversity systems effectively. This scheme is promising for application to high-speed low Earth orbit satellite-to-ground communications.
Large DOF microscopic fringe projection profilometry with a coaxial light-field structure
Authors: Meng Wang , Quanyao Hou , Yongkai Yin , Yang Yang , Qijian Tang , Xiang Peng , Xiaoli Liu
Published: February 2022

Fringe projection profilometry (FPP) has been widely researched for three-dimensional (3D) microscopic measurement during recent decades. Nevertheless, some disadvantages arising from the limited depth of field and occlusion still exist and need to be further addressed. In this paper, light field imaging is introduced for microscopic fringe projection profilometry (MFPP) to obtain a larger depth of field. Meanwhile, this system is built with a coaxial structure to reduce occlusion, where the principle of triangulation is no longer applicable. In this situation, the depth information is estimated based on the epipolar plane image (EPI) of light field. In order to make a quantitative measurement, a metric calibration method which establishes the mapping between the slope of the line feature in EPI and the depth information is proposed for this system. Finally, a group of experiments demonstrate that the proposed LF-MFPP system can work well for depth estimation with a large DOF and reduced occlusion.
All-optical light manipulation based on graphene-embedded side-polished fiber
Authors: Huang Quandong , Zhong Lixi , Dong Jiangli , Xu Ou , Zheng Zhaoqiang , Huang Tianxiong , Li Jianping , Xiang Meng , Fu Songnian , Qin Yuwen
Published: February 2022

We present a study of all-optical light manipulation arising in a graphene-embedded side-polished fiber (SPF) with a Norland Optical Adhesives (NOA)-coated structure. With the help of the Pauli blocking effect, such an all-fiber device serves to manage the loss of transverse-electric-polarized light when the control light and the signal light are polarized along the direction parallel to the graphene surface. The insertion loss of this device can be effectively reduced with the NOA coating. An enhanced interaction between the graphene and the propagated light can be achieved via the strong evanescent field of the SPF and longer interaction length. This results in effective all-optical manipulation of light with a modulation depth of 10.4 dB (or modulation efficiency of ∼91%) and a modulation slope of ∼1.3, where the required control power is only about 14 dBm. The device has broadband operation wavelength. The insertion loss for both the signal light and the control light are only about 0.6 dB. The experimental results are well-fitting with the simulation study. Such an all-fiber device has the potential for all-optical signal processing.
Personal, professional, and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital workers: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Honarmand Kimia , Yarnell Christopher J. , Young-Ritchie Carol , Maunder Robert , Priestap Fran , Abdalla Mohamed , Ball Ian M. , Basmaji John , Bell Chaim M. , Jeffs Lianne , Shah Sumesh , Chen Jennifer , LeBlanc Danielle , Kayitesi Jessica , Eta-Ndu Catherine , Mehta Sangeeta
Published: February 2022

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the personal, professional, and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital workers and their perceptions about mitigating strategies.

Design

Cross-sectional web-based survey consisting of (1) a survey of the personal and professional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential mitigation strategies, and (2) two validated psychological instruments (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K10] and Impact of Events Scale Revised [IES-R]). Regression analyses were conducted to identify the predictors of workplace stress, psychological distress, and post-traumatic stress.

Setting and participants

Hospital workers employed at 4 teaching and 8 non-teaching hospitals in Ontario, Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Among 1875 respondents (84% female, 49% frontline workers), 72% feared falling ill, 64% felt their job placed them at great risk of COVID-19 exposure, and 48% felt little control over the risk of infection. Respondents perceived that others avoided them (61%), reported increased workplace stress (80%), workload (66%) and responsibilities (59%), and 44% considered leaving their job. The psychological questionnaires revealed that 25% had at least some psychological distress on the K10, 50% had IES-R scores suggesting clinical concern for post-traumatic stress, and 38% fulfilled criteria for at least one psychological diagnosis. Female gender and feeling at increased risk due to PPE predicted all adverse psychological outcomes. Respondents favoured clear hospital communication (59%), knowing their voice is heard (55%), expressions of appreciation from leadership (55%), having COVID-19 protocols (52%), and food and beverages provided by the hospital (50%).

Conclusions

Hospital work during the COVID-19 pandemic has had important personal, professional, and psychological impacts. Respondents identified opportunities to better address information, training, and support needs.