bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Volunteer Police Cadet leaders across England and Wales: exploring their motivations
Authors: Pepper Ian , Rogers Colin
Published: July 2021

Volunteering within policing across England and Wales has a long history. Previous research on police volunteering has predominantly been focused on volunteer special constables; however, volunteers occupy numerous and varied roles across the police service. Indeed, it appears that there will be a concerted effort to recruit more volunteers to support policing. If such growth is to be effectively planned and managed, understanding the characteristics of volunteers and their motivational factors for volunteering is critical. This research considers the characteristics and motivations of Volunteer Police Cadet (VPC) leaders who donate hours in schemes across England and Wales. The research concludes that respondent VPC leaders are mainly White British, well-educated individuals who tend to be motivated by feelings of community spirit and the opportunity for self-development. While these are important for understanding how to attract volunteers, the lack of diversity among these individuals is a matter for concern.
Transmission and reflection cloaking by using a zero-refractive-index photonic crystal in the microwave region
Authors: Luo Tianzi , Li Chenxia , Gan Haiyong , Hong Zhi , Jing Xufeng
Published: July 2021

We propose a rectangular column two-dimensional square lattice photonic
crystal to realize zero refractive index. Through analysis of the
energy band structure of the photonic crystal structure, the lattice
constant and side length of the rectangular columns can be optimized,
and the Dirac cone dispersion appears at the center of the Brillouin
zone. The Dirac cone is formed by the interaction of a monopolar
eigenstate and a dipolar eigenstate to form a triple accidental
degenerate state. The effective medium theory is used to invert the
effective electromagnetic parameters of the photonic crystal with a
double zero refractive index. The zero-phase change and the focusing
characteristic of the concave lens of this kind of
zero-refractive-index material are verified. Importantly, we have
achieved transmission and reflection cloaking with this zero-index
medium. Through the analysis of the amplitude and phase distribution
characteristics of the electromagnetic field, it is proved that the
designed cloaking devices have obvious cloaking effect.
Polarization-spatial Gaussian entanglement in partially coherent light fields
Authors: Asokan S. , Ivan J. Solomon
Published: July 2021

The problem of bipartite entanglement in partially coherent paraxial vector light fields is addressed. A generalized uncertainty principle suited for the polarization-spatial degrees of freedom is introduced. Partial transpose is implemented through the obtained generalized uncertainty principle. Partial transpose is shown to be necessary and sufficient in detecting entanglement for a class of partially coherent vector light fields which have a spatial part to be Gaussian. An experimental realization of the studied entangled states using classical optical interferometry is outlined.
Performance improvement of the feedback-based wavefront shaping in second-harmonic generation
Authors: Sabouri Saeed Ghavami , Hashemi Somayeh Sadat
Published: July 2021

The fundamental beam wavefront shaping method is developed to increase the nonlinear frequency convention efficiency and control of the nonlinear beam profile. In this work, a method is presented to accelerate the procedure of optimizing the wavefront phase of the fundamental beam to approach the maximum second-harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency. Furthermore, this method allows use of high-resolution spatial phase modulators for wavefront shaping while the number of phase optimization variables remains limited. The obtained results show that the presented method reduces the amount of the needed feedback by 3 orders of magnitudes while the SHG efficiency is improved twice.
Single-photon detection for MIMO underwater wireless optical communication enabled by arrayed LEDs and SiPMs
Authors: Li Jinjia , Ye Demao , Fu Kang , Wang Linning , Piao Jinlong , Wang Yongjin
Published: July 2021

Underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) is a promising technology that can be a candidate to improve the communication capacity and speed in aquatic media. The aim of this study is to examine the performance of a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array-based multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) UWOC system. A SiPM is a modern solid-state photodetector with extremely high sensitivity up to the single-photon level or a photon-counting ability, which helps in detecting extremely weak light signals after long-distance underwater channel attenuation. We clarify the basic characteristics and photon-counting detection mode of a SiPM. In particular, the photocount of a SiPM is approximated by a Gaussian distribution, and theoretical analysis shows that only 13.3 photons need to be detected during “1” symbol period to achieve a bit error rate of 10−3 in an ambient light environment. Moreover, a SiPM also has a better analog mode detection ability than an avalanche photodiode (APD) and realizes 2 Mbps analog communication owing to its unique array structure and high photon detection efficiency. Furthermore, MIMO, i.e., spatial diversity, is applied as an effective method to relax the link alignment, improve the system performance, and alleviate the effect of optical turbulence. In our experiment, with a photon-counting 6×3 MIMO scheme, an energy per bit of 7.38×10−9 J/bit is achieved at a scintillation index of 4.66×10−3 in a 10 m water tank with 1 Mbps on-off-keying (OOK) modulation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on a MIMO-UWOC system based on the photon-counting mode of a SiPM array. This UWOC system combines the advantages of SiPMs and the MIMO scheme and has the potential to realize long-distance UWOC under optical turbulence.
Points-connecting neural network ray tracing
Authors: Ohno Hiroshi , Usui Takashi
Published: July 2021

Unsupervised neural network ray tracing (NNRT) to calculate a light ray path connecting given points in a gradient-index medium is proposed here. If two points are given, the NNRT can provide a light ray path passing through these points without knowledge of the light ray direction. Maxwell’s fisheye lens having a spherical gradient-index is used to demonstrate how well the NNRT works. Light rays calculated using the NNRT are shown to trace an ideal path passing through given points.
Method to determine the concentrations of constituents in a bidisperse turbid medium using Monte Carlo simulation for mixtures
Authors: Gupta Kalpak , Shenoy M. R.
Published: July 2021

Light scattering techniques are often used to characterize the particles suspended in a turbid medium, and Monte Carlo simulations are an important part of many such methodologies. In this work, we use the Monte Carlo method to simulate the propagation of light in a turbid mixture, that comprises of different types of particles, and obtain the relevant probability distributions, which are found to be consistent with the works reported in the literature. The simulation model is used to propose a recipe which requires a single measurement of the scattered power and the transmitted power, to determine the concentrations of constituent particles in a bidisperse mixture. The method is experimentally validated for turbid mixtures of polystyrene spheres, and found to be accurate within the limits of experimental error.
Absolute detection of atmospheric temperature by using a scanning Fabry-Pérot interferometer in high spectral resolution lidar
Authors: Wang Jun , Pang Jingzhe , Bao Dong , Zhang Wanlin , Liu Jingjing , Wang Li , Yan Qing , Hua Dengxin
Published: July 2021

In order to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio by using small laser energy and telescope aperture, we present a detection method based on Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering (RBS) for the measurement of atmospheric temperature without response functions and calibration procedures by using high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL). Different from the traditional HSRL, a Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) with a continuous tunable cavity and polarization optical scheme are employed in a high spectral resolution filter. In order to continuously change the resonant frequency of the FPI, an electro-optical crystal of potassium dideuterium phosphate (DKDP) with two ring electrodes is used as a continuous tunable cavity in the FPI. At each scanned frequency point corresponded with the resonant frequency of the FPI, the received signals of four discrete points on RBS are obtained. Atmospheric temperature is inverted by using a RBS model. The polarization optical scheme is used to suppress the solar background light, and improve the utilization of return signals. In detection experiment of atmospheric temperature, the detection height is 2 km at night and 1.5 km during the day by using a pulsed energy of 30 mJ and telescope diameter of 250 mm. The results are in good agreement with the data detected by radiosonde.
Active case detection methods for crusted scabies and leprosy: A systematic review
Authors: Glennie Miriam , Gardner Karen , Dowden Michelle , Currie Bart J.
Published: July 2021

Background

Crusted scabies is endemic in some remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia and carries a high mortality risk. Improvement in active case detection (ACD) for crusted scabies is hampered by a lack of evidence about best practice. We therefore conducted a systematic review of ACD methods for leprosy, a condition with similar ACD requirements, to consider how findings could be informative to crusted scabies detection.

Methods and principle findings

We conducted systematic searches in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus and the Cochrane Database for Systematic Reviews for studies published since 1999 that reported at least one comparison rate (detection or prevalence rate) against which the yield of the ACD method could be assessed. The search yielded 15 eligible studies from 511. Study heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. Contact tracing and community screening of marginalised ethnic groups yielded the highest new case detection rates. Rapid community screening campaigns, and those using less experienced screening personnel, were associated with lower suspect confirmation rates. There is insufficient data to assess whether ACD campaigns improve treatment outcomes or disease control.

Conclusion

This review demonstrates the importance of ACD campaigns in communities facing the highest barriers to healthcare access and within neighbourhoods of index cases. The potential benefit of ACD for crusted scabies is not quantified, however, lessons from leprosy suggest value in follow-up with previously identified cases and their close contacts to support for scabies control and to reduce the likelihood of reinfection in the crusted scabies case. Skilled screening personnel and appropriate community engagement strategies are needed to maximise screening uptake. More research is needed to assess ACD cost effectiveness, impact on disease control, and to explore ACD methods capable of capturing the homeless and highly mobile who may be missed in household centric models.
Prognostic value of baseline carotid blood flow in critically ill children with septic shock
Authors: Mamdouh Fatma , Bazaraa Hafez , Baz Ahmed , Algebaly HebatAllah Fadel
Published: July 2021

Background and aim

Hemodynamic monitoring and cardiac output (CO) assessment in the ICU have been trending toward less invasive methods. Carotid blood flow (CBF) was suggested as a candidate for CO assessment. The present study aimed to test the value of carotid artery ultrasound analysis in prediction of mortality in pediatric patients with septic shock.

Methodology/Principal finding

Forty children with septic shock were included in the study. Upon admission, patients were subjected to careful history taking and thorough clinical examination. The consciousness level was assessed by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Laboratory assessment included complete blood count, C-reactive protein, arterial blood gases, serum electrolytes, and liver and kidney function tests. Electrical cardiometry was used to evaluate hemodynamic parameters. Patients were also subjected to transthoracic 2-D echocardiography. CBF was evaluated using GE Vivid S5 ultrasound device through dedicated software. At the end of study, 14 patients (35.0%) died. It was found that survivors had significantly higher CBF when compared non-survivors [median (IQR): 166.0 (150.0–187.3) versus 141.0 (112.8–174.3), p = 0.033]. In addition, it was noted that survivors had longer ICU stay when compared with non-survivors [16.5 (9.8–31.5) versus 6.5 (3.0–19.5) days, p = 0.005]. ROC curve analysis showed that CBF could significantly distinguish survivors from non-survivors [AUC (95% CI): 0.3 (0.11–0.48), p = 0.035] (Fig 2). Univariate logistic regression analysis identified type of shock [OR (95% CI): 28.1 (4.9–162.4), p<0.001], CI [OR (95% CI): 0.6 (0.43–0.84), p = 0.003] and CBF [OR (95% CI): 0.98 (0.96–0.99), p = 0.031]. However, in multivariate analysis, only type of shock significantly predicted mortality.

Conclusions

CBF assessment may be a useful prognostic marker in children with septic shock.
Significance of serum FGF-23 for risk assessment of contrast-associated acute kidney injury and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing coronary angiography
Authors: Huang Shao-Sung , Huang Po-Hsun , Leu Hsin-Bang , Wu Tao-Cheng , Chen Jaw-Wen , Lin Shing-Jong
Published: July 2021

Background

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 levels rise as kidney function declines. Whether elevated FGF-23 levels are associated with an increased risk for contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients undergoing coronary angiography remain uncertain.

Methods

In total, 492 patients receiving coronary angiography were enrolled. Their serum FGF-23 levels were measured before administration of contrast media. The occurrence of CA-AKI was defined as a rise in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL or a 25% increase from the baseline value within 48 h after the procedure. All patients were followed up for at least 1 year or until the occurrence of MACE including death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and ischemic stroke.

Results

Overall, CA-AKI occurred in 41 (8.3%) patients. During a median follow-up of 2.6 years, there were 24 deaths, 3 nonfatal MIs, and 7 ischemic strokes. Compared with those in the lowest FGF-23 tertile, individuals in the highest FGF-23 tertile had a significantly higher incidence of CA-AKI (P < 0.001) and lower incidence of MACE-free survival (P = 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, higher FGF-23 level was found to be independently associated with a graded risk for CA-AKI (OR per doubling, 1.90; 95% CI 1.48–2.44) and MACE (HR per doubling, 1.25; 95% CI 1.02–1.52).

Conclusions

Elevated FGF-23 levels were associated with an increased risk for CA-AKI and future MACE among patients undergoing coronary angiography. FGF-23 may play a role in early diagnosis of CA-AKI and predicting clinical outcomes after coronary angiography.
High-throughput phenotyping to dissect genotypic differences in safflower for drought tolerance
Authors: Joshi Sameer , Thoday-Kennedy Emily , Daetwyler Hans D. , Hayden Matthew , Spangenberg German , Kant Surya
Published: July 2021

Drought is one of the most severe and unpredictable abiotic stresses, occurring at any growth stage and affecting crop yields worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to develop drought tolerant varieties to ensure sustainable crop production in an ever-changing climate. High-throughput digital phenotyping technologies in tandem with robust screening methods enable precise and faster selection of genotypes for breeding. To investigate the use of digital imaging to reliably phenotype for drought tolerance, a genetically diverse safflower population was screened under different drought stresses at Agriculture Victoria’s high-throughput, automated phenotyping platform, Plant Phenomics Victoria, Horsham. In the first experiment, four treatments, control (90% field capacity; FC), 40% FC at initial branching, 40% FC at flowering and 50% FC at initial branching and flowering, were applied to assess the performance of four safflower genotypes. Based on these results, drought stress using 50% FC at initial branching and flowering stages was chosen to further screen 200 diverse safflower genotypes. Measured plant traits and dry biomass showed high correlations with derived digital traits including estimated shoot biomass, convex hull area, caliper length and minimum area rectangle, indicating the viability of using digital traits as proxy measures for plant growth. Estimated shoot biomass showed close association having moderately high correlation with drought indices yield index, stress tolerance index, geometric mean productivity, and mean productivity. Diverse genotypes were classified into four clusters of drought tolerance based on their performance (seed yield and digitally estimated shoot biomass) under stress. Overall, results show that rapid and precise image-based, high-throughput phenotyping in controlled environments can be used to effectively differentiate response to drought stress in a large numbers of safflower genotypes.
Industrial agglomeration and air pollution: A new perspective from enterprises in Atmospheric Pollution Transmission Channel Cities (APTCC) of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surrounding areas, China
Authors: Xiao Cuicui , Zhou Jingbo , Wang Xin , Zhang Shumin
Published: July 2021

Air quality in China has gradually been improving in recent years; however, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region continues to be the most polluted area in China, with the worst air quality index. BTH and its surrounding areas experience high agglomeration of heavy-polluting manufacturers that generate electric power, process petroleum and coal, and carry out smelting and pressing of ferrous metals, raw chemical materials, chemical products, and non-metallic mineral products. This study presents evidence of the air pollution impacts of industrial agglomeration using the Ellison–Glaeser index, Herfindahl–Hirschman index, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. This was based on data from 73,353 enterprises in “2+26” atmospheric pollution transmission channel cities in BTH and its surrounding areas (herein referred to as BTH “2+26” cities). The results showed that Beijing, Yangquan, Puyang, Kaifeng, Taiyuan, and Jinan had the highest Ellison–Glaeser index among the BTH “2+26” cities; this represents the highest enterprise agglomeration. Beijing, Langfang, Tianjin, Baoding, and Tangshan also showed a low Herfindahl–Hirschman index of pollutant emissions, which have a relatively high degree of industrial agglomeration in BTH “2+26” cities. There was an inverted U-shaped relationship between enterprise agglomeration and air quality in the BTH “2+26” cities. This means that air quality improved with increased industrial agglomeration up to a certain level; beyond this point, the air quality begins to deteriorate with a decrease in industrial agglomeration.
Three clusters of content-audience associations in expression of racial prejudice while consuming online television news
Authors: Takano Masanori , Taka Fumiaki , Morishita Soichiro , Nishi Tomosato , Ogawa Yuki
Published: July 2021

It is well investigated that the expression of racial prejudice is often induced by news coverage on the internet, and the exposure to media contributes to the cultivation of long-term prejudice. However, there is a lack of information regarding the immediate effects of news delivered through television or television-like media on the expression of racial prejudice. This study provides a framework for understanding such effects by focusing on content-audience associations using the logs of an “online television” service, which provides television-like content and user experiences. With these logs, we found an association between the news-watching and comment-posting behaviors. Consequently, logs relevant to two distinct forms of racism, modern and old-fashioned racism, were extracted. Using mathematical modeling, which considers the different levels of program inducements to racist expression, personal inclinations of audiences to racism, and certainty of prediction of audience behaviors, we found three associative patterns between the news programs and audiences. The relevance of the topics covered to the basic beliefs of each form of racism was characterized into three clusters: expression as a reaction to news that is directly relevant to the basic beliefs of racism with weak inducements by non-bigots, minority abuse by distorting the meanings of news content indirectly relevant to the beliefs but with strong inducements by audiences with a strong bias, and racial toxic opinions independent of the news content by clear bigots. Our findings provide implications for inhibiting the expression of online prejudice based on the characteristics of these patterns.
The combined effect of Covid-19 and neighbourhood deprivation on two dimensions of subjective well-being: Empirical evidence from England
Authors: Bonomi Bezzo Franco , Silva Laura , van Ham Maarten
Published: July 2021

Objectives

The Covid-19 pandemic is hitting societies hard, and people living in disadvantaged circumstances are among the most affected. We investigate the combined effects of the Covid-19 crisis and living in a deprived neighbourhood on two dimensions of subjective well-being: hedonic (i.e. mental health) and evaluative (i.e. life satisfaction) subjective well-being.

Methods

We use longitudinal data from the Understanding Society UK panel. We combine data gathered in the main survey between 2015 and 2019 with very recent data from the Covid-19 online survey between April and July 2020. Leveraging a sample of nearly 9,600 English individuals, we first run a set of cross-sectional OLS regressions to analyse changes over time in the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and subjective well-being. Then, as our main model of interest, we use a fixed effect difference-in-differences model to provide more robust evidence.

Results

Since the beginning of the crisis, both levels of hedonic and evaluative well-being have decreased as a result of the pandemic and lockdown. However, for those living in more deprived neighbourhoods the level of hedonic well-being decreased more than for those living in better areas. We found no such difference for evaluative well-being.

Conclusion

Our results highlight the importance of reducing neighbourhood inequalities as the spatial clustering of disadvantages has increased by the pandemic.
The Concept of THOUGHT in the Mirror of Cultural Codes (based on the Texts of Fiction)
Authors: Rumyantseva Marina
Published: July 2021

Modern linguistics, within the framework of the anthropocentric paradigm, tries to solve the fundamental issues of the trichotomy "reality-consciousness-language", therefore, the issues of consideration of various concepts presented in language are of particular relevance. The conceptual analysis of abstract concepts is difficult for researchers, so the problem of reflecting the inner world of a person in the language of concepts is of particular interest. The purpose of this study is not to describe the entire structure of the concept of THOUGHT in its linguistic expression, but only to analyze the cultural codes that this concept, which relates to the mental sphere of the inner world, is represented in language. The study showed that the mental concept of THOUGHT, passing through the prism of metaphorical comparison, is represented through such cultural codes as cosmic, natural, biomorphic and objective. The conclusion is made that in the consciousness of the Russian person there are ideas about the universal mind, about thought as a material, living entity, capable of continuing to live after the death of its bearer and becoming the property of other people.
The Plot of the Pilgrimage in the Latest Bashkir Prose
Authors: Nabiullina Gulnur
Published: July 2021

The article touches upon the study of the pilgrimage plot in the works of modern Bashkir prose writers, which is presented in two directions: visiting local shrines and Hajj to Mecca. Various existing forms of pilgrimage, as an integral part of many religions, continue to arouse the interest of both researchers and writers. The plot of the pilgrimage to the local sites in the trilogy of F. Galimov and the book of L.-A. Yakshibayeva has parallels with the religious traditions of the Muslims of Central Asia, where Sufism was one of the forms of Islam. The plot-forming element of the Hajj pilgrimage is the real geographical places of the sacred land that form the sacred space and connect the mortal world with the eternal in the minds of believers. The carefully thought-out integral composition of the story by T. Dayanova, and the novel by L.-A. Yakshibayeva includes events where the lives of the characters are intertwined with the fates of the characters of religious legends from the history and culture of Islam, which reveal the internal laws of the development of the main characters of the works and determine the role of Islam in human life.
Possible changes in transport conception of international and long-distance railway connections relating the construction of new high-speed railway lines in the Czech Republic
Authors: Purkart Pavel , Vodák David , Javořík Tomáš , Jacura Martin
Published: July 2021

The aim of this article is to deal with the issue of high-speed railway lines (HSL) in the Czech Republic in response to the Fast connections conception ("Rychlá spojení" in Czech, abbreviation "RS"). Currently the RS1, RS2 and RS4 projects are the most watched during the preparation of the HSL network construction. The authors would like to focus on this issue from the wider point of view and to assess possible impact on the current lines of long-distance trains, the location of graphical timetable nodes and the way of the transport service on the area of the state.
Vehicle/track interaction under the conditions of high speed railway operation
Authors: Šlapák Jiří , Michálek Tomáš
Published: July 2021

This paper deals with the issue of dynamic effects of a high-speed railway vehicle on the track. Some aspects of vehicle/track interaction at higher speeds are described. In this context, a multi-body model of high-speed railway vehicle was created and several simulation scenarios were performed with this model. Furthermore, the simulations were evaluated with a focus on selected characteristics of the vehicle/track interaction.
Radiation Dose from Computed Tomography Scans for Korean Pediatric and Adult Patients
Authors: Won Tristan , Lee Ae-Kyoung , Choi Hyung-do , Lee Choonsik
Published: July 2021

Background: In recent events of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, computed tomography (CT) scans are being globally used as a complement to the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. It will be important to be aware of major organ dose levels, which are more relevant quantity to derive potential long-term adverse effect, for Korean pediatric and adult patients undergoing CT for COVID-19.Materials and Methods: We calculated organ dose conversion coefficients for Korean pediatric and adult CT patients directly from Korean pediatric and adult computational phantoms combined with Monte Carlo radiation transport techniques. We then estimated major organ doses delivered to the Korean child and adult patients undergoing CT for COVID-19 combining the dose conversion coefficients and the international survey data. We also compared our Korean dose conversion coefficients with those from Caucasian reference pediatric and adult phantoms.Results and Discussion: Based on the dose conversion coefficients we established in this study and the international survey data of COVID-19-related CT scans, we found that Korean 7-yearold child and adult males may receive about 4–32 mGy and 3–21 mGy of lung dose, respectively. We learned that the lung dose conversion coefficient for the Korean child phantom was up to 1.5-fold greater than that for the Korean adult phantom. We also found no substantial difference in dose conversion coefficients between Korean and Caucasian phantoms.Conclusion: We estimated radiation dose delivered to the Korean child and adult phantoms undergoing COVID-19-related CT examinations. The dose conversion coefficients derived for different CT scan types can be also used universally for other dosimetry studies concerning Korean CT scans. We also confirmed that the Caucasian-based CT organ dose calculation tools may be used for the Korean population with reasonable accuracy.
Impacto del confinamiento por COVID-19 en España y República Dominicana. Un estudio transcultural con jóvenes emergentes y adultos
Authors: Gómez-Mir Pilar , Gómez-Gómez Marta , Valenzuela Contreras Blas
Published: July 2021

El confinamiento debido a la Covid-19 ha supuesto un impacto mundial. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar este impacto en adultos emergentes (AE) y población adulta residente en España y República Dominicana (RD). Se utilizó una muestra incidental de 685 personas. Una encuesta ad hoc midió variables sociodemográficas, confianza en el sistema sanitario, miedo a la Covid-19, estrés agudo, rasgo mindful, capacidades, dificultades, y resiliencia. Se encontraron diferencias significativas por sexo en estrés agudo, dificultades emocionales y miedo a la Covid-19 (p<.01) mayor en mujeres que en varones. En cuanto al país de residencia, presentaron mayor miedo a la enfermedad y menor confianza en el sistema sanitario público en RD (p<.01). Los adultos presentaron más miedo a la enfermedad (p<.05), mayor rasgo mindful, más conductas prosociales y mayor confianza en el sistema sanitario que los AE (p<.01). Los AE puntuaron mayor estrés agudo y dificultades emocionales (p<.01). Se realizó un análisis de regresión lineal, el miedo a la Covid-19 fue el mejor predictor del estrés agudo. Los resultados sugieren la necesidad de investigar factores de riesgo y protección en situaciones de pandemia valorando el país de residencia y la edad para elaborar programas de prevención eficaces.
Removal of textile azo dyes with mixed biomass of Aspergillus niger and orange peel (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck)
Authors: De Souza Karina Carvalho , Da Silva Thiago Emanoel Pereira , De Oliveira Letícia de Paula Silva , Leal Andressa Nathally Rocha , Da Cruz Filho Iranildo José , Da Silva Maria José de Filgueiras
Published: July 2021

This study evaluates the removal of textile dyes using mixed adsorbents prepared by the growth of Aspergillus niger in orange peels. The highest azo dye removal efficiency was obtained at pH 2, solid: liquid ratio (1: 4 g·mL-1) and time of equilibrium of 250 minutes for each dye. The concentrations of Remazol Black B (RB) and Remazol Red (RR) in both synthetic textile effluents were between 25 mg·L-1 and 100 mg·L-1. The mixed adsorbent was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), spectroscopy infrared region (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that there was a 100% removal of RB and 94.85% of RR at the concentration of 25 mg·L-1. At the concentration of 100 mg·L-1, the percentages of removal reached 98.87% for RB and 96.37% for RR, respectively. The proposed mixed adsorbent was able to remove the textile dyes, presenting adsorptive capacities of 20.77 mg·g-1 and 19.28 mg·g-1 for the dyes RB and RR. Regarding the adsorption kinetics, the experimental data showed that the pseudo second order model was the one that best explained the adsorptive process. For the equilibrium results, the Langmuir model and the Langmuir-Freundlich model were the ones that best fit the experimental data of RB and RR, respectively. The mixed adsorbent produced is a promising alternative for the treatment of textile effluents.
The effect of salinity on aspects of the early development of the kelp species Undaria pinnatifida and Saccorhiza polyschides
Authors: Crane Victoria M. , Racault Marie-Fanny , Fletcher Robert L.
Published: July 2021

It is likely that the introduction of the brown macroalga Undaria pinnatfida from the Pacific into the North Atlantic will impact competitively on the native species Saccorhiza polyschides; both are large kelps occupying the same subtidal zone with very similar life histories. The present study examines their tolerance to changes in salinity, under laboratory conditions, in order to provide a better understanding of their respective competitiveness in an estuarine environment. Experiments were carried out over a full range of salinity values, from 35 to 0, with respect to zoospore settlement and attachment, germination, post-germination progression to form gametophytes, gametophyte sex ratio, sporophyte production and blade length. Undaria zoospores settled and attached over the salinity range from 35 to 14 and germinated between 35 and 3.5. Post-germination progression occurred over the range from 35 to 14 whilst only small differences in the male/female ratio were recorded. Sporophyte blade production and development occurred over the range from 35 to 17.5 and peak production and longest blade length was recorded at 21. Saccorhiza zoospores settled and attached at and above 24.5 and germinated between 35 and 21. Sporophyte production and blade development occurred over the range from 35 to 24.5. In general, Undaria was shown to be much more tolerant of reductions in salinity compared to Saccorhiza and is more likely to penetrate further into estuarine environments.
Green energy transaction assessment on individual customer based on power factor correction coefficient
Authors: Raj Puneet , Pal Kirti
Published: July 2021

In this paper Power factor correction coefficient based transmission pricing is proposed to analyze an individual customer’s effect due to green energy transactions in existing power system. In this novel approach power factor correction coefficient is calculated for each customer under every transaction. This power factor correction coefficient is then added in conventional embedded cost distance based MW-mile and MVA-mile method for transmission pricing calculation for both active and reactive power flow through transmission line. This new proposed transmission pricing method calculate transmission charges for each customer and also help an ISO (independent system operator) to decide whether transaction increases or decreases the transmission cost. On the basis of performance of transaction an ISO can penalize or reward them. Proposed analysis is implemented on a 3-area IEEE-30 bus system with seven tie-lines in MATLAB environment. To show the effectiveness of the proposed method the results are compared with and without power factor correction based transmission pricing for each customer.
The individualized, accompanied transition program “TraiN” for adolescent kidney patients – a local initiative
Authors: Collette Paula , Klein Luisa C. , Körner Lisa M. , Ernst Gundula , Brengmann Sandra , Schäuble Julian , Habbig Sandra , Weber Lutz T.
Published: July 2021

Since the transition from pediatric and adolescent to adult care often proceeds unaccompanied and unplanned, young patients with chronic kidney disease may experience health risks and non-adherence after the transfer. The psychosocial team at the Department of Pediatric Nephrology at the University Hospital of Cologne has therefore developed its local transition program “TraiN” for patients with chronic kidney disease aged 13 years and older. It combines structure and flexibility through predefined content modules that can be individually adapted to the patients, offering continuity and sustainability through a transition contact person. In addition, the family members are offered regular psychological consultations. The timing of the transfer is chosen individually depending on the level of psychosocial and medical transition readiness. The aim of “TraiN” is to strengthen the patients’ transition competence and the responsibility for their disease management and to provide them and their families the best possible support during the transition in order to prevent possible health risks. In the near future, a scientific evaluation will be conducted aiming to determine whether “TraiN” can support young people in their independence and self-reliant disease management.
A Theory of Partial Property Rights and the Illusion of State-Owned Enterprises
Authors: Sheng Hong
Published: July 2021

China’s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) enjoy many special benefits. They do not turn over profits and rents to the state, they pay much less interests than other enterprises in their use of capital, they enjoy monopolistic power in the marketplace, incomes of SOE employees, including managers, are free of policy restrictions. Because these substantial interests are not transferrable to individuals, competition exists for them. Compared with executives of private enterprise, senior managers of SOEs are 94 times more likely of being convicted of a crime. High benefits enjoyed by senior managers of SOEs come with a great risk. Once the illusion of SOEs is punctured, SOE leaders with higher education and long-term visions may become the driving force of SOE reform.
High laser induced damage threshold photoresists for nano-imprint and 3D multi-photon lithography
Authors: Kabouraki Elmina , Melissinaki Vasileia , Yadav Amit , Melninkaitis Andrius , Tourlouki Konstantina , Tachtsidis Theodoros , Kehagias Nikolaos , Barmparis Georgios D. , Papazoglou Dimitris G. , Rafailov Edik , Farsari Maria
Published: July 2021

Optics manufacturing technology is predicted to play a major role in the future production of integrated photonic circuits. One of the major drawbacks in the realization of photonic circuits is the damage of optical materials by intense laser pulses. Here, we report on the preparation of a series of organic–inorganic hybrid photoresists that exhibit enhanced laser-induced damage threshold. These photoresists showed to be candidates for the fabrication of micro-optical elements (MOEs) using three-dimensional multiphoton lithography. Moreover, they demonstrate pattern ability by nanoimprint lithography, making them suitable for future mass production of MOEs.
“Standing in the Crater of a Volcano”
Authors: Campney Brent M. S.
Published: July 2021

This study investigates anti-Chinese violence in the American West—focusing primarily on events in the Arizona Territory between 1880 and 1912—and the role of diplomatic relations between the United States and China in tempering the worst excesses of that violence. Recent scholarship asserts that the Chinese rarely suffered lynching and were commonly targeted for other types of violence, including coercion, harassment, and intimidation. Building on that work, this study advances a definition of racist violence that includes a broad spectrum of attacks, including the threat of violence. While affirming that such “subtler” violence achieved many of the same objectives as the “harsher” violence, it seeks to explain why whites used such radically different and less openly violent methods against this minority and explains why this difference mattered. Using these insights to interrogate the complex relationship between the United States and China, this essay shows that Chinese diplomatic influence stifled anti-Chinese mob violence by white Americans. It argues that this relationship denied white racists the same agency against the Chinese immigrants as they possessed against other racial and national minorities and thus forced them to “choose” the “subtler” acts of violence against this group rather than those usually employed against these others.
The South Seas from the Deck of a Steamship
Authors: Ahmad Diana L.
Published: July 2021

The story of the people who sailed the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco to Hawai‘i, Samoa, and points beyond is well documented, yet historians have neglected the voyages themselves and what the travelers encountered on the five-day to five-week journeys to their destinations. Those who crossed the Pacific recorded their thoughts about the sea creatures they discovered, the birds that followed the ships, and the potential of American expansion to the islands. They gossiped about their shipmates, celebrated the change in time zones, and feared the sharks that swam near the vessels. The voyagers had little else to distract them from the many miles of endless water, so they paid attention to their surroundings: nature, people, and shipboard activities. The adventures on the ships enlivened their travels to the islands of the Pacific and proved to be an opportunity to expand their personal horizons, as well as their hopes for the United States.
Everyday Cosmopolitanisms: Living the Silk Road in Medieval Armenia
Authors: Franklin Kate
Published: July 2021

Widely studies and hotly debated, the Silk Road is often viewed as a precursor to contemporary globalization, the merchants traversing it as early agents of cultural exchange. Missing are the lives of the ordinary people who inhabited the route and contributed as much to its development as their itinerant counterparts. In this book, Kate Franklin takes medieval Armenia as a compelling case study for examining how global culture and everyday life intertwined along the Silk Road. Guiding the reader through increasingly intimate scales of evidence, she vividly reconstructs how people living in and passing through the medieval Caucasus understood the world and their place within it. With its innovative focus on the far-reaching implications of local practices, Everyday Cosmopolitanisms brings the study of medieval Eurasia into relation with contemporary investigations of cosmopolitanism and globalization, challenging schisms between modern and medieval, global and quotidian.
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT AND DIGITAL TRAINING FRAMEWORK FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS' GENERIC AND DOMAIN-SPECIFIC ONLINE REASONING IN LAW, MEDICINE, AND TEACHER PRACTICE
Authors: Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia Olga , Brückner Sebastian , Nagel Marie-Theres , Bültmann Ann-Kathrin , Fischer Jennifer , Schmidt Susanne , Molerov Dimitar
Published: July 2021

In the digital age, the Internet is increasingly considered a major information source. This is especially true for informal, e.g., post-university, learning. Evidentially, young professionals are increasingly using online sources as an information and learning tool. Critical reasoning from online information for learning and professional processes in the domains of medicine, law, and teaching is considered a highly relevant competence facet. For example, staying up to date on a multitude of matters, e.g., published in articles and guidelines, as is the case in the medical field, can be challenging when the required competencies to use online media are absent (e.g., Allen et al. 2005, O'Carroll et al. 2015). Current research on students in higher education indicates substantial deficits in their critical online reasoning skills, also among graduates. However, online information seeking and corresponding competencies of young professionals in job-specific educational processes have not been researched yet. There is a lack of both valid domain-specific assessments for different professions and learning tools that can effectively foster the competent use of online information in practice among young professionals. Our research presented here is part of the collaborative BRIDGE project, which is conducted under the umbrella of the program "Research for the Design of Educational Processes under the Conditions of Digital Change." This study is based on our previous work on the assessment of generic skills in higher education in the international projects CLA+, iPAL, and CORA as well as on experiences with job-specific performance assessments from the research programs KoKoHs and ASCOT+, which measured professional competence. To validly measure critical online reasoning among young professionals from three domains — medicine, law, and teacher training —we develop new computer-based online performance assessments and corresponding training tools. The specific aim is to analyze to what extent they improve in using online information with greater reflection when creating job-specific documents after an online training based on process and performance data (using innovative approaches, such as text mining and educational data mining). In this paper, we showcase the conceptual and assessment framework of the newly developed innovative tools to measure and promote generic and domain-specific online reasoning among young professionals in medicine, law, and teacher education. Based on this framework, we discuss how these crucial professional competence facets can be validly measured and effectively fostered in practice.
Mechanical performance of Scots pine wood from northwestern Poland – A case study
Authors: Roszyk Edward , Mania Przemysław , Iwańska Elżbieta , Kusiak Władysław , Broda Magdalena
Published: July 2021

Scots pine is one of the most commercially important wood species in Europe. This study assessed the potential usefulness of pinewood from the Noteć Forest for construction purposes by evaluating its mechanical properties and investigating the influence of the site conditions on the pinewood performance. Additionally, the variability of the mechanical properties from the bark to the pith was analyzed. The results showed that the properties of pinewood varied significantly within the Noteć Forest despite similar growing conditions, which may be a result of genetic variation. Wood from Sowia Góra had the greatest density (566 kg/m3) and excellent mechanical performance (compressive strength of 64 MPa), while wood from Zamyślin exhibited the lowest density (526 kg/m3) and a lower compressive strength (54 MPa). Comparison of the properties of the pinewoods from various locations indicated that the general conditions in the forest stand, however crucial for tree growth, were not the only determinants of wood performance. The results also showed high variability in density and mechanical properties between juvenile and mature wood in all the examined trees. Overall, pinewood from the poor habitats of the Noteć Forest could be a useful raw material for various industrial purposes.
Influence of wood’s anatomical and resin traits on the radial permeability of the hybrid pine (Pinus elliottii × Pinus caribaea) wood in Australia
Authors: Leggate William , Shirmohammadi Maryam , McGavin Robert L. , Chandra Kerri , Knackstedt Mark , Knuefing Lydia , Turner Michael
Published: July 2021

Wood permeability has a major effect on industrial wood processing and utilization. Wood anatomy and resin influence the permeability of wood. Understanding and manipulating these influences is important to optimize the manufacture and use of forest products. This study investigated the relationships between wood anatomical traits, radial permeability, and resin content of samples collected from 19-year-old hybrid pines (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis) from Queensland, Australia. The earlywood tracheid tangential lumen diameter and axial resin canal diameter were statistically positively correlated with radial permeability. The heartwood proportion and the frequency of axial resin canals were statistically negatively correlated with radial permeability and positively correlated with resin content. The axial resin canal diameter, sapwood proportion, latewood content, ray frequency, and earlywood tracheid lumen diameter increased from pith to bark, whereas the axial resin canal frequency decreased. Resin was found distributed throughout the wood microstructure, from pith to bark in many samples, and in both heartwood and sapwood. However, there was a much greater quantity of resin in heartwood and wood from the middle (inner radius) of the tree, with widespread occurrence of resin impregnation in the axial tracheids.