bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Voronoi geometry for building facade to manage direct sunbeams
Authors: Goharian Ali , Daneshjoo Khosro , Mahdavinejad Mohammadjavad , Yeganeh Mansour
Published: October 2022

Nowadays, ultra-advanced facades have made great strides, and parametric simulation software has made a significant contribution to this advancement. Voronoi shells, based on their irregular nature, are one of the most advanced facades that are being used in modern building facades. In this paper, the main focus is on the behavior of these facades against incident light from the sun. The method presented in this research is based on Ladybug Tool’s plug-in capabilities. Using the analysis of weather information and the desired geometry, direct rays as a vector in each time step is prepared, and the amount of direct sunbeam hours by considering the contexts (Facade) calculated. To estimate the comprehensive method, the same workflow evaluated winter (P2) and summer (P1) solstice as a cross-sectional study (Max & Min solar altitude). The results indicate that the type of geometry Voronoi and the thickness of the facade frame have a great effect on the direction of the rays inwards and also the type of geometry should be controlled at latitudes appropriate to the solar altitude; because of the geometric intricacies of the Voronoi facade have a great deal to do with the solar altitude.
Forecasting Energy Demand Using Conditional Random Field and Convolution Neural Network
Authors: Thangavel Aravind , Govindaraj Vijayakumar
Published: October 2022

Electric load forecasting has been identified as an effective strategy to increase output and revenues in electrical manufacturing and distribution organizations. Several strategies for forecasting power consumption have been suggested; however, they all fail to account for small variations in power demand throughout the prediction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a CRF-based power consumption prediction technique (CRF-PCP) to meet the difficulty of estimating energy consumption (EC). The EC of regions in the area is forecasted using convolution neural networks (CNNs) and conditional random fields (CRFs). Then, using the cloud, the predicted results are delivered to the electricity distribution system. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to forecast electricity demand using CNN and CRF algorithms. In comparison to state-of-the-art algorithms, this proposed technique achieves 98.9 % accuracy. This recommended work also obtained minimum values of root mean square error (RMSE), mean square error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and mean bias error (MBE) by using 10-fold cross-validation (CV) and a hold-out (CV) methodology.
Creating a Data Generator and Implementing Algorithms in Process Analysis
Authors: Bakir Cigdem , Yuzkat Mecit , Karabiber Fatih
Published: October 2022

Process mining is a new field of work that aims to meet the need of the business world to improve efficiency and productivity. This field focuses on analysing, discovering, managing, and improving business processes. Process mining uses event logs as a resource and works on this resource. Hence, the system is developed by analysing the event logs, including each step in the process model. Our study is made up of two significant stages: a data generator for processes and algorithms applied for discovering the created processes. In the first stage, the aim was to develop a simulator with the ability to generate data that could help process modelling and development. Within the framework of this study, a system was created that could work with various process models and extract meaningful information from these models. More productive and efficient processes can be developed as a result of his system. The simulator consists of three modules. The first module is the part where users create a process model. In this module, the user can create his own business process model in the system’s interface or select from other registered models. In the second module, team-based data are simulated through these process models. These generated data are used in the third module, called “analysis”, and meaningful information is extracted. In conclusion, the process can be improved considering the information about time, resource, and cost in the generated data. At the second stage, processes were discovered using alpha, heuristic, and genetic algorithms, which are process mining discovery algorithms and synthetic and real event logs. The discovered processes were demonstrated with Petri nets, and the algorithms’ performances were compared using the fitness function, accuracy rates, and running times. In our study, the heuristic algorithm is more successful because it improves the noise in the data and incomplete processes, which are the disadvantages of the alpha algorithm. However, the genetic algorithm yielded more successful results than the alpha and heuristic algorithms due to its genetic operators.
A System of Singularly Perturbed Parabolic Equations with a Power Boundary Layer
Authors: Omuraliev Asan , Esengul Kyzy Peil
Published: October 2022

The work is devoted to the construction of the asymptotics of the solution of a singularly perturbed system of equations of parabolic type, in the case when the limit equation has a regular singularity as the small parameter tends to zero. The developed algorithm allows construction of the asymptotics of solutions containing power, parabolic, and angular boundary layer functions.
Development of Simple and Portable Surface Acoustic Wave Biosensors for Applications in Biology and Medicine
Authors: S. Thomas Marlon
Published: October 2022

There has been a renewed interest in the development of surface acoustic wave (SAW) biosensors because they hold great promise for opening new frontiers in biology and medicine. The promise of SAW technology is grounded in the advantages SAW devices hold over traditional laboratory techniques used in biological and medical laboratories. These advantages include having smaller sizes to allow greater portability, using smaller sample volumes, requiring lower power requirements, the ability to integrate them into microfluidic platforms, and their compatibility with smart devices such as smartphones. The devices offer high sensitivity and can be designed to allow microfluidic interfacing. Other major advantages of SAW-based technologies include the fact that they can be operated remotely in harsh conditions without the need for an AC power supply. Their compatibility with lab-on-a-chip systems allows the creation of fully integrated devices with the ability to isolate the sample from the operator. In this mini-review, we will discuss SAW devices and their ability to enable a variety of applications in Biology and Medicine. The operating principles of the SAW biosensors will be discussed along with some technological trends and developments.
Biodiversity Conservation of Western Himalayas: A Pluralistic Approach
Authors: Ram Dhiman Mast , P. Muthanarasimha Girish
Published: October 2022

The conservation of biodiversity has been a matter of serious concern all over the world. Regions of the world with rapidly changing land use and economies require transdisciplinary focus to adequately address today’s challenges for conservation, local livelihoods, and development. Himalayan ecosystem sustainability is vital for the employment of approximately 1.3 billion people in Asia. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) are special for their natural geological wealth, forest, flora, fauna and biodiversity, snow, ice and water bodies, traditional knowledge, and mountain agriculture. It is now widely accepted that the rich and diverse Himalayan ecosystem is fragile. The regions are predominantly populated by local societies. Live in biodiversity wealthy regions of the country, the neighboring mountainous communities are dependent upon biodiversity for meeting their livelihood security. Hence, sustaining biodiversity in the mountain region also means defending the benefit of the people. Recognition of the Himalayas as one of 34 global biodiversity hotspots aptly reflects its wide-ranging ecological significance. Societies across the world have had long-standing traditions of using and caring for nature, but the formal, mainstream, and largely western ‘conservation movement’ is only about 120 years old. Biocultural approaches to conservation represent a synthesis of theory across multiple fields linked to biodiversity conservation, including social-ecological systems thinking, commons theory, bio-cultural diversity and heritage, indigenous natural resource management and traditional ecological knowledge, and different models of participatory and people-centered conservation. This synthesis points to the potential for pluralistic, partnership-based, and dynamic approaches to guide conservation processes.
From Empathy to Compassion Fatigue: A Narrative Review of Implications in Healthcare
Authors: Graves Jane , Joyce Caroline , Hegazi Iman
Published: October 2022

Evidence is clear regarding the importance of empathy in the development of effective relationships between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients in the delivery of successful healthcare. HCPs have pledged to relieve patient suffering, and they value the satisfaction felt from caring for their patients. However, empathy may lead to negative consequences for the empathiser. If there is a personal identification with the emotions of the distressed person, empathic concern may evolve into personal distress leading to compassion fatigue over time. A narrative review was used to explore the connection between empathy and compassion fatigue. A search of MEDLINE, PsychINFO and CINAHL resulted in 141 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. The results included in this chapter explore the practical implications of empathy in relation to compassion fatigue, examining the impact on HCPs as well as the potential risk factors and effective strategies to reduce compassion fatigue. The negative impact of compassion fatigue can have a severe impact on HCP well-being and can in turn impact the care received by the patient. Nevertheless, and despite existing effective strategies to support and manage those experiencing compassion fatigue, more needs to be done to prevent its development in HCPs.
Everyday Aesthetics and Attractiveness of the University Campus
Authors: Mohamed Abdurrahman
Published: October 2022

With the long period that students spend on the university campus, it becomes a familiar part of their daily routine. Many parts of the campus transform into mere functional spaces accommodating students’ activities. It is therefore a challenge to identify and investigate a suitable framework for studying the aesthetical value and attractiveness of these familiar parts. It is also questioned whether there is a relationship between students’ specialization and their appreciation of the aesthetical value and attractiveness of these familiar spaces. Using the framework of everyday aesthetics, this research investigated the students’ appreciation of the aesthetical value and attractiveness of the Engineering Campus of the University of Bahrain. The study revealed that familiar spaces on the university campus have different levels of aesthetical value that affects their attractiveness. Familiar outdoor spaces proved significant in this regard more than buildings. The study also found differences between architecture and engineering students’ appreciation of everyday aesthetics in familiar spaces and their attractiveness. The study is the first to develop a theoretical framework for the use of everyday aesthetics to investigate the aesthetics and attractiveness of familiar spaces at university campuses and opens the door for further future research.
Palliative Therapy of Bone Metastases
Authors: Dalvand Saman
Published: October 2022

This chapter overviews palliative treatment modalities for patients with bone metastases. In the introduction section, the origin of bone metastases and complication of metastatic patients have been discussed. Then, the main body explains treatment modalities including pain relievers, bisphosphonates, surgery, external beam radiotherapy, and targeted radionuclide therapy for pain palliation of patients with bone metastases.
Schiff Base Complexes for Catalytic Application
Authors: Nawaz Shariff Shakeel , Saravu Supriya , Ramakrishna Dileep
Published: October 2022

Primary amines are combined with an aldehyde group to generate Schiff base compounds, which are called condensation imine products. This class of compounds has a general structure, R-C=NR\', where R and R\' represent alkyl/aryl/cyclohexyl/heterocyclic group. These compounds contain an azomethine group that is basic in nature due to, (i) the presence of lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen and (ii) electron-donating nature of the double bond. Hence, these compounds, as ligands, participate in the formation of metal complexes. The presence of lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom and the hybridization involved explains the physical, chemical, and spectral properties of nitrogen-containing moieties. In the case of (sp2) hybridization (trigonal structure), the lone pair of electrons occupies either a symmetrical unhybridized 2p orbital that is perpendicular to the plane of trigonal hybrids or a symmetrical hybrid orbital, whose axis is in the plane, leaving behind only the π-electrons in the unhybridized 2p orbital. A very similar type of hybridization is experienced by the nitrogen atom in the azomethine group. Traditional phosphine complexes of nickel, palladium, and platinum, particularly those of palladium, have played an extremely important role in the development of homogeneous catalysis. Schiff base complexes as catalysts have been studied for various organic transformations such as oxidation, epoxidation, reduction, coupling reactions, polymerization reactions, hydroformylations, and many more.
Forgive and Regret: A Comparative Analysis of the Role of Forgiveness in the US and Rwandan Criminal Justice Systems
Authors: Patten Daniel , Storch Jeremy
Published: October 2022

Rwanda’s reconciliation process after the 1994 genocide highlights the power of forgiveness in successfully reintegrating people who have committed serious harms back into society. In contrast, the US criminal justice system has struggled with successful prisoner reenter. One possible factor contributing to this struggle is American’s levels of forgiveness and vengefulness. This study is a comparative analysis between Rwanda and the United States guided by a central research question: What are the sociocultural factors provided for a societal capacity of forgiveness? First, the importance of forgiveness at a societal and individual level and its consequences is documented. Then, through comparative analysis several key factors emerged as contributing to increasing societal forgiveness and/or decreasing societal vengefulness including violence in media and entertainment, a punitive criminal justice system including the highly publicized nature of crime and punishment, gender roles and gender equality, religion, and societal collectivism. Above all factors, the occurrence of a national tragedy such as the genocide in Rwanda was found to create the opportunity for radical criminal justice reform.
Healthcare Services for the Physically Challenged Persons in Africa: Challenges and Way Forward
Authors: Olatunde Oduoye Malik , Akilimali Aymar , Arama Umulkhairah , Fathelrahman Adam Mohammed , Biamba Chrispin Uwezo , Muhoza Gasambi Bonk
Published: October 2022

This chapter is based on persons with physical disabilities in Africa, their challenges, and how it affects their health-seeking behaviors. We noticed that physical challenge has a substantial long-term adverse effect on one’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Both the causes and the consequences of physical disability vary throughout the world, especially in Africa. Environmental, technical, and attitudinal barriers and consequent social exclusion reduce the opportunities for physically challenged persons to contribute productively to the household and the community and further increase the risk of falling into poverty and poor healthcare services. The inability of the physically challenged persons to perceive the lack of points of interest of government has intensified to make significant recommendations and possible solutions. This is appalling because the rate to which a community provides and funds restoration is a way of grading how much interest it has and the importance it connects to the quality of life of its citizens. We advocate and recommend swift actions and disability inclusiveness to accommodate persons with physical disabilities in Africa for them to have a good perception of life.
Carbon Nanotube Alignment Methods
Authors: Abdulhameed Abdullah
Published: October 2022

The outstanding properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exist in their nanoscale form. The CNTs must be maintained aligned in the device to preserve these properties in the macroscale and bulk form. Recently, many studies addressed the alignment of CNTs at different scales for different applications. For example, CNTs are aligned vertically simultaneously as they grow on a substrate. Pre-synthesized CNTs can be aligned horizontally on a large scale under the influence of external forces such as electric and magnetic forces. This chapter reviews the latest techniques and methods regarding the horizontal alignment of CNTs. The alignment methods are classified based on the force used to achieve the alignment. The chapter concludes by discussing each method’s advantages, disadvantages, and potential applications.
Modelling of Solar Radiation for Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Afungchui David , Ebobenow Joseph , Helali Ali , Ayuketang Arreyndip Nkongho
Published: October 2022

This chapter explores the different ways in which solar radiation (SR) can be quantified for use in photovoltaic applications. Some solar radiation models that incorporate different combinations of parameters are presented. The parameters mostly used include the clearness index (Kt), the sunshine fraction (SF), cloud cover (CC) and air mass (m). Some of the models are linear while others are nonlinear. These models will be developed for the estimation of the direct (Hb) and diffuse (Hd) components of global solar radiation (H) on both the horizontal and tilted surfaces. Models to determine the optimal tilt and azimuthal angles for solar photovoltaic (PV) collectors in terms of geographical parameters are equally presented. The applicable, statistical evaluation models that ascertain the validity of the SR mathematical models are also highlighted.
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of Adverse Events in One of the Biggest Western Iranian General Hospitals: Short Communication
Authors: Raeissi Pouran , Aryankhesal Aidin , Shahidi Sadeghi Niusha , Kalantari Hadi
Published: October 2022

Background: In developing and underdeveloped countries, medical error is often either not reported or reported improperly for various reasons. Root cause analysis (RCA) is a systematic method to determine how various factors contribute to the occurrence of medical errors. Objectives: The current study analyzed the root cause of one of western Iran’s biggest general hospitals. Methods: This retrospective RCA was conducted through a qualitative approach in 2019 following the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) protocol in seven steps: Initialization of the process, collecting and mapping information, identifying issues related to care delivery problems (CDP) or service delivery problems (SDP), event analysis, identifying the involved factors in the event - root causes, providing solutions, implementing solutions, and submission of reports. Results: According to the results of this study, 61 cases were examined, and committees accepted the errors in 11 cases. Here, 49 CDP and 13 SDP factors were identified. Care delivery problems factors were selected for all events based on the team’s viewpoints. Overall, task-related causes (20 cases), individual causes (17 cases), management-related causes (14 cases), training-related causes (8 cases), and causes related to work environment and conditions (7 cases) were specified. Conclusions: Accepting mistakes is the first step in the hope of improvement. In this hospital, only 11 cases of mistakes had been accepted by the authorities. In most cases, the proposed solutions to this issue included personnel training, monitoring system strengthening, and developing and standardizing processes. Overall, this study and other similar studies showed errors during service delivery and through service providers.
Comparing the Effects of Early Clinical Exposure on the Attitude and Motivation of First-year Medical Students from Ilam University of Medical Sciences Based on Video-based Education and Learning-in-Hospital Settings Methods
Authors: Sharifi Ali , Shohani Masoumeh , Abedi Gheshlaghi Leili , Shafiei Elhm
Published: October 2022

Background: Exposure to an unfamiliar clinical environment is highly important for medical students since it affects their attitudes. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of implementing a short course of familiarity with the clinical environment through video-based education and learning-in-hospital settings on the attitudes of first-year medical students. Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design, 59 first-year medical students were divided into two groups of “learning-in-hospital settings” and “video-based education”. Students' attitudes and motivations were measured using questionnaires, and the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: The attitude of most students from learning-in-hospital settings group was positive before and after the exposure. The attitude of most students from the video-based education group, on the other hand, was positive after watching the video while it was negative before the intervention; this difference, however, was not statistically significant (P = 0.1). In pre-exposure and post-exposure stages, the motivation of students in video-based education group was higher than that of students in learning-in-hospital settings group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.6). Female students in video-based education group had a higher positive attitude (P = 0.02) than male students (P = 0.01) before and after the exposure, and were highly motivated. Conclusions: Early clinical exposure to learning-in-hospital settings and, particularly, to video-based education may have been an effective factor contributing to motivating and encouraging the medical students.
Navigating the Divide: Healing Practices and Collective Wellbeing in a Nairobi Clinic
Authors: Corey Emmy ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: October 2022

This paper analyzes ethnographic and historical data to emphasize the importance of framing health as collective wellbeing. Exploring missionary medical campaigns during the colonial period in East Africa, I connect the institutional legacy of Euro-American Protestant missions on the contemporary frameworks of US global public health provisions at my research site, Mwana Mwema Program. At this network of faith-based, USAID clinics in Kenya that provide treatment for children living with HIV, practitioners care for the wider community within a global health system that bases donor funding on epidemiological criteria. This narrow framing conflicts with practitioners’ notions of healing as collective wellbeing and can exacerbate communal divisions. I argue that Mwana Mwema’s notion of collective wellbeing offers a healthcare framework that faith-based providers can embrace. It yields more holistic care for entire communities and offers an opportunity for those of us in the United States to rethink our notions of health.
Pathologists as Clinical Consultants: For the Patient and With the Patient
Authors: Karcher Donald S.
Published: October 2022

Context.—

Pathologists often provide extensive consultative services to other physicians beyond establishing a diagnosis or providing laboratory test results, but they are typically not financially compensated for these services. Another relatively new role for pathologists in the United States is as a consultant who works directly with patients.

Objective.—

To review how pathologists provide detailed consultation to other physicians, how pathologists can be financially compensated for this critical service, and how pathologists are increasingly serving as a consultant directly with patients and their families.

Data Sources.—

Sources were peer-reviewed medical literature and the author's personal experience.

Conclusions.—

In recognition of the extensive consultative services provided by both clinical and anatomic pathologists to other physicians, procedural codes recently approved and valued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services now provide a compensation mechanism for these services for government-insured and potentially privately insured patients. Pathologists are also increasingly providing consultative services directly to patients, resulting in significant patient satisfaction and providing important support for patients and their physicians.
LOW-COST FABRICATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF A FLEXIBLE GRAPHITE-BASED TOUCH SENSOR
Authors: TORMO GARCIA FRANCISCO JAVIER , Ivorra Martínez Juan , Boronat Teodomiro , MONTAÑES MUÑOZ NESTOR
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a new method to produce a flexible piezoresistive sensor based on graphite. Under the premise of low-cost manufacturing, the materials used are easy to acquire and the manufacturing process consists of a simple transfer and exfoliation of a graphite paste thus obtaining flexible sheets. These sensors exhibit high sensitivity to touch and pressure. To characterise their response, an ad hoc method has been developed to recreate the interaction of the sensor with a human finger, which is shown in detail. The result presented is a highly sensitive graphite sensor, stable, easily integrated and with multiple application possibilities, for example in intelligent prostheses, in systems for capturing the movement of the human body and even for use as synthetic skin.
Key Words: Graphite, piezoresistive flexible sensor, low cost, tactile, synthetic skin.
A Mimetic Method
Authors: Erslev Malthe Stavning
Published: October 2022

How does a practice of mimesis — as dramatic enactment in a live-action role-playing game (LARP) — relate to the design of artificial intelligence systems? In this article, I trace the contours of a mimetic method, working through an auto-ethnographic approach in tandem with new materialist theory and in conjunction with recent tendencies in design research to argue that mimesis carries strong potential as a practice through which to encounter, negotiate, and design with artificial intelligence imaginaries. Building on a new materialist conception of mimesis as more-than-human sympathy, I illuminate how LARP that centered on the enactment of a fictional artificial intelligence system sustained an encounter with artificial intelligence imaginaries. In what can be understood as a decidedly mimetic way of doing ethnography of algorithmic systems, I argue that we need to consider the value of mimesis — understood as a practice and a method — as a way to render research into artificial intel- ligence imaginaries.
A retrospective study of immunoglobulin E as a biomarker for the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke with carotid atherosclerotic plaques
Authors: Jiang Wenwen , Niu Jindou , Gao Hongwei , Dang Yingqiang , Qi Meijiao , Liu Yumei
Published: October 2022

Objective

In this study, serum markers of acute ischemic stroke (AICS) with carotid artery plaque were retrospectively evaluated to establish a basis for discovering serological indicators for early warning of acute ischemic stroke (AICS).

Methods

A total of 248 patients with AICS were enrolled in Lanzhou University Second Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. The study population included 136 males and 112 females, 64 ± 11 years of age. Of these, there were 90 patients with a transient ischemic attack (TIA), including 60 males and 30 females, aged 64 ± 8 years old. Patients with AICS were stratified by carotid ultrasound into a plaque group (n = 154) and a non-plaque group (n = 94). A total of 160 healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), amyloid A (SAA), immunoglobulin E (IgE), D-dimer (D-D), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were collected from all subjects. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of AICS with carotid plaque. ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of AICS with carotid plaque.

Results

The IgE, Lp-PLA2, SAA, LDL-C, TC, TG, and D-D levels in the AICS group were higher than those in the TIA group and healthy control group (P < 0.05). The IgE level was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group and TIA group. The IgE level in the AICS plaque group was significantly higher than that in the AICS non-plaque group (P < 0.01), and the Lp-PLA2 level was also different (P < 0.05). The incidence of AICS was positively correlated with Lp-PLA2, TC, IgE, TG, D-D, SAA and LDL-C (r = 0.611, 0.499, 0.478, 0.431, 0.386, 0.332, 0.280, all P < 0.05). The incidence of AICS with plaque was only positively correlated with IgE and Lp-PLA2 (r = 0.588, 0.246, P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that IgE and Lp-PLA2 were independent risk factors for predicting the occurrence of AICS with carotid plaque (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of IgE (0.849) was significantly higher than other indicators; its sensitivity and specificity were also the highest, indicating that IgE can improve the diagnostic efficiency of AICS with carotid plaque.

Conclusion

IgE is a serum laboratory indicator used to diagnose AICS disease with carotid plaque, which lays a foundation for further research on potential early warning indicators of AICS disease.
Impact of COVID-19 on the Production of Farmers in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh
Authors: Tripathi Pratiksha , Pathak Hulas , Choudhary V. K. , Akula Maunika , Parte Jwala
Published: October 2022

Background: The backbone of the Indian financial system, and the main source of income in rural India, is agriculture. The COVID-19 illness significantly impacted the agricultural supply chain, from the industrial hub to the final consumer. This article begins by analyzing the many strategies that have a bearing on farmer’s production. the overall impact while throwing a bit of challenge across in all the sectors but in terms of production it was seen as positive.

Methods: The agricultural years 2019–20 & 2020–21 serve as the study's reference period. By selecting sample villages, the study's data were gathered from 300 households and 50 migrant and non-migrant workers in the Chhattisgarh district of Raipur.

Result: We found that the maize crop had the highest yield loss mostly -5.13 per cent which is due to untimely harvest and unavailability of labours. Also, lak/teora crop yield decreased by -2.83 per cent. Also, we can see from the table that the yield of paddy, vegetables (Bitter guard, brinjal ladies finger and bottle guard), and Arhar had increased by 16.18, 60.76, 61.39, 39.87, 59.74 and 14.28 per cent respectively from previous years yield. The real impact in the case of crop production was seen in the prices of farm produce. The return of migrant workers also increased production; it was found from the study that agriculture was the only source of income for every household during the lockdown. Farmers experienced a shortage of agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides as a result of world trade disruption.
Understanding the Impact of Situational Factors on Green Purchase Intention in Retailing: A Study of Young Consumers
Authors: Islam Sheikh Basharul , Darzi Mushtaq Ahmad
Published: October 2022

Much research has been devoted to understanding sustainable consumption using factors from the theory of planned behaviour. However, very few researchers have studied the role of situational factors in this context. The present study is aimed to analyse the impact of preference of retail store and transportation mode on green purchase intention, which in turn affects sustainable consumption behaviour among retail consumers. A survey by questionnaire method was used to collect data from young Indian consumers from Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Delhi. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, data was collected through online mode from 280 respondents by adopting quota sampling. Linear regression analysis was performed to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings of the study reveal that the preference for retail stores have a significant positive effect on green purchase intention while transportation mode has a significant negative impact on green purchase intention. The two situational factors explain more than 27% of the variance in consumers' intention to purchase green products. The study also reported a significant positive impact of green purchase intention on sustainable consumption among young retail consumers. Finally, green purchase intention explained a 63% variance in sustainable consumption.
Problem Gambling Severity of Students Sports Bettors and Its Relationship among the Dimensions of Study Habits: Implications for Counselling
Authors: Kwarteng-Nantwi Eugene , Adu-Akoh Pious Jojo , Edjah Jane Odurowaa
Published: October 2022

Gambling is a well-known activity in most nations. Problem gambling as an index of gambling refers to the adverse effects on the gambler, on other individuals, his/her social life or even on the community as a result of the individual’s excessive gambling behaviour. Hence, problem gambling refers to all the harmful behaviours resulting from constant gambling. The purpose of this study was to investigate problem gambling severity and its relationship with the dimensions of study habits of students’ sport bettors in the University of Cape Coast. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A population of 4,172 of level 400 students from four colleges of the university of Cape Coast were used for the study. Using the Krejcie and Morgan table, a fair representation of a population of 4,172 is 351. The researchers further used disproportionate stratified sampling technique to draw from each college the number required for the study. The PGSI items and Essuman Study Habit Inventory recorded Cronbach alpha of .76 and .97 respectively. The ordinal logistic regression was used to determine whether problem gambling severity had any relationship with any of the dimensions of study habits. The findings showed that the dimensions of study habit has a predictive relationship on gambler sub-type. It was recommended among other things that a proposed ‘Gaming Research Unit’ under the auspices of the Department of Education and Psychology should ensure the screening of students who are low risk, moderate-risk or problem gambler and with difficulties in their study habit should be referred for guidance and counselling.
Therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids in the treatment of chronic pain in cancer patients / Benefícios terapêuticos dos canabinoides no Tratamento da dor crônica em pacientes com câncer
Authors: Silva Roni Robson da , Silva Leandro Andrade da , Inácio Andréa Ferreira Leite , Campos Eliseu da Costa , Silva Diego Ferreira da , Silva Tatiana
Published: October 2022

Objetivo: apresentar o estado da arte das publicações expressas na literatura cientifica mundial sobre a temática, bem como identificar os benefícios terapêuticos da Cannabis medicinal no tratamento da dor.  Método: trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, cuja busca de dados foi realizada nas bibliotecas virtuais. Web of Science, Scopus, Medline, IBECS, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, Emerald Insight e Scielo no período de agosto a outubro de  2021. Resultados: foram encontrados 367 artigos. Quarenta e três artigos foram selecionados para serem lidos na íntegra e 15 atenderam aos critérios desta revisão. Conclusão: as evidências mostram que embora cada vez mais prescritos ou autorizados, a cannabis medicinal ou os Canabinóides para a dor crónica continuam a ser controversos para muitos médicos.
Practical Guide to Adjuncts to Clinical Trials in Surgery
Authors: Fong Yuman , Haukoos Jason , Zuckerbraun Brian S.
Published: October 2022

This Guide to Statistics and Methods discusses adjunct outcome parameters that optimize patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable components in randomized clinical trials.
Practical Guide to Budgeting and Funding a Clinical Trial in Surgery
Authors: Lazar Eric L. , Schwartz Todd A. , Zuckerbraun Brian S.
Published: October 2022

This Guide to Statistics and Methods outlines the considerations when determining a budget for a clinical trial in preparation for submitting applications to various funding agencies.
High‐Performance Organic Solar Cells by Adding Two‐Dimensional GeSe
Authors: Tan Jingyu , Zhao Yujun , Li Guanliang , Yang Song , Huang Chengwen , Yu Huangzhong
Published: October 2022

In organic solar cells (OSCs), the crystalline morphologies of the donor and acceptor at the microscale play an important role. 2D GeSe with periodic structure and high carrier mobility is an ideal additive material for active layer of OSCs that can effectively improve the crystallinity and molecular orientation of the acceptor molecule ITIC. Here, 2D GeSe is introduced into the active layer of OSCs to adjust the morphology of active layer for the first time, the results show that the incorporation of 2D GeSe induces the crystallization of acceptor molecule and facilitates the formation of efficient bicontinuous interpenetrating charge transport networks, and effectively reduces carrier recombination in OSCs. The power conversion efficiency and lifetime of OSCs are obviously enhanced. More importantly, the results of first‐principles calculation reveal that the interaction between 2D GeSe and ITIC guides the ITIC molecules to form a continuous conductive network. This study provides a method for the morphology regulation of the donor and acceptor domains in bulk heterojunctions, provides an idea for researching the interaction between 2D materials and organic molecules, and also indicates that 2D GeSe has good application prospects in photovoltaic devices.
Living Microneedle Patch with Adipose‐Derived Stem Cells Embedding for Diabetic Ulcer Healing
Authors: Xu Ye , Wu Xiangyi , Zhang Xiaoxuan , Zu Yan , Tan Qian , Zhao Yuanjin
Published: October 2022

Stem cells have demonstrated values in diabetic ulcer (DU) treatments. Challenges in this area are focused on enhancing the localized curative effects of stem cells and improving diabetic wound healing efficiently. Herein, a novel living microneedle (MN) patch is presented as a localized delivery system of bioactive platelet derived growth factor D (PDGF‐D) and human adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) for DU wound treatment. Compared with traditional complicated stem cell carriers, the MN patch can keep stem cell viability for ADSCs encapsulation and delivery, and possesses good mechanical strengths to penetrate the local skin wounds noninvasively. It is demonstrated that the delivery ADSCs are with the abilities of angiogenesis promotion during the DU wound healing; while the additive PDGF‐D can contribute significantly to the proliferation of ADSCs, strengthening the cell function of ADSCs and further facilitating the healing processes. Thus, living MN patches accelerate vascularization, tissue regeneration, and collagen deposition in a wounded diabetic mouse model, suggesting their potential application to DU wound healing and other therapeutic applications.
Electronic Modulation of Metal–Organic Frameworks by Interfacial Bridging for Efficient pH‐Universal Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Wang Luqi , Song Li , Yang Zhenyu , Chang Yu‐Ming , Hu Feng , Li Lei , Li Linlin , Chen Han‐Yi , Peng Shengjie
Published: October 2022

Designing well‐defined interfacial chemical bond bridges is an effective strategy to optimize the catalytic activity of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), but it remains challenging. Herein, a facile in situ growth strategy is reported for the synthesis of tightly connected 2D/2D heterostructures by coupling MXene with CoBDC nanosheets. The multifunctional MXene nanosheets with high conductivity and ideal hydrophilicity as bridging carriers can ensure structural stability and sufficient exposure to active sites. Moreover, the Co–O–Ti bond bridging formed at the interface effectively triggers the charge transfer and modulates the electronic structure of the Co‐active site, which enhances the reaction kinetics. As a result, the optimized CoBDC/MXene exhibits superior hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity with low overpotentials of 29, 41, and 76 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline, acidic, and neutral electrolytes, respectively, which is comparable to commercial Pt/C. Theoretical calculation demonstrates that the interfacial bridging‐induced electron redistribution optimizes the free energy of water dissociation and hydrogen adsorption, resulting in improved hydrogen evolution. This study not only provides a novel electrocatalyst for efficient HER at all pH conditions but also opens up a new avenue for designing highly active catalytic systems.
Violet Phosphorus Nanosheet: A Biocompatible and Stable Platform for Stimuli‐Responsive Multimodal Cancer Phototherapy
Authors: Zhao Chen , Han Xiao , Wang Shanshan , Pan ZhenYi , Tang Xiaoying , Jiang Zhenqi
Published: October 2022

As a functional 2D material, black phosphorus (BP) has garnered wide attention from many researchers in recent years. BP has a wide NIR absorption window and is a promising candidate for cancer phototherapy including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, due to its rapid degradation and short shelf‐life in conventional water, the application of BP in the field of cancer therapy is limited. Violet phosphorus (VP), the more stable allotrope of phosphorus, has not yet been investigated for its function and biological application. In this study, VP nanosheets are successfully fabricated by liquid‐phase exfoliation and demonstrated that their shelf‐life in deionized water could be as long as 10 days, which is much longer than that of BP. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, the PDT, PTT, and catalytic therapeutic effects of VP, as well as its excellent biosafety for the first time are shown. VP effectively inhibits tumor growth without causing major side effects. The current study provides new ideas and strategies for the biological application of 2D sheets of phosphorus isotope and lays the foundation for further studies on exploring the biomedical application of phosphorus isotopes.
Confinement of Electrons at the LaInO3/BaSnO3 Heterointerface
Authors: Pfützenreuter Daniel , Kim Seonghyeon , Cho Hyeongmin , Bierwagen Oliver , Zupancic Martina , Albrecht Martin , Char Kookrin , Schwarzkopf Jutta
Published: October 2022

The properties of the conductance at the LaInO3/BaSnO3 heterointerface are reported. The heterointerface is formed by covering the semi‐insulating BaSnO3:La thin films with 10 nm LaInO3 films, which are all epitaxially grown on NdScO3 substrates. Structural properties of BaSnO3 thin films are investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and exhibit a threading dislocation density of 6 × 1010 cm−2. Via capacitance–voltage (C–V) measurements, clear evidence is present for the accumulation of electrons at the interface within 2.5 nm in the BaSnO3 layer, confirming the formation of a 2D electron gas (2DEG). Additionally, temperature dependent Hall effect measurements reveal a semiconducting behavior of the electron density of the 2DEGs. The room temperature mobility of 22 cm2 V−1 s−1 at an electron density of 4 × 1013 cm−2 is found to increase as the temperature decreases to 25 K.
Laser‐Induced Transient Anisotropy and Large Amplitude Magnetization Dynamics in a Gd/FeCo Multilayer
Authors: Blank Thomas G.H. , Hermanussen Sten , Lichtenberg Tom , Rasing Theo , Kirilyuk Andrei , Koopmans Bert , Kimel Alexey V.
Published: October 2022

Ultrafast laser‐induced dynamics in a ferrimagnetic gadolinium iron cobalt (Gd/FeCo) multilayer with a magnetization compensation temperature of TM = 320 K is studied at room temperature as a function of laser‐fluence and strength of the applied magnetic field. The dynamics is found to be substantially different from that in archetypical GdFeCo alloys, and depending on the laser fluence one can distinguish two different regimes. At low laser fluence (⩽1.6 mJ cm‐2), ultrafast laser excitation of the medium triggers spin precession of an extraordinary large amplitude reaching over 30°. At high laser fluence (⩾2.2 mJ cm‐2), the pump heats the medium over the magnetization compensation point, spin precession reduces significantly in amplitude and the process of field‐assisted reversal of magnetization of Gd and FeCo is launched. It is argued that such a distinctly different laser‐induced magnetization dynamics in the multilayers compared to the alloys is due to the symmetry breaking at the numerous interfaces, giving rise to additional surface anisotropy. The temperature dependence of the latter is found to be the key ingredient in the mechanism of ultrafast laser‐induced magnetization dynamics in ferrimagnetic multilayers. Controlling the amount and properties of interfaces in multilayers can thus serve as a mean to achieve efficient ultrafast all‐optical control of magnetism.
Cryogenic Temperature Growth of Sn Thin Films on Ferromagnetic Co(0001)
Authors: Gładczuk Leszek , Gładczuk Łukasz , Dłuzewski Piotr , Aleshkevych Pavlo , Lynnyk Artem , van der Laan Gerrit , Hesjedal Thorsten
Published: October 2022

Topological electronic materials hold great promise for revolutionizing spintronics, owing to their topological protected, spin‐polarized conduction edge or surface state. One of the key bottlenecks for the practical use of common binary and ternary topological insulator materials is the large defect concentration that leads to a high background carrier concentration. Elemental tin in its α‐phase is a room temperature topological semimetal, which is intrinsically less prone to defect‐related shortcomings. Recently, the growth of ultrathin α‐Sn films on ferromagnetic Co surfaces has been achieved; however, thicker films are needed to reach the 3D topological Dirac semimetallic state. Here, the growth of α‐Sn films on Co at cryogenic temperatures was explored. Very low‐temperature growth holds the promise of suppressing undesired phases, alloying across the interfaces, as well as the formation of Sn pillars or hillocks. Nevertheless, the critical Sn layer thickness of ≈3 atomic layers, above which the film partially transforms into the undesired b‐phase, remains the same as for room‐temperature growth. From ferromagnetic resonance studies, and supported by electron microscopy, it can be concluded that for cryogenic Sn layer growth, the interface between Sn and Co remains sharp and the magnetic properties of the Co layer stay intact.