bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel high‐gain omnidirectional antenna using near‐zero‐index metamaterials
Authors: Guo Yao , Zhao Jing , Zhao Xiaopeng
Published: April 2022

Antennas applied in wireless communications are required to have omnidirectional radiation in horizontal plane and low profile. But, the low profile make the antenna challenging to obtain high horizontal gain. In this paper, we proposed a novel high gain antenna with near‐zero‐index metamaterial (NZIM). The horizontal gain of antenna with omnidirectional radiation is improved by 1.30 dBi. In addition, the increment of horizontal gain increases as the refractive index of NZIM unit approaches zero. It can be applied to further optimize the horizontal gain. This novel antenna has low profile (about 0.034λ) with high horizontal gain and omnidirectional radiation, which is suitable for wireless communications.
New Reactive Formulations For Polypropylene Foams
Authors: Rainglet Benoit , Verron Lucas , Chalamet Yvan , Bounor‐Legaré Véronique , Delage Karim , Forest Charlène , Cassagnau Philippe
Published: April 2022

This work focuses on reactive extrusion to design polypropylene (PP) chains with long and short branching to obtain non‐linear behavior for the synthesis of low‐density foams (<100 kg m−3) using a batch supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) foaming process. From a maleic anhydride (MA) grafted PP (PP‐g‐MA), the long‐branched chains are performed using [MA]/ [OH] reaction (with Sorbitol alcohol). On the other hand, short branched chains are made from the hydrolysis/condensation of amino‐alkoxysilane (3‐Aminopropyl‐triethoxysilane, APTES) in situ grafted onto PP chains through the ([MA]/NH2] reaction). The results show the need to combine both systems to reach the optimum of the rheological behavior (linear and non‐linear) to obtain a low‐density foam. On the other hand, the foaming behavior of polypropylene/polyamide 6 (PP/PA6) polymer blends at T = 180 °C is also investigated as another way to control the rheology and foamy behavior. At this temperature, T = 180 °C, the PA6 phase behaves as solid dispersed particles in a viscoelastic liquid PP matrix. Finally, this study shows the influence of PA6 concentration on the foaming and foam morphology correlated to a rheological study (shear and extensional) and mechanical compressive properties.
Inverting elastic dislocations using the Weakly‐enforced Slip Method
Authors: van Zwieten Gertjan , van Brummelen E. Harald , Hanssen Ramon F.
Published: April 2022

Earthquakes cause lasting changes in static equilibrium, resulting in global deformation fields that can be observed. Consequently, deformation measurements such as those provided by satellite based InSAR monitoring can be used to infer an earthquake's faulting mechanism. This inverse problem requires a numerical forward model that is both accurate and fast, as typical inverse procedures require many evaluations. The Weakly‐enforced Slip Method (WSM) was developed to meet these needs, but it was not before applied in an inverse problem setting. Consequently, it was unknown what affects particular properties of the WSM, notably its inherent continuity, have on the inversion process. Here we show that the WSM can accurately recover slip distributions in a Bayesian‐inference setting, provided that data points in the vicinity of the fault are removed. In a representative scenario, an element size of 1 km was found to be sufficiently fine to generate a posterior probability distribution that is close to the theoretical optimum. For rupturing faults a masking zone of 10 km sufficed to avoid numerical disturbances that would otherwise be induced by the discretization error. These results demonstrate that the WSM is a viable forward method for earthquake inversion problems. While our synthesized scenario is basic for reasons of validation, our results are expected to generalize to the wider gamut of scenarios that finite element methods are able to capture. This has the potential to bring modeling flexibility to a field that is often forced to impose model restrictions in a concession to computability.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy ex vivo: A short historical review
Authors: Griffiths John R.
Published: April 2022

Over the last half century, there have been several periods during which magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been used ex vivo, for a variety of reasons, on samples such as microorganisms, cells, animal or human tissue, tissue extracts or biological fluids. These studies began in the days before the acronym MRS had been invented, when all such methods were still called nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and have extended to the present day. I will describe the historical development of NMR methods used ex vivo, their influences on the development of MRS in vivo, and their longer‐term uses. All the interpretations will be personal, based on what I saw, or discussed with colleagues at the time.
Abnormal bone loss in the external auditory canal of two adult humans from the medieval period of Germany—An attempt at differential diagnosis
Authors: Flohr Stefan , Kierdorf Uwe
Published: April 2022

Abnormal loss of bone in the external auditory canal (EAC) constitutes an underreported condition in paleopathology. Thus far, all reported cases were diagnosed as the result of an external ear canal cholesteatoma (EACC). Here, we report two cases from the medieval period in Germany that show enlarged EACs with perforations of the anterior and posterior EAC walls. The cases were studied macroscopically, with a digital stereo microscope and by conventional X‐ray and computed tomography (CT)‐imaging techniques. In Case 1, the resorption caused a “ballooning” of the EAC while signs of osteonecrosis were missing. We therefore conclude that keratosis obturans (KO) is the most likely diagnosis. In Case 2, the periantral region adjacent to the perforations of the posterior EAC wall exhibits large resorption cavities and sequestrum‐like structures, indicative of osteonecrosis. In this case, we arrive at the diagnosis EACC. Ear diseases encompass a broad spectrum of conditions, many of them with potentially severe impacts on past people. It is therefore suggested to address ear diseases more frequently in paleopathology. Thus far, only a very limited number of entities of ear diseases have been diagnosed in paleopathological studies, and no case of KO has been reported. The present study thus expands the spectrum of paleo‐otopathological diagnoses.
Disinfectants role in the prevention of spreading the COVID‐19 and other infectious diseases: The need for functional polymers!
Authors: Kunduru Konda Reddy , Kutner Neta , Nassar‐Marjiya Eid , Shaheen‐Mualim Merna , Rizik Luna , Farah Shady
Published: April 2022

The spreading of coronavirus through droplets and aerosols of an infected person is a well‐known mechanism. The main protection methods from this virus are using disinfectants/sanitizers, face masks, keeping social distance, and vaccination. With the rapid mutations of the virus accompanied by its features and contagions changing, new advanced functional materials development is highly needed. The usage of disinfectants/sanitizers in excess generates poisonous effects among the general public. Effective and simultaneously, human‐friendly sanitizers or disinfectants are required to prevent the poisoning and the associated issues. They minimize the toxic effects of the currently available materials by rapid action, high potential, long‐term stability, and excellent biocompatible nature. Here, we summarize the available antiviral materials, their features, and their limitations. We highlight the need to develop an arsenal of advanced functional antiviral polymers with intrinsic bioactive functionalities or released bioactive moieties in a controlled manner for rapid and long‐term actions for current and future anticipated viral outbreaks.
Energy Performance of HMX‐Based Aluminized Explosives Containing Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Authors: Cao Wei , Ran Jianlong , Wang Haoxu , Guo Wei , Lu Xiaojun , Wang Jun
Published: April 2022

Investigation of the energy performance of HMX‐based aluminized explosives added with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) oxidizer was undertaken and compared with the PTFE‐free aluminized explosive of similar formulation. Firstly, the heat of explosion was measured in a calorimetric bomb, next the underwater explosion was conducted, then the cylinder expansion test was performed, and finally, the detonation reaction zone parameters were determined by the interface particle velocity experiment. Compared with the PTFE‐free aluminized explosive, the addition of PTFE into aluminized explosives increases the heat of explosion significantly from the calorimetric data. The PTFE‐containing aluminized explosive also yields the longer first bubble oscillation time in the underwater explosion than the PTFE‐free and ammonium perchlorate‐containing counterparts. From the cylinder test data, the wall velocity and Gurney energy were determined. The aluminized HMX containing PTFE shows an inferior acceleration ability to PTFE‐free aluminized HMX, but exhibits a stronger afterburning potential. The addition of PTFE to aluminized HMX decreases detonation velocity and CJ pressure and increases the detonation reaction zone time and length. It has reasons to believe that the PTFE partially decomposes in detonation reaction zone. Conclusions on the potential use and suggestion for future research of PTFE as an oxidizer in aluminized explosives are drawn.
Prostate cancer awareness among transgender women after gender‐affirming surgery
Authors: Pitak‐Arnnop Poramate , Messer‐Peti Robert , Tangmanee Chatpong , Neff Andreas , Meningaud Jean‐Paul
Published: April 2022

Background

The prostate gland remains unresected during gender‐affirming surgery (GAS) for transgender women (TGW), and may develop malignancies in later life. We sought to evaluate prostate cancer awareness (PCA) among post‐GAS TGW.

Methods

The investigators implemented a cross‐sectional study and enrolled a sample of Thai post‐GAS TGW without medical background. Predictor variables were categorized as demographic, clinical, operative, or postoperative. The outcome variable was PCA (yes/no). Appropriate statistics were computed, and a p‐value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The sample consisted of 100 Thai post‐GAS TGW (4% bisexual, 12% bachelor [or higher] graduates, 51% service workers, 64% had monthly net income <40,000 TB [or ca. 1050 Euro], 92% operated by plastic surgeons) with a mean age of 26.2 ± 5.4 years (range: 18–45). On bivariate analysis, PCA was significantly associated with educational level (p = 0.007; adjusted odd ratio [ORadj.]: 5.85; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.65–20.69), being operated ≥ 10 years  (p = 0.01; ORadj.: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04–0.76), self‐recognition of the remaining prostate gland (p = 0.0001; ORadj.: 0.02; 95% CI: 0–0.12), and emphasis on PCA by the GAS operator (p = 0.01; ORadj.: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.01–0.63). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a statistically significant, positive correlation (r = 0.78; p = 0.0001) among these four predictors, and continued to confirm the positive effect on PCA in TGW with high education and realization of the prostate gland (r = 0.56; p = 0.04) or information on PCA by the operator (r = 0.68; p = 0.003).

Conclusion

The GSA operator should intensively inform TGW about the remnant prostate and the risk of PC, especially those with low and middle levels of education attained.
A comprehensive review of zebra chip disease in potato and its management through breeding for resistance/tolerance to ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ and its insect vector
Authors: Prager Sean M , Cohen Abigail , Cooper W Rodney , Novy Richard , Rashed Arash , Wenninger Erik J , Wallis Christopher
Published: April 2022

Zebra chip disease (ZC), associated with the plant pathogenic bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (psyllaurous) (CLso), is a major threat to global potato production. In addition to yield loss, CLso infection causes discoloration in the tubers, rendering them unmarketable. CLso is transmitted by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae). ZC is managed by prophylactic insecticide applications to control the vector, which is costly and carries environmental and human health risks. Given the expense, difficulty, and unsustainability of managing vector‐borne diseases with insecticides, identifying sources of resistance to CLso and developing varieties that are resistant or tolerant to CLso and/or potato psyllids has become a major goal of breeding efforts. These efforts include field and laboratory evaluations of noncultivated germplasm and cultivars, studies of tubers in cold storage, detailed quantifications of biochemical responses to infection with CLso, possible mechanisms underlying insect resistance, and traditional examination of potato quality following infections. This review provides a brief history of ZC and potato psyllid, a summary of currently available tools to manage ZC, and a comprehensive review of breeding efforts for ZC and potato psyllid management within the greater context of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
Aligned Porous Structure of (Ba,Ca)(Ti,Zr)O3 Piezoelectric Ceramics for Enhanced Catalytic Activity
Authors: Samma Takahiro , Fuchigami Teruaki , Nakamura Shuichi , Fey Tobias , Kakimoto Ken-ichi
Published: April 2022

The effect of pore orientation and pore volume on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties as well as the piezocatalytic activity of lead‐free porous (Ba,Ca)(Ti,Zr)O3 (BCTZ) are investigated. The pore orientation in BCTZ is controlled using a freeze‐casting method. Two types of porous BCTZ samples, i.e., A‐BCTZ and B‐BCTZ, are prepared by cutting them in parallel and perpendicular directions, respectively, to the longitudinal pore direction. The samples with 30% porosity indicate that the permittivity of A‐BCTZ is 648, less than 1/3 of that of B‐BCTZ (2059). A‐BCTZ also exhibits the highest hydrostatic voltage coefficient (gh, 9.26 × 10−3 Vm N−1), which is approximately 1.7 times higher than B‐BCTZ and 50 times higher than the dense BCTZ sample. Photo–piezocatalytic effect is investigated by a methylene blue (MB) degradation test under UV light while applying ultrasonic wave, and the catalytic activity of the poled porous BCTZs shows much higher than the dense BCTZ by their large specific surface area. Thus, porous piezoelectric materials are promising as a semipermanently available catalyst to replace nanoparticles whose specific surface area is reduced likely by agglomeration.
Water‐resistant conductive organogels with sensation and actuation functions for artificial neuro‐sensory muscular systems
Authors: Zhang Zhixing , Yu Yunfei , Yu Huitao , Feng Yiyu , Feng Wei
Published: April 2022

The development of functional flexible conductive materials can significantly contribute to the improvement of intelligent human–computer integration. However, it is a challenge to endow human–machine interface with perception and response actuation simultaneously. Herein, a customizable and multifunctional electronic conductive organogel is proposed by combining conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) clusters and flexible adhesive organogels. The conductive CNT cluster layers generated on the surface of organogels equip the resulting organogel‐based conductors with considerable quasi‐superhydrophobicity and increase their potential applicability as highly sensitive stress and strain sensors. In particular, this quasi‐superhydrophobicity is insensitive to tensile strain. Based on customizable conductive networks and entropy‐driven organogel actuation, the conductive organogels can sense various strain and stress signals and imitate natural organisms with muscle actuation and neurofeedback. This strategy for preparing electronic conductors can enhance the rational design of soft robotics and artificial intelligence devices, facilitating further progress of human‐like intelligent systems.
ExVivoMicroTest: ExVivo Testing of Microservices
Authors: Gazzola Luca , Goldstein Maayan , Mariani Leonardo , Mobilio Marco , Segall Itai , Tundo Alessandro , Ussi Luca
Published: April 2022

Microservice‐based applications consist of multiple services that can evolve independently. When a service must be updated, it is first tested with in‐house regression test suites. However, the test suites that are executed are usually designed without the exact knowledge about how the services will be accessed and used in the field; therefore, they may easily miss relevant test scenarios, failing to prevent the deployment of faulty services. To address this problem, we introduce ExVivoMicroTest, an approach that analyzes the execution of deployed services at run‐time in the field, in order to generate test cases for future versions of the same services. ExVivoMicroTest implements lightweight monitoring and tracing capabilities, to inexpensively record executions that can be later turned into regression test cases that capture how services are used in the field. To prevent accumulating an excessive number of test cases, ExVivoMicroTest uses a test coverage model that can discriminate the recorded executions between the ones that are worth to be turned into test cases and the ones that should be discarded. The resulting test cases use a mocked environment that fully isolates the service under test from the rest of the system to faithfully reply interactions. We assessed ExVivoMicroTest with the PiggyMetrics and Train Ticket open source microservice applications and studied how different configurations of the monitoring and tracing logic impact on the capability to generate test cases.
Superhalogen Passivation for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Kim Hobeom , Lim Jaekeun , Sohail Muhammad , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja
Published: April 2022

Metal‐halide perovskites are optoelectronic materials applied to solar cells as a light absorber due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. The power conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) reaches 25.7% certified, which stands in comparison with Si solar cells. Importantly, compositional engineering of perovskites has been one of the keys to the breakthrough. However, the presence of defects within perovskites is a matter of importance as it can cause nonradiative recombination of charge carriers. In addition, defect migration can degrade the photovoltaic performance and stability of PSCs. Previous studies have commonly addressed that iodide‐related defects such as interstitial iodide and iodide vacancy are problematic due to their low formation energy. Thus, halide engineering is imperative to mitigate the defect‐related dynamics and improve the materials quality of perovskites. In this sense, superhalogen is a promising candidate for defect passivation and stabilization of perovskites based on its higher electronegativity and electron affinity than halides, which are beneficial to the formation of a more robust interaction with adjacent elements in perovskites. This perspective gives an overview of studies regarding the use of superhalogen to develop efficient and stable PSCs and concludes with an outlook of further research directions.
Integrated Coordination Improvement of Droop Control for Medium and Low Voltage DC Distribution Network
Authors: Lyu Yanling , Li Xiaowei , Wang Shuo , Zhang Yuchen
Published: April 2022

In view of the traditional droop control, when the DC distribution network is disturbed or faulted, the transient voltage stability of the DC distribution network is poor due to the nonlinearity of the system and the fixed droop coefficient. The actual operation of the converter station margin cannot be considered, which is prone to full load problem. In order to solve the above problem, firstly, we propose an adaptive comprehensive coordinated improvement droop control strategy, including an outer loop adaptive droop control part which considers the power margin and voltage deviation compensation respectively, as well as an inner loop current adaptive discrete sliding mode control part. Moreover, the power margin and voltage deviation of each converter station are considered comprehensively, through a real‐time adaptive adjustment of the droop coefficient, to reasonably distribute the unbalanced power within the DC grid after disturbance and reduce the deviation of the DC voltage. Finally, we use a four‐terminal medium and low voltage DC distribution of the system to attain the simulation results as an example which verifies the effectiveness and correctness of the proposed control strategy. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Reading Beyond the Book with Primary Sources
Authors: Rodríguez Noreen Naseem , Falkner Anna , Bohl Elizabeth Tetu
Published: April 2022

In a time when some nonfiction historical books for children and young adults have drawn concern and critique for sharing difficult histories, teachers may be looking for ways to contextualize those narratives and provide more support for students as they engage in these histories. Going beyond the book with primary sources can help provide that context, and can create opportunities for critical reflection, historical thinking, and analysis.
Artificial intelligence for climate change adaptation
Authors: Cheong So‐Min , Sankaran Kris , Bastani Hamsa
Published: April 2022

Although artificial intelligence (AI; inclusive of machine learning) is gaining traction supporting climate change projections and impacts, limited work has used AI to address climate change adaptation. We identify this gap and highlight the value of AI especially in supporting complex adaptation choices and implementation. We illustrate how AI can effectively leverage precise, real‐time information in data‐scarce settings. We focus on supervised learning, transfer learning, reinforcement learning, and multimodal learning to illustrate how innovative AI methods can enable better‐informed choices, tailor adaptation measures to heterogenous groups and generate effective synergies and trade‐offs.

This article is categorized under:

Application Areas > Government and Public Sector
Unfolding the Quantification of Quality of Life
Authors: Wulfovich Sharon , Buur Jeppe , Wac Katarzyna
Published: April 2022

Quality of life (QoL) refers to an individual’s well-being including their physical and psychological health, social relationships, and environmental domains. Current assessments of QoL are mostly qualitative and infrequent, following a self-reported approach. However, the recent widespread availability of personalized and miniaturized technological innovations, including mobile devices and applications, has enabled the continuous assessment of daily life behaviors that contribute to or result from the individual’s QoL. The continuous assessment of behaviors facilitates an enhanced understanding of an individual’s short-term as well as long-term health and QoL. This chapter outlines the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL, and specifically the WHOQOL-BREF) instrument, which provides a way to categorize the behaviors and aspects of daily life that contribute to an individual’s QoL. As a result, the WHOQOL-BREF presented here serves as the organizational method for this book. Additionally, this chapter presents 71 technology-enabled daily life assessment studies conducted by “quantified-selfers” across the span of the last 6 years, and draws lessons learned by the community. Overall, this chapter illustrates how technology-enabled assessments of an individual’s daily life behaviors and QoL can complement current self-reported QoL assessments. Following this, each chapter within this book elaborates on technology-enabled assessments of a specific dimension of an individual’s QoL.
Your Smartphone Knows you Better than you May Think: Emotional Assessment ‘on the Go’ Via TapSense
Authors: Ghosh Surjya , Löchner Johanna , Mitra Bivas , De Pradipta
Published: April 2022

Quality of life (QoL) is a subjective term often determined by various aspects of living, such as personal well-being, health, family, and safety. QoL is challenging to capture objectively but can be anticipated through a person’s emotional state; especially positive emotions indicate an increased QoL and may be a potential indicator for other QoL aspects (such as health, safety). Affective computing is the study of technologies that can quantitatively assess human emotions from external clues. It can leverage different modalities including facial expression, physiological responses, or smartphone usage patterns and correlate them with the person’s life quality assessments. Smartphones are emerging as a main modality, mostly because of their ubiquitous availability and use throughout daily life activities. They include a plethora of onboard sensors (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS) and can sense different user activities passively (e.g., mobility, app usage history). This chapter presents a research study (here referred to as the TapSense study) that focuses on assessing the individual’s emotional state from the smartphone usage patterns. In this TapSense study, the keyboard interaction of n = 22 participants was unobtrusively monitored for 3 weeks to determine the users’ emotional state (i.e., happy, sad, stressed, relaxed) using a personalized machine learning model. TapSense can assess emotions with an average AUCROC of 78%(±7% std). We summarize the findings and reflect upon these in the context of the potential developments within affective computing at large, in the long term, indicating a person’s quality of life.
The Elusive Quantification of Self-Esteem: Current Challenges and Future Directions
Authors: De Dominicis Stefano , Molinario Erica
Published: April 2022

Self-esteem, a person’s overall evaluation that she is valued and accepted vs. devalued and rejected by others, is crucial for people quality of life. As such, self-esteem has been central in the social-psychological literature since the late eighteenth century. However, its relevance is coupled with lack of agreement on how self-esteem is best conceived and assessed. Here we review definitions and measures of self-esteem in relation to quality of life in order (a) to understand how self-esteem has been defined, operationalized and assessed, and (b) to clarify which facets of self-esteem have been overlooked and need further study. Although we found multiple definitions of self-esteem, which led to a series of measures ranging from single item to multi-dimensional measures of state, trait and contingent self-esteem, the motivational component of self-esteem and its in-context behavioral correlates have yet to be operationalized. What follows, is that whether people think, feel, or behave in particular ways is caused by, concomitant with, or causes self-esteem, is still not understood. Because self-esteem is an emotionally laden system monitoring one’s relational value to others, we suggest that future research could use new technology-based research methods and eventually grasp real-time self-report and behavioral assessment of self-esteem. This appears a promising approach to overcome the limitations of self-esteem’s current theorizations and operationalizations. Thus, a new line of research considering the momentary experience of self-esteem, its behavioral components and its social context, could potentially unveil novel processes and mechanisms linking self-esteem and quality of life that have yet to be discovered and understood.
Beyond Pen and Paper: Reimagining Assessment of Personal Relationships and Quality of Life Using Digital Technologies
Authors: Nakić Matej , Mikloušić Igor
Published: April 2022

Personal interactions are an important element of an individual’s health and life quality in the long term. As the site of many interpersonal interactions has been moved to the digital domain, human society has never been more intertwined. The digital footprints of interpersonal interactions can be quantified and measured via smartphones and wearables, providing more objective, quantitative, and accurate measurements. This chapter focuses on quantifying personal relationships in the context of quality of life, specifically focusing on novel technology-based quantification solutions. It first analyzes traditional qualitative quality of life measures based on subjective self-reporting that include measures of personal relationships, specifically the WHOQOL-BREF, WHOQOL-100, RAND-36, KIDSCREEN-27, SWLS, and Beach Center FQOL, as well as other non-validated measures. The chapter then proposes novel technological solutions for data gathering and analysis by introducing the concept of digital item representation, a process that leverages personal datasets originating from smartphones and wearables. The chapter also discusses issues relating to users’ privacy that influence the acceptance of such everyday technologies as well as the quality of data collected in the long term.
Sexual Function and Quality of Life: Assessing Existing Tools and Considerations for New Technologies
Authors: Barger Diana
Published: April 2022

Sexual activity is an important facet of social functioning and quality of life (QoL) reflected in its inclusion in the World Health Organization’s generic, 26-item, quality of life instrument, the WHOQOL-BREF, in the item “how satisfied are you with your sex life?” Several instruments designed to assess sexual activity, function or QoL have been developed, varying in their scope, measurement properties, and applicability to certain populations. Evidence from literature reviews of instruments was synthesized to (a) identify generic self-administered instruments, which have been developed for research or clinical practice in adults and (b) to investigate their scope, psychometric properties, and applicability. We then considered these methods together with emerging Quality of Life Technologies. In total, 110 instruments were identified via nine reviews and 31 generic instruments were retained. There was a good evidence of the instruments’ internal consistency and reliability, but limited evidence of their responsiveness to change. While 31 instruments provide an adequate assessment of function/sexual QoL, fitting with COSMIN guidance, their scope varied and only three of these were developed since the revision of the definition of sexual dysfunction in 2013. Computerized self-reported measures may facilitate data collection yet were rarely discussed by authors. This meta-review has compiled evidence on generic instruments that can improve the collection of data on sexual function/QoL in research and clinical practice. We also discuss the emerging use of applications, connected wearables and devices that may provide another less invasive avenue for the assessment of sexual function/QoL at the individual and population level.
Artificial Intelligence and Quality of Life: Four Scenarios for Personal Security and Safety in the Future
Authors: Mercuri Chapuis Sylvaine
Published: April 2022

Artificial Intelligence (AI) paves the way for many innovations and undoubtedly impacts individuals’ quality of life (QoL). It is also a risk factor, especially when it comes to personal safety and security. In today’s world, however, every person has a role to play in identifying and managing the risks of using AI, not only the AI experts. The first essential step in identifying those risks is to know individuals’ attitudes and motivations regarding the use of AI and the behaviors and practices of AI use (or non-use) they engage in. In 2016 and 2017, we surveyed 1000 bachelor’s and master’s students from various academic departments in Western Switzerland. We aimed to explore their current attitudes and motivations and outline scenarios for possible futures focusing on AI, security, safety, and QoL in Switzerland. This chapter summarizes the survey results and discusses individuals’ behaviors and interactions in the context of the identified scenarios. Based on the scenarios, we attempted to determine how businesses and governments in the present might seize future opportunities offered by AI while also addressing some of the implications of AI for individuals’ QoL. Our research results may serve as starting points to enrich discussion concerning AI and QoL and help individuals, along with businesses and governments, make better decisions in an increasingly connected world.
TRAWEL: A Transportation and Wellbeing Conceptual Framework for Broadening the Understanding of Quality of Life
Authors: Chidambaram Bhuvanachithra
Published: April 2022

Transportation has been recently recognized as a key element in the study of individual Quality of Life (QoL). However, relatively little is known about the interconnectedness between various transport dimensions and wellbeing measures. In scoping the existing literature, the chapter identifies studies reporting on a link between one of the seven transport indicators (mobility, affordability, accessibility, connectivity, externality, travel needs, and attitudes) and QoL. Based on the scoping review, a conceptual framework (TRAWEL) was deductively developed to understand wellbeing measures in five broader dimensions of transportation: transportation infrastructure, the built environment, and transport externalities at a societal level, travel and time use, and travel satisfaction at the individual level. Furthermore, the data requirements for accurate quantification and the possible study groups of interest are also discussed. The chapter concludes by summarizing the key points of the framework and by highlighting policy implications and areas for future research.
Technologies for Quantifying Sleep: Improved Quality of Life or Overwhelming Gadgets?
Authors: Roomkham Sirinthip , Ploderer Bernd , Smith Simon , Perrin Dimitri
Published: April 2022

Sleep is critical for a healthy, engaged and satisfying life. A large proportion of our lives is spent asleep, and a large proportion of our housing, resources, expenditure, and attention are dedicated to it. Good sleep strongly predicts better outcomes across a very broad range of life-long health, social, and industrial indices. Poor sleep has very significant and costly impacts upon physical and mental health (including metabolic health, depression, and anxiety), learning and education outcomes, and work-related outcomes (including stress, absenteeism, safety and performance). The social importance of good sleep can be seen in robust associations between sleep and loneliness, isolation, perceived social support, family and interpersonal relationships, and broader community participation and engagement. The availability and power of new sleep tracking devices mean that access and opportunity for satisfactory, satisfying, and sufficient sleep could be greatly increased. In this Chapter, we discuss the importance of sleep for quality of life and the limitations of existing monitoring technologies. We then introduce new tracking technologies and consider their benefits as well as potential pitfalls.
Der Identitätskonflikt zwischen Entdeckern und Verteidigern: Ein erster Überblick
Authors: Back Mitja , Echterhoff Gerald , Müller Olaf , Pollack Detlef , Schlipphak Bernd
Published: April 2022

Dieses Kapitel diskutiert den Identitätskonflikt als neue gesellschaftliche Konfliktlinie. Als Ergebnis einer großen internationalen Umfrage-Studie, deren methodologische Grundlagen wir ausführlich vorstellen, zeigen wir auf, dass sich in der Gesellschaft zwei Gruppen im Hinblick auf ihre Identitätskonzepte diametral gegenüberstehen. Wir nennen diese beiden Gruppen Entdecker und Verteidiger und präsentieren in Kap. 1 erste Befunde zu länderübergreifenden Ähnlichkeiten und Unterschieden in Bezug auf diese beiden Gruppen.
Study of Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activities and Hygroscopic Properties Based on Core-Shell Model
Authors: Zhang Zefeng , Qin Xin , Wang Weiwei
Published: April 2022

Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activities and hygroscopic properties of aerosol particles were studied based on the core-shell model with extended Köhler equation. Three kinds of core-shell particles were mainly considered: (1) insoluble core and soluble inorganic shell; (2) insoluble core and organic shell with limited solubility; (3) organic core with limited solubility and soluble inorganic shell. Results of the model calculations showed that Köhler curves of aerosol particles were different from classical Köhler curves of inorganic particles. Particle size, chemical composition and mass fraction of components all influence the curve shape, and the curve might show one or more extreme points of supersaturation. Critical supersaturation decreased when the mass fraction of the shell increased. This implied that the heterogeneous chemical reaction that happened to suspended particles in air could increase shell mass fraction and make particles more CCN active and hygroscopic. When the three models were compared, particles in model 3 were most CCN active, while those in model 2 were least CCN active. If the shell mass fraction was 0.1–0.2 for model 3 and 0.3–0.4 for model 1, the calculated hygroscopic parameter κ was closer to historical measuring results of 0.2–0.3 in polluted areas in China while the hygroscopic parameter would never be close to measuring results in model 2 no matter how high the shell mass fraction was. Based on discussion of two component particles of the core-shell model, more components in core-shell model could be considered, and the calculations were discussed in this article.
Fallbericht zur Entstehung einer medialen Gonarthrose nach Innenmeniskusläsion und erfolgter Teilresektion
Authors: Finger Felix , Ahrend Marc-Daniel , Ihle Christoph , Histing Tina , Schröter Steffen
Published: April 2022

Meniskusverletzungen führen zur Veränderung der Belastungsverteilung im Kniegelenk. Das Risiko, eine Gonarthrose zu entwickeln, steigt mit Zunahme der resezierten Meniskusfläche. Der Fallbericht zeigt, basierend auf 4 MRT-Untersuchungen, die über einen Zeitraum von 8 Jahren stattfanden, die fortschreitende Knorpeldegeneration nach traumatischer Innenmeniskusläsion und resultierender Teilresektion eines zum Unfallzeitpunkt 46-jährigen Patienten. Angeborene oder unfallunabhängige Risikofaktoren wie eine varische Beinachse müssen bei einer möglichen Begutachtung Berücksichtigung finden.
Metal Accumulation and DNA Damage in Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus After Chronic Exposure to Discharges of the Batts Drain: Potential Risk to Human Health
Authors: Moussa Moussa Attia , Mohamed Hanan Ramadan H. , Abdel-Khalek Amr Adel
Published: April 2022

The present work showed the impact of long-term exposure to the Batts drain’s discharges on O. niloticus and C. gariepinus fish species. The accumulation level of Cu, Zn, Fe, Cd, Pb and Al in five vital tissues was markedly elevated near the Batts drain (site2) compared to the samples from the reference site (site 1). At the same site, C. gariepinus displayed the highest accumulation capacities when compared to O. niloticus. Based on the metal pollution index, livers and kidneys, followed by gills, showed the maximum overall metal load. The degree of DNA damage (assessed by comet and diphenylamine assays) was relative to the accumulated metals in tissues with species and site specification. The values of the hazard index for human consumption showed that the studied metals were within safe values at normal consumption rates. While harmful health consequences were observed at the habitual consumption level at site 2.
Approximation schemes for stochastic compliance-based topology optimization with many loading scenarios
Authors: Tarek Mohamed , Ray Tapabrata
Published: April 2022

In this paper, approximation schemes are proposed for handling load uncertainty in compliance-based topology optimization problems, where the uncertainty is described in the form of a set of finitely many loading scenarios. Efficient approximate methods are proposed to approximately evaluate and differentiate either (1) the mean compliance, or (2) a class of scalar-valued function of the individual load compliances such as the weighted sum of the mean and standard deviation. The computational time complexities of the proposed algorithms are analyzed, compared to the exact approaches and then experimentally verified. Finally, some mean compliance minimization problems and some risk-averse compliance minimization problems are solved for verification.
Coaxiality error analysis and optimization of cylindrical parts of CNC turning process
Authors: Rangappa Ravichandra , Patel G. C. Manjunath , Chate Ganesh R. , Lokare Deepak , Lakshmikanthan Avinash , Giasin Khaled , Pimenov Danil Yu.
Published: April 2022

High precision rotary shafts with precise geometrical tolerances are generally mounted with a micron level clearance between the gears and casing during operation in industrial applications. Dynamics cyclic loads are inevitable in most of these applications which has an adverse effect on the fatigue life of the critical parts. Ensuring close dimensional tolerances and coaxiality during machining is highly desirable, as it affects the rotary characteristics in many applications. Thus, control of coaxiality error plays a vital role in rotating shafts and high precision machine tools. However, use of high precision machining would drastically increase the cost of manufacturing. Thus, a cost-effective machining process that could potentially reduce the coaxiality error is of high industrial importance. The present research efforts made an attempt to achieve minimum coaxiality error on cylindrical machined parts by optimizing parameters (cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and cutting tool nose radius). Experiments are planned, viz. central composite design matrix and statistical analysis determine the influence of machine parameters on coaxiality error of high-strength Al 7075 alloy by applying response surface methodology. Feed rate and depth of cut factors showed significant effect on coaxiality error. All machining parameters showed a non-linear effect on coaxiality error, which defines the strong interaction factor effects. The empirical equations derived were used to minimize coaxiality error by determining a set of machining parameters, viz. applying Big-Bang and Big Crunch and Rao (Rao-1, Rao-2 and Rao-3) algorithms. Rao algorithms outperform the Big-Bang and Big Crunch algorithm both in computation effort and solution accuracy. The results of Rao algorithms are experimentally verified, which resulted in reduced coaxiality error equal to 1.013 µm and resulted in 72.6% improvement compared to CCD experiments.
Success factors for lean six sigma projects in healthcare
Authors: Sohal Amrik , De Vass Tharaka , Vasquez Tristan , Bamber Greg J. , Bartram Timothy , Stanton Pauline
Published: April 2022

Identifying critical success factors (CSFs) of continuous improvement projects is crucial for management control and operations management domains. Despite the availability of manufacturing-related literature, studies on CSFs in more dynamic and complex healthcare-related operations are scarce. This study, based at a large public tertiary healthcare organization, identifies CSFs in implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS). 62 LSS projects completed by Green Belts in consultation with Black Belts were analyzed for project success by a review team of practitioners (Black Belters) and academics. Using a grounded theory approach, numerous success factors were initially identified. A series of brainstorming sessions and workshops helped to narrow down and revise all the CSFs present in each of the 62 LSS projects to eight CSFs. The success of the 62 completed projects was assessed against each of the eight CSFs on a five-point Likert scale. Success was measured against whether the project met its stated aim and achieved the Key Performance Indicators that had initially been identified. Finally, the correlations of each factor rating against project success were analyzed to validate the relationship between each success factor and project success. The findings confirm that all eight CSFs identified are significantly correlated to project success. This study contributes to the management control, operations management, and healthcare literature by identifying CSFs of continuous improvement projects and introducing a relatively unique, rigorous, and practically proven evaluation method applied via an industry and academic partnership. Specified CSFs and the method used to identify these will benefit managers of continuous improvement projects.
Differences in renal cortex transcriptional profiling of wild-type and novel type B cystinuria model rats
Authors: Zhang Zihan , Zheng Rui , Chen Zhoutong , Zhan Xia , Fang Xiaoliang , Liu Meizhen , Li Yongmei , Xu Yonghu , Li Dali , Geng Hongquan , Zhang Xiaohui , Xu Guofeng
Published: April 2022

Cystinuria is a genetic disorder of cystine transport that accounts for 1–2% of all cases of renal lithiasis. It is characterized by hyperexcretion of cystine in urine and recurrent cystine lithiasis. Defective transport of cystine into epithelial cells of renal tubules occurs because of mutations of the transport heterodimer, including protein b0,+AT (encoded by SLC7A9) and rBAT (encoded by SLC3A1) linked through a covalent disulfide bond. Study generated a novel type B cystinuria rat model by artificially deleting 7 bp ofSlc7a9gene exon 3 using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, and thoseSlc7a9-deficient rats were proved to be similar with cystinuria in terms of genome, transcriptome, translation, and biologic phenotypes with no off-target editing. Subsequent comparisons of renal histopathology indicated model rats gained typical secondary changes as medullary fibrosis with no stone formation. A total of 689 DEGs (383 upregulated and 306 downregulated) were differentially expressed in the renal cortex of cystinuria rats. In accordance with the functional annotation of DEGs, the potential role of glutathione metabolism processes in the kidney of cystinuria rat model was proposed, and KEGG analysis results showed that knock-out ofSlc7a9gene triggered more biological changes which has not been studied. In short, for the first time, a rat model and its transcriptional database that mimics the pathogenesis and clinical consequences of human type B cystinuria were generated.
Nonlinear Filtering of Partially Observed Systems Arising in Singular Stochastic Optimal Control
Authors: Calvia Alessandro , Ferrari Giorgio
Published: April 2022

This paper deals with a nonlinear filtering problem in which a multi-dimensional signal process is additively affected by a process$$\nu $$νwhose components have paths of bounded variation. The presence of the process$$\nu $$νprevents from directly applying classical results and novel estimates need to be derived. By making use of the so-called reference probability measure approach, we derive the Zakai equation satisfied by the unnormalized filtering process, and then we deduce the corresponding Kushner–Stratonovich equation. Under the condition that the jump times of the process$$\nu $$νdo not accumulate over the considered time horizon, we show that the unnormalized filtering process is the unique solution to the Zakai equation, in the class of measure-valued processes having a square-integrable density. Our analysis paves the way to the study of stochastic control problems where a decision maker can exert singular controls in order to adjust the dynamics of an unobservable Itô-process.