bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal Solar Plant Site Identification Using GIS and Remote Sensing: Framework and Case Study
Authors: Alhammad Abdulaziz , Sun Qian (Chayn) , Tao Yaguang
Published: January 2022

Many countries have set a goal for a carbon neutral future, and the adoption of solar energy as an alternative energy source to fossil fuel is one of the major measures planned. Yet not all locations are equally suitable for solar energy generation. This is due to uneven solar radiation distribution as well as various environmental factors. A number of studies in the literature have used multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) to determine the most suitable places to build solar power plants. To the best of our knowledge, no study has addressed the subject of optimal solar plant site identification for the Al-Qassim region, although developing renewable energy in Saudi Arabia has been put on the agenda. This paper developed a spatial MCDA framework catering to the characteristics of the Al-Qassim region. The framework adopts several tools used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), such as Random Forest (RF) raster classification and model builder. The framework aims to ascertain the ideal sites for solar power plants in the Al-Qassim region in terms of the amount of potential photovoltaic electricity production (PVOUT) that could be produced from solar energy. For that, a combination of GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques were employed to determine five sub-criteria weights (Slope, Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), proximity to roads, proximity to residential areas, proximity to powerlines) before performing spatial MCDA. The result showed that ‘the most suitable’ and ‘suitable’ areas for the establishment of solar plants are in the south and southwest of the region, representing about 17.53% of the study area. The ‘unsuitable’ areas account for about 10.17% of the total study area, which is mainly concentrated in the northern part. The rest of the region is further classified into ‘moderate’ and ‘restricted’ areas, which account for 46.42% and 25.88%, respectively. The most suitable area for potential solar energy, yields approximately 1905 Kwh/Kwp in terms of PVOUT. The proposed framework also has the potential to be applied to other regions nationally and internationally. This work contributes a reproducible GIS workflow for a low-cost but accurate adoption of a solar energy plan to achieve sustainable development goals.
IoT-Based Mobile Energy Storage Operation in Multi-MG Power Distribution Systems to Enhance System Resiliency
Authors: Alam Md Shahin , Arefifar Seyed Ali
Published: January 2022

Multi-microgrids have gained interest in academics and industry in recent years. Multi-microgrid (MG) allows the integration of different distributed energy resources (DERs), including intermittent renewables and controllable local generators, and provides a more flexible, reliable, and efficient power grid. This research formulates and proposes a solution for finding optimal location and operation of mobile energy storage (MES) in multi-MG power distribution systems (PDS) with different resources during extreme events to maximize system resiliency. For this purpose, a multi-stage event-based system resiliency index is defined and the impact of the Internet of things (IoT) application in MES operation in multi-MG systems is investigated. Moreover, the demand and price uncertainty impact on multi-MG operational performance indices is presented. This research uses a popular PG & E 69-bus multi-MG power distribution network for simulation and case studies. A new hybrid PSO-TS optimization algorithm is constructed for the simulations to better understand the contributions of MES units and different DERs and IoT on the operational aspects of a multi-MG system. The results obtained from the simulations illustrate that optimal operation of MES and other energy resources, along with the corresponding energy sharing strategies, significantly improves the distribution system operational performance.
Stratified Flow of Micropolar Nanofluid over Riga Plate: Numerical Analysis
Authors: Rafique Khuram , Alotaibi Hammad , Ibrar Nida , Khan Ilyas
Published: January 2022

In this article, we present a numerical analysis of the energy and mass transport behavior of microrotational flow via Riga plate, considering suction or injection and mixed convection. The thermal stratified parameters of nanofluid are captured using an interpretation of the well-known Keller box model, which helps us to determine the characteristic properties of the physical parameters. The formulated boundary layer equations (nonlinear partial differential equations) are transformed into coupled ODEs with nonlinearities for the stratified controlled regimes. The impact of embedded flow and all physical quantities of practical interest, such as velocity, temperature, and concentration profile, are inspected and presented through tables and graphs. We found that the heat transfer on the surface decreases for the temperature stratification factor as mass transfer increases. Additionally, the fluid velocity increases as the modified Hartmann number increases.
Supplementing Glycerol to Inoculum Induces Changes in pH, SCFA Profiles, and Microbiota Composition in In-Vitro Batch Fermentation
Authors: Gao Qingtao , Li Kai , Zhong Ruqing , Long Cheng , Liu Lei , Chen Liang , Zhang Hongfu
Published: January 2022

Glycerol was generally added to the inoculum as a cryoprotectant. However, it was also a suitable substrate for microbial fermentation, which may produce more SCFAs, thereby decreased pH of the fermentation broth. This study investigated the effect of supplementing glycerol to inoculum on in vitro fermentation and whether an enhanced buffer capacity of medium could maintain the pH stability during in vitro batch fermentation, subsequently improving the accuracy of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) determination, especially propionate. Two ileal digesta were fermented by pig fecal inoculum with or without glycerol (served as anti-frozen inoculum or frozen inoculum) in standard buffer or enhanced buffer solution (served as normal or modified medium). Along with the fermentation, adding glycerol decreased the pH of fermentation broth (p < 0.05). However, modified medium could alleviate the pH decrement compared with normal medium (p < 0.05). The concentration of total propionic acid production was much higher than that of other SCFAs in anti-frozen inoculum fermentation at 24 and 36 h, thereby increasing the variation (SD) of net production of propionate. The α-diversity analysis showed that adding glycerol decreased Chao1 and Shannon index under normal medium fermentation (p < 0.05) compared to modified medium (p < 0.05) along with fermentation. PCoA showed that all groups were clustered differently (p < 0.01). Adding glycerol improved the relative abundances of Firmicutes, Anaerovibrio, unclassified_f_Selenomonadaceae, and decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria (p < 0.05). The relative abundances of Firmicutes, such as Lactobacillus, Blautia and Eubacterium_Ruminantium_group in modified medium with frozen inoculum fermentation were higher than (p < 0.05) those in normal medium at 36 h of incubation. These results showed that adding glycerol in inoculum changed the fermentation patterns, regardless of substrate and medium, and suggested fermentation using frozen inoculum with modified medium could maintain stability of pH, improve the accuracy of SCFA determination, as well as maintain a balanced microbial community.
Control of Multidrug-Resistant Pathogenic Staphylococci Associated with Vaginal Infection Using Biosurfactants Derived from Potential Probiotic Bacillus Strain
Authors: Haddaji Najla , Ncib Karima , Bahia Wael , Ghorbel Mouna , Leban Nadia , Bouali Nouha , Bechambi Olfa , Mzoughi Ridha , Mahdhi Abdelkarim
Published: January 2022

Biosurfactants exhibit antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities. They can be used as therapeutic agents and in the fight against infectious diseases. Moreover, the anti-adhesive properties against several pathogens point to the possibility that they might serve as an anti-adhesive coating agent for medical inserts and prevent nosocomial infections, without using synthetic substances. In this study, the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, cell surface hydrophobicity, and antioxidative activities of biosurfactant extracted from Bacillus sp., against four pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus spp. associated with vaginal infection, were studied. Our results have shown that the tested biosurfactant possesses a promising antioxidant potential, and an antibacterial potency against multidrug clinical isolates of Staphylococcus, with an inhibitory diameter ranging between 27 and 37 mm, and a bacterial growth inhibition at an MIC of 1 mg/ mL, obtained. The BioSa3 was highly effective on the biofilm formation of different tested pathogenic strains. Following their treatment by BioSa3, a significant decrease in bacterial attachment (p < 0.05) was justified by the reduction in the optical (from 0.709 to 0.111) following their treatment by BioSa3. The antibiofilm effect can be attributed to its ability to alter the membrane physiology of the tested pathogens to cause a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of over 50% of the surface hydrophobicity. Based on the obtained result of the bioactivities in the current study, BioSa3 is a good candidate in new therapeutics to better control multidrug-resistant bacteria and overcome bacterial biofilm-associated infections by protecting surfaces from microbial contamination.
Review of Suspended Sediment Transport Mathematical Modelling Studies
Authors: Wallwork Joseph T. , Pu Jaan H. , Kundu Snehasis , Hanmaiahgari Prashanth R. , Pandey Manish , Satyanaga Alfrendo , Khan Md. Amir , Wood Alastair
Published: January 2022

This paper reviews existing studies relating to the assessment of sediment concentration profiles within various flow conditions due to their importance in representing pollutant propagation. The effects of sediment particle size, flow depth, and velocity were considered, as well as the eddy viscosity and Rouse number influence on the drag of the particle. It is also widely considered that there is a minimum threshold velocity required to increase sediment concentration within a flow above the washload. The bursting effect has also been investigated within this review, in which it presents the mechanism for sediment to be entrained within the flow at low average velocities. A review of the existing state-of-the-art literature has shown there are many variables to consider, i.e., particle density, flow velocity, and turbulence, when assessing the suspended sediment characteristics within flow; this outcome further evidences the complexity of suspended sediment transport modelling.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Inducing Effect of Bacillus siamensis on Disease Resistance in Postharvest Mango Fruit
Authors: Jiang Zecheng , Li Rui , Tang Yue , Cheng Ziyu , Qian Minjie , Li Wen , Shao Yuanzhi
Published: January 2022

Postharvest anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is one of the most important postharvest diseases of mangoes worldwide. Bacillus siamensis (B. siamensis), as a biocontrol bacteria, has significant effects on inhibiting disease and improving the quality of fruits and vegetables. In this study, pre-storage application of B. siamensis significantly induced disease resistance and decreased disease index (DI) of stored mango fruit. To investigate the induction mechanisms of B. siamensis, comparative transcriptome analysis of mango fruit samples during the storage were established. In total, 234,808 unique transcripts were assembled and 56,704 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparative transcriptome analysis. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of DEGs showed that most of the DEGs involved in plant-pathogen interaction, plant hormone signal transduction, and biosynthesis of resistant substances were enriched. Fourteen DEGs related to disease-resistance were validated by qRT-PCR, which well corresponded to the FPKM value obtained from the transcriptome data. These results indicate that B. siamensis treatment may act to induce disease resistance of mango fruit by affecting multiple pathways. These findings not only reveal the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that govern postharvest disease, but also develop a biological strategy to maintain quality of post-harvest mango fruit.
Effect of Chemical Composition of Fine Aggregate on the Frictional Behavior of Concrete–Soil Interface under Sulfuric Acid Environment
Authors: Xiao Jie , Xu Zhenming , Murong Yikang , Wang Lei , Lei Bin , Chu Lijing , Jiang Haibo , Qu Wenjun
Published: January 2022

Through direct shear tests, this paper aimed to research the effect of fine marble aggregate on the shear strength and fractal dimension of the interface between soil and concrete corroded by sulfuric acid. More realistic concrete rough surfaces than the artificially roughened surfaces were formed by immersing four concrete plates in plastic buckets filled with sulfuric acid for different periods of time. The sand was adopted to imitate the soil. 3D laser scanner was employed to obtain the digital shapes of concrete plates subjected to sulfuric acid, and the rough surfaces were evaluated by fractal dimension. Large direct shear experiments were performed to obtain the curves of the interface shear stress and shear displacement between sand and corroded concrete plate. The method of data fitting was adopted to calculate the parameters of shear strength (i.e., friction angle and the cohesive) and the parameters of the Clough–Duncan hyperbolic model. The results indicated that as the corrosion days increased, the surface of the concrete plate became rougher, the surface fractal dimensions of the concrete corroded by sulfuric acid became bigger, and the interface friction angle became greater. The friction angle of the interface and the fractal dimensions of the surface of the concrete plate containing crushed gravel and marble sand were smaller than that of the concrete plate containing crushed gravel and river sand.
The Role of the Discount Policy of Prepayment on Environmentally Friendly Inventory Management
Authors: Sultana Shirin , Mashud Abu Hashan Md , Daryanto Yosef , Miah Sujan , Alrasheedi Adel , Hezam Ibrahim M.
Published: January 2022

Nowadays, more and more consumers consider environmentally friendly products in their purchasing decisions. Companies need to adapt to these changes while paying attention to standard business systems such as payment terms. The purpose of this study is to optimize the entire profit function of a retailer and to find the optimal selling price and replenishment cycle when the demand rate depends on the price and carbon emission reduction level. This study investigates an economic order quantity model that has a demand function with a positive impact of carbon emission reduction besides the selling price. In this model, the supplier requests payment in advance on the purchased cost while offering a discount according to the payment in the advanced decision. Three different types of payment-in-advance cases are applied: (1) payment in advance with equal numbers of instalments, (2) payment in advance with a single instalment, and (3) the absence of payment in advance. Numerical examples and sensitivity analysis illustrate the proposed model. Here, the total profit increases for all three cases with higher values of carbon emission reduction level. Further, the study finds that the profit becomes maximum for case 2, whereas the selling price and cycle length become minimum. This study considers the sustainable inventory model with payment-in-advance settings when the demand rate depends on the price and carbon emission reduction level. From the literature review, no researcher has undergone this kind of study in the authors’ knowledge.
E-Beam Cross-Linking of Complex Hydrogels Formulation: The Influence of Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Concentration on the Hydrogel Properties
Authors: Demeter Maria , Călina Ion , Scărișoreanu Anca , Micutz Marin
Published: January 2022

In the present study, we report on the complex hydrogels formulations based on collagen-poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) cross-linked by e-beam irradiation in an aqueous polymeric solution, aiming to investigate the influence of different PEO concentrations on the hydrogel properties. The hydrogel networks’ structure and their composition were investigated using equilibrium swelling degree, complex rheological analysis, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Rheological analysis was performed to determine the elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) moduli, the average molecular weight between cross-linking points (Mc), cross-link density (Ve), and the mesh size (ξ). The effect of the PEO concentration on the properties of the hydrogel was investigated as well. Depending on the PEO concentration added in their composition, the hydrogels swelling degree depends on the absorbed dose, being lower at low PEO concentrations. All hydrogel formulations showed higher G′ values (9.8 kPa) compared to G″ values (0.2 kPa), which shows that the hydrogels have a predominantly elastic behavior. They presented stability greater than 72 h in physiological pH buffers and reached equilibrium after 25 h. The Mc parameter is strongly dependent on the PEO concentration and the absorbed dose for all hydrogel compositions. The cross-linking density increased with the absorbed dose.
Effect on Rheological Properties and 3D Printability of Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Microporous Particles in Hydrocolloid-Based Hydrogels
Authors: Herrada-Manchón Helena , Rodríguez-González David , Fernández Manuel Alejandro , Kucko Nathan William , Barrère-de Groot Florence , Aguilar Enrique
Published: January 2022

The production of patient-specific bone substitutes with an exact fit through 3D printing is emerging as an alternative to autologous bone grafting. To the success of tissue regeneration, the material characteristics such as porosity, stiffness, and surface topography have a strong influence on the cell–material interaction and require significant attention. Printing a soft hydrocolloid-based hydrogel reinforced with irregularly-shaped microporous biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles (150–500 µm) is an alternative strategy for the acquisition of a complex network with good mechanical properties that could fulfill the needs of cell proliferation and regeneration. Three well-known hydrocolloids (sodium alginate, xanthan gum, and gelatin) have been combined with BCP particles to generate stable, homogenous, and printable solid dispersions. Through rheological assessment, it was determined that the crosslinking time, printing process parameters (infill density percentage and infill pattern), as well as BCP particle size and concentration all influence the stiffness of the printed matrices. Additionally, the swelling behavior on fresh and dehydrated 3D-printed structures was investigated, where it was observed that the BCP particle characteristics influenced the constructs’ water absorption, particle diffusion out of the matrix and degradability.
Resistance of the Wheat Cultivar ‘Renan’ to Septoria Leaf Blotch Explained by a Combination of Strain Specific and Strain Non-Specific QTL Mapped on an Ultra-Dense Genetic Map
Authors: Langlands-Perry Camilla , Cuenin Murielle , Bergez Christophe , Krima Safa Ben , Gélisse Sandrine , Sourdille Pierre , Valade Romain , Marcel Thierry C.
Published: January 2022

Quantitative resistance is considered more durable than qualitative resistance as it does not involve major resistance genes that can be easily overcome by pathogen populations, but rather a combination of genes with a lower individual effect. This durability means that quantitative resistance could be an interesting tool for breeding crops that would not systematically require phytosanitary products. Quantitative resistance has yet to reveal all of its intricacies. Here, we delve into the case of the wheat/Septoria tritici blotch (STB) pathosystem. Using a population resulting from a cross between French cultivar Renan, generally resistant to STB, and Chinese Spring, a cultivar susceptible to the disease, we built an ultra-dense genetic map that carries 148,820 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Phenotyping the interaction was done with two different Zymoseptoria tritici strains with contrasted pathogenicities on Renan. A linkage analysis led to the detection of three quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to resistance in Renan. These QTL, on chromosomes 7B, 1D, and 5D, present with an interesting diversity as that on 7B was detected with both fungal strains, while those on 1D and 5D were strain-specific. The resistance on 7B was located in the region of Stb8 and the resistance on 1D colocalized with Stb19. However, the resistance on 5D was new, so further designated Stb20q. Several wall-associated kinases (WAK), nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeats (NB-LRR) type, and kinase domain carrying genes were present in the QTL regions, and some of them were expressed during the infection. These results advocate for a role of Stb genes in quantitative resistance and for resistance in the wheat/STB pathosystem being as a whole quantitative and polygenic.
Genomic Identification, Evolution, and Expression Analysis of Bromodomain Genes Family in Buffalo
Authors: Zhang Junjun , Huang Liangfeng , Zhang Pengfei , Huang Xingchen , Yang Weihan , Liu Runfeng , Sun Qinqiang , Lu Yangqing , Zhang Ming , Fu Qiang
Published: January 2022

Bromodomain (BRD) is an evolutionarily conserved protein–protein interaction module that is critical in gene regulation, cellular homeostasis, and epigenetics. This study aimed to conduct an identification, evolution, and expression analysis of the BRD gene family in the swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). A total of 101 BRD protein sequences deduced from 22 BRD genes were found in the buffalo genome. The BRD proteins were classified into six groups based on phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, and conserved domains. The BRD genes were irregularly distributed in 13 chromosomes. Collinearity analysis revealed 20 BRD gene pairs that had remarkable homologous relationships between the buffalo and cattle, although no tandem or segmental duplication event was found in the buffalo BRD genes. Comparative transcriptomics using a 10x sequencing platform analysis showed that 22 BRD genes were identified in the Sertoli cells (SCs) at different developmental stages of buffalo. Further, the mRNA expression levels of bromodomain and the extraterminal (BET) family in SCs at the pubertal stage were higher than that at the prepubertal stage of buffalo. However, the SMARCA2, PHIP, BRD9, and TAF1 genes exhibited the opposite trend. The maturation process of SCs may be regulated by the BRD family members expressed differentially in SCs at different developmental stages of buffalo. In summary, our findings provide an understanding of the evolutionary, structural, and functional properties of the buffalo BRD family members, and further characterize the function of the BRD family in the maturation of SCs. It also provides a theoretical basis for further understanding in the future of the mechanism of SCs regulating spermatogenesis.
Comparative Transcriptomic Analyses of Different Jujube Cultivars Reveal the Co-Regulation of Multiple Pathways during Fruit Cracking
Authors: Hou Lu , Li Meng , Zhang Chenxing , Liu Ningwei , Liu Xinru , Bo Wenhao , Pang Xiaoming , Li Yingyue
Published: January 2022

Fruit cracking is a common physiological disorder in many fruit species. Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is an economically valuable fruit in which fruit cracking seriously affects fruit yield and quality and causes significant economic losses. To elucidate cracking-related molecular mechanisms, the cracking-susceptible cultivars ‘Cuizaohong’ and ‘Jinsixiaozao’ and the cracking-resistant cultivar ‘Muzao’ were selected, and comparative transcriptome analyses of cracking and non-cracking ‘Cuizaohong’ (CC and NC), cracking and non-cracking ‘Jinsixiaozao’ (CJ and NJ), and non-cracking ‘Muzao’ (NM) were conducted. A total of 131 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were common to the CC vs. NC and CJ vs. NJ comparisons. To avoid passive processes after fruit cracking, we also mainly focused on the 225 gradually downregulated DEGs in the CJ, NJ, and NM samples. The functional annotation of the candidate DEGs revealed that 61 genes related to calcium, the cell wall, the cuticle structure, hormone metabolism, starch/sucrose metabolism, transcription factors, and water transport were highly expressed in cracking fruits. We propose that expression-level changes in these genes might increase the turgor pressure and weaken mechanical properties, ultimately leading to jujube fruit cracking. These results may serve as a rich genetic resource for future investigations on fruit cracking mechanisms in jujube and in other fruit species.
The geoPebble System: Design and Implementation of a Wireless Sensor Network of GPS-Enabled Seismic Sensors for the Study of Glaciers and Ice Sheets
Authors: Anandakrishnan Sridhar , Bilén Sven G. , Urbina Julio V. , Bock Randall G. , Burkett Peter G. , Portelli Joseph P.
Published: January 2022

The geoPebble system is a network of wirelessly interconnected seismic and GPS sensor nodes with geophysical sensing capabilities for the study of ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, as well as mountain glaciers. We describe our design methodology, which has enabled us to develop these state-of-the art units using commercial-off-the-shelf hardware combined with custom-designed hardware and software. Each geoPebble node is a self-contained, wirelessly connected sensor for collecting seismic activity and position information. Each node is built around a three-component seismic recorder, which includes an amplifier, filter, and 24-bit analog-to-digital converter that can sample incoming seismic signals up to 10 kHz. The timing for each node is available from GPS measurements and a local precision oscillator that is conditioned by the GPS timing pulses. In addition, we record the carrier-phase measurement of the L1 GPS signal in order to determine location at sub-decimeter accuracy (relative to other geoPebble nodes within a radius of a few kilometers). Each geoPebble includes 32 GB of solid-state storage, wireless communications capability to a central supervisory unit, and auxiliary measurements capability (including tilt from accelerometers, absolute orientation from magnetometers, and temperature). The geoPebble system has been successfully validated in the field in Antarctica and Greenland.
The Impact of Pain on Functionality, Postural Control and Fall Risk in Woman Aged 45 to 64 Years Old
Authors: Beaupré Priscilla , da Silva Rubens A. , Chevrette Tommy
Published: January 2022

Background: Ageing in women is associated with chronic degenerative pain leading to a functional decrease and therefore increase fall risk. It is therefore essential to detect early functional decreases in the presence of pain related to osteoarthritis. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of pain on functionality, postural control and fall risk in women aged between 45 to 64 years old. Methods: Twenty-one (21) women aged 45 to 64 were evaluated by clinical and functional measures such as a pain questionnaire (Lequesne Index), functional tests (Stair Step Test, 5 times sit-to-stand, 6MWD, Timed-up and Go) and postural performance (under force platform). Women were classified into 2 groups from the Lequesne Pain Index (PI): low pain (score ≤ 9) and strong pain (score ≥ 10) for subsequent comparisons on functionality (physical and postural control performance). Results: A significant impact was observed between the pain index (strong PI) and 3 of the 4 functional tests carried out including Stair Step Test (p = 0.001; g = 1.44), walking distance (p = 0.003; g = 1.31) and Timed-up and Go (p = 0.04; g = −0.93). The group with a strong PI score reported further poor postural control under force platform compared to the weak pain group. Conclusion: Pain and severity based on the PI index negatively modulate physical and postural control performance in women aged 45 to 64 years old.
Persistent Cardiometabolic Health Gaps: Can Therapeutic Care Gaps Be Precisely Identified from Electronic Health Records
Authors: Yan Xiaowei , Stewart Walter F. , Husby Hannah , Delatorre-Reimer Jake , Mudiganti Satish , Refai Farah , Hudnut Andrew , Knobel Kevin , MacDonald Karen , Sifakis Frangiscos , Jones James B.
Published: January 2022

The objective of this study was to determine the strengths and limitations of using structured electronic health records (EHR) to identify and manage cardiometabolic (CM) health gaps. We used medication adherence measures derived from dispense data to attribute related therapeutic care gaps (i.e., no action to close health gaps) to patient- (i.e., failure to retrieve medication or low adherence) or clinician-related (i.e., failure to initiate/titrate medication) behavior. We illustrated how such data can be used to manage health and care gaps for blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and HbA1c for 240,582 Sutter Health primary care patients. Prevalence of health gaps was 44% for patients with hypertension, 33% with hyperlipidemia, and 57% with diabetes. Failure to retrieve medication was common; this patient-related care gap was highly associated with health gaps (odds ratios (OR): 1.23–1.76). Clinician-related therapeutic care gaps were common (16% for hypertension, and 40% and 27% for hyperlipidemia and diabetes, respectively), and strongly related to health gaps for hyperlipidemia (OR = 5.8; 95% CI: 5.6–6.0) and diabetes (OR = 5.7; 95% CI: 5.4–6.0). Additionally, a substantial minority of care gaps (9% to 21%) were uncertain, meaning we lacked evidence to attribute the gap to either patients or clinicians, hindering efforts to close the gaps.
Experiences of Nurse Managers during the COVID-19 Outbreak in a Selected District Hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Moyo Idah , Mgolozeli Siyabulela Eric , Risenga Patrone Rebecca , Mboweni Sheilla Hlamalani , Tshivhase Livhuwani , Mudau Tshimangadzo Selina , Ndou Nthomeni Dorah , Mavhandu-Mudzusi Azwihangwisi Helen
Published: January 2022

The South African health care system was hard hit by the second wave of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which affected nurse managers as healthcare facilities became overwhelmed due to an increased workload emanating from the overflow of admissions. Therefore, this study sought to explore and describe the nurse managers’ experiences during COVID-19 in order to identify gaps and lessons learnt. A descriptive phenomenological research approach was used to explore the experiences of ten nurse managers who were purposively selected from different units of a selected district hospital. Data was collected through telephonic unstructured individual interviews and analysed using Colaizzi’s seven steps method. The study revealed that nurse managers experienced human resource related challenges during COVID-19, worsened by the fact that vacant posts were frozen. It also emerged that there was a shortage of material resources that affected patient care. Nurse managers also indicated that COVID-19 brought a lot of administrative duties plus an additional duty of patient care. Also, nurse managers who had previously contracted COVID-19 experienced stigma and discrimination. The government needs to address resource related challenges in rural public hospitals and provide continuous support to nurse managers, particularly during a pandemic like COVID-19.
The Relationship between Government Information Supply and Public Information Demand in the Early Stage of COVID-19 in China—An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Zhang Tong , Yu Li
Published: January 2022

Accurate and effective government communication is essential for public health emergencies. To optimize the effectiveness of government crisis communication, this paper puts forward an analytical perspective of supply–demand matching based on the interaction between the government and the public. We investigate the stage characteristics and the topic evolutions of both government information supply and public information demand through combined statistical analysis, text mining, text coding and cluster analysis, using empirical data from the National Health Commission’s WeChat in China. A quantitative measure reflecting the public demand for government information supply is proposed. Result indicates that the government has provided a large amount of high-intensity epidemic-related information, with six major topics being the medical team, government actions, scientific protection knowledge, epidemic situation, high-level deployment and global cooperation. The public’s greatest information needs present different characteristics at different stages, with “scientific protection knowledge”, “government actions” and “medical teams” being the most needed in the outbreak stage, the control stage and the stable stage, respectively. The subject of oversupply is “medical team”, and the subject of short supply is “epidemic dynamics” and “science knowledge”. This paper provides important theoretical and practical value for improving the effectiveness of government communication in public health crises.
Mixed-Reality Demonstration and Training of Glassblowing
Authors: Carre Anne Laure , Dubois Arnaud , Partarakis Nikolaos , Zabulis Xenophon , Patsiouras Nikolaos , Mantinaki Elina , Zidianakis Emmanouil , Cadi Nedjma , Baka Evangelia , Thalmann Nadia Magnenat , Makrygiannis Dimitrios , Glushkova Alina , Manitsaris Sotirios
Published: January 2022

Traditional crafts exhibit tangible and intangible dimensions. Intangible dimensions include the practitioner’s gestural know-how in craft practice and have received smaller attention than tangible dimensions in digitization projects. This work presents the process of representation and presentation of the glasswork and is exemplified in the re-creation of a historical object. Following an articulated pipeline approach for data collection, annotation, the crafting process is represented visually and semantically in a way that can be meaningfully presented and utilized in craft training and preservation. The outcomes of the proposed approach were used to implement a Mixed Reality installation. The installation targets craft presentation through an exploration of the workspace, as well as craft training through an interactive experience where users re-enact gestures of a glass master holding a tool and receiving audiovisual feedback on the accuracy of their performance. Preliminary evaluation results show high acceptance of the installation and increased user interest.
Possible Interventions for Preventing the Development of Psychopathic Traits among Children and Adolescents?
Authors: Bjørnebekk Gunnar , Mørkrid Thøgersen Dagfinn
Published: January 2022

Individuals with the combination of psychopathy and severe conduct disorder often get in a lot of trouble from their early childhood, and can cause great suffering and problems for other people and their immediate environment. Their antisocial behaviour has a tendency to develop into a chronic pattern early in life, and the treatment prognosis in adulthood is poor. A large proportion of serious violent crimes in society can be attributed to this group of perpetrators. Until recently, it has been unclear whether traits of this type can be prevented or changed, so that these individuals and their surroundings can benefit from targeted treatments at an early stage. To reduce serious crime in a society, it is very important to develop effective measures for this particular group. A lack of empathy, indifference to others, and a lack of concern about their own performance appear to be key early signs in children and adolescents with persistent behavioural problems and more serious norm violations who continue into a criminal career upon reaching adulthood. These characteristics have been termed callous−unemotional (CU) traits, and they are considered to be a precursor to psychopathic traits in adulthood. In recent years, several studies have evaluated the degree to which treatments that have been proved effective for children and adolescents with severe behavioural problems also show effectiveness for children and adolescents with CU traits. Interventions specifically tailored to children with CU traits have also been developed with the aim of directly changing the ongoing development of this precursor to psychopathy. In this paper, we will address the extent to which current evidence-based treatment methods developed for children and adolescents with behavioural difficulties are equally effective when a child has CU traits. We will also take a closer look at the effects of interventions designed to change this trait. There will be a discussion regarding what seems relevant for a change in the trait itself, as well as a change in their antisocial behaviour.
The Impact of Job Insecurity and Distributive Injustice Post COVID-19 on Social Loafing Behavior among Hotel Workers: Mediating Role of Turnover Intention
Authors: Alyahya Mansour A. , Elshaer Ibrahim A. , Sobaih Abu Elnasr E.
Published: January 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has severe psychological and psychosocial impacts on hotel workers. This study examines the causal direct impact of both job insecurity and distributive injustice, which were common in hotels post COVID-19, on social loafing behavior among hotel workers, and the indirect impact through turnover intention. Data were collected from 850 hotels workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Using results obtained through structural equation modeling (SEM), the spread of both job insecurity and distributive injustice positively and significantly influences turnover intention among hotel workers post the COVID-19 pandemic. The results also found that turnover intention fully mediates the influence of both distributive injustices on social loafing behavior. On the other side, it partially mediates job insecurity on social loafing behavior among hotel workers. Implications for scholars and practitioners as well as limitations of current research are discussed.
Application of the ARIMA Model to Predict Under-Reporting of New Cases of Hansen’s Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Municipality of the Amazon Region
Authors: da Cunha Valéria Perim , Botelho Glenda Michele , de Oliveira Ary Henrique Morais , Monteiro Lorena Dias , de Barros Franco David Gabriel , da Costa Silva Rafael
Published: January 2022

This work aimed to apply the ARIMA model to predict the under-reporting of new Hansen’s disease cases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil. This is an ecological time series study of Hansen’s disease indicators in the city of Palmas between 2001 and 2020 using the autoregressive integrated moving averages method. Data from the Notifiable Injuries Information System and population estimates from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics were collected. A total of 7035 new reported cases of Hansen’s disease were analyzed. The ARIMA model (4,0,3) presented the lowest values for the two tested information criteria and was the one that best fit the data, as AIC = 431.30 and BIC = 462.28, using a statistical significance level of 0.05 and showing the differences between the predicted values and those recorded in the notifications, indicating a large number of under-reporting of Hansen’s disease new cases during the period from April to December 2020. The ARIMA model reported that 177% of new cases of Hansen’s disease were not reported in Palmas during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This study shows the need for the municipal control program to undertake immediate actions in terms of actively searching for cases and reducing their hidden prevalence.
The Effect of Extreme Cold on Complete Blood Count and Biochemical Indicators: A Case Study
Authors: Teległów Aneta , Romanovski Valerjan , Skowron Beata , Mucha Dawid , Tota Łukasz , Rosińczuk Joanna , Mucha Dariusz
Published: January 2022

Regular exposure to a cold factor—cold water swimming or ice swimming and cold air—results in an increased tolerance to cold due to numerous adaptive mechanisms in humans. Due to the lack of scientific reports on the effects of extremely low outdoor temperatures on the functioning of the human circulatory system, the aim of this study was to evaluate complete blood count and biochemical blood indices in multiple Guinness world record holder Valerjan Romanovski, who was exposed to extremely cold environment from −5 °C to −37 °C for 50 days in Rovaniemi (a city in northern Finland). Valerjan Romanovski proved that humans can function in extremely cold temperatures. Blood from the subject was collected before and after the expedition. The subject was found to have abnormalities for the following blood indices: testosterone increases by 60.14%, RBC decreases by 4.01%, HGB decreases by 3.47%, WBC decreases by 21.53%, neutrocytes decrease by 17.31%, PDW increases by 5.31%, AspAT increases by 52.81%, AlAT increase by 68.75%, CK increases by 8.61%, total cholesterol decreases by 5.88%, HDL increases by 28.18%. Percentage changes in other complete blood count and biochemical indices were within standard limits. Long-term exposure of the subject (50 days) to extreme cold stress had no noticeable negative effect on daily functioning.
Prenatal Metal Exposures and Infants’ Developmental Outcomes in a Navajo Population
Authors: Nozadi Sara S. , Li Li , Luo Li , MacKenzie Debra , Erdei Esther , Du Ruofei , Roman Carolyn W. , Hoover Joseph , O’Donald Elena , Burnette Courtney , Lewis Johnnye
Published: January 2022

Early-life exposure to environmental toxicants can have detrimental effects on children’s neurodevelopment. In the current study, we employed a causal modeling framework to examine the direct effect of specific maternal prenatal exposures on infants’ neurodevelopment in the context of co-occurring metals. Maternal metal exposure and select micronutrients’ concentrations were assessed using samples collected at the time of delivery from mothers living across Navajo Nation with community exposure to metal mixtures originating from abandoned uranium mines. Infants’ development across five domains was measured at ages 10 to 13 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Inventory (ASQ:I), an early developmental screener. After adjusting for effects of other confounding metals and demographic variables, prenatal exposure to lead, arsenic, antimony, barium, copper, and molybdenum predicted deficits in at least one of the ASQ:I domain scores. Strontium, tungsten, and thallium were positively associated with several aspects of infants’ development. Mothers with lower socioeconomic status (SES) had higher lead, cesium, and thallium exposures compared to mothers from high SES backgrounds. These mothers also had infants with lower scores across various developmental domains. The current study has many strengths including its focus on neurodevelopmental outcomes during infancy, an understudied developmental period, and the use of a novel analytical method to control for the effects of co-occurring metals while examining the effect of each metal on neurodevelopmental outcomes. Yet, future examination of how the effects of prenatal exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes unfold over time while considering all potential interactions among metals and micronutrients is warranted.
Child Domestic Work, Violence, and Health Outcomes: A Rapid Systematic Review
Authors: Thi Aye Myat , Zimmerman Cathy , Pocock Nicola S. , Chan Clara W. , Ranganathan Meghna
Published: January 2022

This rapid systematic review describes violence and health outcomes among child domestic workers (CDWs) taken from 17 studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries. Our analysis estimated the median reported rates of violence in CDWs aged 5–17-year-olds to be 56.2% (emotional; range: 13–92%), 18.9% (physical; range: 1.7–71.4%), and 2.2% (sexual; range: 0–62%). Both boys and girls reported emotional abuse and sexual violence with emotional abuse being the most common. In Ethiopia and India, violence was associated with severe physical injuries and sexual insecurity among a third to half of CDWs. CDWs in India and Togo reported lower levels of psycho-social well-being than controls. In India, physical punishment was correlated with poor psycho-social well-being of CDWs [OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 3.2–4; p < 0.0001]. Across the studies, between 7% and 68% of CDWs reported work-related illness and injuries, and one third to half had received no medical treatment. On average, children worked between 9 and 15 h per day with no rest days. Findings highlight that many CDWs are exposed to abuse and other health hazards but that conditions vary substantially by context. Because of the often-hidden nature of child domestic work, future initiatives will need to be specifically designed to reach children in private households. Young workers will also benefit from strategies to change social norms around the value and vulnerability of children in domestic work and the long-term implications of harm during childhood.
Investigating Key Factors Related to the Decision of a Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent
Authors: Lin Hui-Mei , Liu Chih-Kuang , Huang Yen-Chun , Ho Chieh-Wen , Chen Mingchih
Published: January 2022

Background: The decision to sign a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) consent is critical for patients concerned about their end-of-life medical care. Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) introduced a family palliative care consultation fee to encourage family palliative care consultations; since its implementation, identifying which families require such consultations has become more important. In this study, the Taiwanese version of the Palliative Care Screening Tool (TW–PCST) was used to determine each patient’s degree of need for a family palliative care consultation. Objective: This study analyzed factors associated with signing DNR consents. The results may inform family palliative care consultations for families in need, thereby achieving a higher DNR consent rate and promoting the effective use of medical resources, including time, labor, and funding. Method: In this retrospective study, logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine which factors affected the DNR decisions of 2144 deceased patients (aged ≥ 20 years), whose records were collected from the Taipei City Hospital health information system from 1 January to 31 December 2018. Results: Among the 1730 patients with a DNR consent, 1298 (75.03%) received family palliative care consultations. The correlation between DNR consent and family palliative care consultations was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Through logistic regression analysis, we determined that participation in family palliative care consultation, TW–PCST score, type of ward, and length of stay were significant variables associated with DNR consent. Conclusions: This study determined that TW–PCST scores can be used as a measurement standard for the early identification of patients requiring family palliative care consultations. Family palliative care consultations provide opportunities for patients’ family members to participate in discussions about end-of-life care and DNR consent and provide patients and their families with accurate medical information regarding the end-of-life care decision-making process. The present results can serve as a reference to increase the proportion of patients willing to sign DNR consents and reduce the provision of ineffective life-prolonging medical treatment.