bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Three Convolution Neural Network Schemes to Retrieve Temperature and Humidity Profiles from the FY4A GIIRS Observations
Authors: Yao Shuhan , Guan Li
Published: October 2022

FY4A/GIIRS (Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder) is the first infrared hyperspectral atmospheric vertical sounder onboard a geostationary satellite. It can achieve observations of atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles with high vertical and temporal resolutions. Presently, convolutional neural network algorithms are relatively less used in the field of atmospheric profile retrieval, and different convolutional neural network approaches have different characteristics. The one-dimensional convolutional neural network scheme 1D-Net and two three-dimensional retrieval schemes U-Net 1 and U-Net 2 are used to achieve atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles under all skies based on GIIRS-observed brightness temperatures in this paper. After validation with test training data, the retrievals of different schemes derived from actual GIIRS observations and level 2 operational products were verified with ERA5 reanalysis data and radiosonde measurements in summer and winter respectively. The retrieved three-dimensional temperature and humidity fields from U-Net 1 and U-Net 2 are closer to the ERA5 reanalysis field in both distribution and value than the retrievals from the 1D-Net scheme and level 2 operational products. In particular, the inversion field of the U-Net 2 scheme is more continuous in space. Compared with radiosonde observations, the accuracy of the level 2 temperature product is the highest when the field of view is completely clear both in winter and summer month. The root mean square error (RMSE) of temperature retrieval of the two U-Net schemes is the second highest, and the RMSE and bias of the 1D-Net scheme are both large. Two U-Net schemes overestimate the temperature and humidity slightly in winter and underestimate it in summer in both clear and all sky cases. Under all sky conditions, the temperature retrieval RMSE and bias of the two U-Net schemes above 800 hPa are lower than those of the level 2 products, especially the U-Net 2 scheme with an RMSE of approximately 2.5 K. The U-Net 2 scheme bias is the smallest, with a value of approximately 0.5 K in winter. Since the level 2 product only provides the atmospheric temperature above the cloud top, it indicates that its temperature product accuracy is very low when the field of view is influenced by clouds. The humidity retrieval RMSEs of the two U-Net schemes is within 2 g/kg, better than that of the 1D-Net scheme. The retrieval accuracy of the U-Net 2 scheme is approximately 0.3 g/kg better than that of the U-Net 1 scheme below 600 hPa in winter. Level 2 does not provide humidity products. The summer humidity retrieval is worse than in winter. In general, among the three deep machine learning algorithms, 1D-Net has a large retrieval error, and the temperature and humidity from U-Net 2 have the highest accuracy. The retrieval speeds of the two U-Net schemes are nearly the same, and both are faster than that of scheme 1D-Net.
A Land Cover Background-Adaptive Framework for Large-Scale Road Extraction
Authors: Li Yu , Liang Hao , Sun Guangmin , Yuan Zifeng , Zhang Yuanzhi , Zhang Hongsheng
Published: October 2022

Background: Road network data are crucial in various applications, such as emergency response, urban planning, and transportation management. The recent application of deep neural networks has significantly boosted the efficiency and accuracy of road network extraction based on remote sensing data. However, most existing methods for road extraction were designed at local or regional scales. Automatic extraction of large-scale road datasets from satellite images remains challenging due to the complex background around the roads, especially the complicated land cover types. To tackle this issue, this paper proposes a land cover background-adaptive framework for large-scale road extraction. Method: A large number of sample image blocks (6820) are selected from six different countries of a wide region as the dataset. OpenStreetMap (OSM) is automatically converted to the ground truth of networks, and Esri 2020 Land Cover Dataset is taken as the background land cover information. A fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm is first applied to cluster the sample images according to the proportion of certain land use types that obviously negatively affect road extraction performance. Then, the specific model is trained on the images clustered as abundant with that certain land use type, while a general model is trained based on the rest of the images. Finally, the road extraction results obtained by those general and specific modes are combined. Results: The dataset selection and algorithm implementation were conducted on the cloud-based geoinformation platform Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Google Colaboratory. Experimental results showed that the proposed framework achieved stronger adaptivity on large-scale road extraction in both visual and statistical analysis. The C-means clustering algorithm applied in this study outperformed other hard clustering algorithms. Significance: The promising potential of the proposed background-adaptive network was demonstrated in the automatic extraction of large-scale road networks from satellite images as well as other object detection tasks. This search demonstrated a new paradigm for the study of large-scale remote sensing applications based on deep neural networks.
Delineating Fire-Hazardous Areas and Fire-Induced Patterns Based on Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Active Fires in Northeast China
Authors: Li Wenjun , Li Peng , Feng Zhiming
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: Fire affects global agricultural and/or forest ecosystems with high biomass accumulation. However, the delineation of fire-hazardous areas based on satellite-derived active fire intensity is not well-studied. Therefore, examining the characteristics of fire occurrence and development plays an important role in zoning fire-hazardous areas and promoting fire management. (2) Methods: A fire intensity (FI) index was developed with Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) active fires and then applied to identify fire-hazardous areas in Northeast China. Combined with terrain, land cover and net primary productivity (NPP), the spatial and temporal characteristics of active fire occurrence were consistently analyzed. Next, a conceptual decision tree model was constructed for delineating fire-induced patterns impacted by varied factors in Northeast China. (3) Results: The accidental, frequent, prone and high-incidence areas of active fires defined by the FI index accounted for 31.62%, 30.97%, 26.23% and 11.18%, respectively. More than 90% of active fires occurred in areas with altitude <350 m above sea level (asl), slope <3° and NPP between 2500–5000 kg·C/m2. Similarly, about 75% occurred in cropland and forest. Then, four fire-induced conceptual patterns driven by different factors were classified, including the agricultural and forest active fire-induced patterns (i.e., the Agri-pattern and FRST pattern) with NPP ranging 2500–5000 kg·C/m2, and two others related to settlements and unused land with an altitude <350 m asl. The Agri-pattern dominates in Northeast China because of agricultural straw burning. (4) Conclusions: Despite the national bans of open burning of straws, active fires due to agricultural production have occurred frequently in Northeast China in the last decade, followed by small and sporadic forest fires. The approach for defining fire-hazardous areas and varied fire occurrence patterns is of significance for fire management and risk prediction at continental to global scales.
Individual Tree Species Classification Based on a Hierarchical Convolutional Neural Network and Multitemporal Google Earth Images
Authors: Lei Zhonglu , Li Hui , Zhao Jie , Jing Linhai , Tang Yunwei , Wang Hongkun
Published: October 2022

Accurate and efficient individual tree species (ITS) classification is the basis of fine forest resource management. It is a challenge to classify individual tree species in dense forests using remote sensing imagery. In order to solve this problem, a new ITS classification method was proposed in this study, in which a hierarchical convolutional neural network (H-CNN) model and multi-temporal high-resolution Google Earth images were employed. In an experiment conducted in a forest park in Beijing, China, GE images of several significant phenological phases of broad-leaved forests, namely, before and after the mushrooming period, the growth period, and the wilting period, were selected, and ITS classifications based on these images along with several typical CNN models and the H-CNN model were conducted. In the experiment, the classification accuracy of the multitemporal images was higher by 7.08–12.09% than those of the single-temporal images, and the H-CNN model offered an OA accuracy 2.66–3.72% higher than individual CNN models, demonstrating that multitemporal images rich in the phenological features of individual tree species, together with a hierarchical CNN model, can effectively improve ITS classification.
Inflammatory Stimuli Responsive Non-Faradaic, Ultrasensitive Combinatorial Electrochemical Urine Biosensor
Authors: Ganguly Antra , Gunda Varun , Thai Kevin , Prasad Shalini
Published: October 2022

In this work, we propose a novel diagnostic biosensor that can enable stratification of disease states based on severity and hence allow for clear and actionable diagnoses. The scheme can potentially boost current Point-Of-Care (POC) biosensors for diseases that require time-critical stratification. Here, two key inflammatory biomarkers—Interleukin-8 and Interleukin-6—have been explored as proof of concept, and a four-class stratification of inflammatory disease severity is discussed. Our method is superior to traditional lab techniques as it is faster (<4 minutes turn-around time) and can work with any combination of disease biomarkers to categorize diseases by subtypes and severity. At its core, the biosensor relies on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to transduce subtle inflammatory stimuli at the input for IL-8 and IL-6 for a limit of detection (LOD) of 1 pg/mL each. The biosensing scheme utilizes a two-stage random forest machine learning model for 4-state output disease classification with a 98.437% accuracy. This scheme can potentially boost the diagnostic power of current electrochemical biosensors for better precision therapy and improved patient outcomes.
Comparison of Representative Microservices Technologies in Terms of Performance for Use for Projects Based on Sensor Networks
Authors: Plecinski Piotr , Bokla Nataliia , Klymkovych Tamara , Melnyk Mykhailo , Zabierowski Wojciech
Published: October 2022

Reading and analyzing data from sensors are crucial in many areas of life. IoT concepts and related issues are becoming more and more popular, but before we can process data and draw conclusions, we need to think about how to design an application. The most popular solutions today are microservices and monolithic architecture. In addition to this choice, there is also the question of the technology in which you will work. There are more and more of them on the market and in each of them it is practically possible to achieve similar results, but the difference lies in how quickly it will be possible and whether the approach invented will turn out to be the most optimal. Making the right decisions at the beginning of application development can determine its path to success or failure. The main goal of this article was to compare technologies used in applications based on microservice architecture. The preparation of a book lending system, whose server part was implemented in three different versions, each using a different type of technology, helped to achieve this goal. The compared solutions were: Spring Boot, Micronaut and Quarkus. The reason for this research was to investigate projects using sensor networks, ranging from telemedicine applications to extensive sensor networks collecting scientific data, or working in an environment with limited resources, e.g., with BLE or WIFI transmitters, where it is critical to supply energy to these transmitters. Therefore, the issue of efficiency and hence energy savings may be a key issue depending on the selected programming technology.
Semantic Interconnection Scheme for Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks and Industrial Internet with OPC UA Pub/Sub
Authors: Pu Chenggen , Ding Xiwu , Wang Ping , Xie Shunji , Chen Junhua
Published: October 2022

In the Industry 4.0 era, with the continuous integration of industrial field systems and upper-layer facilities, interconnection between industrial wireless sensor networks (IWSNs) and industrial Internet networks is becoming increasingly pivotal. However, when deployed in real industrial scenarios, IWSNs are often connected to legacy control systems, through some wired industrial network protocols via gateways. Complex protocol translation is required in these gateways, and semantic interoperability is lacking between IWSNs and the industrial Internet. To fill this gap, our study focuses on realizing the interconnection and interoperability between an IWSN and the industrial Internet. The Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) and joint publish/subscribe (pub/sub) communication between the two networks are used to achieve efficient transmission. Taking the Wireless Networks for Industrial Automation Process Automation (WIA-PA), a typical technology in IWSNs, as an example, we develop a communication architecture that adopts OPC UA as a communication bridge to integrate the WIA-PA network into the industrial Internet. A WIA-PA virtualization method for OPC UA pub/sub data sources is designed to solve the data mapping problem between WIA-PA and OPC UA. Then, the WIA-PA/OPC UA joint pub/sub transmission mechanism and the corresponding configuration mechanism are designed. Finally, a laboratory-level verification system is implemented to validate the proposed architecture, and the experimental results demonstrate its promising feasibility and capability.
Quantifying the Foregone Benefits of Intelligent Speed Assist Due to the Limited Availability of Speed Signs across Three Australian States
Authors: Peiris Sujanie , Newstead Stuart , Berecki-Gisolf Janneke , Fildes Brian
Published: October 2022

By being able to communicate the speed limit to drivers using speed sign recognition cameras, Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) is expected to bring significant road safety gains through increased speed compliance. In the absence of complete digital speed maps and due to limited cellular connectivity throughout Australia, this study estimated the forgone savings of ISA in the event that speed signs are solely relied upon for optimal advisory ISA function. First, speed-related fatalities and serious injuries (FSI) in the Australian states of Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland (2013–2018) were identified, and published effectiveness estimates of ISA were applied to determine the potential benefits of ISA. Subsequently, taking into account speed sign presence across the three states, the forgone savings of ISA were estimated as FSI that would not be prevented due to absent speed signage. Annually, 27–35% of speed-related FSI in each state are unlikely to be prevented by ISA because speed sign infrastructure is absent, equating to economic losses of between AUD 62 and 153 million. Despite a number of assumptions being made regarding ISA fitment and driver acceptance of the technology, conservative estimates suggest that the benefits of speed signs placed consistently across road classes and remoteness levels would far outweigh the costs expected from the absence of speed signs. The development and utilisation of a methodology for estimating the foregone benefits of ISA due to suboptimal road infrastructure constitutes a novel contribution to research. This work provides a means of identifying where infrastructure investments should be targeted to capitalise on benefits offered by advanced driver assist technologies.
Offset-FA: A Uniform Method to Handle Both Unbounded and Bounded Repetitions in Regular Expression Matching
Authors: Xu Chengcheng , Yu Kun , Xu Xinghua , Bao Xianqiang , Wu Songbing , Zhao Baokang
Published: October 2022

With the exponential growth of cyber–physical systems (CPSs), security challenges have emerged; attacks on critical infrastructure could result in catastrophic consequences. Intrusion detection is the foundation for CPS security protection, and deep-packet inspection is the primary method for signature-matched mechanisms. This method usually employs regular expression matching (REM) to detect possible threats in the packet payload. State explosion is the critical challenge for REM applications, which originates primarily from features of large character sets with unbounded (closures) or bounded (counting) repetitions. In this work, we propose Offset-FA to handle these repetitions in a uniform mechanism. Offset-FA eliminates state explosion by extracting the repetitions from the nonexplosive string fragments. Then, these fragments are compiled into a fragment-DFA, while a fragment relation table and a reset table are constructed to preserve their connection and offset relationship. To our knowledge, Offset-FA is the first automaton to handle these two kinds of repetitions together with a uniform mechanism. Experiments demonstrate that Offset-FA outperforms state-of-the-art solutions in both space cost and matching speed on the premise of matching correctness, and achieves a comparable matching speed with that of DFA on practical rule sets.
Synthesis and Anticholinesterase Evaluation of Cassine, Spectaline and Analogues
Authors: Silva Marcela C. R. , Vilela Adriana F. L. , Cardoso Carmen L. , Pilli Ronaldo A.
Published: October 2022

In this work, twelve analogues of piperidine alkaloids (-)-cassine and (-)-spectaline were synthesized, as well as the racemic forms of these natural products. The compounds were evaluated for their inhibition of electric eel acetylcholinesterase (AChEee) and human butyrylcholinesterase (BChEhu) by on-flow mass-spectrometry-based dual-enzyme assay, and the inhibition mechanisms for the most potent analogues were also determined. Our results showed a preference for BChEhu inhibition with compounds 10c (Ki = 5.24 μM), 12b (Ki = 17.4 μM), 13a (Ki = 13.2 μM) and 3 (Ki = 11.3 μM) displaying the best inhibitory activities.
Plant Poisons in the Garden: A Human Risk Assessment
Authors: Bowerbank Samantha L. , Gallidabino Matteo D. , Dean John R.
Published: October 2022

A study of the plants, and their associated poisons, in the Poison Garden at The Alnwick Garden was undertaken across a calendar year. By selecting 25 plants in the Poison Garden, we have been able to develop a single chromatographic method for the determination and quantification of 15 plant toxins by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column (3.5 µm, 100 × 4.6 mm) with a gradient method using water +0.1% formic acid and methanol +0.1% formic acid. The developed method was validated for precision, linearity, limits of detection and quantification and extraction recoveries. The method showed good linearity with a R2 value of >0.995 for all 15 compounds with good precision of 10.7%, 6.7% and 0.3% for the low, medium and high calibration points, respectively. The LC-MS method was used to analyse 25 plant species, as well as their respective parts (i.e., bulb, flower, fruit, leaf, pollen, seed, stem and root), to assess the human risk assessment to children (aged 1 to <2 years) in relation to the plant toxin and its respective LD50. The analysis found that the greatest potential health risks were due to the ingestion of Colchicum autumnale and Atropa belladonna. As a caution, all identified plants should be handled with care with additional precautionary steps to ensure nil contact by children because of the potential likelihood of hand-to-mouth ingestion.
Developing Process for Selecting Research Techniques in Urban Planning and Urban Design with a PRISMA-Compliant Review
Authors: Elshater Abeer , Abusaada Hisham
Published: October 2022

Choosing the proper research methods can pose a challenge for novice urban planners and designers. This study aimed to develop a more effective process for assisting urban planners and designers in selecting appropriate research techniques. The study used bibliometrics, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and storytelling techniques as examples of urban planning and urban design research techniques. The results of this study provide techniques and procedures that can help urban planners and designers to conduct research reviews and follow the previous documented works published in the field. By utilizing suggested techniques and procedures, conclusive conclusions in urban planning and design research can be formed on the basis of compelling evidence. This study recommends developing a further innovative research methodology based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses by improving documentation and dissemination of research reviews.
The Power of Arts in Old Age: Implications for Social Workers
Authors: Neocleous Gregory , Vraka-Eleftheriadou Margarita
Published: October 2022

This article attempts to bridge various forms of arts and social work interventions through an exploration of how arts can fit within the social work context and have a positive impact on clients’ lives. The focus of the article is on the older adults, a population group that is considered as a vulnerable, from the social and health perspectives. The objective of the study was to examine whether arts have a positive impact on older adults or not. By examining the impact of various kinds of arts on the quality of life of older adults, this article aims to strengthen the idea of using alternative approaches in social work interventions with older adults. It also suggests the idea of introducing social work courses within the curriculum that combine social work and arts. Through a pen-and-paper, closed-ended questionnaire, 179 Greek Cypriots over the age of 65 were surveyed in order to measure the power that participation in art activities may have on their lives.
Characteristics of Andisols Developed from Andesitic and Basaltic Volcanic Ash in Different Agro-Climatic Zones
Authors: Arifin Mahfud , Devnita Rina , Anda Markus , Goenadi Didiek H. , Nugraha Adi
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to identify the characteristics of Andisols under tea plantations affected by different Oldeman’s agro-climatic zones, of different ages, and containing different types of volcanic ash material. For this study, three tea plantation estates were chosen, the Ciater Site (CTR), Sinumbra Site (SNR), and Sedep Site (SDP), having Oldeman’s agro-climatic zones of A, B1, and B2, respectively. Three profiles (CTR-A, CTR-B, and SNR-A) were created from andesitic volcanic ash, and three profiles (SNR-B, SDP-A, and SDP-B) were created from basaltic volcanic ash materials. The CTR-A, SNR-B, and SDP-B profiles were obtained from Holocene parent materials, while the CTR-B, SNR-A, and SDP-A profiles were derived from Pleistocene parent materials. Soil samples were taken from the soil profiles from depths of 0 to 153 cm incrementally, dependent on each soil horizon thickness. The findings of the study reveal that the age of parent materials and the variance in agro-climatic zones result in considerable differences in soil chemical characteristics, such as pH (H2O), base saturation (BS), and organic C, while the qualities of the basaltic and andesitic volcanic ash parent materials were also shown to be unaffected. All Andisol profiles went through cambic weathering processes. Moreover, the key pedogenetic strategies were the production of short-range-order minerals through the leaching of easily dissolved elements and the coprecipitation of SiO2 and Al2O3 gels. Halloysite was formed by the resilication of short-range-order minerals, while gibbsite was formed by desilication. The XRD analysis indicated that amorphous materials predominated with some HIV and kaolinite minerals were also present.
Structural and Functional Pulmonary Assessment in Severe COVID-19 Survivors at 12 Months after Discharge
Authors: Corsi Andrea , Caroli Anna , Bonaffini Pietro Andrea , Conti Caterina , Arrigoni Alberto , Mercanzin Elisa , Imeri Gianluca , Anelli Marisa , Balbi Maurizio , Pace Marina , Zanoletti Adriana , Capelli Milena , Di Marco Fabiano , Sironi Sandro
Published: October 2022

Long-term pulmonary sequelae in COVID-19 patients are currently under investigation worldwide. Potential relationships between blood sampling and functional and radiological findings are crucial to guide the follow-up. In this study, we collected and evaluated clinical status, namely symptoms and patients’ reported outcome, pulmonary function tests (PFT), laboratory tests, and radiological findings at 3- and 12-months post-discharge in patients admitted between 25 February and 2 May 2020, and who survived severe COVID-19 pneumonia. A history of chronic pulmonary disease or COVID-19-unrelated complications were used as exclusion criteria. Unenhanced CTs were analyzed quantitatively (compromising lung volume %) and qualitatively, with main patterns of: ground-glass opacity (GGO), consolidation, and reticular configuration. Patients were subsequently divided into groups based on their radiological trends and according to the evolution in the percentage of compromised lung volume. At 12 months post-discharge, seventy-one patients showed significantly improved laboratory tests and PFT. Among them, 63 patients also underwent CT examination: all patients with negative CT findings at three months (n = 14) had negative CT also at 12 months; among the 49/63 patients presenting CT alterations at three months, 1/49 (2%) normalized, 40/49 (82%) improved, 7/49 (14%) remained stably abnormal, and 1/49 (2%) worsened. D-dimer values were low in patients with normal CT and higher in cases with improved or stably abnormal CT (median values 213 vs. 329 vs. 1000 ng/mL, respectively). The overall compromised lung volume was reduced compared with three months post-discharge (12.3 vs. 14.4%, p < 0.001). In stably abnormal CT, the main pulmonary pattern changed, showing a reduction in GGO and an increase in reticular configuration. To summarize, PFT are normal in most COVID-19 survivors 12 months post-discharge, but CT structural abnormalities persist (although sensibly improved over time) and are associated with higher D-dimer values.
Transforming Growth Factor-β Concerning Malarial Infection and Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kotepui Kwuntida Uthaisar , Kwankaew Pattamaporn , Masangkay Frederick Ramirez , Mahittikorn Aongart , Kotepui Manas
Published: October 2022

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is important in the pathophysiology of malaria, but its role in acute and severe malaria is largely unknown. As a result, this study used a meta-analysis approach to investigate the difference in TGF-β levels between several groups of malaria patients and healthy controls. The systematic review protocol was registered at PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022318864). From inception to 7 March 2022, studies that reported TGF-β levels in patients with uncomplicated and healthy controls and patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria were searched in PubMed, Scopus and Embase. The assessment of the quality of the included studies was conducted according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Qualitative and quantitative syntheses were performed to narratively describe and quantitatively pool the mean difference (MD) in TGF-β levels between uncomplicated malaria and healthy controls, and between severe and uncomplicated malaria, using a random-effects model. A total of 1027 relevant articles were identified, and 13 studies were included for syntheses. The meta-analysis results show 233 patients with uncomplicated malaria and 239 healthy controls. Patients with uncomplicated malaria (233 cases) had lower mean TGF-β levels than healthy controls (239 cases; p < 0.01, pooled MD = −14.72 pg/mL, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = −20.46 to 8.99 pg/mL, I2 = 98.82%, seven studies). The meta-analysis found no difference in mean TGF-β levels between patients with severe malaria (367 cases) and patients with uncomplicated malaria (180 cases; p = 0.11, pooled MD = −6.07 pg/mL, 95% CI = −13.48 to 1.35 pg/mL, I2 = 97.73%, six studies). The meta-analysis demonstrated decreased TGF-β levels in patients with uncomplicated malaria compared to healthy controls. In addition, no difference in TGF-β levels was found between patients with severe and uncomplicated malaria. More research is needed to determine whether TGF-β levels could be a candidate marker for malarial infection or disease severity.
Importance of the COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose in Protection and Immunity
Authors: Abdollahi Alireza , Afsharyzad Yeganeh , Vaezi Atefeh , Meysamie Alipasha
Published: October 2022

Background: There is debate on the necessity of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccination, especially in countries with limited resources. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a referral laboratory in Tehran, Iran. The level of COVID-19 antibodies was measured and compared between individuals regarding the number of COVID-19 vaccine shots. Results: In this study, 176 individuals with a mean age of 36.3 (±11.7) years participated. A total of 112 individuals received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 64 individuals received three doses. Level of all antibodies was higher in those who received three doses than in those who received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Considering the SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG, the difference was not statistically significant but for the SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG and SARS-CoV-2 NAB the difference was statistically significant. Regarding to the background variables, receiving influenza vaccine in the past year, history of autoimmune diseases and past medical history of chicken pox showed a significant association with the number of vaccine doses received. Their effects on the outcome variables assessed with multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The results of our study show that a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine enhances the antibody response.
A Qualitative Approach to the Seismic Estimation of Wastewater Treatment Plants and Potential Impacts on the Hydrosphere
Authors: Kerpelis Ploutarchos N. , Alexakis Dimitrios E. , Golfinopoulos Spyridon K.
Published: October 2022

Many quantitative and qualitative methods have been developed to estimate the seismic vulnerability of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). The research approach using questionnaires is the most common qualitative process to quickly access estimation results. In the present study, the Experts’ Judgment method was implemented. A representative questionnaire was distributed to a hundred and sixteen (116) operators of Greece’s WWTPs according to proportional stratified sampling for seven months. The questionnaire was based on the main parameters that contribute to seismic vulnerability (structural, non-structural and operational matters). The examination of the results included the search for reliability and validity. Their collection also revealed that the average seismic vulnerability of the samples was found at a low level after a direct question, and was slightly increased after analyzing a group of questions. In the case of soil–water pollution during the post-seismic period, the answers showed low percentages for the contribution to the seismic vulnerability (at the partial mode), and divided answers existed at low and slightly increased percentages. Non-structural and operational vulnerability somewhat increased the percentages in the judgments. During the 24 h post-seismic period, the possibility of soil–water pollution was expected at low percentages and it remained constant. The results of this study could be compared to future surveys for qualitative approaches to disaster risks or could be used in addition to the results from quantitative methods.
Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO): Preliminary Results from a Study among Norwegian Youths
Authors: Hukkelberg Silje Sommer , Ervik-Jeannin Rebecca
Published: October 2022

Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO) is a comprehensive and evidence-based program focusing on youths with serious problem behaviors and their families. The program was developed in the US, and studies indicate that TFCO is an effective treatment program for youths with serious behavioral and emotional problems. The present study aimed to examine treatment changes in behavioral and emotional problems in a sample of 76 Norwegian youths (57.9% boys, mean age = 14.93) who were assigned to TFCO. Data were retrieved from the Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) system, used to ensure the program’s national quality, and included measures of risk factors (YLS/CMI), internalizing and externalizing behaviors (ASEBA), in addition to five nationally defined outcome goals. The study included data from intake and the end of treatment. The results showed significant reductions in risk factors and externalizing and internalizing problems. The number of youths who completed all five outcome goals increased over the course of therapy. The results suggest that TFCO might be an effective treatment program for Norwegian youths with severe problem behaviors.
Prospects for the development of glamping in the Russian Federation
Authors:   Astrakhan State Technical University, Martynova V. A.
Published: October 2022

The article reveals the features of the development of glamping in the hospitality industry in Russia. Recently, environmental problems have been of concern to the public more and more, and this trend is being transferred to all spheres of public life, including the hospitality industry. People want to take care of the environment, but accommodation in standard tents is not always suitable for a comfortable stay. The client is looking for comfort, but does not want to spoil the natural environment, and this opportunity is provided by a combination of environmental friendliness of camping and the comfort of a hotel, namely glamping. The article provides detailed statistics on the number of glampings in the Russian Federation, examples of successful implementation of glamping projects. Also, special attention is paid to the project of grant support for business, which is engaged in the construction of glampings. In conclusion, the prospects for the development of glampings in Russia with the aim of developing domestic tourism are determined.
L'évolution insolite du «vase Cornet» à Sèvres au 18e siècle
Authors: Bastien Vincent
Published: October 2022

As many other pieces designed in the workshops of the Manufacture Royale de Porcelaine, the "vase Cornet" has undergone a stylistic transformation since its creation. The name has referred to several shapes, a proof of the incessantly renewed inventiveness of the Sèvres artists. A thorough examination of the Sèvres archives from the installation in Sèvres until the Revolution allows us to follow the different outlines of this vase.
«Le Parnasse de Russie», une si longue histoire
Authors: Préaud Tamara
Published: October 2022

This paper traces the history of the centrepiece for the dessert service ordered by Catherine the Great in 1776, first called Arts and Sciences paying homage to Wisdom (the empress had refused her bust on the central column and had it replaced by one of Minerva) and Parnasse de Russie only from 1821 on. Two were made in 1778-79, numerous restorations and casts during the 19th century and two new ones in 1909-1911.
Connaît-on vraiment la céramique de Martres-Tolosane / Petites Pyrénées ?
Authors: Piques Stéphane
Published: October 2022

The French pottery village of Martres-Tolosane is well-known for reproducing the decors of the major French faïence centers. Yet, as elsewhere, the ceramists working in the 23 villages composing the Martres-Tolosane area have always been keen to innovate and associate with renowned artists. The reason for their attraction to faïence with traditional decors dates back to the 19th century when decors from the past centuries were revived. The positioning of the center on the market during the 20th century derived from this choice. Nowadays, faïence producers are relinquishing tradition to become active in creation.
Le goût d’un amateur bordelais, la collection céramique de Robert Coustet
Authors: Du Pasquier Jacqueline
Published: October 2022

Robert Coustet, born in 1934 in Bordeaux, art historian and honorary professor at the University of Bordeaux, was a particularly knowledgeable specialist of the artistic heritage of his region and a collector with a very fine taste. He gathered, among others, a collection of ceramics from Bordeaux, ranging from the beginning of the 18th century until the contemporary period.
Quarante ans au musée de Sèvres : un constant défi (souvenirs de Madame Hallé)
Authors: Andréani Carole
Published: October 2022

Antoinette Faÿ-Hallé was a curator at the National Museum of Ceramics in Sèvres from 1971 to 1981, then the Director from 1981 to 2009, the last one before the Museum merged with the Manufacture into «Sèvres-Cité de la céramique» She is an original, vivacious woman, an outspoken character who evokes her ancient and recent memories in a tone not devoid of humour.
History of formation and development of liability for damage caused by sources of extreme danger in Vietnam: Issues of legal influence
Authors: Nguyen Quang Huy , Ivanovskaya Nataliya Vladimirovna
Published: October 2022

This article analyzes the influence of Western legal ideology and socialist law on the formation and development of liability for damage caused by sources of extreme danger in the law of Vietnam. The authors have examined all the important legal documents that are associated with the issue of liability for damage caused by sources of extreme danger. The research materials are also based on the works of Western and Eastern authors writing about Vietnam during this historical period. To achieve this goal, the authors used the following methods: comparative legal, analysis, synthesis and historical method. The conclusions of the study showed that: under the influence of French legal ideology during the period of French colonization, liability for harm caused by sources of increased danger first appeared in the law of Vietnam. For the first time in Vietnamese civil law, the term "source of extreme danger" is used with the adoption of the Circular of the Supreme People's Court No. 173-TANDTS dated March 23, 1972. From 1986 to the present, this liability has been created and developed under the influence of old Soviet law and current Russian law.
Using mathematics game-based intervention on children with special educational needs: Preliminary findings
Authors: Lilia Marcelino  , Conceição Costa  , Carlos Santos
Published: October 2022

Many video games incorporate positive learning principles, stimulating students' cognitive functioning and promoting problem-solving and spatial abilities. The high levels of engagement and involvement that some students can achieve with video games are notable. Hence, video games for children with a long history of school failure, such as children with special educational needs (SEN). Moreover, it may give educators immediate and ongoing assessment of students' progress. When complemented with human tutoring, video games as a game-based intervention may improve mathematics performance since instruction is more effective when adapted to students' learning needs and pace.

As part of the research project "GBl4deaf – Game-based Learning for Deaf Students (PTDC/COM-CSS/32022/2017), the video game "Space adventure: Defend the planet!" was designed to stimulate arithmetic competencies in deaf and hearing children. The player must use elementary arithmetical and spatial concepts to rebuild an abandoned space station. Each challenge has three difficulty levels. In the game challenge used in this study, the player must add or remove particles to collect resources. The current research focuses on two questions: The study follows two research questions: Q1: Did the students make any progress in mathematics achievement after playing the video game?; Q2: Is the gameplay of Space adventure: Defend the planet! an engaging experience for players? A pre-and post-game mathematical test was applied to measure mathematics achievement and an observational grid to gather information about arithmetical procedures. Ten fourth- to ninth-graders participated in the study - four girls and six boys, aged between 9 and 16, three deaf and seven hearing students with different special needs (dyscalculia, cognitive deficits, autism spectrum disorder, deafness and Asperger syndrome). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, children played the video game using Zoom video conference software in 8-12 sessions (50 minutes, two a three times/week). The results show 4% to 19% of mathematics progression after children played the video game and indicate that they maintain the use of counting-based procedures throughout the game sessions. For instance, they kept counting both addends starting from 1 or counting by 1, 2, 5 or 10 using a number line. The current data suggest that the videogame "Space adventure: Defend the planet!" allows educators to gather immediate information about students' difficulties and progression.
Seven Spells and Peer Tutoring: a Collaborative Mathematics Game Experience
Authors: Almo de Moraes Coutinho André , Rocha Mariana , Brennan Attracta , Dondio Pierpaolo
Published: October 2022

Mathematics anxiety (MA) is a negative emotional response to the manipulation of numbers and the solving of mathematical problems, potentially hindering learning and leading to poor maths skills. Digital game-based learning, in which games are used for education, has been recognised as a potential tool for reducing MA and positively influencing learning, information assimilation, and retention. Peer tutoring is an active learning method that reduces MA in addition to benefiting students academically. This study assessed how ’Seven Spells’, a digital maths game developed by our team, affects students’ levels of MA and mathematics performance. We hypothesized that this game could be used in classrooms to control MA and potentialise mathematics learning when combined with peer tutoring. 55 children from two 4th classes in an Irish primary school participated in this study. Over a period of three weeks (two days/week), the groups played the ’Seven Spells’ game with and without peer tutoring. A mathematics knowledge test, including content covered by the game, was administered at the beginning and end of the study to assess the children’s mathematics skills. Game scores were also analysed. At the end of the study, the children participated in an interview, answering questions about the game and the peer tutoring experience. The average game scores increased significantly for the entirety of the children, and also for both groups separately. MA only decreased significantly in the no-peer tutoring group, suggesting that the peer tutoring approach, which was expected to reduce MA, was not successful. No statistically significant differences were found between the peer tutoring and the no-peer tutoring groups in terms of game scores, mathematics errors and MA, further pointing out that the peer tutoring approach was not successful either in reducing MA or in stimulating mathematics learning.
Narrative Games in BioAnalytic Forensics
Authors: Cosgrave Michael , Moore Eric , Storey-Cosgrave Athene
Published: October 2022

This paper reports on the use of branching path narrative games based on cases written by industry partners and built using Twine in a graduate BioAnalytic Forensics module. The ease of use offered by Twine made it suitable as a tool to quickly introduce industry partners to the concept of interactive narratives which assisted them in framing their case studies. Twine is also an effective tool for introducing these games to students who may be unfamiliar with the genre. Business constraints central to the problems and modelled in the games include time taken to resolve the problem, and the regulatory requirement to fully explore possible root causes of the issue. Assessment was based on student reflections on their experience in game play, and on their team case study writing.
The Contribution of Game-based learning: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dyscalculia
Authors: Pradiante Vera
Published: October 2022

This paper explores the potential of games to mathematics learning and promotion of globalpsychomotricity, relational/social skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Dyscalculia students of Basic Education in Portugal. Inspired by Space Adventure: Defend the Planet! (SADP), an educational research-based game to children's primary mathematics’ learning [PTDC/COM-CSS/32022/2017], a game-based intervention was created to psychomotricity sessions at school facilities. The study was conducted by the researcher, Superior Technician of SEN and Rehabilitation. A mixed method approach is used to research: what impact does the intervention have on participants' motivation, engagement, learning of mathematics and development of participants? Five schools in Portugal participated in the study, between December 2021 and March 2022, with 12 sessions, one session/week, 45 minutes. The sample: 19 participants: 12 boys, 9 with ASD and 3 with Dyscalculia; 7 girls, 2 with ASD and 5 with Dyscalculia. The average age is M=8.6 with SD=1.8. Prior to the intervention, the following instruments were applied: pre-tests of math skills, communication and social interaction, receptive and expressive language; Childhood Autism RatingScale; a Battery Movement Assessment Battery for Children; questionnaire Technologies/Video Games and Questionnaire of Support Measures for Learning and Inclusion. During the intervention, an observation grid and alternative communication materials were used per session. A PC, the SADP, gymnasium/relaxation room with a chair, table and gym supplies. From the results, computers, tablets, and mobile phones are the most frequently used by children. GRID/ABC Autism, Bini ABC/Human Body, and Minecraft/Troll are video games often played by participants. One girl aged 12 explained to the researcher how to create worlds on Minecraft, which is an indicator that “good” video games could be beneficial for ASD. “I feel free to explore my imagination!”- she said. Most children expressed rich verbalizations about SADP:  “I love it”, “This game is interesting”. As preliminary results children were motivated, participative, engaged with learning math, and able to co-create motor activities inspired by SADP challenges. The data analysis of the present study is in progress and will be presented.
Understanding the Elements of Challenge and Skills in Educational Games
Authors: Sasupilli Madhuri , Bokil Prasad
Published: October 2022

Although researchers suggest that games have a positive experience in a learning outcome, there is still a lack of investigation on the potential of game mechanics for better flow experience and learning outcome. According to the literature, the flow state in the game creates player engagement which leads to a positive learning outcome. Based on flow theory, challenge and abilities are two crucial game elements to achieve a flow state. This paper discusses the importance of conflict and competition in generating challenges. In gameplay, the players use their abilities demanded by the game to complete the challenge. This paper discusses the role of different skills required to play the game, and through these abilities, the players learn. This paper explains the correlation between challenge and various skills needed to play games. Conflict can be the better approach to generate the challenge because it is endogenous. Knowledge is a crucial ability to incorporate into educational games. This paper also explains the role of prior knowledge, and it is observed that the player achieves a better learning outcome if the game demands some prior knowledge to play the game.