bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GLASS: A Citizen-Centric Distributed Data-Sharing Model within an e-Governance Architecture
Authors: Lo Owen , Buchanan William J. , Sayeed Sarwar , Papadopoulos Pavlos , Pitropakis Nikolaos , Chrysoulas Christos
Published: March 2022

E-governance is a process that aims to enhance a government’s ability to simplify all the processes that may involve government, citizens, businesses, and so on. The rapid evolution of digital technologies has often created the necessity for the establishment of an e-Governance model. There is often a need for an inclusive e-governance model with integrated multiactor governance services and where a single market approach can be adopted. e-Governance often aims to minimise bureaucratic processes, while at the same time including a digital-by-default approach to public services. This aims at administrative efficiency and the reduction of bureaucratic processes. It can also improve government capabilities, and enhances trust and security, which brings confidence in governmental transactions. However, solid implementations of a distributed data sharing model within an e-governance architecture is far from a reality; hence, citizens of European countries often go through the tedious process of having their confidential information verified. This paper focuses on the sinGLe sign-on e-GovernAnce Paradigm based on a distributed file-exchange network for security, transparency, cost-effectiveness and trust (GLASS) model, which aims to ensure that a citizen can control their relationship with governmental agencies. The paper thus proposes an approach that integrates a permissioned blockchain with the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). This method demonstrates how we may encrypt and store verifiable credentials of the GLASS ecosystem, such as academic awards, ID documents and so on, within IPFS in a secure manner and thus only allow trusted users to read a blockchain record, and obtain the encryption key. This allows for the decryption of a given verifiable credential that stored on IPFS. This paper outlines the creation of a demonstrator that proves the principles of the GLASS approach.
Classification of Underwater Target Based on S-ResNet and Modified DCGAN Models
Authors: Jiang Zhe , Zhao Chen , Wang Haiyan
Published: March 2022

Underwater target classification has been an important topic driven by its general applications. Convolutional neural network (CNN) has been shown to exhibit excellent performance on classifications especially in the field of image processing. However, when applying CNN and related deep learning models to underwater target classifications, the problems, including small sample size of underwater target and low complexity requirement, impose a great challenge. In this paper, we have proposed the modified DCGAN model to augment data for targets with small sample size. The data generated from the proposed model help to improve classification performance under imbalanced category conditions. Furthermore, we have proposed the S-ResNet model to obtain good classification accuracy while significantly reducing complexity of the model, and achieve a good tradeoff between classification accuracy and model complexity. The effectiveness of proposed models is verified through measured data from sea trial and lake tests.
A Review on Fast Tomographic Imaging Techniques and Their Potential Application in Industrial Process Control
Authors: Hampel Uwe , Babout Laurent , Banasiak Robert , Schleicher Eckhard , Soleimani Manuchehr , Wondrak Thomas , Vauhkonen Marko , Lähivaara Timo , Tan Chao , Hoyle Brian , Penn Alexander
Published: March 2022

With the ongoing digitalization of industry, imaging sensors are becoming increasingly important for industrial process control. In addition to direct imaging techniques such as those provided by video or infrared cameras, tomographic sensors are of interest in the process industry where harsh process conditions and opaque fluids require non-intrusive and non-optical sensing techniques. Because most tomographic sensors rely on complex and often time-multiplexed excitation and measurement schemes and require computationally intensive image reconstruction, their application in the control of highly dynamic processes is often hindered. This article provides an overview of the current state of the art in fast process tomography and its potential for use in industry.
Designing Geographic Information System Based Property Tax Assessment in India
Authors: Singh Anu , Singh Suraj Kumar , Meraj Gowhar , Kanga Shruti , Farooq Majid , Kranjčić Nikola , Đurin Bojan , Sudhanshu
Published: March 2022

Property tax is the primary source of revenue for municipal bodies. In India, municipal corporations are facing issues in property tax collection, and the primary reason for it is a lack of count of assessed properties under its jurisdiction. Also, the storage of information on the properties is mainly based on manual efforts, which leads to data redundancy and failure to appropriate tax collection. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) consists of technology, personnel, and resources to create, maintain, visualize, search, and share geospatial data and services. The study has been carried out in the Hauz Khas Ward, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi. This paper aims to develop a spatial database for property tax management. It includes capturing the building footprint, road, land use such as parks, paved area, drains, and demarcation of boundaries such as locality slums, based on a regular grid net with a cell size of 250 m by 250 m. The generated geospatial database has been finally used to evaluate parameters for property tax calculation. Moreover, this spatial database can be organized as different models for any web-based application for municipal services. This study provides a working example of a GIS-based property tax collection solution for whole of India and other South-Asian countries.
Study of Pedestrian Zone According to Superblock Criteria in the Casco Antiguo of Panama
Authors: Caballero Haydee , Hidalgo Luis , Quijada-Alarcon Jorge
Published: March 2022

The Casco Viejo of Panama is an area with great potential to develop a pedestrian zone, as it is an attractive area for travelers to visit. For this development to be carried out safely, it is recommended that the site is analyzed based on superblock criteria to ensure pedestrians can move through the streets in a free and accessible way regardless of their physical condition. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the current state of the road infrastructure, as we did in this research. The methodology consisted of field visits where information was gathered on the distribution of space so that ideal routes for pedestrian tourists could be ensured. We surveyed the state of the sidewalks, their physical condition, minimum widths, heights, their accessibility, and the presence of obstacles that block movement from one point to another. We also assessed the characteristics of the roads, safe crossings and signs, the current management of parking in illegal areas, and the system of public transport routes. The results describe the current problems, which are, firstly, the issue of poor pedestrian and cyclist mobility due to the lack of space available on public roads as a result of poorly parked cars and the placement of bollards. Secondly, free movement is impossible for the disabled due to the absence of ramps and railings, which prevents the integration of this group in the area.
A Conceptual Model for Measuring a Circular Economy of Seaports: A Case Study on Antwerp and Koper Ports
Authors: Kovačič Lukman Rebeka , Brglez Kristijan , Krajnc Damjan
Published: March 2022

This paper introduces a conceptual model for evaluating seaports’ acceleration towards the circular economy. The model is based on the identification and definition of circular economy indicators, weighted according to the 9 R-strategy transitions towards the circular economy. We have employed the analytical hierarchy process for weight detection and further calculations of the final seaport circularity value. Our results suggest conceptual validity and provide a detailed insight into the circular activities of the seaports from the indicators, as well as 9 Rs and sustainability perspectives.
Problems and Directions in Creating a National Non-Road Mobile Machinery Emission Inventory: A Critical Review
Authors: Lončarević Šimun , Ilinčić Petar , Šagi Goran , Lulić Zoran
Published: March 2022

Greenhouse emissions and air pollutants pose a global threat to the environment and human health. Emission inventories are a valuable tool in understanding emission sources and their overall impact on the environment. Most cities and countries do not include non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) when compiling emission inventories. Furthermore, little effort has been made to understand better the impact of this source of emissions on the environment. For these reasons, this research examines the data from the existing NRMM emission inventories and other studies concerning NRMM emissions. After careful literature review, three main problems in creating a national NRMM emission inventory are identified and reviewed: lack of a comprehensive list of NRMM and their activity data, lack of emission factor data, and lack of research. The data from the existing inventories show that compared to some emissions, NRMM has a three times larger proportion of emissions compared to the proportion of energy consumption. Furthermore, there are significant differences in total emissions when comparing the same pollutants among different countries. A general lack of data is the common denominator for all these problems and can only be solved by creating national NRMM databases operated by a designated institution. This institution must be able to annually update relevant NRMM data through questionnaires and experimental research on the existing NRMM.
Can Nanofertilizers Mitigate Multiple Environmental Stresses for Higher Crop Productivity?
Authors: Shalaby Tarek , Bayoumi Yousry , Eid Yahya , Elbasiouny Heba , Elbehiry Fathy , Prokisch József , El-Ramady Hassan , Ling Wanting
Published: March 2022

The global food production for the worldwide population mainly depends on the huge contributions of the agricultural sector. The cultivated crops of foods need various elements or nutrients to complete their growth, and these are indirectly consumed by humans. During this production, several environmental constraints or stresses may cause losses in the global agricultural production. These obstacles may include abiotic and biotic stresses, which have already been studied in both individual and combined cases. However, there are very few studies on multiple stresses. On the basis of the myriad benefits of nanotechnology in agriculture, nanofertilizers (or nanonutrients) have become promising tools for agricultural sustainability. Nanofertilizers are also the proper solution to overcoming the environmental and health problems that can result from conventional fertilizers. The role of nanofertilizers has increased, especially under different environmental stresses, which can include individual, combined, and multiple stresses. The stresses are most commonly the result of nature; however, studies are still needed on the different stress levels. Nanofertilizers can play a crucial role in supporting cultivated plants under stress and in improving the plant yield, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Similar to other biological issues, many open-ended questions still require further investigation: Is the right time and era for nanofertilizers in agriculture? Will the nanofertilizers be the dominant source of nutrients in modern agriculture? Are nanofertilizers, and particularly biological synthesized ones, the magic solution for sustainable agriculture? What are the expected damages of multiple stresses on plants?
The Impact of Internet Use on Perception of the Poor–Rich Gap: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Zuo Xiaofan , Hong Zhisheng
Published: March 2022

The advancement of Internet technology has provided a great impetus to alleviate poverty and promote economic progress. However, studies on the negative impact that the development of the Internet may have on individual perceptions are still rare. This paper uses data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2018 to construct multiple econometric models to empirically study the impact of Internet use (ITU) on the perception of the poor–rich gap (PPRG) and its mechanism in China. The instrumental variable (IV) model and Heckman model are used to solve potential endogenous problems. The research found that ITU has aggravated the PPRG of residents, and the test results are still robust after considering various endogenous sources. Additional analysis shows that the degree of dependence on the Internet is one of the transmission mechanisms of ITU on the impact of the PPRG, and its mediating effect accounts for 32.12% of the total effect. Another test result of the impact mechanism shows that the Internet media expands the reference group of residents through virtual areas and aggravates the PPRG of residents. Some test results from the perspective of heterogeneity show that: the effect of urban residents’ ITU on PPRG is higher than that of rural residents. ITU of residents in economically developed areas has a significantly higher effect on the PPRG than residents in economically underdeveloped areas. The impact on ITU by residents of different age groups on aggravating the PPRG show an obvious increasing linear law. Our research provides an ITU interpretation path for the impact of PPRG from sociological theory and provides a new entry point for the impact of the Internet and subjective well-being.
Introductory Disaster Training for Aspiring Teachers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kawasaki Hiromi , Yamasaki Satoko , Yamakido Mio , Murata Yoshihiro
Published: March 2022

Schools may serve as shelters after a disaster in many countries, including Japan. However, teachers are unaware of the need to balance education and shelter management responsibilities under such circumstances. To promote teachers’ awareness of the post-disaster school situation, this study developed an introductory training for aspiring teachers and investigated its effectiveness. A total of 143 students aspiring to become teachers participated in this simulative training and answered pre- and post-intervention questionnaires. The participants’ vocabulary and word usage were also evaluated. The mean participant scores for the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains increased significantly after the training compared with the pre-training scores. The training was also associated with the aggregation of word usage, which may facilitate communication with representatives of multiple occupations. The findings indicate that a developed training may help aspiring teachers better understand their responsibilities after a disaster and prepare them for such situations.
Associations between Community Parks and Social Interactions in Master-Planned Estates in Sydney, Australia
Authors: Yang Chunyan , Shi Song , Runeson Goran
Published: March 2022

There have been growing concerns regarding increased social isolation in Australia, many of which are currently being exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Feelings of social isolation may increase the risk of mental issues in people. New Urbanism hypothesizes that neighborhood communal spaces can influence social interaction between residents and, in turn, can promote community sustainability. This study investigated the associations between community parks and social interactions in master-planned estates (MPEs) in Sydney, Australia. Data were obtained from a resident survey conducted in two MPEs in the inner west area of Sydney: Breakfast Point and Liberty Grove (n = 192). Hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) models were used to analyze the relationship between community park use and social interaction. This study found that the factors ‘frequency of community park use’, ‘rest spaces satisfaction’, and ‘pedestrian connectivity with surroundings’ are significantly and positively associated with social interaction between residents in the MPE context. The findings of this study highlight the importance of the community parks in creating social sustainability in MPEs, particularly in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
Online Education in the COVID-19 Pandemic—Premise for Economic Competitiveness Growth?
Authors: Tănase Florența-Diana , Demyen Suzana , Manciu Venera-Cristina , Tănase Adrian-Costinel
Published: March 2022

In today’s context, marked by globalization and a growing recognition of interdependencies, there is a permanent change in the world’s economic big picture. In this ever-changing environment, competitiveness is the key factor when it comes to passing the test of requirements on all levels. Obviously, competitiveness, in turn, is conditioned by several elements, one of which being the quality of the workforce. The current situation, strongly influenced by the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, imposes new rules of conduct, and organizations must be inventive if they wish to survive in this period. As a basic pillar of competitiveness, education cannot and should not lag behind, as the transfer of knowledge must continue with or without COVID-19. The questions arise: Can online education train the younger generations and provide them with the skills they need in order to adapt to the labor market? Will 2020 be a reference year for a paradigm shift in education? In order to answer these questions, the present paper includes an extensive survey conducted in Romania among two samples of respondents, one made of 173 university professors and the other consisting of 732 students. The results presented in the paper indicate a high level of adaptation to the new teaching methods, among professors (84.4%) as well as among students (58.7%), with a high number of professors (51.4%) considering that online education can become an important factor in the development of society and in the enhancement of economic competitiveness (60.7%).
Efficient Hardware-in-the-Loop and Digital Control Techniques for Power Electronics Teaching
Authors: Soomro Jahangir Badar , Chachar Faheem Akhtar , Munir Hafiz Mudassir , Ahmed Ansari Jamshed , Zalhaf Amr S. , Alqarni Mohammed , Alamri Basem
Published: March 2022

Power electronics is a core subject in electrical and electronics engineering at the undergraduate level. The rapid growth in the field of power electronics requires necessary changes in the curricula and practica for power electronics. The proposed next-generation power electronics teaching laboratory changes the learning paradigm for this subject and is for the first time used for teaching purposes in Pakistan. The proposed controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL) laboratory enabled students to design, control, and test power converters without the fear of component failure. CHIL setup allowed students to directly validate the physical controller without the need for any real power converter. This allowed students to obtain more repeatable results and perform extreme digital controller testing of power converters that are otherwise not possible on real hardware. Furthermore, students could start learning power electronics concepts with hardware from the beginning on a safe, versatile, fully interactive, and reconfigurable platform. The proposed laboratory meets the accreditation board for engineering and technology (ABET) student outcome criterion K such that students can continue with the same hardware and software toolset for graduate and research purposes. The knowledge and skills acquired during undergraduate years can help students create new solutions for power electronics systems and develop their expertise in the field of power electronics. The results obtained from the survey indicated that the majority of the students were satisfied with the laboratory setup. They also expressed appreciation over the provision of a high-level graphical language “LabVIEW” for the digital controllers compared to conventional low-level text-based languages such as VHDL, Verilog, C, or C++.
Sustainable Development as a Driver for Customer Experience
Authors: Westin Love , Hallencreutz Jacob , Parmler Johan
Published: March 2022

The concept of sustainable development (SD) has become widely accepted among nations, organisations, and individuals. Recent quantitative and conceptual models have indicated relations between stakeholder perspectives of SD, brand image, and customer satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to estimate a Sustainable Development Index (SDI) as an easy applicable survey item which is used to estimate customer perceptions. By applying a PLS path model, comprising of the EPSI models variables and the suggested items of SDI, this study evaluates relationships between aspects of customer experience and customers’ perception of SD. The estimated score of SDI is further analysed as an approximate measure of universal SD items applied in the literature. As such, the study contributes to the research community by further integrating customer perception of SD in frameworks measuring customer experience. The study data comprises cross-sectional multi-industrial customer perception data, consisting of 606 final respondents. The results show empirical support of the constructed index relation as an approximate measure of universal SD items and as a driving aspect of the customer experience.
The Comparative Advantage of Cities and Innovation Value Chain: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhao Wei , Zhu Chao , Zhu Yaoyao
Published: March 2022

Cities are different in industrial structure; some are specialized while others are diversified. Based on the theory of the innovation value chain, this paper used the innovation data of industrial enterprises from 2008 to 2014 in China to test the comparative advantage of cities in innovation. Our empirical results proved that diversified cities are more suitable for the R&D process of innovation through the labor matching effect and the knowledge spillover effect, while specialized cities are more suitable for the commercialization process through cost-saving effect. Enterprises could choose suitable locations due to their positions in the innovation value chain to achieve sustainable development.
Formalization and Modeling of Communication within Multi-Agent Systems Based on Transparent Intensional Logic
Authors: Novotný Samuel , Michalko Miroslav , Perháč Ján , Novitzká Valerie , Jakab František
Published: March 2022

Communication is one of the most notable processes in a multi-agent system. For this reason, considerable attention is paid to it—from abstract levels presenting theoretical models describing the basic principles to an implementation level with many details. However, most of these models build on a kind of unchanging basis, which characterizes communication between agents of a multi-agent system as a mutual exchange of messages expressed in a specific language or formal logic system, most often first-order predicate logic. Since most logical systems specialize in a particular area of natural language, the choice of a logical system reduces the communication potential of a multi-agent system. Therefore, we decide to choose the transparent intensional logic, a highly expressive methodology of logical analysis of natural language based on the symmetry between the syntax of expressions and their semantics, which minimizes these limitations and brings a new perspective on the issue of formalization of communication in multi-agent systems. By choosing transparent intensional logic as the central logical apparatus of our solution and postulating the general criterion for the synthesis of the concept of a message, the framework idea of our solution, which is based on hypotheses formulated in the analysis of Singh’s formal theory of communication, we have reached the synthesis of the so-called TIL-Message Formalization System. This system, unlike others based on traditionally used formalisms, simplifies the communication process itself by reducing the level of semantic interpretation of messages formalized by it, and in addition to formalism itself, this system also provides an abstract description of the background of the course of communication, proved by its application on specific examples, by standing out from the order of other formalisms providing only a kind of syntactic standard.
Detection of Physical Strain and Fatigue in Industrial Environments Using Visual and Non-Visual Low-Cost Sensors
Authors: Papoutsakis Konstantinos , Papadopoulos George , Maniadakis Michail , Papadopoulos Thodoris , Lourakis Manolis , Pateraki Maria , Varlamis Iraklis
Published: March 2022

The detection and prevention of workers’ body straining postures and other stressing conditions within the work environment, supports establishing occupational safety and promoting well being and sustainability at work. Developed methods towards this aim typically rely on combining highly ergonomic workplaces and expensive monitoring mechanisms including wearable devices. In this work, we demonstrate how the input from low-cost sensors, specifically, passive camera sensors installed in a real manufacturing workplace, and smartwatches used by the workers can provide useful feedback on the workers’ conditions and can yield key indicators for the prevention of work-related musculo-skeletal disorders (WMSD) and physical fatigue. To this end, we study the ability to assess the risk for physical strain of workers online during work activities based on the classification of ergonomically sub-optimal working postures using visual information, the correlation and fusion of these estimations with synchronous worker heart rate data, as well as the prediction of near-future heart rate using deep learning-based techniques. Moreover, a new multi-modal dataset of video and heart rate data captured in a real manufacturing workplace during car door assembly activities is introduced. The experimental results show the efficiency of the proposed approach that exceeds 70% of classification rate based on the F1 score measure using a set of over 300 annotated video clips of real line workers during work activities. In addition a time lagging correlation between the estimated ergonomic risks for physical strain and high heart rate was assessed using a larger dataset of synchronous visual and heart rate data sequences. The statistical analysis revealed that imposing increased strain to body parts will results in an increase to the heart rate after 100–120 s. This finding is used to improve the short term forecasting of worker’s cardiovascular activity for the next 10 to 30 s by fusing the heart rate data with the estimated ergonomic risks for physical strain and ultimately to train better predictive models for worker fatigue.
An Improved αvβ6-Receptor-Expressing Suspension Cell Line for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Production
Authors: Harvey Yongjie , Jackson Ben , Carr Brigid Veronica , Childs Kay , Moffat Katy , Freimanis Graham , Tennakoon Chandana , Juleff Nicholas , Seago Julian
Published: March 2022

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and South America, where outbreaks in cloven-hooved livestock threaten food security and have severe economic impacts. Vaccination in endemic regions remains the most effective control strategy. Current FMD vaccines are produced from chemically inactivated foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) grown in suspension cultures of baby hamster kidney 21 cells (BHK-21). Strain diversity means vaccines produced from one subtype may not fully protect against circulating disparate subtypes, necessitating the development of new vaccine strains that “antigenically match”. However, some viruses have proven difficult to adapt to cell culture, slowing the manufacturing process, reducing vaccine yield and limiting the availability of effective vaccines, as well as potentiating the selection of undesired antigenic changes. To circumvent the need to cell culture adapt FMDV, we have used a systematic approach to develop recombinant suspension BHK-21 that stably express the key FMDV receptor integrin αvβ6. We show that αvβ6 expression is retained at consistently high levels as a mixed cell population and as a clonal cell line. Following exposure to field strains of FMDV, these recombinant BHK-21 facilitated higher virus yields compared to both parental and control BHK-21, whilst demonstrating comparable growth kinetics. The presented data supports the application of these recombinant αvβ6-expressing BHK-21 in future FMD vaccine production.
A Geospatial Approach for Analysis of Drought Impacts on Vegetation Cover and Land Surface Temperature in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Authors: Gaznayee Heman Abdulkhaleq A. , Al-Quraishi Ayad M. Fadhil , Mahdi Karrar , Ritsema Coen
Published: March 2022

Drought is a common event in Iraq’s climate, and the country has severely suffered from drought episodes in the last two decades. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is geographically situated in the semi-arid zone in Iraq, whose water resources have been limited in the last decades and mostly shared with other neighboring countries. To analyze drought impacts on the vegetation cover and the land surface temperature in the KRI for a span of 20 years from 1998 to 2017, remote sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have been adopted in this study. For this study, 120 Landsat satellite images were downloaded and utilized, whereas six images covering the entire study area were used for each year of the study period. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surfaces Temperature Index (LST) were applied to produce multi-temporal classified drought maps. Changes in the area and values of the classified NDVI and LST were calculated and mapped. Mann–Kendall and Sen’s Slope statistical tests were used to assess the variability of drought indices variation in 60 locations in the study area. The results revealed increases in severity and frequency of drought over the study period, particularly in the years 2000 and 2008, which were characterized by an increase in land surface temperatures, a decrease in vegetation area cover, and a lack of precipitation averages. Climate conditions affect the increase/decrease of the vegetated cover area, and geographical variability is also one factor that significantly influences the distribution of vegetation. It can be concluded that the southeast and southwestern parts of the KRI were subjected to the most severe droughts over the past 20 years.
Optimization Analysis to Evaluate the Relationships between Different Ion Concentrations and Prymnesium parvum Growth Rate
Authors: Liu Shuang-Yu , Zhao Rui-Zhi , Qiu Xiao-Cong , Guo Qi
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimum environmental condition required for reaching the maximum growth rate of P. parvum. Eight ions (Na+, K+, CO32−, HCO3−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, and SO42−) were divided into two groups with a uniform design of 4 factors and 10 levels. The results showed a rising trend in growth rate with increasing ion concentrations. However, concentrations that exceeded the threshold led to a slowdown in the growth rate. Therefore, adequate supply of ion concentrations promoted growth of P. parvum, whereas excessively abundant or deficient ion concentrations inhibited its growth rate. Specifically, the order of impact of the first four ion factors on the growth rate was Na+ > HCO3− > K+ > CO32−. The growth rate of P. parvum reached the maximum theoretical 0.999 when the concentrations of Na+, K+, CO32−, and HCO3− ions were 397.98, 11.60, 3.37, and 33.31 mg/L, respectively. This theoretical growth maximum was inferred from the experimental results obtained in this study. For other ion factors, SO42− had the most influence on the growth rate of P. parvum, followed by Mg2+, Ca2+, and Cl− ions. The growth rate of P. parvum reached the maximum theoretical value of 0.945 when the concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl−, and SO42− ions were 11.52, 32.95, 326.29, and 377.31 mg/L, respectively. The findings presented in this study add to our understanding of the growth conditions of P. parvum and provide a theoretical basis for dealing with the water bloom it produces in order to control and utilize it.
Classification of Snow Cover Persistence across China
Authors: Li Hongxing , Zhong Xinyue , Zheng Lei , Hao Xiaohua , Wang Jian , Zhang Juan
Published: March 2022

In this study, we classified the variability in snow cover persistence across China by using a novel method; continuous snow cover days and variability of snow cover were used as the evaluation indicators based on a long-term Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) snow cover extent (SCE) product. The product has been generated by the snow research team in the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources (NIEER), Chinese Academy of Sciences. There were obvious differences in snow cover classification in three snow cover areas (northern Xinjiang, northeast China, and the Tibetan Plateau): northern Xinjiang was dominated by persistent snow cover, most regions of northeast China were covered by persistent and periodic variable snow cover. There was the most abundant snow cover classification in the Tibetan Plateau. The extents of persistent and periodic variable snow cover were gradually shrinking due to rising temperatures and decreasing snowfall during 1981–2019. In contrast, non-periodic variable snow cover areas increased significantly. This method takes into account the stability, continuity, and variability of snow cover, and better captures the characteristics and changes of snow cover across China. Based on our research, we found that snow disasters in ephemeral-type (belong to non-periodic variable snow cover) regions cannot be well prevented because of the unfixed snow cover timing. Therefore, we recommend that monitoring and forecasting of snow cover in these snow cover regions should be strengthened.
How to Write a Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Lounsbury Olivia
Published: March 2022

It is not uncommon for those involved in hospital- or healthcare organization–based quality improvement (QI) initiatives to implement a robust QI project, present the results within the organization, celebrate wins, and quickly move on to the next project that demands attention. This rapid cycle turnover of QI projects leaves little time or energy for those involved to publish their findings to a broader, academic audience, despite the likely usefulness of these projects for others beyond the walls of the home institution.

For an already overburdened healthcare professional, it is likely that the typical reaction to formal QI publication is met with dread or the perpetual “I’ll get around to it.” However, the academic publication of your QI project could be much simpler than you previously imagined.

The purpose of this piece is to provide a succinct, actionable guide to translating your quality improvement project plan into a formal publication available to the world. The following framework is based on the SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines. SQUIRE is considered the gold standard for describing broad-based QI efforts in healthcare.
When the Patient Becomes the Teacher: Jefferson University’s Health Mentors Program
Authors: Bradley Mitchell Anne , Ankam Nethra , Salzman Brooke , Allen Caitlyn
Published: March 2022

Whether to become a nurse, therapist, pharmacist, or physician, students dedicate upwards of 15 years learning their profession, with countless hours spent studying topics like anatomy, pharmacology, and chemistry. But what about empathy? Jefferson University created the Health Mentors Program to teach future caregivers what it’s like to experience the other side of healthcare. Health mentors—dedicated volunteers with chronic conditions such as diabetes, visual impairment, or limited mobility—meet regularly with teams of students to help them learn everything about medicine not found in a textbook. Patient Safety Managing Editor, Caitlyn Allen, sat down with, program directors, Drs. Anne Bradley Mitchell and Nethra Ankam, and faculty support Dr. Brooke Salzman to learn more.
Tracheostomy and Laryngectomy Airway Safety Events: An Analysis of Patient Safety Reports From 84 Hospitals
Authors: Gardner Lea Anne , Jones Rebecca , Rassekh Christopher , Atkins Joshua
Published: March 2022

Background: Tracheostomy- and laryngectomy-related airway safety events can lead to life-threatening situations, permanent harm, or death. We conducted a statewide population-based study to learn about these events and the relationship with associated factors, interventions, and outcomes to identify potential areas for improvement.

Methods: We queried the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS) to find tracheostomy- and laryngectomy-related airway safety event reports involving adults age 18 years and older that occurred between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020.

Results: Reports related to tracheostomies and laryngectomies accounted for 97.3% and 2.7% of the total, respectively. The four most frequent tracheostomy-related complications were unplanned decannulations, 71.4%; uncontrolled bleeding/hemorrhage, 9.2%; and partial/total occlusion and mucus plug/thick secretions, which each accounted for 6.9%.

Conclusions: Safe airway management for patients with a tracheostomy or laryngectomy requires staff who are knowledgeable and confident, and have the necessary skills and equipment to provide immediate attention when complications arise. We discuss potential safety strategies to reduce the risk of unplanned decannulations, uncontrolled bleeding/hemorrhage, and partial/total occlusions, as well as issues related to equipment, knowledge/training, and communication.
Online Supplement to “Medication Safety in the Emergency Department: A Study of Serious Medication Errors Reported by 101 Hospitals From 2011 to 2020”
Authors: Patel Sejal , Kukielka Elizabeth , Jones Rebecca
Published: March 2022

This supplementary material has been provided by the authors to give readers additional information about their work.
Esperança e Resignação
Authors: Benchimol Márcio
Published: March 2022

Esse trabalho é uma tentativa de interpretar uma afirmação feita por Nietzsche em seu livro O caso Wagner, na qual ele sugere que Schopenhauer, como o filósofo da décadence, revelou Wagner, como o artista da décadence, a si mesmo. A tentativa passa por uma comparação entre dois momentos do pensamento de Wagner sobre a música, e, em particular, sobre sua própria música. O primeiro momento é representado por seu texto A arte e a revolução, de 1849, enquanto que o segundo é representado por seu Festschrift Beethoven, de 1871.
Télédétection et enjeux environnementaux globaux à l'heure du Big Data
Authors: Dao Hy
Published: March 2022

Après un survol historique de l'évolution de la production d''images satellitaires jusqu'au déluge de données actuel, cet article montre comment la télédétection peut venir en soutien de politiques internationales portant sur l'environnement et le développement durable, tout en renouvelant continuellement notre vision de la planète Terre.
Vaccine Passport Use and Travel Health Status Among Turkish Travelers at an International Airport
Authors: Kahraman Mustafa , Yuksel Irem , Boz Elif Beyza , Ozbek Hasan Ediz , Mert Elif , Reyhanli Aybike , Sari Aslihan , Canturk Enes Muhammed , Can Ebru , Demirkol Ataberk , Toraman Mustafa Sencer , Yildirim Nilufer , Oren Meryem Merve , Polat Sila Hidayet Bozdogan , Kan Osman , Ayazoglu Cemal , Aydogan Fulya Kahraman , Ozturk Sukru , Karan Mehmet Akif
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Even though Istanbul is one of the centers of the world’s fastest-growing tourism and travel sector, there are limited statistics on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of travelers from this region regarding travel-related infectious diseases. This study aimed to determine the passengers’ KAP about contagious diseases and contribute to developing new solutions for the problems people face while traveling abroad. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 182 Turkish travelers planning on traveling abroad and applied to the Istanbul Travel Health Center and the Istanbul Airport Health Control Center between January and March 2019. Results: The proportion of carrying a vaccination certificate was statistically higher in those who received healthcare services at international terminals (P=0.002), especially those who had yellow fever (P<0.001) and meningococcal vaccine (P=0.011). More than half of the vaccinated passengers did not carry their vaccination certificates, while around half (53.8%) were traveling to Africa. When compared to travelers flying to Europe, vaccination checks were 6.7 times (95% CI: 2.5-17.9) higher in passengers traveling to Africa, 6.1 times (95% CI: 1.5-24.3) higher in passengers traveling to Asia, and 14.8 times (95% CI: 1.3-164.3) higher in passengers traveling to South America. In addition, the vaccination certificate carrying proportion was significantly higher in those with a travel duration of 15 days or more (P=0.028), those who received health services at international terminals (P=0.002), and those vaccinated (P<0.001). Conclusion: Improved knowledge of travel-related infectious diseases and increased adoption of pre-travel health advice and vaccines are urgently needed among Turkish travelers.
Lung Ultrasound in Preterm Neonates as Useful Tool of Assessing the Condition of Lung Tissue and Pleural Cavity
Authors: Улезко Е.А. , Левандовский Е.В.
Published: March 2022

За последние два десятилетия возросла частота рождения недоношенных детей. Вероятность летального исхода у новорожденных с массой тела менее 2500 г в 40 раз превышает таковую у детей с нормальной массой тела. Использование новых технологий в реанимации и интенсивной терапии новорожденных значительно улучшило выживаемость детей с экстремально низкой массой тела. Одной из основных причин перинатальной смертности является нарушение со стороны респираторной системы. Диагностика патологии органов дыхания, в частности легких, у недоношенных новорожденных в основном основывается на данных рентгенологического метода исследования. С целью минимизации воздействия вредных факторов, в частности ионизирующего рентгеновского излучения, в литературе предложен метод ультразвукового исследования легких. В статье представлен обзор литературы по методике ультразвукового исследования легких и описание основных патологических состояний.

The frequency of premature births has increased over the past two decades. The probability of fatal outcome in newborns with body weight less than 2500 g is 40 times higher than in children with normal weight. The use of new technologies in intensive care units has significantly improved the survival rate of infants with extremely low birth weight. One of the main causes of perinatal mortality is respiratory system disorders. Diagnosis of respiratory pathology, particularly in lungs, in premature newborns is mainly based on X-ray data. In order to minimize the impact of harmful factors, particularly ionizing X-rays, the method of ultrasound examination of the lungs has been proposed in the literature. The article presents a review of the literature on the method of lung ultrasound with a description of the main pathological conditions.
Psychological Image of a Medical Professional as a Component of Social Level of Image in Healthcare
Authors: Воронко Е.В. , Кузмицкая Ю.Л. , Бойко С.Л. , Сурмач М.Ю.
Published: March 2022

В статье приводятся результаты изучения психологического образа медицинского работника. Психологический образ понимается авторами как компонент социального уровня имиджа в здравоохранении. Психологический образ медицинского работника содержит определенный набор профессионально значимых качеств, включающий коммуникативные, эмоционально-волевые, интеллектуальные личностные. Метод исследования: семантический дифференциал Ч. Осгуда. Эмпирическая база исследования – 126 врачей и пациентов. Представлен количественный и качественный анализ профилей психологического образа медицинских работников при разных объектах оценивания (врач и медицинская сестра). Проведенное исследование показало сформировавшиеся психологические образы врача как человека с хорошо развитыми коммуникативными и интеллектуальными личностными качествами, медицинскую сестру как человека с преобладающими коммуникативными, эмоциональными и волевыми качествами.

The article presents the results of studying the psychological image of a medical worker. The psychological image is understood by the authors as a component of the social level of image in the health care system. The psychological image of a medical worker contains a certain set of professionally significant qualities, including communicative, emotional – volitional, intellectual personal qualities. Research method: Ch. Osgood’s semantic differential. The empirical base of the study was 126 doctors and patients. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the profiles of the psychological image of medical workers in different objects of assessment (doctor and nurse) was presented. The study showed the formed psychological images of a doctor as a person with well– developed communicative and intellectual personal qualities, a nurse as a person with prevailing communicative, emotional and volitional qualities.
Analysis of Non-fermenting Gram-Negative Bacteria Spreading and Their Resistance to Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Зайцева В.Н. , Рогачева Т.А. , Анисько Л.А. , Соловей Н.В.
Published: March 2022

В работе представлены результаты микробиологического исследования 430 клинических изолятов неферментирующих грамотрицательных бактерий (НГОБ), выделенных из биоматериала пациентов, госпитализированных в УЗ «Городская клиническая инфекционная больница» г. Минска в 2014–2019 гг. Проанализированы частота, динамика выделения и резистентность к антибактериальным лекарственным средствам. Установлено, что в спектре выделенных в указанный период микроорганизмов ведущими патогенами являлись ацинетобактер и синегнойная палочка. Среди нозологических форм доминировали инфекции дыхательных путей. Изучение чувствительности изолятов Acinetobacter различной видовой принадлежности к антибиотикам показало, что наибольшей эффективностью обладали глицилциклины (тигециклин) – 98,2% изолятов, полимиксины (колистин) – 96,2% изолятов. Близкими по активности были аминогликозиды и карбапенемы (56,5% и 55,6% изолятов соответственно). В отношении псевдомонад высокая антимикробная активность была у полимиксинов (колистин) – 93,5% изолятов, аминогликозидов (тобрамицин) – 71,8% изолятов и цефалоспоринов (цефепим) – 59,2% изолятов.

The article presents results of a microbiological study of 430 clinical non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria isolates. They were isolated from biomaterial of patients hospitalized in the Minsk Infectious Hospital for 2014–2019. It is found that in the spectrum of microorganisms isolated during the period, the leading pathogens were Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. Acinetobacter’s sensitivity to antibiotics showed that most effective of glicylcycline (tihecycline) 98.2% of isolates fnd polymyxins (colistin) – 96.2%. Among Pseudomonas polymyxins (colistin) had high antimicrobialactivity of 93.5% of isolates, aminoglycoside (tobramicin) – 71.8% of isolates and cephalosporins (cephepime) – 59.2% of isolates.
La repoblación del área norte de la Navarrería en 1321
Authors: Arrizabalaga Lizarraga Rafael
Published: March 2022

En este artículo se pretende aportar luz a las preguntas de por qué, cuándo y cómo se llevó a efecto el trazado urbano de la renacida ciudad de la Navarrería. Se trata de un exhaustivo estudio que ha profundizado en todos los registros de pagos de rentas, cartas, privilegios y libros de fuegos relacionados con estos primeros vecinos que la repoblaron. El análisis de datos históricos se completa con el estudio de la planimetría de la ciudad actual, una realidad física que se ha conservado bastante bien, aun sufriendo alteraciones que hoy permanecen invisibles. El resultado es sorprendente, ya que relaciona el presente con los primeros repobladores que levantaron sus edificaciones.