bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drivers of solar photovoltaic deployment in South African public universities: a Delphi study
Authors: Geh Nutifafa , Emuze Fidelis , Das Dillip Kumar
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Solar photovoltaic energy is the fastest growing renewable energy in South Africa, and deployment at public universities is critical in order to meet the high energy demand on campuses in a more sustainable manner. To promote and support deployment, it is necessary to know the factors that drive adoption of the technology. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the factors which engender deployment of photovoltaic energy in public universities in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

Through an extensive literature review, the factors which drive photovoltaic energy deployment were identified and a three round Delphi survey was conducted for panellists to rate the drivers. The data were analysed using SPSS Version 27, and the mean and inter-quartile range values were used to identify the significant drivers within the public university sector.

Findings

The findings suggested that the deployment of photovoltaic energy is engendered by the direct and indirect benefits, social influences and the relative advantage of photovoltaic energy usage. For instance, universities install photovoltaic energy because of the financial gains that are made through reduction of energy cost. The deployment is also motivated by the reduction of energy-related greenhouse gases, enhancement of university sustainability performance, and the contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Originality/value

A significant contribution to the body of knowledge regarding the drivers of photovoltaic energy deployment has been made in the paper from the perspective of a public university. The contribution fills the knowledge gap in South Africa by contributing valuable information to enable decision-makers to gain better understanding of the key issues that call for more attention in promoting and supporting photovoltaic energy deployment in the sector.
The precursors of C8 alcohols from soybean: Purification, distribution and hydrolysis properties of glycosidically bound volatiles
Authors: Feng Xiaoxiao , Hua Yufei
Published: December 2021

C8 alcohols, such as 1‐octen‐3‐ol and 3‐octanol, have been variously described as mushroom, musty or earthy and are common volatile compounds of soymilk. C8 alcohols were the major volatiles formed during soybean soaking, and about 95% of the total C8 alcohols were originated from the enzymatic hydrolysis of glycosides of alcohols in soybean hypocotyls. In addition to 1‐octen‐3‐yl β‐primeveroside, a new glycoside was purified from the methanol extracts of soybean hypocotyls and were confirmed as 3‐octanyl β‐primeverosides by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The crude glycosidase extracted from soybean hypocotyls showed much higher hydrolysis activities toward C8 alcohol β‐primeverosides than that of almond β‐glycosidase. Besides, increasing nonenzymatic hydrolysis was observed when the purified β‐primeverosides were heated at pH values lower than 6. The nonenzymatic hydrolysis activation energies (Ea) were 30.41 kJ/mol and 38.08 kJ/mol for 1‐octen‐3‐yl β‐primeveroside and 3‐octanyl β‐primeveroside, respectively. In addition to C8 alcohols, nonenzymatic hydrolysis also resulted in the formation of 2,3‐octanedione, 3‐hydroxy‐2‐octanone and 3‐octanone. The nonenzymatic hydrolysis of β‐primeverosides in the soy milk was also studied under the same conditions as those in the model systems. The degree of hydrolysis was similar but the molar yields of the volatile components were lower than those obtained in the model system.

Practical Application

The results indicated that a different strategy or technology is required to suppress the formation of C8 alcohols than that applied to off‐flavor compounds formed de novo during processing of soybean seeds.
‘For the Owner I Am Convinced Has Neither Much Taste or Genius’: Jemima Marchioness Grey's Accounts of the Gardens at Stowe and Hagley
Authors: Hubberstey Jemima
Published: December 2021

Jemima Marchioness Grey (1722‐1797) was an avid country‐house tourist in the mid‐eighteenth century, and her accounts offer a key insight into emerging debates around garden design and the picturesque. This article will explore Grey's engagement with garden theory through her contrasting accounts of Stowe in Buckinghamshire and Hagley Hall in Worcestershire, arguing that her insights can enrich our understanding of emerging discourses and showcase the way in which women can provide some of the most enlightening accounts that frame them.
Hysterectomy after uterus transplantation and detailed analyses of graft failures
Authors: Karlsson Camilla C. , Dahm‐Kähler Pernilla , Kvarnström Niclas , Mölne Johan , Broecker Verena , Brännström Mats
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The first live birth after uterus transplantation occurred in Sweden in 2014. Uterus transplantation has repeatedly, and at many centers worldwide, proven to be a feasible treatment for absolute uterine factor infertility. Hysterectomy in live donors and transplantation are well described in numerous reports. However, there are no reports of hysterectomy in the recipient after uterus transplantation, which will occur at either graft failure, after childbirth, or after numerous failed pregnancy attempts. We present the first report of hysterectomy in recipients after uterus transplantation with detailed analyses of findings in conjunction with graft failures.

Material and Methods

An analysis of recipient hysterectomies (n = 10), performed in 2012–2020, was conducted. Data from the international uterus transplantation registry (ISUTx registry) were extracted, and medical records were systematically reviewed, to collect and compile characteristics of recipients and donors, as well as pre‐, per‐, and postoperative data, including clinical course of graft failures.

Results

Hysterectomy in recipients was performed in conjunction with cesarean section (n = 3), 3–6 months after cesarean section (n = 3), or after failed pregnancy attempts (n = 1) or graft failure (n = 3). The durations of anesthesia (2 h 36 min to 7 h 35 min) and hysterectomy surgery (1 h 42 min to 5 h 52 min) ranged widely, with long perioperative interruptions for insertion of ureteral catheters in two cases. Adhesions to the uterus were abundant, the majority being mild. Three uteri that subsequently showed graft failure (hysterectomy at 1, 3, and 8 months post transplantation) showed histological signs of ischemia in biopsies taken 1‐week post‐transplant and early signs of central hypoperfusion by Doppler ultrasound. In these graft failure explants, there were no epithelial linings in the uterine cavity or in the cervix. The inner uterine wall was severely ischemic and/or necrotic, whereas outer parts were partly viable. There were signs of moderate atherosclerosis of uterine arteries but no rejection. Mild postoperative complications were frequent (6/10), with one supravaginal hematoma requiring surgical drainage.

Conclusions

Hysterectomy after uterus transplantation is a complex and time‐consuming procedure, and perioperative ureteral catheters may be helpful. Histopathology of early cervical biopsies showing ischemic signs may indicate subsequent irreversible damage, leading to graft failure.
Sustained low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol <70 mg/dl is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes in the clinical setting
Authors: Sánchez‐Bacaicoa Carmen , Galán Javier , Guijarro Carlos , Rico‐Martín Sergio , Monreal Manuel , Calderón‐García Julián F. , Aguilar‐Cortés Eduardo , Sánchez Muñoz‐Torrero Juan F. ,   for FRENA Investigators
Published: December 2021

Background and aims

Clinical trials have shown that intensive low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) lowering improves cardiovascular outcomes among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but data are limited in real clinical practice, particularly for patients with ASCVD informing different territories.

Methods

FRENA was a prospective registry of consecutive outpatients with coronary, cerebrovascular or peripheral artery disease. We compared the incidence of recurrent events in patients with sustained LDL‐C levels <70 mg/dl compared with those with ≥70 mg/dl.

Results

As of December 2018, 1182 patients were eligible for this study. Among them, 172 (14.5%) had mean LDL‐C levels ≤70 mg/dl, and 1010 (85.5%) had <70 mg/dl. Their clinical characteristics at baseline were similar. During 5 years of follow‐up, 252 patients (21%) suffered major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The incidence rates of MACE were 3.42 events per 100 patient‐years (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.17–5.14) in patients with levels <70 mg/dl and 5.57 (95% CI, 4.87–6.34) in those with ≥70 mg/dl; the rate ratio was 0.61 (95% CI, 0.39–0.92), p = 0.019. On multivariable analysis, patients with LDL‐C levels <70 mg/dl were at lower risk for MACE (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.61 [95% CI, 0.39–0.93] p < 0.05). MACE reduction was driven by a decrease in coronary and peripheral events with no significant effect on stroke.

Conclusions

Long‐term sustained LDL‐C <70 mg/dl in the clinical practice is associated with reduction in cardiovascular and peripheral vascular events with no apparent effect on stroke.
Safety concerns on the abuse potential of esketamine: Multidimensional analysis of a new anti‐depressive drug on the market
Authors: Baudot Jules , Soeiro Thomas , Tambon Marine , Navarro Nicolas , Veyrac Gwenaëlle , Mezaache Salim , Micallef Joëlle
Published: December 2021

Prominent features of esketamine (e.g., similar mechanism of action as ketamine and target population) require to be vigilant regarding its benefits/risks balance and its risks of abuse in real‐life settings. The aim of this study was to review all available pharmacological and clinical data to assess the abuse potential of esketamine shortly after its marketing. This multidimensional study is a quantitative and qualitative analysis of complementary data sources, ranging from preauthorization data (i.e., fundamental pharmacology and clinical trials) to real‐life settings data (i.e., pharmacovigilance databases and web forums). According to esketamine pharmacology, its psychoactive effects play a role both in its therapeutic effect and its abuse potential. Only one out of the three short‐term efficacy trials found a significant difference between esketamine and placebo in treatment‐resistant depression. Beside adverse events that may be sought for abuse purpose (e.g., dissociation, sedation, euphoric mood, hallucination, feeling drunk, and derealization), clinical signs related to substance use disorder (e.g., tolerance, withdrawal syndrome, and drug dependence) and misuse (e.g., off‐label use) were also identified in pharmacovigilance databases. Analysis of pharmacovigilance narratives and web forums showed that esketamine psychoactive effects are appreciated by some patients, while they are badly experienced by others. Strict compliance with the market authorization, close monitoring of patients by psychiatrists, and surveillance of any signs of misuse, abuse, or dependence must be part of any treatment course.
Many faces of sleep regulation: beyond the time of day and prior wake time
Authors: Duhart José Manuel , Inami Sho , Koh Kyunghee
Published: December 2021

The two‐process model of sleep regulation posits two main processes regulating sleep: the circadian process controlled by the circadian clock and the homeostatic process that depends on the history of sleep and wakefulness. The model has provided a dominant conceptual framework for sleep research since its publication ~ 40 years ago. The time of day and prior wake time are the primary factors affecting the circadian and homeostatic processes, respectively. However, it is critical to consider other factors influencing sleep. Since sleep is incompatible with other behaviors, it is affected by the need for essential behaviors such as eating, foraging, mating, caring for offspring, and avoiding predators. Sleep is also affected by sensory inputs, sickness, increased need for memory consolidation after learning, and other factors. Here, we review multiple factors influencing sleep and discuss recent insights into the mechanisms balancing competing needs.
Utility of TG/HDL‐c ratio as a predictor of mortality and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis: A systematic review
Authors: Gonzáles‐Rubianes Diana Zolans , Figueroa‐Osorio Liz Katerin , Benites‐Zapata Vicente A. , Pacheco‐Mendoza Josmel , Herrera‐Añazco Percy
Published: December 2021

The triglyceride/high‐density cholesterol‐lipoprotein (TG/HDL‐c) is a biomarker of cardiovascular events and mortality. In hemodialysis patients, the evidence is controversial. A systematic review was carried out in the Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Pubmed databases to identify the relevant cohort studies on cardiovascular events and mortality in hemodialysis patients the role of TG/HDL‐c as a risk factor. Four cohort‐type studies were evaluated, with a total of 52,579 hemodialysis patients. Three studies conducted in Asian populations and one study in the United States had the highest percentage of the sample (50,673 patients). The elevated TG/HDL‐c ratio is associated with better survival, and there is a consistent gradual inverse association between TG/HDL‐c and mortality in all analysis subgroups. In the decile categorization of the exposure variable, a 21% decrease in the risk of cardiovascular mortality and a 15% decrease in all‐cause mortality in the highest decile compared to the reference group (D10 aHR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69–0.91 and D10 aHR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.78–0.92). Our results show that the TG/HDL‐c ratio is a protective factor for cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in the American population and a risk factor for them in the population from Asia.
Life‐threatening alkalosis from baking soda pica in an end stage renal disease hemodialysis patient
Authors: Sarwal Amara , Kim Susan , Gnanasekaran Isaiarasi
Published: December 2021

Severe metabolic alkalosis is rarely seen in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on long‐term hemodialysis. This can be life threatening and mortality is exponentially increased when the pH exceeds 7.60. Persistent vomiting, ingestion of alkali for dyspepsia and pica behavior are all potential causes of such severe metabolic alkalosis. The prevalence of pica is increased in chronic kidney disease and ESRD patients, with ice being the most commonly ingested substance. It can cause a myriad of complications including death, but the diagnosis may be elusive unless the pica behavior is witnessed firsthand by others since patients do not typically disclose their behavior. We present the case of a hemodialysis patient with severe alkalemia, hypernatremia, and excessive interdialytic weight gains resulting in recurrent hospitalizations for fluid overload due to baking soda pica behavior.
Experiences of nurse educators facilitating and teaching in an international setting
Authors: Richter Solina , Sullivan Ginger , Urindwanayo Desire , Kelly Isabelle
Published: December 2021

Background

Multiple studies focus on the experiences of visiting students from high resource regions that participated in clinical placements in lower resource countries but less focus on the experiences of the educators accompanying students.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of educators during an international clinical placement of nursing students in a country in West Africa.

Methods

We implemented a focussed ethnographic design. We purposively sampled educators who accompanied students on an international clinical placement. Data collection from 2018 to 2019 consisted of in‐depth individual interviews. We utilized Roper and Shapira's (2000, 10.4135/9781483328294.) data analysis process, which includes coding keywords, identifying patterns and theorizing.

Findings

Three themes emerged from the data: rewards in accompanying students, challenges experienced and the need for mentoring and continuous support. Educators found it rewarding to see growth in students, how students developed as global citizens, how students developed critical thinking and problem‐solving skills and create lifelong friendships.

Conclusion

Educators who accompany nursing students to international clinical placement experience valuable learning and challenging issues. Educators must navigate, support and advance student learning when on an international placement. It is crucial to have adequate institutional support from both the home and host country.
Outcomes of posterior wall isolation with pulmonary vein isolation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Authors: Jankelson Lior , Garber Leonid , Shulman Eric , Cohen Roi Bar , Peterson Connor , Wadhwani Lalit , Nadeau‐Routhier Charles , Xia Yuhe , Barbhaiya Chirag , Holmes Douglas , Knotts Robert , Bernstein Scott , Kushnir Alexander , Spinelli Michael , Park David , Aizer Anthony , Chinitz Larry
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Prior studies have shown that addition of posterior wall isolation (PWI) may reduce atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. No data on PWI in paroxysmal AF (pAF) patients with normal left atrial voltage is available, to date.

Objective

This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of PWI in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients presenting with pAF and normal left atrial voltage.

Methods

Consecutive patient registry analysis was performed on all patients with pAF and normal left atrial voltage undergoing initial radiofrequency ablation from November 1, 2018 to November 15, 2019. Primary endpoint was recurrence of atrial arrhythmia including AF, atrial tachycardia (AT), or atrial flutter (AFL).

Results

A total of 321 patients were studied, 214 in the PVI group and 107 in the PWI + PVI group. Recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia occurred in 18.2% of patients in the PVI group and 16.8% in the PVI + PWI cohort (p = 0.58). At 1 year, recurrence was 14.0% in the PVI group and 15.0% in the PWI + PVI group (p = 0.96). There was a lower AT/AFL recurrence in the PVI + PWI group, not reaching significance (3.7% in the PWI + PVI group vs. 7.9% in PVI group, p = 0.31). Need for carina lesions predicted recurrence in the PVI‐only group.

Conclusions

Addition of PWI to PVI in pAF patients undergoing their first ablation did not reduce the frequency of atrial arrhythmia recurrence. This warrants further study in a prospective trial.
Thailand guideline 2020 for medical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease
Authors: Maneerattanaporn Monthira , Pittayanon Rapat , Patcharatrakul Tanisa , Bunchorntavakul Chalermrat , Sirinthornpanya Siam , Pitisuttithum Panyavee , Sudcharoen Asawin , Kaosombatwattana Uayporn , Tangvoraphongchai Kawin , Chaikomin Reawika , Harinwan Kamin , Techathuvanan Karjpong , Jandee Sawangpong , Kijdamrongthum Phuripong , Tangaroonsanti Anupong , Rattanakovit Kulthep , Chirapongsathorn Sakkarin , Gonlachanvit Sutep , Surangsrirat Surapol , Werawatganon Duangporn , Chunlertrith Kitti , Mahachai Varocha , Leelakusolvong Somchai , Piyanirun Wanich
Published: December 2021

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most prevalent and bothersome functional gastrointestinal disorders worldwide, including in Thailand. After a decade of the first Thailand GERD guideline, physician and gastroenterologist encountered substantially increase of patients with GERD. Many of them are complicated case and refractory to standard treatment. Concurrently, the evolution of clinical characteristics as well as the progression of investigations and treatment have developed and changed tremendously. As a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which are developing countries, we considered that the counterbalance between advancement and sufficient economy is essential in taking care of patients with GERD. We gather physicians from university hospitals, as well as internist and general practitioners who served in rural area, to make a consensus in this updated version of GERD guideline focusing in medical management of GERD. This clinical practice guideline was constructed adhering with standard procedure. We categorized the guideline in to four parts including definition, investigation, treatment, and long‐term follow up. We anticipate that this guideline would improve physicians' proficiency and help direct readers to choose investigations and treatments in patients with GERD wisely. Moreover, we wish that this guideline would be applicable in countries with limited resources as well.
Monetary Policy, Inflation, and Rational Asset Price Bubbles
Authors: IKEDA DAISUKE
Published: December 2021

Inflation has tended to be moderate during stock market booms in many countries. To explain the pattern and study optimal monetary policy in such a situation, this paper develops a dynamic model with rational bubbles and nominal rigidities. The model features a financial cost channel through which the shadow cost of borrowing affects marginal costs. A bubble‐led boom mitigates firms' borrowing constraints and keeps inflation from rising by decreasing the shadow cost. In this situation, Ramsey‐optimal monetary policy calls for tightening to curb the boom. Strict inflation targeting is counterproductive in the short run as it exacerbates the boom. For obtaining these results, the financial cost channel and nominal wage rigidity are essential.
Clinical accuracy and agreement between tympanic and forehead body temperature measurements for screening of patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Sharif Nia Hamid , Chong Pei Pei , Yiong Huak Chan , Gorgulu Ozkan , Taghipour Behzad , Sivarajan Froelicher Erika , Pahlevan Sharif Saeed , Rahmatpour Pardis
Published: December 2021

Aim

To investigate the accuracy, reliability and agreement between infrared forehead thermometers versus infrared tympanic thermometers temperature, a cross‐sectional study was conducted in April 2020.

Methods

The forehead and tympanic temperatures of 615 subjects were measured simultaneously in three exposed SARS‐COV‐2 groups at one hospital in Iran, during April 2020. These comparisons were evaluated by Bland–Altman Plot, repeatability, Passing–Bablok regression and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was done to describe the discrimination accuracy of a diagnostic test. The study adhered to STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies.

Results

A Bland–Altman plot indicated that the limits of agreement between the forehead and tympanic temperature were −0.259 to +0.19°C. Passing–Bablok regression analysis illustrated that the infrared forehead was not linearly related to tympanic temperatures (reference method), with a slope estimate that was significantly different from 1.00. The infrared forehead thermometer showed poor precision and lower accuracy than the tympanic. The forehead temperature readings had 60.0% sensitivity and 44.4% specificity (p > .05) to predict disease.

Conclusion

According to the results of study, there is no evidence that the assessment of temperature by infrared forehead thermometer could discriminate between the two groups (positive and negative).
Reimagining Linguistic Heritage: Or How Mother Tongue Speakers Re‐Create Their Language
Authors: Hillewaert Sarah Marleen
Published: December 2021

In this article, I engage the “language as heritage” trope to critically examine a popular belief that underlies it: the idea that a shared language primordially connects an individual to a group of people, a homogenous culture and a particular territory—the notion of the ethnolinguistic group. Judith T. Irvine has long urged linguistic anthropologists to problematize the linguistic side of these classifications, to recognize the ideologies that shape both scholarly language descriptions and speakers’ own interactional practices (often in response to those official depictions). Here, I take on this challenge by considering both the contrived colonial standardization process of East Africa’s Swahili language, and contemporary Swahili speakers’ creative resistances to scholarly descriptions of “their” linguistic heritage. Orthographic and interactional practices from speakers of KiAmu, a Swahili vernacular spoken in coastal Kenya, illustrate how speakers creatively attempt to make their vernacular more “like itself.” Rejecting (post)colonial perspectives of Swahili as a distinctly “African” language, they are reimagining their linguistic heritage and its associated belongings to appeal to alternative identities and histories, that have hybridity and transoceanic interconnectivity at their core.
Structure, Ideology, Distribution: The Dual as Honorific in Santali
Authors: Choksi Nishaant
Published: December 2021

This article draws on Judith T. Irvine's over two decades of work on ideologies of honorification to investigate and analyze the historical transformation of the use of the dual pronominal form in Santali, an Austro‐Asiatic language spoken in eastern India. In Santali, the dual form is employed for single referents (both for the speaker and the addressee) during interactions restricted to affines of adjacent generations. However, in recent years the dual has also started to be used as a deferential honorific in a generalized sense, regardless of the kinship relation between interactants. The new usage has been driven by several factors, including the increasing exposure to education in the dominant Indo‐Aryan vernaculars such as Bengali and Hindi, which use generalized honorifics, as well as movements that have aligned the use of such honorifics with projects for Santal autonomy centered around the spread of a distinct script for the language. The article argues that debates in the community around the notions of tradition and modernity, cultural and ethnic affiliation, and changing ideas of respect have shaped the ideological field conditioning the use and distribution of the honorific dual in Santali.
Evolving Studies of Language Ideologies in Honor of Judith T. Irvine: A Commentary
Authors: Philips Susan U.
Published: December 2021

This commentary discusses papers in a special issue of the Journal of Linguistic Anthropology in honor of Judith T. Irvine.
Chemomechanical preparation influences the microbial community and the levels of LPS, LTA and cytokines in combined endodontic‐periodontal lesions: A clinical study
Authors: Gomes Brenda P. F. A. , Berber Vanessa B. , Marinho Ariane C. S. , Louzada Lidiane M. , Arruda‐Vasconcelos Rodrigo , Passini Maicon R. Z. , Lopes Erica M. , Pecorari Vanessa G. A. , Chen Tsute , Paster Bruce J.
Published: December 2021

Background

This study was conducted to compare the microbiomes, the levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), lipoteichoic acid (LTA), and cytokines (interleukin [IL]‐1β and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha [TNF‐α]), before and after chemomechanical preparation (CMP) of the root canals (RC) and their associated periodontal pockets (PP) in teeth with combined EPL.

Materials

Samples were taken from 10 RC and PP, before and after CMP. The microbiomes (next‐generation sequencing, V3‐V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene), microbiome diversity (bioinformatics analyses), LPS (limulus amebocyte lysate), LTA, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α (ELISA) were evaluated. A statistical analysis was performed with significance level set at 5%.

Results

The most abundant phyla in both sites were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Comparative studies of bacterial genera species revealed that some increased and others decreased after CMP at both sites. A 3% reduction in Gram‐negative bacteria (RC) and a 4% increase in Gram‐positive bacteria (PP) were detected. LPS levels were 4.4 times higher in PP than in the RC. LTA was detected in all samples investigated. Higher levels of IL‐1β and TNF‐α were detected in both sites at baseline. After CMP, LPS, LTA, IL‐1β and TNF‐α were reduced in both sites.

Conclusion

The microbial community in the RC and PP in teeth with combined EPL indicated a similarity between both sites. CMP effectively reduced the microbial load and the LPS levels from teeth with EPL, and consequently diminished the cytokine levels. The reduction in LTA levels in the RC and PP proved challenging.
What is Syrian nationalism? Primordialism and romanticism in official Baath discourse
Authors: Aldoughli Rahaf
Published: December 2021

This article addresses the evolution of Syrian nationalism, showing how the early pan‐Arabist ideals of the Baathist founders morphed into a cult of personality focused narrowly on emotional attachments to the regime. Current Syrian state nationalism is a “constructed primordialism” consisting of vague and sentimental concepts of the Syrian people and their history, despite the fact that the Syrian state in its current territorial identity has only existed for a few decades and incorporates a diverse mosaic of ethnic, cultural, religious and national backgrounds. In the absence of a cohesive pre‐existing community to form the basis of Syrian national identity, the regime tempered its nominal commitment to Arabism with heavily Romanticized rhetoric emphasizing familial bonds of love and devotion between the people and the leader. This primordialist construct has thwarted the emergence of a civic‐oriented national identity in Syria and contributed to tensions underlying the current civil war.
Engineering the revolution? Imagining the role of new digital technologies in infrastructure work futures
Authors: Leonard Pauline , Tyers Roger
Published: December 2021

Contemporary imaginations of the impact of new digital technologies (NDTS) are dominated by utopian visions of a ‘revolution’ in productivity and efficiency, contrasted with dystopian views of declines of work and human skills, and distrust of artificial intelligence's efficacy. This article explores imaginations of digital futures in the infrastructure sector through case study research of a global engineering organisation. Drawing on a practice approach, a typology is generated from interviews with engineers and managers to reveal that three broad imaginations compete within the organisation: technodeterminism; technoscepticism; and human‐centric, all with utopian and dystopian variants. Clear relationships exist between the diverse imaginary positions taken by employees with their different roles, biographies and levels of the organisational agency. Those with relatively higher levels of agency tended towards technocentric utopianism while those with lower levels of agency displayed a resolutely dystopian version. Conversely, while the outward‐facing image of the organisation promotes a utopian imagination of a technologically driven future, those with the very highest levels of the organisational agency remain technosceptic. This means that real change is slow. However, an encouraging manifesto for the future is suggested by those who are innovating NDTS to reimagine alternative infrastructure futures through improved human‐centric social outcomes.
What is left of tragedy?
Authors: Castelli Alberto
Published: December 2021

Tragic characters fight battles they cannot possibly win. That is what makes heroes out of them. However classical and modern tragedies display ontological differences whose fault line is to be found in the philosophical shift from the rationalist principle of sufficient reason to that of insufficient reason. Hence, life ceases to be a necessity imposed by the wrath of the gods and becomes the ordinary outcome of man’s failure. Given that, this paper will consider the nature of the shift and its conceptual impact on the Greek term hamartia. Modernity comes with a redefinition of Weltanschauung: it does not have the cosmic range of the classics, and thus it is less about fate than it is about guilt.
Graph Based Gaussian Processes on Restricted Domains
Authors: Dunson David B. , Wu Hau-Tieng , Wu Nan
Published: December 2021

In nonparametric regression, it is common for the inputs to fall in a restricted subset of Euclidean space. Typical kernel-based methods that do not take into account the intrinsic geometry of the domain across which observations are collected may produce sub-optimal results. In this article, we focus on solving this problem in the context of Gaussian process (GP) models, proposing a new class of Graph Laplacian based GPs (GL-GPs), which learn a covariance that respects the geometry of the input domain. As the heat kernel is intractable computationally, we approximate the covariance using finitely-many eigenpairs of the Graph Laplacian (GL). The GL is constructed from a kernel which depends only on the Euclidean coordinates of the inputs. Hence, we can benefit from the full knowledge about the kernel to extend the covariance structure to newly arriving samples by a Nyström type extension. We provide substantial theoretical support for the GL-GP methodology, and illustrate performance gains in various applications.
A Novel QT-Interval Analysis Method Based on Continuous Wavelet Transform and Philips Algorithm
Authors: İşcan Mehmet , Yilmaz Abdurrahman , Vural Berkem , Yilmaz Cüneyt , Tuzcu Volkan
Published: December 2021

QT surveillance is the most vital appliance to detect the possibility of sudden death sourced by using pro-arrhythmic drugs treating abnormal conditions in the heart. The repolarization of ventricles makes QT interval surveillance difficult since noisy conditions and individual cardiac situations. Besides, an automated QT algorithm is crucial due to a manual QT measurement with some disadvantages such as fatigue condition in reading long records. In this study, a fully novel automated method combining Continuous Wavelet Transform and Philips method was established to perform QT interval analysis. Electrocardiogram recordings were obtained from PhyisoNet database marked by manual and standard automated methods. The proposed algorithm had scores of 15.46 and 11.87 millisecond mean error with 11.85 and 9.91 millisecond standard deviation in terms of gold and silver standards, respectively. Also, the entire QT database was utilized in order to test the algorithm performance with the score of 12.89 and 9.76 millisecond mean and standard deviation errors, respectively. The present algorithm performance had scores of −0.21 ± 7.81 at golden standard, and −4.10 ± 18.21 millisecond error for the whole QT database tests, respectively. The proposed algorithm is attained to more stable and robust results with a higher performance than the previous comparable studies.
Higher Order Chemical Reaction and Radiation Effects on Magnetohydrodynamic Flow of a Maxwell Nanofluid With Cattaneo–Christov Heat Flux Model Over a Stretching Sheet in a Porous Medium
Authors: Vinodkumar Reddy M. , Lakshminarayana P.
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we investigated the heat and mass transfer analysis of an MHD convection flow of Maxwell nanofluid with Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model along with a porous stretching sheet. The effects of thermal radiation, viscous dissipation, suction/injection, and higher-order chemical reaction are taken into consideration. By using similarity transformations the governing equations of the study are reduced into a system of ordinary differential equations and solved numerically by using the BVP5C matlab package. The effects of dimensionless parameters on the present study are deliberated with the aid of graphs and tables. It is found that an increase in thermal Grashof number, thermal radiation, and thermal relaxation time parameter drops the temperature field. The heat transfer rate is declined with enhancing heat source, Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters. Also, observed that the concentration field reduces with the rising value of chemical reaction. The numerically computed values of Nusselt number and Sherwood number are validated with existing literature and found a good agreement.
Analytical Modeling of Laminar Developing Flow Between Hydrophobic Surfaces With Different Slip-Velocities
Authors: Sankar Vijay V. , Cletus Jaimon , M. G. Arun , S. Kumar Ranjith
Published: December 2021

Theoretical analysis of the entrance hydrodynamics of microchannels is an important design aspect in connection with the development of microfluidic devices. In this paper, pressure-driven fluid flow in the entrance region of two infinite hydrophobic parallel plates with dissimilar slip-velocities is analytically modeled. The linearized momentum equation is solved by applying the Navier-slip model at the boundaries to achieve the most generalized two-dimensional form. The velocity profile is obtained by combining the developed and developing velocities, which is estimated by invoking the separation of variable method. It is observed that the velocity profile is asymmetric, and the shear-free region can be shifted from the geometrical central line by altering the wall hydrophobicity. Moreover, the zero shear zone is transferred more toward the surface having high hydrophobicity. The expression for wall shear stress is obtained analytically using Newton's law of viscosity. Moreover, the boundary layer growth from the upper and lower walls is found to be entirely different, and they merge at the entrance length and are noticed to be offsetted from the geometric centerline. The effect of slip-length on the entrance length is analyzed, and an empirical correlation is deduced.
Resistance Spot Welding of Additively Manufactured Maraging Steels—Part I: Nugget Formation
Authors: Luo Cheng , Zhang Yansong , Oelscher Michael , Shi Yandong , Pasligh Niels , Koch Raphael
Published: December 2021

Application of additively manufactured steels is unavoidably involved in the resistance spot welding with conventionally manufactured steels. However, the microstructural evolution of an additive manufactured steel at high temperatures is still unknown, especially for the rapid solidification process. This paper investigated the microstructural evolution of a selective laser melted maraging steel during the rapid solidification process via resistance spot welding. Asymmetrical fusion zone with boat shape was found in the spot weld due to the rougher surface and larger electrical resistance of maraging steel via selective laser melting (SLM) process. The rapid expansion of fusion zone at end of welding process was caused by the carbide formation at the heat-affected zone of maraging steel via selective laser melting process. Besides, printing orientation affected the surface roughness of a selective laser melted maraging steel and subsequently significantly influenced the early stage of formation of fusion zone of additively manufactured maraging steel. We expect that our findings will pave the way to the future application of additively manufactured steels in the industries.
A Study on Low Velocity Impact Behaviour of Functionally Graded Sandwich Conical Shell Under Thermal Environment
Authors: Das Apurba , Pal Subhendu , Agarwal Gopal , Inaba Kazuaki , Deb Singha Tripuresh , Karmakar Amit
Published: December 2021

Turbo machinery rotating blades are a vital component of aero-engines for transferring the energy of gas flow to kinetic energy. Rotating turbo-machinery blades are prone to fail under working field with high temperature, high speed, high pressure and impact of blades. Recently Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are used in turbo-machinery blades due to its advantage of delamination and debonding free structure and ability to withstand high temperature during operation. As these aero-engine blade works in high temperature condition therefore use of ceramic FGM in the outer surface of the blades gives potential advantage. However, low velocity impact is a potential hazard of the blade due to rigid structure of the blade while considerable thickness of ceramic present in the outer surface of the blade. The chances of impact failure of the blade also increase in that case. Hence, low velocity impact of the turbo-machinery blades need to study carefully for safe and reliable operation of the engine. In this present work the low velocity impact characteristics of the FGM sandwich turbine blade under various operating temperature are determined using finite element technique. The low velocity impact performances are evaluated in terms of time histories of the contact force, velocity of the projectile, shell deflection and indentation considering various impactor initial velocities, core to FGM thickness ratio (hcore/hfgm) and blade operating temperature. The upper and lower surfaces of the functionally graded structure reinforced by ductile pure metal layers appear to play a significant role in protecting the structure’s functional integrity from damage.
Effect of Solidity on Performance of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Using Constant Chord Reynolds Number
Authors: P Anirudh , Velamati Ratna Kishore , K S Srinath , D Unnikrishnan
Published: December 2021

The demand for wind turbines has increased ever since fossil fuels showed signs of quick depletion. Among wind turbines, Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) is compact, produces less noise, is omnidirectional, resilient to turbulent flow, and is easy to maintain. The power generated by a VAWT is a function of a non-dimensional geometric parameter known as solidity (s), which is a function of turbine diameter (D), blade chord (c) and the number of blades (n). The present work analyses the impact of solidity (0.12 and 0.18) as a complete non-dimensional parameter on wind turbine performance. Each parameter of solidity is varied, keeping any one of the parameters constant and numerically studied for its performance across a range of tip speed ratios (TSR). For each solidity, six different combinations of VAWT geometric parameters were analyzed. In all the cases, the chord Reynolds number is kept constant. CFD simulation was performed on the Darrieus H-type (NACA0018 airfoil) VAWT. Two dimensional (2D) computational domains are used to study the effect on the turbine’s performance as the solidity studied is less than 0.4. Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-strokes (URANS) equation is used to solve the CFD model using ANSYS Fluent 19.1 with 4-equation transition SST k-ω for turbulence modelling. The comprehensive study of the turbine performance keeping the turbine operation within a constant Re number range shows the Coefficient of Performance (Cp) overlaps for a given solidity.
Cavity for Flow Control and Performance Improvement of Airfoil
Authors: Verma Anand , Borah Bastav , Kulkarni Vinayak
Published: December 2021

The fluid flow analysis over a cambered airfoil having three different cavity locations on the suction surface is reported in this paper. The Elliptical cavity is created at LE, MC, and TE along chordwise locations from the leading to trailing edge. In this regard, the steady simulation is carried out in the Fluent at Reynolds number of 105 based on their chord length. The lift and drag characteristics for clean and cavities airfoil are investigated at different angles of attack. For the clean airfoil, the stall point is observed at 18°. The presence of a cavity improves the stall and aerodynamic characteristics of airfoil. It has been seen that the lift and drag coefficients for pre-stalled or lower angles are nearly similar to clean and cavity at MC or TE positions. For the post-stall point, the improvement in the aerodynamic performance is seen for the cavity at MC or TE. The cavity placed at LE produces lower lift and higher drag characteristics against other configuration models. The overall cavity effect for the flow around the airfoil is that it creates vortices, thereby re-energizes the slower moving boundary layer and delays the flow separation in the downstream direction. The outcomes of this analysis are suggested that the cavity at a position before the mid chord from the leading edge does not improve the performance of the airfoil. Though vortex is formed in the confined spaces but it is unable to reattach the flow towards the downstream direction of an airfoil.
Numerical Study of Single Pad Externally Adjustable 120° Pad Bearing Using Fluid Structure Interaction
Authors: Kamat Harishkumar , R. Kini Chandrakant , Shenoy Satish B.
Published: December 2021

High-speed turbomachinery like turbine generators and marine propulsion systems uses special fluid film bearing called externally adjustable pad bearing due to their great advantages. The principal feature of this bearing is to alter the radial clearance and film thickness along the circumferential direction to improve the bearing performance parameters. In the present study, the effect of radial and tilt adjustment of 120° pad both in upward (or negative) and downward (or positive) direction on the bearing performance is predicted for various eccentricity ratios using the CFD technique. Later the influence of fluid film pressure on the bearing pad is examined using the FSI technique. Furthermore, the effect of eccentricity ratio on the bearing performance and also on pad structure is also analyzed using CFD coupled FSI analysis. The solution technique of the present numerical analysis is validated with the already published literature and the results are in good agreement. The numerical results suggest that for bearing with negative radial and negative tilt adjustment, bearing performance is superior compared to the other adjustments. However, the structural deformation is also significant for the negative radial and negative tilt adjustment. It is also observed that pad deformation increases with the increase in eccentricity ratio as there has been a rise in fluid film pressure.
Broadband square cloak in elastic wave metamaterial plate with active control
Authors: Ning Li , Wang Yi-Ze , Wang Yue-Sheng
Published: December 2021

Cloaking invisibility is a novel technique that prevents the object from being detected in the background field. The development of new artificial materials and structures promotes the emergence of new achievements in cloaking research. In this work, a broadband square cloaking configuration of elastic wave metamaterial plate is designed and fabricated by the external active control system. The approximate parameters of the flexural wave cloak can be obtained by the coordinate transformation and achieved by alternating layers of the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and piezoelectric (PZT) patches. With the introduction of active control systems, the square cloak has a wide effective frequency range. The simulation and experimental results show that the square cloak of flexural waves exhibits a good invisible performance in the frequency region of 500–2200 Hz. Compared to the structure without active control systems, the frequency region 2200–2750 Hz is extended for the active cloak. The design and fabrication of the broadband cloak is wished to be helpful during the practical engineering.
Association Between Scapular Posture and Two Different Pectoralis Minor Length Tests in Adolescents
Authors: Eraslan Leyla , Harput Gulcan , Deniz Damla , Yildiz Taha , Ulusoy Burak , Demirci Serdar , Kara Dilara , Turgut Elif , Duzgun Irem , Bayrakci Tunay Volga , Ergun Nevin
Published: December 2021

Postural asymmetry due to the alterations in scapular posture is typically considered to be associated with injury. Pectoralis minor (PM) has played a crucial role in scapular posture, but limited knowledge exists that shows the possible effect of PM length on static scapular positioning in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between static scapular positioning and two different PM length measurements in adolescents. Pearson rank test demonstrated that direct measurements of the PM length significantly and strongly inversely correlated to scapular anterior tilting (p = .01; r = −.592)and significantly and moderately inversely correlated to scapular internal rotation (p = .013; r = −.465) and scapular downward rotation (p = .028; r = −.416). However, indirect measurement of the PM length was not related to scapular posture. No significant correlation was found between direct and indirect PM length measurements. Direct measurement of PM length presents more information regarding alterations of the static scapular positioning.