bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimized Perforation Schemes in Railway Wheels Toward Acoustic Radiation Mitigation
Authors: Gutiérrez-Gil J. , Garcia-Andrés X. , Martínez-Casas J. , Nadal E. , Denia F. D. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Rolling noise emitted by railway wheels is a problem that affects human health and limits the expansion of the railway network. It is caused by the wheel vibration due to the wheel-rail contact force, and it is important in almost all the vehicle velocity range. The minimization of noise radiation associated with changes on the wheel web is discussed in this work, focusing on potential shape modifications in existing wheels in the form of a perforation distribution over the web. Such a post-manufacturing technique is a cost-effective solution that can be performed in a relatively short term. The implemented objective function is directly related to the overall radiated sound power, which is minimized using a genetic algorithm-based optimizer. In the acoustic model, radiation efficiencies are approximated to unity, the accuracy of this assumption being also studied in the work. The results reflect that an optimized distribution of perforations on the web of a railway wheel can reduce the total sound power level, by about 5 dB(A) and 2 dB(A) for curved and straight web, respectively. The mitigation of the radiated sound power is due to the fact that certain wheel vibration modes are modified and shifted to other frequencies where they are less excited. Finally, the relevance of the cross-sectional curvature of the web is explored by studying two different web geometries, suggesting that it can strongly influence the noise mitigation effects of the perforation pattern.
Delivering mental health and psychosocial support interventions to women and children in conflict settings: a systematic review
Authors: Kamali Mahdis , Munyuzangabo Mariella , Siddiqui Fahad J , Gaffey Michelle F , Meteke Sarah , Als Daina , Jain Reena P , Radhakrishnan Amruta , Shah Shailja , Ataullahjan Anushka , Bhutta Zulfiqar A 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundOver 240 million children live in countries affected by conflict or fragility, and such settings are known to be linked to increased psychological distress and risk of mental disorders. While guidelines are in place, high-quality evidence to inform mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions in conflict settings is lacking. This systematic review aimed to synthesise existing information on the delivery, coverage and effectiveness of MHPSS for conflict-affected women and children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsWe searched Medline, Embase, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Psychological Information Database (PsycINFO)databases for indexed literature published from January 1990 to March 2018. Grey literature was searched on the websites of 10 major humanitarian organisations. Eligible publications reported on an MHPSS intervention delivered to conflict-affected women or children in LMICs. We extracted and synthesised information on intervention delivery characteristics, including delivery site and personnel involved, as well as delivery barriers and facilitators, and we tabulated reported intervention coverage and effectiveness data.ResultsThe search yielded 37 854 unique records, of which 157 were included in the review. Most publications were situated in Sub-Saharan Africa (n=65) and Middle East and North Africa (n=36), and many reported on observational research studies (n=57) or were non-research reports (n=53). Almost half described MHPSS interventions targeted at children and adolescents (n=68). Psychosocial support was the most frequently reported intervention delivered, followed by training interventions and screening for referral or treatment. Only 19 publications reported on MHPSS intervention coverage or effectiveness.DiscussionDespite the growing literature, more efforts are needed to further establish and better document MHPSS intervention research and practice in conflict settings. Multisectoral collaboration and better use of existing social support networks are encouraged to increase reach and sustainability of MHPSS interventions.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019125221.
Sequential classification system for recognition of malaria infection using peripheral blood cell images
Authors: Molina Angel , Alférez Santiago , Boldú Laura , Acevedo Andrea , Rodellar José , Merino Anna 
Published: March 2020

AimsMorphological recognition of red blood cells infected with malaria parasites is an important task in the laboratory practice. Nowadays, there is a lack of specific automated systems able to differentiate malaria with respect to other red blood cell inclusions. This study aims to develop a machine learning approach able to discriminate parasitised erythrocytes not only from normal, but also from other erythrocyte inclusions, such as Howell-Jolly and Pappenheimer bodies, basophilic stippling as well as platelets overlying red blood cells.MethodsA total of 15 660 erythrocyte images from 87 smears were segmented using histogram thresholding and watershed techniques, which allowed the extraction of 2852 colour and texture features. Dataset was split into a training and assessment sets. Training set was used to develop the whole system, in which several classification approaches were compared with obtain the most accurate recognition. Afterwards, the recognition system was evaluated with the assessment set, performing two steps: (1) classifying each individual cell image to assess the system’s recognition ability and (2) analysing whole smears to obtain a malaria infection diagnosis.ResultsThe selection of the best classification approach resulted in a final sequential system with an accuracy of 97.7% for the six groups of red blood cell inclusions. The ability of the system to detect patients infected with malaria showed a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 90%, respectively.ConclusionsThe proposed method achieves a high diagnostic performance in the recognition of red blood cell infected with malaria, along with other frequent erythrocyte inclusions.
Radiographic assessment of sarcopenia in the trauma setting: a systematic review
Authors: Zumsteg Daniel M , Chu Caleb Everett , Midwinter Mark John 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundCompared with similarly injured patients of a younger age, elderly patients have worse outcomes from acute injury. One factor adversely affecting outcomes is sarcopenia, which has been assessed in healthy elderly populations through established clinical and radiological criteria. However, in the acute care setting, no such criteria have been established. Sarcopenia has been opportunistically assessed via radiographic means but there is as of yet no gold standard. The purpose of this review is to summarize the radiological methods used to diagnose sarcopenia in the acute care setting, and suggest ways in which these methods may lead to a consensus definition of sarcopenia and its relationship to patient outcomes.MethodsA systematic survey of medical databases was conducted, with 902 unique publications identified. After screening and application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, data regarding study population, outcome, imaging modality, and criteria for assessment of sarcopenia were extracted from 20 studies. Quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.ResultsCT was the imaging modality for 18 of the studies, with total psoas muscle cross-sectional area at the level of L3 and L4 being the dominant method for assessing sarcopenia. Adjustment for body morphology most commonly used patient height or L4 vertebral body area. The majority of articles found radiographically assessed sarcopenia to be significantly correlated to outcomes such as mortality, length of hospital stay, morbidity, and in-hospital complicationsConclusionsEstablishing a consistent definition would strengthen its applicability and generalizability to admission and discharge planning.Level of evidenceSystematic review, level III.
Mechanisms of neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in unilateral versus bilateral maximal voluntary contractions
Authors: Koral Jérôme , Oranchuk Dustin J. , Wrightson James G. , Twomey Rosie , Millet Guillaume Y. 
Published: March 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in neuromuscular function and corticospinal excitability in response to sustained unilateral (UNIL) and bilateral (BIL) isometric maximal voluntary contraction (IMVC) of the knee extensors. Eleven men performed a 1-min sustained IMVC of the knee extensors with one or both legs. Central and peripheral measures of neuromuscular function and corticospinal excitability were assessed via surface electromyography (EMG), peripheral nerve stimulation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation before, immediately after, and during recovery from IMVC. IMVC force and root-mean-squared EMG decreased during the fatiguing 1-min IMVC, with a larger decrease in EMG during BIL. All neuromuscular function indexes decreased significantly after the IMVC ( P < 0.005), but the magnitude of these decreases did not differ between conditions. Changes in corticospinal excitability (motor evoked potential) and inhibition (silent period) did not differ between conditions. In contrast to previous studies utilizing submaximal exercise, no more peripheral fatigue was found after UNIL vs. BIL conditions, even though central drive was lower after BIL 1-min IMVC. Corticospinal excitability and inhibition were not found to be different between UNIL and BIL conditions, in line with maximal voluntary activation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present experiment used peripheral nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulations during a sustained isometric maximal voluntary contraction to investigate the influence of muscle mass on neuromuscular fatigue. Contrary to previous studies that used submaximal exercise, peripheral fatigue was not found to be greater in unilateral vs. bilateral knee extensions even though central drive was lower during bilateral contractions. Corticospinal excitability and inhibition were not found to be different between unilateral and bilateral conditions.
Problems and Prospects of Uli Art Idiom and the Igbo Heritage Crisis
Authors: Ikwuemesi Chuu Krydz 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
In their various books on Igbo culture, Simon Ottenberg, Adiele Afigbo, P-J Ezeh, Herbert Cole and Chike Aniakor make references to ‘Igbo receptivity’, the ‘resurgence of Igbo arts’, and ‘Igbo cultural self-hate’, in an attempt to capture the wandering of Igbo cultural attitudes from one level of experience to another. While ‘receptivity’ and ‘resurgence’ are positive characterisations and paint a picture of resilience, ‘self-hate’ depicts a postcolonial nihilist tendency also at the heart of Igbo culture. If art is one major index for expressing and assessing the culture of a people, the Igbo uli art, arguably spanning three stages of historical-stylistic development, offers a basis on which Igbo culture and heritage can be appreciated and appraised in light of its receptivity, resurgence, as well as self-hate. Relying on the works of the uli women classicists, the Nsukka artists, and the outcomes of the Art Republic workshops, I argue that traditions never die in any finalistic sense, but rather degenerate and then regenerate new ideas, while nourishing and refreshing paradigms which extend the history and experience of the old.
Karimojong Religion and the Metaphysics of Collective Survival
Authors: Okello Francis 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
When studying the Karimojong religion, it is instructive to examine the role of elders (ngikathikou), the centrality of animals in ritual ceremonies, and the pragmatic solutions that the religion provides to social problems. Elders act as intermediaries between the immediately present world and the supernatural. The Karimojong believe in God (akuj) who is believed to reside in the sky, overseeing and responsible for everything that is happening on earth. The hierarchical status of individuals prominent in the society reflects their relative proximity to the sacred and the Divine. Respected elders intercede and communicate with God differently, concerning social matters on behalf of the whole community. Special categories of elders gifted in communication such as prophets (ngikadwarak) attributed with the ‘know how’ of the society, diviners (ngimurok) who foretell the future, dreamers (ngikejurak) who interpret important prophecies and black magicians (ngikapilak). The black magicians are known to do bad things to others, but when they do good to save the community, they are regarded as virtuous and reliable. Not only the sacredness of such persons, but also places (ngakiriketa) where no creatures are killed, objects whose uses are reserved for religious ceremonies, and time periods reserved for such ceremonies, all have a correspondingly paramount importance in the Karimojong religious understanding of reality.
The Shirazi Civilisation and its Impact on the East African Coast
Authors: Maina Newton Kahumbi 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
The relations between Iran and East Africa are captured well by depicting the impact of the Shirazi (Persian) civilisation on the East African coast. But some influential scholars claim that historians tend to dismiss or trivialise the role played by the Shirazis in East Africa. The demonstrable impact of Shirazi civilisation in East Africa is evident in the expansion of trade between the East African coast and the Persian Gulf region with the expansion of Islam. The Persian language has bequeathed to the Kiswahili language many lexicons that are presently still accessible in the region. Persian poets influenced Kiswahili literature through their classic works. The influence of Persian architecture is seen in Shirazi building styles throughout cities including Zanzibar, Kilwa and Manda. Thus Shirazis brought Persian traditions and customs to East Africa, and some Shirazis intermarried with the Arabs and local communities. As compiled here from other sources, there is enough enduring historical evidence to demonstrate incontrovertibly the impact of the Shirazis in social, economic and political aspects of East African life. This legacy arguably justifies greater contemporary cooperation between East African nation states and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Africa and Climate Change
Authors: Attfield Robin 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Africa is affected by climate change in multiple ways. Like other continents, its coastline is in danger of being flooded, and its islands are in danger of being inundated. Many people are forced by climate change to migrate, and this increases the flows of refugees moving both north towards the Mediterranean and south towards the Cape, seeking a viable homeland. It is in the interest of African countries to develop in ways that are climate-friendly. More electricity needs to be generated to enhance people’s quality of life, but this should be generated in environmentally friendly ways. Large schemes of tree-planting are also needed, to restore the forests of areas where they have been lost in civil conflicts (as in central and northern Ethiopia) and at the same time to sequestrate some of the carbon dioxide of the atmosphere. As well as mitigation, collaborative efforts are needed in the field of adaptation, so as to limit the impacts of climate change. Developing countries should assist such measures, but they should be adopted whether or not such assistance materialises.
Viambishi Nafsi katika Muundo wa Kitenzi cha Kikuria (E43) [Personal Pronouns in Kuria (E43) Verb Structure]
Authors: Charwi Mary Zacharia 
Published: March 2020

Ikisiri
Viambishi nafsi ni miongoni mwa viambishi ambatizi ambavyo hupachikwa mwanzoni mwa vitenzi vya Kibantu (yaani kabla ya mzizi). Kazi kubwa ya viambishi nafsi ni kuleta upatanisho wa kisarufi. Tafiti nyingi zinaonesha kuwa viambishi vya uambatizi hutokea kabla ya mzizi wa kitenzi, tofauti na vile vya unyambulishaji vinavyobadili kategoria au maana vinavyotokea baada ya mzizi. Makala hii inachunguza nafasi ya viambishi nafsi katika kitenzi cha Kikuria (E43). Data iliyotumika ni ya maktabani, hasa kutoka kwenye chapisho la Charwi (2017) na kutoka maandiko mengine ya Kikuria. Nadharia iliyotumika ni Nadharia ya Uambatizi kama inavyoelezwa na Stump (2001), ambayo inafafanua kuwa kila neno linaloambikwa ndani ya sentensi linabeba seti ya sifa za kimofosintaksia. Makala hii imebaini kuwa viambishi hivi vinaweza kutokea kabla au baada ya mzizi wa kitenzi na havibadili kategoria au maana ya neno.
Impact of the North Atlantic Warming Hole on Sensible Weather
Authors: Gervais Melissa , Shaman Jeffrey , Kushnir Yochanan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn future climate projections there is a notable lack of warming in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre, known as the North Atlantic warming hole (NAWH). In a set of large-ensemble atmospheric simulations with the Community Earth System Model, the NAWH was previously shown to contribute to the projected poleward shift and eastward elongation of the North Atlantic jet. The current study investigates the impact of the warming hole on sensible weather, particularly over Europe, using the same simulations. North Atlantic jet regimes are classified within the model simulations by applying self-organizing maps analysis to winter daily wind speeds on the dynamic tropopause. The NAWH is found to increase the prevalence of jet regimes with stronger and more-poleward-shifted jets. A previously identified transient eddy-mean response to the NAWH that leads to a downstream enhancement of wind speeds is found to be dependent on the jet regime. These localized regime-specific changes vary by latitude and strength, combining to form the broad increase in seasonal-mean wind speeds over Eurasia. Impacts on surface temperature and precipitation within the various North Atlantic jet regimes are also investigated. A large decrease in surface temperature over Eurasia is found to be associated with the NAWH in regimes where air masses are advected eastward over the subpolar gyre prior to reaching Eurasia. Precipitation is found to be locally suppressed over the warming hole region and increased directly downstream. The impact of this downstream response on coastal European precipitation is dependent on the strength of the NAWH.
On the Parameterization of Convective Downdrafts for Marine Stratocumulus Clouds
Authors: Wu Elynn , Yang Handa , Kleissl Jan , Suselj Kay , Kurowski Marcin J. , Teixeira João 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe role of nonlocal transport on the development and maintenance of marine stratocumulus (Sc) clouds in coarse-resolution models is investigated, with a special emphasis on the downdraft contribution. A new parameterization of cloud-top-triggered downdrafts is proposed and validated against large-eddy simulation (LES) for two Sc cases. The applied nonlocal mass-flux scheme is part of the stochastic multiplume eddy-diffusivity/mass-flux (EDMF) framework decomposing the turbulent transport into local and nonlocal contributions. The complementary local turbulent transport is represented with the Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino (MYNN) scheme. This EDMF version has been implemented in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) single-column model (SCM) and tested for three model versions: without mass flux, with updrafts only, and with both updrafts and downdrafts. In the LES, the downdraft and updraft contributions to the total heat and moisture transport are comparable and significant. The WRF SCM results show a good agreement between the parameterized downdraft turbulent transport and LES. While including updrafts greatly improves the modeling of Sc clouds over the simulation without mass flux, the addition of downdrafts is less significant, although it helps improve the moisture profile in the planetary boundary layer.
Bacterial pathogens in peritoneal dialysis peritonitis: Insights from next-generation sequencing
Authors: van Hougenhouck-Tulleken Wesley G , Lebre Pedro H , Said Mohamed , Cowan Don A 
Published: March 2020

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) peritonitis is a feared complication of PD, with significant sequelae for the patient. The cause of PD peritonitis is largely due to a single organism (≥75% of cases) and rarely due to multiple organisms. Methods: In this pilot study, we investigated 25 cases of PD peritonitis with 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. Results: Total concordance between culture and NGS was noted. In addition, the NGS technique was highly sensitive, identifying 33 different bacteria (including a nonculturable bacterium), compared to 13 bacterial species using culture-based techniques. This was counterbalanced by a lack of specificity with NGS, largely due to the small size of the 16S rRNA gene segment sequenced. Conclusions: For the clinician, our results suggest that PD peritonitis may often be a polymicrobial disease and that treating a dominant organism may not totally eradicate all bacterial contamination within the peritoneum. For the clinical scientist, additional use of a larger 16S rRNA segment (V5 or V6) is likely to outperform the use of the V4 segment only.
Comparison between provocative test-based and long-term intraocular pressure parameters in patients with stable open-angle glaucoma
Authors: Almeida Izabela , Scoralick Ana Luiza B , Dias Diego T , Ushida Michele , Dorairaj Syril , Gracitelli Carolina PB , Paranhos Augusto , Kanadani Fábio N , Prata Tiago S 
Published: March 2020

Purpose: To compare provocative test-based and long-term intraocular pressure variation parameters in patients with stable open-angle glaucoma. Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out in which stable open-angle glaucoma patients (⩾3 years of follow-up without any changes on current medical regimen) were consecutively enrolled. All patients were submitted to a water-drinking test. Long-term intraocular pressure parameters were obtained from isolated intraocular pressure measurements from each visit (⩾5 visits). We investigated the correlation and agreement between the following water-drinking test and long-term intraocular pressure parameters: mean, peak, and fluctuation. In addition, the percentage of eyes with significant intraocular pressure peaks during the water-drinking test (defined as a difference ⩾25% between water-drinking test intraocular pressure peak and mean long-term intraocular pressure) was assessed. Results: Sixty-three eyes from 63 open-angle glaucoma patients (mean age, 60.7 ± 11.8 years) were included. Mean and water-drinking test intraocular pressure peak correlated significantly with mean ( r = 0.67) and maximum long-term intraocular pressure ( r = 0.52), respectively ( p < 0.01). The correlation between water-drinking test intraocular pressure fluctuation and long-term intraocular pressure fluctuation was not significant ( p = 0.45). Limits of agreement from Bland–Altman plots exceeded the maximum allowed difference between methods (3 mm Hg) for all the intraocular pressure parameters analyzed, suggesting poor agreement between water-drinking test–derived and long-term intraocular pressure values. Overall, significant water-drinking test intraocular pressure peaks were observed in 39.7% of these eyes with stable open-angle glaucoma. Conclusion: Although some water-drinking test–based and long-term intraocular pressure parameters correlate significantly, water-drinking test results may not reflect the long-term intraocular pressure profile of stable open-angle glaucoma patients, as their agreement is poor. Many of these patients may experience significant water-drinking test intraocular pressure peaks, despite long-standing stable disease and unchanged medical regimen.