bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emergency medical services evaluations for chest pain during first COVID-19 lockdown in Hollands-Midden, the Netherlands
Authors: de Koning E. R. , Boogers M. J. , Bosch J. , de Visser M. , Schalij M. J. , Beeres S. L. M. A. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Objective
To assess whether the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 had negative indirect health effects, as people seem to have been reluctant to seek medical care.

Methods
All emergency medical services (EMS) transports for chest pain or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the Dutch region Hollands-Midden (population served > 800,000) were evaluated during the initial 6 weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown and during the same time period in 2019. The primary endpoint was the number of evaluated chest pain patients in both cohorts. In addition, the number of EMS evaluations of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and OHCA were assessed.

Results
During the COVID-19 lockdown period, the EMS evaluated 927 chest pain patients (49% male, age 62 ± 17 years) compared with 1041 patients (51% male, 63 ± 17 years) in the same period in 2019, which corresponded with a significant relative risk (RR) reduction of 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–0.96). Similarly, there was a significant reduction in the number of STEMI patients (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.85), the incidence of OHCA remained unchanged (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.83–1.83).

Conclusion
During the first COVID-19 lockdown, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients with chest pain or STEMI evaluated by the EMS, while the incidence of OHCA remained similar. Although the reason for the decrease in chest pain and STEMI consultations is not entirely clear, more attention should be paid to the importance of contacting the EMS in case of suspected cardiac symptoms in possible future lockdowns.
Social-ecological analysis of timely rice planting in Eastern India
Authors: Urfels Anton , McDonald Andrew J. , van Halsema Gerardo , Struik Paul C. , Kumar Pankaj , Malik Ram K. , Poonia S. P. , Balwinder-Singh  , Singh Deepak K. , Singh Madhulika , Krupnik Timothy J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTimely crop planting is a foundation for climate-resilient rice-wheat systems of the Eastern Gangetic Plains—a global food insecurity and poverty hotspot. We hypothesize that the capacity of individual farmers to plant on time varies considerably, shaped by multifaceted enabling factors and constraints that are poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, two complementary datasets were used to characterize drivers and decision processes that govern the timing of rice planting in this region. The first dataset was a large agricultural management survey (rice-wheat: n = 15,245; of which rice: n = 7597) from a broad geographic region that was analyzed by machine learning methods. The second dataset was a discussion-based survey (n = 112) from a more limited geography that we analyzed with graph theory tools to elicit nuanced information on planting decisions. By combining insights from these methods, we show for the first time that differences in rice planting times are primarily shaped by ecosystem and climate factors while social factors play a prominent secondary role. Monsoon onset, surface and groundwater availability, and land type determine village-scale mean planting times whereas, for resource-constrained farmers who tend to plant later ceteris paribus, planting is further influenced by access to farm machinery, seed, fertilizer, and labor. Also, a critical threshold for economically efficient pumping appears at a groundwater depth of around 4.5 m; below this depth, farmers do not irrigate and delay planting. Without collective action to spread risk through synchronous timely planting, ecosystem factors such as threats posed by pests and wild animals may further deter early planting by individual farmers. Accordingly, we propose a three-pronged strategy that combines targeted strengthening of agricultural input chains, agroadvisory development, and coordinated rice planting and wildlife conservation to support climate-resilient agricultural development in the Eastern Gangetic Plains.
Growth performance and wood structure of wavy grain sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) in a progeny trial
Authors: Quambusch Mona , Bäucker Cornelia , Haag Volker , Meier-Dinkel Andreas , Liesebach Heike 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

• Key message

Wavy grain, a rare figure type of wood, leads to highly priced timber in Acer pseudoplatanus L. The influence of this trait on growth performance and its causes are not known. Analyzed wavy and straight grain sycamore maple progenies show comparable growth performance in a field trial. Stability of wavy grain after vegetative propagation is confirmed and genetic inheritance indicated.

• Context

Wavy grain is a rare figure type of wood resulting from undulating fiber growth that leads to a decorative and highly priced timber in Acer pseudoplatanus L. with top positions on auction sales. Nevertheless, neither the influence of this trait on growth performance is known, nor have the causes been disentangled.

• Aims

Our objectives were to find out if wavy grain figure influences growth parameters essential for log quality and to gain insight into the causes of wavy grain by the analysis of a progeny trial and a seed orchard.

• Methods

In a progeny trial with 30-year-old F-1-offspring from selected wavy grained and straight grained trees, trunk diameter, tree height, and trunk shape were evaluated. Additionally, 21 trees of the trial and selected plus tree-grafts of a seed orchard were felled and analyzed for occurrence and intensity of wavy grain structure.

• Results

No effect of the wavy and straight grain parentage on growth was observed in the progeny trial. Of the felled trees, over 30% showed evidence of wavy grain compared to rare occurrence in natural stands. Wood structure analysis of plus tree scions confirmed the stability of wavy grain after vegetative propagation.

• Conclusion

Wavy grain seems to be genetically inherited, and there seems to be no statistically significant difference in commercially relevant traits in the progeny. This highlights the value of including wavy grain as a desired attribute in breeding systems of maple.
Nutritional indicators and metabolic alterations in outpatients with anorexia nervosa: a retrospective study
Authors: Speranza Enza , Marra Maurizio , De Filippo Emilia , De Caprio Carmela , Sammarco Rosa , Morlino Delia , Contaldo Franco , Pasanisi Fabrizio 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose
In patients living with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), dehydration and haemoconcentration, may prevent a correct interpretation of laboratory nutritional parameters. Our study aims to evaluate if some indicators of disease severity, as body mass index (BMI), Phase Angle (PhA) and months of amenorrhea may be predictors of metabolic alterations (serum albumin, liver enzymes).

Methods
In 154 outpatients with AN, case history was collected, and anthropometric and laboratory parameters measured. Patients were divided according to the following tertiles (T) of BMI, duration of amenorrhea and PhA: (1) BMI (T1 < 15.6; T2 15.6–16.8; T3 > 16.8 kg/m2); (2) Amenorrhea duration (T1 < 7; T2 7–14; T3 > 14 months); (3) PhA value (T1 < 4.64; T2 4.64–5.35; T3: > 5.35°).
ROC curves were used to determine which of these three indicators (BMI, PhA and amenorrhea duration) might better identify patients belonging to Group A or B (less than 3 or more metabolic abnormalities).

Results
The most frequent registered metabolic alterations were for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase, cholesterol and hemoglobin. Aspartate aminotransferase, ALP and gamma glutamyl transferase abnormalities were frequent in the first tertiles of all the three indicators. Albumin was low in the T1 of BMI and PhA. No differences in nutritional alterations emerged according to amenorrhea duration. PhA had the best performance (AUCs: 0.721) in identifying patients with 3 or more abnormalities, with the optimal cut-off value of 4.5°.

Conclusions
Our data confirmed PhA as the more reliable predictor of metabolic alterations, followed by BMI and amenorrhea duration, especially in the first tertile.

Evidence-based medicine
Level 2.
Prenatal Ultrasonographic Molar Tooth Sign: Case Reports and Review of Literature
Authors: Elayedatt Rinshi Abid , Mathew Basil , Krishnan Vivek 
Published: February 2021

AbstractJoubert Syndrome and Related Disorders (JSRD) refers to all disorders presenting as “molar tooth sign” (MTS) on brain imaging. Fetuses with JSRD present with relatively nonspecific signs on prenatal ultrasound varying from increased nuchal translucency, enlarged cisterna magna, cerebellar vermian agenesis, occipital encephalocele, ventriculomegaly, renal disease and polydactyly. However, the hallmark sign in the diagnosis is MTS and MRI is the imaging modality of choice. We report two cases in which MTS was identified on prenatal ultrasound at 22 and 21 weeks (wk) of gestational age respectively. The other prenatal findings on ultrasound included polydactyly and anteroposteriorly enlarged 4th ventricle and vermian hypoplasia in both, and, aortic stenosis evolving to hypoplastic left heart in the former. Prenatal MRI was not done. Amniocentesis was done in the one with associated cardiac anomaly which was reported as normal. In both cases, the couple opted for termination of pregnancy and declined fetal autopsy and further mutation analysis. Only a few cases of JSRD diagnosed on prenatal ultrasound, have been reported. Due to the autosomal recessive inheritance (with 25% recurrence) JSRD has to be differentiated from Dandy-Walker malformation and cranio-cerebello-cardiac syndrome. As definitive prenatal genetic testing may not be conclusive in Joubert syndrome (JBTS) due to the large number of pathogenic variants and genetic heterogenicity, the ability to identify the MTS sonographically early provides a valuable adjunct to prenatal diagnosis.
Knowledge-guided multiobjective particle swarm optimization with fusion learning strategies
Authors: Li Wei , Meng Xiang , Huang Ying , Mahmoodi Soroosh 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMultiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm faces the difficulty of prematurity and insufficient diversity due to the selection of inappropriate leaders and inefficient evolution strategies. Therefore, to circumvent the rapid loss of population diversity and premature convergence in MOPSO, this paper proposes a knowledge-guided multiobjective particle swarm optimization using fusion learning strategies (KGMOPSO), in which an improved leadership selection strategy based on knowledge utilization is presented to select the appropriate global leader for improving the convergence ability of the algorithm. Furthermore, the similarity between different individuals is dynamically measured to detect the diversity of the current population, and a diversity-enhanced learning strategy is proposed to prevent the rapid loss of population diversity. Additionally, a maximum and minimum crowding distance strategy is employed to obtain excellent nondominated solutions. The proposed KGMOPSO algorithm is evaluated by comparisons with the existing state-of-the-art multiobjective optimization algorithms on the ZDT and DTLZ test instances. Experimental results illustrate that KGMOPSO is superior to other multiobjective algorithms with regard to solution quality and diversity maintenance.
Strengthening the PSO algorithm with a new technique inspired by the golf game and solving the complex engineering problem
Authors: Dereli Serkan , Köker Raşit 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis study has been inspired by golf ball movements during the game to improve particle swarm optimization. Because, all movements from the first to the last move of the golf ball are the moves made by the player to win the game. Winning this game is also a result of successful implementation of the desired moves. Therefore, the movements of the golf ball are also an optimization, and this has a meaning in the scientific world. In this sense, the movements of the particles in the PSO algorithm have been associated with the movements of the golf ball in the game. Thus, the velocities of the particles have converted to parabolically descending structure as they approach the target. Based on this feature, this meta-heuristic technique is called RDV (random descending velocity) IW PSO. In this way, the result obtained is improved thousands of times with very small movements. For the application of the proposed new technique, the inverse kinematics calculation of the 7-joint robot arm has been performed and the obtained results have been compared with the traditional PSO, some IW techniques, artificial bee colony, firefly algorithm and quantum PSO.
Three-Dimensional Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Spheres Modified with Ultrafine Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Microwave Absorption Properties
Authors: Song Yan , Yin Fuxing , Zhang Chengwei , Guo Weibing , Han Liying , Yuan Ye 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCurrently, electromagnetic radiation and interference have a significant effect on the operation of electronic devices and human health systems. Thus, developing excellent microwave absorbers have a huge significance in the material research field. Herein, a kind of ultrafine zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) supported on three-dimensional (3D) ordered mesoporous carbon spheres (ZnO/OMCS) is prepared from silica inverse opal by using phenolic resol precursor as carbon source. The prepared lightweight ZnO/OMCS nanocomposites exhibit 3D ordered carbon sphere array and highly dispersed ultrafine ZnO NPs on the mesoporous cell walls of carbon spheres. ZnO/OMCS-30 shows microwave absorbing ability with a strong absorption (− 39.3 dB at 10.4 GHz with a small thickness of 2 mm) and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (9.1 GHz). The outstanding microwave absorbing ability benefits to the well-dispersed ultrafine ZnO NPs and the 3D ordered mesoporous carbon spheres structure. This work opened up a unique way for developing lightweight and high-efficient carbon-based microwave absorbing materials.
N-Doped Graphene-Decorated NiCo Alloy Coupled with Mesoporous NiCoMoO Nano-sheet Heterojunction for Enhanced Water Electrolysis Activity at High Current Density
Authors: Qian Guangfu , Chen Jinli , Yu Tianqi , Luo Lin , Yin Shibin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDeveloping highly effective and stable non-noble metal-based bifunctional catalyst working at high current density is an urgent issue for water electrolysis (WE). Herein, we prepare the N-doped graphene-decorated NiCo alloy coupled with mesoporous NiCoMoO nano-sheet grown on 3D nickel foam (NiCo@C-NiCoMoO/NF) for water splitting. NiCo@C-NiCoMoO/NF exhibits outstanding activity with low overpotentials for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (HER: 39/266 mV; OER: 260/390 mV) at ± 10 and ± 1000 mA cm−2. More importantly, in 6.0 M KOH solution at 60 °C for WE, it only requires 1.90 V to reach 1000 mA cm−2 and shows excellent stability for 43 h, exhibiting the potential for actual application. The good performance can be assigned to N-doped graphene-decorated NiCo alloy and mesoporous NiCoMoO nano-sheet, which not only increase the intrinsic activity and expose abundant catalytic activity sites, but also enhance its chemical and mechanical stability. This work thus could provide a promising material for industrial hydrogen production.
Urban drinking water security in Gujarat
Authors: Mehta Meera , Mehta Dinesh , Vavaliya Jaladhi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGujarat has made important strides to ensure that most parts of the state become water secure. In 2005, Gujarat was one of the few states that recognized that its urban areas were its ‘engines of growth’ and made significant investments in urban infrastructure. A state-wide water supply grid was constructed to transfer inter-basin water from perennial surface water sources to water-scarce areas. While these schemes have improved household-level access to municipal water supply, service levels have not improved. In this paper, we argue that along with infrastructure creation, there is a need to focus on monitoring, operation and maintenance of existing system and improving efficiency. We analyze information available from the performance assessment system (PAS) setup by the CEPT University for monitoring of urban services in India. It has annual information of water service delivery in all the urban areas of Gujarat from 2010. We assess urban drinking water supply on three key aspects: equity, service quality and financial sustainability. We also identify a few key intervention areas related to increased accountability, efficiency and equity in delivery of water supply services.
Insights on the Working Principles of Secondary Electrospray Ionization High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Quantitative Analysis of Aerosol Chemical Composition
Authors: Xu Xin , Zeng Jia Fa , Jin Dan Dan , Huang Zheng Xu , Li Lei , Wexler Anthony S. , Chan Man Nin , Zhou Zhen , Li Yong Jie , Li Xue 
Published: February 2021

AbstractReal-time mass spectrometry (MS) has attracted increasing interest in environmental analysis due to its advantages in high time resolution, minimization of sampling artifact, and avoidance of time-consuming sample pretreatment. Among real-time MS methods, secondary electrospray ionization MS (SESI-MS) is showing great promise for the detection of organic compounds in atmospheric particulate matter. In this study, we demonstrated the working principles of secondary nanoelectrospray ionization (Sec-nESI) for real-time measurement of laboratory-generated organic aerosols using l-tartaric acid (TA) as a model compound. Factors affecting the detection of TA particles using a homemade Sec-nESI source coupled with a high-resolution mass spectrometer are systematically investigated. Temperature of ion transport capillary (ITC) was found to be the key factor in determining the ion signal intensity, which shows an increase of intensity by a factor of 100 from ITC temperature of 100–300 °C and could be attributed to more efficient desolvation and ionization. The characteristic fragment ion at m/z 72.99 was selected for quantitative analysis of TA at normalized collision energy of 50%, the optimal value applied during MS/MS analysis. Detection limit of 0.14 µg/m3 and a linear range of 0.2–2.97 µg/m3 are achieved. Satisfactory correlations between ion signal intensity and particle surface area (R2 = 0.969) and mass concentration (R2 = 0.967) were obtained. Although an equally good correlation was observed between signal intensity and particle surface area, the good correlation between signal intensity and particle mass concentration indicates that high solubility of TA ensures efficient dissolution of TA in the primary ESI droplets for further ionization.
A remote sensing-based evaluation of channel morphological characteristics of part of lower river Niger, Nigeria
Authors: Ibitoye M. O. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRiver bank erosion, accretion and lateral channel migration are important geomorphological processes, which attract a great deal of attention of river engineering scientists in many parts of the world. The present study assesses the morphological characteristics of parts of the lower section of River Niger, where field data are scarce and difficult to access for security and cost implications. Multi-date (1990, 2002 and 2017) Landsat imageries were used for the study, the imageries were corrected for geometric and radiometric errors, classified and analysed for changes in major land cover classes within the river channel, to assess river planform, riverbank pattern, channel width, bankline migration and centreline using ArcGIS software. The results revealed a decrease in water body and riparian vegetation by 27.64% and 9.77%, respectively, between 1990 and 2017. Sediment yield, however, increased by 75.61%. In addition, the river channel exhibited significant spatial changes within the study period; centreline at left flange shifted eastwards by about 1347.3 m at the upper section but westward at the lower section by 123.1 m. The bankline shifted prominently eastwards at right flange and westwards at the right flange. The study concluded that the studied channel had actually undergone some critical morphological changes greatly affected by erosion and accretion processes that are easily captured with remote sensed imageries.
Analysis and optimization of laser drilling process during machining of AISI 303 material using grey relational analysis approach
Authors: Chengal Reddy V. , Keerthi Thota , Nishkala T. , Maruthi Prasad Yadav G. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSurface roughness and heat-affected zone (HAZ) are the important features which influence the performance of the laser-drilled products. Understanding the influence of laser process parameters on these responses and identifying the cutting conditions for simultaneous optimization of these responses are a primary requirement in order to improve the laser drilling performance. Nevertheless, no such contribution has been made in the literature during laser drilling of AISI 303 material. The aim of the present work is to optimize the surface roughness (Ra) and HAZ in fibre laser drilling of AISI 303 material using Taguchi-based grey relational analysis (GRA). From the GRA methodology, the recommended optimum combination of process parameters is flushing pressure at 30 Pa, laser power at 2000 W and pulse frequency at 1500 Hz for simultaneous optimization of Ra and HAZ, respectively. From analysis of variance, the pulse frequency is identified as the most influenced process parameters on laser drilling process performance.
Investigation of pyrolysis kinetics parameters and thermal behavior of thermochemically modified bagasse for bioenergy potential
Authors: Peres Christiano Bruneli , Rosa André Henrique , de Morais Leandro Cardoso 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBiomass is considering a source of organic carbon, which can replace fossil resources by using pyrolysis process, therefore an efficient biomass thermal modification technology has been target of so much research. The objective of this work is to study the potential energy of sugarcane bagasse and thermochemically modified bagasse for bioenergy potential for use in heat generation and energy. The thermal analysis was conducted by powder-shaped exposure of the three study samples (SB, AC-1, and AC-2) at three heating rates of (5, 7.5 and 10 °C min−1), it was possible to identify three stages of thermal degradation and study some thermochemical reactions, using two iso-conversional models, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW) to calculate some kinetic parameters, such as activation energy (Ea) and pre-exponential factor (A). First step was about the devolatilization of volatile matter, moisture, and other substances. Degradation of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were shown in a second step. Characterization analyzes, such as SEM–EDX and textural parameters of the samples, show the presence of carbon in samples SB and AC-1. Due to SEM analyzes, morphological differences between the samples are showing as AC-1 and AC-2 samples present a rougher shape with pores, on the other hand, SB sample show a fibrous shape. In conclusion, sugarcane bagasse and thermochemically modified bagasse, show very promising results, for future studies, such as for bioenergy potential.