bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The extrastriate symmetry response is robust to variation in visual memory load
Authors: Derpsch Yiovanna , Rampone Giulia , Piovesan Andrea , Bertamini Marco , Makin Alexis D. J. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAn Event Related Potential response to visual symmetry, known as the Sustained Posterior Negativity (SPN), is generated whether symmetry is task relevant or not, and whether symmetry is attended or not. However, no study has yet examined interference from concurrent memory tasks. To answer this fundamental question, we investigated whether the SPN is robust to variation in Visual Working Memory (VWM) load. In Experiment 1 (N = 24), each trial involved a sample display, a probe and a test display. Sample and test displays contained either four colors or four black shapes, and the probe was either a symmetrical or random pattern. We compared a memory task and a passive viewing task. In the memory task, participants held color or shape information in VWM when the probe was presented. In the passive viewing task, there were no memory demands. Contrary to our predictions, there was no evidence that VWM interfered with the symmetry response. Instead, there was a general SPN enhancement during both color and shape memory tasks compared to passive viewing. In Experiment 2 (N = 24), we used symmetrical patterns themselves as sample and test to maximize interference. Again, the SPN was enhanced in the memory task compared to passive viewing. We conclude that the visual symmetry response is not impaired by concurrent VWM tasks, even when these tasks involve remembering symmetry itself. It seems that the SPN is not only attention‐proof, but also memory‐proof. This adds to evidence that symmetry perception is robust and automatic.
Who speaks next? Adaptations to speaker identity in processing spoken sentences
Authors: Xu Jue , Abdel Rahman Rasha , Sommer Werner 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWhen listening to a speaker, we need to adapt to her individual speaking characteristics, such as error proneness, accent, etc. The present study investigated two aspects of adaptation to speaker identity during processing spoken sentences in multi‐speaker situations: the effect of speaker sequence across sentences and the effect of learning speaker‐specific error probability. Spoken sentences were presented, cued, and accompanied by one of three portraits that were labeled as the speakers’ faces. In Block 1 speaker‐specific probabilities of syntax errors were 10%, 50%, or 90%; in Block 2 they were uniformly 50%. In both blocks, speech errors elicited P600 effects in the scalp recorded ERP. We found a speaker sequence effect only in Block 1: the P600 to target words was larger after speaker switches than after speaker repetitions, independent of sentence correctness. In Block 1, listeners showed higher accuracy in judging sentence correctness spoken by speakers with lower error proportions. No speaker‐specific differences in target word P600 and accuracy were found in Block 2. When speakers differ in error proneness, listeners seem to flexibly adapt their speech processing for the upcoming sentence through attention reorientation and resource reallocation if the speaker is about to change, and through proactive maintenance of neural resources if the speaker remains the same.
Spread of Nontyphoidal Salmonella in the Beef Supply Chain in Northern Tanzania: Sensitivity in a Probabilistic Model Integrating Microbiological Data and Data from Stakeholder Interviews
Authors: Zadoks Ruth N. , Barker Gary C. , Benschop Jackie , Allan Kathryn J. , Chaters Gemma , Cleaveland Sarah , Crump John A. , Davis Margaret A. , Mmbaga Blandina T. , Prinsen Gerard , Thomas Kate M. , Waldman Linda , French Nigel P. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractEast Africa is a hotspot for foodborne diseases, including infection by nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS), a zoonotic pathogen that may originate from livestock. Urbanization and increased demand for animal protein drive intensification of livestock production and food processing, creating risks and opportunities for food safety. We built a probabilistic mathematical model, informed by prior beliefs and dedicated stakeholder interviews and microbiological research, to describe sources and prevalence of NTS along the beef supply chain in Moshi, Tanzania. The supply chain was conceptualized using a bow tie model, with terminal livestock markets as pinch point, and a forked pathway postmarket to compare traditional and emerging supply chains. NTS was detected in 36 (7.7%) of 467 samples throughout the supply chain. After combining prior belief and observational data, marginal estimates of true NTS prevalence were 4% in feces of cattle entering the beef supply and 20% in raw meat at butcheries. Based on our model and sensitivity analyses, true NTS prevalence was not significantly different between supply chains. Environmental contamination, associated with butchers and vendors, was estimated to be the most likely source of NTS in meat for human consumption. The model provides a framework for assessing the origin and propagation of NTS along meat supply chains. It can be used to inform decision making when economic factors cause changes in beef production and consumption, such as where to target interventions to reduce risks to consumers. Through sensitivity and value of information analyses, the model also helps to prioritize investment in additional research.
Nowcasting South African gross domestic product using a suite of statistical models
Authors: Botha Byron , Olds Tim , Reid Geordie , Steenkamp Daan , van Jaarsveld Rossouw 
Published: September 2021

AbstractGiven lags in the release of data, a central bank must ‘nowcast’ current gross domestic product (GDP) using available quarterly or higher frequency data to understand the current state of economic activity. This paper uses various statistical modelling techniques to draw on a large number of series to nowcast South African GDP. We also show that GDP volatility has increased markedly over the last 5 years, making GDP forecasting more difficult. We show that all the models developed, as well as the Reserve Bank's official forecasts, have tended to overestimate GDP growth over this period. However, several of the statistical nowcasting models we present in this paper provide competitive nowcasts relative to the official Reserve Bank and market analysts' nowcasts.
Foreign direct investment determinants in Mano River Union countries: Micro and macro evidence
Authors: Martins Rodrigo , Cerdeira Jorge , Fonseca Miguel , Barrie Mohamed 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe analyse the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mano River Union countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone), using firm and country levels data to examine the differences and similarities in FDI drivers across these economies.Our results show that international trade, investment in infrastructures and access to credit positively impact FDI. While credit and trade have a similar influence across countries, the effect of investment is distinct, raising political implications for policy coordination and highlighting the relevance of cooperation among states. Also, policies that boost human capital, and political and economic stability, are relevant, as they augment FDI inflows.
RHCE diversity among Brazilian patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and selected groups of blood donors
Authors: Arnoni Carine Prisco , Vendrame Tatiane , Muniz Janaína , Cortez Afonso , Latini Flavia , Castilho Lilian 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundSeveral centers have selected Black donors to prevent Rh alloimmunization of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). As the Brazilian population is considered very admixed and race definition by self‐declaration is questionable, this study aimed to compare RHCE diversity among patients with SCD and selected groups of Brazilian blood donors to define which group of donors would be the adequate red cell supply for patients with SCD.MethodWe compared RHCE allele frequencies between patients with SCD and four groups of Brazilian blood donors: self‐declared Black donors (SDB), donors with predominant African genetic markers (AAM), donors with weak D expression (WDD), and random donors (RDs). Variant RHCE alleles were identified using molecular protocols.ResultsAmong patients with SCD, 47% had at least one variant RHCE, in SDB and WDD this frequency was higher, 53% and 58.6%, respectively. In AAM and in RD the frequencies were 32% and 27.6%, respectively. In patients with SCD and SDB, the most common alleles were RHCE*ce.01, RHCE*ceVS.01, and RHCE*ceVS.02. WDD had a high frequency of RHCE*ceAR and highest frequency of variant RHCE in both alleles, followed by patients with SCD and SDB.ConclusionThis study showed that even in an admixed population the selection of SDB donors is the best choice of matching for transfusion support in patients with SCD. For specific RHCE alleles, selection of donors with weak D expression could be a good option.
Human neutrophil antigen 2 sequence‐based typing: Joining the hunt for the CD177 answer
Authors: Browne Tom , Wroe Elizabeth , Keen Leigh , Poles Anthony 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesIsoantibodies to human neutrophil antigen 2 (CD177) have been associated with several clinical conditions but to date the molecular basis for altered or non‐expression has not been determined. Reliance on phenotyping and crossmatch to investigate these neutropenic clinical cases are inconvenient for the patients and demanding of resources within the laboratory. Therefore, a molecular approach has been introduced to address both issues.Materials and MethodsA DNA panel of 100 randomly selected blood donors were collected and supplemented with 18 DNA samples from blood donors previously shown to be CD177 null. All DNA samples were sequence‐based typed for all exons and observed polymorphisms recorded. The DNA from two families previously investigated for neonatal alloimmune neutropenia due to CD177 isoantibodies were also analysed.ResultsThe incidence of CD177 null could be associated with a known exon 7 single‐nucleotide polymorphism in 16/21 known CD177 null samples, which is consistent with previously published findings. Two additional mutations that may lead to null expression were also identified, of which one may be novel. In both family investigations, this same mutation could also be observed in the maternal DNA sample.ConclusionBased on these observations, introduction of CD177 genotyping into routine use would identify null expression in over 75% (16/21) of associated cases. In turn, this could significantly reduce the need for supplementary testing and associated inconvenience to patients while permitting increased efficiency of laboratory testing. An added benefit would potentially elucidate other clinically relevant mutations and associated antigenic targets.
Slow excitatory synaptic currents generated by AMPA receptors
Authors: Pampaloni Niccolò P. , Plested Andrew J. R. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDecades of literature indicate that the AMPA‐type glutamate receptor is among the fastest acting of all neurotransmitter receptors. These receptors are located at excitatory synapses, and conventional wisdom says that they activate in hundreds of microseconds, deactivate in milliseconds due to their low affinity for glutamate and also desensitize profoundly. These properties circumscribe AMPA receptor activation in both space and time. However, accumulating evidence shows that AMPA receptors can also activate with slow, indefatigable responses. They do so through interactions with auxiliary subunits that are able promote a switch to a high open probability, high‐conductance ‘superactive’ mode. In this review, we show that any assumption that this phenomenon is limited to heterologous expression is false and rather that slow AMPA currents have been widely and repeatedly observed throughout the nervous system. Hallmarks of the superactive mode are a lack of desensitization, resistance to competitive antagonists and a current decay that outlives free glutamate by hundreds of milliseconds. Because the switch to the superactive mode is triggered by activation, AMPA receptors can generate accumulating ‘pedestal’ currents in response to repetitive stimulation, constituting a postsynaptic mechanism for short‐term potentiation in the range 5–100 Hz. Further, slow AMPA currents span ‘cognitive’ time intervals in the 100 ms range (theta rhythms), of particular interest for hippocampal function, where slow AMPA currents are widely expressed in a synapse‐specific manner. Here, we outline the implications that slow AMPA receptors have for excitatory synaptic transmission and computation in the nervous system.
image
Optimization of the European Sodium Fast Reactor Secondary Sodium Loop as Part of the ESFR-SMART Project
Authors: Guidez Joel , Bodi Janos , Mikityuk Konstantin , Girardi Enrico 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Based on feedback from existing reactors and current projects, the European sodium fast reactor-safety measures assessment and research tools (ESFR-SMART) project proposes an optimization of the secondary circuit with the main aim of improving safety. Besides, the optimization also leads to a simplification of the circuits and, therefore, to a reduction of the cost of the reactor. For the implementation of the proposed new design option, some points require further research and development (R&D) to validate their feasibility.
Leakages Through Radial Cracks in Cement Sheaths: Effect of Geometry, Viscosity, and Aperture
Authors: Skorpa Ragnhild , Vrålstad Torbjørn 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Annular cement sheath is considered to be one of the most important barrier elements in the well, both during production and after well abandonment. It is however well-known that mechanical damage to the cement sheath might result in leakage pathways, such as microannuli and radial cracks, and thus loss of zonal isolation. In this paper, we have studied the effect of geometry, aperture, and viscosity on the resulting pressure-driven flow through real radial cracks in cement sheaths using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Real radial cracks were created by downscaled laboratory pressure cycling experiments and the resulting geometries were mapped by X-ray computed tomography (CT). This gave a unique 3D volume of the degraded cement sheaths which provides detailed information about the morphology, such as the irregular apertures and roughness, as well as locations of the radial cracks. In this study, we have used five experimentally created geometries, varying from barely connected to fully connected and almost uniform cracks. Additionally, theoretical uniform models with homogeneous aperture and a smooth surface were created for comparison. The simulations were performed by importing the experimentally created leak paths into a CFD simulation software, making it possible to determine the actual flowrate as a function of pressure drop. Methane gas, water, and oil were used as model fluids. The simulation results show that fluid flow through real cracks in cement sheath is complex with torturous paths, especially around bottlenecks and narrow sections. Additionally, the results show that flow of both methane gas- and water are not linear and hence does not follow Darcy's law. This illustrates that simple models are not able to fully describe fluid flow through such complex geometries.
Investigating the Potential of Recycling Flare-Source Hydrocarbon Gases in an Industrial Burner
Authors: Mohamed Fahd M. , Eljack Fadwa T. , Ahmed Samer F. , Ghani Saud A. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Flare gas is considered a global environmental concern. Flaring contributes to wasting limited material and energy resources, economic loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Utilizing flared gas as a fuel feed to industrial cracking furnaces grants advantages in terms of fuel economy and emissions reduction. This work presents the results obtained by ansysfluent simulation of a flare hydrocarbon gas utilized in a steam-cracking furnace of ethylene process when combusting hydrocarbons flare gas in a low-NOx burner. In addition, the study determined the suitability of different hydrocarbon fuel mixtures in satisfying the required adiabatic flame temperature. The flared stream is assumed to be inlet from both primary and secondary staged fuel burners. The simulation results illustrated the detailed temperature profiles along the furnace flue gas side. They also presented the influence of flare stream compositions and Wobbe Index (WI) on the temperature profile. It was found that having an alternative fuel with a heating value or WI similar to that of methane would not result in the same temperature profile of methane, as the current fuel source. In addition, using different excess air percentages has no linear effect on the burner’s temperature profile. However, the results showed that the best replacement of methane, as the main fuel source, is a flare mixture with the same WI of methane as well as a certain H2 content needs to be added to every flare mixture composition to reach the same temperature profile of methane.
State of the art of windthermal turbines: A systematic scoping review of direct wind-to-heat conversion technologies
Authors: Neumeier Malte , Cöster Maximilian , Marques Pais Robin Adriano , Levedag Stefan 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Windthermal turbines convert wind directly into thermal energy. Albeit it is an uncharted field of research, the overall system efficiency and costs of fully developed windthermal turbines are promising; since they can contribute to a sustainable energy transition. We identify the current state of the art of windthermal conversion principles, technology maturity, applications, substitutes, advantages and disadvantages. To scope relevant literature, we follow the Joanna Briggs Institutes selection and screening process resulting in 61 relevant publications from which we identified three main conversion types, namely compression-, friction-, and induction-based windthermal devices. These devices can directly supply thermal energy for space heating or industrial processes, work as a component of wind-powered thermal energy systems, short WTES, or can substitute any conventional or renewable heat device. Although heat is the lowest form of energy, windthermal applications could provide cheap renewable energy that can be stored easily enhancing security of supply. However, these technologies are currently on laboratory-scale, and we suggest scaling up the existing prototypes to engineering-scale. Finally, due to a missing general terminology, we propose to establish one of the terms windthermal energy, ventothermal energy or anemothermal energy to distinguish these specific wind energy conversion technologies.
Assessment of Noise Signature for a Cavitating Centrifugal Pump
Authors: Stephen Christopher , Arumugam Dhanasekaran , Kumaraswamy S 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn recent days, sophisticated instruments have emerged to obtain an online measurement of performance parameters from centrifugal pump of different kinds and the signals can be directed to the hands of pump users through mobile applications. With this in mind, a centrifugal pump of low specific speed was chosen for cavitation studies from 80% to 120% of nominal flowrate and for three different speeds. An assessment was carried out for cavitation noise signature from those operating conditions of that pump. The result of cavitation noise based on peak magnitude as well as average revealed nature in relation to cavitation coefficient, and it greatly depends on the flowrate with respect to nominal flowrate. The noise envelope for the flowrate at best efficiency and above was having a similar trend whereas at flows less than the nominal, it was totally different. So the criteria for finding the deviation in noise cannot be uniform for all flowrates. In this paper, the method adapted was to impose a trend line to the measured cavitation noise information and to find out the deviation with respect to normal operating conditions. It was concluded that detection of abnormality in pumps due to cavitation effects requires the current operating condition to be diagnosed first and then proper criteria for deviation in noise has to be imposed.
Techno-Commercial Study of a Solar Hybrid Renewable Energy Generator With an Initial Sizing Strategy
Authors: Das Monotosh , Singh Maisanam Anil Kumar , Biswas Agnimitra 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Solar energy-based hybrid renewable energy generators are techno-economically designed for various standalone uses such as far-distance area electrification, commerical building electrification, polygeneration, and industrial application. This article attempts to address the problem of high cost of energy of such generators, which needs to be optimized. The research gap is that there is hardly any work on techno-economic optimization of such generators using an initial sizing technique, thereby resulting in a design with higher cost of energy. In this work, a hybrid renewable energy generator comprising solar photovoltaic-biogas-battery storage is techno-economically optimized with the aim of minimizing its cost of energy for electrification of a radio-broadcasting station in India by using simulation software called hybrid optimization model for electric renewables. An initial sizing strategy has been proposed in the modeling of the hybrid system. Optimal designs are obtained under different scenarios like in the standalone mode with and without capacity shortage fraction and in grid-connected mode with scheduled and random outages. The results show that during initial sizing in the standalone mode, consideration of larger size (25 kW) of the component with lower unit capacity cost (biogas unit) and higher load sharing by it (102,625 kWh/year) in the energy management of the hybrid design with a small capacity shortage (5%) reduces the levelized cost of energy to 0.0956 $/kWh compared to some of the literature designs. Of all the optimal designs, the grid-connected system has the lowest levelized cost of energy of 0.0873 $/kWh with a renewable fraction of 0.821. The present work contributes to the component size planning of hybrid renewable energy generator to generate lower levelized cost of energy. The novelty of the present work is that in the component size planning in the standalone mode, following the initial sizing strategy, if the component with lower unit capacity cost shares majority of the load, then the levelized cost of energy with or without grid-connected mode can be further reduced compared to some existing designs, which can be verified from the simulation results. Therefore, the present results will be useful for component planning and sizing of hybrid renewable generators so as to preset the size of its components as per their unit capacity cost to result in a lower cost of energy.