bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hydropower production prediction using artificial neural networks: an Ecuadorian application case
Authors: Barzola-Monteses Julio , Gómez-Romero Juan , Espinoza-Andaluz Mayken , Fajardo Waldo 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHydropower is among the most efficient technologies to produce renewable electrical energy. Hydropower systems present multiple advantages since they provide sustainable and controllable energy. However, hydropower plants’ effectiveness is affected by multiple factors such as river/reservoir inflows, temperature, electricity price, among others. The mentioned factors make the prediction and recommendation of a station’s operational output a difficult challenge. Therefore, reliable and accurate energy production forecasts are vital and of great importance for capacity planning, scheduling, and power systems operation. This research aims to develop and apply artificial neural network (ANN) models to predict hydroelectric production in Ecuador’s short and medium term, considering historical data such as hydropower production and precipitations. For this purpose, two scenarios based on the prediction horizon have been considered, i.e., one-step and multi-step forecasted problems. Sixteen ANN structures based on multilayer perceptron (MLP), long short-term memory (LSTM), and sequence-to-sequence (seq2seq) LSTM were designed. More than 3000 models were configured, trained, and validated using a grid search algorithm based on hyperparameters. The results show that the MLP univariate and differentiated model of one-step scenario outperforms the other architectures analyzed in both scenarios. The obtained model can be an important tool for energy planning and decision-making for sustainable hydropower production.
Together alone: a group-based polarization measurement
Authors: Tang Tanzhe , Ghorbani Amineh , Squazzoni Flaminio , Chorus Caspar G. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe growing polarization of our societies and economies has been extensively studied in various disciplines and is subject to public controversy. Yet, measuring polarization is hampered by the discrepancy between how polarization is conceptualized and measured. For instance, the notion of group, especially groups that are identified based on similarities between individuals, is key to conceptualizing polarization but is usually neglected when measuring polarization. To address the issue, this paper presents a new polarization measurement based on a grouping method called “Equal Size Binary Grouping” (ESBG) for both uni- and multi-dimensional discrete data, which satisfies a range of desired properties. Inspired by techniques of clustering, ESBG divides the population into two groups of equal sizes based on similarities between individuals, while overcoming certain theoretical and practical problems afflicting other grouping methods, such as discontinuity and contradiction of reasoning. Our new polarization measurement and the grouping method are illustrated by applying them to a two-dimensional synthetic data set. By means of a so-called “squeezing-and-moving” framework, we show that our measurement is closely related to bipolarization and could help stimulate further empirical research.
Modeling of a Graphene Nanoribbon–based Microfluidic Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor
Authors: Barrios Carlos Angulo 
Published: December 2021

AbstractA surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor based on a graphene nanoribbon array in a microfluidic flow cell operating in a flow-over format is studied. The optical response of the biosensor is numerically obtained by using rigorous couple wave analysis (RCWA). The performance of the biosensor is described in terms of the limit of detection, which is calculated as a function of key nanoribbon dimensional parameters, such as strip thickness and width, and fill fraction (nanoribbon width to array period ratio). The analysis shows that there are specific values of the fill fraction that optimize, that is, minimize, the limit of detection for particular nanoribbon dimensions. Fabrication issues are also discussed. This study is expected to assist in the design and implementation of SPR biosensors based on nanopatterned 2D materials.
Immediate and Delayed Hypersensitivity Reactions to Antibiotics: Aminoglycosides, Clindamycin, Linezolid, and Metronidazole
Authors: Dilley Michelle , Geng Bob 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHypersensitivity reactions including IgE-mediated and delayed cell-mediated reactions to aminoglycosides, clindamycin, linezolid, and metronidazole are rare. For aminoglycosides, allergic contact dermatitis is the most frequent reaction for which patch testing can be a useful step in evaluation. For clindamycin, delayed maculopapular exanthems are the most common reactions. There are case reports of clindamycin associated with drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, and symmetrical drug-related intertriginous and flexural exanthema (SDRIFE). For linezolid, cases of hypersensitivity were exceedingly rare and included urticaria, angioedema, anaphylaxis, delayed rashes, and DRESS. For metronidazole, only rare cases were found across a broad spectrum of reactions including allergic contact dermatitis, fixed drug eruption, angioedema, anaphylaxis, serum sickness-like reaction, SJS/TEN, AGEP, SDRIFE, and a possible case of DRESS. IgE-mediated reactions and anaphylaxis to these types of antibiotics are uncommon, and reports of skin testing concentrations and desensitization protocols are largely limited to case reports and series. Non-irritating skin testing concentrations have been reported for gentamycin, tobramycin, and clindamycin. Published desensitization protocols for intravenous and inhaled tobramycin, oral clindamycin, intravenous linezolid, and oral and intravenous metronidazole have also been reported and are reviewed.
Immune Memory in Aging: a Wide Perspective Covering Microbiota, Brain, Metabolism, and Epigenetics
Authors: Bulut Ozlem , Kilic Gizem , Domínguez-Andrés Jorge 
Published: December 2021

AbstractNon-specific innate and antigen-specific adaptive immunological memories are vital evolutionary adaptations that confer long-lasting protection against a wide range of pathogens. Adaptive memory is established by memory T and B lymphocytes following the recognition of an antigen. On the other hand, innate immune memory, also called trained immunity, is imprinted in innate cells such as macrophages and natural killer cells through epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming. However, these mechanisms of memory generation and maintenance are compromised as organisms age. Almost all immune cell types, both mature cells and their progenitors, go through age-related changes concerning numbers and functions. The aging immune system renders the elderly highly susceptible to infections and incapable of mounting a proper immune response upon vaccinations. Besides the increased infectious burden, older individuals also have heightened risks of metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, which have an immunological component. This review discusses how immune function, particularly the establishment and maintenance of innate and adaptive immunological memory, regulates and is regulated by epigenetics, metabolic processes, gut microbiota, and the central nervous system throughout life, with a focus on old age. We explain in-depth how epigenetics and cellular metabolism impact immune cell function and contribute or resist the aging process. Microbiota is intimately linked with the immune system of the human host, and therefore, plays an important role in immunological memory during both homeostasis and aging. The brain, which is not an immune-isolated organ despite former opinion, interacts with the peripheral immune cells, and the aging of both systems influences the health of each other. With all these in mind, we aimed to present a comprehensive view of the aging immune system and its consequences, especially in terms of immunological memory. The review also details the mechanisms of promising anti-aging interventions and highlights a few, namely, caloric restriction, physical exercise, metformin, and resveratrol, that impact multiple facets of the aging process, including the regulation of innate and adaptive immune memory. We propose that understanding aging as a complex phenomenon, with the immune system at the center role interacting with all the other tissues and systems, would allow for more effective anti-aging strategies.
Does Adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score (aGAPSS) Predict the Obstetric Outcome in Antiphospholipid Antibody Carriers? A Single-Center Study
Authors: Del Barrio-Longarela Sara , Martínez-Taboada Víctor M. , Blanco-Olavarri Pedro , Merino Ana , Riancho-Zarrabeitia Leyre , Comins-Boo Alejandra , López-Hoyos Marcos , Hernández José L. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) Score (aGAPSS) is a tool proposed to quantify the risk for antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)-related clinical manifestations. However, aGAPSS has been validated mainly for thrombotic events and studies on APS-related obstetric manifestations are scarce. Furthermore, the majority of them included patients with positive aPL and different autoimmune diseases. Here, we assess the utility of aGAPSS to predict the response to treatment in aPL carriers without other autoimmune disorders. One-hundred and thirty-seven women with aPL ever pregnant were included. Sixty-five meet the APS classification criteria, 61 had APS-related obstetric manifestations, and 11 were asymptomatic carriers. The patients’ aGAPSS risk was grouped as low (< 6, N = 73), medium (6–11, N = 40), and high risk (≥ 12, N = 24). Since vascular risk factors included in the aGAPSS were infrequent in this population (< 10%), the aGAPSS score was mainly determined by the aPL profile. Overall, the live birth rate was 75%, and 37.2% of the patients had at least one adverse pregnancy outcome (APO). When considering patients according to the aGAPSS (high, medium, and low risk), no significant differences were found for pregnancy loss (29.2%, 25%, and 21.9%) or APO (33.3%, 47.5%, and 32.9%). In the present study, including aPL carriers without other autoimmune diseases, aGAPSS is not a valuable tool to identify patients at risk for obstetric complications despite treatment. In these patients with gestational desire, in addition to the aPL profile, other pregnancy-specific factors, such as age or previous obstetric history, should be considered.
Manganese-Based Catalysts for Indoor Volatile Organic Compounds Degradation with Low Energy Consumption and High Efficiency
Authors: Li Yanbo , Han Shuhe , Zhang Liping , Yu Yifu 
Published: December 2021

AbstractWith the development of industrialization, the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to atmosphere causes serious environmental problems and the treatment of VOCs needs to consume a lot of energy. Moreover, indoor VOCs are seriously harmful to human health. Thus, there is an urgent requirement for the development of indoor VOCs treatment technologies. Catalytic degradation of VOCs, as a low energy consumption, high efficiency, and easy to achieve manner, has been widely studied in related fields. As a kind of transition metal catalyst, manganese-based catalysts have attracted a lot of attention in the catalytic degradation of VOCs because of their unique advantages including high efficiency, low cost, and excellent stability. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art progress of manganese-based catalysts for VOCs catalytic degradation. We introduce the thermocatalytic, photocatalytic and photo-thermocatalytic degradation of VOCs on manganese-based catalysts in this paper. The optimization of manganese-based catalysts by means of structural design, decorating modification and defect engineering is discussed.
Graphical Abstract
Diagnostic accuracy of on-site coronary computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve in the diagnosis of stable coronary artery disease
Authors: Peper J. , Schaap J. , Rensing B. J. W. M. , Kelder J. C. , Swaans M. J. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPurposeInvasive fractional flow reserve (FFR), the reference standard for identifying significant coronary artery disease (CAD), can be estimated non-invasively by computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR). Commercially available off-site CT-FFR showed improved diagnostic accuracy compared to coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) alone. However, the diagnostic performance of this lumped-parameter on-site method is unknown. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of on-site CT-FFR in patients with suspected CAD.MethodsA total of 61 patients underwent CCTA and invasive coronary angiography with FFR measured in 88 vessels. Significant CAD was defined as FFR and CT-FFR below 0.80. CCTA with stenosis above 50% was regarded as significant CAD. The diagnostic performance of both CT-FFR and CCTA was assessed using invasive FFR as the reference standard.ResultsOf the 88 vessels included in the analysis, 34 had an FFR of ≤ 0.80. On a per-vessel basis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 91.2%, 81.4%, 93.6%, 75.6% and 85.2% for CT-FFR and were 94.1%, 68.5%, 94.9%, 65.3% and 78.4% for CCTA. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.91 and 0.85 for CT-FFR and CCTA, respectively, on a per-vessel basis.ConclusionOn-site non-invasive FFR derived from CCTA improves diagnostic accuracy compared to CCTA without additional testing and has the potential to be integrated in the current clinical work-up for diagnosing stable CAD.
AURKA gene polymorphisms and central nervous system tumor susceptibility in Chinese children
Authors: Chen Yong-Ping , Yuan Li , Lin Hui-Ran , Huang Xiao-Kai , Ruan Ji-Chen , Zhuo Zhen-Jian 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Introduction
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors comprise 15–20% of all malignancies occurring in childhood and adolescence. Previous researches have shown that overexpression and amplification of the AURKA gene could induce multiple human malignancies, with which the connection of CNS tumor susceptibility has not been extensively studied.

Material and methods
In this study, we assessed whether and to what extent AURKA gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1047972 C > T, rs2273535 T > A, rs8173 G > C) were associated with CNS tumor susceptibility, based on a case–control analysis in 191 CNS tumor patients and 248 controls. We determined this correlation using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results
AURKA gene rs8173 G > C exhibited a crucial function to CNS tumor susceptibility fall-off (GC/CC vs. GG: adjusted OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.46–0.998, P = 0.049). In addition, the combined effect of lowering the risk of developing CNS tumors was more pronounced in carriers with 3 protective genotypes than others (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.31–0.98, P = 0.044). Further stratification analysis illustrated that the existence of rs8173 GC/CC and three protective genotypes lowered CNS tumor risk in some subgroups.

Conclusions
Our research suggested that the AURKA gene rs8173 G > C could significantly reduce CNS tumor susceptibility in Chinese children. More functional experiments are needed to explore the role of the AURKA gene rs8173 G > C.
Preparation, characterization and evaluation of x-MoO3/Al-SBA-15 catalysts for biodiesel production
Authors: Figueiredo Joyce S. B. , Alves Bruno T. S. , Freire Vitória A. , Alves José J. N. , Barbosa Bianca V. S. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Biodiesel is an alternative source of renewable energy that can be produced by a transesterification of vegetable oils. Mesoporous molecular sieves, such as SBA-15, due to high surface area and thermal stability are promising precursors for heterogeneous catalysts in the transesterification reaction. In this work, Al-SBA-15 precursor was obtained by direct hydrothermal synthesis, impregnated with different MoO3 contents (5, 10 and 15 wt%) by the pore saturation method, and evaluated as heterogeneous catalyst in the production of biodiesel from a transesterification of soybean oil with methanol. Al-SBA-15 precursor as well as MoO3/Al-SBA-15 catalyst were characterized for its structural characteristic by X-ray diffraction, textural characteristic by N2 adsorption analysis, and thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis. An experimental planning 22 + 3 CtPt was used to evaluate the influence of MoO3 content and reaction time on biodiesel yield from soybean oil and methanol. The biodiesel content in the final product was obtained by gas chromatography. An average biodiesel yield of 96% was obtained with the catalyst 10%MoO3/Al-SBA-15 under the following reaction conditions: 20:1 methanol/soybean oil molar ratio, and 3 wt% of catalyst loading at 150 °C in 3 h. After five consecutive reaction cycles, the biodiesel yield decreased by about 34%. The density and acidity of the biodiesel produced are within the specified values for commercialization according to international standards.

Graphical abstract
Perceived effects of examination special centres on teaching and learning of English language and quality of education in Nsukka local government area, Enugu state, Nigeria
Authors: Emelogu Ngozi Ugonma , Nwafor Chidinma Kalu , Chigbu Godswill Uchechukwu , Oluikpe Esther Ngozi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis study examined the perceived effects of examination special centres on teaching and learning of English language and the quality of education in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive survey design. All the 123 English language teachers (PPMB Statistics, 2020) from 31 secondary schools, five secondary school principals, three religious priests and three traditional leaders in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria were sampled for the study. The researchers developed a 15-item-structured questionnaire for data collection from the 31 teachers; while 3 structured interview questions were used to elicit responses from the principals, religious priests and traditional leaders. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the data collected with questionnaire; while the oral interview was analysed qualitatively through thematic analysis. The study revealed that examination special centres have detrimental effect on the teaching and learning of English language in secondary schools and the quality of education in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. It was recommended among others that private and public secondary schools, and tutorial centres that have been turned into examination special centres should be closed down by Enugu State Ministry of Education.
Report of Epibiont Diatom P. pacificum on the Cyclopoid Copepod D. affinis from the Southwestern Shelf Waters of India (Eastern Arabian Sea)
Authors: Bhaumik Amrita , Fernandes Veronica , Biswas Haimanti 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPseudohimantidium pacificum, an epizoic diatom has been reported from different parts of the global oceans, however, has not been reported from the shelf waters of India. This symbiotic association of P. pacificum with a specific copepod species (Ditrichocorycaeus affinis) was repeatedly noticed from the shelf waters of the Arabian Sea during the winter monsoon from three locations in the South East Arabian Sea. Our study suggests towards host specificity of P. pacificum and additionally reveals their preference towards male hosts which is consistent with the earlier reports from other regions. Most importantly, this report extends the range of geographic distribution of the epibiont and this is the third report on this epibiont from the Indian Ocean region. It also suggests that epibiosis in marine zooplankton is much frequent phenomenon that has the potential to play an important role in the marine zooplankton population dynamics.
A new small soft-bodied non-trilobite artiopod from the Cambrian Stage 4 Guanshan Biota
Authors: Jiao De-Guang , Du Kun-Sheng , Zhang Xi-Guang , Yang Jie , Eggink Daniel 
Published: December 2021

AbstractWe describe an extraordinarily preserved non-trilobite artiopodBailongia longicaudatagen. et sp. nov. from the Cambrian Stage 4 Guanshan Biota in Yiliang, Kunming of the Yunnan Province in China. Its exoskeleton consists of a large semi-elliptical cephalon with paired lateral posterior eyes, nine tapering homonomous tergites and a long slender tailspine. Appendages include paired small antennae, at least three pairs of post-antennal cephalic limbs, and trunk biramous limbs consisting of an endopod and an exopod with lamellae.B.longicaudatadoes not conform to any taxon within Artiopoda, although the eyes invite comparisons withXandarella spectaculum,Sinoburius lunarisandPhytophilaspis. Parsimony analyses indicateBailongiais a member of Artiopoda and cannot be readily accommodated within any of the major artiopod clades.
Surnames in south-eastern France: structure of the rural population during the 19th century through isonymy
Authors: Kamel Célia , Saliba-Serre Bérengère , Lizee Marie-Hélène , Signoli Michel , Costedoat Caroline 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAn analysis of the distribution of surnames through time and space allows us to understand the structure of human groups, their exchanges or even their possible isolation. The French population has already been studied through surnames and it has been shown that the Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region differed from the rest of France in both the 20th and 21st centuries (Mourrieras et al., 1995; Scapoli et al., 2005). The objective of this study was to understand the population evolution and particularities of the Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region through an analysis of the distribution of surnames over an earlier period: the 19th century. For this work, 806,069 birth records from 521 communes between 1810 and 1890 were recorded and a total of 23,340 surnames were collected. The estimation of various isonymic parameters has allowed a description of this corpus never exploited before. In order to appreciate the population evolution, the data set was divided into three periods of 25 years. The canton was the geographical unit of this study, and similarities and differences between each of them were evaluated using Lasker distances, which allow the construction of dendrograms. A positive and significant correlation (p<0.0001) was found between Lasker distances and geographical distances using the Mantel test. The lowest inbreeding estimates were found in the Durance Valley. Migration, estimated from the v-index of Karlin and McGregor (1967), showed higher values in the south-western quarter of the region. The decrease in Rst values across the three periods is consistent with a homogenization of the patronymic between the cantons. This three-period approach showed a population evolution influenced by linguistic, cultural, historical and migratory phenomena since the Middle Ages, disrupted by the socioeconomic changes of the 19th century.
How many and why? A question for Graham Oppy that classical theism can answer
Authors: Gel Enric F. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractI argue that classical theism has a significant advantage as a theory of the First Cause over Graham Oppy's naturalistic account. This is because classical theism not only gives us a clear answer to the question of how many first causes there are but also because it explainswhythere is that number and not another. In comparison, Oppy's ‘initial physical state’ account seemingly leaves these questions hopelessly open, and so does his ‘metaphysical simples’ proposal for a foundational layer of reality. I end by exploring two arguments from omnipotence and perfection that could be of use also to non-classical theists.