bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heavy metals risk assessment of water and sediments collected from selected river tributaries of the Mara River in Tanzania
Authors: Nkinda Mihayo Sahani , Rwiza Mwemezi Johaiven , Ijumba Jasper Nathan , Njau Karoli Nicholas 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis study investigated the levels of Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd, and As in water and sediments from the tributaries of the Mara River, Tanzania. Pollution risk of water and sediments was investigated using seven indices and five metals. During the dry period, the highest concentration of Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd, and As in sediments was 17.45 ± 1.22, 0.01, 1.56 ± 0.5, 1.3 ± 0.09, and 30.81 ± 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. During the wet period, the highest concentration of Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd, and As in sediments was 4.37 ± 0.28, 0.012, 2.58 ± 0.57, 2.25 ± 0.35, and 53 ± 0.02 mg/kg, respectively. For surface water, the respective highest concentrations of Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd, and As were 0.76 ± 0.09, 0.04, 0.68 ± 0.09, 0.74 ± 0.1, and 0.47 ± 0.06 mg/L for the dry period. The wet period max concentrations for Pb, Hg, Cr, Cd, and As in surface water were 0.56, 0.03, 0.55 ± 0.03, 0.48 ± 0.03, and 0.4 ± 0.03 mg/L, respectively. Principal component analysis results indicated dominant loadings for Pb and As in sediments during the dry period. Comparison of sediment concentrations with sediment quality guidelines revealed that As and Cd were enriched. Correlation coefficient results indicated that As had a strong negative correlation with the rest of the elements in sediments during the dry period. In the wet period, As had a significant correlation with Cd (r = 0.92, p < 0.01) in sediments. The analysis of environmental risks indicated significant enrichment of sediments with As and Cd. It is important to put in place relevant control mechanisms targeting metals in the studied tributaries, with a focus on As and Cd.
Uncovering the Most Important Factors for Predicting Sexual Desire Using Explainable Machine Learning
Authors: Vowels Laura M. , Vowels Matthew J. , Mark Kristen P. 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundLow sexual desire is the most common sexual problem reported with 34% of women and 15% of men reporting lack of desire for at least 3 months in a 12-month period. Sexual desire has previously been associated with both relationship and individual well-being highlighting the importance of understanding factors that contribute to sexual desire as improving sexual desire difficulties can help improve an individual’s overall quality of life.AimThe purpose of the present study was to identify the most salient individual (eg, attachment style, attitudes toward sexuality, gender) and relational (eg, relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, romantic love) predictors of dyadic and solitary sexual desire from a large number of predictor variables.MethodsPrevious research has relied primarily on traditional statistical models which are limited in their ability to estimate a large number of predictors, non-linear associations, and complex interactions. We used a machine learning algorithm, random forest (a type of highly non-linear decision tree), to circumvent these issues to predict dyadic and solitary sexual desire from a large number of predictors across 2 online samples (N = 1,846; includes 754 individuals forming 377 couples). We also used a Shapley value technique to estimate the size and direction of the effect of each predictor variable on the model outcome.OutcomesThe outcomes included total, dyadic, and solitary sexual desire measured using the Sexual Desire Inventory.RESULTSThe models predicted around 40% of variance in dyadic and solitary desire with women’s desire being more predictable than men’s overall. Several variables consistently predicted dyadic sexual desire such as sexual satisfaction and romantic love, and solitary desire such as masturbation and attitudes toward sexuality. These predictors were similar for both men and women and gender was not an important predictor of sexual desire.Clinical TranslationThe results highlight the importance of addressing overall relationship satisfaction when sexual desire difficulties are presented in couples therapy. It is also important to understand clients’ attitudes toward sexuality.Strengths & LimitationsThe study improves on existing methodologies in the field and compares a large number of predictors of sexual desire. However, the data were cross-sectional and there may have been variables that are important for desire but were not present in the datasets.CONCLUSIONHigher sexual satisfaction and feelings of romantic love toward one’s partner are important predictors of dyadic sexual desire whereas regular masturbation and more permissive attitudes toward sexuality predicted solitary sexual desire.
Amenable dynamical systems over locally compact groups
Authors: BEARDEN ALEX , CRANN JASON 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe establish several new characterizations of amenable
$W^*$
- and
$C^*$
-dynamical systems over arbitrary locally compact groups. In the
$W^*$
-setting we show that amenability is equivalent to (1) a Reiter property and (2) the existence of a certain net of completely positive Herz–Schur multipliers of
$(M,G,\alpha )$
converging point weak* to the identity of
$G\bar {\ltimes }M$
. In the
$C^*$
-setting, we prove that amenability of
$(A,G,\alpha )$
is equivalent to an analogous Herz–Schur multiplier approximation of the identity of the reduced crossed product
$G\ltimes A$
, as well as a particular case of the positive weak approximation property of Bédos and Conti [On discrete twisted
$C^*$
-dynamical systems, Hilbert
$C^*$
-modules and regularity. Münster J. Math.5 (2012), 183–208] (generalized to the locally compact setting). When
$Z(A^{**})=Z(A)^{**}$
, it follows that amenability is equivalent to the 1-positive approximation property of Exel and Ng [Approximation property of
$C^*$
-algebraic bundles. Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc.132(3) (2002), 509–522]. In particular, when
$A=C_0(X)$
is commutative, amenability of
$(C_0(X),G,\alpha )$
coincides with topological amenability of the G-space
$(G,X)$
.
Changing environments and human interaction during the Pleistocene–Early Holocene from the shallow coastal area of Dor, Israel
Authors: Shtienberg Gilad , Gadol Omri , Levy Thomas E. , Norris Richard D. , Rittenour Tammy M. , Yasur-Landau Assaf , Tamberino Anthony , Lazar Michael 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe protected Tel-Dor coastal embayment in the eastern Mediterranean preserves an unusually complete stratigraphic record that reveals human–environmental interactions throughout the Holocene. Interpretation of new seismic profiles collected from shallow marine geophysical transects across the bay show five seismic units were correlated with stratigraphy and age dates obtained from coastal and shallow-marine sediment cores. This stratigraphic framework permits a detailed reconstruction of the coastal system over the last ca. 77 ka as well as an assessment of environmental factors that influenced some dimensions of past coastal societies. The base of the boreholes records lowstand aeolian deposits overlain by wetland sediments that were subsequently flooded by the mid-Holocene transgression. The earliest human settlements are submerged Pottery Neolithic (8.25–7 ka) structures and tools, found immediately above the wetland deposits landward of a submerged aeolianite ridge at the mouth of the bay. The wetland deposits and Pottery Neolithic settlement remains are buried by coastal sand that records a middle Holocene sea-level rise ca. 7.6–6.5 ka. Stratigraphic and geographic relationships suggest that these coastal communities were displaced by sea-level transgression. These findings demonstrate how robust integration of different data sets can be used to reconstruct the geomorphic evolution of coastal settings as well as provide an important addition to the nature of human–landscape interaction and cultural development.
No effects of sweet taste exposure at breakfast for 3 weeks on pleasantness, desire for, sweetness or intake of other sweet foods: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Appleton Katherine M. , Rajska Jessica , Warwick Sarah M. , Rogers Peter J. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis work investigated the effects of repeated sweet taste exposure at breakfast on perceptions and intakes of other sweet foods, while also examining the effects due to duration of exposure (1/3 weeks), test context (breakfast/lunch) and associations between taste perceptions and intakes. Using a randomised controlled parallel-group design, participants (n 54, 18 male, mean age: 23·9 (sd 5·8) years, mean BMI: 23·6 (sd 3·5) kg/m2) were randomised to consume either a sweet breakfast (cereal with sucralose) (n 27) or an equienergetic non-sweet breakfast (plain cereal) (n 27) for 3 weeks. On days 0 (baseline), 7 and 21, pleasantness, desire to eat and sweetness were rated for other sweet and non-sweet foods and sweet food consumption was assessed in an ad libitum meal at breakfast and lunch. Using intention-to-treat analyses, no statistically significant effects of exposure were found at breakfast (largest F2,104 = 1·84, P = 0·17, ηp2 = 0·03) or lunch (largest F1,52 = 1·22, P = 0·27, ηp2 = 0·02), and using Bayesian analyses, the evidence for an absence of effect in all rating measures was strong to very strong (smallest BF01 = 297·97 (BF01error = 2·68 %)). Associations between ratings of pleasantness, desire to eat and intake were found (smallest r = 0·137, P < 0·01). Effects over time regardless of exposure were also found: sugars and percentage energy consumed from sweet foods increased throughout the study (smallest (F2,104 = 4·54, P = 0·01, ηp2 = 0·08). These findings demonstrate no effects of sweet taste exposure at breakfast for 1 or 3 weeks on pleasantness, desire for, sweetness or intakes of other sweet foods in either the same (breakfast) or in a different (lunch) meal context.
Energy metabolism of cells in the macula flava of the newborn vocal fold from the aspect of mitochondrial microstructure
Authors: Sato K , Chitose S , Sato K , Sato F , Ono T , Umeno H 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectiveCells in the vocal fold of maculae flavae are likely to be tissue stem cells. Energy metabolism of the cells in newborn maculae flavae was investigated from the aspect of mitochondrial microstructure.MethodFive normal newborn vocal folds were investigated under transmission electron microscopy.ResultsMitochondria consisted of a double membrane bounded body containing matrices and a system of cristae. However, these membranes were ambiguous. In each mitochondrion, the lamellar cristae were sparse. Intercristal space was occupied by a mitochondrial matrix. Some mitochondria had fused to lipid droplets and rough endoplasmic reticulum, and both the mitochondrial outer and inner membranes had incarcerated and disappeared.ConclusionThe features of the mitochondria of the cells in the newborn maculae flavae showed that their metabolic activity and oxidative phosphorylation were low. The metabolism of the cells in the newborn maculae flavae seems to be favourable to maintain the stemness and undifferentiation of the cells.
Gender and payments for environmental services: impacts of participation, benefit-sharing and conservation activities in Viet Nam
Authors: McElwee Pamela , Lê Huệ Thị Văn , Nghiêm Tuyến Phương , Vũ Hương Diệu , Trần Nghị Hữư 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThere has been a rapid expansion in the use of payments for environmental services (PES) as a key conservation finance policy. However, there is insufficient understanding of how gender can affect PES implementation and outcomes. We present results from a case study in Viet Nam, where a national PES programme has been in place for a decade. Through panel household survey data, focus groups and interviews, we examined how women have been involved in PES policies, what the impacts have been on decision-making by men and women, participation rates and use of PES income over time, and the potential conservation outcomes. Our research confirms that resource use varies between men and women, and changes in access rights can fall disproportionately on women. Participation in PES has been lower for female-headed households and for women within male-headed households, although gradually more equitable participation has evolved within households. Female-headed households reported expending more yearly effort on PES activities despite protecting less land, and also increased their conservation activities over time as they presumably became more familiar with PES. Use of income from PES also showed differences between male and female-led households, with men more likely to spend funds on non-essential goods. Within households, although men initially decided how to spend PES money, decision-making has become more equitable over time. We conclude with some recommendations on how to increase attention to gender in PES projects and future research to improve outcomes.
Identity recognition on waterways: a novel ship information tracking method based on multimodal data
Authors: Huang Zishuo , Hu Qinyou , Mei Qiang , Yang Chun , Wu Zheng 
Published: June 2021

AbstractVideo monitoring is an important means of ship traffic supervision. In practice, regulators often need to use an electronic chart platform to determine basic information concerning ships passing through a video feed. To enrich the information in the surveillance video and to effectively use multimodal maritime data, this paper proposes a novel ship multi-object tracking technology based on improved single shot multibox detector (SSD) and DeepSORT algorithms. In addition, a night contrast enhancement algorithm is used to enhance the ship identification performance in night scenes and a multimodal data fusion algorithm is used to incorporate the ship automatic identification system (AIS) information into the video display. The experimental results indicate that the ship information tracking accuracies in the day and night scenes are 78⋅2% and 70⋅4%, respectively. Our method can effectively help regulators to quickly obtain ship information from a video feed and improve the supervision of a waterway.
#SupportLocal: how online food delivery services leveraged the COVID-19 pandemic to promote food and beverages on Instagram
Authors: Jia Si Si , Raeside Rebecca , Redfern Julie , Gibson Alice A , Singleton Anna , Partridge Stephanie R 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjective:To explore the promotion of discretionary foods/beverages and marketing strategies employed by the top three online food delivery services’ (OFDS) Instagram accounts in three countries before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Design:Publicly available data were extracted for the top three OFDS Instagram accounts for Australia, United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) from March to May 2019 and 2020. Food/beverage items from posts were classified as ‘discretionary’ or from the five food groups (FFG) according to the Australian Dietary Guidelines. Marketing strategies were coded using an existing framework. Posts referring to COVID-19 were coded under four marketing strategies: (i) appropriating frontline workers; (ii) combatting the pandemic; (iii) selling social distancing; and (iv) accelerating digitalisation.Results:From 581 posts, 618 food/beverage items were shown, of which 69 % (427/618) were classified as discretionary. In 2019, the most used marketing strategies were product imagery (unbranded) (137/195, 70 %), links (111/195, 57 %) and sponsorships/partnerships (58/195, 30 %). In 2020, the most used were links (252/386, 68 %), product imagery (unbranded) (179/386, 49 %) and branding elements (175/386, 45 %). The most common COVID-19 marketing strategy was combatting the pandemic (76/123, 62 %) followed by selling social distancing (53/123, 43 %), appropriating frontline workers (34/123, 28 %) and accelerating digitalisation (32/123, 26 %).Conclusions:Following the COVID-19 pandemic, OFDS adapted their marketing, creating content with the theme of ‘combatting the pandemic’. Due to the growing number of discretionary foods/beverages promoted on Instagram, this highlights the need for policy action to counter the potential influence social media platforms have on dietary behaviours.
Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Patient Dignity Inventory
Authors: Eskigülek Yasemin , Kav Sultan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) in the Turkish society, which was developed to evaluate dignity-related distress in palliative care patients.MethodsOne hundred and twenty-seven adults with advanced cancer hospitalized in several clinics of two university hospitals were included in the study. The patients whose Palliative Performance Scale score was at least 40% were recruited to study. The data were collected with a patient demographic form, the Turkish version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-TR), and the Turkish version of the PDI (PDI-TR). The PDI-TR was finalized and back-translated after translating into Turkish and obtaining 10 expert opinions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, concurrent validity, and test–retest reliability analysis were performed.ResultsThe Cronbach's α coefficient of PDI-TR was 0.94. Factor analysis resulted in a five-factor solution, and all items were loaded on factors. Factors were labeled as symptom distress, existential distress, self-confidence, dependency, and supportive care needs and accounted for 68.70% of the overall variance. The model's normed fit index, comparative fit index, and X2/SD were found between acceptable range (0.90, 0.93, and 2.64, respectively). A positive and strong correlation was found between subdimension scores of HADS-TR and the total score of PDI-TR (r = 0.70 for anxiety subdimension; r = 0.73 for depression subdimension). The test–retest reliability was conducted with 32 patients within the sample two weeks after the first application, and no significant difference was found between the two application scores as the result of paired-sample t-test (p > 0.05). An intraclass correlation coefficient of test–retest reliability was r = 0.855.Significance of resultsPDI-TR was found to be a valid and reliable tool in palliative care patients in Turkish society.
A single layer wideband metasurface absorber for electromagnetic interference minimization in Ku-band applications
Authors: Khanna Yogita , Awasthi Y. K. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this paper, a wideband ultrathin metasurface absorber is investigated. The proposed absorber comprises a periodic array of a unit cell ring structure. The ring structure and patch inside are tuned to realize the desired frequency bandwidth. The structure has a frequency bandwidth of 7.4 GHz with a center frequency of 15 GHz and fractional bandwidth of 50%. Simulated and measured results show that the absorption at normal incidence is above 90% in the frequency range of 11.3–18.7 GHz. Furthermore, the thickness of the structure is 1.6 mm. The physical mechanism of the metasurface absorber has been analyzed and justified experimentally.
The contestation and construction of global governance authorities: A study from the global business and human rights regime
Authors: Mende Janne 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe contestation of global governance institutions can strengthen or weaken, as well as transform, them. This article analyses the productive potential of contestation and justification of global governance institutions by examining the multiple authorities that are invoked as auxiliaries in the process. It studies the (re-)construction of these authorities by dissecting authority into three components: power, legitimacy and connection to public interests. Empirically, the article focuses on the issue area of business and human rights, examining the highly contested process of drafting a binding instrument in the United Nations Treaty Process. The analysis shows that the success of the Treaty Process not only hinges on its direct reaction to contestation, but also on its ability to (re-)construct the multiple related authorities. Ultimately, the article argues that the contestation of global governance institutions involves (re-)constructing multiple authorities. This demonstrates how contestation can also affect global governance institutions, actors and norms beyond the specific field of deliberation.
The Influence of Atmospheric Rivers on Cold‐Season Precipitation in the Upper Great Lakes Region
Authors: Mateling Marian E. , Pettersen Claire , Kulie Mark S. , Mattingly Kyle S. , Henderson Stephanie A. , L’Ecuyer Tristan S. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis study aims to identify the impacts of atmospheric rivers (AR) associated with cold‐season precipitation in the Upper Great Lakes region of the United States. A MERRA‐2‐derived AR dataset is combined with data from a suite of instruments hosted by the National Weather Service in Marquette, Michigan, including a profiling radar and a video disdrometer. ARs coincide with deep, synoptically‐forced precipitation 28% of the time during the cold season. These ARs are found to intrude from the southwest and are associated with warmer surface and upper‐level temperatures, increased radar reflectivity values, and enhanced precipitation rates. Warmer atmospheric temperatures aloft associated with ARs lead to a fourfold increase in the likelihood that cold‐season precipitation will be rain instead of snow. Additionally, inland ARs in the Upper Great Lakes region are correlated with the negative phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and the Pacific‐North American pattern.
Symbiotic and Free‐Living N2 Fixation in Subtropical Pueraria lobata Communities of Southwest China
Authors: Zhou Junniu , Ma Jiangming , Li Dejun 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBiological N2 fixation plays crucial roles in determining the pattern and pace of ecological succession and carbon sequestration. Nevertheless, the rates and controls of symbiotic (SNF) and free‐living (FNF) N2 fixation have rarely been investigated simultaneously. Here we measured SNF and soil FNF rates for eight early succession ecosystems dominated by kudzu (Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi) in a subtropical region of China in growing and nongrowing seasons. N2 fixation rates were measured using acetylene reduction assay against a 15N2 uptake method. Both SNF and soil FNF rates were significantly higher in the growing season than in the nongrowing season. The two forms of N2 fixation contributed equally to total N2 fixation rate across the eight sites with soil FNF being higher than SNF in half of the sites. Total N2 fixation rates ranged from 7.12 to 61.93 kg N ha−1 yr−1 with an average of 22.93 ± 6.52 kg N ha−1 yr−1. N2 fixation contributed significantly to soil nitrogen and carbon accumulation. Both SNF and FNF were significantly related to soil moisture. Additionally, SNF and soil FNF were strongly correlated with phosphorus availability and vanadium/iron availability, respectively, most likely implying that SNF was limited by phosphorus and soil FNF was limited by vanadium or iron. Our findings suggest that SNF and soil FNF may be limited by different sets of nutrients within an ecosystem.