bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of Cystoseira mediterranea extracts (Sauv.) in the Alleviation of salt stress adverse effect and enhancement of some Hordeum vulgare L. (barley) growth parameters
Authors: Bensidhoum Leila , Nabti El-hafid 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCystoseira mediterranea (Sauv.) extract was tested for its ability to restore barley (Hordeum vulgare) growth under salt stress (350 mM NaCl), shoot growth; membrane integrity; lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide determination were performed. In normal conditions, the obtained data revealed the ability of the extract to stimulate most of barley growth parameters. However, it showed significant effect on most of barley growth parameters (plant height, fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots) and chlorophyll content, under salt stress. The measurement of stress parameters (membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide) revealed significant effect of C. mediterranea extract on reducing the deleterious impact of salt stress on barley seedlings.
Non-isothermal Bingham fluid flow between two horizontal parallel plates with Ion-slip and Hall currents
Authors: Mollah Md. Tusher , Poddar Saykat , Islam Muhammad Minarul , Alam Md. Mahmud 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study presents the numerical solution of velocity and temperature fields based on mass conservation, momentum and energy balances for the time-dependent Couette-Poiseuille flow of Bingham materials through channels. The channel flow of Bingham fluid concerns the flow of cement paste in the building industry and the mudflow in the drilling industry. The specific aim is to introduce the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) phenomena specified by both Ion-slip and Hall currents into the non-isothermal channel flow in a theoretical approach. The Bingham constitutive equation is formulated by the generalized Newtonian fluid technique and solved by employing the explicit Finite Difference Method (FDM) using the MATLAB R2015a and Compaq Visual FORTRAN 6.6a both. For the exactness of numerical performance estimations, the criteria for stabilization and the convergence factor are analyzed. The velocity and temperature profiles are discussed individually at the moving and stationary walls of the channel. It is observed that magnetohydrodynamic phenomena accelerate the flow, and the temperature distributions reach the steady-state situation earlier than velocity distributions. Furthermore, the dominance of MHD parameters on the velocity distributions, shear stress, temperature distributions, and Nusselt number are discussed.
Effects of wood distillate and soy lecithin on the photosynthetic performance and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
Authors: Vannini Andrea , Moratelli Filippo , Monaci Fabrizio , Loppi Stefano 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study investigated the effectiveness of foliar application of sweet chestnut wood distillate on the photosynthetic performance and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv ‘Canasta’), both alone and in combination with soybean lecithin used as biosurfactant. Seedlings of lettuce were treated with a foliar application of either mineral water (control), or 1:500 solutions of 3% soy lecithin, wood distillate and wood distillate plus 3% soy lecithin. After 1 week, the chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll reflectance and dry biomass were measured. The results showed that both wood distillate and lecithin exerted a positive effect on chlorophyll content and biomass production, but the joint use of wood distillate and lecithin quickly stimulated a ca. 50% increase in these parameters and is thus recommended.
Kalman filter based method for tracking dynamic transmission line parameters
Authors: Zhang Yiqi , Liao Yuan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTransmission line parameters are required by various power system applications. Thus, it is important to develop accurate transmission line parameter estimation methods. This paper puts forward Kalman filter based methods to track the dynamically changing line parameters. The proposed methods can overcome the estimation inaccuracy problem caused by the effect of the noise in the measurements. The proposed methods are based upon the equivalent- circuit of long line and utilize voltage and current data recorded by the Phasor Measurement Units at both ends of the line. Non-compensated and differently configured series compensated lines have been considered in this paper. The case studies demonstrate that the proposed methods have the capability of dynamically tracking changing line parameters and yield accurate estimates with the presence of measurement noises.
Rainfall variability and socio-economic constraints on livestock production in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Authors: Leweri Cecilia M. , Msuha Maurus J. , Treydte Anna C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRainfall variability is of great importance in East Africa, where small-scale farmers and pastoralists dominate.
Their livestock production activities are heavily dependent on rainfall. We assessed pastoralist perceptions on climate change, particularly rainfall variability, its impact on livestock production, and the adaptive capacity of pastoralists in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania. We combined 241 household interviews and information from 52 participants of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) with archived data from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA). We found that most (71%) pastoralists were aware of general climate change impacts, rainfall variability, and impacts of extreme events on their livestock. Most (> 75%) respondents perceived erratic and reduced amounts of rainfall, prolonged and frequent periods of drought as the main climate change challenges. Mean annual rainfall accounted for only 46% (R2), (p = 0.076) and 32% (R2), (p = 0.22) of cattle, and sheep and goat population variability, respectively. Unexpectedly, cattle losses intensified by 10% when herd size increased (p < 0.001) and by 98% (p = 0.049) when mobility increased, implying that increasing herd sizes and mobility do not cushion households against climate change shocks. Our study highlights the need to enhance adaptive capacity of the pastoralist communities through interventions that proactively reduce vulnerability. We recommend that future research should address the profitability of pastoral cattle production under changing environmental conditions.
Fault severity detection of a worm gearbox based on several feature extraction methods through a developed condition monitoring system
Authors: Hızarcı Berkan , Ümütlü Rafet Can , Kıral Zeki , Öztürk Hasan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study presents the severity detection of pitting faults on worm gearbox through the assessment of fault features extracted from the gearbox vibration data. Fault severity assessment on worm gearbox is conducted by the developed condition monitoring instrument with observing not only traditional but also multidisciplinary features. It is well known that the sliding motion between the worm gear and wheel gear causes difficulties about fault detection on worm gearboxes. Therefore, continuous monitoring and observation of different types of fault features are very important, especially for worm gearboxes. Therefore, in this study, time-domain statistics, the features of evaluated vibration analysis method and Poincaré plot are examined for fault severity detection on worm gearbox. The most reliable features for fault detection on worm gearbox are determined via the parallel coordinate plot. The abnormality detection during worm gearbox operation with the developed system is performed successfully by means of a decision tree.
Effects of climatic factors on the sedimentation trends of Tarbela Reservoir, Pakistan
Authors: Mazhar Nausheen , Mirza Ali Iqtadar , Abbas Sohail , Akram Muhammad Ameer Nawaz , Ali Muhammad , Javid Kanwal 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe study explores the factors affecting the sedimentation trends in the surrounding catchment area of the Tarbela Dam for the period 1980–2017, specifically rain and temperature. Furthermore, this study also investigates the seasonal effects of sediment loads coming into the reservoir from 2007 to 2012. The statistical techniques were applied for the estimation of the effects of climate (rainfall and temperature) on the sedimentation and the inflow of Tarbela Dam and its surrounding catchment area. The results revealed that sediment deposition pattern points toward the greater bed elevation at 7–12 range lines that lie near the Main Embankment Dam, also that Barandu River carried more bulk of inflow to the Indus, as compared to Siran River and thus contributed a greater amount of sediments to the reservoir. Summer monsoon season also contributed to the greatest bulk of sediments to the Tarbela Dam and its surrounding catchment area. The regression confirmed that for one degree increase in temperature there will be a 7 Million Acre Feet (MAF) increase; for a 1 mm (mm) increase in rainfall there will be a 1 MAF decrease and for a 1 Cusec increase in the inflow coming into the reservoir, there be a 4 MAF increase in sedimentation of the reservoir. Thus, the contribution of the temperature in sediment generation is found to be greater than rainfall. The study recommended that for the proper functioning of Tarbela Dam, the shift in the climate of the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) might be regularly monitored as rising temperatures in UIB would result in greater glacial melt and hence greater sediments to settle down into the reservoirs downstream.
Modeling dynamic mechanical system behavior using sequence modeling of embodiment function relations: case study on a hammer mechanism
Authors: Wettstein Andreas , Grauberger Patric , Matthiesen Sven 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn engineering design, an issue for using complex simulation models in system analysis are unknown causes for dynamic system behavior, which make parameterization difficult. This paper presents a case study in which a structured system analysis is used for the parameterization of complex dynamic multi-domain models. The dynamic system behavior of an impact wrench during fastening of a bolt is analyzed and modeled using the Contact and Channel Approach for structured parameterization of a multibody simulation model. This qualitative model building serves as a basis for a simulation model that quantifies the relations of design parameters and system behavior. Comparison with experimental test results is done as a validation. With this approach, the behavior identified in the simulation model could be traced back in a structured way to its cause in the system embodiment. The simulation model represented the real dynamic system behavior with an initial sufficient precision, but showed a lack of precision in detail. On this basis, the Contact and Channel Model was extended by adding additional statistical behavior of the system. Parameters of the system embodiment were identified qualitatively to improve the simulation model. A limitation in qualitative modeling of dynamic changes in the system has been identified that needs to be addressed in further research.
Techno-economic and environmental design of an optimal hybrid energy system for a community multimedia centre in Cameroon
Authors: Talla Konchou Franck Armel , Djeudjo Temene Hermann , Tchinda René , Njomo Donatien 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHybrid Renewable Energy System is a very good solution to the energy deficit encounter in developing countries. The paper presents the optimal design of a hybrid renewable energy system regarding the technical aspect that is Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP), economic aspect that is Cost of Electricity (COE) and Net Present Cost (NPC) and environmental aspect that is Total Greenhouse gases emission (TGE) aspects using a multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm for a Community multimedia center in MAKENENE, Cameroon. Optimal configurations including Photovoltaic (PV), Wind, Battery and Diesel generator (DG), separated into Scenarios 1–7 of hybrid energy systems are tested to have the most appropriate Scenario. Scenario 3 (Hybrid system with PV, Battery and DG) with Loss of Power Supply Probability, Cost of Electricity, Net Present Cost and Emission of 0.003%, 0.132 $/kWh, 38,817.7 $ and 2.2 kg/year respectively is found to be the most appropriate for the Community multimedia center.
Broadband photoluminescence in a ceramic (Mg2SnO4–SnO2):Cr3+ system
Authors: Santana N. D. C. , López A. , Sosman L. P. , Pedro S. S. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study reports the synthesis and photoluminescence spectroscopic studies of Cr3+-doped Mg2SnO4–SnO2ceramics. The crystal structure was analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction, and photoluminescence was investigated at room temperature. The diffractogram confirmed the presence of Mg2SnO4and SnO2phases. Photoluminescence spectroscopy identified broad and intense emission bands assigned to the Cr3+cation occupation in octahedral Mg2SnO4sites and an orange band assigned to SnO2emission. All spectra were analyzed and interpreted according to crystal field theory and Tanabe–Sugano theory for the d3electronic configuration. The broad and intense emission band covering the visible/near-infrared region suggests that this system may be a promising material for use as an active medium in a broadband light source at room temperature.
A set of distinct facial traits learned by machines is not predictive of appearance bias in the wild
Authors: Steed Ryan , Caliskan Aylin 
Published: January 2021

AbstractResearch in social psychology has shown that people’s biased, subjective judgments about another’s personality based solely on their appearance are not predictive of their actual personality traits. But researchers and companies often utilize computer vision models to predict similarly subjective personality attributes such as “employability”. We seek to determine whether state-of-the-art, black box face processing technology can learn human-like appearance biases. With features extracted with FaceNet, a widely used face recognition framework, we train a transfer learning model on human subjects’ first impressions of personality traits in other faces as measured by social psychologists. We find that features extracted with FaceNet can be used to predict human appearance bias scores for deliberately manipulated faces but not for randomly generated faces scored by humans. Additionally, in contrast to work with human biases in social psychology, the model does not find a significant signal correlating politicians’ vote shares with perceived competence bias. With Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME), we provide several explanations for this discrepancy. Our results suggest that some signals of appearance bias documented in social psychology are not embedded by the machine learning techniques we investigate. We shed light on the ways in which appearance bias could be embedded in face processing technology and cast further doubt on the practice of predicting subjective traits based on appearances.
The Effect of Comorbid Depression on Sudden Gains During Transdiagnostic Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
Authors: D'Arcy Sasha , Norton Peter J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDuring psychotherapy some patients experience large symptom improvements between sessions, termed sudden gains. Most commonly, sudden gains are observed during treatment for depression (40–50% of participants), but these are occasionally also observed in treatment for anxiety (15–20%). This study investigated the impact of comorbid depression on sudden gains in a primary anxiety sample. It was hypothesised that sudden gains would occur more frequently in participants with anxiety and comorbid depression than anxiety-only participants. The sample consisted of 58 adults who participated in a 12-week transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural therapy (tCBT) programme. Sudden gains were more frequent in the comorbid depression group than in the anxiety-only group. Sudden gains may be predominantly a function of depressive disorders, which supports the higher rates seen in depressive disorders compared with anxiety disorders. Future research should endeavour to replicate these findings, as this was the first study designed to specifically investigate comorbidity in sudden gains.
Metabolic syndrome may be associated with a lower prevalence of iron deficiency in Ecuadorian women of reproductive age
Authors: Muñoz-Ruiz Melisa A. , González-Zapata Laura I. , Abril-Ulloa Victoria , Gaitán-Charry Diego A. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
The present study aimed to assess the associations of the stages of Fe deficiency (Fe deficiency without anaemia (ID) and Fe-deficiency anaemia (IDA)) and anaemia with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Ecuadorian women. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5894 women aged 20–59 years, based on data from the 2012 Ecuadorian National Health and Nutrition Survey. The sample was stratified by age. A χ2 test was used to assess the possible associations of ID, IDA and anaemia with MetS. The prevalence ratio (PR) for each stage of Fe deficiency and anaemia was estimated considering women without MetS as a reference. The total prevalence of MetS, ID, IDA and anaemia was 32⋅3 % (se 0⋅6), 6⋅2 % (se 0⋅3), 7⋅1 % (se 0⋅3) and 5⋅0 % (se 0⋅3), respectively. In women aged 20–29, 30–39 and 40–49 years, MetS was associated with a lower prevalence of ID (PR (95 % CI; P-value)): 0⋅17 (0⋅06, 0⋅46; P < 0⋅001), 0⋅69 (0⋅48, 0⋅99; P = 0⋅044) and 0⋅44 (0⋅29, 0⋅67; P < 0⋅001), respectively. In women aged 50–59 years, MetS was associated with IDA and anaemia (PR (95 % CI; P-value)): 0⋅12 (0⋅02, 0⋅96; P = 0⋅026) and 0⋅22 (0⋅07, 0⋅64; P = 0⋅002), respectively. In conclusion, Ecuadorian women of reproductive age with MetS have a lower prevalence of ID compared with those without MetS. Furthermore, the MetS and IDA coexist at the population level. These findings require an analysis from a dietary pattern approach, which could provide key elements for developing public policies that simultaneously address all forms of malnutrition.
A comparative study of animation versus static effects in the spatial concept-based metaphor awareness-raising approach on EFL learners’ cognitive processing of request strategies
Authors: TAKIMOTO MASAHIRO 
Published: January 2021

abstractThis study evaluates the relative effects of two cognitive linguistic approaches – using animated versus static scenes in an illustration based on the spatial concept-oriented metaphor – and a non-cognitive linguistic approach on the Japanese EFL learners’ processing of request strategies with degrees of politeness. The cognitive linguistic approach consisted of applying the metaphor politeness is distance in the teaching of different degrees of politeness. It involved a spatial concept projection through which participants could understand degrees of politeness in terms of the spatially visualized concepts of near–far and high–low relationships associated with three social variables – closeness, power, and speaker difficulty – in either animated or static illustration. In contrast, the non-cognitive linguistic approach involved rote learning of target English polite requests in a list. The results demonstrated that the static version of the cognitive linguistic approach enabled participants to process degrees of politeness and perform as well as those who underwent the animated version. Moreover, the animation effects did not appear to have had a major impact on the overall performance of groups subjected to both cognitive language approaches. The results also showed that the cognitive linguistic approach groups outperformed the non-cognitive linguistic approach and control groups.
REINTERPRETING THE ROLE OF MUSLIMS IN THE WEST AFRICAN MIDDLE AGES
Authors: Nobili Mauro 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRecent research points to a renewed scholarly interest in the West African Middle Ages and the Sahelian imperial tradition. However, in these works only tangential attention is paid to the role of Muslims, and especially to clerical communities. This essay tackles theoretical and historiographical insights on the role of African Muslims in the era of the medieval empires and argues that the study of Islam in this region during the Middle Ages still suffers from undertheorizing. On the contrary, by using a ‘discursive approach’ scholars can unravel access to fascinating aspects of the history of West African Muslims and in particular to the crucial role played by clerical communities, who represented one node of the web of diffused authority which is characteristic of precolonial West African social and political structures.
Is angular artery trauma seen frequently in lateral osteotomy and responsible for peri-orbital ecchymosis?
Authors: Altunay Z Onerci , Onerci T M 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectiveThis study was performed on fresh frozen cadavers to investigate the role of angular artery damage.MethodsLateral osteotomies (‘high-low-high’ method) were carried out bilaterally, with a 4 mm guarded lateral osteotome, after the creation of a subperiosteal tunnel. Following completion of the lateral osteotomy, a skin incision was made in the midline dorsum. The dermis and subcutaneous tissues were carefully dissected, taking care not to damage the angular artery. Overlying tissues were cut and retracted to show the course of the angular artery.ResultsThe angular artery was not damaged in any of the cadavers. The angular artery was always lateral to the lateral osteotomy line.ConclusionThe high-low-high lateral osteotomy does not damage or traumatise the angular artery. The ecchymosis and oedema are related to other factors.
Treatment outcomes of laryngectomy compared to non-surgical management of T3 laryngeal carcinomas: a 10-year multicentre audit of 179 patients in the northeast of England
Authors: Lin D J , Goodfellow M , Ong J , Chin M Y , Lazarova L , Cocks H C 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectiveWide-ranging outcomes have been reported for surgical and non-surgical management of T3 laryngeal carcinomas. This study compared the outcomes of T3 tumours treated with laryngectomy or (chemo)radiotherapy in the northeast of England.MethodsThe outcomes of T3 laryngeal carcinoma treatment at three centres (2007–2016) were retrospectively analysed using descriptive statistics and survival curves.ResultsOf 179 T3 laryngeal carcinomas, 68 were treated with laryngectomies, 57 with chemoradiotherapy and 32 with radiotherapy. There was no significant five-year survival difference between treatment with laryngectomy (34.1 per cent) and chemoradiotherapy (48.6 per cent) (p = 0.184). The five-year overall survival rate for radiotherapy (12.5 per cent) was significantly inferior compared to laryngectomy and chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001, respectively). The recurrence rates were 22.1 per cent for laryngectomy, 17.5 per cent for chemoradiotherapy and 50 per cent for radiotherapy. There were significant differences in recurrence rates when laryngectomy (p = 0.005) and chemoradiotherapy (p = 0.001) were compared to radiotherapy.ConclusionLaryngectomy and chemoradiotherapy had significantly higher five-year overall survival and lower recurrence rates compared with radiotherapy alone. Laryngectomy should be considered in patients unsuitable for chemotherapy, as it may convey a significant survival advantage over radiotherapy alone.