bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Light Intensity and Photoperiod on the Growth Performance of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
Authors: Ye Lin , Zhang Yadong , Zhao Jian , Zhao Xia , Li Jianshe , Ye Zhangying 
Published: June 2021

HighlightsLight design is needed in recirculating aquaculture systems.A long photoperiod is beneficial to largemouth bass growth.Low light intensity is beneficial to largemouth bass growth.Abstract. In this study, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) were used to culture juvenile largemouth bass, and the effects of LED light intensity and photoperiod on the survival and growth performance of juvenile largemouth bass were studied. In the light intensity experiment, largemouth bass juveniles with an initial weight of 0.53 ±0.02 g were subjected to a two-month feeding experiment under two different light intensities: group A, at 0.5 W m-2 in the first month and 5 W m-2 in the second month; and group B, at 5 W m-2 in the first month and 0.5 W m-2 in the second month. The results showed that in the first month of the experiment, the growth rate of fry was faster in group A than in group B. After changing the light intensity, the weight of the fry in group B after one month of growth had exceeded and was significantly higher than that in group A. Based on the above experimental results, we conducted a photoperiod experiment. Largemouth bass juveniles with an initial weight of 0.56 ±0.02 g were cultured for two months under four different photoperiods (24L:0D, 16L:8D, 8L:16D, and 0L:24D). The light intensity of the four groups was 0.5 W m-2. The fry growth rate was fastest in the 24L:0D photoperiod group and slowest in the 0L:24D photoperiod group. The growth rate of the 24L:0D photoperiod group was significantly higher than that of the 0L:24D photoperiod group (p &lt; 0.05). The final fry weight was highest in the 24L:0D group, followed by that in the 16L:8D group and 8L:16D group, with the lowest weight observed in the 0L:24D group (p &lt; 0.05). Although the different light conditions in the two experiments had no significant effect on the survival rate of juvenile largemouth bass (p &gt; 0.05), a low-intensity light environment with a continuous photoperiod during the juvenile largemouth bass culture process promoted growth and development. Keywords: Growth, Largemouth bass, Light intensity, Photoperiod, RAS.
Desde vistas densamente llenas hasta la ciudad vacía de Piazzas. Imágenes que interpretan los dinamismos oscilantes de la realidad urbana
Authors: Somhegyi Zoltán 
Published: June 2021

Cities have been inspirational for the creators of visual art works long since, first as mere secondary, additional motifs to indicate the “urban” environment of the main scene, then as subject-matters in their own right. Those images could depict both imaginary and actual cities of the past and of the future, including mythological and Biblical locations, documenting distant lands and fantasizing on the appearance of utopian cities. In some of these aspects, the history of city representations shares significant similarities with the history of landscape depictions. In the present paper, however, I aim to focus on a curious and particular detail in this pictorial tradition. Following and further investigating a brief reflection by Michel Makarius from his 2004 book on Ruins, I would like to compare the visuality and aesthetic effects of dense and empty cityscapes, of which two classical examples could be the capriccios – imaginary views of cities completely filled with aesthetically pleasing elements, including magnificent remnants of the Antique heritage – and representations of cities in which their emptiness is highlighted to such extent that the observer tends to assume that the real subject-matter of the image is not the city, its buildings, forms and physical components but exactly its being “empty”. These “extremities” on the broad range of cityscapes, i.e., the densely-filled and the extremely depopulated are, however, not merely historical sub-genres of long-gone centuries. These typologies have survived to this day, in various versions and with diverse accents; what’s more, they seem to be more relevant than ever in understanding not only the nature of these artistic representations and their aesthetic references, but also in learning more of our contemporary reality itself. It is enough to think of the numerous ways in which artists approach the convoluted issues and challenges of urban life today, with the classical references and visual vocabulary in mind, either unconsciously creating occasional parallels or using them as explicit forerunners to their own works. The density of the global megapolises are represented in artistically novel ways often with socially critical overtones, while the images of empty cities – not long ago, for example, during the recent pandemics and lockdowns – are again resulting in aesthetically inspiring and insightful works incentivizing us to reflect on the oscillating dynamisms of our present urban realities. Therefore, it is particularly beneficial to observe such renderings of our cities and hence to raise more our awareness of the multiple global issues that are often very strongly manifested in the everyday life in large metropolises. Pieces of art thematising the extreme forms of city life can become very efficient ways of constantly reminding us of our duties of taking care of both our cities and our life.
Cryogenic spectrometer for measuring the far-IR to millimeter-wave absorptivity of cosmic analog dusts
Authors: Perera T. A. , Zhang R. , Liu L.-J. , Schonert R. K. , Phan B. , Nam S. M. , Dorsey R. , Lopez K. , North K. C. , Ussery C. , Roesner R. A. 
Published: June 2021

We report on the design, construction, and performance of a custom
apparatus built to measure the frequency- and temperature-dependent
absorptivity of millimeter-wave light by cosmic analog dusts. We
highlight the unique challenges faced as well as a few key innovations
that are part of the instrument. Among those is an ultra-compact
Fourier transform spectrometer. We have measured its effective
frequency range and FWHM resolution to be 150–2100 GHz and

∼

45

G
H
z

, respectively. Another innovation is
a cold sample positioner whose temperature can be controlled within
the range of 3.7–50 K. The use of a pulse-tube cryocooler results in a
pulse-synchronous signal that dominates the detector (bolometer)
signal. Methods used to address that challenge are also
presented.
Tunable Doppler shift using a time-varying epsilon-near-zero thin film near 1550  nm
Authors: Liu Cong , Alam M. Zahirul , Pang Kai , Manukyan Karapet , Hendrickson Joshua R. , Smith Evan M. , Zhou Yiyu , Reshef Orad , Song Hao , Zhang Runzhou , Song Haoqian , Alishahi Fatemeh , Fallahpour Ahmad , Almaiman Ahmed , Boyd Robert W. , Tur Moshe , Willner Alan E. 
Published: June 2021

We experimentally investigate the tunable Doppler shift in an 80 nm thick indium-tin-oxide (ITO) film at its epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) region. Under strong and pulsed excitation, ITO exhibits a time-varying change in the refractive index. A maximum frequency redshift of 1.8 THz is observed in the reflected light when the pump light has a peak intensity of

∼

140

G
W

/

c
m

2

and a pulse duration of

∼

580

f
s

, at an incident angle of 40°. The frequency shift increases with the increase in pump intensity and saturates at the intensity of

∼

140

G
W

/

c
m

2

. When the pump pulse duration increases from

∼

580

f
s

to

∼

1380

f
s

, the maximum attainable frequency shift decreases from 1.8 THz to 0.7 THz. In addition, the pump energy required to saturate the frequency shift decreases with the increase in pump pulse duration for

∼

x

<

1

p
s

and remains unchanged for

∼

x

>

1

p
s

durations. Tunability exists among the pump pulse energy, duration, and incident angle for the Doppler shift of the ITO-ENZ material, which can be employed to design efficient frequency shifters for telecom applications.
Comparison of dual-energy computer tomography and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for evaluating lung perfusion defects in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Moher Alsady Tawfik , Kaireit Till F. , Behrendt Lea , Winther Hinrich B. , Olsson Karen M. , Wacker Frank , Hoeper Marius M. , Cebotari Serghei , Vogel-Claussen Jens 
Published: June 2021

Objectives
To evaluate the agreement in detecting pulmonary perfusion defects in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension using dual-energy CT and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Second, to compare both imaging modalities in monitoring lung perfusion changes in these patients after undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy.

Methods
20 patients were examined with CT and MRI before and/or after pulmonary endarterectomy. Estimated perfusion defect percentage from both modalities was compared in a lobe-based analysis. Spatial agreement of perfusion defect maps was also assessed.

Results
A significant correlation between CT and MRI based perfusion defect percentage was calculated in all lung lobes (r > 0.78; p < 0.001). In addition, a good spatial agreement between perfusion defect maps was found (mean spatial overlap for the whole lung was 68.2%; SD = 6.9). Both CT and MRI detected improvements in pulmonary perfusion after pulmonary endarterectomy: 8% and 7% decrease in whole lung perfusion defect percentage (p = 0.007 and 0.004), respectively. In a lobe-wise analysis, improvements were statistically significant only in lower lobes using both modalities (reduction in defect percentage ranged from 16–29%; p < 0.02).

Conclusions
Dual-energy CT is an alternative to MRI in monitoring chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Both imaging modalities provided comparable estimations of perfusion defects and could detect similar improvement in lung perfusion after pulmonary endarterectomy.
The development of laparoscopic skills using virtual reality simulations: A systematic review
Authors: Taba João Victor , Cortez Vitor Santos , Moraes Walter Augusto , Iuamoto Leandro Ryuchi , Hsing Wu Tu , Suzuki Milena Oliveira , do Nascimento Fernanda Sayuri , Pipek Leonardo Zumerkorn , de Mattos Vitoria Carneiro , D’Albuquerque Eugênia Carneiro , Carneiro-D’Albuquerque Luiz Augusto , Meyer Alberto , Andraus Wellington 
Published: June 2021

Background
Teaching based on virtual reality simulators in medicine has expanded in recent years due to the limitations of more traditional methods, especially for surgical procedures such as laparoscopy.

Purpose of review
To analyze the effects of using virtual reality simulations on the development of laparoscopic skills in medical students and physicians.

Data sources
The literature screening was done in April 2020 through Medline (PubMed), EMBASE and Database of the National Institute of Health.

Eligibility criteria
Randomized clinical trials that subjected medical students and physicians to training in laparoscopic skills in virtual reality simulators.

Study appraisal
Paired reviewers independently identified 1529 articles and included 7 trials that met the eligibility criteria.

Findings
In all studies, participants that trained in virtual simulators showed improvements in laparoscopic skills, although the articles that also had a physical model training group did not show better performance of one model compared to the other.

Limitations
No article beyond 2015 met the eligibility criteria, and the analyzed simulators have different versions and models, which might impact the results.

Conclusion
Virtual reality simulators are useful educational tools, but do not show proven significant advantages over traditional models. The lack of standardization and a scarcity of articles makes comparative analysis between simulators difficult, requiring more research in the area, according to the model suggested in this review.

Systematic review registration number
Registered by the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), identification code CRD42020176479.
Feasibility of establishing an infant hearing screening program and measuring hearing loss among infants at a regional referral hospital in south western Uganda
Authors: Seguya Amina , Bajunirwe Francis , Kakande Elijah , Nakku Doreen 
Published: June 2021

IntroductionDespite the high burden of hearing loss (HL) globaly, most countries in resource limited settings lack infant hearing screening programs(IHS) for early HL detection. We examined the feasibility of establishing an IHS program in this setting, and in this pilot program measured the prevalence of infant hearing loss (IHL) and described the characteristics of the infants with HL.MethodsWe assessed feasibility of establishing an IHS program at a regional referral hospital in south-western Uganda. We recruited infants aged 1 day to 3 months and performed a three-staged screening. At stage 1, we used Transient Evoked Oto-acoustic Emissions (TEOAEs), at stage 2 we repeated TEOAEs for infants who failed TEOAEs at stage 1 and at stage 3, we conducted Automated brainstem responses(ABRs) for those who failed stage 2. IHL was present if they failed an ABR at 35dBHL.ResultsWe screened 401 infants, mean age was 7.2 days (SD = 7.1). 74.6% (299 of 401) passed stage 1, the rest (25.4% or 102 of 401) were referred for stage 2. Of those referred (n = 102), only 34.3% (35 of 102) returned for stage 2 screening. About 14.3% (5/35) failed the repeat TEOAEs in at least one ear. At stage 3, 80% (4 of 5) failed the ABR screening in at least one ear, while 25% (n = 1) failed the test bilaterally. Among the 334 infants that completed the staged screening, the prevalence of IHL was 4/334 or 12 per 1000. Risk factors to IHL were Newborn Special Care Unit (NSCU) admission, gentamycin or oxygen therapy and prematurity.ConclusionsIHS program establishment in a resource limited setting is feasible. Preliminary data indicate a high prevalence of IHL. Targeted screening of infants at high risk may be a more realistic and sustainable initial step towards establishing IHS program s in a developing country like Uganda.
Effect of maternal oxytocin on umbilical venous and arterial blood flows during physiological-based cord clamping in preterm lambs
Authors: Stenning Fiona J. , Polglase Graeme R. , te Pas Arjan B. , Crossley Kelly J. , Kluckow Martin , Gill Andrew W. , Wallace Euan M. , McGillick Erin V. , Binder Corinna , Blank Douglas A. , Roberts Calum , Hooper Stuart B. 
Published: June 2021

Background
Delayed umbilical cord clamping (UCC) after birth is thought to cause placental to infant blood transfusion, but the mechanisms are unknown. It has been suggested that uterine contractions force blood out of the placenta and into the infant during delayed cord clamping. We have investigated the effect of uterine contractions, induced by maternal oxytocin administration, on umbilical artery (UA) and venous (UV) blood flows before and after ventilation onset to determine whether uterine contractions cause placental transfusion in preterm lambs.

Methods and findings
At ~128 days of gestation, UA and UV blood flows, pulmonary arterial blood flow (PBF) and carotid arterial (CA) pressures and blood flows were measured in three groups of fetal sheep during delayed UCC; maternal oxytocin following mifepristone, mifepristone alone, and saline controls. Each successive uterine contraction significantly (p<0.05) decreased UV (26.2±6.0 to 14.1±4.5 mL.min-1.kg-1) and UA (41.2±6.3 to 20.7 ± 4.0 mL.min-1.kg-1) flows and increased CA pressure and flow (47.1±3.4 to 52.8±3.5 mmHg and 29.4±2.6 to 37.3±3.4 mL.min-1.kg-1). These flows and pressures were partially restored between contractions, but did not return to pre-oxytocin administration levels. Ventilation onset during DCC increased the effects of uterine contractions on UA and UV flows, with retrograde UA flow (away from the placenta) commonly occurring during diastole.

Conclusions
We found no evidence that amplification of uterine contractions with oxytocin increase placental transfusion during DCC. Instead they decreased both UA and UV flow and caused a net loss of blood from the lamb. Uterine contractions did, however, have significant cardiovascular effects and reduced systemic and cerebral oxygenation.
Risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on oral anticoagulant and proton pump inhibitor co-therapy
Authors: Lee Hyun-Jung , Kim Hyung-Kwan , Kim Bong-Sung , Han Kyung-Do , Park Jun-Bean , Lee Heesun , Lee Seung-Pyo , Kim Yong-Jin 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundProton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are known to reduce the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients on oral anticoagulants, and patients are increasingly on oral anticoagulants and PPI co-therapy. However, evidence is lacking on the safety and effectiveness of oral anticoagulants when co-administered with PPIs.MethodsAmong patients initiating oral anticoagulants (warfarin and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants [NOACs], i.e. rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban) during 2013–2017, those concomitantly prescribed PPIs were identified (n = 19,851). The primary endpoint was hospitalization for major upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and secondary endpoints were death and ischemic stroke.ResultsDuring a mean 1.4 years of follow-up, the primary endpoint occurred in 512 (2.58%) patients. Overall, NOACs were associated with lower upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk after adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities and concomitant medications (adjusted hazard ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.65–0.94), compared to warfarin. There was no significant difference in upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk among the individual NOACs. This trend of reduced risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding in NOACs compared to warfarin was consistent for both regular and reduced doses, throughout bleeding risk groups, and other subgroup analyses. NOACs were also associated with lower risk of death compared to warfarin. The risk for ischemic stroke was not significantly different among the oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation.ConclusionIn patients on oral anticoagulant and PPI co-therapy, NOACs were associated with lower risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality compared to warfarin, while there was no difference among the oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention. In patients on PPI therapy, NOACs may preferred over warfarin for decreasing risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality.
Knowledge and preventive practices towards COVID-19 among pregnant women seeking antenatal services in Northern Ghana
Authors: Kumbeni Maxwell Tii , Apanga Paschal Awingura , Yeboah Eugene Osei , Lettor Isaac Bador Kamal 
Published: June 2021

Background
COVID-19 is a novel respiratory disease associated with severe morbidity and high mortality in the elderly population and people with comorbidities. Studies have suggested that pregnant women are more susceptible to COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women. However, it’s unclear whether pregnant women in Ghana are knowledgeable about COVID-19 and practice preventive measures against it. This study sought to assess the knowledge and preventive practices towards COVID-19 among pregnant women seeking antenatal services in Northern Ghana.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire in the Nabdam district in Ghana. A total of 527 pregnant women were randomly sampled from health facilities offering antenatal care services in the district. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the predictors and outcome variables.

Results
The prevalence of adequate knowledge and good COVID-19 preventive practices were 85.6%, (95% CI: 82.57, 88.59) and 46.6%, (95% CI: 42.41, 50.95) respectively. Having at least a primary education, residing in an urban area, and receiving COVID-19 education at a health facility were positively associated with adequate knowledge on COVID-19. Factors positively associated with good COVID-19 preventive practices were older age, having at least a primary education, pregnant women with a chronic disease, and living in an urban area. Multiparity was negatively associated with good COVID-19 preventive practices.

Conclusion
Although majority of women had adequate knowledge of COVID-19, less than half of them were engaged in good COVID-19 preventive practices. Education of pregnant women on COVID-19 preventive practices should be intensified at health facilities while improving upon the water, sanitation and hygiene need particularly in rural communities.
Erosion in Low to High Plasticity Silts and Clays due to Floodwall Overtopping
Authors: Osouli Abdolreza , Nassiri Sina 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Floodwall overtopping erodes the levee surface. A better understanding of the erosion rate of levee-floodwall systems is crucial for designing such structures. Scouring induced by overtopping during storm events can cause failure of these geo-structures. In this study, the contributing factors such as floodwall height, soil characteristics, and hydraulic characteristics of overtopped flow are considered to predict erosion rates for such levees built with fine-grained soils. Using over 60 simulated scaled levee-floodwall test results, the effect of the contributing parameters on soil erosion are described and quantified. The tested soils had relatively wide ranges of plasticity index (non-plastic (NP) to 40 %), degree of compaction (70 to 90 %), and degree of saturation (15 to 85 %). Various scales of the floodwalls (1:20 to 1:2) and overtopped flow velocities (FV) (0.2 to 0.6 m/s) were used. The response of soils with high plasticity and low plasticity was different to erosion. Highly plastic soils experienced sloughing and more resistance toward erosion, whereas in low plastic soils scour developed. Also, the erosion rates are more sensitive to plasticity index and floodwall height than degree of compaction or degree of saturation. Using the lab-scaled simulation results, a prediction model was developed to estimate erosion rates. The developed model was used to estimate the erosion rates in three case histories and compared with measured values. The limitations and advantages of the model were analyzed and discussed.
Accelerated Creep Testing of Inconel 718 Using the Stepped Isostress Method (SSM)
Authors: Stewart Calvin M. , Hossain Md Abir , Pellicotte Jacob , Mach Robert , Alexander David , Siddiqui Sanna F. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This paper demonstrates the stepped isostress method (SSM), an accelerated creep test (ACT) for the rapid assessment of metallic materials. The SSM test is based on the time-temperature-stress superposition principle in which temperature, stress, or both, are step increased to accelerate the time to rupture. The SSM test has proven successful for the ACT of polymers and polymeric composites but has yet to be proven for metallic materials. In this study, new test matrix design rules for the SSM of metals are established based on deformation mechanism, time-temperature transformation, and time-temperature precipitation maps. A test matrix of SSM and conventional creep tests (CCTs) are executed for alloy Inconel 718 at 750°C (1,382°F) with stress levels ranging from 100 to 350 MPa. Validation CCT data are gathered from the Japan National Institute of Material Science. Material constants for the Sine-hyperbolic (Sinh) constitutive model are calibrated using the SSM data and employed to predict the conventional creep response. When blindly compared with the CCT data, the SSM-calibrated Sinh model can accurately predict the conventional creep response across logarithmic decades and, thus, accelerate the capture of conventional creep data. Fractography indicates ductile fracture by transgranular microvoid coalescence with the same fracture mode observed in both SSM and CCT specimens. Creep cavitation is indicated by the population, smoothness, and size of microvoids.