bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental Investigations of Surface Roughness Effects on Aerodynamic Performance of Axial Compressor Blades
Authors: Zenouz Reza Taghavi , Abiri Seyyed Mohammad Mahdi , Khosravizadeh Mohammad Reza 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Fluid dynamic of axial compressor blades under different surface roughness levels is experimentally investigated in this research work. An open circuit wind tunnel has been prepared for the test model of a linear cascade of axial compressor blades. Reynolds number ranged between 100000 and 300000 and free turbulence intensity was 2%. Four different roughness levels, ranged between\(10.96 \text{a}\text{n}\text{d} 68.54\mu m\) besides smooth surface case were examined. Hot wire anemometry has been undertaken to extract velocity profiles to distinguish boundary layer type in terms of laminar, transitional or turbulent regimes, and also to investigate occurring laminar separation bubble. Total pressure loss coefficient was also calculated for different Reynolds numbers and surface roughness levels. The results showed that the boundary layer remains in fully laminar regime for flows with Reynolds numbers less than about 150000 for smooth surface case. At the lowest test Reynolds number adding surface roughness caused the total pressure loss to decrease. Highest Reynolds number was accompanied by the lowest losses for the smooth surface. Increasing the surface roughness caused losses to increase at this Reynolds number. Furthermore, roughening the surface caused the bubble to shrink, and transition point to shift upstream accompanied by reduction in pressure loss.
Community acceptance of a novel malaria intervention, Attractive Targeted Sugar Baits, in a ATSB Zambia phase III trial
Authors: Orange Erica , Arnzen Annie , Muluma Chuma , Akalalambili Situmbeko , Tobolo Titus , Ndalama Frank , Chishya Chama , Saili Kochelani , Ashton Ruth A. , Eisele Thomas P. , Yukich Joshua , Kyomuhangi Irene , Miller John , Silumbe Kafula , Chanda Javan , Hamainza Busiku , Wagman Joseph , Slutsker Laurence , Burkot Thomas R , Littrell Megan 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Community acceptance is an important criterion to assess in community trials, particularly for new tools that require coverage and use by a target population. Installed on exterior walls of household structures, the attractive targeted sugar bait (ATSB) is a new vector control tool designed to attract and kill mosquitos. ATSBs were evaluated in Western Zambia during a two-year cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of ATSBs in reducing malaria transmission. Community acceptance of ATSBs was critical for successful trial implementation.
Methods
A community engagement strategy outlined activities and key messages to promote acceptance. Annual cross-sectional surveys, conducted during the peak transmission period, assessed households for presence of ATSBs and participating households’ perceived benefits, concerns, and willingness to use ATSBs. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews conducted at the end of each ATSB station deployment period, obtained a range of perceptions, attitudes, and household experiences with ATSB stations, as well as potential shifts in ITN use as a function of ATSB deployment.
Results
Community acceptance of ATSBs was high with ATSB coverage > 90%; >70% of households reported perceived benefits; and < 10% reported safety concerns. Common facilitators of acceptance included the desire for protection against malaria and reduction of mosquitos, trust in health initiatives, and understanding of the product. Common barriers to acceptance included misconceptions of the products impact on mosquitos, continued cases of malaria, association with satanism, and damage to household structures. Although ITN use was generally high, qualitative data suggest additional research is needed to further explore ways in which ATSB deployment might be associated with shifts in ITN use.
Discussion
Future use of the ATSB intervention will likely require supporting activities that foster community acceptance before, during and after the intervention is introduced. Additional research may be needed to understand the impact of less community engagement on ATSB station coverage, ATSB station perception, and ITN use.
Conclusion
There was high acceptance of ATSB stations during the trial in Western Zambia. Continuous and intense community engagement efforts contributed towards sustained ATSB coverage and trust in the product. Acceptance of ATSBs during programmatic delivery requires further research.
“Music Creates Evil Genius?”——A Study of the Relationship Between Music Listening and Malevolent Creativity
Authors: Zhang Yunzi , Gong Zhe 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Music, composed of lyrics and melodies, has an important effect on human emotion, cognition, and behaviors. Researchers have conducted studies on music listening about creativity mainly from the two perspectives of music preference and music exposure, but the dark side of creativity - malevolent creativity - has not been addressed yet. Based on these studies, we focus on three aggression-related music: heavy metal music, rock music, and electronic music, whose relationship with malevolent creativity was verified in our studies. In Study 1, we intended to verify the relationship between aggression-related music preference and malevolent creativity by using questionnaires. In study 2, we further explore the causal relationship between aggression-related music exposure and malevolent creativity through behavioral experiments. Moreover, we also wonder about the internal mechanism. Our results found a strong correlation between aggression-related music (music preference & music exposure) and malevolent creativity, especially electronic music. Meanwhile, the mediation mechanism of negative emotions was not validated. Finally, the main effect of lyrics was confirmed. The negative lyrics group had significantly higher malevolent creativity than the positive lyrics group. The interaction between lyrics and melody on the induction of malevolent creativity showed that there was no significant difference in malevolent creativity across the four music genres under negative lyrics, but electronic music and heavy metal music stood out under positive lyrics. The study's implications extend to understanding the potential dark side of music and its influence on creativity.
The endotoxin content of PM 2.5 and its relationship with oxidative stress biomarkers in urine after subchronic inhalation exposure in a rat model
Authors: Baldriche-Acosta Jessica , Uribe-Ramírez Marisela , Narváez-Morales Juana , De Vizcaya-Ruiz Andrea , Barbier Olivier Christophe , Aztatzi-Aguilar Octavio Gamaliel 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Currently, our understanding of the impact of particulate matter on nephrotoxicity is limited. Oxidative stress has been identified as a mechanism involved in the adverse health effects due to exposure to this air pollutant, to their inorganic, organic, and aerobiological constituents (e.g. endotoxin). The goal of the present study was to correlate the endotoxin content of particulate matter with urinary oxidative stress biomarkers to explain early decline in renal dysfunction. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to subchronic inhalation to particles less 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter, also known as fine particles or PM2.5 (8 weeks, 4 days/week, 5 hours/day). The control group was exposed to filtered air. Biomarkers of oxidative stress were assessed in urine samples per week harvested by metabolic cage. The assessed oxidative stress biomarkers were methylglyoxal, non-esterified fatty acids, malondialdehyde, advanced oxidative protein products, arginase, myeloperoxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase. Subchronic exposure to PM2.5 increased five evaluated biomarkers in urine. Endotoxin content in PM2.5 positively correlated with urinary oxidative stress biomarkers evaluated. Positively correlation of urinary oxidative stress biomarkers was found with urinary early kidney damage biomarkers (e.g., β-2-microglobulin and cystatin-C). The subchronic inhalation exposure to PM2.5 induce the presence of oxidative stress reflected in urine, based on statistical correlations, suggests early kidney damage related to endotoxin content.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Pulmonary Tuberculosis as an Occupational Health Disease Among Miners at Neelkanth in Ndola, Zambia
Authors: SIMWANZA NIZA REAN , Mwanakasale Victor 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Zambia is one of the many countries in sub-Saharan Africa that is burdened by tuberculosis (TB). The Zambia National TB prevalence survey 2013–2014 estimated the prevalence rate of all forms of bacteriologically confirmed Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) among those aged 15years and above to be at 638 per 100000 populations which is higher than the prevalence rate in high TB burden countries such as Pakistan and Nigeria. Mine workers in Southern Africa including Zambia tend to have poor living and working conditions thereby having increased risk of TB and in addition working in the mines increases exposure to silica dust leading them to developing silicosis which increases their risk of developing PTB. The general objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding TB as an occupational health disease among miners at Neelkanth mine in Ndola.
This was a cross sectional study that assessed the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of miners regarding TB as an occupational health disease. The study was conducted at Neelkanth mine in Bwana M’kubwa area, Ndola rural. Study participants were miners. The calculated sample size for the study was 384. A questionnaire was used to collect data from study participants. Data was entered and analysed using Spss version 16.0, Pearson chi squared test was performed and the output was then analysed further using multivariate logistic regression at 95% confidence interval.
This study resulted in a total of 357 study participants instead of the calculated 384 that were enrolled into the study, due to the fact that 27 questionnaires were incomplete and therefore eliminated from the study. The difference of knowledge levels about TB as an occupational health hazard and sex (male/female) was very good and in relation to age groups it was very good as well. The mean age was calculated to be 32.9 (standard deviation [SD]: 7.4) years, with the majority of participants aged between 18-40years. Comparing the participants that could define TB to those that could not, those that could define were 1.84 times more likely to have good knowledge levels (CI95: 1.17, 2.91). Likewise, participants were 1.66 times more likely to know preventive measure of TB as an occupational health hazard compared to those who did not know (CI95: 1.18, 2.32).
This study revealed through multivariate regression analysis of the results that there is a significant association between knowledge, attitude, practice and TB as an occupational health disease. These findings highlight the need for TB education amongst miners.
Critical Fluctuations as an Early Warning Signal of Sports Injuries? Applying the Complex Dynamic Systems Toolbox to Football Monitoring Data
Authors: Neumann Niklas D. , Brauers Jur J. , Yperen Nico W. Van , Linde Mees Van der , Lemmink Koen A.P.M. , Brink Michel S. , Hasselman Fred , Ha Ruud J.R. Den 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
There has been an increasing interest in the development and prevention of sports injuries from a complex dynamic systems perspective. From this perspective, injuries may occur following critical fluctuations in the psychophysiological state of an athlete. Our objective was to quantify these so-called Early Warning Signals (EWS) to determine their predictive validity for injuries. The sample consisted of 23 professional youth football (soccer) players. Self-reports of psychological and physiological factors as well as data from GPS sensors were gathered on every training and match day over two competitive seasons, which resulted in an average of 339 observations per player (range = 155–430). We calculated the Dynamic Complexity (DC) index of these data, representing a metric of critical fluctuations. Next, we used this EWS to predict injuries based on different mechanisms (traumatic and overuse) and duration.
Results
Results showed a significant peak of DC in 31% of the incurred injuries, regardless of mechanism and duration, in the seven data points (roughly one and a half weeks) before the injury. The warning signal exhibited a specificity of 94%, that is, correctly classifying non-injury instances. We followed up on this promising result with additional calculations to account for the naturally imbalanced data (fewer injuries than non-injuries). The relatively low F1 we obtained (0.08) suggests that the model's overall ability to discriminate between injuries and non-injuries is rather poor, due to the high false positive rate.
Conclusion
By detecting critical fluctuations preceding one-third of the injuries, this study provided support for the complex systems theory of injuries. Furthermore, it suggests that increasing critical fluctuations may be seen as an EWS on which practitioners can intervene. Yet, the relatively high false positive rate on the entire data set, including periods without injuries, suggests critical fluctuations may also precede transitions to other (e.g., stronger) states. Future research should therefore dig deeper into the meaning of critical fluctuations in the psychophysiological states of athletes.
Longitudinal Neuroanatomical Increases from Early to One-Year Postpartum
Authors: Dufford Alexander , Patterson Genevieve , Kim Pilyoung 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Preclinical studies have provided causal evidence that the postpartum period involves regional neuroanatomical changes in ‘maternal’ brain regions to support the transition to offspring caregiving. Few studies, in humans, have examined neuroanatomical changes from early to one-year postpartum with longitudinal neuroimaging data and their association with postpartum mood changes. In this study, we examined longitudinal changes in surface morphometry (cortical thickness and surface area) in regions previously implicated in the transition to parenthood. We also examined longitudinal volumetric neuroanatomical changes in three subcortical regions of the maternal brain: the hippocampus, amygdala, and ventral diencephalon. Twenty-four participants underwent longitudinal structural magnetic resonance imaging at 2–4 weeks and 1 year postpartum. Cortical thickness increased from early to one-year postpartum in the left (p = .003, Bonferroni corrected) and right (p = .02, Bonferroni corrected) superior frontal gyrus. No significant increases (or decreases) were observed in these regions for surface area. Volumetric increases, across the postpartum period, were found in the left amygdala (p = .001, Bonferroni corrected) and right ventral diencephalon (p = .01, Bonferroni corrected). An exploratory analysis of depressive symptoms found reductions in depressive symptoms from early postpartum to one-year postpartum were associated with greater cortical thickness in the superior frontal gyrus for both the left (p = .02) and right (p = .02) hemispheres. The findings expand our evidence of the neuroanatomical changes that occur across the postpartum period in humans and motivate future studies to examine how mood changes across this period are associated with cortical thickness of the superior frontal gyrus.
The Effect of Dynamic Response Characteristics in Different Confining Pressures of Damping Ratio and Shear Modulus of Sandy Soil
Authors: Kennedy Charles 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of confining pressure on the small-strain shear modulus and damping ratio of sandy soil through cyclic direct simple shear laboratory tests. Undisturbed sandy soil samples were collected from Ibagwa, Nigeria and tested under isotropic confining pressures ranging from 100 kPa to 400 kPa. Shear modulus and damping ratio were measured as a function of shear strain at each confinement level. The results showed that the small-strain shear modulus (Gmax) increased significantly with rising confining pressure, indicating that shear modulus exhibited clear pressure-sensitive behavior. In contrast, the maximum damping ratio (Dmax) was found to decrease progressively with increasing confining pressure. These trends were consistent with established theoretical understandings. Experimental stress-strain data correlated reasonably well with common shear modulus and damping degradation models, validating their predictive capabilities. The pressure-dependent nature of Gmax and Dmax provided fundamental insights into the dynamic behavior of sandy soils under varying effective stress conditions representative of different burial depths. Quantifying these evolving small-strain properties offered essential input parameters for numerical modeling of seismic wave propagation and site response analysis. Understanding variable shear modulus and damping ratio also aided performance-based evaluation of energy dissipation capacity and cyclic loading effects on foundations. The trends demonstrated reinforced the need for geotechnical earthquake engineering analyses and designs to consider changing soil properties relative to stress state - an important knowledge gap addressed. Overall, the study contributed valuable measured dynamic parameters and highlighted the significance of confining pressure in governing the seismic response characteristics of sandy soil.
Flotation foam image segmentation based on highlight overlap correction and multiple edge constraints
Authors: Yang Lirong , Sun Cong 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Bubble size contains important indicative information, which is closely related to flotation production conditions and process indicators. However, due to the different sizes of bubbles in the flotation process and the complexity of the shooting light environment, satisfactory results cannot be obtained from the existing image segmentation methods. In this paper, an improved watershed algorithm based on multiple edge constraints and highlight collegiate positivity is proposed. First, three algorithms are designed to extract and classify foam highlights of the same size, namely, small foam, medium foam and large foam, and special overlap correction and fusion are applied to these three foams. Then, the bubble boundaries are extracted using the Laplace operator, and the segmentation line is constrained with a positive and inverse 45-degree gradient images as multiple edges to ensure the integrity of the segmentation line. Finally, the fused highlight markers are used to deoptimize the external constraint line for watershed segmentation. The tests show that the method is suitable for multiple sizes of fuzzy edges and foam image segmentation. The experimental results show that the accuracy and robustness of the proposed segmentation algorithm are significantly better than other methods, and the proposed method is suitable for foam image segmentation with fuzzy edges and diverse sizes.
Fractionation of stable carbon isotopes during UV degradation of toluene: Implications for the quantitative characterization of VOCs in the Atmosphere
Authors: Simu Sharmine Akter , Chikaraishi Yoshito 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major atmospheric pollutants commonly derived from the fossil fuel combustion. Concentration of VOCs in the atmosphere and its dynamics have widely been used to evaluate their source, formation processes, residence time, and photochemical reactions involved in the atmosphere. However, little is known about the effect of UV degradation of VOCs during their transport from the source to the study area, which always reduces accuracy in the understanding of VOCs characteristics in the atmosphere. In the present study, we investigated the fractionation of carbon isotopes (13C/12C) of toluene (Methyl benzene) during UV degradation (254 nm UV-C), as a basic information for accurately evaluating the source and delivery of toluene, a common VOCs, in the atmosphere. The results show that degradation ratio of toluene is correlated with the elevation of isotope ratios (0.99 of isotopic fractionation factor, α), resulting in that the α observed allows us to quantify the original amount of toluene in the potential source and its degradation ratio in the atmospheric transfer. This correlation thus can be useful for the quantitative illustration of environmental behavior of toluene (e.g., excretion sources, transfer, UV degradation, deposition) in the atmosphere and biosphere.
High frequency of aminoglycoside resistance and aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes genes in clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates: an alarming concern
Authors: Mahmoudi Shima , Mamishi Setareh , Rahimifard Nahid , Sadeghi Reihaneh Hosseinpour , Poormohamadi Shiva , Pourakbari Babak 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Next to the high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), S.aureus isolates are now resistant to some other antibiotics, such as aminoglycosides. The aim of this study was to determine the aminoglycoside resistance and aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme (AMEs) genes among S.aureus isolated from patients referred to the Children’s Medical Center, Tehran, Iran.
Methods
A total of 333 S. aureus clinical isolates were collected and tested by disk diffusion for susceptibility testing. Aminoglycoside-resistant S. aureus isolates were screened for the presence of the three AMEs genes.
Results
A total of 149 isolates (45%) were of aminoglycoside-resistant, of which 142 isolates (95%) were amikacin-resistant isolates and 27 (18%) were gentamicin-resistant isolates. Among 149 isolates, aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″) resistance gene was detected in 65 isolates (44%). The aph(3′)-IIIa resistance gene and ant (4′)-Ia resistance gene were found in 55 isolates (37%) and 27 isolates (18%), respectively. Concurrent of aph(3′)-IIIa and ant(4′)-Ia genes was seen in 16 isolates (11%). Moreover, aph(3′)-IIIa and aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″) were observed in 49 (33%) isolates, simultaneously. Concurrent ant(4′)-Ia and aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″) genes were detected in 16 isolates (11%). Simultaneous presence of all three genes aph (3′)-IIIa and ant (4′)-Ia and aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″) was observed in 14 (9%) of the isolates. Among amikacin-resistant isolates, concurrent of aph(3′)-IIIa and aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″) genes were seen in 44 isolates (31%), while it was found in 70% of gentamicin-resistant S. aureus (19 isolates).
Conclusion
Since high frequency of aminoglycoside resistance and AME genes were found in S. aureus strain isolated from hospitalized children in our hospital, the monitoring of aminoglycoside resistance and AMEs genes is highly recommended to limit the spread of aminoglycoside resistance among S. aureus isolates.
Image Encryption based on novel Hill Cipher Variant and 2D-IGSCM Hyper-chaotic Map
Authors: Zheng Yuxiao , Huang Qingye , Cai Shuting , Xiong Xiaoming , Huang Linqing 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Hill Cipher(HC) is a simple and fast encryption technique that is suitable for encrypting images with large data volume, but it still has some shortcomings like failing to effectively hide all image features and encrypt uniform backgrounds, and relying on the use of reversible matrices. In this paper, firstly, a new two-dimensional Iterative Gaussian Sine chaotic map(2D-IGSCM) with heightened ergodicity and unpredictability is introduced. Then, in addressing the various deficiencies of the HC, we propose an improved three-dimensional Hill Cipher(3D-HC) model where a dynamic column vector based on chaotic sequences generated by 2D-IGSCM is utilized to enhance encryption effects. Finally, based on the 2D-IGSCM and 3D-HC model, an image encryption method is proposed. Experimental results and security analysis exhibit that the proposed algorithm possesses excellent security characteristics and high efficiency.