bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Database of shear tests for prestressed fibre reinforced concrete beams without vertical stirrups and comparison with code provisions
Authors: Ruiz Rafael , Doniak Lígia Oliva , Todisco Leonardo , Corres Hugo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractHigh‐performance fibre reinforced concrete represents a promising alternative to conventional reinforced concrete for the construction of prestressed precast girders for road bridges. Specifically, all shear reinforcement is replaced by the use of steel fibres, which leads to important savings from the material and economical perspectives. Therefore, reliable shear formulations are required for these specific cases. In an effort to evaluate the accuracy of code expressions, this paper presents a database collecting 80 experimental shear tests on prestressed fibre reinforced concrete beams without stirrups. After illustrating its main characteristics, this database is used to verify the conservativeness and accuracy of shear formulation according to several codes and recommendations: i) Model Code 2010, ii) draft version of Model Code 2020, iii) draft version of the new Eurocode 2, and iv) Spanish National Code. The evaluation, carried out through the calculation of the model safety factor, indicated that the application of all shear formulations is largely conservative, leading to less unsafe tests than the desired 5% fractile. The relation between model safety factors and mechanical parameters is then investigated. Finally, the results obtained for the developed database are compared with those achieved from two larger databases of beams with similar features but without prestress. The comparison clearly proves the greater conservatism of code expressions when beams are prestressed.
Development of light weight sustainable pineapple/kevlar hybridized fiber and peanut husk cellulose toughened vinyl ester biocomposite for unmanned aerial vehicle applications
Authors: Bourchak Mostefa , Ajaj Rafic , Khalid Mahmoud , Juhany Khalid A. , V. R. Arun Prakash , Alshahrani Hassan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe aim of this study is to develop a light weight hybrid biocomposite using pineapple and Kevlar fiber with peanut husk cellulose in vinyl ester resin for applications in unmanned aerial vehicles. This study focuses on how the silane treatment on fiber and cellulose particle influences the mechanical, fatigue and low velocity impact properties of this hybrid biocomposites. Using hand lay‐up technique, the biocomposite was prepared with cellulose loading ranging from 1 to 5 vol%. The results revealed that the 5 vol% of cellulose added composite had an improved tensile, impact, flexural, hardness and ILSS of 161 MPa, 224 MPa, 6.8 J, 84 shore‐D and 21.4 MPa. Moreover, the biocomposite with the inclusion of 3 vol% cellulose had an improved fatigue life count of 42 697, 29 821, 22 381 and 18 164 at 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% of UTS. Similarly, the 3 vol% cellulose reinforced composite showed an improved low velocity impact toughness of 12.36 J. The obtained results clearly indicated that these mechanically strengthened and highly toughened biocomposites could be used as working material for number of applications, especially in making of UAVs for the aerospace industry, automotive components for the transportation sector and structural material in domestic infrastructure.
Creating Coherence in Collective Consciousness for Universal Flourishing: Automatic Self-Transcending for Reducing Conflicts and Improving the Quality of Life in Society
Authors: Orme-Johnson David W. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis chapter reports on the paradigm of influencing the collective consciousness to create beneficial effects for societies. It presents this using three large public well-controlled published studies that document that when a group of the square root of 1% or more of a population practices a specific form of automatic self-transcending meditation (the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi techniques) simultaneous holistic positive effects are produced in society. It addresses two fundamental issues about this research. The first issue is empirical, is it true? The second is theoretical, i.e. if it is true, how does one explain the effect and its possible mechanisms? The three major projects all measured multiple social indicators, e.g., war deaths, traffic fatalities, violent crime, drug-related deaths, and infant mortality. The experimental protocols specifying the research hypotheses, methodologies, and timing of the interventions were posited in advance and the data were official government statistics. All three studies found that varying the magnitude of the independent variable (meditator group size) created corresponding predicted changes in the dependent variables (social indicators), providing a strong case for causality. Social, political, cultural, or climatic events could not explain the results nor could autocorrelations or prior trends in the data. The holistic simultaneity of the effect on multiple diverse social indicators suggests that the effect is mediated by a common holistic influence, the transcendental field of universal consciousness at the basis of every mind and of natural law. We conclude that this technology of collective consciousness is an evidence-based approach to mitigate the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous nature of the world today. These should encourage citizens and leadership to make use of these evidence-based technologies to improve their lives.
Midwifery of the Future; A Widening Field of Competences
Authors: Gianotten Woet L. , Wendt Eva , Polona Mivšek Ana 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis chapter is part of ‘Midwifery and Sexuality’ a Springer Nature open access book for midwives and related healthcare professionals. The book aimed to create more ‘sexuality-sensitive midwifery care’. This last chapter of this book ventures to take midwifery to the next level.In a broad sense, sexuality-positive midwifery can create space for expanding the domains of women’s health. Then why not dream of a change for the better? This chapter will emphasise various personal motives to look for change. It will delineate some aspects of Swedish midwifery. Sweden is an example of well-developed midwifery care, with a progressive and sexuality-positive approach.The chapter will then cover various perspectives of sexuality education. Starting within the common daily midwifery practice and focusing on the role of teacher/educator for various groups with unmet sexual health needs. Midwives are the right professionals for proactive participating in society with advocacy and promoting sexual health and rights.The chapter ends with an invitation to development-combining social needs and individual dreams can create new job opportunities towards midwifery specialisation in the aspect of sexuality.
Sexuality of the Couple in Postpartum and Early Parenthood (1st Year)
Authors: O’Malley Deirdre , Higgins Agnes , Smith Valerie 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe first birth is a major life event for all involved parties: woman, partner (and couple). This chapter will address the relevant elements that together shape parenthood and couplehood. That process is somewhat different for the average woman and the average man. Many men more or less tend to return to their pre-pregnancy level of sexual desire rather quickly. On the other hand, many women need much more time before having consolidated in their new role as mothers, simultaneously reconsidering their role as sexual partners. The woman’s physical and sexual system has been adapted by the pregnancy, birth and hormonal changes, potentially resulting in periods of low or no sexual activity. Especially when breastfeeding, her low oestrogen levels keep the vagina atrophic, and her low androgen levels keep arousability low. Together those factors create a substantial risk of developing dyspareunia. Besides these physical aspects, the woman and her partner undergo great psychological adaptations in the post-partum period. This chapter will address how to optimally navigate this phase of ‘transition to parenthood’ and new couplehood.This chapter is part of ‘Midwifery and Sexuality’, a Springer Nature open-access textbook for midwives and related healthcare professionals.
Comments on epsilon expansion of the O(N) model with boundary
Authors: Nishioka Tatsuma , Okuyama Yoshitaka , Shimamori Soichiro 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe O(N) vector model in the presence of a boundary has a non-trivial fixed point in (4− ϵ) dimensions and exhibits critical behaviors described by boundary conformal field theory. The spectrum of boundary operators is investigated at the leading order in theϵ-expansion by diagrammatic and axiomatic approaches. In the latter, we extend the framework of Rychkov and Tan for the bulk theory to the case with a boundary and calculate the conformal dimensions of boundary composite operators with attention to the analyticity of correlation functions. In both approaches, we obtain consistent results.
A method for selecting a climate model: an application for maximum daily temperature in Southern Spain
Authors: Abadie Luis M. , Moral M. Paz 
Published: March 2023

AbstractGeneral circulation models (GCM) show projections of climate variables that when downscaled can be applied to analyse future behaviour in different areas or places. Using them is possible not just to obtain expected values of climate variables but also to calculate their distributions and use those values to assess the effects of climate change at a local level. However, these calculations depend on the GCM selected. In this paper, daily maximum near-surface air temperatures from 21 climate models under representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 and historic daily maximum temperatures (1990–2019) from nine cities in southern Spain are used with two objectives: first, to investigate past behaviour broken down into a deterministic part and a stochastic part; second, to compare historical data (2006–2019) with the information extracted from the 21 GCMs based on calculating goodness of fit in the period for both deterministic and stochastic parts. The methodology proposed may be useful in selecting a model or a range of models for use in a specific study. The results show positive historical and future trends in maximum daily temperature for these cities. The GCMs with the best fit for each city in this specific case are also presented.
Nasotracheal enterococcal carriage and resistomes: detection of optrA-, poxtA- and cfrD-carrying strains in migratory birds, livestock, pets, and in-contact humans in Spain
Authors: Abdullahi Idris Nasir , Lozano Carmen , Juárez-Fernández Guillermo , Höfle Ursula , Simón Carmen , Rueda Silvia , Martínez Angela , Álvarez-Martínez Sandra , Eguizábal Paula , Martínez-Cámara Beatriz , Zarazaga Myriam , Torres Carmen 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis study determined the carriage rates and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes of enterococci from nasotracheal samples of three healthy animal species and in-contact humans. Nasal samples were collected from 27 dog-owning households (34 dogs, 41 humans) and 4 pig-farms (40 pigs, 10 pig-farmers), and they were processed for enterococci recovery (MALDI-TOF–MS identification). Also, a collection of 144 enterococci previously recovered of tracheal/nasal samples from 87 white stork nestlings were characterized. The AMR phenotypes were determined in all enterococci and AMR genes were studied by PCR/sequencing. MultiLocus-Sequence-Typing was performed for selected isolates. About 72.5% and 60% of the pigs and pig-farmers, and 29.4% and 4.9%, of healthy dogs and owners were enterococci nasal carriers, respectively. In storks, 43.5% of tracheal and 69.2% of nasal samples had enterococci carriages. Enterococci carrying multidrug-resistance phenotype was identified in 72.5%/40.0%/50.0%/23.5%/1.1% of pigs/pig-farmers/dogs/dogs’ owners/storks, respectively. Of special relevance was the detection of linezolid-resistant enterococci (LRE) in (a) 33.3% of pigs (E. faecalis-carryingoptrAand/orcfrDof ST59, ST330 or ST474 lineages;E. casseliflavus-carryingoptrAandcfrD); (b) 10% of pig farmers (E. faecalis-ST330-carryingoptrA); (c) 2.9% of dogs (E. faecalis-ST585-carryingoptrA); and (d) 1.7% of storks (E. faecium-ST1736-carryingpoxtA). ThefexAgene was found in alloptrA-positiveE. faecalisandE. casseliflavusisolates, whilefexBwas detected in thepoxtA-positiveE. faeciumisolate. The enterococci diversity and AMR rates from the four hosts reflect differences in antimicrobial selection pressure. The detection of LRE carrying acquired and transferable genes in all the hosts emphasizes the need to monitor LRE using a One-Health approach.
Sensitivity of fishery resources to climate change in the warm-temperate Southwest Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Gianelli Ignacio , Orlando Luis , Cardoso Luis Gustavo , Carranza Alvar , Celentano Eleonora , Correa Patricia , de la Rosa Andrés , Doño Florencia , Haimovici Manuel , Horta Sebastián , Jaureguizar Andrés Javier , Jorge-Romero Gabriela , Lercari Diego , Martínez Gastón , Pereyra Inés , Silveira Santiago , Vögler Rodolfo , Defeo Omar 
Published: March 2023

AbstractClimate change impacts on fishery resources have been widely reported worldwide. Nevertheless, a knowledge gap remains for the warm-temperate Southwest Atlantic Ocean—a global warming hotspot that sustains important industrial and small-scale fisheries. By combining a trait-based framework and long-term landing records, we assessed species’ sensitivity to climate change and potential changes in the distribution of important fishery resources (n = 28; i.e., bony fishes, chondrichthyans, crustaceans, and mollusks) in Southern Brazil, Uruguay, and the northern shelf of Argentina. Most species showed moderate or high sensitivity, with mollusks (e.g., sedentary bivalves and snails) being the group with the highest sensitivity, followed by chondrichthyans. Bony fishes showed low and moderate sensitivities, while crustacean sensitivities were species-specific. The stock and/or conservation status overall contributed the most to higher sensitivity. Between 1989 and 2019, species with low and moderate sensitivity dominated regional landings, regardless of the jurisdiction analyzed. A considerable fraction of these landings consisted of species scoring high or very high on an indicator for potential to change their current distribution. These results suggest that although the bulk of past landings were from relatively climate-resilient species, future catches and even entire benthic fisheries may be jeopardized because (1) some exploited species showed high or very high sensitivities and (2) the increase in the relative representation of landings in species whose distribution may change. This paper provides novel results and insights relevant for fisheries management from a region where the effects of climate change have been overlooked, and which lacks a coordinated governance system for climate-resilient fisheries.
Chemo-mechanical modeling of smooth muscle cell activation for the simulation of arterial walls under changing blood pressure
Authors: Uhlmann Klemens , Balzani Daniel 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn this paper, a novel chemo-mechanical model is proposed for the description of the stretch-dependent chemical processes known as Bayliss effect and their impact on the active contraction in vascular smooth muscle. These processes are responsible for the adaptive reaction of arterial walls to changing blood pressure by which the blood vessels actively support the heart in providing sufficient blood supply for varying demands in the supplied tissues. The model is designed to describe two different stretch-dependent mechanisms observed in smooth muscle cells (SMCs): a calcium-dependent and a calcium-independent contraction. For the first one, stretch of the SMCs leads to an inlet of calcium ions which activates the myosin light chain kinase (MLCK). The increased activity of MLCK triggers the contractile units of the cells resulting in the contraction on a comparatively short time scale. For the calcium-independent contraction mechanism, stretch-dependent receptors of the cell membrane stimulate an intracellular reaction leading to an inhibition of the antagonist of MLCK, the myosin light chain phosphatase resulting in a contraction on a comparatively long time scale. An algorithmic framework for the implementation of the model in finite element programs is derived. Based thereon, it is shown that the proposed approach agrees well with experimental data. Furthermore, the individual aspects of the model are analyzed in numerical simulations of idealized arteries subject to internal pressure waves with changing intensities. The simulations show that the proposed model is able to describe the experimentally observed contraction of the artery as a reaction to increased internal pressure, which can be considered a crucial aspect of the regulatory mechanism of muscular arteries.
Long-COVID syndrome: physical–mental interplay in the spotlight
Authors: Thurner Carolin , Stengel Andreas 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPatients suffering from Long-COVID syndrome experience a variety of different symptoms on a physical, but also on a psychological and social level. Previous psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety have been identified as separate risk factors for developing Long-COVID syndrome. This suggests a complex interplay of different physical and mental factors rather than a simple cause–effect relationship of a specific biological pathogenic process. The biopsychosocial model provides a foundation for understanding these interactions and integrating them into a broader perspective of the patient suffering from the disease instead of the individual symptoms, pointing towards the need of treatment options on a psychological as well as social level besides biological targets. This leads to our conclusion, that the biopsychosocial model should be the underlying philosophy of understanding, diagnosing and treating patients suffering from Long-COVID syndrome, moving away from the strictly biomedical understanding suspected by many patients, treaters and the media while also reducing the stigma still associated with the suggestion of a physical–mental interplay.
Demographic behaviour and earnings inequality across OECD countries
Authors: Azzollini Leo , Breen Richard , Nolan Brian 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMany studies have focused on how demographic dynamics, such as changes in marriage patterns and the increasing share of households headed by a single adult, may contribute to rising earnings inequality. Here we instead ask how demographic differences between countries may underpin differences in household earnings inequality between them, concentrating on economic homogamy and the proportion of households headed by a single woman and by a single man. We use data on 28 OECD countries from the 2016 wave of the Luxembourg Income Study, and develop a new inequality decomposition approach based on half the squared coefficient of variation (HSCV). We find that variation between countries in the specified demographic factors can account for just over 40% of the variation between countries in inequality in household labour earnings, with the proportion of households headed by a single woman playing the largest role. The associations between labour earnings inequality and these demographic components are consistent across countries, with little variation in how each is related to overall inequality. Although by far the largest driver of cross-national inequality relates to the earnings of partnered men, counterfactual analysis suggests that relatively small changes in these demographic variables can indeed affect inequality.
Focus Fusion: Overview of Progress Towards p-B11 Fusion with the Dense Plasma Focus
Authors: Lerner Eric J. , Hassan Syed M. , Karamitsos-Zivkovic Ivana , Fritsch Rudolph 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLPPFusion is developing a source of fusion energy using the dense plasma focus device and p-B11 fuel, a combination we call Focus Fusion. So far, this project has led to the achievement of the highest confined ion energies of any fusion experiment (> 200 keV) as well as, recently, the lowest impurities of any fusion plasma. Among privately-funded fusion efforts, our experiments have achieved the highest ratio of fusion energy generation to device energy input (wall-plug efficiency) and the highest nτT product of 3.4 × 1020 keV-s/m3. Our calculations and simulations indicate that the quantum magnetic field effect will allow a great reduction in bremsstrahlung radiation with p-B11 fuel. For commercial fusion, this approach has several major advantages. The small size and simplicity of design of the DPF can lead to 5 MW generators that are much cheaper than any existing energy source, that can be manufactured by mass production and that can be located close to loads. It shares with other p-B11 approaches a lack of neutron damage and radioactive waste. Direct energy conversion of the ion beam and x-rays produced by the device avoids the high costs associated with thermal cycles. With adequate, but still modest, financial resources we anticipate working prototype generators could be ready for production by 2026–2030.
Corrosion of 1.4016 Ferritic Steel by Urea at High Temperature
Authors: Galakhova Anastasiia , Kadisch Fabian , Mori Gregor , Heyder Susanne , Wieser Helmut , Sartory Bernhard , Wosik Jaroslaw , Schwarz Sabine , Burger Simon 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe corrosion behavior of a ferritic unstabilized stainless steel 1.4016 during decomposition of aqueous urea solution at high temperature has been investigated. Corrosion was obtained from 100 h of cyclic heating (from room temperature up to 600 °C) and injection of aqueous urea solution on the steel plate in a laboratory-scale test bench. The evaluation procedure covered the metallographic analysis of corroded steel samples by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Uniform corrosion underneath deposits was found as one of the drivers for degradation of the steel. Damage happened by high-temperature depassivation of stainless steel due to the excess of the aggressive medium. Besides uniform corrosion, a nitridation layer underneath surface oxides together with chromium carbonitride particles precipitated through the whole depth of the sample was identified resulting in intergranular attack.
Differential response of two acidophytic lichens to increased reactive nitrogen availability
Authors: Munzi Silvana , Graça Catarina , Martins Duarte , Máguas Cristina 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLichens are one of the most responsive components of the ecosystem to reactive forms of nitrogen. In this work, we selected the lichen genera Cladonia and Usnea, composed of terricolous and epiphytic lichens respectively, and described as sensitive to nitrogen, to test the effects of different doses of nitrogen on lichen physiological parameters (photobiont and mycobiont vitality, chitin quantification, nitrogen content and stable isotopes analysis). The main objectives were to check if the activation of protective mechanisms could be stimulated in case of chronic stress (low nitrogen increase for prolonged time), and, if so, if a toxicity threshold could be identified above which these mechanisms fail. The two lichen genera were generally affected by prolonged exposure to increased nitrogen availability. However, Cladonia rangiformis was able to maintain physiological functioning at the lowest nitrogen doses used, whereas thalli of Usnea become overwhelmed. Moreover, the mycobiont appeared to be more sensitive than the photobiont responding to lower nitrogen doses. Although only studies of longer duration and testing more nitrogen doses will be able to determine an accurate toxicity threshold, these results give important clues on the use of lichens as biomonitors for the establishment of environmental policies.