bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High‐value application of glass beads/porous carbon obtained from coal gasification fine slag as alternative for carbon black in natural rubber composite
Authors: Ai Weidong 
Published: February 2022

AbstractCoal gasification slag is a by‐product of entrained‐flow coal gasification, and the improper disposal of the slag causes environmental pollution. Coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) filtered cakes were treated in a spin flash dryer. The CGFS products with different particle sizes (coarse particles (CGFS‐C) and fine particles (CGFS‐F)), loss on ignition (unburned carbon), and silica content were obtained. Morphology analysis revealed that the CGFS‐F particles had a hybrid structure of unburned carbon embedded by glass beads and a higher structural degree of the unburned carbon. The effects of carbon black (CB), CGFS‐C, and CGFS‐F on the comprehensive properties of filled natural rubber (NR) were studied. Compared with CB, CGFS‐F had little effect on the cure characteristics of NR and delayed the scorching. The CB dispersion status and rubber processing analysis showed that the hybrid structure of the CGFS‐F can prompt the fillers to disperse well in NR. Owing to the hybrid structure and higher structural degree, the overall properties of the NR composites filled with CGFS‐F having a yield of 39.46 wt.% were better compared to those of the CB‐filled NR composite. In summary, CGFS‐F particles can replace CB (N660) used in NR products.
Improvements of portable energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence instrument: Resolution withSilicon Drift Detector, measurements stability using pyroelectric sources, and adaptation for space use
Authors: Carapelle Alain , Lejeune Gary , Morelle Mathieu , Evrard Olivier , Leroux Paul , Prinzie Jeffrey , Cao Ying , Van Bockel Bjorn , Montfort Francis , Martin Nicolas 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAn energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence instrument has been developed to be used for space exploration. In particular, the electronic readout has been redesigned to withstand the radiation environment of space and improve the energy resolution down to 121.17 eV using an Silicon Drift Detector (SDD). Besides, the instrument uses pyroelectric sources as excitation sources. We include a renormalization to reduce measurement fluctuation from 25.2% to 3.7%. A peak search algorithm has been implemented based on calibration to improve accuracy and reduce possible aging drift effects.
Examples of Evolutionary Equations
Authors: Seifert Christian , Trostorff Sascha , Waurick Marcus 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis chapter is devoted to a small tour through a variety of evolutionary equations. More precisely, we shall look into the equations of poro-elastic media, (time-)fractional elasticity, thermodynamic media with delay as well as visco-elastic media. The discussion of these examples will be similar to that of the examples in the previous chapter in the sense that we shall present the equations first, reformulate them suitably and then apply the solution theory to them. The study of visco-elastic media within the framework of partial integro-differential equations will be carried out in the exercises section.
The breakdown of magneto-hydrodynamics near AdS2 fixed point and energy diffusion bound
Authors: Jeong Hyun-Sik , Kim Keun-Young , Sun Ya-Wen 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
We investigate the breakdown of magneto-hydrodynamics at low temperature (T) with black holes whose extremal geometry is AdS2×R2. The breakdown is identified by the equilibration scales (ωeq, keq) defined as the collision point between the diffusive hydrodynamic mode and the longest-lived non-hydrodynamic mode. We show (ωeq, keq) at low T is determined by the diffusion constant D and the scaling dimension ∆(0) of an infra-red operator: ωeq = 2πT∆(0),$$ {k}_{\mathrm{eq}}^2 $$

k
eq
2

= ωeq/D, where ∆(0) = 1 in the presence of magnetic fields. For the purpose of comparison, we have analytically shown ∆(0) = 2 for the axion model independent of the translational symmetry breaking pattern (explicit or spontaneous), which is complementary to previous numerical results. Our results support the conjectured universal upper bound of the energy diffusion $$ D\le {\omega}_{\mathrm{eq}}/{k}_{\mathrm{eq}}^2:= {v}_{\mathrm{eq}}^2{\tau}_{\mathrm{eq}} $$
D
≤

ω
eq

/

k
eq
2

≔

v
eq
2

τ
eq

where veq := ωeq/keq and τeq := $$ {\omega}_{\mathrm{eq}}^{-1} $$

ω
eq

−
1

are the velocity and the timescale associated to equilibration, implying that the breakdown of hydrodynamics sets the upper bound of the diffusion constant D at low T.
Frailty in elderly patients with acute appendicitis
Authors: Reinisch Alexander , Reichert Martin , Ondo Meva Christian Charles , Padberg Winfried , Ulrich Frank , Liese Juliane 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Acute appendicitis in the elderly is becoming increasingly recognized for its often severe course. For various elective and urgent operations in older patients, frailty is a risk factor for poor outcomes. However, there is a lack of data on frailty in elderly patients with acute appendicitis.

Methods
Patients over 65 years old who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis in three hospitals between January 2015 and September 2020 were assessed with the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) and the modified Frailty Index (mFI). Outcomes of interest, including morbidity, mortality, and length of stay, were recorded.

Results
While frailty can be measured with both tests, the mFI has better applicability and takes significantly less time to implement compared to the HFRS (21.6 s vs. 80.3 s, p < 0.0001) while providing the same information value.
Patients who exhibited frailty according to either assessment had a significantly higher rate of milder (OR 5.85/2.87, p < 0.0001/0.009) and serious (OR 4.92/3.61, p < 0.011/0.029) complications, more admissions to the intensive care unit (OR 5.16/7.36, p < 0.0001), and an almost doubled length of stay (12.7 days vs. 6.6 days, p < 0.005). Up to 31% of these patients required institutional care after discharge, which is significantly more than those without frailty (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the mortality rate in frail patients was significantly elevated to 17%, compared to less than 1% in non-frail patients (p = 0.018).

Conclusion
In elderly patients, frailty is a significant risk factor for negative outcomes. Frailty can be assessed more quickly and reliably with the mFI compared to the HFRS.
Strong Edge Coloring of Cayley Graphs and Some Product Graphs
Authors: Dara Suresh , Mishra Suchismita , Narayanan Narayanan , Tuza Zsolt 
Published: February 2022

AbstractA strong edge coloring of a graph G is a proper edge coloring of G such that every color class is an induced matching. The minimum number of colors required is termed the strong chromatic index. In this paper we determine the exact value of the strong chromatic index of all unitary Cayley graphs. Our investigations reveal an underlying product structure from which the unitary Cayley graphs emerge. We then go on to give tight bounds for the strong chromatic index of the Cartesian product of two trees, including an exact formula for the product in the case of stars. Further, we give bounds for the strong chromatic index of the product of a tree with a cycle. For any tree, those bounds may differ from the actual value only by not more than a small additive constant (at most 2 for even cycles and at most 4 for odd cycles), moreover they yield the exact value when the length of the cycle is divisible by 4.
Effect of expansion of human umbilical cord blood CD34 + cells on neurotrophic and angiogenic factor expression and function
Authors: Watt Ashalyn P. , Kirkland Mark , Nekkanti Lakshmi , Pham Yen , McDonald Courtney , Malhotra Atul , Moeneclaey Guy , Miller Suzanne L. , Jenkin Graham 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe use of CD34 + cell-based therapies has largely been focused on haematological conditions. However, there is increasing evidence that umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34 + -derived cells have neuroregenerative properties. Due to low cell numbers of CD34 + cells present in UCB, expansion is required to produce sufficient cells for therapeutic purposes, especially in adults or when frequent applications are required. However, it is not known whether expansion of CD34 + cells has an impact on their function and neuroregenerative capacity. We addressed this knowledge gap in this study, via expansion of UCB-derived CD34 + cells using combinations of LDL, UM171 and SR-1 to yield large numbers of cells and then tested their functionality. CD34 + cells expanded for 14 days in media containing UM171 and SR-1 resulted in over 1000-fold expansion. The expanded cells showed an up-regulation of the neurotrophic factor genes BDNF, GDNF, NTF-3 and NTF-4, as well as the angiogenic factors VEGF and ANG. In vitro functionality testing showed that these expanded cells promoted angiogenesis and, in brain glial cells, promoted cell proliferation and reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during oxidative stress. Collectively, this study showed that our 14-day expansion protocol provided a robust expansion that could produce enough cells for therapeutic purposes. These expanded cells, when tested in in vitro, maintained functionality as demonstrated through promotion of cell proliferation, attenuation of ROS production caused by oxidative stress and promotion of angiogenesis.
Synergy in IR–Hybrid CT/C-arm in the setting of critical trauma
Authors: Knox Joseph A. , Kumar Vishal , Conrad Miles B. , Nanavati Sujal , Moore Teri , Wilson Mark 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAccess to multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scanning for interventional procedures can prove to be logistically challenging as resources are often in different areas within the hospital. At some institutions, interventional radiology suites have moved to the operating room, separate from the diagnostic radiology department. At these institutions, complex interventional procedures requiring both fluoroscopy and MDCT may pose logistical challenges, especially as they pertain to timely patient transfers. Hybrid CT/fluoroscopy suite provides rapid, reliable MDCT assessment of trauma patients before and after emergent surgery, as well as access to the entire spectrum of emergent image-guided interventions in the same suite.
Well-being and Life Satisfaction in Children Living in Contexts of Political Violence: A Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Cavazzoni Federica , Fiorini Alec , Veronese Guido 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundChildren and youth growing up in contexts characterized by political violence are at high risk of developing mental health impairments. In recent years, a growing interest has been directed to the study of children’s well-being after being exposed to political violence in order to develop interventions aimed at preserving and enhancing it.ObjectiveThis study provides a synthetic overview of studies that have explored or implemented interventions aimed at improving well-being and life satisfaction in conflict-affected children.MethodsWe identified peer-reviewed studies relating to children’s well-being in conflict-affected environments through a narrative literature review. An ecological framework was used to organize the studies in relation to the individual, family, social and community factors playing a role in promoting and preserving participants’ well-being. Implications for practices, policies and research were summarized to highlight areas in which they need strengthening.ResultsOf 1221 unique studies returned from online searches of the literature, 70 qualified for full review, with a total of 22 peer-reviewed studies included in the final synthesis. Results indicate a range of domains and dimensions that mutually interact to either enhance or diminish children’s well-being and life satisfaction. Four studies explicitly focused on assessing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at promoting and assessing children’s well-being and health.ConclusionsResearchers were able to identify several dimensions that were contributing to the children’s well-being in situations of significant adversity. The concept of well-being emerged as a combination of personal resources and supportive contexts—such as family, peers, and community—that vary over time or across contexts. Well-being and life satisfaction in children living in contexts of political violence: a narrative literature review.
Financial disincentives to formal employment and tax-benefit systems in Latin America
Authors: Jara H. Xavier , Deza Delgado María Cecilia , Oliva Nicolás , Torres Javier 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe aim of this paper is twofold. First, it provides a comprehensive assessment of the financial disincentives to enter formal employment implied by the design of the tax-benefit system in five Latin American countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Then, it analyzes the extent to which formalizing informal workers would contribute to increase fiscal capacity in the region. The results show a wide variation in financial disincentives to enter formal employment, with formalization tax rates ranging between 8.5 percent in Venezuela and 42 percent in Colombia. Formalization tax rates are particularly high for self-employed informal workers, and mainly driven by the high costs associated with social insurance contributions. The analysis further shows that potential entries to formal employment would raise tax revenue in all countries, but mainly through the effect of increased social insurance contributions, whereas personal income tax revenue would have a marginal contribution, except in Bolivia and Venezuela. Interestingly, potential formalization of informal workers with the highest probability of being formal would allow capturing a substantial share of the additional tax revenue lost due to informality.
Equivalence of Butson-type Hadamard matrices
Authors: Östergård Patric R. J. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractTwo matrices $$H_1$$

H
1

and $$H_2$$

H
2

with entries from a multiplicative group G are said to be monomially equivalent, denoted by $$H_1\cong H_2$$

H
1

≅

H
2

, if one of the matrices can be obtained from the other via a sequence of row and column permutations and, respectively, left- and right-multiplication of rows and columns with elements from G. One may further define matrices to be Hadamard equivalent if $$H_1 \cong \phi (H_2)$$

H
1

≅
ϕ

(

H
2

)

for some $$\phi \in \mathrm {Aut}(G)$$

ϕ
∈
Aut
(
G
)

. For many classes of Hadamard and related matrices, it is straightforward to show that these are closed under Hadamard equivalence. It is here shown that also the set of Butson-type Hadamard matrices is closed under Hadamard equivalence.
Cattle-Derived Unsaturated Aldehydes Repel Biting Midges and Mosquitoes
Authors: Isberg Elin , Ignell Rickard 
Published: February 2022

AbstractHost-derived repellents offer a novel way to reduce disease vector–host interactions, particularly for vectors and nuisance pests where commercial repellents are not available, e.g., Culicoides biting midges. By revising the criteria previously used to identify bioactive volatile organic compounds for Culicoides nubeculosus, we identify (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-heptenal, (E)-2-octenal, and (E)-2-nonenal to be differentially present in the headspace odour of cattle hair and to elicit antennal responses in this research model species. A blend of these unsaturated aldehydes elicited an aversive response in C. nubeculosus, as well as a repellent response in three disease vector mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles coluzzii, a response that was stronger than that to the commercially available repellents tested (DEET, IR3535, PMD, icaridin, and d-allethrin). Culicoides nubeculosus was behaviourally indifferent to these commercially available repellents tested, except d-allethrin to which it was attracted. The identification of a host-derived repellent odour blend, which reduces the interaction between biting midges extends the array of tools to be used in integrated vector management of these and other disease vectors.
Exploring the Geography of Subjective Happiness in Europe During the Years of the Economic Crisis: A Multilevel Modelling Approach
Authors: Ballas Dimitris , Thanis Ilias 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis article builds on the efforts by geographers and regional scientists aimed at adding a geographical dimension to the analysis and understanding of happiness and well-being. In particular, the article explores the changes in observed subjective wellbeing measures of residents in countries and regions that were mostly hit by the severe economic crisis and austerity measures. To that end, we present a multilevel modelling approach to the analysis of suitable secondary data derived from the European Social Survey (ESS), as well as relevant contextual regional-level data from Eurostat. The article first presents a brief overview of the state of the art in happiness and well-being research, with particular emphasis on the relatively limited but rapidly growing geographical studies, as well as studies by economists regarding the impact of austerity and inequality upon happiness and well-being. We then present key findings from a comprehensive analysis of European Social Survey data combined with austerity related data at the regional level in order to explore the geography of happiness and well-being in Europe amid times of economic gloom and severe austerity measures. The research presented in this article involves analysis of data before, during and after (or in towards the end of) the crisis and it is aimed at identifying geographical as well as individual socio-economic and demographic factors that may be affecting happiness and well-being and their possible interactions. The model outputs suggest that living in one of the ‘crisis countries’ has a negative impact on subjective happiness around the time when the short, medium and long term effects of the recession would be mostly felt, when compared to ‘Northern European’ countries (controlling for an extensive number of important covariates selected on the basis of previous work). In addition, the results suggest that the happiness levels in ‘crisis countries’ were higher than the Baltic countries in 2014 and 2016 and higher than the Central and Eastern European countries in 2016. An additional interesting finding is that at the time when the effects of the crisis would be mostly felt, populations born in the country where the ESS took place are on average (after controlling for all other covariates) less happy than those born abroad in one of the years (2014) after the breakout of the crisis.
Construction and evaluation of a mindfulness-based quality of life and well-being program (MQW) in a randomized trial
Authors: Jones Patrick , Drummond Peter 
Published: February 2022

AbstractDue to the multi-factorial nature of the self-report of happiness, an enhancement program was designed that focused on mental style (subjective processes), and relationships, work, money, health, and leisure (objective life domains). An examination of interventions revealed mindfulness training (subjective factors) and goal setting (objective factors) as effective change modalities. To address this, the Mindfulness-based Quality of Life and Well-being Program (MQW) was developed and evaluated against the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale, Quality of Life Index, Personal Wellbeing Index–Adult, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Satisfaction with Life scale, and the newly developed Clinical Quality of Life Scale (CLINQOL). To explore training protocol effects, the program was delivered in a graduated (6 weekly sessions x 2 hours) and intensive (2 consecutive days x 6 hours) format. Using a randomized trial, participants were allocated across these conditions and a control. A total of 191 participants completed the study and were assessed at pre, post and follow up time points. Increases in mindfulness, quality of life, subjective well-being, and positive and negative affect (not life satisfaction), were greater in treated (combined formats) than control participants at post-test, and for mindfulness at follow up. Other than an increase in mindfulness for the 2 day condition at follow up, changes were similar in both intervention formats. Finally, to investigate what unique difference the MQW might have in comparison to teaching just mindfulness, the full version of the program was compared to an expanded section of the mindfulness component of the program. A total of 74 subjects began the program and filled out assessments across the three time periods. There was no difference between groups or an interaction between group and time. Overall, the findings provide preliminary evidence that a multi-dimensional training approach, using mindfulness and goal setting, may be a beneficial intervention model to enhance subjective and objective components in the perception of quality of life and well-being. However, further investigation into its added benefit to mindfulness alone is required.
Varieties of Nationalism in the Age of Covid-19
Authors: Jenne Erin K. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn the lead article of this symposium, Florian Bieber predicted that the Covid-19 pandemic would have limited long-term effects on the global rise in the level of nationalism because most governments were likely to revert to their prior nationalist trajectories following the pandemic. Nonetheless, I argue that we can learn something about the role of nationalism in the management of public health crises by looking at the variable state responses to the arrival of the virus within their borders. In the modern international system, state governments are tasked with safeguarding the health and well-being of their national populations. During national emergencies, sovereigntist movements form around competing images of the nation that deserves protection. This article uses political artwork to show how different images of the idealized sovereign community were employed to justify divergent pandemic policies of US President Donald Trump and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Over the course of the pandemic, both leaders came under fire for failing to protect their constituents, providing space for alternative leaders and models of national protection.
Challenges of Pandemic-Related Border Closures for Everyday Lives of Poles and Czechs in the Divided Town of Cieszyn/Český Těšín: Integrated Functional Space or Reemergence of Animosities?
Authors: Böhm Hynek 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe article asks whether the divided town Cieszyn-Český Těšín can be considered a joint “living space” in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. It evaluates the impact of the pandemic on various aspects of the daily lives of the inhabitants and institutions of both parts of this divided town. Three main dimensions of cross-border integration were studied: cross-border flows, cross-border structures/institutions, and the feeling of togetherness, which represents an ideational dimension of cross-border integration. The research was based on studying narratives covering border closures in the divided town, the analysis of cross-borderness of existing Facebook groups acting in both parts of the divided town, and the results of an extensive questionnaire-based survey among its inhabitants. The border closures restricted cross-border flows, which hit cross-border commuters and damaged the quality of this divided town as a living place because it introduced uncertainty. However, the health crisis also showed the high level of mutual interconnections between the local inhabitants and a functional cross-border civic society. The local people and politicians tend to perceive the divided town as a joint living space. The level of cross-border integration highly exceeds the one usual in the “new EU.”