bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental Evaluation of a Polymer Foam Agent on the Foam Stability, Concern to Surfactant, Nanoparticle, and Salinity
Authors: Parvaneh Ronak , Riahi Siavash , Lotfollahi Mohammad Nader 
Published: February 2022

Summary
In recent years, rising oil demand has led to a strong need to improve enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques. One of the most common methods for EOR in the oil industry is gas injection. When gas is injected into the reservoir, because of the low density of the gas relative to the oil and the undesirable gas mobility ratio, problems such as gas uptakes and the injected gas flow channeling arise, thus reducing the efficiency of oil production. Foam can improve mobility and increase EOR by reducing gas permeability. One of the most important properties of the foam is stability which affects the EOR. In recent years, many studies have been conducted on the use of nanoparticles (NPs) and polymers as stabilizers, but the use of stabilizers that have the ability to produce foam has been less studied.
The main objective of this work is an experimental study of foam stability by the dynamic method of CO2 gas injection and static method of “Ross-Miles” in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and nanosilica in combination with a foaming polymer such as hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a polymer that has the ability to produce foam relative to the stabilizer of NP on the foam stability. The zeta potential and the structure of the foam bubbles were measured to better understand the parameters affecting the foam stability.
Experimental outcomes of this work show that the HEC polymer, despite being a foaming agent, has less effect on the foam stability than the nanosilica. That is, under similar conditions, SDS-NP based foams are more stable than SDS-HEC based foams. In addition, the composition of the SDS-NP-HEC foam system shows weaker foam performance compared to the case of SDS-NP and SDS-HEC dispersions. Also, salinity has an optimal concentration in which foam concentration has the best performance and stability; in this study, the optimal NaCl salt concentration is 2 wt% NaCl.
Adaptive stochastic gradient descent for large-scale learning problems
Authors: Yang Zhuang , Ma Li 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
As an effective strategy to enhance stochastic optimization, determining an appropriate step size sequence when performing these algorithms has been warmly encouraged in solving large-scale learning problems. This paper equips stochastic optimization algorithms with an adaptive step size strategy by using the diagonal Barzilai-Borwein (DBB) step size. Specifically, this work proposes a novel stochastic variance reduced algorithm by incorporating DBB into the variance-reduced algorithm, termed mS2GD-DBB. mS2GD-DBB uses a diagonal matrix to approximate the curvature information and accesses to a better curvature information than the conventional BarzilaiBorwein (BB) technique, where the latter works with the scalar approximation of the curvature information. We prove that the proposed algorithm attains a linear convergence rate for strongly convex cases. Moreover, we show that the complexity of the proposed algorithm matches the best known complexity of stochastic optimization algorithms. Numerical experiments suggest that the proposed algorithm shows much promise.
Energy-saving Optimal Scheduling of Laminar Cooling Water Supply Pumping Stations in Hot Rolling Mills Considering Complex Intermittent Working Conditions
Authors: Wang Fenjia , Song Yong , Liu Chao , He Anrui , Zhao Wei 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Given the energy wastage problem of the laminar cooling system of hot rolling, the dynamic optimization scheduling problem of the system under complex intermittent working conditions was investigated to improve the effective utilization of resources. First, combined with production schedules and rolling rhythm times, an On-line Sequential Extreme Learning Machine (OS-ELM) based laminar cooling water consumption prediction model was developed for predicting water demand trends to maintain system supply-demand balance at pump stations. Then, the scheduling instruction optimization model, which considers the system intermittent production conditions and the feedback optimization mechanism, was proposed to reduce the system cooling water overflow and smooth the high cistern level fluctuations. And an adaptive operation scheme optimization model of pumping station based on scheduling instructions was proposed to minimize the total shaft power of pumping station. Finally, the strategies were solved using an improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA). Experimental simulations demonstrate the effectiveness and supremacy of the proposed method for industrial energy saving in complex intermittent conditions.
Rupture pressure values of cerebral arteries in the presence of unruptured intracranial aneurysm
Authors: Lombarski Leszek , Kunert Przemysław , Tarka Sylwia , Piechna Adam , Kujawski Sławomir , Marchel Andrzej 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Cerebral arteries (CAs) are prone to the saccular aneurysm formation. Since aneurysms may be considered as balloon-like dilations of the locally weakened arterial wall, it should be determined whether the presence of intracranial aneurysm is related to the generalized weakening of CAs. Among 184 consecutive forensic autop-sies, eight brains with a single unruptured saccular aneurysm were identified. Aneurysms with adjacent CAs and specific CA segments were excised, namely: the anterior communicating artery, basilar artery, internal carotid arteries, and middle cerebral arteries. Then, aneurysm and CA specimens were subjected to pressure-inflation tests until rupture occurred at the arterial bifurcation or at the wall of the CA or aneurysm. The same protocol was applied to the control group composed of CAs excised from eight brains without aneurysm. No significant differences were noted between the experimental and control groups, depending on the mean rup-ture pressure (1054 vs. 1048 mmHg) and rupture site (bifurcation vs. wall) of the analyzed specimens. These findings indicate that the presence of unruptured saccular aneurysm is not related to generalized weakening of CAs among autopsy subjects. Moreover, the CA bifurcations do not represent regions of decreased wall strength.
Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: An Appraisal for Sultanate of Oman Using the Ease of Doing Business Index
Authors: Bhandari Vibha , Mohite Vikram 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Today, promoting and nurturing entrepreneurship is a core component of economic development in countries around the world. Fostering entrepreneurship as an economic development strategy necessitates a suitable ecosystem which can be termed as “entrepreneurship ecosystem.” Isenberg’s (2011) model of an entrepreneurship ecosystem contains six domains, namely a conducive culture, enabling policies and leadership, availability of appropriate finance, quality human capital, venture-friendly markets for products, and a range of institutional and infrastructural supports. All of these six domains are composed of fifty specific components. The policies enacted by governments deal with institutions, financial support, regulatory framework incentives, research institutes and venture friendly legislation. This study in its current form shall assess the regulatory and institutional framework aspect of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Sultanate of Oman. This assessment shall be done from 2012 to 2019 using the Ease of Doing Business Index as published by the World Bank. This exercise will help to know the change in ease of doing business in Oman for the years under consideration and thus assess the changes in regulatory and institutional framework aspect of entrepreneurship ecosystem in the country.
Comparative Advantage Development Strategy and Cross-Country Labour Productivity Growth: An Approach of New Structural Economics
Authors: SIE Kouakou Jean Fidele 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
The stagnation of labour productivity growth over the last decades, as well as the changing role of conventional variables, has revived policy makers’ and scholars’ interest in exploring other potential sources of growth. Hence, this study uses a recent data of 102 countries from 1990 – 2017 and the New Structural Economics Hypothesis, to investigate the impact of comparative advantage development strategy on labour productivity growth. The results, based on the two-step Generalized Methods of Moments, show that defying comparative advantage development strategy has a detrimental effect on labour productivity growth. However, further analysis of the existence of a non-linearity impact indicates some heterogeneity across countries. High and upper middle-income countries benefit from defying their comparative advantage till a certain point where the gains turn negative, while the negative effect between the defiance of comparative advantage and labour productivity persisted for lower middle- and low-income countries. Also, the results provide evidence of positive impact of institutional quality and trade openness on labour productivity growth.
Fluorine contamination of soils at a phosphate-gypsum waste landfill in South Korea: analytical protocols, regulation levels, and legal framework
Authors: Oh Seok-Young , Seo Yong-Deuk 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
To evaluate the fluorine contamination level of soils at a phosphate-gypsum waste landfill site, the fluorine distributions in the waste and soil, forms of fluorine-containing compounds in the soil and waste, and mobility and leachability of fluorine in the natural environment were investigated. The fluorine content was chemically analyzed with the Korean standard method and sequential extraction procedure. The chemical forms of fluorine were determined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The total fluorine concentrations in the phosphate-gypsum wastes ranged from 1787 to 4496 mg/kg. The soil below the landfill showed a total fluorine concentration of 332.7–776.0 mg/kg, which was approximately 3 to 4 times higher than that of the background soil (190.0–260.0 mg/kg). However, the fluorine concentrations of the soils were lower than the regulation level of the Soil Environment Conservation Act in South Korea (800 mg/kg). Moreover, the sequential fluorine extraction results showed that most of the fluorine content in the wastes and soils existed in the form of residues; thus, the extraction of fluorine in the natural environment may not be of significance. The XRD and XPS results revealed that most fluorine compounds in the phosphate-gypsum waste landfill existed as CaF2 and other forms (gypsum (CaSO4⋅2H2O), apatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH, F, Cl)2), sulfur fluorides, and kogarkoite (Na3SO4F)), which have limited solubility in water. According to the sequential extraction results, the soil below 0.1 m depth from the boundary between the phosphate wastes and soil contains up to approximately 60% residue; this indicates that the excavation of waste and soil down to 0.1 m depth from the boundary may be crucial for decreasing the mobility of fluorine in the natural environment. Furthermore, the origins of fluorine and regulation levels in the legal framework were discussed.
Synaptic Inputs to Displaced Intrinsically-Photosensitive Ganglion Cells in Macaque Retina
Authors: Bordt Andrea , Patterson Sara S. , Kuchenbecker James A. , Mazzaferri Marcus A. , Yearick Joel N. , Yang Emma R. , Ogilvie Judith Mosinger , Neitz Jay , Marshak David W. 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Ganglion cells are the projection neurons of the retina. Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) express the photopigment melanopsin and also receive input from rods and cones via bipolar cells and amacrine cells. In primates, multiple types of ipRGCs have been identified. The ipRGCs with somas in the ganglion cell layer have been studied extensively, but less is known about those with somas in the inner nuclear layer, the “displaced” cells. To investigate their synaptic inputs, three sets of horizontal, ultrathin sections through central macaque retina were collected using serial blockface scanning electron microscopy. One displaced ganglion cell with a smaller soma and lipofuscin granules was classified as a displaced M1 cell. It received nearly all of its excitatory inputs from ON bipolar cells and would have ON responses to light. In all three volumes, there were cells in the inner nuclear layer that had extremely large somas, varicose axons and dendrites with a large diameter that formed a sparse arbor in the outermost stratum of the inner plexiform layer. They were identified as the gigantic displaced M1 type of ipRGCs based on this morphology and on the high density of granules in their somas. They received extensive input from amacrine cells. The vast majority of their excitatory inputs were from OFF bipolar cells, and they would have OFF responses to light stimuli under some conditions, like the novel type of ipRGCs described recently in humans. They may account for the paradoxical pupillary responses seen in some patients with congenital stationary night blindness.
Mapping the karstification potential of central Cebu, Philippines using GIS
Authors: Lumongsod Regina Martha , Ramos Noelynna , Dimalanta Carla 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Karstification is influenced by numerous factors, such as climate, geomorphology, and anthropogenic processes. Karstified areas are usually faced with numerous karst-related problems such as sinkhole formation, ground subsidence, and groundwater vulnerability. We evaluated the karstification potential of central Cebu, Philippines using Raster Overlay Analysis (ROA) in a geographic information system (GIS) platform. Raster Overlay uses multiple thematic maps which represent the different factors affecting karstification. Thematic factors include precipitation, temperature, vegetation density, elevation, slope, drainage density, lineament density, and geology. These factors were then correlated with the generated karstification potential map using the Cell Statistics tool. ROA reveals that more than 65% of central Cebu has low to moderate karstification potential. Areas with moderate to very high karstification potential coincide with locations of nine known caves. Cell Statistics reveal that the karstification potential map is strongly correlated with precipitation and is least correlated with drainage density. Information on the karstification of an area underlain by highly soluble bedrock is beneficial to effective land use planning and reduction of hazards related to karst degradation and collapse.
Transcriptome Annotation Reveals Minimal Immunogenetic Diversity Among Wyoming Toads, Anaxyrus Baxteri
Authors: Carlson Kara B , Wcisel Dustin J , Ackerman Hayley D , Romanet Jessica , Christiansen Emily F , Niemuth Jennifer N , Williams Christina , Breen Matthew , Stoskopf Michael K , Dornburg Alex , Yoder Jeffrey A 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Briefly considered extinct in the wild, the future of the wild population of the Wyoming toad (Anaxyrus baxteri) continues to rely on captive breeding to supplement the wild population. Given its small natural geographic range and history of rapid population decline at least partly due to fungal disease, investigation of the diversity of key receptor families involved in the host immune response represents an important conservation need. Population decline may have reduced immunogenetic diversity sufficiently to increase the vulnerability of the species to infectious diseases. Here we use comparative transcriptomics to examine the diversity of toll-like receptors and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) sequences across three individual Wyoming toads. We find reduced diversity at MHC genes compared to bufonid species with a similar history of bottleneck events. Our data provide a foundation for future studies that seek to evaluate the genetic diversity of Wyoming toads, identify biomarkers for infectious disease outcomes, and guide breeding strategies to increase genomic variability and wild release successes.
Dynamic Analysis of the Variable Stiffness Support Rotor System With Elastic Rings
Authors: Sun Kai , Luo Zhong , Li Lei , Liu Jiaxi , Wu Fayong 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Elastic rings are common rotor supporting structure, which have been widely used in aeroengine rotor-support system. However, large inertia force and gyroscopic moment may occur during the operation of aeroengine, which may lead to contact between elastic ring and bearing pedestal, and then introduce variable stiffness into the rotor-support system. In this paper, a mathematical model of variable stiffness of elastic ring is proposed and this model is subsequently verified by comparison with simulation analysis and experimental results. Based on this model, a variable stiffness model of an elastic ring-supported rotor is developed by coupling the kinetic equations of the rotor with the deformation of the combined support. Then, the spectrum cascades are used to analyze the dynamic characteristics of the rotor system. In addition, the influences of the variable stiffness of elastic ring on the critical speed of the system are also examined. Finally, some simulation results are verified by experiments on a combined test bench of an elastic ring-supported rotor.
Hypertension in obese children is associated with vitamin D deficiency and serotonin dysregulation
Authors: Krivošíková Katarína , Krivošíková Zora , Wsolová Ladislava , Seeman Tomáš , Podracká Ľudmila 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: Obesity and hypertension represent serious health issues affecting the pediatric population with increasing prevalence. Hypovitaminosis D has been suggested to be associated with arterial hypertension. Serotonin by modulating nitric oxide synthase affect blood pressure regulation. The biological mechanism by which vitamin D specifically regulates serotonin synthesis was recently described. The aim of this paper is to determine the associations between vitamin D, serotonin, and blood pressure in obese children.Methods: One hundred and seventy-one children were enrolled in the prospective cross-sectional study. Two groups of children divided according to body mass index status to obese (BMI ≥95th percentile; n=120) and non-obese (n=51) were set. All children underwent office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and biochemical analysis of vitamin D and serotonin. Data on fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA, uric acid, and complete lipid profile were obtained in obese children.Results: Hypertension was found only in the group of obese children. Compared to the control group, obese children had lower vitamin D and serotonin, especially in winter. The vitamin D seasonality and BMI-SDS were shown as the most significant predictors of systolic blood pressure changes, while diastolic blood pressure was predicted mostly by insulin and serotonin. The presence of hypertension and high-normal blood pressure in obese children was most significantly affected by vitamin D deficiency and increased BMI-SDS.Conclusions: Dysregulation of vitamin D and serotonin can pose a risk of the onset and development of hypertension in obese children; therefore, their optimization together with reducing body weight may improve the long-term cardiovascular health of these children.
Italian validation of the Emotional Style Questionnaire (ESQ): An indicator of emotional health
Authors: Malandrone Francesca , Catalano Alberto , Carfì Federica , Gentili Claudio , Bianchi Silvia , Oliva Francesco , Ricceri Fulvio , Ostacoli Luca , Kesebir Pelin , Davidson Richard , Carletto Sara 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Emotional Style (ES) refers is the unique way of experiencing emotions while going through life. The Emotional Style Questionnaire (ESQ) is a 24-item self-report measure that evaluate how people vary across the six dimensions of ES, providing an overall score of healthy emotionality. The present study aimed to validate the Italian version of ESQ. In Study 1, 208 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Linguistic and cultural adaptation was carried out and the adaptation’s psychometric properties were investigated. In Study 2 linguistic changes were made to the ESQ items, modifying also the questionnaires used for assessing convergent and divergent validity to better investigate the constructs underlying each dimension. 197 healthy volunteers stratified by age group were enrolled. The final Italian version of the ESQ is therefore composed of 24 items allowing the identification of five subscales and six constructs due to the overlap between Outlook and Resilience. The questionnaire was found to be a valid and reliable measure, with satisfactory psychometric properties. Moreover, as with the original version, the Italian version too can be considered a measure of overall emotional well-being. Future studies should investigate the properties of the ESQ in clinical samples and its correlations with neurobiological characteristics.
Risky Sexual Behavior and Associated Factors Among Sexually-experienced Adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand: Findings From a School Web-based Survey
Authors: Thepthien Bang-On , Celyn Celyn 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: The risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI) arises when there is unsafe sexual activity. Unsafe sex often begins in the teenage years, and it will persist as long as there is the opportunity for risky sexual activity. The purpose of this study was to assess the sexual risk behaviors and related factors of sexually-active adolescents in educational institutions. Methods: This was cross-sectional survey using an Internet-based application in schools in Bangkok from November 2020 to February 2021 with a total of 6,167 high school and vocational students. In the study, 14.1% of all participants had had sexual intercourse before the survey. By gender, 42.1% of the sexually-active students were males, and 57.9% were females. Indicators of risky sex include: (1) Not using a condom, (2) Having more than one sex partner; (3) Having sex in exchange for cash or in-kind compensation; and (4) Having sex without consent.Results: Of a total of 872 sexually-active participants, 590 (67.7%) had sex risk behavior. The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following statistically-significant factors related to risky sex: Alcohol use (AOR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.03–2.78); vaping (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.01–2.53); cannabis use (AOR = 3.71; 95% CI: 1.51–9.09); gambling (AOR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.23–2.44); unintended pregnancy (AOR = 2.80; 95% CI: 1.21–3.57); non-use of contraception (AOR = 3.25; 95% CI: 2.26–4.68); history of childhood sex abuse (AOR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.05–2.68).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, in designing and implementing sexual risk prevention programs for adolescents in educational settings, there is a need to highlight the role of substance abuse in relation to sexual risk behaviors. Programs should target both male and female students. Teenagers who use marijuana are more likely to be sexually active than those who have never used marijuana. These potential risks should be taken into account with respect to legalization of marijuana and recreational use of this drug.