bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Focus-pixel estimation and optimization for multi-focus image fusion
Authors: He Kangjian , Gong Jian , Xu Dan 
Published: January 2022

AbstractTo integrate the effective information and improve the quality of multi-source images, many spatial or transform domain-based image fusion methods have been proposed in the field of information fusion. The key purpose of multi-focus image fusion is to integrate the focused pixels and remove redundant information of each source image. Theoretically, if the focused pixels and complementary information of different images are detected completely, the fusion image with best quality can be obtained. For this goal, we propose a focus-pixel estimation and optimization based multi-focus image fusion framework in this paper. Because the focused pixels of an image are in the same depth of field (DOF), we propose a multi-scale focus-measure algorithm for the focused pixels matting to integrate the focused region firstly. Then, the boundaries of focused and defocused regions are obtained accurately by the proposed optimizing strategy. And the boundaries are also fused to reduce the influence of insufficient boundary precision. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms some previous typical methods in both objective evaluations and visual perception.
Understanding Physician Work and Well-being Through Social Network Modeling Using Electronic Health Record Data: a Cohort Study
Authors: Escribe Célia , Eisenstat Stephanie A. , Palamara Kerri , O’Donnell Walter J. , Wasfy Jason H. , Del Carmen Marcela G. , Lehrhoff Sara R. , Bravard Marjory A. , Levi Retsef 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background
Understanding association between factors related to clinical work environment and well-being can inform strategies to improve physicians’ work experience.

Objective
To model and quantify what drivers of work composition, team structure, and dynamics are associated with well-being.

Design
Utilizing social network modeling, this cohort study of physicians in an academic health center examined inbasket messaging data from 2018 to 2019 to identify work composition, team structure, and dynamics features. Indicators from a survey in 2019 were used as dependent variables to identify factors predictive of well-being.

Participants
EHR data available for 188 physicians and their care teams from 18 primary care practices; survey data available for 163/188 physicians.

Main Measures
Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of logistic regression models to predict well-being dependent variables was assessed out-of-sample.

Key Results
The mean AUC of the model for the dependent variables of emotional exhaustion, vigor, and professional fulfillment was, respectively, 0.665 (SD 0.085), 0.700 (SD 0.082), and 0.669 (SD 0.082). Predictors associated with decreased well-being included physician centrality within support team (OR 3.90, 95% CI 1.28–11.97, P=0.01) and share of messages related to scheduling (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03–1.17, P=0.003). Predictors associated with increased well-being included higher number of medical assistants within close support team (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83–0.99, P=0.05), nurse-centered message writing practices (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83–0.95, P=0.001), and share of messages related to ambiguous diagnosis (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87–0.98, P=0.01).

Conclusions
Through integration of EHR data with social network modeling, the analysis highlights new characteristics of care team structure and dynamics that are associated with physician well-being. This quantitative methodology can be utilized to assess in a refined data-driven way the impact of organizational changes to improve well-being through optimizing team dynamics and work composition.
Performance of non-invasive respiratory function indices in predicting clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia in medical and sub-intensive wards: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cattazzo Filippo , Inglese Francesco , Dalbeni Andrea , Piano Salvatore , Pengo Martino Francesco , Montagnana Martina , Dell’Atti Davide , Soliani Francesco , Cascella Andrea , Vicini Stefano , Gambino Carmine , Minuz Pietro , Vettor Roberto , Parati Gianfranco , Angeli Paolo , Fava Cristiano ,   COVID Internal Medicine Team
Published: January 2022

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly recognized infectious disease which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring ventilatory support and intensive care unit admission. The aim of our study is to evaluate the performance of two non-invasive respiratory function indices (the ROX index and the SatO2/FiO2 ratio), as compared to the traditional PaO2/FiO2 ratio, in predicting a clinically relevant composite outcome (death or intubation) in hospitalized patients for COVID-19 pneumonia. Four hospital centers in Northern Italy conducted an observational retrospective cohort study during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Four hundred and fifty-six patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to medical or sub-intensive wards were enrolled. Clinical, laboratory, and respiratory parameters, for the calculation of different indices, were measured at hospital admission. In medical wards (Verona and Padua) the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, ROX index and SatO2/FiO2 ratio were able to predict intubation or death with good accuracy (AUROC for the PaO2/FiO2 ratio, ROX index and SatO2/FiO2 ratio of 75%, 75% and 74%, respectively). Regarding sub-intensive wards (Milan and Mantua), none of the three respiratory function indices was significantly associated with the composite outcome. In patients admitted to medical wards for COVID-19 pneumonia, the ROX index and the SatO2/FiO2 ratio demonstrated not only good performance in predicting intubation or death, but their accuracy was comparable to that of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio. In this setting, where repeated arterial blood gas tests are not always feasible, they could be considered a reliable alternative to the invasive PaO2/FiO2 ratio.
Women rate the competence of their occupational role higher than men do: Evidence from two different samples
Authors: Zakrisson Ingrid 
Published: January 2022

AbstractGender stereotypes play a potent role in how the work of men and women is perceived and valued. Stereotypes also influence the way people look upon themselves. In the present research, two studies are reported where men and women at work rated the degree of warmth and competence of a person with their own occupation, and how they think people in general would perceive a person in the same occupation. A wider gap between own perceptions and that of people in general was expected for women than for men, as it was assumed that the view of other people’s perceptions would serve as a proxy for stereotype threat for women. Study 1 comprised 449 participants (74 % women) working within the public sector, mainly in social, caring, and education professions, and Study 2 comprised a convenience sample of 189 participants (70 % women) from a variety of sectors and professions. Both studies yielded consistent results; contradictory to what was expected, men and women did not differ in terms of how they thought people in general would perceive the competence of their occupation, instead women rated the competence of their own occupation higher than men did, even after controlling for type of occupation and educational level. Warmth displayed only minor gender differences. The results are discussed in relation to research on counter-reactions against stereotype threat, how the concept of competence could be understood, as well as other possible explanations of the unexpected results.
Difference in Foliar Fatty Acid Composition in Potato Cultivars over a Growing Season May Influence the Host Location Preference of Leptinotarsa Decemlineata
Authors: Clements Justin , Bradford Benjamin Z. , Lipke Megan , Jansky Shelley , Olson Jake , Groves Russell L. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe production of commercial potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) for different market classes is of vital agricultural importance in the United States. For the production of chips, fresh-market or processing potatoes, potato producers rely upon different potato cultivars to meet market and consumer demands. Many cultivars possess distinctive traits which make them more or less susceptible to disease and insect pressure. One important and understudied trait that may confer host location preference and population performance include leaf fatty acid composition(s). It is known that leaf fatty acid composition can influence growth, taste, and even insect defense mechanisms. In the current investigation we examined the fatty acid composition of leaf tissue obtained from 8 commercial potato cultivars representing different market classes grown in a controlled field study. We examined colonization preference of Leptinotarsa decemlineata among the 8 different potato cultivars over a 45 day period representing the first full generation in Wisconsin. Results of these experiments suggest, i) that fatty acid compositions in leaf tissue vary between potato cultivars and among sample dates throughout the experiment, ii) that Leptinotarsa decemlineata may preferentially colonize particular potato cultivars, and iii) that there was a significant correlation between omega-3 fatty acid composition in leaf tissue and Leptinotarsa decemlineata cultivar preference.
A palace under the olive trees. Investigating the spatial organization of the Mycenaean palatial center at Ayios Vasileios (Laconia, Greece) through large-scale magnetic gradiometry
Authors: de Neef Wieke , Voutsaki Sofia , Ullrich Burkart , Freibothe Ronald 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe results of a large-scale magnetometry survey are used to investigate two key aspects of the spatial organization of the Mycenaean palatial settlement at Ayios Vasileios (Laconia, Greece): the extent of the site and the existence, or possibly even zoning of distinct functional areas. These include the palatial core, funerary zones, industrial areas, and infrastructure. The unique situation at Ayios Vasileios, which remained relatively undisturbed after its abandonment, provides the possibility to explore the potential, limitations, and challenges of spatial research based on geophysical data of a prehistoric urban context. We do so by engaging different sources of information: geophysical contrasts mapped by our own and previous surveys, information from the excavations of the palatial core and the adjacent North Cemetery, preliminary observations on surface materials, and wider scholarship on Mycenaean palatial settlement. This dialogue between the disciplines enables us to problematize the interpretation of non-invasive geophysical prospection data and to check our implicit assumptions. Taking into account the different resolutions of these interdisciplinary sources, we formulate hypotheses about the layout and organization of the site which we hope to substantiate in the future by comparing against the surface data and the progress of the excavation.
Legal Technology: Assessment of the Legal Tech Industry’s Potential
Authors: Mania Karolina 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the sector of legal services has resulted in the emergence of a new category of services known as legal technology (legal tech). This article aims at defining the current state of research concerning the matter, confirming its interdisciplinary nature and examining the level of its popularity. The strategy assumed for the article has influenced the order and sequence of the topics covered starting from an introduction to legal technology together with analysis of the context of the definition of the term (legal tech) (“Introduction” section), through a detailed discussion of the methodology of systematic literature review, its results and an appraisal of the popularity of the notions (“Materials and Methods” and “Bibliometric Analysis” sections), the application of the thematic analysis method (“Thematic Analysis of the Reference Repository” section), Google Trends analysis (“Analysis of the Popularity of the Terms ‘Legal Technology’ or ‘Legal Tech’ (Google Trends)” section), and finally the conclusions (“Conclusions” section). The research methodology covers a systematic literature review, quantitative bibliometric analysis, the thematic analysis method, and — complementarily — popularity analysis performed using the Google Trends analytical tool. The article confirms the multidisciplinary nature of legal technology as a subject matter, indicating the thematic categories corresponding with the notion under investigation. It contains a description of the geographical segmentation and difference in that regard at a global level. The author has verified the presence of publications on legal technology and shown that the future of the legal services sector lies in an interdisciplinary juxtaposition of the classic legal sciences with entirely new areas, i.e. IT, artificial intelligence, and data analysis.
The Humean pragmatic turn and the case for revisionary best systems accounts
Authors: Friend Toby 
Published: January 2022

AbstractLewis’s original Best Systems Account of laws was not motivated much by pragmatics. But recent commentary on his general approach to laws has taken a ‘pragmatic turn’. This was initiated by Hall’s defence against the charge of ‘ratbag idealism’ which maintained that best systems accounts should be admired rather than criticised for the inherent pragmatism behind their choice of desiderata for what counts as ‘best’. Emboldened by Hall’s pragmatic turn, recent commentators have proposed the addition of pragmatically motivated desiderata to complement or replace the canonical desiderata of strength and simplicity. This, they hope, will allow their revisionary BSAs to respond better to various counterexamples against the original account. While the pragmatic turn itself is well taken, here I problematise these revisionary approaches. First, there are reasonable responses to the counterexamples from within the canonical BSA. Second, while actual laws may satisfy the newly proposed desiderata, there are reasons to think these desiderata cannot be constitutive of laws. By comparison, the canonical desiderata appear to be relevant to explaining why and when the revisionary desiderata will reflect pragmatic features of the laws and better reflect the motives behind practitioners of fundamental physics.
The impact of climate change on rainwater harvesting in households in Poland
Authors: Gwoździej-Mazur Joanna , Jadwiszczak Piotr , Kaźmierczak Bartosz , Kózka Karina , Struk-Sokołowska Joanna , Wartalska Katarzyna , Wdowikowski Marcin 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn water management, climate changes require adaptation, protection of existing resources and the search for alternative water sources. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is increasingly becoming an alternative water source, applicable for many directions of its use. The aim of the research was to analyse the influence of long-term climate change on the potential for rainwater harvesting in households in Central Europe in Poland. The analysis of long-term climate changes impact on the household rainwater harvesting potential was conducted for the 50-year period for 19 cities in Poland. The water balance model was operated in a day-step mode, and the research was carried out in four “time scales approach”. For the purpose of all analyses, a standard weekly water demand profile was developed. It includes the daily sub-profiles for every working day and weekend, covering the washing and toilet flushing needs for a 4-person household. In order to evaluate the long-term changes in residential harvesting in Poland, a hypothetical residential RWH was investigated in 19 locations and rainfall conditions. To illustrate the time-spatial variation of annual rainfall amounts in the analyzed period, the heat map was prepared as the pre-simulation stage. Results show that the design of RWH systems should be based on archival data and take into account the many years of rainfall changes. This will improve performance and secure benefits for the users of this system.
Geophysical investigation of groundwater potential and aquifer protective capability in selected communities within Cape Coast municipality, Ghana
Authors: Agyemang Victor Ofori 
Published: January 2022

AbstractApplication of VES geophysical technique to investigate the groundwater potential and the aquifer protective capability has been carried at Cape Coast Municipality, Ghana. The geology of Cape Coast is mainly made of the Secondian formation and the Eburnean Plutonic Suite. Twenty (20) VES points were selected after the profiling, and Schlumberger array was applied for the conduction of the VES. The PASI Resistivity Terrameter was used, and the maximum current electrode spacing (AB/2) was 100 m. Partial curve matching technique and computer iteration technique were applied in the interpretation data using WINRESIST software. The thematic maps of the parameters were generated to display their spatial variations using Surfer Golden software by the application of appropriate variograms depending on their range of values. The study revealed the presence of three to six layers curve types which include HKH (45%), QH (20%), HA (10%), KH (5%), QHKH (5%), A (5%), AKH (5%) and KHKH (5%) in the study area. The layers include topsoil (31.00–9135.00 Ω m), weathered layer (2.35–60,801.00 Ω m), fractured basement (4.39–32,431.00 Ω m), and fresh basement (59.40–22,521.00 Ω m). About 70% of the resistivities are less than 600 Ω m indicating the possibility of a fractured formation with high potential groundwater storage. The other 30% recorded high bedrock resistivities values of possible massive crystalline granitic rock with a limited fracture. Reflection coefficient and longitudinal conductance were calculated using appropriate equations and parameters. The values of the reflection coefficient ranged from 0.215606 to 0.997049. The study revealed that 20% of the total VES points have high groundwater potential, 65% showed medium potential, 5% showed low potential, while 10% showed very low potential. The study revealed poor (20%), moderate (35%), good (30%), and very good (15%) protective capacity ratings in the area. The technique has been effective in revealing the groundwater potential and the aquifer protective capability of the area. The aquiferous zone of the Secondian formation falls within the range of 17–43 m of depth with a borehole yield of 210–240 l/m. The successful borehole in the granitic rocks shows a low yield of 10 l/m with a water-saturated zone within 20–48 m of depth.
Adsorptive behaviour of rutile phased titania nanoparticles supported on acid-modified kaolinite clay for the removal of selected heavy metal ions from mining wastewater
Authors: Ajala Mary Adejoke , Abdulkareem Ambali Saka , Tijani Jimoh Oladejo , Kovo Abdulsalami Sanni 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThis study investigated the removal of metal ions pollutants in mining wastewater such as Mn (II), Fe (III), Pb (II) and Cu (II) ions by acid-activated kaolinite clay (AAC) and titanium (IV) oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles supported on the AAC (TiO2–AAC). TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesised using titanium salt precursor with leaves extract of Parkia biglobossa and impregnated on the AAC to develop TiO2-AAC as a nanoadsorbent. The AAC and TiO2–AAC nanocomposites were characterized using different analytical techniques. Actual concentrations of selected heavy metals in mining wastewater was determined prior and after treatment using the prepared adsorbents in batch adsorptive studies with atomic absorption spectrophometer. The characterisation studies confirmed that a rutile phase TiO2 was doped the on acid-activated kaolinite clay. Morphology analysis shows that the developed adsorbents were homogeneously dispersed and porous. The results of the surface area further revealed that the AAC, TiO2 and TiO2–AAC has 14.15, 10.23 and 32.98 m2/g, respectively. The percentage removal of heavy metals followed the order of TiO2–AAC > AAC due to the higher surface area and enhanced surface functionality of the former than the latter. The adsorption capacity increased from 86.13 to 91.99% (Fe (III)), 83.12 to 89.37% (Mn (II)), 68.48 to 81.95% (Cu (II)) and 29.49 to 32.39% (Pb (II)) from AAC to TiO2–AAC. The kinetic and isotherm models were best fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir model. Whilst the thermodynamic investigation found that, the adsorption process was endothermic, spontaneous and chemisorption controlled. Conclusively, the TiO2–AAC nanocomposite exhibited better performance than AAC alone.
Quantitative assessment of pharmaceutical drugs in a municipal wastewater and overview of associated risks
Authors: Shipingana Loide Ndelimona Ndapandula , Shivaraju Harikaranahalli Puttaiah , Yashas Shivamurthy Ravindra 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPharmaceuticals compounds are the emerging contaminants known for their refractory and environmental persistence, which pose threat to flora and fauna. In the present study, the occurrence and possible contamination sources of four drugs, namely paracetamol, diclofenac, salbutamol and ceftriaxone in wastewater of Mysuru, India, were investigated. The said pharma compounds were analyzed in the effluent of select health care establishments and municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWWTP). The results revealed that diclofenac was omnipresent in all the samples with the peak concentration of 4.2 µg/mL, whereas salbutamol and ceftriaxone were in the range of 0.7–18.7 µg/mL and 1.25–29.15 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, paracetamol was detected only at the inlet of MWWTP with a concentration of 4.6 µg/mL. Surprisingly, the presence of relative amounts of these drugs in the treated water released from MWWTP was observed. Further, the ‘risk quotient method’ for ecological risk assessment was adopted to assess the magnitude of risk toward aquatic species. Next, the study employed the concept of citizen science to gather information on disposal and management methods of unused and expired medications at household and health care centers. This survey revealed that hospital discharges and community disposal of unused medicines contributed to incidence of pharmaceutical compounds in the local environment. Finally, a precise perspective and future challenge for the safe management of drugs are presented.
Taguchi Analysis for Improving Optimization of Integrated Forward/Reverse Logistics
Authors: Behmanesh Elham , Pannek Jürgen 
Published: January 2022

AbstractThe distribution–allocation problem is known as one of the most comprehensive strategic decisions. In real-world cases, it is impossible to solve a distribution–allocation problem completely in acceptable time. This forces the researchers to develop efficient heuristic techniques for the large-term operation of the whole supply chain. These techniques provide near optimal solution and are comparably fast particularly for large-scale test problems. This paper presents an integrated supply chain model which is flexible in the delivery path. As solution methodology, we apply a memetic algorithm with a novelty in population presentation. To identify the optimum operating condition of the proposed memetic algorithm, Taguchi method is adopted. In this study, four factors, namely population size, crossover rate, local search iteration and number of iteration, are considered. Determining the best level of the considered parameters is the outlook of this research.