bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the electrical and physical nature of high-voltage XLPE cable dielectric using different nanoparticles
Authors: Said Abdelrahman , Abd-Allah M. A. , Nawar Amira G. , Elsayed Alaa E. , Kamel Samir 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe goal of this study is to see how different chemically modified nanoparticles affect the performance and characteristics of commercial cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) as a polymeric insulator used in insulating power cables and to compare their properties in order to figure out what factors are most important in improving the XLPE properties. Silicon dioxide or silica, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide nanoparticle are used in this study. Nanoparticles (NPs) amino silane surface modification was carried out to decrease nanoparticle aggregation and improve compatibility with the polymer matrix. The melt blending process was used to synthesize and develop XLPE nano-composites on an industrial scale with varying nanoparticle loading ratios (0.5, 2.0, 3.5, and 5.0 wt%). The morphology and size of all functionalized nanoparticles were explained. The morphology of the produced nano-composites and particle dispersion in the XLPE polymer matrix were studied using X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. All samples' thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties are evaluated. The result shows the optimum values of melting temperature for functionalized XLPE nano-composites and it is seen that the functionalized XLPE/TiO2 samples have the highest value that increased by 6.85 °C over XLPE, but the smallest tensile strength and elongation values were observed. Also, the use of silica NPs gives maximum enhancement dielectric properties.
Renewal Model for Dependent Binary Sequences
Authors: Zamparo Marco 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWe suggest to construct infinite stochastic binary sequences by associating one of the two symbols of the sequence with the renewal times of an underlying renewal process. Focusing on stationary binary sequences corresponding to delayed renewal processes, we investigate correlations and the ability of the model to implement a prescribed autocovariance structure, showing that a large variety of subexponential decay of correlations can be accounted for. In particular, robustness and efficiency of the method are tested by generating binary sequences with polynomial and stretched-exponential decay of correlations. Moreover, to justify the maximum entropy principle for model selection, an asymptotic equipartition property for typical sequences that naturally leads to the Shannon entropy of the waiting time distribution is demonstrated. To support the comparison of the theory with data, a law of large numbers and a central limit theorem are established for the time average of general observables.
A Mixed Finite Differences Scheme for Gradient Approximation
Authors: Boresta Marco , Colombo Tommaso , De Santis Alberto , Lucidi Stefano 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we focus on the linear functionals defining an approximate version of the gradient of a function. These functionals are often used when dealing with optimization problems where the computation of the gradient of the objective function is costly or the objective function values are affected by some noise. These functionals have been recently considered to estimate the gradient of the objective function by the expected value of the function variations in the space of directions. The expected value is then approximated by a sample average over a proper (random) choice of sample directions in the domain of integration. In this way, the approximation error is characterized by statistical properties of the sample average estimate, typically its variance. Therefore, while useful and attractive bounds for the error variance can be expressed in terms of the number of function evaluations, nothing can be said on the error of a single experiment that could be quite large. This work instead is aimed at deriving an approximation scheme for linear functionals approximating the gradient, whose error of approximation can be characterized by a deterministic point of view in the case of noise-free data. The previously mentioned linear functionals are no longer considered as expected values over the space of directions, but rather as the filtered derivative of the objective function by a Gaussian kernel. By using this new approach, a gradient estimation based on a suitable linear combination of central finite differences at different step sizes is proposed and deterministic bounds that do not depend on the particular sample of points considered are computed. In the noisy setting, on the other end, the variance of the estimation error of the proposed method is showed to be strictly lower than the one of the estimation error of the Central Finite Difference scheme. Numerical experiments on a set of test functions are encouraging, showing good performances compared to those of some methods commonly used in the literature, also in the noisy setting.
Nanomaterials for application in wound Healing: current state-of-the-art and future perspectives
Authors: Shalaby Manal Aly , Anwar Mohammed Moustapha , Saeed Hesham 
Published: February 2022

AbstractNanoparticles are the gateway to the new era in drug delivery of biocompatible agents. Several products have emerged from nanomaterials in quest of developing practical wound healing dressings that are nonantigenic, antishear stress, and gas-exchange permeable. Numerous studies have isolated and characterised various wound healing nanomaterials and nanoproducts. The electrospinning of natural and synthetic materials produces fine products that can be mixed with other wound healing medications and herbs. Various produced nanomaterials are highly influential in wound healing experimental models and can be used commercially as well. This article reviewed the current state-of-the-art and briefly specified the future concerns regarding the different systems of nanomaterials in wound healing (i.e., inorganic nanomaterials, organic and hybrid nanomaterials, and nanofibers). This review may be a comprehensive guidance to help health care professionals identify the proper wound healing materials to avoid the usual wound complications.
On the semantics of number morphology
Authors: Scontras Gregory 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis paper develops a semantic account of morphological number marking, specifically in the presence of numerals. In addition to accounting for number marking on basic nouns like book in English, the account handles variation in patterns of number marking along two dimensions: cross-linguistically, between languages that either necessitate or prohibit singular morphology in the presence of numerals greater than ‘one’; and within one and the same language on the various nominal elements in English. Building off the presuppositional approach to morphological number from Sauerland (Proc SALT 13:258–275, 2003), the proposed semantics accounts for both sorts of variation by assuming flexibility in the selection of the measure relevant to the one-ness presupposition of the morphological singular form.
Intensive care unit occupancy predictions in the COVID-19 pandemic based on age-structured modelling and differential flatness
Authors: Hametner Christoph , Böhler Lukas , Kozek Martin , Bartlechner Johanna , Ecker Oliver , Du Zhang Peng , Kölbl Robert , Bergmann Michael , Bachleitner-Hofmann Thomas , Jakubek Stefan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic confronts governments and their health systems with great challenges for disease management. In many countries, hospitalization and in particular ICU occupancy is the primary measure for policy makers to decide on possible non-pharmaceutical interventions. In this paper a combined methodology for the prediction of COVID-19 case numbers, case-specific hospitalization and ICU admission rates as well as hospital and ICU occupancies is proposed. To this end, we employ differential flatness to provide estimates of the states of an epidemiological compartmental model and estimates of the unknown exogenous inputs driving its nonlinear dynamics. A main advantage of this method is that it requires the reported infection cases as the only data source. As vaccination rates and case-specific ICU rates are both strongly age-dependent, specifically an age-structured compartmental model is proposed to estimate and predict the spread of the epidemic across different age groups. By utilizing these predictions, case-specific hospitalization and case-specific ICU rates are subsequently estimated using deconvolution techniques. In an analysis of various countries we demonstrate how the methodology is able to produce real-time state estimates and hospital/ICU occupancy predictions for several weeks thus providing a sound basis for policy makers.
Almost all positive continuous linear functionals can be extended
Authors: van Dobben de Bruyn Josse 
Published: February 2022

AbstractLet F be an ordered topological vector space (over $$\mathbb {R}$$
R
) whose positive cone $$F_+$$

F
+

is weakly closed, and let $$E \subseteq F$$

E
⊆
F

be a subspace. We prove that the set of positive continuous linear functionals on E that can be extended (positively and continuously) to F is weak-$$*$$

∗

dense in the topological dual wedge $$E_+'$$

E
+
′

. Furthermore, we show that this result cannot be generalized to arbitrary positive operators, even in finite-dimensional spaces.
Search intensity, search time and prices: evidence from retail diesel markets in France
Authors: Cárdenas Jeisson , Otero Jesús , Gutiérrez Luis H. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWe study the effect of price variations over time and across space on search intensity and search time by consumers in retail markets for diesel in France. The main contribution of the paper is that existing work in industrial organisation in this area has already studied the effect of such variability on the first measure of search but not on the second one. Using novel data from daily consultation measures and price information from a government-run website, we find that price dispersion across space increases search activity and the amount of time allocated to search. Furthermore, while contemporaneous price changes do not appear to influence the number of visits and time per visit to the website, several coefficients on past price changes are positive and statistically different from zero. Our results thus suggest that price dispersion and price variability play a role in inducing search by current and potential customers.
Comparison of EQ-5D-3L and 5L versions following operative fixation of closed ankle fractures
Authors: Garratt Andrew , Stavem Knut 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Purpose
To undertake the first testing and comparison of measurement properties for the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L and 5L in patients with ankle problems.

Methods
The cross-sectional postal survey of 959 patients aged ≥ 18 years, who underwent surgical treatment (ORIF) for unstable and closed ankle fractures in Eastern Norway. Both the EQ-5D-3L and 5L were included in a postal questionnaire in 2015, 3–6 years post surgery. Missing data, floor and ceiling effects, and response consistency were assessed. Tests of validity included comparisons with scores for the SF-36 and widely used ankle-specific instruments. The 5L version was assessed for test–retest reliability.

Results
There were 567 (59%) respondents; 501 completed both versions and 182 (61%) the 5L retest questionnaire. The 5L outperformed the 3L in tests of data quality and classification efficiency. Correlations with scores for other instruments largely met expectations, those for the 5L being slightly higher. All 5L scores had acceptable levels of reliability. For the 5L index, the smallest detectable differences for group and individual comparisons were 0.02 and 0.20, respectively.

Conclusion
The 5L outperformed the 3L in terms of data quality, number of health states assessed and tests of validity. The 5L is recommended in research and other applications following surgery for ankle fracture but further testing including responsiveness to change is recommended at clinically relevant follow-up periods.
Terrorist attacks and bank financial stability: evidence from MENA economies
Authors: Elnahass Marwa , Marie Mohamed , Elgammal Mohammed 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis study examines the impact of terrorism on bank stability, represented by bank risk and financial performance. We consider banks from 14 countries located in the Middle East and North Africa region for the period 2010–2018 using both the three-stage least-square and the generalised method of moments. The results provide strong evidence that banks located in countries with high exposure to terrorist attack exhibit low financial stability, due to high bank risk (i.e., high credit and insolvency risk). However, these banks show high financial performance (i.e., high profitability and cost efficiency), on average. Our results also show differential impacts on bank stability for countries marked as more (less) exposed to risk of attacks. For banks located in high-income-generating countries, we find that exposure to terrorism is associated with low financial performance and high credit risk, which is the opposite case for low-income-generating countries. Our results also indicate high systemic risk for listed banks operating under high terrorism risk exposure.
The Macquarie Laws of War Corpus (MQLWC): Design, Construction and Use
Authors: Lukin Annabelle , Araujo e Castro Rodrigo 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis paper discusses the creation and use of the new Macquarie Laws of War Corpus (MQLWC). The corpus consists of the 110 documents of international war law stored in the International Committee of the Red Cross treaties database, starting with the 1856 Declaration Respecting Maritime Law (Paris Declaration) and ending with the most recent amendment to the Rome Statute (2019). The new MQLWC is hosted at the Sydney Corpus Lab (sydneycorpuslab.com), via its CQWeb interface, which allows for searching of frequencies, concordance lines, and collocations. The corpus can also be downloaded for offline processing in other popular concordance programs, such as #Lancsbox and AntConc. This paper introduces the corpus, describes the process of assembling the data, and explains its limitations. The paper then demonstrates some of the ways the data can be explored using the concept of 'military necessity'. The MQLWC contributes to the growing use of corpus linguistics in legal studies, and will be of particular relevance to scholars in the field of international war law.
The Interplay of Alcohol and Wellbeing in the Workplace: Combining Soft Systems Methodology and Foucauldian Approach
Authors: Osei-Nimo Samuel , Millman Cindy , Aboagye-Nimo Emmanuel 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis paper focuses on the topic of alcohol and wellbeing in contemporary work organisations. It explores the relationship between stakeholders’ viewpoints regarding alcohol in the workplace and how they have shaped organisational practices regarding wellbeing. The work of Michel Foucault is used to explore these issues. The notions of power, knowledge and discipline are identified as key Foucauldian themes that offer an alternative understanding of how discourses on alcohol are shaped in the United Kingdom workplace. The paper combines certain stages of Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology and Foucault’s Poststructuralist approach in addressing the topic. Foucault’s method of analysis, particularly archaeology and genealogy, is used to explore how and why certain discourses surrounding alcohol in the workplace become dominant over time. Qualitative cases with semi-structured interviews in knowledge-intensive firms were adopted to capture contrasting, varied experiences and perceptions of these organisational actors and shed light on alcohol and wellbeing and its relationships with the power dimension.
Are ABM explanations in the social sciences inevitably individualist?
Authors: Kincaid Harold , Zahle Julie 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAgent-based models (ABMs) are increasingly important in social science research. They have two obvious apparent virtues: they can model complex macrosociological phenomena without strong assumptions about agents and without analytic solutions for models, and they seem to instantiate the methodological individualist program in a concrete way. We argue that the latter claim is false. After providing schematic accounts of ABM models and a first introduction to ways in which to characterize individualist explanations, we work through six conceptions of individualist explanations that are decreasingly "less individualist" and argue that ABM-based explanations in the social sciences are not inevitably individualist in any of these senses. ABMs allow for explanatory relations among social entities and properties in the model environment and they are silent on what basic agents are, allowing social entities and properties to play basic explanatory roles.
Purinoceptor: a novel target for hypertension
Authors: Li Xuan , Zhu Li-juan , Lv Jing , Cao Xin 
Published: February 2022

AbstractHypertension is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally among all cardiovascular diseases. Purinergic signalling plays a crucial role in hypertension through the sympathetic nerve system, neurons in the brain stem, carotid body, endothelium, immune system, renin-angiotensin system, sodium excretion, epithelial sodium channel activity (ENaC), and renal autoregulation. Under hypertension, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is released as a cotransmitter from the sympathetic nerve. It mediates vascular tone mainly through P2X1R activation on smooth muscle cells and activation of P2X4R and P2YR on endothelial cells and also via interaction with other purinoceptors, showing dual effects. P2Y1R is linked to neurogenic hypertension. P2X7R and P2Y11R are potential targets for immune-related hypertension. P2X3R located on the carotid body is the most promising novel therapeutic target for hypertension. A1R, A2AR, A2BR, and P2X7R are all related to renal autoregulation, which contribute to both renal damage and hypertension. The main focus is on the evidence addressing the involvement of purinoceptors in hypertension and therapeutic interventions.
The effects of two different 8-week stretching protocols on postural stability in amateur sportsmen
Authors: Todde F. , Carcangiu A. , Pusceddu N. , Di Giacomo A. , Tocco F. 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term effects of a static versus proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching protocols by means of spinometry and baropodometry. We hypothesized that PNF may be more effective than static stretching in supporting the static and dynamic balance.

Methods
Thirty-six sport science students were divided into three groups: the first group attended a warm-up protocol on the treadmill only (warm-up group) while the other two carried out the same warm-up protocol followed by a static stretching (static group) or by a Contract Relax Antagonist Contract stretching (CRAC group). Stretching programs were performed three times per week on lower limb muscles and the postural stability of each participant was evaluated at entry (pre) and after 8 weeks of training (post).

Results
The ellipse area after a warm-up-only protocol did not change; after the static stretching protocol, it was significantly increased (from 111.3 ± 35.8 to 135.0 ± 32.3, p < 0.05), while after the CRAC protocol, it significantly decreased (from 119.1 ± 23.0 to 88.2 ± 19.8, p < 0.01). CRAC group had a significant reduction in average forces (− 3.9% from pre to post, p < 0.05) and in load response (− 0.6% from pre to post, p < 0.05). Pelvic inclination was reduced from 2.22 to 1.33 mm (p < 0.01) and pelvic torsion decreased by 0.94 ± 0.22° (p < 0.05) after the CRAC protocol.

Conclusions
Eight-week CRAC protocol was an excellent training for static and dynamic balance improvement and it was more effective than static stretching.
Sustainable application of novel herbs on cotton fabrics as biomordants and colourants
Authors: Thakker Alka Madhukar , Sun Danmei 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe textile industry is ambitiously parading towards circularity and curtailing its dependency on fossil fuels hence the instigated research that adheres to Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) and benefits the environment and human health alike. The current research experimented with innovative sources of plant-based biomaterials namely dandelion leaves, bilberry leaves, nettle leaves, and violet herb for application on cotton fabric as biomordants and colourants. The AAS analysis of mild 6% herbal solution revealed ferrous content of 6.78 mg/l in violet herb and 5.03 mg/l of the copper content in dandelion leaves applicable on cotton fabrics as biomordants thereby preventing the depletion of copper and ferrous elements mineral ores. A fair lightfastness rating and good to very good wash and rub fastness test results were obtained individually. The maximum K/S value of 13.95 was gained on cotton fabrics treated with a mild herbal infusion of bilberry leaves and coloured with violet herbs. The ATR-FTIR peak analysis noted strong = C-H bend of alkenes, strong C = O stretch of α and β unsaturated esters, and strong C-O stretch of carboxylic acids functional groups in raw herbs and its treated cotton fabrics. The dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), and potential of Hydrogen (pH) values were found in the acceptable range for all the spent solutions left after colouration of cotton fabrics with violet herbs hence sustainable. The data set obtained was statistically validated with ANOVA one-way test. Life cycle analysis and clinical investigation on potential therapeutic benefits of herbal fabrics to the wearer are suggested for future research and development.
Anthropogenically impacted lake catchments in Denmark reveal low microplastic pollution
Authors: Kallenbach Emilie M. F. , Friberg Nikolai , Lusher Amy , Jacobsen Dean , Hurley Rachel R. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractMicroplastics have been detected in lake environments globally, including in remote regions. Agricultural and populated areas are known to congregate several inputs and release pathways for microplastic. This study investigated microplastic (50–5000 µm) contamination in five Danish freshwater lakes with catchments dominated by arable land use. The concentrations in sediments (n = 3/site) and the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (n = 30/site), were calculated and compared with catchment characteristics and environmental parameters. Microplastic concentrations in sediment were relatively low (average 0.028 ± 0.017 items/g dry weight sediment) whilst only a single microplastic was found in the mussels (average 0.067 ± 0.249 items/10 individual). Hence, no relationship between the number of observed microplastics in sediment and mussels could be identified, nor could a relationship between concentration in sediment and environmental parameters. As all lakes studied received their water from moderate to heavily anthropogenically impacted catchments, it was expected that they would be sinks for microplastic with high bioavailability. Based on the results of the present study, D. polymorpha were found to not be contaminated by microplastics in the five study lakes. Thus, our results suggest that these mussels do not interact with microplastics at low concentrations. We speculate that the results on sediment and biota could be explained by several factors related to regional differences in plastic use, species characteristics, sampling size, and the fact that finding no microplastic is not always reported in the scientific literature. Thus, the paper provides insight into the dynamics between the catchment, lake, and biota in systems with low microplastic concentration.