bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Body composition and obstructive sleep apnoea assessment in adult patients with Prader–Willi syndrome: a case control study
Authors: Pugliese G. , Barrea L. , Sanduzzi Zamparelli A. , de Alteriis G. , Laudisio D. , Muscogiuri G. , Canora A. , Bocchino M. , Colao A. , Savastano S. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Introduction
In Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) adult patients, sleep-breathing disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), are very common, whose missed or delayed diagnosis can contribute to further increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Purpose
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate differences in sleep-breathing parameters obtained by overnight cardiorespiratory polygraphy in 13 adult PWS patients and 13 individuals with non-syndromic obesity as controls matched by age, sex, and BMI.

Methods
In all subjects’ anthropometric parameters, body composition using bioimpedance analysis and overnight cardiorespiratory monitoring parameters were obtained.

Results
Ten (76.9%) PWS patients were diagnosed with OSAS, most notably nine (69.2%) and one PWS (7.7%) with mild and severe OSAS, respectively. Compared with the control group, PWS patients had evidence of higher apnoea–hypopnea index (AHI) (p = 0.04) and oxyhaemoglobin desaturation index (ODI) (p = 0.009). However, no differences were found between the two groups regarding OSAS categories or diagnosis of nocturnal respiratory failure. In the PWS group, there were no significant correlations among AHI, ODI and hypoxemia index (T90) and anthropometric measurements, fat mass (FM), and FM percentage (%). Conversely, in the control group, the sleep-related respiratory indices evaluated correlated positively with BMI, waist circumference, FM and FM%.

Conclusions
This study confirmed that AHI and ODI indices were worse in PWS than in age, sex and BMI-matched controls. The lack of their significant association with the anthropometric parameters and FM supported the existence of PWS-related mechanisms in OSAS pathophysiology that are independent of visceral obesity and FM.
Powering data buoys using wave energy: a review of possibilities
Authors: McLeod Iain , Ringwood John V. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractData buoys are a widespread method of not only monitoring environmental parameters, but have a range of other applications: from surveillance to providing power for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The majority of data buoys currently in use are either solely powered by batteries, or they employ an array of solar panels to sporadically top up the battery power when environmental conditions are suitable. Less usual for data buoys is the use of wind power—though some successful hybrids of the two, such as the AXYS Technologies WindSentinel, also exist. As wave power technology matures, advancements in this currently underdeveloped technology could allow data buoys the option of using wave energy converters (WECs) as an alternative renewable power source. Data buoys could provide a small-scale application of WECs where many of the issues with harvesting such a stochastic and irregular energy source would be highlighted. The lessons learned in developing wave-powered data buoys could potentially be applied to larger, more costly wave energy applications such as wave farms or megawatt-level generators. This review considers data buoy projects currently in development—particularly those that look to incorporate a wave energy harvesting mechanism as either their primary or secondary power source, and their prospects, both as end-use applications in their own right, and as low-cost platforms to prove emerging wave energy technology for larger-scale use.
Person identification from arm’s hair patterns using CT-twofold Siamese network in forensic psychiatric hospitals
Authors: Salins Rohan Don , Ashwin T. S. , Prabhu G. Ananth , Basthikodi Mustafa , Mallikarjun Chaitra K. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIdentifying criminals in serious crimes from digital images is a challenging forensic task as their faces will be covered in most cases. In addition, the only available information will be hand. A single robust technique to identify the criminals from arm’s hair patterns can be a potential cost-effective and unobtrusive solution in various other areas such as in criminal psychiatric hospitals during rehabilitation to identify and track patients instead of using barcoding, radio frequency identification (RFID), and biometrics. The existing state-of-the-art methods for person identification uses convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM)-based architectures which require the entire data to be trained once again when new data comes. To address these issues, we proposed a novel Siamese network-based architecture which not only reduces this training paradigm but also performs better than several existing methods. Since there were no standard datasets for person identification from arm’s hair patterns, we created a database with several voluntary participants by collecting their hands’ images. Several data augmentation techniques are also used to make the database more robust. The experimental results show that the proposed architecture performs better for the created database with mAP, mINP, and R1 of 94.8, 90.0, and 93.5, respectively. The proposed CTTSN performs well for the closed world person re-identification problem using soft biometric features in real time (52 frames per second).
Impacts of Urban Rail Transit on City Growth: Evidence from China
Authors: Tao Zhibin , Feng Xuesong , Li Kemeng , Shi Ruolin 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThis research examines the effects of urban rail transit (URT) on city growth measured by the increases in population, gross domestic product (GDP) and employment rate. Forty cities which have URT systems by the end of 2019 in China are taken as investigated samples. Research data related to URT extent, population, GDP, employment rate and five types of control variables which are individual, people's living, economic, science and education, and infrastructure are utilized and their applicability is verified. Panel data models are applied to analyze the effect of URT on city growth, and the robustness of the model estimation results is assessed. The study further analyzes the heterogeneity in the effects of URT systems on cities with different economic development levels. The estimated results indicate that the opening and expansion of URT have a positive effect on the population of the city. URT promotes the development of the urban economy and increases employment opportunities. Nevertheless, because of population migration, URT has little effect on the employment rate. In addition, the positive effect of URT on urban growth is most obvious for cities with a relatively high level of economic development.
Ethical concerns with replacing human relations with humanoid robots: an ubuntu perspective
Authors: Friedman Cindy 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThis paper considers ethical concerns with regard to replacing human relations with humanoid robots. Many have written about the impact that certain types of relations with robots may have on us, and why we should be concerned about robots replacing human relations. There has, however, been no consideration of this issue from an African philosophical perspective. Ubuntu philosophy provides a novel perspective on how relations with robots may impact our own moral character and moral development. This paper first discusses what humanoid robots are, why and how humans tend to anthropomorphise them, and what the literature says about robots crowding out human relations. It then explains the ideal of becoming “fully human”, which pertains to being particularly moral in character. In ubuntu philosophy, we are not only biologically human, but must strive to become better, more moral versions of ourselves, to become fully human. We can become fully human by having other regarding traits or characteristics within the context of interdependent, or humane, relationships (such as by exhibiting human equality, reciprocity, or solidarity). This concept of becoming fully human is important in ubuntu philosophy. Having explained that idea, the main argument of the paper is then put forward: that treating humanoid robots as if they are human is morally concerning if they crowd out human relations, because such relations prevent us from becoming fully human. This is because we cannot experience human equality, solidarity, and reciprocity with robots, which can be seen to characterise interdependent, or humane, relations with human beings.
After the posts: thinking with theory in environmental education research
Authors: Gough Annette , Gough Noel 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn this essay, we argue that postqualitative inquiry is not a useful descriptor for environmental education research and that it is time to consider what comes after the posts. We argue that thinking with theory as a process methodology in the onto-epistemological framings of our research is more generative and opens up opportunities for this research being interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary/cross-disciplinary, intersectional, ecofeminist/more-than-humanist, indigenous, participatory, experimental and transgressive.
Impact of fluoroquinolone cascade reporting of urine samples on antibiotic prescribing rates in a network of urgent care clinics
Authors: Weichman Brittani M. , Bushman Amanda M. , Rogers Kathie L. , Rosa Rossana 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Cascade reporting is an antimicrobial stewardship strategy that has been successfully implemented in inpatient settings, but evidence of its impact on outpatient settings is scarce. We report on the impact on fluroquinolone prescribing at a network of urgent care clinics following the implementation of cascade reporting of Enterobacterales in urine cultures.
Gender diversity and productivity in manufacturing firms: evidence from six Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries
Authors: Abbey Emmanuel , Adu-Danso Emmanuel 
Published: June 2022

AbstractWe revisit predictions about the relationship between gender diversity and firm productivity using data on 1,082 manufacturing firms from six Sub-Saharan African countries: Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Kenya. Recent evidence suggests that a gender-diverse workforce opens up a firm to a vast range of talent, knowledge and perspectives critical to enhancing innovation and problem solving, and thereby, increasing firm productivity. Given the importance of manufacturing for employment and structural transformation in Africa, we test the gender diversity–productivity proposition by exploring structural differences (heterogeneity) across manufacturing firms using the Industry without Smokestacks (IWOSS) classification. We find that while gender diversity promotes firm productivity at lower levels, this effect is displaced with further increases. Our results did not show that IWOSS firms do any better in promoting the diversity–productivity link. Implications of this finding and areas for future studies are also discussed.
Biocultural conflicts: understanding complex interconnections between a traditional ceremony and threatened carnivores in north Kenya
Authors: Torrents-Ticó Miquel , Fernández-Llamazares Álvaro , Burgas Daniel , Nasak Job Guol , Cabeza Mar 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBiological and cultural diversity are inextricably linked and rapidly eroding worldwide. As a response, many conservation efforts foster synergies between cultural and biological diversity agendas through biocultural approaches. However, such approaches do not always address biocultural conflicts, where certain cultural practices can lead to biodiversity loss and, in turn, threaten the continuance of such practices. In this study, we examined a biocultural conflict in the Dimi ceremony, the most important rite of passage of the Daasanach agro-pastoralists of north Kenya, in which skins from threatened carnivore species are used extensively as traditional ornaments. We quantified the current use of skins in Dimi as well as changes in the cultural ceremony that exacerbate its impacts on wildlife. We collected field-based data on the context of the use of skins through structured interviews, focus-group discussions, participant observation and counts of skins in two Dimi ceremonies. We counted a total of 121 skins of four carnivore species being used in a single ceremony. We also found that Dimi has become environmentally unsustainable, threatening distant cheetah Acinonyx jubatus and leopard Panthera pardus populations and local species with spotted skins (African civet Civettictis civetta, common genet Genetta genetta and serval Leptailurus serval). The young Daasanach are deeply concerned about the lack of availability of skins in their area, as well as the prohibitive prices, and they are calling for alternatives to the use of skins in Dimi. Overall, our study shows that acknowledging biocultural conflicts and opening space for dialogue with local communities are essential for the maintenance of both biological and cultural diversity.
Hiding in plain sight: three chemically distinctα-helix types
Authors: Zhang Shuguang , Egli Martin 
Published: June 2022

AbstractLinus Pauling in 1950 published a three-dimensional model for a universal protein secondary structure motif which he initially called the alpha-spiral. Jack Dunitz, then a postdoc in Pauling's lab suggested to Pauling that the term helix is more accurate than spiral when describing the right-handed peptide and protein coiled structures. Pauling agreed, hence the rise of the alpha-helix, and, by extension, the ‘double helix’ structure of DNA. Although structural biologists and protein chemists are familiar with varying polar and apolar characters of amino acids in alpha-helices, to non-experts the three chemically distinct alpha-helix types classified here may hide in plain sight.
Production of a functionally active recombinant SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) 3C-like protease and a soluble inactive 3C-like protease-RBD chimeric in a prokaryotic expression system
Authors: De Marco Verissimo Carolina , López Corrales Jesús , Dorey Amber L. , Cwiklinski Krystyna , Lalor Richard , Calvani Nichola Eliza Davies , Jewhurst Heather L. , Flaus Andrew , Doyle Sean , Dalton John P. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
During the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) intracellular life-cycle, two large polyproteins, pp1a and pp1ab, are produced. Processing of these by viral cysteine proteases, the papain-like protease (PLpro) and the chymotrypsin-like 3C-like protease (3CL-pro) release non-structural proteins necessary for the establishment of the viral replication and transcription complex (RTC), crucial for viral replication. Hence, these proteases are considered prime targets against which anti-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) drugs could be developed. Here, we describe the expression of a highly soluble and functionally active recombinant 3CL-pro using Escherichia coli BL21 cells. We show that the enzyme functions in a dimeric form and exhibits an unexpected inhibitory profile because its activity is potently blocked by serine rather than cysteine protease inhibitors. In addition, we assessed the ability of our 3CL-pro to function as a carrier for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the Spike protein. The co-expressed chimeric protein, 3CLpro-RBD, did not exhibit 3CL-pro activity, but its enhanced solubility made purification easier and improved RBD antigenicity when tested against serum from vaccinated individuals in ELISAs. Chimeric proteins containing the 3CL-pro could represent an innovative approach to developing new COVID-19 vaccines.
Accidental Occupational Exposure to a Large Volume of Liquid Fentanyl on a Compromised Skin Barrier with No Resultant Effect
Authors: Feldman Ryan , Weston Benjamin W. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe high prevalence of fentanyl in the illicit drug supply has generated concern among first responders regarding occupational exposure. Social media sharing of unconfirmed first responder overdoses after brief exposure to fentanyl may be contributing to an inappropriate risk perception of brief dermal fentanyl exposure. This case details a dermal exposure to a large dose of analytically confirmed pharmaceutical fentanyl (fentanyl citrate, 10 microgram fentanyl base per ml), over a large skin surface area. Additionally, the exposure occurred at a site with some skin barrier compromise, a factor that can increase fentanyl absorption. The patient underwent appropriate decontamination and underwent a brief medical assessment with no clinical effects of opioid exposure observed. This information is of value to first responders and other health care workers who are at risk of occupational fentanyl exposure. Findings are consistent with in vitro and ex vivo data supporting low risk of rapid absorption after brief dermal fentanyl exposure.
Quantification of Ion-Implanted Single-Atom Dopants in Monolayer MoS2 via HAADF STEM Using the TEMUL Toolkit
Authors: Hennessy Michael , O'Connell Eoghan N , Auge Manuel , Moynihan Eoin , Hofsäss Hans , Bangert Ursel 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
In recent years, atomic resolution imaging of two-dimensional (2D) materials using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) has become routine. Individual dopant atoms in 2D materials can be located and identified using their contrast in annular dark-field (ADF) STEM. However, in order to understand the effect of these dopant atoms on the host material, there is now the need to locate and quantify them on a larger scale. In this work, we analyze STEM images of MoS2 monolayers that have been ion-implanted with chromium at ultra-low energies. We use functions from the open-source TEMUL Toolkit to create and refine an atomic model of an experimental image based on the positions and intensities of the atomic columns in the image. We then use the refined model to determine the likely composition of each atomic site. Surface contamination stemming from the sample preparation of 2D materials can prevent accurate quantitative identification of individual atoms. We disregard atomic sites from regions of the image with hydrocarbon surface contamination to demonstrate that images acquired using contaminated samples can give significant atom statistics from their clean regions, and can be used to calculate the retention rate of the implanted ions within the host lattice. We find that some of the implanted chromium ions have been successfully integrated into the MoS2 lattice, with 4.1% of molybdenum atoms in the transition metal sublattice replaced with chromium.
AN ANALYTICAL APPROXIMATION FOR CONVERTIBLE BONDS
Authors: GOARD JOANNA 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThis paper looks at adapting the method of Medvedev and Scaillet for pricing short-term American options to evaluate short-term convertible bonds. However unlike their method, we provide explicit formulae for the coefficients of our series solution. This means that we do not need to solve complicated recursive systems, and can efficiently provide fast solutions. We also compare the method with numerical solutions, and find that it performs extremely well, giving accurate bond prices as well as accurate optimal conversion prices.
Self-Judging Security Exception Clause as a Kind of Carte Blanche in Investment Treaties: Nature, Effect and Proper Standard of Review
Authors: BAHMAEI Mohammad-Ali , SABZEVARI Habib 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn investment treaties, the self-judging security exception clause allows states to restrict the exercise of investors’ rights and protections provided for by such treaties during security emergencies. During the last decade, such a clause has been included in numerous investment treaties to support state positionsvis-à-visforeign investors. States consider that this provision gives them a very broad discretion to limit or derogate from obligations which arise under the treaty. In this article, after having identified the self-judging character of this clause, it will be demonstrated that such a clause does not affect the jurisdiction of the tribunal but requires the tribunal to apply the principle of good faith as the proper standard of review to interpret the elements of the clause, preventing states’ abuse of such a clause.
Observational Constraint on the Contribution of Surface Albedo Feedback to the Amplified Tibetan Plateau Surface Warming
Authors: Chen Yan , Ji Duoying , Moore John C. , Hu Jiangling , He Yanyi 
Published: June 2022

AbstractSurface albedo feedback (SAF) is one of the main causes of amplified warming over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Several recent studies have used the latest reanalysis datasets to evaluate the SAF induced warming, but without fully considering the fidelity of the surface albedo change and surface downward solar radiation in the reanalysis datasets, which directly affect the amplitude of SAF induced warming. This study finds that the state‐of‐the‐art reanalysis datasets (ERA‐Interim, ERA5, MERRA, MERRA‐2, JRA‐55 and CRA) and climate models that participated in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) exhibit varying biases compared with observations in both surface albedo change and surface downward solar radiation over the TP. The state‐of‐the‐art reanalysis datasets present no obvious advantages over the lower resolution but less constrained CMIP6 multi‐model ensemble in representing SAF related processes over the TP. The surface albedo change drives most of the spread in SAF induced warming. The reanalysis datasets and CMIP6 climate models reveal a significant linear relationship between surface albedo change and its contribution to surface temperature change over the TP. Using the observation constrained linear relationship and satellite surface albedo products, the spread of warming contribution due to SAF in reanalysis datasets and climate models is greatly reduced, the estimated TP warming due to SAF is in the range of 0.26–0.50 K in winter and 0.27–0.77 K in spring over recent decades.
Complex Interplay Between Organic and Secondary Inorganic Aerosols With Ambient Relative Humidity Implicates the Aerosol Liquid Water Content Over India During Wintertime
Authors: Gopinath Amar Krishna , Raj Subha S. , Kommula Snehitha M. , Jose Christi , Panda Upasana , Bishambu Yukti , Ojha Narendra , Ravikrishna R. , Liu Pengfei , Gunthe Sachin S. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAerosol Liquid Water Content (ALWC), a ubiquitous component of atmospheric aerosols, modulates atmospheric chemistry through aerosol surface reactions and reduces the atmospheric visibility. However, the complex dependency of ALWC on aerosol chemistry and relative humidity (RH) in the Indian region remains poorly characterized. Here, we combine available measurements of aerosol chemical composition with thermodynamic model, ISORROPIA2.1, to reveal a comprehensive picture of ALWC in fine mode aerosols during the winter season over the Indian continental region. The factors modulating ALWC are primarily dependent on the RH, such that the effect of aerosol dry mass and hygroscopicity are significant at high RH while the effect of hygroscopicity significantly reduces with decreasing RH. ALWC is observed to display a sharp non‐linear rise, beyond a critical value of ambient RH dependent on the particle hygroscopicity. Further analysis by coupling Weather Research Forecasting‐Chem simulation with ISORROPIA2.1 revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in ALWC over India, strongly associating with regions of high aerosol mass loading and RH. The Indo‐Gangetic Plain is consequently observed to be a hotspot of higher ALWC, which explains the prevalent conditions of haze and smog during winter in this region. Our findings re‐emphasize that high aerosol mass resulting from intense pollution is vital in modulating aerosol–climate interaction under favorable meteorological conditions. Observations suggest the need for localized pollution control strategies, directed at the reduction in aerosol emissions of specific chemical composition observed to contribute to the enhancement in PM through an increase in ALWC during wintertime in the region.