bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternal demographic and socioeconomic correlates of child mortality in Papua New Guinea: Evidence from the integrated Health and Demographic Surveillance System
Authors: Emori Rebecca Bogarobu , Pham Bang Nguyen , Ha Tam , Parrish Anne-Maree , Okely Anthony David
Published: December 2023

Background Papua New Guinea (PNG) continues to struggle with high child U5MRs, with data from the PNG Census reporting 63.9 deaths per 1000 live births. Addressing high child U5MRs remains a health priority for PNG in line with the UN SDG3. This study aimed to examine the socio-demographic correlates associated with U5MR in PNG.
Methods The 2015 Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 years) and Household Socio-Economic Status datasets from the PNG Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) integrated Health Demographic Surveillance System (iHDSS) were used to examine associations between surveillance site, maternal age, marital status and household wealth quintile and U5MR. The main outcome measure was under-5 mortality (death from between 0-59 months) determined by using data from women of reproductive age who had experienced under-five mortality in the lifetime. Sociodemographic factors were assessed using participant interviews. Chi-square and logistic regressions were used to test the strength of associations between factors and U5MR.
Results A total of 5,899 women were included in the study. Factorssignificantly associated with U5MR were maternal age group and marital status. Children born to mothers aged 15-19 [OR: 10.91 (95% CI: 3.70-32.15)] and children born to mothers aged 20-24 [OR: 3.11 (95% CI: 1.65 -5.85)] had higher likelihood of experiencing U5MR compared to children who were born to mothers aged 40-49. Children born to single mothers [OR: 1.91 (95% CI: 1.19-3.05) were more likely to experience U5MR compared to children born to married mothers. Compared with the Hiri surveillance site, U5MR was lower in Asaro [OR: 0.54 (95% CI: 0.32-0.90)] and Hides [OR: 0.25 (95% CI: 0.11-0.59)] surveillance sites. No associations were found between the U5MR and household wealth quintile.
Conclusions This study highlights the importance of re-evaluating existing maternal and child health intervention programs. Comprehensive approaches are needed to address associated maternal and household socio-economic factors to improve U5MR in PNG.
The dynamic risk spillover effects among carbon, renewable energy, and electricity markets based on the TVP-VAR-DY model
Authors: Luo Yimin , Hong Shuifeng , Guang Fengtao
Published: December 2023

The linkages among carbon, renewable energy, and electricity markets are gradually strengthening. This paper uses the TVP-VAR-DY (Time Varying Parameter-Vector Auto Regression- Dynamic) model to analyze the dynamic risk spillover effects and network structure of risk transmission among carbon, renewable energy, and electricity markets. The empirical results show that there are significant asymmetric spillover effects among carbon, renewable energy, and electricity markets. The total spillover index shows that spillover effects among carbon, renewable energy, and electricity markets are time-varying, especially during unexpected events. Besides, the net spillover index indicates that the spillover effects are bidirectional, asymmetric, and time-varying. Finally, under the influence of unexpected events, the network structures of risk transmission among carbon, renewable energy, and electricity markets are heterogeneous. Compared to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic has a more significant impact on these markets.
A Review of Mental Health Burden and Social Determinants of Mental Health Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Perestrelo Elsa Denise , Jumaa Jinan Abi , Sanyang Saikou
Published: December 2023

Background: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are an important sub-population in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where youth account for more than two-thirds of the region’s population. In comparison to their male counterparts, AGYW are at a higher risk of mental health burden. This review aims to review the peer-reviewed evidence on the mental health burden and social determinants of mental health amongst AGYW aged 10- 24 years in the sub-Saharan African context.
Methods: Electronic databases including CINAHL, PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies focusing on mental health in adolescent girls and young women in the identified context that have been published between 2015 and 2023 in English.
Results and Discussion: A total of 39 studies were reviewed. The findings from the review show that the literature on mental health in AGYW identifies several biological, demographic, social, economic, neighbourhood and environmental factors affecting the burden of the issue. Within the context of environmental factors such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic, social determinants of mental health that are unique to or disproportionately affect AGYW such as pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and violence present concerning associations to negative mental health outcomes in different rural and urban settings.
Conclusions: The findings of the review shed light on the multifaceted nature of mental health issues and stresses the importance of a targeted approach in addressing mental health in adolescent girls and young women in the region. Recommendations include increased attention towards scaling up mental health research capacity and policy implementation and a focus on community-based interventions addressing factors unique to the target population in resource-poor settings.
Healthcare migration in Italian paediatric haematology-oncology centres belonging to AIEOP.
Authors: Rondelli Roberto , Belotti Tamara , Masetti Riccardo , Locatelli Franco , Massimino Maura , Biffi Alessandra , Dufour Carlo , Fagioli Franca , Menna Giuseppe , Biondi Andrea , Favre Claudio , Zecca Marco , Santoro Nicola , Russo Giovanna , Perrotta Silverio , Pession Andrea , Prete Arcangelo
Published: December 2023

Background
In Italy, there is a network of centres headed by the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) for the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric cancers on almost the entire national territory.
Nevertheless, migration of patients in a hospital located in a region different from that of residence is a widespread habit, sometimes motivated by several reasons.
The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of migration of children with cancer to AIEOP centres in order to verify their optimal distribution throughout the national territory.
Methods
To this purpose, we used information on 41,205 registered cancer cases in the database of Mod.1.01 Registry from AIEOP centres, with age of less than 20 years old at diagnosis, diagnosed from 1988 to 2017.
Patients’ characteristics were analysed and compared using the X2 or Fisher’s exact test or Mann-Whitney test, when appropriate.
Survival distributions were estimated using the method of Kaplan and Meier, and the log-rank test was used to examine differences among subgroups.
Results
Extra-regional migration involved overall 19.5% of cases, ranging from 23.3% (1988-1997) to 16.4% (2008-2017) (p<0.001).
In leukaemias and lymphomas we observed a mean migration of 8.8% overall, lower in the North (1.2%) and Centre (7.8%) compared to the South & Isles (32.3%).
In the case of solid tumours, overall migration was 25.7%, with 4.2% in the North, 17.2% in the Centre and 59.6% in the South & Isles.
For regions with overall levels of migration higher than the national average, most migration cases opted for AIEOP centres of close or even neighbouring regions.
Overall survival at 10 years from diagnosis results 69.9% in migrants vs 78.3% in no migrants (p<0.001).
Conclusions
There is still a certain amount of domestic migration, the causes of which can be easily identified: migration motivated by a search for high specialization, migration due to lack of local facilities, or regions in which no AIEOP centres are present, which makes migration obligatory.
Better coordination between AIEOP centres could help to reduce so-called avoidable migration, but technical and political choices will have to be considered, with the active participation of sector technicians.
Exploration of Parents’ Practices That Are Protective and Those Which Increase Vulnerability to Child Sexual Abuse in Kisarawe, Tanzania
Authors: Rugakila Julieth , Nyamhanga Tumaini , Luoga Pankras , Kapinga Oliva
Published: December 2023

Background: Parents are vital to the successful protection of child sexual abuse (CSA). A better understanding of parent’s practice is essential for developing and implementing effective parent-involved protection programs. However, there was a shortage of empirical research revealing parent’s practices that are protective and those which increase vulnerability to child sexual abuse in Tanzania. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore what parents in Kisarawe did or did not do with respect to protection of their children against sexual abuses.
Aim of the study: The study aimed to explore parents’ practices that are protective and that which increase children vulnerability to sexual abuses in Kisarawe, Pwani region, Tanzania.
Methodology: The study used qualitative exploratory design, data were collected through In-depth interviews with a sample of 20 parents from Kisarawe, who were selected purposively. The data from the interviews were about parents’ practices that are protective against CSA and that which increases children vulnerability to sexual abuses in Kisarawe. The collected data were analyzed using thematic approach and findings presented in terms of themes and subthemes.
Results: The findings showed that CSA is mostly done to female children and perpetrators are often males of different age groups. Parents’ practices regarding making proper sleeping arrangements, sufficient provision of basic needs to children, regular monitoring of children and communication were reported to be protective practices against CSA however improper sleeping arrangements, inadequate monitoring of children and the use modern devices/TV, insufficient provision of basic needs and lack of parental education to parents increased the vulnerability to CSA.
Conclusion: The study provided a comprehensive description of parents’ practices regarding protecting or increasing vulnerability of their children against CSA at the home settings, which may provide guidance towards development of parental education programs in Tanzania.
Performance improvement of poly(butylene adipate-butylene terephthalate) based nanocomposites modified by the cooperation of nano montmorillonite and ionic liquid
Authors: Sui Xinyi , Wang Zicheng , Yan Shenzhi , Sun Shulin
Published: December 2023

1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid (IL) and sodium montmorillonite nanoclay (MMT) were used collaboratively to improve the properties of poly(butylene adipate-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT). Based on the ion exchange interaction and the shear effect during the melt blending process, effective exfoliation and uniform dispersion of MMT in the PBAT matrix have been achieved. The exfoliated nano MMT acted as heterogeneous nucleating agent and promoted the crystallization of PBAT, causing the melting and crystallization temperatures to shift towards higher temperatures. When the IL content was 3 wt%, the maximum complex viscosity and modulus was reached, and further increase of IL led to a decrease of the viscoelasticity due to the plasticizing effect of IL. For the same reason, the synergistic effect of MMT and IL achieved the optimum mechanical properties of PBAT/MMT/IL3 film. Furthermore, the excellent barrier performance of two-dimensional MMT nanosheets decreased the permeability of oxygen and water vapor of the nanocomposite films. Therefore, this work has a positive effect on promoting the application of PBAT in the packaging field.
Moringa oleifera Lam. seed extract enhances tolerance to water stress by regulating photosynthesis and antioxidant defence mechanism in Lessertia frutescens L.
Authors: Buthelezi Nana Millicent Duduzile , Gololo Sechene Stanley , Mugivhisa Liziwe Lizbeth
Published: December 2023

Drought is a predominant environmental stress that limits plant growth and yield. Biostimulants including moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) seed extract (MSE) can alleviate adverse plant responses triggered by drought stress. Nonetheless, there is limited information regarding the functions of MSE in promoting drought tolerance in plants. Consequently, the current study investigated the effect of MSE on the enhancement of drought tolerance in cancer bush (Lessertia frutescens L.) plants under deficit irrigation (DI). The 6% MSE foliar spray was applied to cancer bush plants subject to standard (80% of soil water holding capacity; SWHC) and deficit irrigation (DI) (60% of SWHC) in a terracotta pots experiment which was conducted twice sequentially in a tunnel. Plants that were not treated with MSE were used as control. The application of MSE effectively alleviated the adverse effect of water stress on cancer bush by improving plant growth and yield characteristics, photosynthesis attributes, soluble protein and proline contents. The MSE mitigated lipid oxidation (malondialdehyde; MDA) of drought affected plants and enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities. These results demonstrated that MSE application effectively alleviated drought stress in cancer bush plants. Therefore, MSE is an economical and eco-friendly biostimulant for enhancing plant performances under water stress.
Learning the complexity of urban mobility with deep generative collaboration network
Authors: Li Yong , Yuan Yuan , Ding Jingtao , Jin Depeng
Published: December 2023

City-scale individual movements, resulting population flows, and urban morphology intricately intertwine, collectively contributing to the complexity of urban mobility, impacting critical aspects of a city, including socioeconomic exchanges and epidemic transmission. Existing models, derived from the fundamental laws governing human mobility, often capture only partial facets of this complexity. This paper introduces DeepMobility, a powerful deep generative collaboration network to bridge the heterogeneous behaviors of individuals and collective behaviors emerging from the entire population via constructing a unified model that encapsulates the multifaceted nature of complex urban mobility. Our experiments, conducted on mobility trajectories and flows in cities of China and Senegal, reveal that, in contrast to state-of-the-art deep learning models that simply “memorize” observed data, DeepMobility excels in learning the intricate data distribution and successfully reproduces the existing universal scaling laws that characterize human mobility behaviors at both the individual and population levels. DeepMobility also exhibits robust generalization capabilities, enabling it to generate realistic trajectories and flows for cities lacking corresponding training data. Our approach underscores the feasibility of employing generative deep learning to model the underlying mechanism of human mobility, and establishes an effective generative machine learning framework to capture the complexity of urban mobility comprehensively.
Public knowledge of general practice data sharing: findings from a focus group study and cross-sectional survey
Authors: Braunack-Mayer Annette J. , Nettel-Aguirre Alberto , Fabrianesi Belinda , Carolan Lucy , Beilby Justin , Adams Carolyn , Flack Felicity
Published: December 2023

Background
There is an increasing demand for access to general practice health records for secondary purposes, including for quality assurance, evaluation, health service planning and research. Public support generally for the secondary use of routinely collected health data is well documented, but little is known specifically about public understanding of the secondary use of general practice data. In this study we investigate what the Australian public knows about the secondary use of the information in their general practice records.
Methods
A mixed methods approach with 4 focus groups (n=22) followed by a cross-sectional survey, weighted to be nationally representative (n=2,604).
Results
Participants broadly understood what information was in their general practice record. Most participants believed the information was shared with hospital health professionals and other medical staff to support their care. Less than 30% thought their health information was being shared with health administrators, planners and researchers, and less than half believed their information was used to improve health services generally or for research. A substantial number, though a minority, did not know what happened with their information.
Conclusion
Trust between publics and governments is essential for health care systems to operate and transparency is central. Securing legitimacy for sharing general practice data will require careful attention to patient and public understanding of data sharing practices. While this must involve providing more and better information for patients, equally there must be attention to the means through which that information is provided.
Optimization of Cutting Parameters in Wire Electric Discharge Machining (Wedm) to Reduce Energy Consumption and Surface Roughness During Aisi D2 Steel Machining
Authors: Rojas Hugo Orlando González , Valenzuela José Carlos Miranda , Nájera Juan de Dios Calderón
Published: December 2023

Energy efficiency in manufacturing processes has become a critical issue for the industry, so a worldwide effort is being made to improve energy efficiency in all manufacturing activities. Also, manufacturers are concerned about being competitive worldwide, so a decrease in production times is required without affecting the quality of products. Therefore, there are studies to characterize energy efficiency and surface roughness in manufacturing processes. Such studies have been mainly applied to conventional processes, such as for example, turning or milling. However, studies in unconventional manufacturing processes remain absent. The main objective of this work is to optimize cutting factors in Wire Electric Discharge Machining, such as Pulse on time (Ton), Pulse off time (Toff), servo voltage (SV), wire tension (WT), wire-speed (WS), and voltage (V), in order to reduce energy consumption and improve surface roughness, both separate and as a whole. The experiments were carried out according to Taguchi's L27 (6³) approach. AISI D2 steel was used as the material to be machined. As a result of the study, the optimal factors that reduce energy consumption are Ton (16µs), Toff (11µs), SV (44V), WT (50g), WS (70dm/min), and V (9V). Furthermore, the optimal factors that improve the surface roughness are Ton (10µs), Toff (11µs), SV (44V), WT (30g), WS (70dm/min), and V (5V). Finally, to reduce energy consumption and improve the surface roughness, the optimal values are Ton (10µs), Toff (11µs), SV (44V), WT (50g), WS (70dm/min), and V (9V). This methodology has been tested and validated on a SODICK VZ300L.
The Rule of Law in the Environmental, Social and Governance Framework in the World Economy
Authors: Costantiello Alberto , Leogrande Angelo
Published: December 2023

In this article, we have estimated the Rule of Law for 193 countries using data from the Environmental, Social and Governance-ESG database of World Bank. We have used different econometric techniques to estimate the value of “Rule of Law” i.e.: Panel Data with Fixed Effects, Panel Data with Random Effects, Pooled OLS. We found that Rule of Law is positively associated, among others to “Regulatory Quality” and “Control of Corruption” and negatively associated among others to, “Access to Electricity” and “Prevalence of Overweight”. We have performed a cluster analysis with the k-Mean algorithm optimized with the Elbow Method and we find the presence of four clusters. Finally, we present a confrontation among eight different machine-learning algorithms to predict the level of Rule of Law. We find that Linear Regression is the best predictor according to MAE, MSE, RMSE and R-squared.
JEL CODE: D7, D70, D72, D73, D78.
WITHDRAWN: Do we need an alternative to polyvinylidene fluoride-based membranes and where will it come from?
Authors: Hoek Eric , Xiao Minhao , Ozdemir Burcu , Yang Fan , Wang Xinyi , Wu Jishan , Rosa Igor , Hollister John Hollister , Dlamini Derrick , Quezada-Renteria Javier , Schroeder Kurt Schroeder , Wagh Priyesh , Prata Joseph , Pafford Margaret , Kavehpour Pirouz , Jassby David Jassby
Published: December 2023

Recently, there has been widespread news coverage regarding the potential ban on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as one of thousands of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl compounds by the European Union, the United States and several U.S. states including California (the 5th largest economy in the world). This could greatly impact the membrane manufacturing industry as well as its downstream users in biopharma, automotive, water, dairy, food and beverage industries. Herein, we evaluate the performance and physical-chemical properties of membranes made from PVDF, polyethersulfone (PES) and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) polymers. Both PVDF and PES are widely used in commercial membrane products, but CPVC – while used extensively in water, harsh chemicals, and high temperature piping systems – has not been widely explored as a polymer for use in filtration membranes. We fabricate a series of tight, mesoporous ultrafiltration membranes by a simple nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) process, and systematically characterize and quantitatively rate the performance and physical-chemical properties of all three polymers. All three polymers produce membranes with excellent separation performance and thermal, chemical and mechanical stability. Finally, we explore a range of casting conditions for CPVC to evaluate its potential to make membranes with performance spanning the range of tight UF (typically served by PES) to standard MF (typically served by PVDF). CPVC appears to a viable alternative to both PES and PVDF as it spans the entire range of UF and MF separation performance while offering excellent pure water permeability and solute rejection as well as thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability.
Factors influencing the outcome of hip preservation in femoral head necrosis treated with rotational osteotomy via the base of the femoral neck, combined with finite element analysis
Authors: Sun Jiahao , Bowen Ma , Zhiguang Zhang , Tianwei XIA , Rong SHEN Ji , Zhiyuan CHEN
Published: December 2023

Background :The tip-apex distance (TAD), calcar referenced tip-apex distance (Cal-TAD), and neck-shaft angle (NSA) demonstrate reliability in predicting outcomes following internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. However, the potential influence of TAD, Cal-TAD, and NSA on predicting hip preservation outcomes through trans-trochanteric rotational osteotomy at the base of the femoral neck for treating femoral head necrosis remains unexplored.
Purposes: To assess the prognostic value of TAD, Cal-TAD, and NSA for hip preservation outcomes following rotational osteotomy at the base of the femoral neck in conjunction with finite element analysis, we compared the outcomes of different patients who underwent this procedure for femoral head necrosis.
Methods: The clinical data of 33 patients (33 hips) who underwent rotational osteotomy at the base of the femoral neck between January 2017 and December 2021 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. TAD, Cal-TAD, and NSA were measured on immediate postoperative radiographs, and the patients were categorized into Alive and Dead groups based on hip preservation outcomes for statistical analysis. Additionally, three-dimensional models with varying neck shaft angles were constructed to examine changes in maximum displacement of the femoral head and stress on the osteotomy surface.
Results:During a mean follow-up period of approximately 40 months, 26 patients survived while 7 patients experienced hip preservation failure. The differences in age, TAD, and Cal-TAD between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05), whereas NSA exhibited statistical significance (P<0.05). Biomechanical analysis revealed a close association between NSA and postoperative biomechanical changes.
Conclusion: When performing rotational osteotomy at the base of the femoral neck for the treatment of femoral head necrosis, both TAD and Cal-TAD exhibit negligible impact on hip preservation outcomes, while the size of NSA significantly influences surgical success rates. Therefore, meticulous attention should be given to precise measurement and adjustment of NSA during surgery in order to achieve optimal surgical outcomes.
Identification and cytological observation of CMS in cotton
Authors: PEI Qingyu , LIU Jinshan , GUO Chunping , MA Xiaomei , LIU Xiaoyan , YOU Chunyuan , LIN Hairong , LI Zhibo , ZHAO Ruihai , ZHU Bo , WU Yuanlong , PAN Zhenyuan , Nie Xinhui
Published: December 2023

Background The utilization of male sterility is essential for producing hybrid seeds, and comprehending the mechanism of male sterility is the foundation for developing sterile germplasm resources. However, only a few cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines of cotton have been produced due to various hindrances. Inadequate agronomic traits and incomplete sterility, weak resilience of restorer lines and the difficulty in combining strong dominance all serve as primary impediments to the advancement of CMS in cotton. Therefore, identifying and cytologically observing of CMS in cotton will provide new insights for heterosis utilization.
Results Two F2 segregating populations of cotton were constructed from cytoplasmic sterile lines (HaA and 01A, maternal) and restorer lines (HaR and 26R, paternal). Genetic analysis of F2 segregation populations showed that the separation ratio of fertile to sterile plants was 3:1. Phenotypic analysis indicated that there was no significant difference in the development process of flower buds between sterile and fertile plants. Compared to fertile plants, sterile plants exhibit smaller floral organs, shortened filament length and anther atrophy on the day of flowering. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of two F2 populations revealed morphological variations in the folds of the anther epidermis. Analysis of cell level differences showed that there was no significant difference in pollen development before the pollen maturation stage. However, between pollen maturation stage and flowering stage, the tapetum layer of sterile plants degenerated prematurely, the pollen grains were abnormal, pollen cytoplasmic degradation and gradually hollowed out.
Conclusion The sterile trait is controlled by a single recessive gene. The floral morphology of the sterile plant was characterized by stamen atrophy and abnormal anthers. Pollen abortion occurs from the time of pollen maturity until flowering. Degradation of pollen grains and the formation of empty pollen grains due to the premature degradation of the tapetum are presumed to be the main cause for pollen abortion.
Hemodynamic response to tilt test with impedance cardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Authors: Magajevski Adriano Senter , Távora-Mehta Maria Zildany P. , Mehta Niraj , Maluf Débora L. Smith , Silva Edvaldo Pinheiro , Concato Leticia , Ortiz Marcio Rogerio , Doubrawa Eduardo , Lofrano-Alves Marco Stephan
Published: December 2023

Background Hemodynamic response during transition from supine to standing position in idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) is not completely understood. Objective This study aims to analyze the hemodynamic changes during the head-up tilt test in idiopathic AF patients. Methods We investigated the hemodynamic changes during the head-up tilt test with impedance cardiography in 40 AF patients (12 AF rhythm-AFr, and 28 sinus rhythm-AFsr) and 38 non-AF. Results Patients in AFr showed attenuated SVI drop after standing in comparison to AFsr and non-AF [ΔSVI in mL/m2: -1.3(-3.4 to 1.7) vs. -6.4(-17.3 to -0.1) vs. -11.8(-18.7 to -8.0), respectively, p < 0.001]. PVRI decreased in AFr, while increased in AFsr and non-AF [ΔPVRI in dyne.seg.m2/cm5: -477(-1148 to 82.5) vs. 131(-525 to 887) vs. 357(-29 to 681), respectively, p < 0.01]. AFr also showed higher HR and greater CI increase after standing compared to non-AF. Linear regression demonstrated negative relationship of ΔPVRI and ΔSVI, with significant difference between AF rhythm and sinus rhythm for slopes [-171(-228 to -113) vs. -46(-58 to -34), p < 0.0001] and intercepts [-727 (-1040 to -414) vs -217(-392 to -42), p < 0.05]. Conclusions the hemodynamic response to orthostatic challenge suggests differential adaptations of the autonomic nervous system between patients with AF rhythm and those reverted to sinus rhythm or healthy controls. The relationship between PVRI and SVI may be a therapeutic target in AF.
The power spectrum indicator, a new and fast method for the early
detection of chaos.
Authors: Vozikis Christos , Kleidis Konstantinos , Papaioannou Stavros
Published: December 2023

To determine the regular or chaotic nature of the orbits in dynamical
systems can be quite an issue. In
this article, following \cite{Vozikis}, we propose a new tool, namely,
the Power Spectrum Indicator (PSI), $\psi^2$, that enables us to determine, as
early as posible, whether an orbit of a two-dimensional map is chaotic or
not. This new method is based on the frequency analysis of a data series
constucted by recording the logarithm of the amplification factor of the
deviation vector of nearby orbits. Accordingly, two datasets are recorded and
the $\chi^2$-likelyhood of their power spectra is computed. Ordered orbits
have always the same power spectrum, so their $\chi^2 \equiv \psi^2$ acquires
a zero value. On the contrary, a chaotic orbit has a power spectrum that
varies with time, hence, chaotic orbits always exhibit a non-zero $\psi^2$
value. Even as regards {\it "sticky"} orbits, the PSI method is very effective
in the early detection of chaos, while the global behavior of the $\psi^2$
indicator can provide information (also) on the intense of the chaotic
behavior, i.e., on how {\it "strong"} or {\it "weak"} the associated chaos may
be.
Accuracy Study of Smartwatch in Predicting Running Performance Across Various Distances: A Scientific Investigation
Authors: Dai Jiansong , Chen Gangrui , Gu Zhongke , Qi Yuxuan , Xu Kai
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND
Smartwatches for running are highly prevalent among amateur runners. Their reliability and validity need investigation for accurate predicting running performance.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to examine the accuracy of the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner smartwatch in predicting running performance.
METHODS
A total of 154 amateur runners, comprising 123 men and 31 women, were recruited. After wearing the HUAWEI WATCH GT Runner for a minimum of six weeks, the runners' actual completion times for 5km, 10km, and half marathon distances were measured, resulting in 288 test instances. The predicted completion times for the same distances as displayed on the watch on the day of the test were simultaneously recorded.
RESULTS
The actual and predicted performances for the 5km, 10km, and 21.1km distances were highly correlated, with r ≥ 0.95 (P < 0.001), r2 ≥ 0.9 for all three distances, and an error rate between the measured and predicted values of less than 3%, and ICC ≥ 0.9. The Bias ± 95%LoA was − 20.6 ± 46.1 seconds for the 5km, 4.1 ± 299.1 seconds for the 10km, and 143.8 ± 400.4 seconds for the half marathon.
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that the smartwatch exhibits high precision in predicting 5km, 10km, and half marathon performances, with an accuracy exceeding 97%. The performance prediction feature of the smartwatch can effectively guide amateur runners in setting reasonable competition goals and preparing for races.
Responses of the European IoT Ecosystem to the European General Data Protection Regulation
Authors: Ebbers Frank , Friedewald Michael
Published: December 2023

With the proliferation of IoT devices in homes and industry, concerns have arisen about the security of the devices and the privacy of users. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which went into effect in 2018, aims to protect the rights of IoT (and other) users. One way for device manufacturers to address these rights is through firmware updates. However, the extent of the GDPR's impact on EU member states remains uncertain. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis that examines changes in firmware age, as well as the overall age of devices, following the implementation of GDPR in the EU. The analysis uses approximately 400 terabytes of real-world IoT data from Censys.io, spanning from 2015 to the end of 2021. Using grouped average age values, we perform and compare difference-in-differences analyses for devices deployed in all EU member states and regions. We show that devices deployed in Northern Europe tend to be the most up-to-date, while Eastern Europe lags behind. This work provides initial insights into the impact of the GDPR in the IoT ecosystem, and highlights the need for further research to gain a deeper understanding of the effects.
Computed Entropy Spectra for Grain Boundary Segregation in Polycrystals
Authors: Schuh Christopher , Tuchinda Nutth
Published: December 2023

Grain boundary solute segregation influences most bulk material properties, and understanding solute thermodynamics at grain boundaries is critical for engineering them. However, the vast grain boundary space in polycrystals is challenging to evaluate due to its size, especially for the intrinsically hard-to-compute segregation excess entropy. Here data science methods are used to generate a database of site-wise grain boundary segregation entropy spectra for 155 dilute binary alloys within the harmonic approximation. The spectral framework allows scale bridging between the calculated atomistic site-wise energy-entropy spectra and macroscopic segregation entropy estimates. The results affirm that such macroscopic averaging is not sufficient: a spectral treatment of grain boundary segregation is needed to accurately model bulk temperature dependence of grain boundary solute segregation. The calculated spectral entropy database and thermodynamic framework can be applied for both understanding segregation experiments and alloy design exercises, paving the way to a finite-temperature grain boundary genome.
Economics of Homestead Coffee Production in Southern Ethiopia: A promising approach to enhance household asset building
Authors: Hailu Tegegn , Toma Senbetie , Shumbulo Abrham
Published: December 2023

This study explores the relationship between households' livelihoods asset building and their coffee production status in Ethiopia's central high lands. Household survey data was obtained from randomly selected 250 participants, and multidimensional statistical analysis methods were utilized. The results indicated a significant role of home garden coffee production on household livelihood asset buildings in the context of the mixed and diversified farming systems of the south Ethiopia. Household ownership, access to agricultural resource endowments, and the empowerment of human capital at the household level significantly determined livelihood dimensions and impact on household coffee production status. Farmer's motivation and practices for coffee production lies in the access and endowment of these dimensions of household asset. It was recommended that enhancing the asset capital status of rural farm households merits special attention, including their human capital, independent ownership rights over land and other resources and participation in social processes.
Preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant triplet chemotherapy
Authors: Kubo Kentaro , Igaue Shota , Utsunomiya Daichi , Kubo Yuto , Kanematsu Kyohei , Kurita Daisuke , Ishiyama Koshiro , Oguma Junya , Goto Koichi , Daiko Hiroyuki
Published: December 2023

Background. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by esophagectomy is the standard treatment for resectable advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Japan. Triplet chemotherapy is the standard neoadjuvant regimen. Inflammatory markers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are well-known prognostic factors for esophageal cancer. However, their usefulness in patients with resectable advanced disease undergoing esophagectomy after neoadjuvant triplet chemotherapy is unknown.Method. We examined 144 ESCC patients who underwent neoadjuvant triplet chemotherapy followed by esophagectomy between January 2015 to December 2020 to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Optimal marker cutoff values for RFS were determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Patients were divided into high and low NLR groups (NLR cutoff, 3.0).Results. NLR was high in 61 patients and low in 83. Univariate analyses demonstrated that low NLR was significantly associated with worse RFS (p = 0.049). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that high NLR was an independent predictor of RFS (odds ratio, 1.911; 95% confidence interval, 1.098–3.327; p = 0.022). RFS significantly differed between the low and high NLR groups. RFS did not significantly differ between the patients when stratified according to the other inflammatory markers.Conclusion. Preoperative NLR is an easily obtained and useful predictor of RFS in patients with resectable advanced ESCC treated with neoadjuvant triplet chemotherapy followed by esophagectomy.
Unveiling A Hidden Burden: Exploring Sarcopenia in Hospitalized Older Patients through Concordance and Cluster Analysis
Authors: Venegas-Sanabria Luis Carlos , Borda Miguel German , Murcia-Soriano Luisa Fernanda , Ramos-Caballero Diana Marcela , Tordecilla-Sanders Maria Alejandra , Garcia-Laguna Dayana Gabriela , Vargas-Pinilla Olga
Published: December 2023

Background
Sarcopenia has shown to be an important condition, with the capability to predict health negative outcomes, especially in hospitalized older adults, hence its accurate identification has an important role in the prognosis of older patients.
Aim:
Assess the prevalence of sarcopenia among hospitalized older adults by employing three distinct diagnostic methods.
Methods
Older adults hospitalized were recruited. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess muscle mass and body composition. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the European and Asian criteria, and a modified approach using Colombian cut-off points for handgrip and gait speed. Finally, a cluster analysis was performed to classify the population.
Results
Sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia prevalence ranged from 7.3% to 31.6%. The agreement between approaches revealed a substantial or almost perfect agreement in 30% of the sarcopenia comparisons and 46.6% of the severe sarcopenia comparisons. The cluster analysis defined three different clusters. The first cluster had higher age, BMI and body fat, and poorer functional status and muscle. The second cluster was the healthiest, with high functional status and muscle mass. The third cluster had intermediate characteristics.
Discussion
This study highlights the requirement for standardized diagnostic criteria and precise body composition assessment tools in acute geriatric units but also remarks on the heterogeneity of older adults. Accurate assessment and well-defined diagnostic criteria will facilitate the implementation of appropriate management and interventions.
Conclusion:
Sarcopenia is highly prevalent in hospitalized older adults, but the adjusted criteria and the inclusion of other parameters must be considered in the assessment.
Association Between Glycemic Traits and Oesophageal Cancer: a Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Chen Yuxing , Zeng Qingpeng , Li Muyu , Chen Keqin , Zhao Jun
Published: December 2023

Background
Observational studies indicate a potential link between increased blood glucose levels and the development of oesophageal cancer. However, the causal relationship between glycemic traits and oesophageal cancer has not been clarified yet. The aim of this research was to examine if there is a genetic link between glycemic characteristics and oesophageal cancer through the use of Mendelian randomization analysis.
Methods
We conducted a TSMR analysis and MVMR using publicly available GWAS data on the European population. The primary analysis utilized the IVW method, which was subsequently validated through comprehensive complementary and sensitivity analyses.
Results
IVW analysis revealed a substantial correlation (OR = 1.612, P = 0.0228) between type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and oesophageal cancer. After accounting for body mass index (BMI), this association remained to be statistically significant in multivariate MR analyses (OR = 1.662, P = 0.0416). There was only a small amount of evidence indicating a possible link between oesophageal cancer and other glycemic traits after excluding the outliers.
Conclusions
Our study further supports the evidence that European individuals with T2DM are at an increased risk of developing oesophageal cancer. It implies that pharmacological or lifestyle treatments for individuals with T2DM could potentially be advantageous in the prevention of oesophageal tumor development.
Causal effects of reproductive behaviors on the risk of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis：A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Li Wenchang , Dai Hanqiao , Bai Yunbo , Wang Zhiyong , Zhang Jingru , Li Yonggang
Published: December 2023

Background
Reproductive behavior leads to drastic changes in hormones, which may affect the development of arthritis, but it is uncertain whether there is a causal relationship. This study used Mendelian randomization to examine whether there is a causal relationship between female reproductive practices and arthritis.
Methods
Summary statistical data for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis originated from two genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Public GWAS data with European ancestry were exploited to identify instrumental variables of age at first birth (AFB) and age at first sexual intercourse (AFS). Subsequently, Mendelian randomization analyses were mainly conducted with the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Furthermore, complementary sensitivity analyses were then conducted to assess the robustness of our results.
Results
Using the IVW method, we found evidence of causal relationships between hormonal reproductive behaviors and decreased rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk (AFB and AFS, odds ratio (OR) [95% CI], 0.837[0.747–0.938], and 0.634[0.496–0.811], respectively). Both AFB and AFS seem to be negatively associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA) risk (AFB and AFS, OR [95% CI], 0.828[0.789–0.870], and 0.537[0.470–0.811], respectively). Only AFS was negatively associated with hip OA risk. (OR [95% CI], 0.788[0.682–0.911]). The findings of this study were verified by the results from sensitivity analysis.
Conclusion
This Mendelian randomization study suggests that both AFS and AFB seem to be negatively associated with arthritis risk.
Temperature-adaptive thermal management textiles achieve the moisture and heat balance of human body
Authors: Xue Tong , Ma Ruijie , Zhang Xintian , Tao Wenwen , Wang Chaoxia , Yin Yunjie
Published: December 2023

Smart textiles with heating and cooling capabilities are highly favored in the field of human thermal management because they not only satisfy the demands for human comfort but also reduce energy consumption. However, due to the subjectivity of thermal comfort, developing textiles with adaptive and personalized thermal management characteristics remains a challenge. Herein, a combination of ultraviolet-induced free radical polymerization and pad-dry-cure process was used to prepare temperature-sensitive P(MEO2MA-co-OEGMA475-co-GMA) cotton fabric (PMOG-cotton). By precisely controlling the amount of OEGMA475, the temperature response of PMOG-cotton can be regulated. Below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), PMOG-cotton exhibits hydrophilicity. While above the LCST, it shows hydrophobicity. Additionally, the air permeability and water vapor permeability of PMOG-cotton also exhibit responsive characteristics to changes in environmental temperature. PMOG-cotton demonstrates excellent abrasion resistance, mechanical properties, and whiteness. It can provide a warming effect of 2.4°C in cold environments and a cooling effect of 1.3°C in hot environments. This adaptive thermal management textile shows promise for delivering human thermal comfort in complex and dynamic environments.
Development and Evaluation of Low-Jitter Hand Tracking System for Improving Typing Efficiency in Virtual Reality Workspace
Authors: Xu Tianshu , Gu Wen , Ota Koichi , Hasegawa Shinobu
Published: December 2023

Virtual reality (VR) technology promises to transform immersive experiences across various applications, particularly within office environments. Despite its potential, the challenge of achieving efficient text entry in VR persists. This study addresses this obstacle by introducing a novel machine learning-based solution, namely the 2S-LSTM typing method, to enhance text entry performance in VR. The 2S-LSTM method utilizes the back-of-the-hand image, employing a two-stream Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network and a Kalman Filter (KF) to enhance hand position tracking accuracy and minimize jitter. Through statistical analysis of the data collected in the experiment and questionnaire results, we confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed method. In addition, we conducted an extra experiment to explore the differences in users’ typing behavior between regular typing and VR-based typing. This additional experiment provides valuable insights into how users adapt their typing behavior in different environments. These findings represent a significant step in advancing text entry within VR, setting the stage for immersive work experiences in office environments and beyond.
Introducing N2-fixing tree species into Eucalyptus plantations increases organic phosphorus transformation but decreases its accumulation within aggregates in subtropical China
Authors: Xu Haocheng , You Yeming , Wang Yi , Gao Guannv , Ming Angang , Huang Xueman
Published: December 2023

Background and aims Soil organic phosphorus (Po) fractions were deemed as potentially significant reservoirs of plant-available phosphorus, profoundly influenced by the physiochemical and biological characteristics of soil. Here we clarify how soil Po fractions and transformation in topsoil aggregates after 15 years of introducing N2-fixing tree species intoEucalyptusplantation. Methods We measured different Po fractions and used phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and four extracellular enzymes activities as bioindicators of soil microbiota and function, respectively. The research was carried out within a 15-years of monocultureEucalyptus urophyllaplantation (PP) and mixed plantation (MP) ofEucalyptus urophylla×Acacia mangium. Results The mean weight diameter (MWD) was 19.28% greater (P < 0.05) in MP than PP. Soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), NO3−-N, C:P and N:P ratios were notably increased but Po content decreased significantly in bulk soil and most of the aggregates in MP than those in PP. Furthermore, the PLFA contents of total microbes, bacteria, and fungi were more abundant in bulk and aggregate soils in MP than PP. Enzyme activities related to N and P cycles showed significant improvement in bulk and most aggregate soils in MP than PP. Conclusions Our findings extend the evidence that promoting soil Po transformation may be related to the increasing of N availability, SOC, pH, fungi, and AMF colonization. Taken together, our results highlighted the soil Po fractions response to long term N2-fixing tree species application which might be a suitable strategy through efficient management of P in subtropicalEucalyptusplantations.