bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Customer satisfaction as a mediator between service quality and customer loyalty: a case study of Bank Central Asia
Authors: Tedjokusumo Cleming , R. Murhadi Werner
Published: August 2023

Purpose – This study aims to examine the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction and the impact of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty among banking service users in Indonesia.
Design/methodology/approach – The population of this study consists of customers aged 18 years and above who use the mobile banking service provided by Bank Central Asia, one of the largest banking companies in Indonesia in terms of market capitalization. Purposive sampling was used to obtain a sample of 194 respondents who met the research criteria.
Findings – The results of this study indicate that the reliability, customer service and support, and responsiveness variables have a significant positive influence on customer satisfaction, while the privacy and security variable was found to have no significant impact on customer satisfaction. Additionally, customer satisfaction was found to have a significant positive effect on customer loyalty.
Research limitations/implications – The data for this study primarily came from East Java, Indonesia, highlighting the need for future research using longitudinal data to investigate the causal relationships between variables.
Practical implications – The findings of this study can provide valuable insights into the influence of electronic service quality on customer loyalty in the Indonesian banking industry. It offers banks a deeper understanding of consumer behavior and the crucial satisfaction factors that drive long-term decision-making in banking services.
Originality/value – This paper offers novelty by addressing the digitalization trend and competitive challenges faced by banking service providers in achieving customer satisfaction within the digital economic ecosystem. It specifically focuses on customers of Bank Central Asia, a leading banking company in Indonesia. The value of this paper lies in its insights for banking professionals, researchers, and policymakers in navigating the digital landscape and enhancing customer-centric digital banking services.
Case study: Multifocal atrial tachycardia during cataract surgery: to operate or not to operate
Authors: Nieves-Alonso Jesús , Hernández Rosa Méndez , Rueda Fernando Ramasco
Published: August 2023

Background: Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) is an uncommon supraventricular arrhythmia that can be seen most commonly in elderly patients with underlying lung disease. It can be easily misinterpreted as atrial fibrillation. Case presentation: We identified an episode of MAT in an asymptomatic patient who was scheduled for ambulatory cataract surgery. After a detailed physical examination and focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS), we decided to proceed with the surgery. Conclusions: When MAT occurs in the preoperative period, it can be challenging to decide whether to proceed with the surgical procedure or to perform prior evaluation by a cardiologist. Anamnesis, physical examination, and FoCUS are useful tools in making this decision.
Water ecosystem health evaluation and influencing factors analysis of AN urban river: A case study at Beiyunhe River, Northern China
Authors:   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Jiang Zhi , Wang Shiyan ,   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Han Zhen ,   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Liu Chang ,   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Wang Liang ,   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Zhu Bei ,   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Zou Jiaxiang ,   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Li Budong ,   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, Dang Xiaoge ,   State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin
Published: August 2023

The Beiyunhe River is a typical urban river in northern China, and the health status of its ecosystem is degraded by urbanization. To evaluate this health status, a survey was performed throughout the basin. Thirteen indexes were selected to construct an ecosystem health evaluation system, and a composite index method was used to quantify the Beiyunhe River’s ecosystem health. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to detect the key factors influencing ecosystem health. The results showed that the river’s health status was mostly moderate: of the 38 surveyed points, the health status of 10% was Good, 47% was Average, 40% was Poor, and 3% was Very Poor. The upper and middle reaches were in better health than the lower reaches, and the main stream health was better than the tributaries. Among the tributaries, Bahe River (upper and middle reaches) had the best health status, whereas Fenghe River (lower reaches) had the worst. RDA showed that the ratio of hardening of the river, number of water-blocking structures (gates and dams), and population density in the catchment area were the key factors affecting the health of the Beiyunhe River ecosystem. This study can be used as a reference for the evaluation of the health of urban river ecosystems.
Treatment with Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma restricts Aspergillus niger growth isolated from wheat grain
Authors: Al-Khafaji Thikra K.
Published: August 2023

Microbiological contamination by fungi impacts the quality and safety of wheat grain storage. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of cold plasma in restricting the growth of the fungus, Aspergillus niger, which was isolated from wheat grains. A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operating at atmospheric pressure generated cold plasma that was used to treat the fungus, and the impact of this treatment was investigated at various periods  1, 2, 4, 6, and 15 minutes. The results revealed a highly significant decrease in the growth and number of spores of Aspergillus niger compared to the controls. This study revealed an efficient technique for enhancing wheat grain storage that could be a foundation for further large-scale studies.
Future flow and water temperature scenarios in an impounded drainage basin: Implications for summer flow and temperature management downstream of the dam
Authors: Khorsandi Mostafa , St-Hilaire Andre , Arsenault Richard , Martel Jean-Luc , Larabi Samah , Schnorbus Markus , Zwiers Francis
Published: August 2023

Water temperature is a key variable affecting fish habitat in rivers. The Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), a keystone species in north western aquatic ecosystems of North America, is profoundly affected by thermal regime changes in rivers, and it holds a pivotal role in ecological and economic contexts due to its life history, extensive distribution and commercial fishery. In this study, we explore the effects of climate change on the thermal regime of the Nechako River (British Columbia, Canada), a relatively large river partially controlled by the Skins Lake Spillway. The CEQUEAU hydrological-thermal model was calibrated using discharge and water temperature observations. The model was forced using the Fifth generation of ECMWF Atmospheric Reanalysis data for the past and meteorological projections (downscaled and bias-corrected) from climate models for future scenarios. Hydrological calibration was completed for the 1980–2019 period using data from two hydrometric stations, and water temperature calibration was implemented using observations for 2005–2019 from eight water temperature stations. Changes in water temperature were assessed for two future periods (2040–2069 and 2070–2099) using eight Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 climate models and using two Shared Socioeconomic Pathway scenarios (4.5 and 8.5 W/m2 by 2100) for each period. Results show that water temperatures above 20°C [an upper threshold for adequate thermal habitat for Sockeye salmon migration in this river] at the Vanderhoof station will increase in daily frequency. While the frequency of occurrence of this phenomenon is 1% (0–9 days/summer) based on 2005–2019 observations, this number range is 3.8–36% (0–62 days/summer) according to the ensemble of climate change scenarios. These results show the decreasing habitat availability for Sockeye salmon due to climate change and the importance of water management in addressing this issue.
Silver Diamine Fluoride with Sodium Fluoride Varnish versus Silver Diamine Fluoride in arresting early childhood caries: A randomized field trial
Authors: Abdellatif Enas.B , Tantawi Maha El , Elkashlan Mona K
Published: August 2023

Background
Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most prevalent chronic health problem in young children, and it can be arrested using professionally applied fluoride such as Sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish and Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF). This trial compared two interventions to arrest ECC lesions: 38% SDF combined with 5% NaF varnish versus 38% SDF and assessed whether the arrest rate was affected by baseline lesion severity measured by ICDAS.
Methods
Children aged ≤ 4 years from 4 nurseries in a rural area in Alexandria, Egypt joined the study in March 2022. They were included if they had at least one active carious lesion with ICDAS codes ≥ 3. They were randomized to receive either 38% SDF with 5% NaF varnish or 38% SDF at baseline and after 6 months and 5% NaF varnish was re-applied after 3 months. The primary outcome was lesion arrest status after six months. Parents’ satisfaction with their children’s appearance was the secondary outcome. Pearson Chi-Square test was used for bivariate comparison and multi-level multiple logistic regression was used to assess the effect of the intervention on caries arrest controlling for confounders. The interaction between the intervention and baseline lesion severity (categorized into moderate and severe lesions) was assessed and the p value was calculated.
Results
The study included 1606 lesions in 220 children, median (IQR) age = 48(9) months. The percentages of arrested lesions after the application of SDF + NaF and SDF only were 77.7% and 73.2% (p = 0.035). In multivariable analysis, SDF + NaF had significantly greater caries arrest effect than SDF alone (AOR = 2.12, p = 0.03) with significant difference (p = 0.03) between moderate (AOR = 4.10, p = 0.005) and advanced (AOR = 1.92, p = 0.08) lesions. Most parents were satisfied with their children’s appearance with no significant difference between groups (SDF + NaF = 84.5%, SDF = 78.18%, p = 0.23).
Conclusion
SDF + NaF had a higher arrest rate than SDF alone and this difference was observed in moderate but not advanced lesions. The findings have implications for the non-invasive management of ECC.
Trial registration
This trial was registered in the clinicaltrials.gov registry (#NCT05642494) on 8/12/2022.
Effect of physiotherapeutic procedures on the bioelectric activity of the masseter muscle and the range of motion of the temporomandibular joints in the female population with chronic pain: a randomized controlled trial.
Authors: Gębska Magdalena , Dalewski Bartosz , Pałka Łukasz , Kiczmer Paweł , Kołodziej Łukasz
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Physical therapy (PT) methods applied in dentistry are increasingly discussed nowadays. Taking into account a rapidly growing number of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and orofacial pain patients, it is reasonable to determine which of the available physiotherapeutic (PT) methods are more effective than others, especially in terms of their possible analgesic and myorelaxant effects. Objective: To assess manual and physical factors influencing pain reduction or elimination and increased muscle tension in patients with TMDs; yet the influence of the applied forms of PT on the range of motion (ROM) of temporomandibular joints (TMJs). Material and Methods: A randomized, parallel-group, RCT, single-blind, equi-randomized (1:1) study was conducted in DC/TMD Group Ib patients (20–45 years of age). An experimental group (G1, n = 104) and a control group without TMD (G2, n = 104) were created according to CONSORT guidelines. Diagnostic measurements were performed in both groups (mass sEMG, temporomandibular joint range of motion-ROM, pain intensity - NRS). Group G1 was randomly divided (envelope method) into 4 therapeutic groups, in which therapy was carried out for 10 days: magnetostimulation (MS), magnetoledotherapy (MLE), magnetolaserotherapy (MLA), manual therapy (MT). Each time after the therapy, ROM and NRS measurements were performed, and after the 5th and 10th day EMG. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the sEMG values of the masseter muscles, TMJ ROM and the pain intensity in G1 and G2 (p < 0.00). The largest decrease in sEMG (% MVC) of the masseter muscle occurred in the subgroup in which the manual therapy (MT) procedures were applied, p < 0.000. There was no clinically significant difference in and between other subgroups. There was a distinct mandible ROM increase noted in the MT group, with minimal changes in the MLA and MLE groups and no changes in the MS group. There was a clear increase in the lateral mobility of both right and left TMJ in the MT group. There were no differences in the course of the study in the MS group, and slight increases in the MLA and MLE groups. In the case of pain measurements, the greatest decrease in pain intensity was observed in the MT subgroup. Conclusions: According to our results manual therapy is an effective form of treatment in patients with pain, increased masticatory muscle tension and limitation in mandible ROM. Dental physiotherapy should become an integral part of multimodal TMD patients’ treatment.
Elevated Serum γ-glutamyl Transferase of First Trimester Predicts Preterm Birth among Pregnant Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study in China
Authors: He Zhen , Sun Yin , Shi Xuezhong , He Yuan , Liangkun Ma , Yongli Yang , Chen Qinzheng , Jia Xiaocan , Yang Xuanjin , Wang Yaxin , Liu Nana , Zhang Suhan
Published: August 2023

Background Abnormal liver function indicators during pregnancy may be independent risk factors for preterm birth (PTB). However, the relationship between liver function indicators in the first trimester and PTB was not clearly understood. This study aimed to assess whether these indicators in the first trimester could predict subsequent risk of PTB.
Methods From July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022, a retrospective cohort study was conducted including 5,567 pregnant women who gave birth at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China. We collected liver function indicators (ALB, albumin; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; γ-GT, γ-glutamyl transferase), and clinical history and demographic information from pregnant women and their infants. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate aOR (adjusted odds ratios) and 95% CIs (confidence intervals).
Results PTB incidence was 6.4% (275/5,152) in this cohort. The highest quartile of γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) was associated with an increased risk of PTB compared to the lowest quartile [aOR 1.47(95% CI 1.02~2.14]), after adjusting for confounding factors.Other individual liver function indicators (ALB, ALP, ALT and AST) were not significantly associated with PTB. The association with PTB was found among female infant in higher concentrations of γ-GT.
Conclusions During the first trimester, higher concentrations of γ-GT, but not other liver function indicators, were significantly associated with an increased risk of PTB among Chinese pregnancy women.
Delay of diagnosis in autism spectrum disorder and its influencing factors
Authors: Zhu Feng-lei , Ji Yue , Wang Lu , Zhu Hui-lin , Xu Min , Ji Yan , Zou Xiao-bing
Published: August 2023

Background
Although experienced clinicians are capable of diagnosing autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children before they reach the age of 2, the average age of diagnosis reported internationally is between 4 and 5 years, indicating a significant delay in diagnosis. The objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing the diagnosis delay time (DDT) in children with ASD and to shorten the diagnosis period.
Methods
We employed the Cox proportional hazard model to examine the effects of individual, family, sociodemographic, and healthcare system indicators on DDT in a retrospective survey involving ASD children and their families.
Results
This study included a total of 560 subjects. The findings revealed that the median DDT in children with ASD was 8.16 (15.99) months, and the mean DDT was 13.68 (17.11) months. Language development level of children (RR = 0.521, 95%CI 0.400 ~ 0.680, P < 0.001), enrollment in school (RR = 1.950, 95%CI 1.552 ~ 2.450, P = < 0.001), experience of previous misdiagnosis (RR = 1.637, 95%CI 1.249 ~ 2.146, P < 0.001), degree of caregiver's concern about initial symptoms (RR = 0.781, 95%CI 0.635 ~ 0.960, P = 0.019), and whether the initial symptom is a core defect of ASD (RR = 1.758, 95%CI 1.210 ~ 2.553, P = 0.003) were identified as independent risk factors for delayed diagnosis of ASD in children under the age of six.
Conclusions
In China, there is a significant delay in the diagnosis of ASD among children. Children at risk of delayed ASD diagnosis include those with normal language abilities and early-onset non-autistic core difficulties, whose parents neglect their children’s atypical symptoms, those who have already started school, and those with a history of misdiagnosis. We urge parents, educators, and healthcare providers to closely monitor atypical child development during early childhood, enhance growth monitoring for preschool and school-aged children, and be attentive to children with normal language skills.
Novel Triangular Anchor Reduction Forceps versus Towel Forceps for Long Oblique or Spiral Distal Tibial Fractures: A Comparative Study
Authors: Li Tao , Wu Zhonghan , Wang Jingkun , Tang Yuntao , Xu Xinzhong
Published: August 2023

Objective: To compare the efficacy of triangular anchor repositioning forceps and scarf forceps in the treatment of long oblique or spiral distal tibial fractures with intramedullary nailing.
Methods: Finally, 58 patients were included. According to the intraoperative repositioning method, they were divided into the scarf clamp repositioning group (n=26) and the triangular anchor repositioning group (n=32). The operative time, a number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, intraoperative bleeding, quality of postoperative fracture reduction, length of hospital stay, fracture healing time, American orthopedic foot and ankle society (AOFAS) score, efficacy and complications at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups.
Results: All patients participated in more than 1 year of follow-up. ①There were no significant differences in the composition ratios of age, sex, underlying disease, and mechanism of injury between the two groups; ②The operating time and intraoperative fluoroscopy number of patients in the triangular anchor reduction group were significantly lower than those in the scarf clamp reduction group (P<0.05), while the quality of fracture reduction was higher than that in the scarf clamp reduction group (P<0.05), and the differences in the remaining perioperative indexes were not significant; ③Patients in the triangular anchor reduction group had shorter postoperative fracture healing time and better ankle function than those in the scarf clamp reduction group (P<0.05); ④Patients in the two groups had various There was no significant difference in the incidence of various complications between the two groups, but the overall complication rate was significantly lower in the triangular anchor reduction group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of triangular anchor repositioning forceps can improve the quality of fracture repositioning, shorten fracture healing time, reduce the occurrence of complications, reduce the operative time and the number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, and no significant increase in local infection was observed, which is an effective and reliable repositioning method.
Causal relationship of gastroesophageal reflux disease with chronic periodontitis: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zheng Shuhao , Zhuo Qunhao , Liu Yi , Xie Jiarong , Sun Fang , Xu Lei
Published: August 2023

Background: Some observational studies have demonstrated an association between gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) and chronic periodontitis. We used a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the bidirectional association between GERD and chronic periodontitis.
Materials and Methods: We collected data from two genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of individuals of European ancestry. During the meta-analysis, the relationship between the two variables was estimated primarily using the inverse weighted method (IVW). A sensitivity analysis was performed using Cochran's Q test, leave-one-out test and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier analysis (MR- PRESSO).
Results: GERD was causally related tochronic periodontitis risk (OR = 1.270, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.040-1.550, P=0.019). However, no causal effect of chronic periodontitis on GERD was found (OR=1.006, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.991-1.022, P=0.435).
Conclusion: According to this MR study, the outcomes supported GERD on therisk of chronic periodontitis, but according to the analysis, there is no evidence for chronic periodontitis on GERD risk.
Botulinum Toxin Type A: Efficacy and Safety Profile in the Treatment of Lower Limb Spasticity in Children with genetic Disorders
Authors: Saleh Dina Amin , Farouk Nermine , Korkar George H , Sabry Tamer M , Mahmoud Mohamed Ashraf , Ali Mohamed , Awad Ahmed Abdellatif , Hamdi Hussein , Ghany Walid Abdel , elsayed Ahmed M.
Published: August 2023

Background: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) is a well-established therapeutic modality for the treatment of lower limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. There is paucity of evidence about its effectiveness and safety in genetic disorders.
Objective: To assess the functional outcomes and safety of BTX-A injection for the treatment of lower limb spasticity in children with genetic disorders.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review for history, demographic data, comorbidities, neurological examination, and neuroimaging findings for all patients diagnosed with genetic disorders from December 2020 to December 2022 in Ain Shams university hospital database. Outcome assessment were the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS) for Cerebral Palsy "Initially and after 6 months' post-treatment", the Modified Ashworth scale (MAS) "initially and at 1,3,6 month post-treatment" and the achieved preset functional goals using the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) at 4-6 months post-treatment.
Results:
A total of 90% of the patients showed improvement in their GAS scores, 20% achieving the preset goal, 55% achieving a better outcome than anticipated and 15% achieving the best possible outcome. Furthermore, the GMFCS and MAS scores showed a significant statistical improvement after six months post-injection (p=0.02, p=0.03), respectively. None of the patients developed serious adverse effects except a child diagnosed with mitochondrial cytopathy.
Conclusion:
BTX-A injections were effective and showed a high safety profile in children with genetic disorders. To our knowledge, this is the first study that specifically targets this patient population, filling a gap in the literature and providing valuable insights into the potential benefits of BTX-A injections for this group. However, further large-scale studies are recommended to confirm these findings.
Nano iron oxide closes the gap between climate regulation and food security trade-offs
Authors: He Shiying , Yu Yongjie , Feng Youzhi , Yu Yingliang , Xue Lihong , Yang LinZhang , Delgado-Baquerizo Manuel
Published: August 2023

Rice production poses one of the most important trade-offs between climate regulation and food security. Fertilization often results in higher yield, but also in more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such a trade-off represents a major threat to our capacity to mitigate on-going climate change while supporting a continuously growing global population. Here, we conducted a four-year field experiment to evaluate the capacity of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) fertilization to close the gap between these important trade-offs. We found that FeONPs fertilization can help us mitigate climate change by reducing 40% methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions compared with controls, while supporting significant soil carbon sequestration. Moreover, FeONPs can help us to support food production by increasing the amount of nitrogen via reductions in ammonia volatilization and accumulation of N in nanoparticles. Together, our work revealed that next generation fertilization strategies can make a great contribution to food security while supporting climate change regulation.
Initial experience of 3-dimensional exoscope in decompression of massive lumbar disc herniation
Authors: Song Fanglong , Zhou Zhiqiang , Zhou Xiaozhong , Wu Haowei , Shan Bingchen , Zhou Zhentao , Dai Jun , Jiang Fengxian
Published: August 2023

Objectives
To investigate the effect of a three-dimensional (3D) exoscope for decompression of single-segment massive lumbar disc herniation (LDH).
Methods
The study included 56 consecutive patients with single segment massive LDH who underwent decompression assisted by a 3D exoscope from October 2019 to October 2022 at a university hospital. The analysis was based on comparison of perioperative metrics including decompression time, estimated blood loss (EBL) during decompression and postoperative length of stay (PLS); clinical outcomes including assessment using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI); and incidence of reoperation and complications.
Results
The mean decompression time was 28.35 ± 8.93 min (lumbar interbody fusion (LIF)) and 15.50 ± 5.84 min (fenestration discectomy (LOVE surgery)), the mean EBL during decompression was 42.65 ± 12.42 ml (LIF) and 24.32 ± 8.61 ml (LOVE surgery), and the mean PLS was 4.56 ± 0.82 days (LIF) and 2.00 ± 0.65 days (LOVE surgery). There were no complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, nerve root injury and epidural hematoma. All patients who underwent decompression assisted by a 3D exoscope were followed up for 6 months. At the last follow-up, the VAS and ODI scores were significantly improved from the preoperative period to the last follow-up (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
A 3D exoscope provides a visually detailed, deep and clear surgical field, which makes decompression safer and more effective and significantly reduces short-term complications and enables resident doctors to learn effectively. A 3D exoscope may be a good assistance tool during decompression for single-segment massive LDH.
Antagonistic potential and biological control mechanisms of Pseudomonas strains against banded leaf and sheath blight disease of maize
Authors: Sahgal Manvika , Saini Neha , Jaggi Vandana , NT Brindhaa , Kabdwal Manisha , Singh Rajesh Pratap , Prakash Anil
Published: August 2023

There is increased interest in developing biological control agents to effectively combat the banded leaf and sheath blight (BL&SB) caused by Rhizoctonia solani, a devastating disease that affects maize and many other crops worldwide. In the current study, we screened 22 rhizobacteria(AS1-AS22) recovered from grassland in the Pithoragarh region of the Central Himalayas for antagonism against Rhizoctonia solanif. sp.sasakii. Two Pseudomonas strains, AS19 and AS21, exhibited the highest in vitro inhibition of fungal mycelium, with cell cultures of AS19 and AS21 showing inhibition was 57.04% and 54.07%, respectively, and with cell-free culture filtrate showing67.41%and 65.74%, respectively. The two bacteria also prevented sclerotium growth. The strains AS19 and AS21were identified as Pseudomonas sp. by 16S rDNA phylogeny and deposited under accession numbers NAIMCC-B-02303 and NAIMCC-B-02304, respectively. The biocontrol mechanisms in the selected strains were investigated in a plate assay and a pot trial. The scanning electron micrograph of the dual culture plate assay showed the intense degradation of fungal mycelium by strains AS19 and AS21. Both strains also produced hydrolytic enzymes. There was a significant reduction in BL&SB disease incidence (DI) with the application of strains AS19 and AS21 in a pot trial using maize crops. The decrease in DI ranged between 25–38.33% in the treatments receiving foliar sprays of two antagonistic isolates 48 h before pathogen inoculation. The results showed that the two Pseudomonas strains act through induced systemic resistance (ISR) and are potent BCAs. The two strains, AS19 and AS21, exhibited broad-spectrum in vitro antifungal activity against Alternaria triticina, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Rhizoctonia maydis, and Fusarium oxysporumf. sp.lentis. Before the commercial-level exploitation of these two BCAs, further studies must be done to validate their biocontrol activity in field trials and to identify a bacterial metabolite responsible for inducing systemic resistance.
Associations of cardiometabolic polygenic risk scores with cardiovascular disease in African Americans
Authors: Workalemahu Tsegaselassie , Ying Jian , G. Berhanu Gebremeskel , Lu Tianyuan , Mohanty April , Elfassy Tali , Tekola-Ayele Fasil , A. Timothy Thornton , Cohen Jordana , R. Marguerite Irvin , M. Robert Silver , W. Michael Varner , Yaffe Kristine , Fornage Myriam , M. Donald Lloyd-Jones , Sims Mario , Shimbo Daichi , Yano Yuichiro , Muntner Paul , Bress Adam
Published: August 2023

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a complex disease, and genetic factors contribute individually or cumulatively to CVD risk. While African American women and men are disproportionately affected by CVD, their lack of representation in genomic investigations may widen disparities in health. We investigated the associations of cardiometabolic polygenic risk scores (PRSs) with CVD risk in African Americans.
Methods: We used the Jackson Heart Study, a prospective cohort study of CVD in African American adults and the predicted atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) 10-year risk. We included 40-79 years old adults without a history of coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke at baseline. We derived genome-wide PRSs for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglycerides, and C-reactive protein (CRP) separately for each of the participants, using African-origin UK Biobank participants’ genome-wide association summary statistics. We estimated the associations between PRSs and 10-year predicted ASCVD risk adjusting for age, sex, study visit date, and genetic ancestry using linear and logistic regression models.
Results: Participants (n=2,077) were 63% female and 66% never-smokers. They had mean (SD) 56 (10) years of age, 127.8 (16.3) mmHg SBP, 76.3 (8.7) mmHg DBP, 200.4 (40.2) mg/dL total cholesterol, 51.7 (14.7) mg/dL HDL cholesterol, 127.2 (36.7) mg/dL LDL cholesterol, 6.0 (1.3) mmol/mol HbA1c, 108.9 (81.7) mg/dL triglycerides and 0.53 (1.1) CRP. Their median (interquartile range) predicted 10-year predicted ASCVD risk was 8.0 (4.0-15.0). Participants in the >75th percentile for HbA1c PRS had 1.42 percentage-point greater predicted 10-year ASCVD risk (1.42 [95% CI: 0.58-2.26]) and higher odds of ≥10% predicted 10-year ASCVD risk (OR: 1.46 [95% CI: 1.03-2.07]) compared with those in the <25th percentile for HbA1c PRS. Participants in the >75th percentile for SBP PRS had higher odds of ≥10% predicted 10-year ASCVD risk (OR: 1.52 [95% CI: 1.07-2.15]) compared with those in the <25th percentile for SBP PRS.
Conclusion: Among 40-79 years old African Americans without CHD and stroke, higher PRSs for HbA1c and SBP were associated with CVD risk. PRSs may help stratify individuals based on their clinical risk factors for CVD early prevention and clinical management.
BMI and DM: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yuan Jianxu , Jiang Qing , Yu Shengjie
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are often accompanied by an increase in BMI (body mass index). Obesity in clinical work is also often considered to be a high risk factor for diabetes, but whether there is a causal relationship between BMI and DM has not been clearly confirmed. Therefore, we conducted a two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to investigate the potential relationship.
Method: We downloaded relevant data of "body mass index", "diabetes" and "type 2 diabetes (T2DM)" from the IEU OpenGWAS project database, used four different methods to conduct two sample MR analysis, and performed sensitivity analysis for verification.
Results: The results of four MR analysis methods indicated that high BMI was indeed an independent risk factor for DM. Since T2DM was a main subtype of diabetes, we further analyzed the impact of BMI on T2DM and got the same results. The two OR values obtained through the IVW method in this study were: OR = 1.032 (95% CI, 1.014 to 1.051), P < 0.001 and OR = 1.005 (95% CI, 1.001 to 1.008), P = 0.011.
Conclusion: Through our research, it was confirmed that high BMI was indeed an independent risk factor affecting the incidence rate of diabetes.
PragFormer: Data-driven Parallel Source Code Classification with Transformers
Authors: Harel Re'em , Kadosh Tal , Hasabnis Niranjan , Mattson Timothy , Pinter Yuval , Oren Gal
Published: August 2023

Multi-core shared memory architectures have become ubiquitous in computing hardware nowadays. As a result, there is a growing need to fully utilize these architectures by introducing appropriate parallelization schemes, such as OpenMP worksharing-loop constructs, to applications. However, most developers find introducing OpenMP directives to their code hard due to pervasive pitfalls in managing parallel shared memory. To assist developers in this process, many compilers, as well as source-to-source (S2S) translation tools, have been developed over the years, tasked with inserting OpenMP directives into code automatically. In addition to having limited robustness to their input format, these compilers still do not achieve satisfactory coverage and precision in locating parallelizable code and generating appropriate directives. Recently, many data-driven AI-based code completion (CC) tools, such as GitHub CoPilot, have been developed to ease and improve programming productivity. Leveraging the insights from existing AI-based programming-assistance tools, this work presents a novel AI model that can serve as a parallel-programming assistant∗. Specifically, our model, named PragFormer, is tasked with identifying for loops that can benefit from conversion to parallel worksharing-loop construct (OpenMP directive) and even predict the need for specific data-sharing attributes clauses on the fly. We created a unique database, named Open-OMP, specifically for this goal. Open-OMP contains over 32,000 unique code snippets from different domains, half of which contain OpenMP directives, while the other half do not. We experimented with different model design parameters for these tasks and showed that our best-performing model outperforms a statistically-trained baseline as well as a state-of-the-art S2S compiler. In fact, it even outperforms the popular generative AI model of ChatGPT. In the spirit of advancing research on this topic, we have already released source code for PragFormer as well as Open-OMP dataset to public†. Moreover, an interactive demo of our tool, as well as a Hugging Face webpage ‡to experiment with our tool, are already available.
In situ observation of the pore formation during laser based reactive air brazing of alumina
Authors: Wojarski Lukas , Ulitzka Henrik , Geldmacher Anna , Ulitzka Tim , Tillmann Wolfgang
Published: August 2023

Reactive air brazing (RAB) is a low-cost process for joining ceramic composites in air. However, due to the comparably low strength values that can be achieved by RAB, the process is only used in special applications like solid oxide fuel cells as a sealant. The limited strength values are the result of a severe pore formation during the brazing operation, that remain in the brazing fillet after solidification of the brazing filler. In this work, the formation of the pores during RAB brazing of alumina using a paste containing Ag4CuO powder and various binder was investigated. The formation and evolution of the pores were observed and quantified in situ X-ray measurements. It could be observed that during all three stages of the brazing cycle the debinding of the brazing paste, as well as the melting and solidification of the filler metal, changes of the porosity occur. In this regard, the brazing parameters binder and heating rate had a significant influence on the pore formation and evolution.
Eco-friendly Cellulose Hydrogels as Controlled Release Fertilizer for Enhanced Growth and Yield of Upland Rice
Authors: Ahmad Dayang Fazirah Binti Abg , Wasli Mohd Effendi , Tan Cindy Soo Yun , Musa Zaki , Chin Suk-Fun
Published: August 2023

The effect of urea-loaded cellulose hydrogel, a controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) on growth and yield of upland rice were investigated in upland rice. As with the initial research, nitrogen (N) treatments were applied as CRF treatments; T2H (30 kg N ha-1), T3H (60 kg N ha-1), T4H (90 kg N ha-1), T5H (120 kg N ha-1) and recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) at 120 kg N ha-1 RDF (T6U) in split application and T1 (0 N) as control. Results from this study indicated that applying CRF at the optimum N rate, T4H resulted in maximum grain yield, increasing by 54.8 %. The analysis of yield components revealed that higher grain yield in T4H CRF was associated with an increase in panicle number and number of grains per panicle. Maximum of grain N uptake of 2.85 g pot-1 was also observed in T4H CRF. In addition, T4H CRF recorded the highest harvest index (HI) and N harvest index (NHI) of 45.5 % and 67.9 %, respectively. Application of T4H CRF also recorded the highest N use efficiency (NUE) and N agronomic efficiency (NAE), 52.6 % and 12.8 kg kg-1, respectively. Observations show that CRF with only 75 % N applied (T4H) in soil improved grain yield when compared to CRF with 100 % N and 100 % RDF in farmers’ conventional split application. This suggested that CRF with a moderate N application might produce the highest potential yield and improved N efficiencies while enhancing crop production and further increase in N supply did not increase yield and N efficiencies. The results suggest that the application of T4H CRF for upland rice would enhance HI, N efficiencies and improved the yield of upland rice. Also, all growth parameters and yield were positively influenced by the application of CRF as a basal dose compared to split application of conventional urea fertilizers.
Professional identity and sense of coherence affect the between compassion fatigue and work engagement among Chinese hospital nurses
Authors: Zhang Yiming , Peng Qianwen , Chen Chaoran
Published: August 2023

Background：With the continuous improvement of people's health needs, the public's requirements for medical care are also getting higher and higher. Work engagement is a positive psychological state related to the work. It is very important to maintain nurses' work engagement, however, due to many factors, the level of nurses' work engagement is not high and nursing managers should identify the influencing factors of work engagement, and take positive measures to fully improve nurses' work engagement.
Objectives：To explore the influence of compassion fatigue, professional identity and sense of coherence on nurses' work engagement.
Methods：From January 2022 to June 2022, convenience sampling was used to select clinical nurses from 9 tertiary hospitals in Henan Province of China as the research objects for a questionnaire survey. Statistical methods included descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and the PROCESS Macro Model 4 and 7 in regression analysis.
Results：The results showed that compassion fatigue was significantly negatively correlated with sense of coherence, professional identity and work engagement (P＜0.01), professional identity was significantly positively correlated with sense of coherence and work engagement (P＜0.01), and there was a significant positive correlation between sense of coherence and work engagement (P＜0.01). Professional identity played a partial mediating role between compassion fatigue and work engagement, accounting for 46.40% of the total effect; meanwhile, sense of coherence moderated the effect of compassion fatigue on professional identity and formed a moderated mediation model.
Conclusions：Compassion fatigue has a negative predictive effect on nurses' work engagement. Professional identity and sense of coherence further explained the relationship of compassion fatigue on compassion fatigue and work engagement through mediating and moderating effects.
Magnetic Bearing: Structure, Model and Control strategy
Authors: Huang Zhihang , Li Changhe , Zhou Zongming , Liu Bo , Zhang Yanbin , Yang Min , Gao Teng , Liu Mingzheng , Zhang Naiqing , Sharma Shubham , Dambatta Yusuf Suleiman , Li Yongsheng
Published: August 2023

Bearings are crucial transmission components that offer support to mechanical rotating bodies. Nevertheless, traditional bearing failure due to friction and wear more easily. In scenarios involving ultra-high speeds and extreme applications, minimizing bearing losses and enhancing performance becomes especially vital. Magnetic bearings, characterized by zero friction, no need for lubrication, and high-speed capabilities, offer a viable solution to the issue of bearing failure attributed to friction. However, there is currently a shortage of comprehensive review literature that delves into the structural attributes, modeling mechanisms, and control strategies of magnetic bearings. This article will perform a comprehensive literature review on magnetic bearings, addressing the aforementioned aspects and discussing their core technologies. Firstly, from the perspective of classification and magnetic circuit structure analysis, the properties and characteristics of various magnetic bearings are discussed. Secondly, the working principle and performance of mathematical models of magnetic bearings with different structures are described, and the modeling steps and optimization schemes are summarized. Furthermore, the influence of control strategy of magnetic bearing on the control performance of magnetic bearing is summarized. Compared to PID control, modern control theory has achieved a performance improvement of nearly 50% in terms of improved position accuracy and adjustment time. Finally, the current research progress on magnetic bearings is summarized, and the current bottleneck issues are anticipated. This review contributes to a deeper understanding of the action mechanism and control method of magnetic levitation bearing, thus promoting the progress of magnetic levitation bearing technology.
Faces and bodies in whole person perception
Authors: Forner Katelyn , Tanaka James W.
Published: August 2023

In the current study, we employed a composite paradigm to test whether participants can selectively attend to the face or body information. For this task, participants are shown two sequentially composite face-body stimuli and are cued to attend to the face while ignoring body (Experiment 1) or cued to attend to the body while ignoring face (Experiment 2). In both experiments, we found a congruency effect where participants’ “same/different” discriminations of the cued, to-be-attended face (or body) target stimulus were influenced by the to-be-ignored uncued body (or face) stimulus. The magnitude of the congruency increased with the discrimination difficulty; suggesting as discrimination becomes more difficult, task-irrelevant information exerts a stronger bias on perceptual judgments. Critically, the spatial alignment manipulations between the face and body did not affect the congruency effect indicating that the whole person effect arises at the decisional stage of processing rather than the perceptual holistic stage. Together, our results indicate that person perception is a “whole person” process that obligatorily incorporates face and body information.
A comparative study of the thermal and mechanical cutting influence on the cut-edge hardness of structural steels S355 and S1100
Authors: Diekhoff Paul , Sun Jiamin , Nitschke-Pagel Thomas , Dilger Klaus
Published: August 2023

Thermal and mechanical cutting process are commonly applied in manufacturing industries for making a specific size and shape of samples. The material properties of the heat-affected metal at the cut edge might be different from that of the parent metal. Hardness as a very important parameter for the assessment of material properties has been widely used in the design procedure. The vickers hardness test is a versatile method to measure material hardness in practice. In this study, the comparison of cut-edge hardness between the thermal and mechanical cutting process was performed on the structural steels S355 and S1100 by using the experimental method. Based on the measurements, the influence of Vickers test load on the magnitude and distribution of cut-edge hardness for laser cut samples of steels S355 and S1100 was clarified. Furthermore, the effects of cutting processes on the hardness were illustrated. Finally, the comparison between the distribution characteristic of the cut-edge hardness of steels S355 and S1100 were made.
Application of Causal Inference Methods to Pooled Longitudinal Non- Randomized Studies: A Methodological Systematic Review
Authors: Hufstedler Heather , Mauer Nicole , Yeboah Edmund , Carr Sinclair , Rahman Sabahat , Danzer Alexander M. , Debray Thomas P.A. , Jong Valentijn M.T. , Campbell Harlan , Gustafson Paul , Maxwell Lauren , Jaenisch Thomas , Matthay Ellicott C. , Bärnighausen Till
Published: August 2023

Observational data provide invaluable real-world information in medicine, but certain methodological considerations are required to derive causal estimates. In this systematic review, we evaluated the methodology and reporting quality of individual-level patient data meta-analyses (IPD-MAs) published in 2009, 2014, and 2019 that sought to estimate a causal relationship in medicine. We screened over 16,000 titles and abstracts, reviewed 45 full-text articles out of the 167 deemed potentially eligible, and included 29 into the analysis. Unfortunately, we found that causal methodologies were rarely implemented, and reporting was generally poor across studies. Specifically, only three of the 29 articles used quasi-experimental methods, and no study used G-methods to adjust for time-varying confounding. To address these issues, we propose stronger collaborations between physicians and methodologists to ensure that causal methodologies are properly implemented in IPD-MAs. In addition, we put forward a suggested checklist of reporting guidelines for IPD-MAs that utilize causal methods. This checklist could improve reporting thereby potentially enhancing the quality and trustworthiness of IPD-MAs, which can be considered one of the most valuable sources of evidence for health policy.