bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impacts of mask-wearing regulations on stroke morbidity and mortality: A population-based retrospective cohort study in China
Authors: Shi Yulin , Wang Xiaonan , Li Ning , Li WanWei , Meng Xianfeng , Wang Baohua , Wan Xia
Published: November 2024

Background
It is common to protect people from air pollution by wearing masks, but how much of its health effect on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether the mask intervention associated with decrease in stroke morbidity and mortality.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cohort study comprising 7.8 million residents in Weifang, China from 2016 to 2022. The primary outcome was the daily stroke morbidity and mortality. An interrupted time series analysis, adjusting for underlying secular trends, seasonal patterns, air pollution, meteorological factors, health services utilization and road lockdowns, was performed to assess the immediate and gradual changes of stroke morbidity and mortality after the implementation of mask-wearing regulations.
Results
During the study period, 400,245 incident cases and 64,719 deaths of stroke were identified. Findings indicated a 5.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8%-10.0%) immediate and a 14.3% annual gradual (95% CI: 12.7%-15.8%) reduction were observed in stroke morbidity after the implementation of the regulations, which resulted in an overall reduction of 38.6% (95% CI: 34.1%-43.2%) within 33 months of follow-up. Similarly, there was the gradual decrease in stroke mortality. It resulted in an overall post-intervention decrease of 8.4% (95% CI, 1.6%-15.1%). The subgroup analyses indicated that overall post-regulation reductions in stroke morbidity were observed across all age groups, genders, and subtypes. However, the overall reduction in stroke mortality among male and those with hemorrhagic stroke was not statistically significant.
Conclusion
These findings have implications for policy makers and public health experts seeking to reduce burden of stroke morbidity and mortality at the population level through personal protection measure in regions with severe air pollution.
Evaluation of the effect of short-term intravenous pumping of Dezocine after lower limb fracture surgery：a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Qianliang , Wang Ye , Zhang Pan , Wang Huazheng , Ben Xinglei , Liu Chao , Jin Xingyu
Published: November 2024

Objective: To explore the analgesic effect and adverse reaction of early short-term intravenous pumping of Dezocine after lower limb fracture surgery.
Methods: Prospectively collected from 530 patients who underwent surgery for lower limb fracture and treated with postoperative analgesia. They were randomly divided into Dezocine combined with ketorolac group (DEZ) and ketorolac group (KET). The DEZ group was given ketorolac combined with dezocine by intravenous pumping for 24 hours. The KET group was only given ketorolac. Recorded the patients' pain scores, the postoperative adverse reactions and analgesic satisfaction. The analgesic effects of the two groups were compared after postoperative administration.
Results: Among the patients with postoperative pain, the effective rate in the DEZ group and the KET group has difference which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with pain scores ≥3 on postoperative days 1 and 3 was significantly lower in the DEZ group than in the KET group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse drug reactions in patients in the DEZ group was not significantly different from that in the KET group on postoperative days 1 and 3 (P < 0.05), and the analgesic satisfaction in patients in the DEZ group was significantly higher than that in the KET group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The effective rate and analgesic satisfaction for postoperative analgesia of lower limb fracture of combined medication were higher, and the adverse reaction rate didn’t change significantly. The difference of analgesic effect was more obvious in patients with severe postoperative pain.
Trial registration: This study has been registered in China National Medical Research Registration Information System on 15/05/2024.(MR-32-24-018286).
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Short- and Long-term Complications in Pediatric Burns.
Authors: Delgado-Miguel Carlos , Gómez Lara Fuentes , Morán Ada García , Miguel-Ferrero Miriam , Díaz Mercedes , López-Gutiérrez Juan Carlos
Published: November 2024

Background
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) has been postulated as a useful inflammatory biomarker in the prediction of complications in different pediatric diseases. Our aim is to analyze the predictive value of NLR in the development of complications in burned children, both in the short-term (need for grafting) and in the long-term (need for surgery of the sequelae).
Methods
A retrospective study was performed on burned patients under 18-years admitted to our Burn Unit between 2015–2021. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data at admission were evaluated. Predictive factors for the development of complications after burns (time of evolution, burned total body surface area, and acute phase reactants) were analyzed using sensitivity and specificity analysis (ROC curves).
Results
A total of 342 patients (198 males, 144 females) were included, with a median age of 27 months (interquartile range 15–83 months). In 97.4% of the cases, burns were primarily caused by thermal injuries (78.4% scald burns). Acute escharectomy and grafting were performed in 85 patients (24.9%), while long-term sequelae were observed in 112 cases (32.7%). NLR was the most sensitive and specific predictor for the need for escharectomy and grafting (Sensitivity 90%, Specificity 88.4%; AUC 0.920), for the development of long-term sequelae (Sensitivity 80.4%, Specificity 83.5%; AUC 0.849) and for the need for surgery of the sequelae (Sensitivity 83.5%, Specificity 80.9%; AUC 0.833).
Conclusion
NLR may be considered a useful predictor for the development of short- and long-term complications in childhood burns. It may help in the identification of high-risk patients to prevent sequelae.
Application of local anesthesia in parotid gland tumor resection: a retrospective review of 364 cases
Authors: Liu Shiyuan , Shen Heli , Yang Futian , Dai Pengzhan , Huang Zhiquan , Li Wei , Zhang Xianjun
Published: November 2024

Objectives: The study explores the feasibility of using local anesthesia in parotid gland tumor surgery.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze 364 medical records, gathering data on several key aspects. These included the age, incision length, operation time, size of tumor, NHIS, ASA score, pathology. Additionally, we documented postoperative complications.
Results: A total of 111 patients underwent surgery under local anesthesia, while 253 patients underwent surgery under general anesthesia. We found a significantly different in surgical time, incision length, and tumor size between two group. There is no difference in postoperative complications and age.
Conclusions: It is feasible to perform parotid gland tumor resection under local anesthesia. Compared to general anesthesia, this approach does not increase the risk of complications or surgical trauma and can reduce anesthesia-related complications. This is beneficial for expanding the surgical treatment indications, allowing patients who cannot tolerate general anesthesia to also receive treatment.
Female labour force participation, power dynamics and adoption of LPG for cooking in Ghana
Authors: Wilson Joseph , Owusu-Brown Bernice , Iddrisu Seidu
Published: November 2024

Cooking with solid fuels has been identified to pose health and environmental risks especially to women and children who bear the primary and heaviest burden of collecting firewood and cooking. While liquefied petroleum gas is recognized as a clean energy source that could alleviate the issues associated with solid fuels, empirical research has not extensively explored how women's involvement in the labour force and their power dynamics could promote the adoption of liquefied petroleum gas. This study addresses this gap by examining female labour force participation, power dynamics, and adoption of liquefied petroleum gas in Ghana using mixed-effect logistic regression model. The findings suggest that increasing women’s participation in the labour market increases the likelihood of adoption of liquefied petroleum gas as a cooking fuel by 2.5 times. However, married women with limited decision-making power in their households are less likely to adopt liquefied petroleum gas as a cooking fuel. Policy should be geared towards empowering women by giving them employable skills through training.
Leukemia burden impacts the efficacy and toxicity of blinatumomab in pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Yan Weiling , Hu Shaoyan , Gao Wenjin , Yang Lihua , Gu Yan , Liu Yufeng , He Yunyan , Zhou Dunhua , Hu Wenting , Tang Xue , Sun Ming , Song Lili , Yang Wenyu , You Yalan , Tang Yongmin , Xu Xiaojun
Published: November 2024

Background Blinatumomab has demonstrated its efficacy and safety in pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The objective of this analysis was to describe the responses and toxicities of blinatumomab in pediatric patients with different leukemic burdens in the bone marrow.
Methods We enrolled patients aged 0-18 years who were diagnosed with CD19-positive B-ALL and treated with blinatumomab between January 2021 and May 2023 from 14 centers in China.
Results A total of 307 patients were enrolled in this analysis. The complete remission (CR) rate was 72.1% among 61 patients with ≥5% blasts(non-complete remission, NCR group), of whom 90.9% achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity. Among 93 patients with <5% blasts but multiparametric flow cytometry MRD (MFC-MRD) positive(MRD+ group), 96.8% achieved MRD negativity. Of the 153 MFC-MRD negative patients(MRD- group), 60.0% and 65.5% turned quantitative polymerase chain reaction MRD (qPCR-MRD) or next-generation sequencing MRD (NGS-MRD) negative, respectively. Additionally, Patients in the MRD+ and MRD- groups had significantly better outcomes than those in the NCR group, with 30-month OS rates of 91.6% (95% CI: 0.857-0.979), 95.3% (95% CI: 0.915-0.993), and 77.6% (95% CI: 0.674-0.894), respectively (P<0.001), and 30-month RFS rates of 90.7% (95% CI: 0.847-0.972), 93.3% (95% CI: 0.890-0.979), and 64.4% (95% CI: 0.495-0.837), respectively (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in OS between the patients who achieved MFC-MRD negativity in the NCR group and those in the MRD+ group, with 30-month OS rates of 85.7% (95% CI: 0.745-0.987) and 93.2% (95% CI: 0.881-0.986), respectively (P=0.270). In this study, 41% of patients experienced grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs), with hematological toxicity being the most common (32.9%). The severe adverse events, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity, occurred at a low rate, particularly grade ≥3, at 3.6% and 2.6%, respectively.
Conclusion Overall, these results indicate that blinatumomab is effective and well-tolerated. Patients with a lower leukemia burden before blinatumomab administration tend to have better overall survival and relapse-free survival with fewer AEs.
Glaciation of the Kuznetsky Alatau Mountains – current state according to Sentinel-2 satellite images and field studies
Authors: Ananicheva Maria , Adamenko Marina , Abramov Andrey
Published: November 2024

Glaciers and glacierets of the Kuznetsky Alatau mountains are distributed at altitudes of 1200–1500 m above sea level, which is not typical for continental areas. The main factor contributing to the persistence of glaciation here is abundant winter precipitation. According to ground surface temperature measurements, the negative annual values are typical for upper glacier’s boundaries only. Since intensive study during the compilation of the USSR Glacier Inventory (1965–1980), the glaciation of the region has undergone notable changes. To assess the current state of glaciation, Sentinel-2 satellite images were used; contours of the glaciers were traced on the basis of images from 2021–2023. In total, 78 glaciers and 57 glacierets were identified. UAV imagery and field inspection were used for validation. The total glaciated area has been reduced from 8.5 to 3.1 km2, which is 50–75% for selected river basins, with slope morphological types decreasing the most. However, the elevation changes are negligible.
Evaluating the Flammability of Select Native Grasses in the Southeastern Coastal Plain
Authors: LaPierre Gage Daniel J , Schneider Mary A. , Miller Deborah L. , Hedman Craig , Sharma Ajay , Andreu Michael
Published: November 2024

The study investigated the flammability of nine common native grass species in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Fire has historically shaped many of the plant communities in this region. Grasses are a significant component of these communities, serving as the fine fuels that carry fire across the landscape. The dominant grass species, wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana), is considered a keystone species due to its high flammability, but its reproduction challenges and restoration costs prompt a search for alternative species with similar flammability but lower restoration and production costs. In this study, we experimentally burned nine common native grass species, including wiregrass, in controlled conditions in a custom-built combustion chamber and measured their flammability metrics, including flame duration, smoldering time, max flame height, mass loss, and mass loss rate, for each species. Results indicated significant differences in flammability metrics across nine common species. Wiregrass, as expected, featured high flammability metrics, including longest flame duration at 105.10 s and second highest flame height at 44.31 cm, supporting its keystone status. However, other species like purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) and split-beard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius) were comparable with wiregrass regarding high mass loss rates and high flame heights, suggesting they could potentially, or partially be used in place of wiregrass or preferably in combination with wiregrass in restoration projects and contribute to sustaining fire regimes in fire-dependent communities of the Southeastern Coastal Plains. Our findings suggest that incorporating a variety of flammable species in restoration projects could enhance ecological resiliency, biodiversity, ecosystem functionality, and further highlight the importance of species-specific traits in fire behavior and ecosystem dynamics.
Efficient Last-Mile Delivery in the Pharmaceutical Sector: A Novel Approach for Vehicle Routing with Smart Parcel Lockers
Authors: Aghdam Reyhaneh Shafiee , Shirazi Mohsen Akbarpour , Karimi Behrooz
Published: November 2024

The rise of B2C businesses and increasing consumer demands for affordable, convenient delivery services underscore the need for efficient delivery solutions. Last-mile delivery is crucial but often costly and time-consuming. Smart lockers offer a faster, cost-effective alternative, particularly important for the pharmaceutical industry during a pandemic. Contactless locker services ensure safe, efficient medication distribution. This research introduces a mathematical model to optimize vehicle routing for multiple products and truck types in the pharmaceutical sector. The dual objectives are reducing logistics costs and enhancing customer satisfaction by considering delivery time windows. The model evaluates direct customer delivery and indirect delivery via parcel lockers. The Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTW) is modeled as a mixed-integer non-linear program (MINLP) in GAMS, and solved using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). A case study confirms the model's effectiveness, providing managerial insights for field managers.
Effect of an Educational Program on Nurses’ Level of Knowledge about Pain Assessment and Management: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Alomari Hussein , Allobaney Nabeel F. , AL-HUSBAN Raya Yousef , Macaaly Rosario A. , Swallmeh Esmat
Published: November 2024

Background Pain is universally acknowledged as one of the most distressing experiences individuals encounter, often leading to significant psychological and physical implications. Effective pain management is essential in healthcare, and it is imperative that nursing professionals possess the requisite knowledge and skills to assess and manage pain effectively. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a structured educational program on nurses' performance levels in pain assessment and management.
Methods A quasi-experimental, one-group pre- and post-test intervention design was used to facilitate this investigation. The research was conducted in the inpatient medical and surgical units in a main tertiary governmental hospital in Jordan. A total of 106 male and female nurses who provided direct nursing care in medical and surgical wards voluntarily participated in the study. Two instruments were utilised for data collection. A questionnaire was designed to assess nurses' knowledge regarding pain assessment and management, and an observational checklist was used to evaluate the practical application of pain management techniques by nurses.
Results The study focused on a sample predominantly comprising female nurses, most of whom held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and had 2–5 years of clinical experience. Notably, 88.7% of participants had not previously attended educational sessions centred on pain assessment and management. Following an educational intervention, statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in the mean knowledge scores (P<0.001). Furthermore, all dimensions of nursing practices related to pain management showed statistically substantial enhancement after the training, demonstrating a strong correlation between knowledge and practice levels before and after the educational program.
Conclusion The educational program's implementation resulted in more thanhalf of the participating nurses achieving a commendable level of knowledge and satisfactory practices in pain assessment and management. This underscores the program's effectiveness in enhancing both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It is recommended that nursing professionals engage in ongoing training and educational opportunities focused on pain assessment and management to further refine their competencies and improve patient outcomes.
Effective dipole model for electrostatic interactions between polarizable spherical particles in the DEM
Authors: Giordano Maria , Alfano Francesca Orsola , Maio Francesco Paolo Di , Renzo Alberto Di
Published: November 2024

Despite their widespread adoption, Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations of electrically charged particles in several natural processes and industrial transformations do not include realistic polarization effects. At close distances, these can dominate the particle motion and are impossible to predict by the commonly adopted Coulomb point–charge approximation. Sophisticated mathematical tools can account for uneven charge distributions, predicting an attractive force between a charged particle and a neutral particle or possible attraction between two like-charged particles. Such approaches are accurate but too complex for implementation in DEM simulations of many interacting particles. We propose a novel, simpler yet realistically accurate effective dipole model. By attributing a net charge and an induced effective dipole on each sphere, the interaction force between charged polarizable particles is computed in closed form. A comparison of a rigorous solution and the proposed dipole approach for two spherical particles reveals significant improvement over the commonly employed Coulomb law. The effects of particle size ratio and charge ratio on the interaction force are discussed. Then, the dynamic simulation of a shaker filled with a binary mixture of differently sized particles that are all positively charged is shown to predict the counterintuitive formation of fine–on–coarse aggregates.
A cross section survey on knowledge, attitude and practices of personal hygiene among school going children in Swabi, Pakistan
Authors: Noor Maqaddas , Khanam Surrya , Mayamba Alex
Published: November 2024

Background
Poor hygiene, knowledge and practices among the school going children are the major cause of different communicable diseases including diarrhea, skin problems, worm infestations, and dental ailments in developing countries. The present study aimed to investigate the existing knowledge, attitude and practices of personal hygiene among school going children in district Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Method
A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to January 2022 in six randomly selected schools of the area. This study involved 398 students from 4th to 6th class. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to assess children’s knowledge, attitude and practices towards hygiene.
Results
The study results showed that students have good knowledge about the importance of hand washing, foot washing and nail cutting. Almost all the students knew the requirements of personal hygiene. More than 90% of the students wash their hands before and after meals. Half of the students take baths daily and about three quarters of them brush their teeth twice a day.
Conclusion
This study has revealed that school going children have appreciable knowledge and practice good hygiene while at school. The knowledge, attitude and practices of school children are quite satisfactory. Further, proper education, training and compressive intervention programs could support personal hygiene practices among children and minimize the risks for different communicable diseases.
Genetic diversity, pathogenicity, and toxigenicity of the dominant Fusarium spp. causing maize ear rot in summer-sown regions of China
Authors: Dong Siyuan , Yuan Yongtian
Published: November 2024

Ear rot is one of the most destructive diseases found in the major corn-producing areas of China and worldwide. The disease reduces the quality and yield of corn, and the mycotoxin adversely affects human and animal health. The present study explored the genetic diversity, pathogenicity, and toxigenicity of two dominant Fusarium species (Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum) in the summer-sown regions of China. We identified 1349 Fusarium isolates, including F. verticillioides (71%), F. proliferatum (21%), Fusarium graminearum (6%), and Fusarium oxysporum (2%), in the maize ear rot samples collected between 2019 and 2020 from the summer-sown areas of China. The F. verticillioides isolates from Henan showed high aggressiveness (30.6), and fumonisins production ability (FB1, 3087.8 µg/kg; FB2, 1546.8 µg/kg). Field pathogenicity test in Hefei and Linquan showed that all isolates caused ear rot, with varying levels of pathogenicity. F. verticillioides isolates demonstrated higher pathogenicity than F. proliferatum in the summer-sown areas of China except for the Shānxī region. Meanwhile, the F. proliferatum isolates from Anhui showed the highest genetic diversity, genotypes, aggressiveness (28.5), and Fumonisins production ability (2816.1 µg/kg FB1; 1268.7 µg/kg FB2). Based on the disease (ear rot) severity index, the study also classified the isolates as low, medium, and highly aggressive. The ability to produce fumonisins (FB1 and FB2) in maize also varied among the different F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum isolates; F. verticillioides produced 162.9–7545.5 µg/kg of FB1 and 43.2–3831.9 µg/kg of FB2, while F. proliferatum produced 282.0–5678.8 µg/kg of FB1 and 118.2–3741.7 µg/kg of FB2. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was detected between pathogenicity and FB1 and FB2 production (r > 0.74, P < 0.01). These findings improve our understanding of the maize ear rot pathogenic and their potential risks to human and animal health. The study thus provides a theoretical basis for the comprehensive prevention and control of maize ear rot in the summer-sown regions of China.
RETRACTED: Corporate Ethics in the Digital Era: A Study on the Synergistic Effects of Environmental Ethics and Big Data Analytics Capabilities
Authors: Wu WeiWei , Li Xue , Ruan Guowei
Published: November 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The effect of cognitive attrition on intertemporal choice
Authors: Yao Zijian , Li Ying , Xu Fuming , Huang Long
Published: November 2024

Intertemporal choice is the process by which people make trade-offs and choices about gains and losses at different points in time. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cognitive attrition on intertemporal choice. Using a mixed experimental design of 2 (cognitive loss: high attrition group vs. low attrition group) x 3 (delay time: 7 days vs. 30 days vs. 120 days). Grouping of subjects by cognitive switching task. Divided into high attrition and bottom attrition groups. From there, we explored the rate of time discounting for subjects in a cross-over choice task with different delay times. As it turns out: Overall, both the proportion of subjects choosing the immediate option and the time discount rate were significantly higher in the high attrition group than in the low attrition group. In a cross-over selection task with different delay times, cognitive attrition has a greater impact on an individual's intertemporal choice preference at short delay times.
Mechanism Underlying Flavor Quality Formation during Withering Process of Niangniang Tea, a Compressed Large-Leaf Yellow Tea
Authors: Wang Yanxia , Guan Hao , Lu Li , Zhao Yunan , Shi Jinjie , Li Xiaosong , huang Hao , Lu Litang
Published: November 2024

Niangniang tea (NNT) is a traditional compressed large-leaf yellow tea shaped as Chinese writing brush. Withering time affects the flavor characteristics. The sensory evaluation revealed the highest score was achieved at 8 hours of withering (Yd). Metabolomics analysis revealed a decrease in 18 bitter metabolites, accompanied by an increase in sweet metabolites and amino acids during the withering process. Transcriptome analysis showed, the relative expression of CsSCPL (Serine carboxypeptidase-like) decreased rapidly, while the relative expression of CsTA (Tannase) showed an increasing trend, which inhibited the acylation of non-ester type catechins to ester type, and promoted the conversion of bitter and heavy ester type catechins to non-ester type catechins with lighter bitterness. The withering process of NNT reduced the bitter taste but enhanced sweetness, and the tea tastes more sweet and mellow. Metabolomics and transcriptomics result conducive to a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of the formation mechanism of flavor quality in the withering process.
Towards Greener Futures: AI-Powered Designs for Sustainable, Accessible, and Energy-Smart Urban Furniture to Improve Happiness and Well-being in Public Parks
Authors: Abouelela Amira , Al-Saud Khaled , AlAli Rommel , KATAT Ali M. , Ali May A. Malek
Published: November 2024

This research paper assesses the effects of sustainable, accessible, and energy-efficient urban furniture design on happiness and well-being among the residents of the urban environment. This paper discusses how urban furniture can help make cities more sustainable, livable, and welcoming for everyone. Through reviewing the existing studies, this paper explores how creative designs, along with input from experts in the same field and the use of eco-friendly materials and technologies, can contribute to making urban spaces better. One of the identified key features of this research was the use of an opinion poll involving a broad spectrum of residents, about the evaluation of proposed designs created with the help of AI, while all designs were based on sustainability, accessibility, and the potential for well-being enhancement. Collecting feedback contributes to finding out public preferences and the efficiency of elements in each design, hence aiding in the development of design guidelines that would bring more inclusive, sustainable, and energy-efficient design. This research will aim to add to the available literature on urban design, fill a gap in this area, and stress the importance of urban furniture in the improvement of life quality. It includes public input when giving recommendations on the future of developments. This can be of great input to sustain urban living and policymaking with a fresh perspective toward sustainable development and well-being.
The Mediating Effect of Meaning in Life in the Relationship between Self-compassion and Psychopathological Symptoms among Chinese adults
Authors: MA Tsz Wah
Published: November 2024

Background
While there is consistent evidence linking self-compassion to depression and anxiety, the specific pathways that connect them remain poorly understood. One potential pathway is the presence of meaning in life. The present study aimed to investigate whether meaning in life, mediate the association between self-compassion and psychopathological symptoms (depression and anxiety) in a sample of adults across different age groups.
Methods
300 Hong Kong Chinese (age 18–70 years) were recruited by stratified probability sampling. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized to examine the total effects, indirect effects (i.e., mediation), and direct effects outlined in the proposed hypotheses.
Results
In terms of depression, a mediation effect of meaning in life was observed. Both the direct effects and the indirect effects were statistically significant (all p values < 0.001). However, in terms of anxiety, the model showed significant direct effects of self-compassion on the anxiety symptoms, but no significant effect was found of the meaning in life on the anxiety symptoms (p = 0.77) and, therefore, the indirect effects were not statistically significant.
Conclusion
Self-compassion was found to weaken the depressive symptoms in the current study. Our study further revealed that the sense of meaning in life mediated the relationship between self-compassion and depressive symptoms. Individuals who are self-compassionate are less susceptible to depressive symptoms as they experience a greater sense of meaning in life. Self-compassion may facilitate the cultivation of positive emotions and the ability to bounce back from negative emotions, ultimately reducing the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms.
Programmed cell death and redox metabolism protect Chlamydomonas reinhardtii populations from the galactic cosmic environment on the Artemis-1 mission
Authors: Hammond Timothy G. , Panikkanvalappil Sajanlal , Allen Patricia L. , Gaikani Hamid Kian , Nislow Corey , Giaever Guri , Zhang Ye , Levine Howard G. , Gaza Ramona , Dimapilis Dinah , Wells Howard W. , Russick James M. , Durand Pierre M. , Birdsall Holly H.
Published: November 2024

We hypothesized that on the Artemis I mission, exposure to the galactic cosmic environment, specifically microgravity, lack of convection, and galactic cosmic radiation, would reduce survival of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a green unicellular flagellate alga, through the process of necrosis. An alternative hypothesis was that the radiation stimulus would induce a population survival response via a programmed cell death pathway. The Chlamydomonas strains were spotted on nutrient agar acetate plates and flown on Artemis I in the new Moonshot hardware that provided six hours of light daily to synchronize the algal cell cycle and tracked temperature, power use, and gravity over time. Synchronous ground controls were run in parallel. Analysis included spectrophotometry of chlorophylls and photosystems, flow cytometry of cell viability and lipid content, and Raman spectroscopy to identify DNA damage and cellular proteins. To test for radiation protection, select strains carried the tardigrade damage suppressor (Dsup) gene known to protect animal cells against gamma and ionizing radiation, dehydration, and temperature extremes in ground-based studies. A new flight hardware termed “Moonshot” was designed, built, and flown. “Moonshot” performed flawlessly, and is now available as flight-certified, flight-proven hardware for timed illumination and monitoring for flight and terrestrial applications. Within the limitations of the physical handling of specimens necessitated by the Artemis-1 mission flight around the Moon with exposure to the galactic cosmic environment: 1. Flown samples exposed to cosmic radiation were more viable than ground controls, with increased programmed cell death and decreased necrosis. 2. There was no difference in Chlamydomonas growth or content of chlorophylls and photosystems in flown versus ground controls, ruling out energy metabolism as the mediator of cell death. 3. Raman spectroscopy analysis showed that the redox-protective protein beta-carotene, a known cell death mediator, was increased during flight around the moon. 4. Compared to control inserts, insertion of the Dsup tardigrade gene was protective both on the ground and in flight.
Innovative design and nonlinear stability analysis of a micro giant magnetostrictive bone conduction vibrator
Authors: Fu Xin , Ai Chaohui , Yan Hongbo , Wang Jianxin
Published: November 2024

Due to the excellent energy conversion engineering characteristics of giant magnetostrictive material (GMM), a giant magnetostrictive bone conduction micro-vibrator is proposed and designed. Base on the linear piezomagnetic equation and the structural dynamics of the GMM bone conduction vibrator, a hysteresis nonlinear dynamic equation for the GMM bone conduction vibrator is derived. Following the application of a dimensionless treatment to the equation, an analysis of the vibrator's main resonance is conducted using a multi-scale method. The chaotic characteristics of the system is examined via both qualitative and quantitative analysis, with particular attention paid to the influences of excitation amplitude and frequency. The results show that the dimensions of the designed excitation coil module is ø5.5×7.15mm, with the overall contour size of the GMM vibrator being as small as ø17×19mm. This meets the miniaturization design requirements of the bone conduction vibrator. A smaller excitation amplitude or a larger damping coefficient is beneficial for reducing the unstable branch of the primary resonance and avoiding the amplitude jump. An appropriate secondary stiffness coefficient is helpful for offsetting the influence of nonlinear factors on the system. Under the condition of given parameters, the GMM bone conduction vibrator exhibits chaotic behaviour, and avoiding its chaotic region can effectively improve the stability of the system.
Empowering Recovery: Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Managing De Quervain's Tenosynovitis Pain
Authors: Mahmood Usman , Khan Muhammad Waqas , Khatana Naveed Hussain , Ali Taimoor , Iqbal Saad , Rehman Hafees Ur , Syed Amna , Mohammad Jemal Girma
Published: November 2024

Objective:
Our study aims to evaluate clinical results following platelet-rich plasma injection use in terms of pain alleviation patients with De Quervain's Tenosynovitis..
Background: De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is a inflammation of inner lining of the tendon sheath of first dorsal compartment of wrist due to repetitive and sustained tension. For tendon healing, platelet-rich plasma offers a regenerative stimulus.
Material and Methods: Total 68 patients were included. Patients were injected with single session of PRP. Pain intensity at 6 weeks was compared to pain intensity of pre-procedure. Statistical measures of central tendency and variability were calculated. The process of stratification was conducted by using either the chi-square test or the Fischer exact test. A P-value of ≤0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Results: There were 29.4% male and 70.6% female patients. Mean age was 43.75±10.01 years. Mean symptoms and surgery duration was 5.18±1.03 weeks and 2.15±0.35 hours. Mean pre-operative pain, pain after 2 weeks and pain after 6 weeks was 84.93±10.80, 60.15±12.95 and 43.24±14.00 respectively. 36.8% patients got pain relief after 2 weeks and 83.8% got pain relief after 6 weeks.
Conclusion: PRP is an efficient method for treating De Quervain's illness and reducing pain intensity is platelet-rich plasma.
Intimate partner violence and maternal characteristics as predictor of anxiety and depression among pregnant women in Nigeria.
Authors: Olabisi Oluwaseyi Isaiah , Ogunmodede Eunice , Dosumu Taiwo , Olude Abigail , Banjo Bimbo , Adesanya Monsurat , Esan Deborah Tolulope
Published: November 2024

Objectives:
This study aimed to assess the influence of maternal characteristics and intimate partner violence on the level of anxiety and depression experienced by the pregnant women
Method: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to study 394 pregnant women in two selected primary healthcare centres in Nigeria using a systematic sampling technique based on the requisite sample size. Data was collected using the World Health Organization’s Multi-Country Tool on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores. The collected data were analysed using SPSS Windows software version 21. Furthermore, the results were summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics with a significance level of p<0.05.
Results:. Pregnant women who experienced intimate partner violence were 3.9 times more likely to have anxiety symptoms (adjusted OR 3.91, 95% CI 1.41–10.874; p = 0.009). Maternal characteristics associated with depression include tertiary education, second-trimester pregnancy, middle age (25–34 years), and pregnancy with more than two children.
Conclusion: This study shows a strong link between intimate partner violence and anxiety levels among pregnant women. Therefore, healthcare professionals should assess for the history of intimate partner violence during antenatal clinic and provide care accordingly
Parkinson’s Disease Mild Cognitive Impairment with MRI evidence of Cholinergic Nucleus 4 Degeneration: A New Subtype?
Authors: Negida Ahmed , Vohra Hiba , Lageman Sarah , Mukhopadhyay Nitai , Berman Brian , Weintraub Daniel , Barrett Matthew
Published: November 2024

Subtyping Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) could improve clinical trial design and personalized treatments. Cholinergic nucleus 4 (Ch4) volume has been linked to cognitive impairment severity and future decline in PD. This study investigates whether PD-MCI patients with MRI evidence of Ch4 degeneration have distinct clinical profiles and cognitive trajectories. Baseline MRI scans of 148 PD-MCI participants from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) were analyzed. Patients with low Ch4 grey matter density (GMD) had worse motor, autonomic, and olfactory symptoms, and were more likely to belong to the diffuse malignant PD subtype (51.6% vs. 23.4%; P < 0.01). They also had faster progression to cognitive milestones (P = 0.0046). These findings identify PD-MCI with low Ch4 as a distinct subtype with more severe symptoms and faster cognitive decline, highlighting the importance of considering this group in PD-MCI clinical trials, particularly for cholinergic therapies.
Sustainable Development Goal-Oriented Water Management for Smart Buildings in Smart Cities: An Automatic PLC-Based Demand and Supply Approach
Authors: Desai Ravishankar , Maske Pramod
Published: November 2024

The global emphasis on sustainable development, exemplified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscores the crucial importance of effective water management. Integrating smart cities and buildings is essential for developing sustainable and adaptable water management and distribution systems as urban areas continue expanding. Our research outlines autonomous water management in smart buildings within smart cities, aligning with the SDGs.
This paper presents a prototype model of programmable logic controller (PLC)-based automatic water distribution for smart residential buildings, which is part of the smart cities initiative. This approach addresses several issues, such as unregulated water flow, excessive water usage by individuals, accurate and balanced billing, waterline leakages and tank overflow. Additionally, it ensures the effective and efficient utilization of water. The proposed prototype model offers flexibility to individuals based on their requirements, with an option to charge extra for additional usage.
Linezolid combined Strontium substituted hydroxyapatite-Bi polymeric composite for Osteomyelitis affected bone regeneration analysis
Authors: Li Hua , Du Qi , Guo Pei-Yu , Yi Yong-Tao , Mickymaray Suresh , Balu Anbarasan , Suresh Kaviya , Li Xi
Published: November 2024

The primary objective of this investigation is to rectify bacterial infections in bone (osteomyelitis) and bone regeneration by utilizing an antibiotic-loaded hydroxyapatite polymer composite. In this regard, strontium (Sr)-substituted hydroxyapatite (mHAP)-reinforced polymeric composites with linezolid (LNZ) were utilized for osteomyelitis-affected bone repair. The brittle nature of the mHAP ceramic was overcome by adding with polymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSSS). The composite formation, crystallinity, surface morphology, and zeta potential were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), high resolution - transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Zeta potential and particle size analysis techniques. The particle size and zeta potential were noted, and the zeta potential values of mHAP/PVP-PSSS and mHAP/PVP-PSSS/LNZ composites were found to be − 14.8 mV and − 40.3 mV, respectively. The bioactive results with SBF favored apatite formation and confirmed the composite’s biocompatibility with new bone formation. The cell viability of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) and the gene expression analysis confirmed the osteogenic potential of the prepared materials. Because the prepared composite obtained promising results, these studies confirm that the prepared composite can release the antibiotic for the treatment of osteomyelitis-affected bone repair.
Association of stress hyperglycemia ratio with clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in intensive care units: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Chen Jinzhan , Chen Ayun , Zhang Ning , Chen Zhisheng , Huang Jinxian , Jiang Hongni , Xie Congyi
Published: November 2024

Background
Co-morbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) corresponds to increasing severity and adverse clinical outcomes. This study intends to investigate the association of stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) with adverse outcomes in critically ill patients with COPD and T2DM.
Methods
Critically ill patients diagnosed with COPD and T2DM from 2008 to 2019 were retrospectively included from the MIMIC-IV (version 2.2). They were assigned into three groups based on SHR tertiles, and all-cause in-hospital mortality (ACIHM) and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (LOIS) were the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. The association of SHR with adverse outcomes was explored by Logistic regression, generalized linear regression, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve analyses, and its robustness was verified by subgroup analyses.
Results
Totally 1781 patients with COPD and T2DM were included. Logistic regression analyses revealed that after adjusting for all confounders, the risk of ACIHM increased by 51% in T3 compared with T1 (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.06–2.16). RCS curve analyses showed a statistically significant linear association between SHR and ACIHM (Pnonlinear=0.584). As shown by generalized linear regression analyses, each unit increase in SHR was associated with a 0.68-day increase in LOIS after adjusting for all confounders (β = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.12–1.2). According to subgroup analyses, SHR and ACIHM had no statistically significant interaction except for the marital status subgroup (Pinteraction=0.04).
Conclusion
A high SHR is associated with an increase in ACIHM and LOIS in critically ill patients with COPD and T2DM. Assessment of SHR may contribute to better risk stratification and prognostic prediction for such patients.
Trial registration:
Not applicable
An Observational Study of Renewable Energy Supply Chain and Sustainability Challenges
Authors: Labaran Muhamad Jameel , Masood Tariq
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the sustainability and supply chain challenges in the African renewable energy sector, offering solutions rooted in green supply chain management principles and Industry 4.0 technologies. Employing an interpretive research strategy, the study gathers insights from mini-grid companies, regulatory authorities, and a global financial institution that fund renewable energy projects across Africa. The findings reveal various SC issues related to importation, economic policies, regulations, logistics, skill gaps, and corruption. Sustainability related challenges such as lack of environmental awareness and poor end-of-life management practices were also obtained. Proposed solutions include GSCM practices like recycling, responsible sourcing, and carbon footprint assessment, and leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies such as Internet of things, blockchain, and big data analytics for smart metering and energy management. The study highlights practical implications, advocating for robust approaches to resolving supply chain and sustainability issues, policy enactment favourable to the renewable energy sector, and synergy among government departments and law enforcement agencies.
Research on the impact of large-scale photovoltaic development on regional economic growth-a case study of Qinghai Province
Authors: Zhun QU , Yang Su-Chang
Published: November 2024

Large-scale photovoltaic(PV) development has been widely promoted in northwest China and achieved significant economic and industrial benefits. However, previous studies have not fully explored the impact of large-scale PV development on regional economic growth. This paper selects 8 prefecture-level cities in Qinghai Province from 2018 to 2022, uses the static balanced panel data and empirical analysis of panel regression to test the impact of large-scale photovoltaic development on regional economic growth. The results show that large-scale photovoltaic development has a positive impact on regional economic growth, but there are regional differences in the impact. Through further regression analysis, it is found that the impact of photovoltaic power generation on regional economy follows a nonlinear relationship. When the photovoltaic power generation is lower than the critical value (47.71), its impact on regional economy is positive. In less developed regions, the increase of photovoltaic power generation in the initial stage will significantly promote economic growth, but when the critical value (1.505) is exceeded, the increase of photovoltaic power generation has a negative impact on the economy. There is no inverted U-shaped relationship between the impact of large-scale PV development on economic growth in developed regions.