bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation of Pregnant Women for Natural Childbirth and its Course – Knowledge and Attitudes – Cross-Sectional Studies
Authors: Guzewicz Patrycja , Sierakowska Matylda
Published: August 2024

Background
Preparing a pregnant woman for natural childbirth plays a crucial role in ensuring a safe and positive birthing experience. That process includes prenatal education, physical preparation of the body, and emotional support, which together help reduce anxiety, stress, and pain associated with childbirth. The role of prenatal education is particularly important as it provides expectant mothers with knowledge about the physiology of childbirth, breathing techniques, relaxation exercises, and non-pharmacological methods of pain management. The aim of this study is to understand the level of preparation of women for childbirth, assess the impact of childbirth preparation on its course and the experience of birthing women, and analyse the relationship between various forms of preparation and the levels of stress, anxiety, and satisfaction with childbirth.
Methods
Cross-sectional studies were conducted with a group of 201 pregnant women at the University Clinical Hospital in Białystok. Participants completed questionnaires before and after childbirth, that assessed their knowledge, skills, and experience related to childbirth. The study was conducted by means of a self-designed questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the Health Behaviour Inventory (HBI).
Results
No effect of childbirth preparation on perceived satisfaction after childbirth has been found. Women with a higher sense of self-efficacy more frequently used non-pharmacological methods of pain relief during childbirth, performed pelvic floor muscle exercises, used perineal massage, and prepared a birth plan. They also rated their degree of preparation for childbirth higher. Childbirth preparation is not related to the mode of delivery but it increases the likelihood of using non-pharmacological methods of pain relief during childbirth.
Conclusions
It is important for pregnant women to have access to appropriate sources of support and information, which may have a positive impact upon their birthing experience. Particular attention should be given to the provision of adequate support from medical staff and improvement of a birthing woman’s self-efficacy since the level of satisfaction does not solely depend on childbirth preparation.
Subunit-Selective PI3K Inhibition to Reverse Immunotherapy Resistance: Phase I/II Study of PI3Kβ and Pembrolizumab in Advanced Solid Tumors with PTEN Loss
Authors: Tawbi Hussein , Burton Elizabeth , Dumbrava Ecaterina , Bohat Ritu , Milton Denai , Amaria Rodabe , McQuade Jennifer , Oliva Isabella Claudia Glitza , Subudhi Sumit , Aparicio Ana , Corn Paul , Pilie Patrick , Hong David , Patel Sapna , Rodon Jordi , Yap Timothy , Liang Xiaofang , Yu Chengtai , Xu Yitian , Liang Han , Lee Jack , Wani Khalida , Malke Jared , Simon Julie , Hudgens Courtney , Hwu Patrick , Wargo Jennifer , Tang Yitao , Tetzlaff Michael , Lazar Alexander , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Davies Michael , Peng Weiyi
Published: August 2024

Overcoming resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) remains a critical unmet need for most cancer patients. Loss of the PTEN tumor suppressor gene activates the PI3K-AKT pathway in multiple cancer types. In melanoma, PTEN loss reduces ICB efficacy in preclinical models and correlates with decreased response rates in patients. The PI3Kβ inhibitor GSK2636771 blocked PI3K-AKT activation, increased immune infiltration, and improved ICB efficacy in PTEN-null melanoma preclinical models. Thus, we conducted a phase I/II study (NCT01458067) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of GSK2636771 with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced cancer and PTEN loss. Of the twenty-seven treated patients, 41% experienced grade 3-4 treatment related adverse events. The overall response rate (ORR) by RECIST 1.1 was 12% and 20% experienced clinical benefit. We present the clinical and translational results from this trial and preclinical experiments comparing PI3K isoforms which identifies PI3Kα as an alternative strategy to reverse resistance to ICB.
Health care utilization at the end of life in Parkinson´s disease: A population-based register study
Authors: Leavy Breiffni , Åkesson Elisabet , Lökk Johan , Schultz Torbjörn , Strang Peter , Franzén Erika
Published: August 2024

Background: Knowledge of healthcare utilization at the end of life in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is sparse. This study aims to investigate end of life health care utilization, characterized by emergency room (ER) visits, receipt of specialized palliative care (SPC), and place of death in a population-based PD cohort.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on deceased patients (≥18 years) with a PD diagnosis during their last year of life (n=922), based on healthcare-provider data from Region Stockholm´s data warehouse, for the study period 2015-2021. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses tested associations and adjusted Odds ratios (aORs) were calculated.
Results: During the last month of life, approx. half of the cohort had emergency room (ER) visits and risk of frailty (measured by Hospital Frailty Risk Score) significantly predicted these visits (aOR, 3.90 (2.75-5.55)). In total, 120 people (13%) received SPC during their last three months of life, which positively associated with risk for frailty, (aOR); 2.65 (1.43-4.94, p=0.002). In total, 284 people (31%) died in acute hospital settings. Among community-dwellers, male gender and frailty were strongly associated with acute hospital deaths (aOR, 1.90 (1.15-3.13, p=0.01) and 3.70 (1.96-6.98, p<0.0001)).
Conclusions: Rates of ER visits at end of life and hospital deaths were relatively high in this population-based cohort. Considering a high disease burden, referral to SPC at end of life was relatively low. Sex-specific disparities in healthcare utilization are apparent. Identifying people with high risk for frailty could assist the planning of optimal end-of-life care for people with PD.
Gearbox Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Attention Mechanism WDNN and Gated Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Han Shiqian , Pang Jingwen , Wang Jun
Published: August 2024

In this paper, the traditional diagnostic methods cannot make full use of the temporal nature of the data, and the characteristics of the traditional convolutional neural network CNN are not sensitive to the temporal information feature extraction in the vibration signals, the proposed method based on the Wide and Deep Convolutional Neural Network (WDCNN) and the Gated Recurrent Neural Network(Gated Recurrent Neural Network, GRU) and the WDCNN-SENet-DGRU model combined with the SENet channel attention mechanism. The WDCNN improves the model's ability to extract spatial features from sequence data by widening the kernel size of the first layer of the traditional convolutional neural network; the SENet channel attention mechanism improves the extraction of spatial features from sequence data through the feature recalibration mechanism; and the SENet channel attention mechanism improves the extraction of spatial features from sequence data through the feature recalibration mechanism. The mechanism further improves the feature expression ability of the WDCNN network by increasing the weights of key features through the feature recalibration mechanism; the long-term dependencies in the time series data can be better captured using the GRU neural network and compared with the long and short-term memory network LSTM, the GRU has fewer parameters, which makes it easier to train. The experimental results show that the method can reach 100% accuracy on the training set and 99.59% on the test set, which has better fault diagnosis capability than other models.
Enhancing structural health monitoring: Utilising Strains to Detect Cracks in Simply-Supported steel beam
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Q. , Nguyen Thuy T. , Nguyen Phuoc T.
Published: August 2024

This study focusses on using strains to detect the presence of cracks in simply supported steel beam, highlighting the importance of strains as a reliable metric to monitor structural health. Unlike traditional methods that rely primarily on vibration responses, this research explores the sensitivity of strain measurements in identifying and evaluating damage. Experimental tests were carried out on beams with variety of crack depths and positions, subjected to static and dynamic loads. The findings reveal that, while the fundamental frequency of the beam remains unchanged until significant damage occurs, deformation values exhibit pronounced changes throughout the test, highlighting their higher sensitivity in detecting damage. This method demonstrates its versatility in various engineering applications, including bridge structures and machinery systems. Integration of strain-based monitoring into automated systems improves efficiency and consistency, reduces human errors, and optimises maintenance processes. This study underscores the potential of using strains for proactive structural health management, which contributes to the safety, performance, and longevity of infrastructure. By advancing strain-based techniques, research paves the way for more robust and reliable methods in damage detection and structural assessment.
Uterine histomorphological and immunohistochemical investigation during follicular phase of estrous cycle in Saidi sheep
Authors: Abd-Elkareem Mahmoud , Khormi Mohsen A. , Alfattah Mohammed A. , Hassan Mervat S.
Published: August 2024

Background
Saidi sheep are one of the most important farm animals in Upper Egypt, particularly in the Assiut governorate. Since they can provide meat, milk, fiber, and skins from low-quality roughages, sheep are among the most economically valuable animals bred for food in Egypt. Regarding breeding, relatively little is known about the Saidi breed. The uterus is an important organ for reproduction in mammals. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to provide further details on the histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analyses of the uterus during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. In order to examine the histological changes in the uterus, 11 healthy Saidi ewes (38.5 ± 2.03 kg weight) ranging in age from 2 to 5 years were used.
Results
In Saidi sheep, the uterine histological and immunological picture during follicular phase of estrous cycle was characterized by epithelial and stromal proliferation and apoptosis. Leucocytic recruitment (lymphocytes, plasma cells and mast cells) was also observed. The most prominent features of the follicular phase were uterine gland adenogenesis, vascular angiogenesis, and oxidative marker expression, epithelial, stromal and muscular expression of PRA.
Conclusion
This study provides new evidences of the uterine morphological and immunohistochemical picture of the Saidi sheep during the follicular phase of the estrus cycle. These findings have growing significance to understand the key mechanisms that is characteristic of successful reproduction in Saidi sheep in order to enhance fertility and reproductive health of this livestock species.
Novel mechanistic understanding that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is more capable of improving the ensiling performance of wheat straw silage than xylanase by driving certain key metabolites
Authors: Yu Haoran , Hu Richa , Jia Yushan , Xiao Yanzi , Du Shuai
Published: August 2024

Microbial and enzyme additives can improve silage performance, but there is limited comparative research on the effects of microbial and enzyme additives on improving silage fermentation quality, and the underlying microbial and metabolic mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigate the effects without inoculants (CK treatment) or with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP treatment), xylanase (XY treatment) and their combination (LPXY treatment) on the fermentation quality, as well as on the microbial communities and metabolite profiles of the wheat straw silage. The results demonstrated that the LP treatment has a better effect on improving the fermentation quality of wheat straw silage compared to other treatments, as evidenced by markedly (p< 0.05) decreased the pH, acid detergent and neutral fiber (ANF, NDF), and increased the lactic acid (LA) and acetic acid (AA) concentrations. After the fermentation process, the LP treatment significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the abundance of Lactobacillus, reduced bacterial Shannon (p < 0.05) and increased some key metabolites content. The structural equation models (SEMs) and Pearson’s correlation results proved that the LP treatment drives the wheat straw silage fermentation quality via increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus, decreasing the diversity of bacterial community and enriching the content of certain key metabolites. The present study provides mechanistic evidence that Lactiplantibacillus plantarum additive is superior to xylanase additive and their combination on improving fermentation quality of wheat straw silage, that is, by enriching certain key metabolites to increase AA and LA concentrations, providing a reference for the cross study of silage feed fermentation microbiome and metabolome.
Person-, Job-, and Environment-Related Factors Associated with Long-Term Job Retention of People with Physical Disabilities
Authors: Kudla Angelika , Dinelli Emily J. , Capraro Pamela , Crown Deborah , Sheth Manasi , Trierweiler Robert , Munsell Elizabeth , Wong Jasin , Heinemann Allen W.
Published: August 2024

Purpose: Employment provides people with physical disabilities (PWPD) financial independence, enhances their well-being, self-worth, and facilitates a sense of purpose. However, the unemployment rate for PWPD is significantly higher than for their nondisabled peers. There is limited knowledge regarding what factors help people with disabilities retain employment beyond the standard 90-day job probationary period. Thus, we investigated person-, job-, and environment-related factors that contribute to long-term job retention for four years or more among PWPD.
Methods: We recruited a national sample of 1,500 PWPD who had work experience after disability onset from panels assembled by a market research organization. We compared a subsample that maintained their longest held job for at least four years with those who had not using multivariate Poisson regression. Three models evaluated the association between job retention and (1) person-, (2) job-, and (3) environment-related factors.
Results: Likelihood of job retention was greater for respondents reporting fatigue or emotional problems (vs. pain), advancement opportunities, and receipt of job accommodations. Concerns about limited career advancement opportunities, concerns about disclosing a disability to coworkers, and difficult work commutes were associated with shorter job retention.
Conclusion: Several person-, job-, and environment-related factors play an important role in promoting job retention of people with physical disabilities. Employers, job coaches, and rehabilitation professionals should consider these factors when developing strategies to support the retention of PWPD. Future studies should examine the relationship between these factors and their associations with the employment outcomes of PWPD across work settings and industries.
Green synthesized Fe-NPs ameliorate drought stress in Spinacia oleracea L. through improved photosynthetic capacity, redox balance, and antioxidant defense
Authors: Naseem Javeria , Shah Anis Ali , Usman Sheeraz , Gatasheh Mansour K. , Shafique Shiffa , Javad Sumera
Published: August 2024

The global agricultural sector is under tremendous pressure due to population growth and the consequent demand for food. Drought stress is a hazardous threat to agricultural crops around the globe. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is cultivated worldwide. Spinach is a leafy vegetable and vulnerable to drought stress for having higher water content. Drought stress altered its biochemical composition and stunted its growth. The present study was designed to highlight the ameliorative role of iron nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) against drought stress. A pot experiment was performed in which three irrigation levels with 100, 50 and 25% field capacity were used. Fe-NPs were synthesized by green synthesis method using rice straw. The synthesized Fe-NPs were analyzed by various techniques including UV, SEM, FTIR, XRD and EDX. Foliar application of Fe-NPs (40 mg/L) was employed. Along with this foliar spray of iron salt (FeSO4; 40 mg/L) was also applied for comparative analysis. Stressed-spinach plants showed a reduction in growth parameters, whereas Fe-NPs readily stimulated growth of stressed plants. Growth parameters (fresh and dry weight of root and shoot, number of leaves and leaf area), relative water content, total proteins, photosynthesis related attributes (ΦPSII, chlorophyll florescence, chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids) and nutrients uptake decreased because of drought stress. Furthermore, drought stress shows a significant increase in proline, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde and enzymatic antioxidants. Application of Fe-NPs increased photosynthesis, antioxidant enzyme activity and mineral nutrient intake, which in turn improved membrane function. Moreover, it decreased the excess ROS generation brought on by drought stress. The nutritional status of plants and the generation of secondary metabolites (proline & total phenolics) was also enhanced by Fe-NPs. These findings suggest that Fe-NPs could be a helpful tool for lessening the harmful consequences of drought stress. Fe-NPs boosted growth and stimulated antioxidant defense mechanisms to mitigate the negative consequences of drought stress.
Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Camalexin in Benomyl- induced Parkinson’s Disease in Mice: In vitro, In vivo and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Insights
Authors: Manasa K , Tamilanban T , Sandhanam K , Alagarsamy V , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan , Tualeka Abdul Rohim , Dhanasekaran Sivaraman
Published: August 2024

Camalexin was selected in this study due to its ALDH-enhancing gene and its aldehyde dehydrogenase and dopamine protective roles have been evaluated. Also, the role of Benomyl in affecting the aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme (both ALDH1A1 and ALDH2) was countered with the effect of pesticides on the neurological system of humans. The work aims to provide a suitable multi-targeted molecule that can be used as a supplement for the existing PD drugs by evaluating its role using invitro cell lines, animal and alternative to animal models. MTT assay was performed using SH-SY5Y cell lines and IC50 of camalexin was determined. The role of Camalexin in promoting ALDH1A1 was exposed by utilizing DOPAL and alpha-synuclein as PD markers in western blot studies. Real-time PCR was performed to determine the promoting of ALDH2 gene expression in the SH-SY5Y cells by Camalexin. Camalexin was proven to be beneficial in promoting the motor coordination and improve the cognitive parameters in mice studies. The dopamine and serotonin concentration were improved; whereas, mono amino oxidases were reduced by Camalexin treatment in animals. Camalexin was shown to hold a prominent role in reduction of free radicals (lipid peroxidation products) and improving the anti-oxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPX, GSH) and the brain samples were histopathologically analyzed for the α-synuclein deposits. camalexin holds promise as a supplementary treatment for PD, with potential benefits for ALDH enhancement, neuroprotection, and oxidative stress reduction.
A Hybrid Approach Combining Phase Space Reconstruction with Random Forest, KNN, and LSTM for Reducing Prediction Lag in Lake Water Level Forecasting
Authors: Yuan Bo
Published: August 2024

The Great Lakes are vital freshwater resource for both the United States and Canada. Therefore, the importance of this research lies in its potential to provide timely and accurate information for decision-makers. Improved water level predictions can aid in flood risk management, optimize water resource allocation, and support ecological conservation efforts. This study was conducted to completely eliminate traditional machine learning models’ lag effects with phase space reconstruction (PSR). The prediction was conducted using historical monthly mean water level datasets of Lake Ontario for the period 1918–2023, divided into training (1918–2002) and testing (2003–2023) datasets. The results revealed that PSR- RF outperform the standard random forest, KNN and LSTM models across all metrics, including Correlation Coefficient (0.999), Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (0.998), Root Mean Squared Error (0.014), Coefficient of Determination (0.998), and the slope and intercept of the regression equation (𝑦 = 0.98𝑥+1.484).
A efficient direct regeneration strategy of LixNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (0 < x < 1) cathode
Authors: Huang Li , Huang Junjie , Lian Hongxia , Wu Yiyun , Wang Zhifu , Wang Hao , Deng Heming , Cheng Qi
Published: August 2024

This paper provides a method for recycling spent lithium-ion battery cathode material NCM622, which is extremely innovative and simple to implement. The capacity of degraded NCM622 can be restored to the initial capacity by relithiation the degraded NCM622 with LiNO3-LiOH as the lithium salt. X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are adopted to evaluate the properties of the regenerated NCM622. The capacity-degraded cathode particles with significant Li loss (≈ 20%) and capacity degradation (≈ 26.3%) can be successfully regenerated to achieve their original composition and crystal structures, leading to effective recovery of their capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability to the levels of the pristine materials the first discharge capacity of pristine, capacity-degraded, regenerated was 172.5 mAh/g, 127.1 mAh/g, 170.5 mAh/g (0.1 C). After cycling for 100 cycles at 1 C, the discharge capacity of all samples was 130. 5 mAh/g, 38.0 mAh/g, 133.1 mAh/g. This method can be widely used to recycle and regenerate NCM cathodes on a large scale of recycling from industrial production of LIBs.
The battle of Cardinium and Wolbachia in double-infected mite cultures
Authors: Hubert Jan , Glowska Eliza , Pekar Stano
Published: August 2024

Cultures of the stored product mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae are often single-infected by one of intracellular bacteria Cardinium or Wolbachia. No naturally occurring multi-infected Cardinium and Wolbachia a T. putrescentiae mites are known. Under laboratory conditions, we mixed two single-infected mite cultures of each endosymbiont to obtain four multi-infected cultures and to test the intraspecific competition among individuals under the influence of Cardinium and Wolbachia. The mite population growth, as a fitness indicator, and endosymbiont prevalence were estimated repeatedly during five months, repeated in three separate experiments. The fitness of four single-infected populations varied significantly. The proportion of infected individuals was higher in the two Cardinium infected populations than in the two Wolbachia infected populations. The fitness of multi-infected populations fluctuated over time in all three experiments. After six months of experiments, Cardinium infected individuals prevailed in 50% of the populations, the Wolbachia infected individuals prevailed in 41.7%, and asymbiotic individuals in 8.3% of populations (N = 12). The fitness of two multi-infected populations was like the fitness of single-infected populations. In one of them, the proportion of Cardinium or Wolbachia infected individuals was, on average, similar during the experiment. At the same time, symbionts disappeared, resulting in the majority of asymbiotic individuals in the second population. No correlation between symbionts proportion and mite fitness was found. The results indicated that the outcome of the battle between Cardinium and Wolbachia is strongly stochastic at the population level.
Detection of LPG2 and GP63 Genes Sequencing in Patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis
Authors: muhammad Othman m , Salih Thaer A. , Al-Halbosiy Mohammad M.
Published: August 2024

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a significant health issue, particularly in Iraq, with a notable increase in cases during the winter months. This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ramadi Teaching Hospital, selected due to the rising incidence of CL. A total of 10 patients, aged 18 to 40, with an average age of 29, participated in the study, which ran from December 10, 2023, to March 2024. Blood samples were collected from the lesions of CL patients using capillary tubes, ensuring sufficient volume by using multiple tubes per sample. Patients were undergoing treatment with Pentostam as prescribed. The collected blood was transferred to tubes containing sodium chloride solution and stored at -20°C until DNA extraction. After storage, genomic DNA was successfully extracted from the samples. This DNA served as a template for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, utilizing specific primers designed to amplify genes associated with virulence factors. Among the 10 samples, 7 tested positive for DNA extraction, while 3 were negative. Of the 7 positive samples, PCR electrophoresis indicated that 3 were positive for the GP63 gene and 4 were negative. Conversely, 4 samples were positive for the LPG2 gene, while 3 were negative. A control group was included to facilitate comparison during PCR electrophoresis for both genes. Analysis confirmed that Leishmania major is the sole causative agent of CL in Anbar.
Unsupervised dehazing of multi-scale residuals based on weighted contrast learning
Authors: Wang Jianing , zhang Yongsheng , Liu Zuoyang
Published: August 2024

To solve the problem that existing dehazing algorithms have difficulty in capturing paired hazy and clear images in the real world, while unpaired real-world hazy and clear images are readily obtained. In this study, unpaired real-world hazy and clear images are used to realize unsupervised dehazing. Inspired by the Generative Adversarial Network framework, the generator network combines multi-scale dense blocks and attention mechanism and uses adaptive blending operation to speed up network training while ensuring effective delivery of image details. By incorporating contrast learning, a weighted contrastive loss function is introduced, which encourages the recovered image to be close to positive samples and away from negative samples in the embedding space. Meanwhile, multiple loss functions are combined to enhance the generalization ability of the generative adversarial network in order to train the network more effectively. The proposed algorithm is tested on an outdoor public dataset, and the experimental results show that the algorithm has better performance than existing unsupervised dehazing algorithms.
Academic collaboration on large language model studies increases overall but varies across disciplines
Authors: Li Lingyao , Dinh Ly , Hu Songhua , Hemphill Libby
Published: August 2024

Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for addressing complex scientific challenges. Recent advancements in large language models (LLMs) have shown significant potential in benefiting researchers across various fields. To explore the application of LLMs in scientific disciplines and their implications for interdisciplinary collaboration, we collect and analyze 50,391 papers from OpenAlex, an open-source platform for scholarly metadata. We first employ Shannon entropy to assess the diversity of collaboration in terms of authors' institutions and departments. Our results reveal that most fields have exhibited varying degrees of increased entropy following the release of ChatGPT, with Computer Science displaying a consistent increase. Other fields such as Social Science, Decision Science, Psychology, Engineering, Health Professions, and Business, Management & Accounting have shown minor to significant increases in entropy in 2024 compared to 2023. Statistical testing further indicates that the entropy in Computer Science, Decision Science, and Engineering is significantly lower than that in health-related fields like Medicine and Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology. In addition, our network analysis based on authors' affiliation information highlights the prominence of Computer Science, Medicine, and other Computer Science-related departments in LLM research. Regarding authors' institutions, our analysis reveals that entities such as Stanford University, Harvard University, University College London, and Google are key players, either dominating centrality measures or playing crucial roles in connecting research networks. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the current landscape and evolving dynamics of collaboration networks in LLM research.
Immobilization of a Multi-Template Imprinted Polymer on Biochar for Sorption of Short- and Long-Chain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Authors: Ray Jessica , Steigerwald Jessica
Published: August 2024

Increased detection of short-chain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental waters has revealed a need for selective sorbents capable of simultaneous removal of short- and long-chain PFAS. To address this need, a multi-PFAS imprinted polymer composite (mMIP) was synthesized on biochar (BC) substrates (so-called “BC@mMIP”). Use of multiple PFAS templates resulted in increased imprinting factor and PFAS removal compared to single-template MIPs. In ultrapure water containing 100 ng/L (each) of nine PFAS, the BC@mMIP removed three PFAS to below their EPA maximum contaminant level. Column testing in real wastewater effluent revealed competition between sulfate and PFAS for templated sorption sites. Thus, the BC@mMIP is recommended for use treating waters with low total dissolved solid levels, or in series with a pre-treatment process for optimal performance.
App use during the sleep period and next day activity
Authors: Lehmann Sune , Møllgaard Peter , Minor Kelton , Sapienza Anna , Moro Esteban
Published: August 2024

Human performance during the day is highly sensitive to the sleep quality obtained on the prior night. Although uninterrupted sleep is widely recommended, many people now spend time on mobile phone apps during their sleep period. While scholars have recently investigated the influence of evening app use on sleep, the influence of smartphone app use after sleep onset on behavior the following day is not well understood. Here, we address this gap. Drawing on a global dataset from 120 countries comprising 41374 individuals and 11 million nightly observations collected by smartphones and wristbands from 2015-2018, we study the real-world relationships between app use during the sleep period and next day digital and physical behavior. We find that a large majority use mobile apps during the sleep period, over a quarter of adults regularly do so, and that the prevalence, rate, and duration are increasing on average, across sex and age groups, and in most global regions. Social media comprises about half of sessions while gaming occupies the most time. Even brief social media and gaming app usage during the sleep period is associated with abrupt within-individual increases in app use of the same category the following day and workday, along with reduced physical activity. Next day activity disruptions scale with longer usage, with social media use during the sleep period associated with larger reductions in physical activity than from gaming or video app use of equal dose. Our study suggests that smartphone app use after sleep onset precedes delayed behavioral changes in a dose response relationship, globally.
Conditions of access to maternity care for women with physical disabilities of the lower limbs in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Mbayi Yves Kadima , Bitadi Paulin Mutombo Wa
Published: August 2024

Introduction
It has been clearly demonstrated that throughout the world, women with disabilities do not have easy access to health services in general or maternity services in particular. Although the DR Congo stresses the importance of universal health coverage, virtually no specific approach has been developed to enable women with motor disabilities to access maternity services. The aim of this study is to describe these women's experiences with maternity care in Kinshasa to gain a better understanding of the problem and propose transformative action.
Methods and results
This qualitative study aims to explore the representations of maternity care as perceived by women with motor disabilities. Their experiences and subjective perceptions were collected through semistructured interviews. The Attride-Stirling framework was used to analyze the data. Our results show that women living with motor disabilities have more difficulty accessing maternity care than women who are considered able to do so. They felt that the main reasons were the lack of physical accessibility of premises, technical and material aids, the lack of medical skills among health professionals and the financial barrier.
Conclusion
Maternity services must eliminate barriers to improve access for women with motor disabilities. This must be done in the context of the right to health and access to health cover for all.
Perceived Familial Gender Discrimination and Self-Efficacy: The Mediating Role of Gender Transcendence
Authors: Shergill Kanwal , Hooja Himangini Rathore
Published: August 2024

This study examines the relationship between perceived familial gender discrimination (PFGD), gender transcendence (GT), and self-efficacy (SE) among young women. A sample of 568 female university students participated in the study, and data were analysed using correlation, regression, and mediation analyses. Results revealed that PFGD negatively predicted SE, indicating that higher levels of perceived discrimination within families are associated with lower self-efficacy. GT partially mediated this relationship, suggesting that individuals who adopt more egalitarian gender attitudes can mitigate some of the negative impacts of PFGD on SE. The findings support the importance of fostering gender-transcendent attitudes to promote resilience against the detrimental effects of gender discrimination.
Impact of Globalization on the Economic Growth in Nigeria (1987-2021)
Authors: Adeoye Peter Ayodeji
Published: August 2024

This work examines the impact of globalization on the economic growth in Nigeria. Yearly data were used from 1987 to 2021. The Ordinary Least Squares technique of analysis (OLS) was used to analyze the data, and the yearly data were sourced from Word Development indicator (WDI) and Nigeria Bureau of Statistics. This research work considers the Gross Domestic Product of Nigeria as a measure of the economic growth and other variables like the Foreign Direct Investment, Import, Export, Trade Liberalization which is also used to measure globalization. Based on OLS approach, test was carried out on each dependent variable and the independent variable to check the long and short run regression findings for the coefficient of the lagged values of the dependent and independent variables. Some diagnostic test like the serial correlation test, heteroscedasticity test, and stability test were also carried out on the variables. From the results obtained, import of goods and trade liberalization was negatively and positively statistically significant respectively in explaining economic growth rate. Also FDI has a positive statistical relationship with the economic growth. It is therefore recommended that special attention should be given to export activities and foreign investment in Nigeria, such as increased budgetary allocation to encourage export in Nigeria and to ensure proper implementation of programs. Also, there should be effort of the government on reducing export duties so as to encourage citizens who are into exporting of goods and services, so as to inject more money into Nigerian economy.
Opcode Memory Analysis: A Data-Centric Machine Learning Framework for Early Detection and Attribution of Ransomware
Authors: Pesem Benjamin , Fairweather James , Pennington Thomas
Published: August 2024

Ransomware has emerged as one of the most significant threats in the cybersecurity landscape, causing widespread disruption and financial loss across various sectors. To address the growing sophistication of ransomware attacks, a novel machine learning framework leveraging opcode memory analysis has been developed, enabling the early detection and accurate attribution of ransomware. Through the systematic examination of low-level operational instructions within system memory, the proposed model distinguishes itself from traditional approaches by providing a more intrinsic understanding of malware behavior, leading to enhanced detection accuracy and the ability to identify specific ransomware families. The model's architecture, which includes a dual-output mechanism for simultaneous detection and attribution, demonstrates significant scalability and applicability across diverse operational environments. Extensive experimental results indicate that this approach not only surpasses existing methods in terms of detection performance but also offers a robust solution for real-time ransomware threat mitigation. The findings demonstrate the potential of opcode analysis as a critical component in the development of next-generation cybersecurity defenses, contributing to more resilient and proactive protective measures against evolving ransomware threats.
Evaluation of the width of attached gingiva: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Huang Ziheng , Lin Yuanyou , Wen Shangyou , Yuan Xuechun , Long Hu , Lai Wenli
Published: August 2024

Aims
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that evaluated the width of attached gingiva.
Methods
An electronic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI with no language restrictions. Eligible study selection, data extraction, and evaluation of risk of bias were conducted by two authors independently and in duplicate. Any disagreement was solved by discussion or judged by a third reviewer.
Results
Six studies were finally included. Upper incisors and upper canines had pooled Means of 4.48 mm and 3.80 mm, while lower incisors and lower canines had pooled Means of 3.23 mm and 2.40 mm, respectively. Upper premolar and lower premolars had pooled Means of 3.13 mm and 2.16 mm, respectively. Upper molars had a pooled Mean of 3.38 mm, while lower molars had a pooled Mean of 2.40 mm.
Conclusion
The maxillary attached gingiva is always wider than the corresponding mandibular attached gingiva in the same region. In the four quadrants, the attached gingiva from wide to narrow are incisors, canines, molars, and premolars, respectively. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the width of attached gingiva among different gingival phenotypes and age groups.
Effects of Mulching and Flaming on Weed Control and Almond Growth in a Newly Established Almond Orchard
Authors: Kitiş Yasin Emre , İbrişim Halil
Published: August 2024

This study was conducted in a newly established (2-year-old) almond orchard to investigate the effects of five different mulching materials (woven and nonwoven fabric, black and white polyethylene, almond shell) and flame treatments applied at two different frequencies (FL20 and FL30) on weed control and almond growth compared with those of conventional herbicide (glyphosate) application and weedy control. Thus, this study included nine different treatments. The impacts of these treatments on weed density and coverage were periodically monitored. Additionally, the biomass of the weeds was measured at the end of the season to evaluate the effects of the treatments. Because the almond orchard was not yet in the economic fruit-bearing stage, the effects of the treatments were examined in terms of parameters that characterize almond growth, such as plant height, trunk diameter, shoot length, and shoot thickness. The chlorophyll content and water potential values of the trees were also determined. The results of this two-season study indicated that synthetic mulches provided the best outcomes in terms of weed control and almond growth. No weed emergence was observed throughout the season in any of the synthetic mulch treatments. Although almond shells used as organic mulch were highly effective for blocking sunlight, they failed to prevent the growth of some vigorously growing perennials such as Cynodon dactylon and Sorghum halepense that emerged from gaps. Flame treatments demonstrated rapid and effective results; however, they were less successful against the aforementioned monocot perennial weeds and required frequent repetition because of the lack of residual effects. Glyphosate, an herbicide that is commonly used in conventional orcharding, was applied five times throughout the experiment and proved effective weed management compared with that of the weedy control. However, considering the increasing herbicide resistance, environmental and health issues, and growing interest in organic almond cultivation, synthetic mulch applications have emerged as good options. Despite the initially higher establishment costs, synthetic mulches effectively controlled weeds and reduced water stress, thereby promoting almond tree growth.
Development of oxy-symplectites in a slow-spreading lower oceanic crust: Insights from the Atlantis Bank Gabbro Massif, Southwest Indian Ridge
Authors: Dhar Archisman , Ghosh Biswajit , Morishita Tomoaki , Chattopadhaya Soumi , Bandyopadhyay Debaditya , Rao N.V. Chalapathi , France Lydéric , Nguyen Du K. , Roy Sankhadeep , Koley Manojit
Published: August 2024

Igneous microtextures are significant tracers of magmatic processes as these provide important information about magma evolution. Oxy-symplectite intergrowth of orthopyroxene (host) with Fe-Ti oxide (lamellae) is described from the Atlantis Bank, an Oceanic Core Complex (OCC) along the ultraslow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). This texture is widespread in the oxide-rich lithologies recovered from the lower crustal section of the Atlantis Bank. There exists a long-standing debate on the magmatic vs. metamorphic origin of the oxy-symplectites. The symplectitic intergrowth is usually noted wherever the olivine grain is in intimate proximity to the magmatic magnetite and is developed at the expense of the olivine. Comparative oxybarometric results between the ilmenite-magnetite pairs close to the symplectites and those away from the symplectites reveal relatively higher fO2 range for the former group. These observations along with phase equilibria modelling suggest that oxidation of olivine primocrysts may lead to the development of oxy-symplectite in the studied gabbros (sensu lato). Furthermore, the compositional variabilities between the symplectitic phases and the discrete magmatic phases away from the symplectite indicate that the origin of the oxy-symplectite took place under subsolidus condition. Additionally, phase equilibria modelling reveals that for the observed range of olivine compositions, higher oxidizing conditions are required for symplectite formation at higher temperatures. Synthesizing all the results, we suggest that the formation of the oxy-symplectite in this lower crustal section is a subsolidus process, where the oxide phases (especially magnetite) aided the oxidation of olivine.
Urgensi Filsafat Analitik dalam Penyusunan Bahan Ajar Bahasa Arab Berbasis Nilai Moderasi
Authors: Maghfiroh Rodiatul , Wargadinata Wildana , Anwar Mohammad Shohibul
Published: August 2024

The preparation of Arabic teaching materials based on moderation values has been the focus of this research. The analytic philosophy approach is a foundation for detailing and integrating moderation values into teaching materials. This study aims to identify analytic philosophy's urgency in developing moderation value-based Arabic teaching materials. The analysis method used involves a qualitative approach, which analyzes the content of teaching materials developed using the principles of analytic philosophy. This analysis involves differentiating concepts, language rigor, and understanding cultural contexts. The results showed that analytic philosophy significantly enriched Arabic teaching materials by considering the diversity of students' moderation values. The learning steps applied include careful differentiation of concepts, rigor in the use of language, and continuous reflection and improvement. This research contributes to developing Arabic pedagogy responsive to students' values and culture, creating a framework combining analytic philosophy with moderation values in Arabic teaching approaches.
Makna Kalimat Amr dan Nahy dalam Kitab Bidāyat al-Hidāyah Karya Imam Al-Ghazālī
Authors: Puspita Rani , Yusup Maulana
Published: August 2024

This article aims to explore various meanings within the sentences of "amr" (command) and "nahy" (prohibition) found in the book "Bidāyat al-Hidāyah". The research method employed is qualitative research. The data sources are divided into primary data sources, namely the book "Bidāyat al-Hidāyah," and secondary data sources, including various literature such as books, journals, and other texts related to the topics studied by the researcher. The data collection techniques used are documentation and purposive sampling. The sampling results indicate the presence of 14 sentences in the form of "fiʿil amr" (verbs of command), two sentences of "ism fiʿil amr" (nouns of command), and one sentence of " fiʿil muḍāri' " (present tense verb) preceded by "lam amr." As for "nahy", there are 12 sentence samples. The meanings of "amr" include ten sentences meaning guidance, one sentence meaning discipline, two sentences meaning pure command, two sentences meaning creation, and one sentence meaning prayer. Regarding the "nahy" sentences, four sentences were found to mean guidance, two sentences meant clarification of consequences, one sentence meant pure prohibition, one sentence meant admonition, one sentence meant avoidance, one sentence meant to dislike, and one sentence meant belittlement.
75000 puntos muertos de la luz
Authors: Mejía Guevara Mario Andrés , Acosta Triana Paula Andrea
Published: August 2024

¿Qué pasa si, escalpelo en mano, decidimos diseccionar la luz? El resultado sería algo similar al que aquí se presenta: instantes de tiempo, juego de reflejos, siluetas y sombras, salto anacrónico de formas, fragmentos de lo fugaz, la infame tensión que subyace en cada destello. En este texto confluyen dos miradas y técnicas que buscan complementarse mutuamente: la escritura y la imagen. Sus puntos de cruce son múltiples: las jerarquías sociales y su persistente geografía de exclusión, el colonialismo y sus diversos lugares de inscripción, el pasado y los engranajes alrededor de la memoria, la estética y su complicidad con la barbarie, la mistificación y creación de nuevos altares, entre otros tantos, delineando un mapa no definitivo pero abundante en sentidos de un lugar urbano y simbólico encriptado en el número postal que lleva el título: 75.000. En este conjunto de 30 postales, donde irrumpe el penetrante murmullo del archivo, será imposible hallar un manifiesto, un ensayo académico, un manual de corrección política, pues corresponde más a una explosión alegórica que remite a esos puntos donde la luz perece.
Inmunidad de las misiones diplomáticas en la jurisdicción nacional
Authors: Távara Córdova Francisco , Vicente Medina Jean Paul
Published: August 2024

Las regulaciones en la Convención de Viena sobre Relaciones Diplomáticas (1961) y normas nacionales les confieren a las misiones diplomáticas inmunidades frente a la jurisdicción nacional; en razón a su importante y valioso rol en las relaciones internacionales. Sin embargo, de la manera en la que se encuentra positivizado, ampara también las lesiones en relaciones laborales.