bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bonding performance of Chinese fir heartwood and sapwood with different coatings under a high voltage electric field
Authors: He Qian , Hou QianQian , Wang Fangxin , Zhang Daiyuan , Yang Yong , Zhan Tianyi , Yang Dingyi , Li shengcai
Published: July 2023

Inadequate adhesion performance has been observed in the heartwood with high extract content, leading to poor wood durability. To address this issue, we employed a high voltage electric field (HVEF) treatment that combines activation and polarization functions to enhance the bonding strength between wood and the coating layer. The heartwood and sapwood samples were prepared from Chinese fir lumber. Two types of coatings were applied urea formaldehyde (UF) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The results revealed a higher absorptivity of UF and PDMS on the sapwood compared to the heartwood, attributed to the larger diameter of tracheids and lower extract content, resulting in lower contact angles on the sapwood. Following the HVEF treatment, a reduction in absorptivity was observed for UF on the heartwood, while a decrease in absorptivity was observed for PDMS on the sapwood. This disparity can be attributed to the differential activation and polarization effects of the HVEF treatment on the two types of coatings. The changes in absorptivity were corroborated by the mass gain rate of UF- and PDMS-coated wood samples, with a strong positive correlation observed between the mass gain rate and absorptivity, yielding a correlation coefficient ≥ 79%. The HVEF treatment significantly enhanced the bonding strength of UF-coated heartwood under N-P(-) condition and PDMS-coated sapwood under N-P(+), resulting in the highest increments of 71% and 75%, respectively. Additionally, notable variations in chemical bonds were detected in the FTIR spectrum of UF-coated heartwood under N-P(-), indicating an increased cross-linking extent between the heartwood and UF chemical groups.
Simulation research on dynamic process of dissipative soliton in fiber laser under multi-parameter combination
Authors: Liu Yongli , Liu Pingan , Zhang Zhaohui , Zhu Liguo
Published: July 2023

Positive dispersion ring cavity ultrafast lasers can obtain dissipative soliton output with higher power density. In the process of establishing a stable soliton, it is affected by complex factors such as dispersion, nonlinearity, loss, gain, and key component parameters. Due to the complexity of the parameters involved, the experimental system cannot guarantee the reproduction of the input elements. This means that the experimental research cannot Implement strict variable control. Therefore, establishing a laser simulation model and studying the dynamics of soliton development under complex parameter combinations can help us to understand the feasibility of the scheme conveniently. Through the simulation of complex parameter combinations, it is found that there is a clear optimal working range for obtaining stable mode-locked soliton output, which can be used to guide the design and optimization of laser experiment schemes.
The Relationship between Treatment Suspension Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and Mental Health of Infertile Patients: A Systematic Review andMeta-Analysis
Authors: Iranifard Elnaz , Yas Atefeh , Ghezelhesari Elahe Mansouri , Taghipour Ali , Mahmoudinia Malihe , Roudsari Robab Latifnejad
Published: July 2023

Background
Access to fertility treatments is considered a reproductive right, but because of the quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic most infertility treatments were suspended, which might affect the psychological and emotional health of infertile patients. Therefore, this study was conducted to review the relationship between treatment suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic and the mental health of infertile patients.
Methods
This study was conducted based on the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guideline. The ISI, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane library databases were searched by two independent researchers, without time limitation until 31 December 2022. All observational studies regarding the mental health of infertile patients facing treatment suspension including anxiety, depression, and stress were included in the study. Qualitative studies, editorials, brief communications, commentaries, conference papers, guidelines, and studies with no full text were excluded. Quality assessment was carried out using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale by two researchers, independently. The random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of mental health problems. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were used to confirm the sources of heterogeneity.
Results
Out of 681 studies, 21 studies with 5901 patients including 5306 female and 504 male infertile patients were systematically reviewed, from which 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results of all pooled studies showed that the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress in female patients was 48.4% (95% CI 34.8–62.3), 42% (95% CI 26.7–59.4), and 55% (95% CI 45.4–65), respectively. Additionally, 64.4% (95% CI 50.7–76.1) of patients wished to resume their treatments despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Conclusion
Treatment suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic negatively affected the mental health of infertile patients. It is important to maintain the continuity of fertility care, with special attention paid to mental health of infertile patients, through all the possible measures even during a public health crisis.
Application of cattle manure increased the stability of organic carbon in the subsoil in Mollisols
Authors: Zhang Qilin , Zhou Daowei , Hu Juan
Published: July 2023

Aims: The cattle manure application to subsoil is an efficient and sustainable approach to increase soil fertility. However, the change of soil organic carbon (SOC) chemistry after manure amended in subsoil is remains elusive.
Methods: Here, a pot experiment was used to investigated the SOC chemical structure (13C-NMR and FTIR), as well as microbial community composition (PLFA), with cattle manure amended in topsoil (T1M), and subsoil (T2M) and without manure in topsoil (T1) and subsoil (T2).
Results: The utilization of cattle manure significantly improved SOC, total nitrogen (TN) content and PLFAs biomass, as well as the relative absorption of the band at 2920 cm-1 and 1640 cm-1 of SOC, while decreased the C/N ratio by 15.7-50.5%. T1M increased the proporations of O-alkyl C and Aromatic C by 3.8%-17.6% compared to T1, but decreased the proporations of Alkyl C and Carbonyl C by 9.9%-11.5% and the ratio of Alkyl C/O-Alkyl C (A/OA) by 60.0%. However, T2M showed the opposited trend compared to T2. The fungal to bacterial ratio (F/B) of T2 was lower than that of T1, while it was greater in T2M than that in T1M. Both RDA and MRT analyses demonstrated that the Cyanobacteria, Acidobacteria and Ascomycota were negatively association with O-alkyl C, and the Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Cyanobacteria were negatively association with Alkyl C.
Conclusions: Our findings reveal application cattle manure in subsoil was more beneficial to decompose SOC owing the transfromation of bacterial to fungal and made the chemical structure of SOC more stabilization.
Study on wear mechanism of milling cutter and hole-making quality in ball helical milling process
Authors: Wang Haiyan , Lu Yao , Tian Gan
Published: July 2023

In order to deeply understand the wear mechanism of the ball end mill in helical milling process, the TiAlN coated carbide ball end mill is used for the machining of titanium alloy under dry cutting conditions, focusing the influence of tool wear on the cutting process and hole-making quality. Firstly, the geometry of the ball end mill and material removal process during the helical milling process are discussed. Secondly, based on the different zone, tool microscope, electron microscope and energy spectrum were used to detect the tool wear, so as to clarify the tool wear mechanism, and then explore the relationship between axial cutting force, radial cutting force, cutting temperature and tool wear, the influence of the tool wear degree on the cutting process is analyzed. Finally, the changes of hole-making quality with different tool wear degrees are studied from the perspectives of geometry, machining defects and exit burr of the hole-making, respectively. The results show that in order to get better hole-making quality, the magnitude of cutting force and cutting temperature should be controlled to increase the tool life in the normal wear stage.
The role of oxidative burst and cell wall in tomato interaction with various taxonomic groups of Rhizoctonia spp
Authors: Taheri Parissa , Hosseini-Zahani Fatemeh , Tarighi Saeed
Published: July 2023

In this research, interaction of multinucleate Rhizoctonia solani and a binucleate isolate of Rhizoctonia sp. (BNR) was investigated with using tomato as a susceptible host. The highest levels of O2−, H2O2, callose accumulation and superoxide dismutase activity were observed for the isolate of R. solani AG 3, which caused lower disease severity compared to highly pathogenic R. solani isolates belonging to AG 4 HG-I and AG 4 HG-II. Xanthine/xanthine oxidase treatment, which induced O2− production, increased the disease symptoms. Whereas, glucose/glucose oxidase, which increased H2O2, decreased the disease symptoms. Ascorbate, as an inhibitor of H2O2 accumulation, reduced callose deposition and increased the disease severity. Analyzing activity of cell wall degrading enzymes (pectinase and cellulase) produced by different fungi showed higher activity of these enzymes for the isolates with higher pathogenicity. Therefore, defense components of host plant and pathogenicity factors of fungi are both involved in the outcome of plant-fungi interaction.
The analysis of the long-term trend of extreme precipitation and discharge in Burundi
Authors: Gatore Ayse Claire Ignaline , Kim Seon-Ho , Bae Deg-Hyo , Islam Md Feroz , Parisouj Peiman
Published: July 2023

Climate change has become an undeniable global challenge which emphasizes the necessity for a deeper understanding of historical and future climatic trends. This study offers a comprehensive analysis to the reality of the extreme events and their impact in Burundi. This research estimates the annual mean, seasonal and monthly along with six extreme indices for precipitation and four for discharge based on observed dataset of over 30 years. Statistical methods were therefore used: the linear regression, the Mann Kendall test; and the Moran’s I test assessed the spatial correlation. The findings reveal a decreasing annual trend in rainfall particularly in the East with a correlation coefficient of 0.228. Suprisingly, the seasonal pattern did not show consistency in rainy seasons, December and January exhibited significantly positif trends. However, all extreme indices except for the MDRY (0.341) and PX1D (0.411) exhibited low Moran's I values. Regarding discharge, shared yet distinct trends in both the annual mean, the seasonal and monthly variables where observed. The Gisuru station displayed a negatif trend while Mutambara station showed positif trend. Notably, both basins exhibited significant seasonal trends during the FMAM season. For the extreme indices, similar patterns were found except in MAXY and DWF and MAXYF indices. The information in this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge of the impacts of climate change in Burundi and demonstrates the urgency for proactive measures to mitigate and ensure long term resilience and sustainability of this region.
Monolayer and bilayer BP as efficeiant optoelectronic materials in visible and ultraviolet regions
Authors: Behzad Somayeh , Chegel Raad
Published: July 2023

Utilizing first-principles calculations, the effects of interlayer interaction and biaxial strain on the phonon dispersion and optical properties of BP sheet are investigated. The calculated phonon spectra shows that the monolayer and bilayer structures are dynamically stable. The phonon bandgap of monolayer BP decreases under tensile strain and increases under the compressive strain. The LO and TO modes harden under compressive strain and soften under tensile strain. The interlayer coupling in bilayer BP causes the splitting of out-of-plane ZA and ZO modes at the Γ point and the phonon band gap decreases with increasing the tensile strain. The absorption edge of bilayer BP is located around 0.6 eV, and it is at a lower energy with respect to the monolayer BP. The results indicate that the optical absorption may be enhanced by applying the compressive strain. These results demonstrate that the phonon dispersion and optical properties of BP sheet could as well be tuned with both interlayer interaction and biaxial strain that are promising for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications.
Research on the infection status of and factors influencing COVID- 19 based on a questionnaire survey
Authors: Zengfeng SU , 翟 羽佳 , 崔 璨
Published: July 2023

Purpose
To investigate the infection situation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the population after the lifting of epidemic prevention and control measures and to study and analyze its related influencing factors.
Methods
From March 11 to March 20, 2023, questionnaires on COVID-19 infection were distributed on the Questionnaire Star platform, and SPSS 19.0 software was used for statistical processing.
Results
The results showed that the infection rate of COVID-19 among the respondents reached 72.24%. Fever, fatigue, cough were the main symptoms during infection, among which 58.81% of infected people reported post COVID-19 symptoms. An unconditional logistic regression model showed that age (P = 0.002), area of residence (P༜0.001), vaccine doses (P = 0.025) were statistically significant.The infection risk was the lowest (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.14–1.11) in the ≤ 17 age group and the highest (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 0.63–3.10) in the 18–44 age group.The risk of infection was higher in urban areas (OR = 2.28; 95% CI = 1.69 ~ 3.35). The risk of infection among one dose of vaccine was the highest (OR = 1.77; 95% CI = 0.43 ~ 7.28).
Conclusions
COVID-19 had a high infection rate, children had a lower risk of COVID-19.People who lived in cities were more susceptible to COVID-19 and it is necessary to increase the number of vaccine doses.
TCDD and kynurenine induce Parkin expression in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells through different signaling pathways mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor
Authors: Murillo-González F. E. , García-Aguilar M. R. , Limón-Pacheco J. , Cabañas-Cortés M. , Elizondo G
Published: July 2023

Parkin plays an important role in regulating protein degradation and mitophagy in dopaminergic neurons. Deficiencies in Parkin expression or function result in cellular stress, degeneration, and eventual death of dopaminergic neurons, contributing to the development of Parkinson's disease. Conversely, overexpression of Parkin enhances neuronal survival. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of Parkin regulation is gaining importance. In this study, we described, for the first time, the molecular mechanism by which the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates the upregulation of Parkin in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.
Specifically, we demonstrate that the human Parkin gene (PRKN) is transcriptionally upregulated by AHR through two distinct pathways depending on the nature of the AHR ligand. The stress-inducing AHR ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) indirectly promotes Parkin transcription by inducing the expression of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). This mechanism involves TCDD-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. On the other hand, kynurenine, a nontoxic AHR agonist, induces Parkin transcription by promoting AHR binding to the PRKN gene promoter without activating ER stress.
Our findings demonstrate that AHR activation represents a potential pharmacological pathway to induce human Parkin. However, attention must be exercised regarding the nature of the AHR ligand to mitigate potential neurotoxic side effects.
From Classroom Learning to Clinical Practicum: Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of Undergraduate Students’ Learning in Adult Nursing
Authors: Chen Li-Chin , Lin Chun-Chih , Han Chin- Yen , Huang Ya-Ling
Published: July 2023

Background: Because the nursing field is both theoretical and practical, it is crucial that the connection between the two is reflected in the curriculum.
Objective: This study investigated educators’ perspectives on the contribution of Adult Nursing classrooms to clinical learning.
Methods: Data were gathered from 153 retrospective records of undergraduate nursing students, 32 clinical facilitator feedback reports on students' practicum, and 12 in-depth interviews. The study was conducted in Taiwan between February and September 2019. Quantitative results were analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis following the COREQ guidelines.
Results: Research findings indicate a positive relationship between classroom learning and practical application in Adult Nursing. Specifically, the study revealed that theoretical (β=.246; t=3.03; p <.005) and laboratory (β=.201; t=2.25; p = .014) components of Adult Nursing are strong predictors of success in the practicum. This highlights the importance of gaining theoretical knowledge and clinical experience.
The teaching and learning experience in the Adult Nursing practicum can be categorized into three stages: struggling to adapt, improving care abilities, and revising guidance plans. There were several phases throughout the internship, including orientation, assessment, implementation, evaluation, and independent work, which lasted several weeks.
Conclusion: The quantitative results indicated that the scoring system was consistent and reliable. The predictors highlight the accumulation of theoretical knowledge, laboratory skills, and clinical experience. Students struggled to adapt to the Adult Nursing practicum due to the unfamiliar work environment and care roles. Positive feedback from clinical instructors encouraged and motivated students to improve their clinical performance, which enabled them to work independently in the third week. The results offer valuable insights into the facilitators’ perspectives on students' clinical learning. The study found a positive correlation between academic performance and practical application, contributing to the overall organization of the Adult Nursing course.
Tree-Invent: A novel molecular generative model constrained with topological tree
Authors: Xu Mingyuan , Chen Hongming
Published: July 2023

De novo molecular design plays an important role in drug discovery. Here a novel generative model, Tree-Invent, was proposed to integrate topological constraints in the generation of molecular graph. In this model, a molecular graph is represented as a topological tree in which ring system, non-ring atom and chemical bond are regarded as ring node, single node and edge respectively. The molecule generation is driven by three independent sub-models for carrying out operations of node addition, ring generation and node connection. One unique feature of the generative model is that topological tree structure can be specified as constraint for structure generation, which provides more precise control on structure generation. Additionally, the quality of ring structure is also improved by reducing the occurrence of macrocycle during structure generation. Combining with reinforcement learning, Tree-Invent model could efficiently explore targeted chemical space. Moreover, Tree-Invent model is flexible enough to be used in versatile molecule design settings such as scaffold decoration, scaffold hopping and linker generation.
Quantifying the health impact of PM 2.5 using the AirQ model in the metropolitan Isfahan, Iran, in 2018-2019
Authors: Leili Mostafa , Asl Farshad Bahrami , Dehdar Ali , Jamshidi Reza
Published: July 2023

Purpose
The Middle East Dust Storms (MEDS) phenomenon has been causing issues in many Iranian cities including Isfahan, as a result, the air quality in those cities has deteriorated over the recent years. The purpose of this study is to quantify the health impacts of PM2.5 on human health by applying the AirQ model approach in the metropolis of Isfahan during 2017–2018.
Methods
This study used AirQ 2.2.3 model software to evaluate the human health effects of PM2.5 for residents of Isfahan.
Results
The average annual concentration of PM2.5 was 31 µg/m3 and 26 µg/m3 during 2018 and 2019 years. The attributable proportion (AP) of total mortality attributable to PM2.5 was predicted to be 3.11% and 2.37% (95% confidence interval (CI)) of the total mortality, and the cases of excessive deaths were estimated to be 339.7 and 264.4 persons, respectively. These estimates were based on the resolved baseline incidence (BI) and relative risk (RR) rate.
Conclusion
This study offers extra information for decision-making in the formulation of plans to diminish indoor air pollution, which will enhance the quality of the air.
Deep Learning and Metaheuristics based Cyber Threat Detection in Internet of Things Enabled Smart City Environment
Authors: Das Sonali , Manchala Yugandhar , Rout Saroja Kumar , Panda Sujit kumar
Published: July 2023

Recently, the extensive use of Internet of Things (IoT) applications has a stronger impact and greater contribution to the development of the smart city. A smart city (SC) uses IoT-based technologies, applications, and communications for maximizing operational efficacy and improving the service quality of providers and the living standard of people. With the development of SC networks, there also comes the augmented menace of cybersecurity attacks and threats. IoT gadgets within an SC network were linked to sensors connected to huge cloud servers and are vulnerable to malicious threats and attacks. Therefore, it is significant to formulate techniques for preventing such assaults and protecting IoT gadgets from failures. This article develops a new transient search algorithm with optimal stacked sparse autoencoder (TSA-OSSAE) based cyber threat detection in IoT-enabled SC applications. The presented TSA-OSSAE technique majorly focuses on the recognition of cyber threats to attain security in the SC. To attain this, the projected TSA-OSSAE system follows TSA based feature selection approach to reduce computational complexity. Besides, the TSA-OSSAE technique applies the SSAE model for cyber threat detection. At last, the hyperparameters of the SSAE approach are optimally chosen by utilizing of multi-versus optimizer (MVO) algorithm. The experimental result analysis of the TSA-OSSAE technique was performed by using the TON_IoT telemetry database. The simulation outcomes signify the promising performance of the TSA-OSSAE methodology over other existing techniques.
A New Assessment System of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Jin Cong , Zhen Jiewen , He Wei , Han Weiqi , He Lei
Published: July 2023

Background
We have developed a new scoring system that specifically designed for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) to guide treatment selection. This system evaluates four aspects: fracture type, fracture morphology, MRI signal changes, and bone mineral density.
Methods
From March 2016 to March 2021, we conducted a retrospective study of radiographic and clinical data from 208 patients who underwent conservative treatment for OVCFs. Based on the new assessment system of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (NASOVCF) scores, the patients were divided into low (48 cases), medium (108 cases), and high (52 cases) score groups. We compared the visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, vertebral height loss, kyphosis angle, and bone union rate among the three groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between bone non-union and independent variables.
Results
The low-score group showed significantly lower VAS and ODI scores both before treatment and at the follow-up compared to the medium-score and high-score groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the low-score group had significantly lower vertebral height loss and kyphosis angle differences compared to the medium-score and high-score groups. The bone union rate in the low-score group was 97.9%, which was significantly higher than the rates of 75% in the medium-score group and 32.7% in the high-score group. The high-score group had a significantly higher risk of non-union compared to the low-score group (OR = 88.78; P = 0.001) and the medium-score group (OR = 15.67; P = 0.001). Additionally, female gender (OR = 3.20, P = 0.014), ODI at pre-treatment (OR = 1.11, P = 0.009), and NASOVCF score (OR = 2.59, P = 0.000) were identified as independent risk factors for bone non-union.
Conclusions
Based on the NASOVCF scoring system, the low-score group showed superior outcomes in terms of pain relief, functional improvement, prevention of vertebral height loss and worsening spinal kyphosis, as well as a higher bone union rate, compared to the medium-score and high-score groups. Therefore, conservative treatment is recommended for OVCF patients with a score of 3 or less, while surgical treatment is recommended for patients with a score of 7 or higher.
Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy as a novel tool for crystallographic analysis in cellulose: tracking lattice changes following physical treatments
Authors: Wang Han , Aoki Dan , Teramoto Yoshikuni , Tsuchikawa Satoru , Inagaki Tetsuya
Published: July 2023

The author's series of studies aimed to explore the potential of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) in cellulose crystallography research, as THz radiation can detect most intermolecular vibrations and respond to the lattice phonons. In this study, we used THz-TDS and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) to meticulously trace the changes in the four types of cellulose after ball milling. The most captivating observation was the crystal transition from cellulose I to cellulose II (cellulose I treated with 10% NaOH), demonstrating reduced crystallinity but an increased conversion rate to cellulose II after ball milling. Moreover, we used scanning electron microscopy to observe the morphological changes of the treated cellulose samples after ball milling in detail, and gel permeation chromatography was used to determine the molecular weight, probing the correlation between morphological and molecular weight changes with the THz 2nd derivative absorption spectrum and the XRD pattern.
Using trials of caloric restriction and bariatric surgery to explore the effects of adiposity on the circulating proteome
Authors: Goudswaard Lucy , Smith Madeleine , Hughes David , Taylor Roy , Lean Michael , Sattar Naveed , Welsh Paul , McConnachie Alex , Group NIHR By-Band-Sleeve Trial Management , Suhre Karsten , Zaghlool Shaza , Hers Ingeborg , Timpson Nicholas , Corbin Laura
Published: July 2023

Thousands of proteins circulate in the bloodstream; identifying those which associate with weight and intervention-induced weight loss may help explain mechanisms of diseases associated with weight. We aimed to identify consistent protein signatures of weight loss across independent studies capturing changes in body mass index (BMI). We analysed proteomic data from studies implementing caloric restriction (Diabetes Remission Clinical trial (DiRECT)) and bariatric surgery (By-Band-Sleeve), using SomaLogic and Olink Explore1536 technologies, respectively. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the effect of the interventions on circulating proteins. 23 proteins were altered in a consistent direction after both bariatric surgery and caloric restriction. We integrated Mendelian randomisation (MR) estimates of BMI effect which provided further corroborative evidence for a causal role of BMI in regulating the levels of six proteins including alcohol dehydrogenase-4, nogo receptor and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein. Further study into the role of these proteins in disease is warranted.
Exploring mangrove adaptability in Laguna de Términos: implications for biological conservation through ecological measures and GIS-based protection zones (Campeche, Mexico)
Authors: Halecki Wiktor , Bedla Dawid , Hernández Nuria Aide López , Hernández Vicente Espinosa
Published: July 2023

To safeguard the ecosystems and species in megadiverse countries such as Mexico, ecological measures are imperative. This study examined the adaptability of mangroves to environmental and anthropogenic changes. As this area comprises a multitude of ecologically consequential abiotic gradients, it represents a valuable resource for understanding the ramifications of worldwide climate change. Nevertheless, gauging the coastal biodiversity in the Gulf of Mexico presents a formidable challenge. The primary aim of this research was to evaluate the factors that contribute to the ongoing chronic changes within and around mangroves. By analyzing satellite images from 1981 to 2020, we investigated the decadal variations in mangrove coverage across the Yucatán Peninsula in the western Caribbean Sea. The research area obtained a high ecological index score of 0.71, indicating its considerable natural value. Moreover, an anthropogenic index score of 0.46 was observed on the map, indicating the impact of human activities on the area. To connect and preserve biodiversity in the area, we proposed a GIS-based spatial biological corridor technique (protection zones). Urgent action is necessary to promote better forest management and restoration that can provide opportunities for climate change adaptation for mangrove and neighboring ecosystems.
Inequality of Opportunity and Early Childhood Development in Togo
Authors: PELENGUEI Essohanam , PILO Mikémina
Published: July 2023

This paper aims to analyze the effect of inequality of opportunity on early childhood development in Togo. To achieve this objective, we use a logit model to obtain the conditional probabilities of the study circumstances. Based on these probabilities, we construct dissimilarity indices with the parametric approach and then apply Shapley decomposition using data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in Togo in 2017. The results obtained show that inequalities in opportunities slow early childhood development. The Shapley decomposition reveals that region of residence, ownership of agricultural land and mother's education contribute most to inequalities in early childhood development dimensions at 57.58%, 25.50% and 28.77%, respectively. Additionally, the return to an equal situation between children characterized by good health, better nutrition and good social and emotional cognitive development and those in poor condition is conditioned by the reallocation of 12.4% of the inequalities of the first group of children to the second group. Strengthening the coordination of agricultural activities and the provision of safe water to rural households is essential to improve the level of the early childhood development indicator.
JEL Classification: D30, D63, I14, I15
Design and Analysis of a Crescent-Shaped MIMO Antenna for 5G Millimeter Wave Applications
Authors: Sghaier Nizar , Belkadi Anouar , Hassine Islem Ben , Latrach Lassaad , Gharsallah Ali
Published: July 2023

The present study introduces an innovative MIMO (multiple input multiple output) antenna for fifth generation (5G) wireless applications operating in the millimeter wave (mm-Wave) band. The antenna is designed using a crescent concept on three superposed balls, similar to the symbol on top of a mosque minaret. The proposed design is developed on a 20×10 mm2 FR4 substrate with a dielectric constant of 4.4 and a tangent loss of 0.002. The frequency range of the proposed antenna is between 27.3 to 28.9 GHz, and it offers excellent isolation (> 25 dB). The authors have conducted a parametric analysis and surface current distribution to optimize the parameters and analyze the coupling between the elements. The performance of the design is evaluated based on various criteria such as efficiency (> 95%), peak gain (> 14 dBi), and radiation patterns (E and H fields). The diversity parameters (ECC, DG and CCL) have been calculated and verified, and the results of the fabricated prototype have been compared to the simulated results, which are found to be in good agreement.
Experimental study on the rubbing characteristics of 3D printed textured sample for PLA polymer
Authors: Mourya Vishal , Bhore Skylab P. , Parmar Manupratap Singh H.
Published: July 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The impact of Royal Jelly on In-Vitro Fertilization outcome in low ovarian reserve women, a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Jafari Afrooz , Nemati Maryam , Lorigooini Zahra , Yazdani Mohammadjavad , Salehi Mahsa , Kheiri Soleiman , Jafari Hamid Reza
Published: July 2023

Background and Aim:
Infertility is one year of regular sexual intercourse without a successful pregnancy. The first and most common form of ART is In-vitro fertilization (IVF). In animal studies, royal jelly is the treatment supplementary to improve fertility. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of royal jelly on the quality of the ovum and fetus in unsubstantiated women under treatment.
Methods:
The study was a randomized clinical trial on women under 40 years old. 110 infertile women with low ovarian reserve were included in the study. After measuring FSH, LH, TSH, prolactin, anti-mullerian hormone, fasting insulin, and estradiol on the third day of menstruation were divided into two groups: intervention and control groups. The Royal Gel Intervention Group received one gram daily for two months before the IVF Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection cycle, and the control group received a placebo, similar to the intervention capsule. The quantitative and qualitative amounts of eggs and fetuses were evaluated, and eventually, the clinical pregnancy due to fetal transmission was measured after determining the ratio of immature and atretic ovum to adult ovum in the experimental groups and the fertilization of the fetus. The embryos are qualitatively graded. The results were analyzed and compared by IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0.0.1 software.
Results:
The average age was 30.3 ± 5.7 years. The two groups were not significantly different in age, BMI, AMH (anti-mullerian hormone), FSH, LH, TSH, Prolactin, and estradiol, but were significantly different in the result received from the level of fasting insulin. The consequences for the fetus and the oocytes are not significantly different in the two groups of control. The IVF result was significantly related to the study group, with the percentage of IVF-positive cases in the case group being 66.7% and in the control group at 30%.
Conclusion:
IVF successful outcome is significantly higher in the candidates using Royal Jelly capsule.
Dose 4 You: Dose Division Calculator – A Tool to Reduce Calculation Errors
Authors: Syed Jehath , M Ramesh , M Promod Kumar T , Patil Vikram , Chalasani Sri Harsha
Published: July 2023

Background
Medication dosing calculation errors can cause significant harm to patients, especially in the paediatric population. Crushing tablets for dose division purposes may increase the risk of calculation errors, which can lead to incorrect dosing and compromised patient safety. This study aimed to develop a calculator to eliminate calculation errors associated with dose division.
Methods
Using the Wix platform, a group of pharmacists created a user-friendly webpage "Dose 4 You." To enable accurate dose division calculations, the advanced language model Chat GPT and Visual Studio were used. The tool assists healthcare professionals through a step-by-step process, allowing them to enter the necessary dose and medication requirements. The Dose 4 You web page's reliability and feasibility were assessed using retrospective data and validated questionnaires, including the System Usability Scale (SUS), respectively and a Likert scale-based acceptance questionnaire.
Results
The Dose 4 You website calculated the required amount of powdered tablet to achieve the desired dose with 100% accuracy. The obtained SUS score was 88.38, indicating excellent usability. The average score of all questions for acceptance was found to be 4.7 ± 0.15 indicating a strong agreement on the tool's usefulness and effectiveness.
Conclusion
Dose 4 You is a reliable tool that improves patient safety by streamlining dose calculations and lowering calculation errors. The tool's ease of use, practicality in daily clinical practice, and potential to reduce medication errors are highlighted by the positive perception among healthcare professionals. Dose 4 You's successful implementation demonstrates the power of technology and collaboration in transforming medication administration and improving patient outcomes. Similar innovative solutions to optimize healthcare practices can be explored in future health informatics endeavours.
Lightweight Privacy-Preserving (t, m, n) Multi-Party Computation Based on Secret Sharing in Untrusted Cloud Environments
Authors: Harn Lein , Hsu Chingfang , XIA ZHE
Published: July 2023

The next generation of Internet of Things (IoT) networks and mobile communications (5G IoT networks) has the particularity of being heterogeneous, therefore, it has very strong ability to compute, store, etc. Group-oriented applications demonstrate its potential ability in Untrusted Cloud Environments (UCE). One of the main challenges for secure group-oriented applications (SGA) in UCE is how to secure communication and computation between these heterogeneous devices. Conventional protocols are not suitable for SGA in UCE since multiparty secure computation in this environment requires lightweight communication and computation overhead. Multi-Party Computation (MPC) takes multiple inputs and outputs their sum/product without revealing each individual input. MPC has found ways in electronic voting, electronic auctions, electronic cash schemes, contract signing, etc. Motivated by the first arithmetic MPC protocol (also known as BGW protocol) proposed by Ben-Or et al. based on the secret sharing scheme, in this paper, we give a novel definition, called (t, m, n) MPC, where m is the number of data inputs, t is a threshold and n is the number of shares, which is similar to the definition of a (t, n) secret sharing scheme; but with some additional security requirements. BGW is a (t, m, n) MPC but has following limitations, (1) BGW cannot be used to implement a (m, m, m) MPC; and (2) in computing multiplicative product, BGW needs degree-reduction process which is a communication intensive process. In this paper, we propose a simple and lightweight (m, m, m) MPC which involves only additions/multiplications. Then, we extend our simple (m, m, m) MPC to design a general (t, m, n) MPC. Our proposed MPC is more efficient than BGW since our MPC does not need degree-reduction process. It is really attractive for lightweight privacy-preserving multi-party computation in UCE.
VprBP/DCAF1 triggers melanomagenic gene silencing through histone H2A phosphorylation
Authors: Shin Yonghwan , Kim Sungmin , Liang Gangning , Ulmer Tobias S , An Woojin
Published: July 2023

Background
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer arising from pigment-producing melanocytes and is often associated with dysregulation of epigenetic factors targeting histones. VprBP, also known as DCAF1, is a recently identified kinase and plays an important role in downregulating the transcription of tumor suppressor genes as well as increasing the risk for colon and prostate cancers. However, it remains unknown whether VprBP is also involved in triggering the pathogenesis of other types of cancer.
Results
We demonstrate that VprBP is highly expressed and phosphorylates threonine 120 (T120) on histone H2A to drive transcriptional inactivation of growth regulatory genes in melanoma cells. As is the case for its epigenetic function in colon and prostate cancers, VprBP acts to induce gene silencing program dependently of H2AT120 phosphorylation (H2AT120p). The significance of VprBP-mediated H2AT120p is further underscored by the fact that VprBP knockdown- or VprBP inhibitor-induced lockage of H2AT120p mitigates melanoma tumor growth in xenograft models. Moreover, artificial tethering of VprBP wild type, but not VprBP kinase-dead mutant, to its responsive genes is sufficient for achieving an inactive transcriptional state in VprBP-depleted cells, indicating that VprBP drives gene silencing program in an H2AT120p-dependent manner.
Conclusions
Our results establish VprBP-mediated H2AT120p as a key epigenetic signal for melanomagenesis and suggest the therapeutic potential of targeting VprBP kinase activity for effective melanoma treatment.
"Patanjali's Beauty Enigma: Unveiling Women Consumer Perception in the Bareilly Region"
Authors: ALI SHAHEEN EFRAH
Published: July 2023

Purpose –The study aims to identify the factors that influence women consumer behaviour towards Patanjali's cosmetic products, such as brand loyalty, purchase decision-making, and overall satisfaction levels.
Research Methodology – This study used a mixed-method approach, with a sample of 120 women. Quantitative analysis involved 100 responses through structured questionnaires on Google Forms, Descriptive Analysis by using Jamovi Software. Qualitative analysis included interviews with 20 individuals, recorded in Microsoft Excel for frequency distribution and percentages.
Findings – The study concludes that Patanjali's unique marketing strategies and variety of products have presented a significant challenge to many marketers.This study contributes to the understanding of consumer behaviour and brand loyalty in the cosmetic industry.
Research limitations/implications – The study limitations include the sample size and regional focus, suggesting the need for further research in other regions of India.
Practical implications – The study highlights the importance of product quality, reasonable pricing, variety, and natural ingredients, delivering on promises made to consumers, effective marketing strategies, and innovation to retain customers and maintain brand loyalty in the Indian cosmetic market.
Originality/value- The originality and value of this study lie in its exploration of consumer perception and behaviour towards Patanjali cosmetic products in a specific region of India.
Paper Type- Research Paper
A rare case of left atrial appendage aneurysm
Authors: Qin Ke , Teng Peng , Shi Liping , Ma Liang
Published: July 2023

Background
Left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) is a rare cardiac mass. There are usually no specific symptoms, and a few patients see a doctor because of palpitations, chest tightness, dyspnea and other symptoms. At present, only a few cases have been reported. In this case, a rare case of left atrial appendage aneurysm was reported, and the cases reported in previous literature were systematically reviewed.
Case presentation
A 20-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of the discovery of pericardial cyst by physical examination for 2 years. Echocardiography showed that the cystic dark area of left ventricular lateral wall and anterolateral wall was considered pericardial cyst and mild mitral regurgitation. After improving the relevant examination and excluding contraindications, the resection of benign aneurysm of left atrium was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative pathological results showed that (left atrial appendage) fibrous capsule wall-like tissue with focal lining of flat epithelium, consistent with benign cyst.
Conclusion
Left atrial appendage aneurysms are rare and occult, which are generally found by accidental physical examination. When its location is poor or the volume is too large, there will be symptoms of compression or arrhythmia, thrombosis and other concomitant symptoms. At present, the only and effective radical treatment for LAAA is surgical resection.
Treatment with M51R Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Induces Clonal Antitumor CD8+ T Cell Expansion in Colon Cancer
Authors: Godoy-Calderon Maria Jose , Gauchat Eric , Stewart John H.
Published: July 2023

Developing new and effective treatments for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer is crucial, as this condition is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The potential of the M51R vesicular stomatitis virus (M51R VSV) as an oncolytic virus for various malignancies, including colorectal cancer, is being explored by our group and others. However, the immune response to this treatment is poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study using a syngeneic murine model of colorectal cancer by administering M51R VSV at two doses and analyzing the resulting immune response. We found that both doses of M51R VSV induced a robust immune response, with overexpression of genes associated with NK cell function, antigen processing and presentation, and CD8+ T cell phenotype and function. CyTOF analysis showed an increased CD8+ T cell frequency and decreased G-MDSCs and FoxP3+CD25- Treg cells. TCR sequence analysis revealed clonal expansion of a-CT26 CD8+ T cells targeted against tumor-associated antigens, making combination therapy with CAR T cells a promising approach. Our work also suggests that combination therapy with M51R VSV and immune checkpoint inhibitors may be beneficial. These findings provide a strong foundation for advancing M51R VSV-based therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer in a population of patients with limited immunotherapeutic options.
Wagner VS Keynes: A cointegration analysis of Pakistan
Authors: Mushtaq Shahzad Mushtaq , Hafeez Abida Hafeez , Ahmad Tourqeer Ahmad
Published: July 2023

The real GDP and government consumption expenditures have been a popular discussion by several macroeconomists. Most of them were Wagner, Keynes, and others. The current study intuitively investigated Wagner's and Keynesian law's applicability to Pakistan from 1970 to 2021. Six versions of Wagner's law likewise Peacock-Wiseman (1961), Pryor (1968), Musgrave (1969), Goffman (1968), Gupta-Michas (1967), and Mann (1980) have been tested. The empirical results of the OLS model endorsed that Wagner’s Law is applicable to its variants like Peacock-Wiseman (1961), Pryor (1968), Goffman (1968), Gupta-Michas (1967), whereas Musgrave (1969), and Mann (1980) are inapplicable for Pakistan. To investigate the long-run cointegration of each Wagner version, the Johansen and Juselius (1990) cointegration test has been used. For all formulations of Wagner's law, cointegration does not exist. The Granger causality result revealed that only three versions have bi-direction causality and favored the Keynesian rule. The results differ from Wager’s rule. The study conveys the message to the policymaker that formed a set of comprehensive policies for the increase in general government final consumption expenditure toward an increase in national income. Developing countries should follow the Keynes law.
JEL Code: C10, H50, O10, O54