bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Research on the Proppant Settling and Transport Characteristics of Silica Gel-Based Fracturing Fluid
Authors: Xu Hang , Zhou Fujian , Wu Hao , Yang Sasa , Li Yuan , Wang Yang , Bai Hao , Yao Erdong , Xu Hualei
Published: November 2023

Hydraulic fracturing is an effective stimulation method to establish high-conductivity channels in tight reservoirs, and the effectiveness of man-made fractures largely depends on the proppant-carrying capacity of the fracturing fluids used. As a novel completion fluid, silica gel-based fracturing fluids have shown desirable stimulation effect in application cases, but a comprehensive evaluation of their proppant settling and transport behaviors in the laboratory remains lacking. In this paper, a silica gel-based fracturing fluid was prepared first, and then the rheological properties, including shear thinning, recovery behavior, and viscoelasticity of the fluid system, were measured. Afterward, the settling velocity of single-particle proppant and the settling rate of multiparticle proppant under various experimental conditions were investigated in the static fluid system; in addition, the dynamic proppant-carrying performance was evaluated using a visualized rough fracture model to study different factors on the dune distribution inside the fractures. Lastly, the proppant-carrying mechanism of silica gel-based fracturing fluid was revealed in three aspects. The rheological test result showed that the shear viscosity of silica gel-based fracturing fluid increased as the SiO2 concentration increased. Furthermore, all tested fluid samples exhibited an elastic modulus that is consistently greater than the viscous modulus, indicating that the silica gel-based fracturing fluid system has a dominant elastic response behavior. In the single-particle static settling test, there was a significant increase in the settling velocities as the particle diameter increased and as the temperature increased. Meanwhile, the settling rate of multiparticles showed a decreasing trend with the increase in mesh size, while the proppant settling rate gradually increased as the proppant concentration rose. The results of dynamic proppant-carrying experiments demonstrate that a higher pumping rate leads to an extended migration distance for proppant, resulting in formed sand dunes with reduced height within fractures. Conversely, an increase in proppant concentration and a reduction in mesh size tend to form higher sand dunes. The proppant-carrying mechanisms of the silica gel-based fracturing fluid relate to the self-polymerization and syneresis of silica gel, the noticeable elasticity characteristics, and the structural encapsulation effect formed between silica gel and proppant. A better understanding of the proppant settling and transport behaviors of silica gel-based fracturing fluid can be helpful in optimizing the hydraulic fracturing design and promoting field application.
An efficient collocation algorithm for third order non-linear Emden–Fowler equation with multi-singularity
Authors: Alam Mohammad Prawesh , Khan Arshad
Published: November 2023

The study presents a novel algorithm for solving third order non-linear equations (Emden-Fowler type) with multi-singularity, which can be applied to various physical models. The algorithm uses a quintic trigonometric B-spline collocation method and a quasilinearization technique to avoid the non-linearity term in the equation. The study establishes a comprehensive error analysis for the proposed algorithm and proves that it has O(h4) convergence. The algorithm’s ability to handle singular behavior at the point ς = 0 and its faster rate of convergence exhibits a promising approach to solve such problems. The study also validates the theoretical results through numerical experiments and shows that the proposed algorithm has a faster rate of convergence in comparison to the new cubic B-spline collocation method [1] and uniform Haar wavelet resolution technique [2]. Moreover, the new method has an edge (in terms of accuracy) over other existing methods, when applied to the problems [3–6].
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 65L80; 65M99; 65N35; 34B16; 65L05; 65L10; 65N55.
Low blood S-methyl-5-thioadenosine is associated with postoperative delayed neurocognitive recovery
Authors: Zhang Lei , Mao Haoli , Zhou Ren , Zhu Jiao , Wang Hao , Miao Zhengjie , Chen Xiao , Yan Jia , Jiang Hong
Published: November 2023

Background
Elderly individuals display metabolite alterations that may contribute to development of cognitive impairment following surgery and exposure to anesthesia. However, these relationships remain largely unexplored. We assessed altered metabolites following anesthesia/surgery in both mouse models and human patients to identify blood biomarkers of delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR).
Methods
We used metabolomics to evaluate metabolite levels in the brains of mice following exposure to anesthesia. We also clinically evaluated 67 elderly patients who had neck and maxillofacial tumor resection under general anesthesia. Presence of dNCR was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Preoperative and postoperative plasma metabolites were determined by widely targeted metabolomics.
Results
The brains of mice with anesthesia/surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction showed decreased S-methyl-5-thioadenosine (MTA) levels and activated MTA phosphorylase (MTAP). Mouse models also showed that preoperative administration of MTA could prevent inflammation and cognitive decline. In clinical patients, we detected lower preoperative serum MTA levels (adjusted OR: 0.094; 95% CI: 0.014–0.477; P = 0.008, per ng/mL) in those who developed dNCR following anesthesia/surgery. Further, anesthesia/surgery decreased serum MTA levels compared to preoperative levels (adjusted OR: 0.057; 95% CI: 0.005–0.376; P = 0.008, per ng/mL). Both low preoperative and postoperative blood MTA levels were associated with increased risk of postoperative dNCR.
Conclusions
These results suggest that anesthesia/surgery induces cognitive decline through pathways involving inflammation and methionine synthesis and that MTA could be a perioperative predictor of dNCR as well as a potential therapeutic target.
Trial registration:
This prospective observational cohort study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (No. NCT05105451; May 28, 2021; Hong Jiang). The study was performed in 2021 to 2022 at the Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in Shanghai, China. Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital (SH9H-2021-T120).
Evaluation of Geodiversity Capabilities for Ground Protection (Case Study: Nourabad Mamasani Watershed, Fars Province, Iran)
Authors: Nasiri Abouzar , Sahfiei Najmeh , Assadi Mohammad Ali Zanganeh , Zandi Rahman
Published: November 2023

Geodiversity refers to geographical diversity of geological materials, forms, and processes that comprise the planet Earth. Geodiversity is a fundamental concept for determining the importance of non-living natural resources. Accordingly, development of geodiversity-related studies, particularly in Iran with its rich geology and geomorphology, can open a new window toward exploring natural potentials of different areas around the country. Indeed, the geodiversity and, even more importantly, geomorphodiversity have been acknowledged as effective potentials for tourism, and may comprise building blocks of tourism in Zagros Mountain Chain in Iran. With its karstic landforms, Fars Province possesses numerous geomorphodiversity capabilities. Accordingly, the present research aims at investigating the geodiversity of the Mamasani Watershed in western Fars Province, where a range of unique geological features like waterfalls, caves, tight lapies, karstic valleys, natural arches, etc. are hosted. In order to evaluate geodiversity potentials of the study area, we used geodiversity index (GDI), per-area roughness density (PRD), Simpson’s evenness index (SIEI), Shannon’s evenness index (SHEI), Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI), Simpson’s diversity index (SIDI), roughness density, modified Simpson’s diversity index (MSIDI), and modified Simpson’s evenness index (MSIEI). Results of GDI, PRD, SHDI, SIEI, SIDI, SHEI, MSIDI, and MSIEI in Unit 1 (i.e., Tang-e-Buan) were found to be maximal (i.e., equal to 12.7, 0.031, 1.56, 0.76, 0.87, 0.84, 1.5, and 0.93, respectively). Unit 3 in the western part of the watershed finished second while Units 2 and 4 were ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively.
Ectopic Pregnancy and Genital Tuberculosis: An Insight into The Determinants of Ectopic Pregnancy Among Patients Admitted in Obstetrics & Gynecology Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh
Authors: Siddique Sharmina , Chowdhury Promit Barua , Tabassum Mimma , Hossain Sorif , Islam Md. Momin , Kamal Kazi Tamara Binta , Mahmood Hassan Rushekh , Akter Mst. Jesmin , Chowdhury Tamanna , Joarder Mita , ALAM SALEHA
Published: November 2023

Bangladesh demonstrates a higher susceptibility to maternal mortality, particularly concerning the incidence of adverse events that occur during pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is also a pregnancy-related condition which accounts for 10% of pregnancy-related deaths during the first trimester. Therefore, in our study, we investigated the factors including genital TB associated with ectopic pregnancy in Bangladesh. All eligible women who are admitted to the indoor department of Obstetrics and Gynecology with diagnosed cases of rupture ectopic pregnancy and who give written informed consent are enrolled consecutively. Data are collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, face-to-face interview, clinical examination, and recording of the investigation reports. We collected a total of 226 samples using a purposive sampling procedure from Dhaka Medical College, Bangladesh. Frequency table, factor analysis and clustering methods are used to describe the characteristics that are common to ectopic pregnant patients. Only 3.54% of women had a previous history of ectopic pregnancy and nearly 5% of women tested positive for TB when using Endometrial sampling for TBPCR. Over half of the women are from lower-income families (61.06%) with secondary schooling (69.03%). Around 7.08% and 11.5% of patients were previously affected by TB and contact with TB patients, respectively. 19.47% of women had a previous history of MR, among them 16.74% had spontaneous abortions, 11.06% used the D &C method, and 9.73% utilized induced abortion methods. The mean of white blood cell count, lymphocyte size, and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate is 10637.17, 17%, and 25.20, respectively. Age of respondents, occupation, Education, Contraceptive history, Previous history of MR, induced abortion, duration of marital life, type of delivery system, age of last child, and menstrual hygiene showed significant association with clusters of ectopic pregnant patients. The healthcare providers’ ability to both diagnose and counsel patients at risk for recurrent ectopic pregnancy can be optimized by awareness of the clinical features of this condition It is important to motivate women to seek care from a formal government or private institution and not from home, and women should seek care from a professional provider, and practice modern family planning to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy. The findings from this study can contribute to government collaboration to lead and scaling up the research for the greater impact on reproductive health and can give insight to policymakers to focus on reducing ectopic pregnancy as well as maternal mortality.
Experimental evolution at ecological scale allows linking viral genotypes to specific host strains
Authors: Anton Josefa , Ramos-Barbero Maria Dolores , Aldeguer-Riquelme Borja , Viver Tomeu , Villamor Judith , Carrillo-Bautista Miryam , López-Pascual Cristina , Konstantinidis Konstantinos , Martinez-Garcia Manuel , Santos Fernando , Rossello-Mora Ramon
Published: November 2023

Viruses shape microbial ecosystems through the control of population diversity and cell abundances. Identifying and monitoring the dynamics of specific virus-host pairs in nature is hampered by the limitations of community approaches such metagenomics, which does not always provide strain-level resolution, and culture analyses, which eliminate the ecological background. Here, we have explored the interaction of a specific “autochthonous” host strain and its viruses within a natural community. Bacterium Salinibacter ruber strain M8 was spiked into its environment of isolation, a natural crystallizer pond from a coastal saltern. The viral and cellular communities within the pond were monitored for one month using culture, metagenomics and microscopy. Metagenome sequencing indicated that the M8 abundance decreased dramatically after being added to the pond, likely due to forces other than viral predation. However, the presence of M8 selected for two species of the new viral genus Phoenicisalinivirus, for which 120 strains were isolated. During this experiment, an assemblage of closely related viral genomic variants was replaced by a single population with the ability to infect M8, a scenario which was compatible with a genome-wide sweep likely driven by a genomic region putatively coding for a tail fiber protein responsible for M8 specificity. Our results indicate that very low abundance viral genotypes provide a viral seed bank that allows for a highly specialized virus-host response in the framework of complex ecological backgrounds.
Glucose control during pregnancy in patients with type 1 diabetes correlates with fetal hemodynamics: a prospective longitudinal study.
Authors: Šimják Patrik , Anderlová Kateřina , Smetanová Dagmar , Mráz Miloš , Kršek Michal , Haluzík Martin
Published: November 2023

Background
Maternal diabetes adversely affects fetal cardiovascular system development. Previous studies have reported that the fetuses of mothers with diabetes exhibit both structural and functional changes; nevertheless, prior studies have not examined the association between glucose control and fetal cardiac morphology and performance. Thus the objective was to determine the association between fetal cardiac morphology and function and maternal glucose control in type 1 diabetes and to compare the differences in measured cardiac parameters between the fetuses of mothers with diabetes and healthy controls.
Methods
In this prospective, longitudinal case-control study — including 62 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 30 healthy pregnant women — fetal cardiac assessment using B-mode, M-mode, and spectral pulsed-wave Doppler was performed in the second and third trimesters. In women with T1DM, glycated hemoglobin and data obtained from glucose sensors — including the percentage of time in, below, and above the range (TIR, TBR, and TAR, respectively), and coefficient of variation (CV) — were analyzed across three time periods: the last menstrual period to 13 (V1), 14–22 (V2), and 23–32 weeks (V3) of gestation. Fetal cardiac indices were compared between groups, and the correlation between glucose control and fetal cardiac indices was assessed.
Results
At 28–32 weeks, the fetuses of women with T1DM exhibited increased left ventricular end-diastolic length, relative interventricular septum thickness, right ventricular cardiac output, and pulmonary valve peak systolic velocity compared with healthy controls. At 18–22 weeks, pulmonary and aortic valve diameters, left and right ventricular stroke volumes, and left cardiac output inversely correlated with the CV and glycated hemoglobin levels at V1 and V2. Furthermore, at 28–32 weeks, pulmonary and aortic valve diameters, left ventricular stroke volume, cardiac output, and right/left atrioventricular valve ratio inversely correlated with the TBR at V1, V2, and V3. Moreover, diastolic functional parameters correlated with the TAR and glycated hemoglobin levels, particularly after the first trimester.
Conclusion
In women with T1DM, maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy correlates with fetal diastolic function, whereas glucose variability and hypoglycemia inversely correlate with fetal left ventricular systolic function in the second and third trimesters.
Dementia risk factors in Chilean adults are distinctively associated with social determinants of health. Cross sectional study
Authors: Mariman Juan José , Vergara Rodrigo C. , Martin Consuelo San , Zapata Victor , Arteaga Oscar , Delano Paul H , Delgado Carolina
Published: November 2023

Background
In Latin America, dementia cases are projected to double by 2050. For effective prevention in this region, it is crucial to comprehend the distribution of dementia risk factors within the local population and to assess their association with social determinants of health (SDH).
Methods
3379 dementia-free subjects ≥ 45 years old from the 2016–2017 Chilean National Health Survey were analyzed stratified in four groups by sex and age, searching for clusters using six continuous variables that had been related with dementia risk (years of education, systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), units of alcohol consumption, physical activity, and depressive symptoms).
Results
There were three clusters of individuals who shared similar risk factors in each sex/age group, with a total of five different clusters. A cluster with high cardiometabolic risk was present in all sex/age groups, characterized by high systolic blood pressure (HSBP) in men midlife and by HSBP associated with BMI (HSBP/HBMI) in women and in men later-life. A depressive cluster and a physically inactive cluster were present in 3⁄4 of the sex/age groups. Additionally, there was a cluster that was relatively healthy but had a risk of excessive alcohol consumption in men later-life and a low risk one in women-midlife. The HSBP/HBMI and depressive clusters presented a high proportion of multiple dementia risk factors. Lower levels of education (and lower family income) were associated with the HSBP and HSBP/HBMI cluster; in contrast, higher levels of education were associated with clusters with lower risk.
Conclusion
In Chile, subpopulations with more disadvantages SDH have high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors. Subpopulations with depression and those with high cardiometabolic risk have higher accumulation of dementia risk factors. These results highlight that tailored programs improving healthcare accessibility for those with more disadvantages SDH, and multidisciplinary interventions for high-risk populations are needed for effective dementia prevention.
Atypical chest CT scan findings have higher mortality and ICU admission among older adults with COVID-19
Authors: Hasanzadeh Mehdi , Zandieh Zhale , Niksolat Maryam , Nabi Somaye , Zanjari Nasibeh , Delbari Ahmad , Yarandi Razieh Bidhendi , Jasemi Seyed Vahid
Published: November 2023

Introduction
: The global impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been particularly devastating among vulnerable populations, with a notably higher mortality rate observed among older adults. During this health crisis, chest computed tomography (CT) scans have emerged as a crucial diagnostic tool for identifying and assessing the severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study explored the significance of chest CT scan findings in predicting mortality and admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) among older patients affected by COVID-19.
Materials and Methods
Conducted as a cross-sectional investigation, this study analyzed demographic characteristics such as age and gender, severity indicators (ICU admission, hospitalization outside the ICU) and outcomes (death or recovery) in a cohort of 411 COVID-19 patients aged 60 and above. Chest CT scan findings, categorized as normal, indeterminate, or abnormal, were scrutinized using SPSS ver. 24 software, with outcome analyses conducted through Chi-Square tests.
Results
Among the enrolled older patients, 52.3% were female, and 47.7% were male, with a mean age of 73.5 ± 8.75 years. The mortality rate reached 24.8%, and the ICU admission rate was 19%. Notably, 76.1% of subjects exhibited typical chest CT scan findings indicative of COVID-19, while 15.6% were classified as indeterminate and 8.3% as atypical. Mortality rates were 21.4% for typical findings, 28.1% for indeterminate results, and 50% for atypical findings. Furthermore, mortality among ICU-admitted patients stood at 78.2%. The incidence of atypical CT scan findings in ICU cases was 15.4%, compared to 6.6% in non-ICU cases.
Conclusion
The presence of atypical chest CT scan findings emerged as a significant predictor of heightened mortality and ICU admission among older individuals affected by COVID-19. This underscores the poor prognostic value associated with atypical findings in this demographic, emphasizing the importance of considering such indicators in the clinical management of older patients with COVID-19.
Serum Enzymes in Myocardial Infarction Patients: a Study of Survival Time After Recovering
Authors: Chien Huynh Dinh , Nie Jing , Thuan Duong Thi Bich , Aikawa Megan , Khoi Dang Ngoc , Dorn Joan , Freudenheim Joe , Trevisan Maurizio
Published: November 2023

The present study analyzes the long-term relationship between levels of serum enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamine transferase) and mortality of all causes, cardiovascular disease, and coronary heart disease in patients who survived an incident of myocardial infarction. A total of 1496 patients (1064 men and 432 women) aged 35–69 were enrolled in the study and followed for 14–22 years. Lactate dehydrogenase was inversely associated with mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and coronary heart disease. In contrast, alanine aminotransferase was positively associated with cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, aspartate aminotransferase was positively associated with all-cause mortality, and no significant association was found between gamma glutamine transferase and alkaline phosphatase and any of the mortality outcomes. The observed associations were independent of the potential confounding effects of age, sex, blood pressure, serum glucose and cholesterol, BMI, smoking, and alcohol use.
A Novel Binary Particle Swarm Algorithm Based Topology Optimization Method for Coaxial to Waveguide Transition
Authors: Hossain Md. Sazzad , Lehr Jane M. , Fierro Andrew , Schamiloglu Edl
Published: November 2023

Topology optimization is a state-of-the-art tool for detecting the best material layout in a physical space to obtain certain goals. Initially developed as a structural engineering tool, it has been recently used in electromagnetics and has shown immense potential. The aim of this work is to build a framework for applying the topology optimization method in electromagnetics using a modified binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) algorithm. In this article, a classic problem of coax to waveguide transition has been considered, and a novel solution has been given using topology optimization. The steps to implementing topology optimization using BPSO have been thoroughly documented. The optimized transition has been fabricated and is shown to produce results coinciding with the simulation. Traditional transitions were used in the analysis to compare and validate the optimized structure. The results obtained have been very promising, and this technique can be utilized in creating elegant solutions to complex electromagnetic problems.
Changes derived by the silvopastoral management in Nothofagus antarctica forests of Tierra del Fuego compared to other productive environments
Authors: Pastur Guillermo Martínez , Rosas Yamina Micaela , Cellini Juan Manuel , Herrera Alejandro Huertas , Toro-Manríquez Mónica D. R. , Lencinas María Vanessa , Benítez Julieta , Pechar Sebastián , Peri Pablo Luis
Published: November 2023

Silvopastoral systems (SPS) are proposed as one option that promotes a balance between productive alternatives and ecological values. The objective was to determine the changes generated by SPS (thinning + livestock) inNothofagus antarctica(ñire) forests compared to other productive environments (unmanaged forests, dry grasslands, wet grasslands). Changes in the main components (tree, environment, forage, animal, biodiversity) were analyzed. A total of 16 areas (4 treatments x 4 replicates) were selected in Ea. El Roble (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina), where 50 variables were surveyed through plots (forest structure, forage, animals, biodiversity) and sampling in soil pits. Indices for each component and univariate analyses were performed to compare the studied environments. The results showed that SPS generates significant changes in the studied components, causing positive and negative synergies on the studied variables. These changes promote new productive environments with intermediate characteristics between forests and grasslands (dry and humid). It was observed that tree roots, unlike herbs and grasses, are located not only in the upper layer, but also appear in higher percentages at deeper layers. These results allowed us to identify the factors of change in the studied components, as well as potential indicators for monitoring. Understanding the dynamics and interactions among the different ecosystem components, allowed to generate new proposals that must be economically viable (e.g. management costs vs. growth of trees and forage) and environmentally sustainable (e.g. conservation of the original biodiversity).
EcoScape: A Model for Species-Specific Functional
Habitat Connectivity
Authors: Ocampo-Peñuela Natalia , de Alfaro Luca , Tai Jasmine , Valett Natalie , Adler Coen , Nazarov Artie
Published: November 2023

Habitat connectivity is essential to maintain viable and healthy populations due to increased genetic flow, enhanced functional habitat, and repopulation potential [1–4]. Conserving, enhancing, and restoring habitat connectivity has been identified as a priority to achieve global targets of halting extinctions and safeguarding 30% of our planet [5]. Computational constraints of existing connectivity models have restricted these analyses to coarse scales and to a few charismatic species and/or landscapes [6–8].
We introduce EcoScape, an efficient algorithm for computing the pixel-level functional connectivity of species habitats. Informed by metapopulation theory, Ecoscape computes the connectivity of each habitat pixel as the probability that the pixel can be repopulated via propagation from other habitat locations, taking into account the species’ ecological preferences and dispersal abilities [9]. We provide a methodology based on open science data for applying EcoScape to any bird species. We show that for two forest/woodland bird species in California, EcoScape habitat connectivity values are highly correlated with relative abundances reported in eBird [10]. EcoScape leverages Graphic Processing Units (GPUs), and is hundreds of times faster than existing connectivity models. This opens the way to mapping habitat connectivity at large scale and fine resolutions for multiple species, offering guidance for current and future conservation efforts.
Interaction with “Fat People Memes” Among Users with Different Levels of Fat Acceptance
Authors: Bunzel Cathleen , Kröller Katja , Meißner Claudia
Published: November 2023

Background As the use of internet memes as a form of communication has grown in recent years, it is important to understand their impact on society, particularly in relation to discrimination. This paper examines the impact of internet memes containing weight-stigmatizing content, called Fat People Memes (FPMs). The aim of the study was to examine whether individuals with lower levels of fat acceptance have a higher entertainability, higher shareability, and stronger emotions when viewing these types of memes.Methods A one-month (15 May–15 June, 2021) online questionnaire-based case-control study was conducted with a sample size of 147 participants aged 25–35 years. Participants were categorized into case (lower fat acceptance, AFA-Score < 55) and control (higher fat acceptance, AFA-Score ≥ 55) groups using a German Anti-Fat Attitudes Questionnaire, which had scores ranging from 13 to 117, and had to be fully answered. Participants were asked to assess the entertainability and shareability of selected FPMs, as well as their expression of emotions when viewing different FPMs.Results Subjects in the case group were significantly more likely to rate the seen FPMs as highly entertaining (77.6% vs. 59.6%; p = 0.023; x2(1) = 5.140, φ = 0.023); however, no significant difference was found in the shareability of FPMs between the two groups (36.2% vs. 27.0%; p = 0.235; x2(1) = 1.412, φ = 0.235). The case group expressed significantly greater emotions of disgust (p = 0.004), shame (p = 0.001), and surprise (p = 0.044) when viewing the FPMs. A two-sided significance level of 0.05 was set (95% confidence intervals).Conclusions Significant differences were observed in the entertainability of FPMs, but not in their shareability. The findings indicate that weight stigma persists, and is often justified, particularly as it is perceived as less severe due to its portrayal as humorous.
Generative AI and digital twin integrated intelligent process planning：A conceptual framework
Authors: Xu Qingfeng , Zhou Guanghui , Zhang Chao , Chang Fengtian , Cao Yan , Zhao Dan
Published: November 2023

Process planning serves as a critical link between design and manufacturing, exerting a pivotal influence on the quality and efficiency of production. However, current intelligent process planning systems, like computer-aided process planning (CAPP), still contend with the challenge of realizing comprehensive automation in process decision-making. These obstacles chiefly involve, though are not confined to, issues like limited intelligence, poor flexibility, low reliability, and high usage thresholds. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has attained noteworthy accomplishments in natural language processing (NLP), offering new perspectives to address these challenges. This paper summarizes the limitations of current intelligent process planning methods and explores the potential of integrating generative AI into process planning. With synergistically incorporating digital twins, this paper introduces a conceptual framework termed generative AI and digital twin-enabling intelligent process planning (GIPP). The paper elaborates on two supporting methodologies: process generative pre-trained transformer (ProcessGPT) modelling and digital twin-based process verification method. Moreover, a prototype system is established to introduce the implementation and machining execution mechanism of GIPP for milling a specific thin-walled component. Three potential application scenarios and a comparative analysis are employed to elucidate the practicality of GIPP, providing new insights for intelligent process planning.
Effect Of Refrigeration on The Microbial Quality of Vegetable Salads
Authors: Okimasi-Henry Ojating Victory
Published: November 2023

The effect of refrigeration on the microbial quality of vegetable salads was investigated. The salad was prepared from Cabbage, Carrot, Sweet corn, Cucumber, Salad cream and Green peas. The microbial quality of the salad was determined using standard microbiological methods. Eight (8) genera of bacteria were isolated and identified which include: Salmonella spp (14%), Staphylococcus spp (22%), Escherichia coli (16%), Serratia marcescens (11%), Bacillus spp (8%), Klebsiella Spp (19%), Micrococcus spp (3%) and Yersinia enterocolitica (7%), while fungal isolates include: Aspergillus spp, Penicillium spp. and Rhizopus spp. The total viable counts of the vegetable salad ranged from 2.9 x 103cfu/g to 3.8 x 103cfu/g with day 3 having a highest counts and day 1 having the least counts, the total coliform counts ranged from 3.1 x 103cfu/g to 3.9 x 103cfu/g with day 3 having a highest counts and day 1 having the least counts and the total fungal plate counts ranged from 2.9 x 103cfu/g to 3.6 x 103cfu/g with day 3 having a highest count and day 1 having the least counts. This present study reveals that refrigeration at about 12⁰C will not necessarily reduce the microbial load of ready-to-eat vegetable salads but will aid in controlling the growth of pathogenic organisms.
Ginibre interacting Brownian motion in infinite dimensions is sub-diffusive
Authors: Osada Hirofumi
Published: November 2023

We prove that the tagged particles of infinitely many Brownian particles in $ \Rtwo $ interacting via a logarithmic (two-dimensional Coulomb) potential with inverse temperature $ \beta = 2 $ are sub-diffusive. The associated unlabeled diffusion is reversible with respect to the Ginibre random point field, and the dynamics are thus referred to as the Ginibre interacting Brownian motion. If the interacting Brownian particles have interaction potential $ \Psi $ of Ruelle class and the total system starts in a translation invariant equilibrium state, then the tagged particles are always diffusive if the dimension $ \dd $ of the space $ \mathbb{R}^{\dd } $ is greater than or equal to two. That is, the tagged particles are always non-degenerate under diffusive scaling. Our result is, therefore, contrary to known results. The Ginibre random point field has various levels of geometric rigidity. Our results reveal that the geometric property of infinite particle systems affects the dynamical property of the associated stochastic dynamics.
MSC Classification: 60K50 , 82C22 , 60B20
Optimizing defeathering performance in poultry processing: The impact of clearance, pluck size, and pattern arrangement
Authors: Fadeyibi Adeshina , Alabi Kehinde Peter , Busari Rasheed Amao
Published: November 2023

In this research, the pluck parameters of a defeathering system were analyzed to determine the optimum performance for small-scale chicken processing. The system was developed and operated by interacting different pluck settings, namely pluck size (20, 30, 50 mm), base clearance (10, 15, 20 mm), and plucking pattern (circular, pentagonal and triangular), which gives 27 machine runs. Analysis was carried out to defeather 5 flock of chicken carcasses in 5 minutes for each of the runs, and the throughput and efficiency were empirically determined as performance indices. A Split-Plot Optimal Design was used to obtain the best pluck parameter combination with an objective to minimize the pluck settings and maximize the performance indices. Results indicate that the interaction between the clearance and the pluck size affected the throughput and efficiency for all the plucking patterns. Also, between 22 mm to 38 mm clearance and pluck size of 12 mm to 14 mm, the circular and pentagonal patterns interacted at points corresponding to a throughput of 4.08 kg/min and efficiency of 95.8%. This suggests that the best pluck parameters occurred at 13 mm average pluck size, 30 mm average base clearance using either the circular or the pentagonal plucking pattern.
Advanced primary fallopian tube cancer was found during chemotherapy for multiple myeloma: a case report and literaturereview
Authors: Xi Xiaoyu , Xu Ruibo , Li Yanli , Zhang Dingbei , Sun Yao , Liu Ying , Du Xiaoli , Hao Zengfang , Wang Lili , Du Jiexian
Published: November 2023

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common malignant tumor of the blood system, the incidence of fallopian tube cancer is low, accounting for only 0.1%~1.8% of gynecological malignant tumors. It is extremely rare for these two diseases to occur together. In this paper, we present a case of primary fallopian tube cancer that was discovered and metastasized to the ovary during chemotherapy for MM, and review the literature.
Case presentation: The patient was admitted to the hospital due to abnormal vaginal discharge lasting for one week. She had a history of MM for 5 years and had just completed 13 courses of treatment with daretuzumab. Doppler ultrasound and pelvic computed tomography(CT) revealed tubal and ovarian lesions with a high probability of malignancy. Laparoscopic exploration was performed, and frozen pathology confirmed the presence of malignant tumors originating from the right adnexa. The bilateral fallopian tubes and ovaries were removed. Postoperative paraffin pathology showed right fallopian tube cancer with ovarian metastasis. Following the surgery, the patient received three sessions of hyperthermic intraperitoneal therapy and one session of carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy. Currently, the patient is in a generally stable condition and is awaiting the second round of chemotherapy.
Conclusion: The coexistence of MM and primary fallopian tube carcinoma is an extremely rare occurrence. When a pelvic mass is detected in patients with multiple myeloma, it is important to consider the possibility of a second primary tumor in addition to myeloma metastasis. Managing patients with this dual malignancy presents a significant challenge for clinicians. Treatment plans should be developed through multidisciplinary collaboration, taking into account the severity of the disease and the patient's physical condition. Close monitoring is necessary during the perioperative period, as these patients are susceptible to infection and kidney damage. It is advisable for patients and their children to undergo genetic testing in order to implement appropriate preventive measures.
Public Health Services, and the vaccination during COVID-19 period in Athens, Greece
Authors: Adamopoulos Ioannis , Bardavouras Antonis , Syrou Niki
Published: November 2023

Background: Perceptions of COVID-19 and vaccination can be affected by individual opinions, experiences, and trust in the facts given by Public Health Authorities. Attitudes are additionally affected by cultural and social influences. Effective government messaging can help decrease vaccine challenges.
Methodology: In the last quarter of 2022, this cross-sectional research project analyzes socio-demographic aspects connected with risk factors using questionnaires at the vaccination center of Hippocrates General Hospital in Athens, Greece. Participants (N = 167) were tasked to answer concerns regarding the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to WHO measurement instruments for determining good health status. The study's data was analyzed with IBM SPSS v26.
Results: The research revealed that women thought vaccines caused more damage than men, while young individuals believed that the disease was harmless. The quantity of education additionally impacts vaccine adverse reactions and long-term harm. COVID-19 perceptions vary concerning vaccination status.
Conclusions: This research confirms the link between socioeconomic variables and pandemic severity perception, highlighting the significance of cooperating with Public Health Management Services to enhance communication tactics and develop effective vaccination campaigns.
Digging deeper into living income: policies and strategies for poverty reduction in tropical value chains
Authors: Ruben Ruerd
Published: November 2023

Rural poverty alleviation programs have adopted living income benchmarks as major strategic focus. Much of the discussion centres around appropriate measurement procedures, while far less attention is usually given to concrete policies for reducing living income gaps. This article digs deeper into possible strategies for smallholder farmers and midstream value chain agents to reduce living income gaps. It identifies the determinant of living income differences between countries, and discusses policy options to create better prospects for improving living incomes. We rely on comparative cross-country data on living incomes and poverty lines combined with structural country-level characteristics and stylized farm-household models to identify major leverage points for mitigating registered living income gaps. This analyses combines case study material from agri-food value chains in sub-Sahara Africa with statistical analysis on income gaps, drawing on theoretical discussions on the structural causes of income differentiation. Increasing our insights on the drivers of income differences and income gaps might enable us to bring the discussion on living income from principle to practice.
Influence of cardioplegic solution on the incidence of AKI after CABG procedure: del Nido cardioplegia versus HTK solution: insight of KDIGO criteria
Authors: Wang Lei , Hu Lanxin , Wan Linlin , Yang Ting , Chen Xin
Published: November 2023

Background: Our hypothesis posited an association between the use of Histidine‐Tryptophan‐Ketoglutarate (HTK) solution or del Nido cardioplegia and an increased incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
Methods and Results: A retrospective study was conducted at our center, involving a total of 478 patients. Among them, 268 patients were allocated to receive the del Nido solution (DN), while 210 were placed in the HTK group.
The primary focus of this study was to assess the occurrence rates of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT). Multivariable logistic regression was employed to examine the correlation between exposure to cardioplegic solutions and adverse kidney outcomes. Additionally, serum levels of sodium, potassium, and ionized calcium during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were monitored.
The occurrence of AKI showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups [(48/220 (21.81%) vs. 24/186 (12.90%), P=0.049], while the rate of RRT, although not reaching statistical significance, showed variations [(9/48, 18.75% vs. 6/24, 25%), P=0.538, respectively]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that HTK infusion is a significant risk factor for AKI. Furthermore, decreases in serum sodium and calcium levels were observed following HTK cardioplegia infusion.
Conclusion: Our findings offer substantial evidence regarding the impact of the chosen cardioplegic solution on postoperative AKI rates. Enhancing cardiac arrest protocols holds significance in this context. These results pave the way for prospective studies aimed at exploring the influence of cardioplegic solutions on electrolyte imbalances in relation to postoperative AKI rates.
Pediatric Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma with Associated Hypovitaminosis D
Authors: Tung-Hahn Eleanor , Mogilevskiy Valerie , Black Ellie , Morgan Michael , Tung Rebecca
Published: November 2023

CD30 + lymphoproliferative diseases (LPDs) are relatively uncommon in the general population, especially in children. Distinguishing between the two main CD30 + LPDs, lymphomatoid papulosis and cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma is crucial, as the latter requires different treatment and systemic malignancy workup. We outline an uncommon presentation of a primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (PC-ALCL) accompanied by hypovitaminosis D in a young Hispanic child and a holistic approach to treatment. While baseline testing of vitamin D levels in patients with cutaneous lymphoma and LPDs is not yet the standard in dermatology, it is being increasingly performed by other specialties who care for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies, since low levels can portend poorer prognosis and outcomes. Although there are no precise treatment guidelines for pediatric PC-ALCL located in cosmetically sensitive areas, a minimally invasive therapeutic program comprised of shave removal, topical steroids, and correction of a potentially disease modifying comorbidity (hypovitaminosis D if present) offers a comprehensive approach.
Deconfined criticalities and dualities between chiral spin liquid, topological superconductor and charge density wave Chern insulator
Authors: Song Xue-Yang , Zhang Ya-Hui
Published: November 2023

We propose bi-critical and tri-critical theories between chiral spin liquid (CSL), topological superconductor (SC) and charge density wave (CDW) ordered Chern insulator with Chern number C=2C=2 on square, triangular and Kagome lattices. The three CDW order parameters form a manifold of S^2S2 or S^1S1 depending on whether there is easy-plane anisotropy. The skyrmion defect of the CDW order carries physical charge 2e2e and its condensation leads to a topological superconductor. The CDW-SC transitions are in the same universality classes as the celebrated deconfined quantum critical points (DQCP) between Neel order and valence bond solid order on square lattice. Both SC and CDW order can be accessed from the CSL phase through a continuous phase transition. At the CSL-SC transition, there is still CDW order fluctuations although CDW is absent in both sides. We propose three different theories for the CSL-SC transition (and CSL to easy-plane CDW transition): a U(1)U(1) theory with two bosons, a U(1)U(1) theory with two Dirac fermions, and an SU(2)SU(2) theory with two bosons. Our construction offers a derivation of the duality between these three theories as well as a promising physical realization. The SU(2)SU(2) theory offers a unified framework for a series of fixed points with explicit SO(5), O(4)SO(5),O(4) or SO(3)× O(2)SO(3)×O(2) symmetry. There is also a transparent duality transformation mapping SC order to easy-plane CDW order. The CSL-SC-CDW tri-critical points are invariant under this duality mapping and have an enlarged SO(5)SO(5) or O(4)O(4) symmetry. The DQCPs between CDW and SC inherit the enlarged symmetry, emergent anomaly, and self-duality from the tri-critical point. Our analysis unifies the well-studied DQCP between symmetry breaking phases into a larger framework where they are proximate to a topologically ordered phase. Experimentally the theory demonstrates the possibility of a rich phase diagram and criticality through closing the Mott gap of a quantum spin liquid with projective symmetry group.
Investigation of freezing temperature and time to improve resistant starch content and quality of pure mung bean starch vermicelli
Authors: Nguyen Tien Phung , Rumpagaporn Pinthip , Songsermpong Sirichai
Published: November 2023

Mung bean vermicelli is one of the commonly consumed styles of noodles because of its convenience in Asian countries as well as being a good source of resistant starch (RS). It was hypothesized that suitable freezing conditions could produce mung bean vermicelli with a greater RS content and good cooking quality compared to the commercially available product. Therefore, this study investigated the optimum freezing conditions to increase the RS content in mung bean vermicelli. After extrusion, boiling, and cooling, the drained vermicelli was incubated at 4 C for 1 h 30 min before using different freezing conditions by varying the processing temperature (-5, -10, -15, or -20 C) and time (6, 12, 18, or 20 h for each temperature).The highest RS content was observed in dried mung bean vermicelli (12.83% at -10 C for 18 h; V1018), whereas the commercial vermicelli had the lowest RS content (9.73%). The cooking time, water absorption, volume increase, and resistant starch content of cooked V1018 were higher with values of 12.69 min, 502.97%, 19.13% and 7.32%, respectively, than those of the commercial vermicelli (8.56 min, 347.34%, 15.19% and 5.58%, respectively). Furthermore, the cooking loss, tensile strength, and elasticity of V1018 were 1.08%, 0.0101 N, and 11.96 mm, respectively, which were lower than for the commercial vermicelli (1.96%, 1.16-folds, and 2.16-folds, respectively). The color of dried V1018 vermicelli had more lightness, redness, and yellowness, while the cooked V1018 vermicelli had more lightness, greenness, and blueness than the respective commercial products. Hence, incubating at 4 C for 1 h 30 min, followed by freezing at -10 C for 18 h was recommended to produce pure mung bean starch vermicelli with a high resistant starch content and good quality