bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ensemble-based Short Text Similarity: An Easy Approach for Multilingual Datasets using Transformers and WordNet in Real-world Scenarios
Authors: Gagliardi Isabella , Artese Maria Teresa
Published: July 2023

When integrating data from different sources, there are problems of synonymy, different languages, concepts of different granularity. This paper proposes a simple but effective approach to evaluate the semantic similarity of short texts, especially keywords. The method is capable of matching keywords from different sources and languages by exploiting transformers and WordNet-based methods. Key features of the approach include its unsupervised pipeline, mitigation of the lack of context in keywords, scalability for large archives, support for multiple languages and real-world scenarios adaptation capabilities. The work aims to provide a versatile tool for different cultural heritage archives without requiring complex customization. The objectives of the paper are to explore different approaches to identifying similarities in 1- or n-gram tags, to evaluate and compare different pre-trained language models, and to define integrated methods to overcome limitations. Tests to validate the approach have been conducted using the QueryLab portal, a search engine for cultural heritage archives, to evaluate the proposed pipeline.
Renovation or Redevelopment: The Case of Smart Decision-Support in Aging Buildings
Authors: Wu Bin , Maalek Reza
Published: July 2023

In Germany, as in many developed countries, over 60% of buildings were constructed before 1978, where most are in critical condition, requiring either demolition with plans for redevelopment or renovation and rehabilitation. Given the urgency of climate action and relevant sustainable development goals set by the United Nations, more attention must be shifted toward the various sustainability aspects when deciding on the strategy for renovation or redevelopment of existing buildings. To this end, this study focused on developing a smart decision support framework for aging buildings based on lifecycle sustainability considerations. The framework integrated digital technological advancements, such as building information modeling (BIM), point clouds processing with field information modeling (FIM)®, and structural optimization, together with life-cycle assessment to evaluate and rate the environmental impact of different solutions. Three sustainability aspects, namely, cost, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, were quantitatively evaluated and compared in two scenarios, namely, renovation, and demolition or deconstruction combined with redevelopment. A real building constructed in 1961 was the subject of the experiments to validate the framework. The result outlined the limitations and advantages of each method in terms of economics and environmental impact. It was further observed that optimizing the building design with the goal to reduce embodied energy and carbon in compliance with modern energy standards, was crucial to improve overall energy performance. This work demonstrated that the developed BIM-based framework to assess the environmental impact of rehabilitation work in aging buildings can provide effective ratings to guide decision-making in real-world projects.
Identifying Bias in Social and Health Research: Measurement Invariance and Latent Mean Differences Using the Alignment Approach
Authors: Tsaousis Ioannis , Jaffari And Fathima M.
Published: July 2023

The scope of this study was twofold: first, to introduce a new method in examining measurement invariance, especially with large-scale studies where a large number of group comparisons are involved: the alignment approach, where only configural invariance is necessary to achieve measurement invariance. Second, to evaluate the psychometric robustness of this approach using real-life data. Particularly, we applied this approach to examine whether the factor structure of a cognitive ability test (PGAT) exhibits measurement invariance across the 26 universities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The sample consisted of 9,849 graduate students from 26 universities around the Kingdom. The results indicated a robust configural model suggesting that the P-GAT subscales were invariant across the 26 universities. Finally, the aligned factor mean values were estimated, and factor mean comparisons of every group’s mean with all other group means were conducted for both cognitive domains (Verbal and Quantitative). In both domains, King Saud University had the highest mean score among all universities. Moreover, its mean factor score was significantly higher than any other university besides Dammam University. On the other hand, several universities allocated at the northern and Southern borders of the country exhibited the lowest factor mean scores.
Multi-Probe RFA vs. Single-Probe MWA in an Ex-Vivo Bovine Liver Model: Comparison of Volume and Shape of Coagulation Zones
Authors: Laimer Gregor , Bauer Michael , Scharll Yannick , Schullian Peter , Bale Reto
Published: July 2023

Objectives: To compare the volumes and shapes of the coagulation zone (CZ) of a multi-probe RFA system (three RFA electrodes) and a single-probe MWA system from the same vendor in an ex-vivo bovine liver model. Material & Methods: A total of 48 CZs were obtained in bovine liver specimens with three different ablation system configurations (single-probe MWA vs. multi-probe RFA with 20 mm inter-probe distance [confluent CZ] vs. multi-probe RFA with 50 mm inter-probe distance [three individual CZ]) at 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-min ablation time using a fixed ablation protocol. Ablation diameters were measured and ellipticity indices (EI) and volumes calculated. Calculations for all systems/configurations were compared. Results: Volumes and diameters increased with ablation time for all configurations. At 4- and 6-min ablation time volumes obtained with the RFA 50 mm setup, and at 8 and 10 min with the RFA 20 mm setup were the largest with 26.5 ± 4.1 mL, 38.1 ± 5.8 mL, 46.3 ± 4.9 mL, 48.4 ± 7.3 mL, respectively. The single-probe MWA could not reach the volumes of the RFA setups for any of the ablation times evaluated. EI were very similar and almost round for RFA 20 mm and single-probe MWA and differed significantly to the more ovoid ones for the RFA 50 mm configuration. Conclusion: The multi-probe RFA system employing three electrodes achieved significantly larger ablation volumes in both configurations (confluent CZ and three individual CZ) per time as compared to a single-probe MWA system in this ex-vivo bovine liver model.
The Impact of Maternal Gut Microbiota during Pregnancy on Fetal Gut-Brain Axis Development and Life-Long Health Outcomes
Authors: Sajdel-Sulkowska Elizabeth Maria
Published: July 2023

Gut microbiota plays a critical role in physiological regulation throughout life and is specifically modified to meet the demands of individual life stages and during pregnancy. Maternal gut microbiota is uniquely adapted to the pregnancy demands of the mother and the developing fetus. Both animal studies in pregnant germ-free rodents and human studies have supported a critical association between the composition of maternal microbiota during pregnancy and fetal development. Gut microbiota may also contribute to the development of the fetal gut-brain axis (GBA), which is increasingly recognized for its critical role in health and disease. Most studies consider birth as the time of GBA activation and focus on postnatal GBA development. This review focuses on GBA development during the prenatal period and the impact of maternal gut microbiota on fetal GBA development. It is hypothesized that adaptation of maternal gut microbiota to pregnancy is critical for the GBA prenatal development and maturation of GBA postnatally. Consequently, factors affecting maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy, such as maternal obesity, diet, stress and depression, infection, and medication, also affect fetal GBA development and are critical for GBA activity postnatally. Altered maternal gut microbiota during gestation has been shown to have long-term impact postnatally and multigenerational effects. Thus, understanding the impact of maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy on fetal GBA development is crucial for managing fetal, neonatal, and adult health, and should be included among public health priorities.
Redox Modulatory Potential of Methanol Extract of Pentaclethra Macrophylla Stem Bark
Authors: Nnamani Petra Obioma , Diovu Edith Obioma , Ikechukwu Peter , Onwuka Akachukwu M , Abonyi Obiora Emmanuel , Ibezim Obinna Chibueze , Loretz Birgitta , Nesterkina Mariia , Lehr Claus- Michael
Published: July 2023

Purpose: Oxidative stress is responsible for over seventy five diseases and other harmful cytological challenges including cancer, type 2 diabetes mellitus, lipid peroxidation, distortion of cell membrane integrity, shortening of telomerase among others. Antioxidant potency of any plant is a very positive remedy to the debilitating effects of prooxidants and oxidants. The study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant potency of methanol extract of Pentaclethra macrophylla stem bark- in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Different phytochemicals were determined using standard methods. Nitric oxide, 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity and ferric reducing/anti-radical power were used to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity. Catalase assay, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase were used to determine the in vivo antioxidant efficacy using six groups of five rats. Results: The result showed various quantities of phytochemicals, including antioxidant phytochemicals-flavonoids, tannins and total phenolics. The in vitro assay showed that 250 μg/ml of extract had the highest percentage inhibition of DPPH radical (93.93%). The 125 μg/ml had the highest scavenging activity of nitric oxide radical (49.47%) while 250μg/ml showed the least with 41.73%. Other methods showed various degrees of activity. The in vivo antioxidant showed that the principal mechanism of antioxidant activity is by modulating the iron-dependent catalase activity. Conclusion: Pentaclethra macrophylla has both in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities and therefore is useful in ameliorating the debilitating effects of oxidants.
Effect of Calcination Temperature on the Activity of Unsupported IrO2 Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in PEM Water Electrolyzers
Authors: Banti Angeliki , Papazisi Kalliopi Maria , Balomenou Stella , Tsiplakides Dimitrios
Published: July 2023

Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyser suffers mainly from slow kinetics regarding oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Noble metal oxides, like IrO2, RuO2, are generally more active for OER than metal electrodes, exhibiting low anodic overpotentials and high catalytic activity. However, issues like electrocatalyst stability under continuous operation and cost minimization through reduction of the catalyst loading are of great importance for the research community. In the present study, unsupported IrO2 of various particle sizes (different calcination temperatures) were evaluated for the OER and as anode electrodes for PEM water electrolyzers [1]. The elec-trocatalysts were synthesized by the modified Adams method [2][3] and the effect of calcination temperature on the properties of IrO2 electrocatalysts is investigated. Physicochemical charac-terization was conducted using X-ray Diffraction, BET, High-Resolution TEM and XPS analyses. For the electrochemical performance of synthesized electrocatalysts in the OER, cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry were conducted in a typical 3-cell electrode configuration, using glassy carbon as working electrode, where the synthesized electrocatalysts were casted on, in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The materials, as anode PEM water electrolysis electrodes, were further evaluated in a typical electrolytic cell using Nafion®115 membrane as electrolyte and Pt/C as cathode elec-trocatalyst. The IrO2 electrocatalyst calcined at 400°C shows high crystallinity with 1.24 nm particle size, high specific surface area (185 m2 g-1) and a high OER activity of 177 mA cm-2 at 1.8 V as anode electrocatalyst for PEM water electrolyzer.
Efficacy and Differential Physiological-Biochemical Response of Biostimulants in Green Beans Subjected to Moderate and Severe Water Stress
Authors: Hernández-Figueroa Karla Ivonne , Sánchez Esteban , Ramírez-Estrada Carlos Abel , Muñoz-Márquez Ezequiel , Ojeda-Barrios Damaris L , Pérez-Álvarez Sandra
Published: July 2023

Water stress is one of the main factors affecting the development of agricultural crops. An inno-vative alternative to improve tolerance to water stress is the application of biostimulants. In the present study, the efficacy and physiological and biochemical responses of different biostimulants were evaluated in beans under moderate and severe stress. The treatments consisted of three types of irrigation: FC100, without water stress, FC75, irrigation reduced by 25% (moderate water stress) and FC50, irrigation reduced by 50% (severe water stress). In the treatments with water deficit, foliar biostimulants were applied: zinc oxide nanoparticles plus chitosan, Codasil®, Osmoplant®, Stimplex® and salicylic acid. Foliar application of ZnO + chitosan nanoparticles benefited biomass accumulation and yield under moderate water stress (FC75) and Codasil® and Osmoplant® under severe water stress (FC50). Proline, free sugars and gas exchange were higher under the application of ZnO + chitosan nanoparticles under moderate water stress and under Codasil® and Osmoplant® under severe water stress. Depending on the severity of water stress, ZnO + chitosan nanoparticles, Codasil® and Osmoplant® are viable products to increase tolerance in green bean cv. Strike plants.
Structural and Shape Optimization in Aerodynamic Airfoil Performance: A Literature Review
Authors: Juvinel Juan Manuel De Egea , Pinto Roa Diego P. , Schaerer Christian Emilio
Published: July 2023

An airfoil is the geometric shape of a cross-section of a wing. When it is exposed to the flow of a fluid over its surface, it generates both lift and drag forces through a pressure distribution. Designing an efficient airfoil for aerodynamic applications is a complex challenge in the field of aerodynamic engineering, with the aim of achieving an optimal lift-to-drag ratio. The success of airfoil design hinges on the effective reduction of drag force under specific conditions, while simultaneously attaining the desired lift without encountering significant flow separation, such as boundary layer shedding. Furthermore, the design must adhere to lifting force limitations and meet structural requirements. In the field of airfoil design and optimization, literature review articles provide a valuable resource by offering an overview of the latest advancements in specific areas. These areas encompass a wide range of topics including the design and testing of adaptive geometry wings, such as morphing wing technology as well as the application of shape optimization techniques to enhance airfoil performance. Our goal is to provide researchers with an in-depth review of relevant articles published to date, examining the applied approaches utilized to tackle the complex problem of airfoil design and explore the methodology employed to address it, from a broad perspective on the topic.
Experimental Study on the Curing Mechanism of Red Mud-Based Stabilized Soil Co-Modified by Nano-SiO2 and Gypsum
Authors: Shengjin Chen , Xiaoduo Ou , Jie Jiang , Zhijie Tan
Published: July 2023

In order to effectively utilize red mud and reduce its occupation of land resources as well as its impact on the environment, experiments were conducted to develop stabilized soil materials using nano-SiO2 synergistically modified red mud and to investigate the curing mechanism of stabilized soil. The unconfined compressive strength, microscopic morphology and curing mechanism of the red mud-based stabilized soil materials with different amounts of modified materials were investigated. The test results show that after 7-days curing, the unconfined compressive strength of red mud-based stabilized soil meets the compressive strength requirement of road base material when nano-SiO2, gypsum and cement are synergistically modified. In such case, the soil structure has the lowest fracture rate and the best structural compactness when the amount of nano-SiO2 is 1%; It is found that the needle-like and columnar calcium alumina in the modified red mud-based stabilized soil increases, and the binding energy of hydration product ions in the modified material is improved; The chemical curing mechanism of modified red mud-based stabilized soil includes hydration reaction, volcanic ash reaction, promotion effect of nano-SiO2, and enhancement effect of gypsum. On this base, a model of early start hydration process of red mud-based stabilized soil promoted by nano-SiO2 is established.
A Machine Learning Approach to Qualitatively Evaluate Different Granulation Phases by Acoustic Emissions
Authors: Fulek Ruwen , Ramm Selina , Kiera Christian , Pein-Hackelbusch Miriam , Odefey Ulrich
Published: July 2023

Wet granulation is a frequent process in the pharmaceutical industry. As a starting point for numerous dosage forms, the quality of the granulation not only affects subsequent production steps but also impacts the quality of the final product. It is thus crucial and economical to monitor this operation thoroughly. Here, we report on identifying different phases of a granulation process using a machine learning approach. The phases reflect the water content which in turn influences the processability and quality of the granule mass. We used two kinds of microphones and an acceleration sensor to capture acoustic emissions and vibrations. We trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to classify the different phases using transformed sound recordings as the input. We achieved a classification accuracy of up to 90 % using vibrational data and an accuracy of up to 97 % using the audible microphone data. Our results indicate the suitability of using audible sound and machine learning to monitor pharmaceutical processes. Moreover, since recording acoustic emissions is contactless, it readily complies with legal regulations and present Good Manufacturing Practices.
Peningkatan Kinerja Karyawan Melalui Motivasi dan Lingkungan Kerja Pada BMT Amanah Mandiri Purwantoro
Authors: Awwalin Sholihah  , Muchtim Humaidi
Published: July 2023

Effective utilization of human resources is a way for a company to maintain its survival and growth in the future. One way that can improve employee performance is by providing work motivation and conditioning the work environment. However, in reality, employees still lack discipline and their work productivity decreases. The problems studied in this study are how the motivation techniques and conditioning of the work environment are carried out, the obstacles faced, and the impact on improving employee performance at BMT Amanah Mandiri Purwantoro. In this study, the author used a type of field research with a qualitative approach. This study uses data collection methods carried out at the place where the phenomenon occurs, ranging from observation, interviews, and documentation. From the results of the research that the author conducted, it can be concluded that the motivation and conditioning techniques of the work environment provided are in accordance with the theory used starting from providing salaries, providing health guarantees, and also respecting and respecting each other. However, there are still some things that are still lacking, namely emotional changes in themselves, the condition of the building is less extensive, the provision of incentives received by employees is still not in accordance with their needs, and also the level of discipline that is still low both in the accuracy of entering work and completing work in accordance with the predetermined time.
Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of covering Burkitt’s Lymphoma in children under Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme
Authors: Owusu Richmond , Pritchard Dakota , Heupink Lieke Fleur , Gulbi Godwin , Asare Brian , Amankwah Ivy , Azeez Joycelyn , Gyansa-Lutterodt Martha , Dsane-Selby Lydia , Mensah Ruby Aileen , Omane-Agyekum William , Ruiz Francis , Gad Mohamed , Nonvignon Justice , Chola Lumbwe , Group Ghana HTA Technical Working
Published: July 2023

Background
Many children in sub-Saharan Africa die from preventable deaths due to Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL), an aggressive but highly curable form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Delayed care seeking and treatment abandonment are common reasons for a relatively low overall survival (OS) in low-and middle-income countries when compared to OS in high income settings. The financial burden of care seeking to families is often the main reason for the high treatment abandonment. Yet childhood cancer is not a high priority in health care financing for many countries, including in Ghana, where at the time of this study, treatment was not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). In this study, we analyze the cost-effectiveness of extending health insurance coverage to children with BL in Ghana.
Methods
We developed a Markov model in Microsoft Excel to estimate the costs and effects of BL treatment when NHIS was provided compared to the status quo where NHIS does not cover care for childhood cancer. The analysis was undertaken from the societal perspective. Both costs (measured in $) and effects, measured using disability adjusted life years (DALYs), were discounted at a rate of 3%. The time horizon was a lifetime. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was done to assess uncertainty in the measurement of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). A budget impact analysis was undertaken from the perspective of the NHIS.
Results
In the base-case analysis, the intervention (NHIS reimbursed treatment) was less costly than current practice ($8,302 vs $9,558). The intervention was also more effective with less DALYs per patient than the standard of care (17.6 vs 23.33). The ICER was $219 and indicates that intervention is still cost-effective when taking a narrower, health system only perspective. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that the intervention is likely to be both less costly and more effective than current practice in 100% of the 1,000 simulations undertaken.
Conclusion
Providing health insurance coverage to children with BL is potentially highly cost-effective. The effectiveness and cost-savings relating to this strategy is driven by its positive impact on treatment initiation and retention. Based on this evidence, there has been a policy change where Ghana’s NHIS has prioritized financing for cancer treatment in children.
Improving Pain, Function and Quality of Life in End-Stage Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Cohort Study of Whole-Body Vibration and Exercise as Bridging Therapies for Total Knee Replacement
Authors: Choi Kendrew Yu-Hei , Chau Wai-Wang , Li Linda Man-Kuen , Ng Sammie Yuk-Lam , Lo Boie Po-Yee , Ong Michael Tim-Yun , Yung Patrick Shu-Hang
Published: July 2023

Introduction: We prospectively evaluated the effects of exercise and whole-body vibration (WBV) on pain and function in 517 patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis awaiting total knee replacement (TKR).
Methods: Participants were allocated to control (n=201), supervised physiotherapist-led exercise (n=227), or exercise + WBV (n=89) groups. The exercise and exercise + WBV groups completed 4 to 5 group exercise sessions and individualized home exercises. The exercise + WBV group also received 10 minutes of WBV with each session. Outcome measures included pain, self-reported physical function, range of motion, gait, and functional tests.
Results: Both exercise groups showed significant improvements in pain, Knee Society Score, knee function, Timed Up and Go test, and functional reach. The exercise + WBV group showed greater improvements in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and KOOS subscales of Pain, Symptoms, and Quality of Life compared to exercise alone.
Discussion and Conclusion: Exercise and WBV may substantially improve pain and function for patients awaiting TKR. Targeted, optimized programs could help address needs during prolonged surgical waits and merit investigation. The potential benefits of WBV, including improved pain, symptoms, and quality of life, warrant further study to determine long-term impact and cost-effectiveness. This could support implementing effective approaches to alleviate the impact of delays for TKR. For patients with end-stage knee osteoarthritis awaiting surgery, supervised exercise therapy, especially with WBV, shows promise for reducing pain and improving function. This could bridge a critical gap for those experiencing prolonged waits for TKR.
Vitamin B1 deficiency leads to high oxidative stress and mtDNA depletion caused by SLC19A3 mutation in consanguineous family with Leigh syndrome
Authors: felhi Rahma , Sfaihi Lamia , Charif Majida , Frikha Fakher , Aoiadni Nissaf , Kamoun Thouraya , Lenaers Guy , Fakhfakh Faiza
Published: July 2023

Leigh syndrome (LS) and Leigh-like spectrum are the most common infantile mitochondrial disorders characterized by heterogeneous neurologic and metabolic manifestations. Pathogenic variants in SLC carriers are frequently reported in LS given their important role in transporting various solutes across the blood–brain barrier. SLC19A3 (THTR2) is one of these carriers transporting vitamin-B1 (vitB1, thiamine) into the cell. Targeted NGS of nuclear genes involved in mitochondrial diseases was performed in a patient belonging to a consanguineous Tunisian family with LS and revealed a homozygous c.1264A > G (p.T422A) variant in SLC19A3. Molecular docking revealed that the p.T422A aa change is located at a key position interacting with vitB1 and causes conformational changes compromising vitB1 import. We further disclosed decreased plasma antioxidant activities of CAT, SOD and GSH enzymes, and a 42% decrease of the mtDNA copy number in patient blood. Altogether, our results disclose that the c.1264A > G (p.T422A) variant in SLC19A3 affects vitB1 transport, induces a mtDNA depletion and reduces the expression level of oxidative stress enzymes, altogether contributing to the LS phenotype of the patient.
Soil ecosystem services of an urban park in Mexico as a basis for planning
Authors: Cotler Helena , Cram Silke , Prado Blanca , Peña Victor
Published: July 2023

Urban parks in the cities play a crucial role in promoting sustainability and enhancing the quality of life for their residents. In an urban ecosystem, we have to make some trade-offs between the cultural and ecological ecosystem services. The soil ecosystem services depend on specific ecological conditions, therefore information on their potential to provide fundamental services is a basic requirement when constructions are planned in green areas. Mexico City, like other cities in Latin America, has very few green areas that are constantly threatened by sealing. Based on morpho-pedological landscapes (MpL) we quantify the soil carbon sequestration (SOC) and infiltration capacity in Chapultepec park. Among the 12 MpL we found the highest content of SOC in hillslopes with mixed tree vegetation and Phaeozem and the lowest in grass-dominant plain with Technosols and Leptosols. However, the SOC retention decreased by 40-50% because of sealing surfaces. For each MpL, the value of the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity calculated from pedotransfer functions (Ksc) was markedly lower than the Ksm measured with the double ring infiltrometer. In all MpL, both Ksc and Ksm were always higher than the reported maximum rainfall intensity. In the MpLs with more sealing, the runoff reaches more than 40% of the precipitated water. Based on these results, it is recommended to implement different actions such as allowing the leaves on the soils, the de-sealing of obsolete infrastructure, as well as locating the new constructions on Technosols and Leptosols to maintain Chapultepec park as a SOC sink with infiltration potential.
Identification of risk factors and development nomogram for neonatal sepsis in Group B Streptococcus-colonized mothers: A retrospective study
Authors: WU MENGQI , DENG YANBING , WANG XINYE , HE BAOMEI , ZHANG YING , Wei Fangqiang
Published: July 2023

Background: Neonatal clinical sepsis is recognized as a significant health problem, This study sought to identify a predictive model of risk factors for clinical neonatal sepsis.
Methods: A retrospective review about maternal-newborn dichotomy was conducted at our hospital from October 2018 to April 2023. The neonates were divided into cases and controls according to whether neonatal sepsis occurred . Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine risk factors and construct models.
Results: 339 pairs of mothers and their newborns were included in the study and classified into cases (n=84, 24.78%) and controls(n=255, 75.22%) . Logistic regression analysis showed that maternal age ≥26 years (odds ratio [OR] =0.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.96, p=0.038),umbilical cord winding([OR]=1.80,95%[CI]1.06-3.05,p=0.027), maternal gestational diabetes ([OR]=2.14, 95%[CI]1.09-4.20, p=0.027) and neonatal sex as female ([OR]=0.64,95%[CI]0.38-1.00,p=0.050), and forceps assisted delivery ([OR]=4.74, 95%[CI]1.23-18.19, p=0.023) were independent factors affecting neonatal clinical sepsis outcome. A main effects model incorporating the five significant factors was constructed to predict the occurrence of clinical sepsis in neonates with an AUC value of 0. 719 (95%CI：0653～0.786).
Conclusions: A main effects model incorporating the five significant factors was constructed to help healthcare professionals make informed decisions and improve clinical outcomes.
Parathyroid allotransplantation for severe post-surgical hypoparathyroidism: a Brazilian experience
Authors: Gadelha Daniel , Filho Wellington Alves , d'Alva Catarina Brasil , de Sandes-Freitas Tainá Veras , Junior Renan Magalhães Montenegro
Published: July 2023

Purpose
Parathyroid allotransplantation is an alternative therapy for refractory permanent hypoparathyroidism (PH). Herein, we present the cases of two women who developed severe PH after neck surgery for papillary thyroid cancer and underwent parathyroid allotransplantation. Despite taking high doses of calcium and calcitriol supplements, the patients experienced persistent and severe hypocalcemic symptoms.
Methods
Fresh parathyroid tissue was removed and prepared from two patients with hyperparathyroidism secondary to end-stage kidney disease, and implanted in the non-dominant forearm of the recipients. Donors and recipients were ABO-compatible, and immunological screening was performed only in Case 2 (HLA typing, Panel Reactive Antibody, and crossmatch tests). A short-term immunosuppressive regimen was adopted, which consists of three days of methylprednisolone followed by seven days of prednisone.
Results
In Case 1, oral supplementation decreased to half of the initial dose one month after transplantation and to one-fifth at the end of a 12-month follow-up period. In Case 2, intravenous calcium could be discontinued one week post-transplantation, and it was not required until six months after transplantation. Serum parathyroid hormone levels did not increase and remained mostly undetectable in both cases. In contrast, serum calcium levels increased significantly, and both patients experienced relief from hypocalcemic symptoms.
Conclusion
Parathyroid allotransplantation can be an effective and safe treatment for permanent PH, and should be considered in severe cases. Nevertheless, formal recommendations depend on additional studies and validated protocols.
Evaluating an Optimal Time to Anticoagulant Reversal in Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Peters Haley , Roebuck Leslie , Harman Emily
Published: July 2023

Background:
The utilization of long-term oral anticoagulation is steadily expanding due to the growing number of patients diagnosed with thromboembolic diseases, such as atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism. Anticoagulation use can exacerbate hematoma expansion and increase intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) volume resulting in high mortality and severe morbidity. However, unlike the treatment of ischemic stroke, the optimal time to reversal for hemorrhagic stroke is not clearly defined in the guidelines.
Observational studies have evaluated the effect of time to reversal administration and have shown improvement on inpatient mortality and hematoma enlargement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the change in functional outcomes for intracerebral hemorrhage patients who received anticoagulant reversal within 90 minutes of presentation.
Methods:
This retrospective, observational cohort study included anticoagulated adult patients diagnosed with an intracerebral hemorrhage on a computerized tomography scan who received anticoagulant reversal at Northeast Georgia Medical Center between January 1, 2018 – September 30, 2022. Patients were excluded if diagnosed with an aneurysm, another bleed, or administered desmopressin. The primary outcome was to evaluate the change in functional outcomes for ICH patients who received anticoagulant reversal within 90 minutes of presentation. Secondary outcomes included the change in functional outcomes for ICH patients who received anticoagulation reversal within 30 or 60 minutes of presentation, time to international normalized ratio (INR) normalization if on warfarin, and to assess the incidence of thrombotic and rebleed events after reversal.
Results:
Sixty-one patients met inclusion criteria with thirty-six patients receiving reversal within 90 minutes and twenty-five receiving reversal after 90 minutes of arrival. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Overall, there was no change in functional outcomes for patients who received anticoagulation reversal within 90 minutes (75% vs. 52%, p=0.07); 60 minutes (71% vs. 63%, p=0.49) or 30 minutes of arrival (100% vs. 64%, p=0.3) compared to after these time points. There was a similar incidence of rebleed (3% vs. 4%) and thrombotic events (6% vs. 0%) between groups.
Conclusion:
Functional outcomes were similar for intracerebral hemorrhage patients who received anticoagulation reversal within 90 minutes compared to those who received it after 90 minutes of Emergency Department arrival.
Remote Sensing Method (TLS) in Architectural Analysis and Constructive Pathology Diagnosis
Authors: Alikhodja Nadir , Zeghlache Hamza , Bousnina Monia
Published: July 2023

This work is proposed as a contribution to the debate pertaining to the reverse modelling in the field of cultural heritage. Besides, the development of data capture techniques in recent years, in respect such as Terrestrial LIDAR (TLS), provides the possibility to develop new procedures for the architectural heritage analysis and diagnosis. This paper presents some of the results obtained throughout the integrated use of techniques and non-invasive for the assessment of vertical constructions from point clouds that allow obtaining relevant data. Likewise, this work consists of an investigation with different integrated methodologies for extraction purpose of the geometric information, data analysis and generation of a 3D mathematical model, reliable from a formal and cultural point of view. In fact, the technique is tested on the thousand-year-old minaret of the Agadir Mosque in the Province of Tlemcen, Algeria, one of the oldest minarets in Algeria, where the geometric differences between the vertical parts, being a priori equal, are identified and analysed; in addition, the possible deformations and lesions of the structure have alike been subject to study. In this respect, the technique can be performed and reproduced on any other vertical construction of any type whatever.
Juvenile Hormone Regulates Silk Gene Expression by m6A RNA Methylation
Authors: Liu Shuaiqi , Tian Huan , Xu Yusong , Wang Huabing
Published: July 2023

Juvenile hormone (JH) is an indispensable insect hormone that is critical in regulating insect development and physiology. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification of RNA that regulates RNA fate in eukaryotic organisms. However, the relationship between m6A and JH remains largely unknown. Here, we found that the application of a Juvenile hormone analog (JHA) extended the larval period of Bombyx mori and increased the weight and thickness of the cocoon. Interestingly, global transcriptional patterns revealed that m6A-related genes are specifically regulated by JHA in the posterior silk gland (PSG) that synthesizes the major component of cocoon silk. By transcriptome and m6A sequencing data conjointly, we discovered that JHA significantly regulated the m6A modification in the PSG of B. mori and many m6A-containing genes are related to nucleic acid binding, nucleus, and nucleobase-containing compound metabolism. Notably, 547 genes were significantly regulated by JHA at both the m6A modification and expression levels, especially 16 silk-associated genes, including sericin2, seroin1, BmSPI4, BmSPI5, and Ldb. Among them, 11 silk genes were significantly affected by METTL3 knockdown, validating that these silk genes are targets of m6A modification. Furthermore, we confirmed that JHA directly regulates the expression of BmSPI4 and BmSPI5 through m6A modification of CDS regions. These results demonstrate the essential role of m6A methylation regulated by JH in PSG, and elucidate a novel mechanism by which JH affects silk gland development via m6A methylation. This study uncovers that m6A modification is a critical factor mediating the effect of JH in insects.
Engineering of formate dehydrogenase for improving conversion potential of carbon dioxide to formate
Authors: Shi Hong-Ling , Yuan Shu-Wei , Xi Xiao-Qi , Xie Yu-Li , Yue Chao , Zhang Ying-Jun , Yao Lun-Guang , Xue Chuang , Tang Cun-Duo
Published: July 2023

Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) is a D-2-hydroxy acid dehydrogenase, which can reversibly reduce CO2 to formate and thus act as non-photosynthetic CO2 reductase. In order to increase catalytic efficiency of formate dehydrogenase for CO2 reduction, the formate dehydrogenase CbFDHM2 was used as the parent to conduct single-site saturation and iterative combinatorial mutagenesis, and two mutants V328I/F285W and V354G/F285W were obtained of which reduction activity was about two times more than the CbFDHM2 and had greater potential in CO2 reduction. The optimal temperature for V328I/F285W and V354G/F285W was 55℃, and the optimal pH was 9.0. Then the molecular basis for its improvement of biochemical characteristics were preliminarily elucidated by computer-aided methods. All of these results further established a solid foundation for molecular modification of formate dehydrogenase and CO2 reduction.
ConSQL: A Database Language for Contex-aware Conversational Cooperative Query Answering
Authors: Jamil Hasan
Published: July 2023

In conversational query answering systems, context plays a significant role in accurately and meaningfully carrying it forward. In many chatbots, such as in Expedia, the discussion quickly degenerates into circling back to restarting the conversation or to inviting a live agent to intervene because the bot could not grasp the context. Contexts shorten interactions by way of implied query constraints to narrow search and to not repeat them in subsequent queries. In this paper, we introduce a novel way of viewing contexts as a distance function via the concept of query relaxation. We demonstrate that a typed domain distance function is sufficient to model context in a conversation. Our approach is based on the idea of non-monotonic constraint inheritance in a context hierarchy.
Exciton Confinement in Two-Dimensional, In-Plane, Quantum Heterostructures
Authors: Jariwala Deep , Kim Gwangwoo , Huet Benjamin , Stevens Christopher , Jo Kiyoung , Tsai Jeng-Yuan , Bachu Saiphaneendra , Leger Meghan , Ma Kyung Yeol , Glavin Nicholas R. , Shin Hyeon Suk , Alem Nasim , Yan Qimin , Hendrickson Joshua , Redwing Joan
Published: July 2023

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising candidates for optoelectronic application and quantum information processes due to their inherent out-of-plane 2D confinement. In addition, they offer the possibility of achieving low-dimensional in-plane exciton confinement, similar to zero-dimensional quantum dots, with intriguing optical and electronic properties via strain or composition engineering. However, realizing such laterally confined 2D monolayers and systematically controlling size-dependent optical properties remain significant challenges. Here, we report the observation of lateral confinement of excitons in epitaxially grown in-plane MoSe2 quantum dots (~15-60 nm wide) inside a continuous matrix of WSe2 monolayer film via a sequential epitaxial growth process. Various optical spectroscopy techniques reveal the size-dependent exciton confinement in the MoSe2 monolayer quantum dots with exciton blue shift (12-40 meV) at a low temperature as compared to continuous monolayer MoSe2. Finally, single-photon emission was also observed from the smallest dots at 1.6 K. Our study opens the door to compositionally engineered, tunable, in-plane quantum light sources in 2D semiconductors.
Assessing the Efficacy of a Novel Fuzzy-based Clustering Algorithm for Mobile Agent Itinerary Planning in Wireless Sensor Networks using Validity Indices
Authors: Kashyap Nidhi , Upadhyaya Shuchita , Poriye Monika , Lalar Sachin , Aggarwal Shalini
Published: July 2023

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are composed of small sensor nodes that either transmit their sensed data to the sink node directly or transmit it to its respective cluster head, which then transmits it to the sink node. However, this consumes a lot of network bandwidth and energy from the constrained sensor nodes. To address these constraints, Mobile Agents (MA) paradigm can be used in WSNs, which may lead to better energy and bandwidth conservation. When a single mobile agent is insufficient to complete a task, multiple mobile agents can be deployed to perform in parallel and reduce network latency. The set of sensor nodes and their sequence that MAs must migrate to complete a task is called an itinerary. The planning of the itinerary is the most prominent and significant issue related to the MA-based system, including the determination of an appropriate number of MAs to be dispatched, determining the set of sensor nodes and their sequence to be visited by MAs. This paper proposes a fuzzy-based algorithm to partition wireless sensor networks into a set of sensor nodes, called domains, for enhancing the efficiency of the WSN in terms of its prolonged operation. Experimental evaluations are conducted to compare the proposed algorithm with benchmarked algorithms. The paper suggests that the proposed algorithm's integration with MA-based systems can enhance their performance and prolong the WSN's lifetime.
Studying the effects of multi-path error on smartphone positioning using GNSS data
Authors: Nasr-Azadani Samin , Alizadeh Mohamad Mahdi , Schuh Harald
Published: July 2023

With the continuous growth of smartphone location-based applications, enhancing the positioning accuracy of these devices has become increasingly critical. Smartphones are primarily used in urban areas, where they often receive Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals amidst considerable noise and face challenges such as signal blockage due to numerous obstructions. Despite this, no comprehensive analysis has been conducted thus far to evaluate the impact of multipath error on the real-time accuracy of smartphone positioning. Therefore, this study aims to examine the influence of multipath error on determining the position of smartphones by utilizing raw GNSS observations. To calculate the multipath effect rate of the GNSS code observations without the need to estimate the phase ambiguity, we employ the Code Minus Carrier Phase (CMCD) observable. This indicator is then utilized to correct code rate measurements. Given that the calculation of multipath rate using CMCD measurements relies on eliminating phase jumps, we employed a Doppler integration algorithm to address this issue. The results of code-only positioning are examined across three modes: GPS-only, multi-GNSS without multipath correction, and multi-GNSS with multipath correction. These results reveal that utilizing multi-system measurements enables the estimation of positions in a greater number of epochs. The entire measurement duration becomes kinematic, and applying multipath correction to the received signal helps reduce RMS errors to approximately 2 meters for the x component (east-west) and about 0.5 meters for the y component (north-south) along the entire path.
3D toilet-paper based carbon fiber for excellent solar assisted steam generation performance
Authors: Suo Xidong , Li Yao , Liu Peiqi , Li Yingying , Guo Cuirong , Yang Jie , Qiao Hongtao , Han Sheng , Liu Chenqi , Yin Aiping
Published: July 2023

As a promising technology, interfacial solar steam technology has been widely recognized as an effective way to solve the shortage of energy and water, especially in remote areas. Whole roll of toilet paper (TP) is composed of well orderly layer-by-layer paper which consisted by cellulose fiber. Here, a 3D solar steam generator which is prepared by carbonized TP with the help of high temperature carbonization and NaOH activated under inert atmosphere is firstly demonstrated with excellent fresh water production capacity. Thanks to the good ordered layered structure which consisted by porous carbon fiber, the evaporation speed of obtained evaporator is up to 3.37 kg m-2 h-1 under one sun (1000 W m-2) in laboratory, and the average value of 20.4 kg m−2 day−1 in a 20 consecutive days outdoor experiment for treatment of stimulate sea water, respectively. The demonstrated 3D evaporator for per square meter can meet the drinking water demand of more than 10 people. This work opens a promising approach for utilizing unique structure of commercialized available artificial materials and technologies to produce fresh water form seawater.
Plasmon Coupling Model Between Wide-field SPR Microscopy and Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Al-Bataineh Qais M. , Telfah Ahmad D. , Tavares Carlos J. , Hergenröder Roland
Published: July 2023

The coupling behavior of the wide field surface plasmon microscopy (WF-SPRM) with single-, two-, and multiple-gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with different AuNPs sizes is investigated using theoretical, simulation, and experimental approaches. The signal intensity of a single AuNP increases from 208 a.u. to 583 a.u. as particle size increases from 40 nm to 80 nm, which shows the signal-building mechanism of Rayleigh scattering theory. A discrete particle model of SPR is used to understand the interaction between an Au-layer and a single AuNP. The calculated intensity profile of the single AuNP from the discrete particle model is accepted with the experimental data. In addition, the superposition between 2-AuNPs surface plasmon waves is studied using the finite element method as well as experimental data from WF-SPRM. The surface plasmon waves around the two particles are generated an interference pattern. Finally, it is demonstrated that plasmonic multiple particles scattering can be represented by an effective media, which is described by Maxwell-Garnet equations.