bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the Convergence Order from p to p+3 in Iterative Methods for Solving Nonlinear Systems of Equations without the Use of Jacobian Matrices
Authors: Cordero Alicia , Leonardo–Sepúlveda Miguel , Torregrosa Juan , Vassileva María P.
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we present an innovative technique that improves the convergence order of iterative schemes that do not require the evaluation of Jacobian matrices. Using this procedure, we achieve a remarkable increase in the order of convergence, raising it from p to p + 3 units, which results in a remarkable improvement in the overall performance. We have conducted comprehensive numerical tests in various scenarios to validate the theoretical results, showing the efficiency and effectiveness of the new Jacobian-free schemes.
ExcessMortality Data and the Effect of the COVID-19 Vaccines Part 1: European Data
Authors: Hegarty Peter
Published: September 2023

Using publicly available data for 28 EU/EES countries from Eurostat and Our World in Data, we investigate how the current rate of Covid vaccination in a country compares to its average rate of excess mortality (EM) in the pandemic to date. We find that, in the linear regression, the correlation between average EM and vaccination rate is strongly negative, a priori evidence to support the claim that the Covid vaccines have saved many lives. However, a closer analysis of the timeline suggests otherwise. The correlation was already strongly negative before the vaccines were rolled out and is only weakly negative thereafter. In theory, survivor bias could still explain this shift, especially since waves of EM closely align with Covid waves. However, we find in addition that about half of our 28 countries experienced higher EM in 2022 than in 2021, and all that did so have higher than average vaccination rates. This is something which survivor bias cannot explain and raises the real possibility that the vaccines have not just failed to save many lives, but may have already caused net harm. Moreover, any such harm may be ongoing since we find that EM and vaccination rates have been consistently positively correlated since April 2022. We show that all these findings are robust to several different ways of measuring EM and/or vaccination rates. Finally, using public data from Worldometers, we show that the correlation over time of official Covid mortality rates with current vaccination rates closely tracks that of EM rates, even as Covid mortality has waxed and waned and even in the post-omicron period.
AI-Enhanced Analysis Reveals Impact of Maternal Diabetes on Subcutaneous Fat Mass in Fetuses Without Growth Alterations
Authors: Borboa-Olivares Hector , Torres-Torres Johnatan , Flores-Pliego Arturo , Espejel-Nuñez Aurora , Camcho-Arroyo Ignacio , Guzman-Huerta Mario , Perichart-Perera Otilia , Piña-Ramirez Omar , Estrada-Gutierrez Guadalupe
Published: September 2023

Pregnant women with diabetes often present impaired fetal growth, which is less common if maternal diabetes is well-controlled. However, developing strategies to estimate fetal body composition beyond fetal growth that could better predict metabolic complications later in life is essential. This study aimed to evaluate subcutaneous fat tissue (femur and humerus) in fetuses with normal growth among pregnant women with well-controlled diabetes using a reproducible 3D-ultrasound tool and offline TUI (Tomographic Ultrasound Imaging) analysis. Additionally, three artificial intelligence classifier models were trained and validated to assess the clinical utility of the fetal subcutaneous fat measurement. A significantly larger subcutaneous fat area was found in three-femur and two-humerus selected segments of fetuses from women with diabetes compared to the healthy pregnant control group. The full classifier model that includes subcutaneous fat measure, gestational age, fetal weight, fetal abdominal circumference, maternal body mass index, and fetal weight percentile as variables, showed the best performance, with a detection rate of 70%, considering a false positive rate of 10%, and a positive predictive value of 82%. These findings provide valuable insights into the impact of maternal diabetes on fetal subcutaneous fat tissue as a variable independent of fetal growth.
Homogenous Climatic Regions for Targeting Green Water Management Technologies in the Abbay Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Degefie Tibebe , Degefu Mekonnen Adnew , Bewket Woldeamlak , Teferi Ermias , O’Donnell Greg , Walsh Claire
Published: September 2023

Spatiotemporal climate variability is a leading environmental constraint to the rain-fed agricultural productivity and food security of communities in the Abbay basin and elsewhere in Ethiopia. The previous one-size-fits-all approach to soil and water management technology targeting did not effectively address climate-induced risks to rain-fed agriculture. This study, therefore, delineates homogenous climatic regions and identifies climate-induced risks to rain-fed agriculture that are important to guide decisions and selection of site-specific technologies for green water management in the Abbay basin. The k-means spatial clustering method was employed to identify homogenous climatic regions in the study area, while the Elbow method was used to determine an optimum number of the climate clusters. The k-mean clustering used the Enhancing National Climate Services (ENACTS) daily rainfall, minimum and maximum temperatures, and other derived climate variables that include daily rainfall amount, length of growing period (LGP), rainfall onset and cessation dates, and rainfall intensity, temperature, potential evapotranspiration (PET), soil moisture and AsterDEM to define climate regions. Accordingly, 12 climate clusters or regions were identified and mapped for the basin. Clustering a given geographic region into homogenous climate classes is useful to accurately identify and target locally relevant green water management technologies to effectively address local-scale climate-induced risks. The study has also provides a methodological framework that can be used in the other river basins of Ethiopia and indeed elsewhere.
Theoretical Validation and Hardware Implementation of Dynamic Adaptive Scheduling for Heterogeneous Systems-on-Chip
Authors: Goksoy A. Alper , Hassan Sahil , Krishnakumar Anish , Marculescu Radu , Akoglu Ali , Ogras Umit Y.
Published: September 2023

Domain-specific systems-on-chip (DSSoCs) aim to narrow the gap between general-purpose processors and application-specific designs. CPU clusters enable programmability, while hardware accelerators tailored to the target domain minimize task execution times and power consumption. Traditional operating system (OS) schedulers can diminish the potential of DSSoCs as their execution times can be orders of magnitude larger than the task execution time. To address this problem, we propose a dynamic adaptive scheduling (DAS) framework that combines the advantages of a fast, low-overhead scheduler and a sophisticated, high-performance scheduler with a larger overhead. We present a novel runtime classifier that chooses the better scheduler type as a function of the system workload, leading to improved system performance and energy-delay product (EDP). Experiments with five real-world streaming applications indicate that DAS consistently outperforms fast, low-overhead, and slow, sophisticated schedulers. DAS achieves a 1.29x speedup and 45% lower EDP than the sophisticated scheduler under low data rates and a 1.28x speedup and 37% lower EDP than the fast scheduler when the workload complexity increases. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the superior performance of the DAS framework also applies to hardware platforms, with up to a 48% and 52% reduction in execution time and EDP, respectively.
Superior Efficacy of Apathogenic Genotype I (V4) over Lentogenic Genotype II (LaSota) Live Vaccines against Newcastle Disease Virus Genotype VII.1.1 in Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern-H9N2 Vaccinated Broiler Chickens
Authors: Elbestawy Ahmed R. , Ellakany Hany F. , Sedeik Mahmoud E. , Gado Ahmed R. , Abdel-Latif Mervat A. , Noreldin Ahmed E. , Orabi Ahmed , Radwan Ismail A. , Abd El-Ghany Wafaa Abd A.
Published: September 2023

A comparative efficacy of apathogenic genotype I (V4) and lentogenic genotype II (LaSota) strains of live Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccines was done following vaccination with pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) H9N2 avian influenza vaccine and challenge with velogenic NDV genotype VII.1.1 (vNDV-VII.1.1). Eight groups (Gs) of day-old chicks were used (n=25). Groups 1-4 received a single dose of PAMP-H9N2 subcutaneously, while Gs (1, 5) and (2, 6) received eye drops of V4 and LaSota respectively as twice doses. All Gs except 4 and 8 were intramuscularly challenged with vNDV-VII.1.1 at 28th days of age. No signs were detected in Gs 1, 5, 4, and 8. The mortality rates were 0% in Gs 1, 4, 5, and 8; 40% in G2; 46.66% in G6; and 100% in Gs 3 and 7. Lesions were recorded as minimal in Gs 1 and 5, but mild to moderate in Gs 2 and 6. The lowest significant viral shedding was detected in Gs 1, 2, and 5. In conclusion, two successive vaccinations of broilers with a live V4 NDV vaccine provided a higher protection against vNDV-VII.1.1 challenge than LaSota. Besides, PAMP-H9N2 with live NDV vaccines induced more protection than live vaccine alone.
Versatile Effects of GABA Oolong Tea on the Improvement of Diastolic Blood Pressure, Alpha-Brain Wave and Quality of Life
Authors: Lin Chih-Cheng , Hsieh Chih-Yu , Chen Li-Fen , Chen Yen-Chun , Ho Tien-Hwa , Chang Shao-Chin , Chang Jia-Feng
Published: September 2023

Emerging evidence demonstrated that using a new manufacturing technology to produce γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-fortified oolong (GO) tea could relieve human stress and exert versatile physiological benefits. The purpose of this human research aims to investigate therapeutic effects of daily GO tea consumption on the improvement of blood pressure, relaxation-related brain waves and quality of life (QOL) during a period of 28 consecutive days. Total polyphenols, major catechins and free amino acids were analyzed via HPLC assay. Changes of heart rate, blood pressure, α-brain wave (index of relaxation) and eight-item QOL score were investigated on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28, respectively. The chemical analysis results showed that GO tea contained the most abundant amino acids and GABA, contributing to the relaxation activity. Among all study participants, daily drinking GO tea could reduce systolic blood pressure on day 21 and diastolic blood pressure on day 28 (p < 0.05, respectively). For participants with pre-hypertension, GO tea could effectively reduce heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure on day 28 (p < 0.05). At the end of the study, incremental changes in alpha-brain wave and QOL scores were also demonstrated (p < 0.05, respectively). This study recommended that GO tea might potentially serve as a natural source of alternative therapy to benefit blood pressure, stress-relief and QOL.
Differential Large and Small Terminase Subunit Assembly Mediate Bacteriophage P22 Genome Packaging
Authors: Cabral Julia Elise , Qiu Yanfei , Heck Abert J.R. , McNulty Reginald
Published: September 2023

Concatemeric viral DNA is packaged into Bacteriophage P22 procapsids via a headful packaging mechanism mediated by a molecular machine consisting of small (gp3) and large (gp2) terminase subunits. Although a negative stain reconstruction exists for the terminase holoenzyme, it is not clear how this complex binds dodecameric portal protein located at a 5-fold mismatch vertex. Herein, we describe new assemblies for the holoenzyme. Both native mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the P22 terminase complex adopts three main assemblies, which include a nonameric S-terminase bound to two L-terminase 1(gp3)9:2(gp2), two nonameric S-terminase bound to five L-terminase 2(gp3)9:5(gp2), and three nonameric S-terminase bound to seven L-terminase 3(gp3)9:7(gp2). Native agarose gel electrophoresis shows that the terminase complex interacts with procapsid with mild crosslinking. These results herein illustrate the P22 terminase complex can adopt a variety of confirmations and assembly states.
PENERAPAN KONSEP USER EXPERIENCE (UX) PADA DESAIN VISUALISASI DATA MODUL ADMINISTRASI SISTEM INFORMASI AKADEMIK UNIVERSITAS NEGERI JAKARTA
Authors: Angrilla Musfaranniss Chanti  , Hamidillah Ajie  , M. Ficky Duskarnaen
Published: September 2023

Pengolahan data mahasiswa jenjang Strata 1 di Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ) belum belum adanya tampilan visualisasi data mahasiswa khusunya untuk modul administrasi. Hal tersebut menimbulkan beberapa masalah seperti sulitnya mendapatkan informasi untuk bahan evaluasi akreditasi, pemaparan profil program studi, penentuan daya tampung, prediksi penerimaan mahasiswa baru, dan rekapitulasi data mahasiswa. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menampilkan visualisasi data mahasiswa dalam bentuk grafik yang sederhana dan menarik. Desain visualisasi data ini menggunakan konsep User Experience untuk mengembangkan visualisasi yang nyaman dan mudah digunakan oleh pengguna. Perancangan visualisasi data ini dibuat sampai pada tahap evaluasi dengan mengukur usability desain visualisasi kepada calon pengguna. Pengujian usability dilakukan kepada pimpinan UNJ sebanyak 7 orang. Pengujian usability meliputi tiga hal, yaitu efektivitas, efisiensi, dan kepuasan. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa dari segi efektivitas sebagian besar task berada diatas rata-rata completion rate, dari segi efisiensi memiliki waktu pemakaian produk yang cukup baik pada sebagian besar task dan dari segi kepuasan menunjukkan hasil baik dan sangat baik. Berdasarkan hasil pengujian usability, maka visualisasi data ini dapat dikembangkan lebih lanjut untuk digunakan oleh pimpinan UNJ.
Use of Drill Cuttings for Fracturing Geomechanics and Planning of Successful Operations
Authors: Channa S. , Bocaneala B. , Boro H. , Whiteley D.
Published: September 2023

In the challenging North Sea environment, as a result of the typically low number of wells, there is usually a single opportunity for executing a successful fracturing operation in a depleted well in a mature field. A thorough understanding of reservoir geomechanics becomes critical to candidate selection, particularly in cases where there is significant depletion in the reservoir zones underlying the target zones. Ordinarily, detailed core rock mechanics would be used to significantly reduce the uncertainties in the rock mechanics, and understanding of any barriers to fracture height extent (i.e., the presence or lack of a barrier), if indeed there is core material available. In cases where there is not, the range of uncertainties become difficult to narrow down, which has lead to the development of a unique workflow where drill cuttings may be used instead.

Rock Property Determination from Drill Cuttings involves embedding a selection of cuttings in resin for mineralogical and lithological analysis. Rock mechanical properties of selected grain samples are then measured by nano-indentation, integrated with the mineralogical analysis, and finally finite element modeling is performed to up-scale the rock mechanics to formation level, generating a continuous log, allowing for understanding of not only the target reservoir units, but the important over and underlying formations, often not sampled in coring programmes.

In a three-well project for Field A, core material was available for Well 1, and cuttings were available for Wells 2 and 3. Rock Property Determination from conventional core rock mechanics testing was completed for Well 1 where core material was available, and thereafter the core plugs from these tests were sent for Rock Property Determination from Drill Cuttings, along with carefully selected subsets of cuttings for each of Well 2 and Well 3. Testing was done blind, and the core rock mechanics test were used as a verification method for the drill cuttings test procedure.

Finally, the test results from both standard core plug and drill cuttings were used to calibrate the rock mechanics properties for the respective candidate wells, to take forward into final fracture designs and campaign planning. The rock mechanics from cuttings material was in line with the core rock mechanics data, except for where there was discrepancies between the petrophysical interpretation and the mineralogical analysis, since the petrophysics is used to build an upscaled geomechanics model.

When comparing geomechanics models calibrated with cuttings rock mechanics data versus non-calibrated geomechanics models, having some calibration points versus none, contributes to early optimization of the fracture design phase, both technically and operationally and in some cases can actually rule out candidates as being suitable for hydraulic fracturing.
Four Steps to Successfully Stimulate Thin Layers in a Laminated Reservoir
Authors: Al Yaaribi A. , Kurniadi S.D. , Mowad B. , Al Raisi O , Al Farsi S. , Al Jahdhami A. , Al Hosni K.
Published: September 2023

Hydraulic fracturing is well known as an economics enabler for tight reservoir development by accelerating gas recovery. However, tight reservoirs are often associated with low permeability, high Young's modulus layers, thin laminated sands, and influence from tectonic forces. These factors increase the challenges in proppant placement and require a specialized strategy and approach to enable placement and create an economically favorable well.

A novel approach that consists of four steps was introduced to eliminate observed proppant placement challenges in a tight gas reservoir in Oman. Ensuring the wellbore-to-reservoir connectivity with deep-penetrating perforation methods is the first step to establish the connectivity in formations with high unconfined compressive strength. The second step is to avoid poroelastic effects in the thin reservoir by minimizing total injected fluid and modifying the sequence of diagnostic injection steps. This is followed by a modified hybrid treatment to minimize the excessive net-pressure development due to viscosity-dominated reservoir behavior. The final step is a pulsing pumping methodology with fiber to better enable placement through narrow fracture widths.

These four steps were implemented successfully and enabled the full placement of stages in several wells in which proppant placement had previously been a challenge. A further analysis aimed to rank the level of impact of each step on proppant placement. Avoidance of poroelasticity, minimizing the viscosity-dominated impact, and having the ability to pump the proppant through a narrow fracture width using a pulse methodology are the main contributors to the success. Indeed, the quality of the fracture placed is directly proportional to incremental gas production from each zone.

The assessment process to address the challenges observed in tight reservoir development and the evidence to support this strategy are documented. Optimization of each method continues by applying lessons learned and tracking the outcome of each step of the treatment. An integrated surveillance strategy also provides longer-term understanding of the production successes from each treatment.
The Case for SDG 6 in a Post-Covid World: How targeted funding in water and sanitation can build resilience
Authors: Hussain Riaz
Published: September 2023

Oxfam and Unilever commissioned this research to test the hypothesis that increased investment in sustainable WASH access can help to improve preparedness towards any future global pandemic. By strengthening health and economic outcomes now, we also lessen the potential impact of future pandemics. The right investment breaks the cycle of low resilience leading to more extreme impacts that further corrode resilience and preparedness.
Evaluation of a mobile application to decrease opioid misuse in patients undergoing cesarean section: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Abdo Annabelle , O’Connor Mariel , Morgan Jessica Kelley , Hart Laura , Leib Alexa , Walther Steven K. , Tang Andy , Herrine Gail
Published: September 2023

Background: Opioid misuse and addiction are at epidemic levels in the United States. Postoperative opioid prescription is inconsistent and often excessive, including for cesarean section patients. Technology, such as mobile applications and clinical decision support tools, can be used to decrease opioid use and misuse among patients, and to determine more appropriate prescribing practices for specific procedures.
Methods: Patients undergoing cesarean section were randomized to either a control group or an experimental group, which used the CPMRx mobile app to help manage postoperative pain. Logistic regression analyses were run to predict opioid misuse by group (control [electronic monitoring blister pack only] versus CPMRx [electronic monitoring blister pack plus mobile application]) and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Relative risk (RR) was also estimated by log-binomial regression.
Results: Results of the logistic regression showed that opioid misuse differed significantly by group (χ2 = 7.27, p = .007) with participants in the CPMRx group experiencing a 92% reduction in odds of opioid misuse compared to blister packs only (OR = 0.08, p = 0.03). Relative risk estimation by log-binomial regression also revealed that patients in the control group were at 7 times higher risk of opioid misuse than those using the CPMRx app (Wald χ2 = 3.82, RR = 7.00, p = 0.05). Among the 21 participants in Phase I who did not misuse their prescription opioids, the average number of pills used was 2.7 (SD = 3.5); 95% of patients used 8 or fewer pills, 90% used 6 or fewer, 75% used 4 or fewer, and half of participants used 1 or fewer opioids.
Conclusions: Women using the CPMRx mobile application were less likely to misuse their prescription opioids during the postoperative period following cesarean section. A prescription of 7 tablets of 5mg oxycodone may be a more appropriate prescription size among this group. Systematically right-sizing prescriptions, including for subgroups, may decrease both patient- and community-level risk of opioid misuse and reduce public health burden.
Trial registration: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05461196, 18/07/2022).
Optimizing execution of PM-JAY scheme for faster patient movement. A hospital based interventional study from western India
Authors: Shah Anand , Shrotriya Ratnakar , Pandya Shashank , Rathod Abhesinh , More Vijay , Majethiya Sanjay , Desai Dhruti , Patel Minesh , Sanghavi Priti , Darji Mona
Published: September 2023

Background
Aysuhman Bharat is a flagship scheme of Government of India (GOI) which was conceived to achieve vision of Universal Health Coverage. Pradahan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY) was launched in year 2018 for providing secondary and tertiary care under the banner of Ayushman Bharat. National Health Authority which is an apex body to manage PM-JAY scheme, claims it as World’s largest government sponsored insurance scheme. With this study we planned to optimise work flow of PM-JAY scheme in our hospital The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, a state cancer institute in Gujarat, India.
Methods
An interventional study was planned to identify end to end hospital based which are responsible for functioning of PM-JAY scheme and to identify solutions to optimize it. Intervention such as trainings, new Information Technology modalities, revised hospital policies were introduced in month of October 2021, change in average number of monthly discharge from PMJAY patients were assessed for a period of six months before and six months after introduction of intervention.
Results
Entire process of executing PM-JAY scheme was studied by doing Root cause analysis and was improved by using lean six sigma tool. With introduction of intervention, we have observed a monthly increase of 143.5% and 35% among day care discharge and overall discharges respectively. This rise was found to be statistically significant by unpaired t test.
Conclusion
There are defined protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for executing PM-JAY software, however there are other bunch of associated processes and factors which are equally important for timely execution of PMJAY scheme. Such factors can be identified at hospital level and can be refined with introduction of hospital based SOPs, trainings and IT solutions to accelerate the entire work flow of PMJAY scheme and ultimately fasten the patient movement. Considering this study as reference, health department and PM-JAY nodal agency should undertake such studies on national level which can optimize functioning of this scheme on national levels.
Rationale and Design of a Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Mechanical Neuroprotection in Reducing the Risk of Silent Brain Infarcts Associated with Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure: study protocol for a LAAC-SBI Trial
Authors: Streb Witold , Lasek-Bal Anetta , Mitręga Katarzyna , Kowalczyk Jacek , Podolecki Tomasz , Kowalska Wiktoria , Olma Anna , Sobczyk Agata , Kalarus Zbigniew
Published: September 2023

Background: Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) procedures prevent cardioembolic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who have contraindications to oral anticoagulant medications. However, these procedures carry certain risks of peri-procedural complications. One such complication is silent brain infarcts (SBI), which can lead to cognitive impairment and mood disturbances. The implementation of mechanical neuroprotection systems during LAAC procedures may reduce the risk of SBI and associated cognitive and mood disorders.
Methods: The LAAC-SBI trial is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, and double-blind interventional study. The study aims to enroll a total of 240 patients, with 120 patients allocated to each group. The study group will evaluate the use of the Sentinel CPS during LAAC, while the control group will undergo LAAC procedures without the Sentinel CPS. The primary endpoint of the study is the number of new SBIs or stroke foci detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW MRI). Secondary endpoints include deterioration of cognitive function, development of dementia syndrome, and occurrence of depressive disorders. These endpoints will be assessed using questionnaire tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Trail Making Test (TMT), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The observational period for patients in the study is 2 years.
Discussion: If the study demonstrates a favorable outcome with reduced incidence of SBI and improved cognitive and mood outcomes in patients receiving cerebral protection devices during LAAC, it will have significant implications for clinical management standards. This would support the use of neuroprotection devices not only for LAAC but also in procedures such as atrial fibrillation ablation or transcatheter mitral valve interventions, where the risk of embolic events and subsequent brain injury may also be present.
Trial registration: NCT05369195, registration date 11.05.2022
Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots Effectively and Safely Treat Glaucoma as a Promising Anti-Ferroptosis Nano-drug
Authors: Zhang Shaochong , Yao Fei , Xu Chang , Liang Jia , Wang Shijing , Fan Zixin , Dou Ningxin , Mao Xingxing , Pei Yue , Xie Zhongjian , Mi Shengli , Zhang Han
Published: September 2023

Globally, irreversible blindness is mainly caused by glaucoma, characterized by the selective loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Reducing pathologically high intraocular pressure (ph-IOP) is clinically effective but fails to halt disease progression. Oxidative stress-induced RGC ferroptosis contributes to poor outcomes after ph-IOP reduction. Thus, drugs to alleviate oxidative stress and inhibit RGC ferroptosis have therapeutic potential for glaucoma treatment. Herein, we first attempted to apply black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) ophthalmologically, primarily exploiting its reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging abilities and non-toxic degradation. Briefly, BPQDs were injected into the vitreous chamber of ph-IOP-injured glaucomatous rats. Injected BPQDs maintained therapeutic effectiveness for almost one week without significant cellular toxicity. Meanwhile, BPQDs demonstrated potent ROS scavenging and cellular redox repairing abilities, ultimately inhibiting RGC ferroptosis and improving both morphological and functional outcomes in glaucomatous rats. Thus, BPQDs represent the first and potential anti-ferroptosis nano-drug to treat glaucoma and other ferroptosis-related diseases.
Lamarck's Revenge: Inheritance of Learned Traits Can Make Robot Evolution Better
Authors: Luo Jie , Miras Karine , Tomczak Jakub , Eiben Agoston E.
Published: September 2023

Evolutionary robot systems offer two principal advantages: an advanced way of developing robots through evolutionary optimization and a special research platform to conduct what-if experiments regarding questions about evolution. Our study sits at the intersection of these. We investigate the question ''What if the 18th-century biologist Lamarck was not completely wrong and individual traits learned during a lifetime could be passed on to offspring through inheritance?'' We research this issue through simulations with an evolutionary robot framework where morphologies (bodies) and controllers (brains) of robots are evolvable and robots also can improve their controllers through learning during their lifetime. Within this framework, we compare a Lamarckian system, where learned bits of the brain are inheritable, with a Darwinian system, where they are not. Analyzing simulations based on these systems, we obtain new insights about Lamarckian evolution dynamics and the interaction between evolution and learning. Specifically, we show that Lamarckism amplifies the emergence of 'morphological intelligence', the ability of a given robot body to acquire a good brain by learning, and identify the source of this success: 'newborn' robots have a higher fitness because their inherited brains match their bodies better than those in a Darwinian system.
Defensive secretion of Eurycantha calcarata - chemical composition and method of collection
Authors: Koczur Weronika , Szwedo Jacek , Gołębiowski Marek
Published: September 2023

Chemical defense in insects is becoming an increasingly interesting topic and has the potential for providing unexplored compounds with unknown properties for drug and repellent discovery, so the secretions of different species of insects are being studied and new ways of collecting these secretions are being sought. Silica gel and activated carbon are absorbents that were used to collect the gaseous defensive secretion of Eurycantha calcarata. Using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, 52 compounds were identified, including 19 carboxylic acids, 14 esters, 10 alcohols, 5 hydrocarbons and other organic compounds. The most abundant two compounds from each group are: hexadecenoic acid, octadecanoic acids, 9-hexadecanoic acid octadecyl ester, hexadecanoic acid tetradecyl ester, octacosanol, triacontanol, tridecane and tetradecane. The silica gel turned out to be a better absorbent because it captured more compounds than the activated carbon. The mass of the absorbent did not affect the quality of the analyses. This paper is the first describing the volatile secretions emitted by Phasmid representatives, not originating from the prothoracic glands. The presented results of the analyses and the known properties of found compounds give grounds for the conclusion that these secretions are of importance for defense in this species of phasmid.
WiFi-Based Non-Contact Human Presence Detection Technology
Authors: Wen Xuechun , Wen Jinghao , Zhang Yang , Zhu Xianxun
Published: September 2023

In the swiftly evolving landscape of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the demand for adaptive non-contact sensing has seen a considerable surge. Traditional human perception technologies, such as vision-based approaches, often grapple with problems including lack of sensor versatility and sub-optimal accuracy. To address these issues, this paper introduces a novel, non-contact method for human presence perception, relying on WiFi. This innovative approach involves a sequential process, beginning with the pre-processing of collected Channel State Information (CSI), followed by feature extraction, and finally, classification. By establishing signal models that correspond to varying states, this method enables the accurate perception and recognition of human presence. Remarkably, this technique exhibits a high level of precision, with sensing accuracy reaching up to 99%. The potential applications of this approach are extensive, proving to be particularly beneficial in contexts such as smart homes and healthcare, amongst various other everyday scenarios. This underscores the significant role this novel method could play in enhancing the sophistication and effectiveness of human presence detection and recognition systems in the IoT era.
Decline in working memory in stable schizophrenia may be related to attentional impairment: mediating effects of negative symptoms
Authors: Du Nan , Meng Xiaojing , Li Jingwei , Shi Li , Chen Long , Yao Lihui , Zhang Xulai
Published: September 2023

Objective:
Cognitive deficits and negative symptoms are prevalent in individuals with schizophrenia and are crucial indicators of functional recovery. However, the specific relationship between attention, working memory, and negative symptoms in stable schizophrenia remains unclear. This study aims to explore these associations and provide valuable insights for the subsequent treatment of schizophrenia.
Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive assessment of 145 patients with stable schizophrenia using the Chinese Brief Neurocognitive Suite of Tests (C-BCT) and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS).
Results:
Patients with abnormal cognition exhibited significantly higher PANSS total scores, cognitive symptom scores, and negative symptom scores than those with normal cognition（P<0.05）.Pearson's correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between digital breadth and sustained operation（r=0.389，P<0.001）,as well as a significant negative correlation between digital breadth and negative symptoms（r=-0.291，P<0.001）.Moreover, continuous manipulation showed a negative correlation with negative symptoms（r=-0.173，P<0.05）.However, no significant correlations were found between the digital breadth conformity score and persistent manipulation or negative symptoms（r=0.148，P>0.05；r=-0.068，P>0.05）. Notably, negative symptoms were identified as a mediator in the relationship between attention and working memory (effect size=0.024).
Conclusion:
Our findings highlight significant associations between working memory, attention, and negative symptoms in individuals with stable-phase schizophrenia. Moreover, attention not only directly impacts working memory but also indirectly influences it through negative symptoms. Addressing cognitive deficits and negative symptoms in the treatment of schizophrenia may lead to improved overall outcomes for affected individuals.
A study on nanoleakage of apical retrograde filling of premixed calcium silicate-based cement using a Lid technique
Authors: Enkhbileg Nyamsuren , Kim Jin Woo , Chang Seok Woo , Park Se-Hee , Cho Kyung Mo , Lee Yoon
Published: September 2023

This study compared the nanoleakage of retrograde filling with calcium silicate-based putty and mineral trioxide aggregate by using traditional and lid techniques. Sixty extracted human teeth were instrumented for retrograde filling and divided into four groups according to the retrograde filling technique. Teeth in each group were filled with different material combinations. Nanoleakage was evaluated twice on days 1, 3, 7, 15, and 30 at the nanoscale level (nL/s). Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U-tests were used. The Well-Root, Ceraseal + Well-Root, and Ceraseal + ProRoot groups showed less nanoleakage than the ProRoot group in the first week (P < .05). Although the groups did not show significant differences after 2 weeks, the Ceraseal + ProRoot group showed less leakage than ProRoot group on days 3 and 7 (P < .05). Scanning electron microscopy showed good adaptation. Filling with a calcium silicate-based putty alone and the lid technique was faster with less nanoleakage compared to mineral trioxide aggregate.
Psychosis Secondary to Thyrotoxicosis That Persisted Post-Thyroidectomy: A Case Report
Authors: Kothari Shiva , Townsend William , Chaudhry Zuhaib , Freeman Kevin , Kalin Seth
Published: September 2023

Background: This unique case report is of a patient with psychosis secondary to thyrotoxicosis that persisted and reemerged after definitive treatment of thyroidectomy, which is a unique occurrence in the literature.
Case Presentation: This patient is a male between 30-35 years of age with a history of Graves Disease and no past psychiatric history who was admitted to the hospital due to psychosis secondary to thyrotoxicosis. The thyrotoxicosis was treated with surgical removal, but the psychotic symptoms persisted after surgery and normalization of standard thyroid functional measures. The symptoms were of sufficient significance for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, a rare occurrence. Ultimately after an extended stay in the psychiatric unit, the patient's symptoms stabilized with a second-generation antipsychotic, and the patient was discharged from the psychiatric unit.
Conclusion: This case is evidence that the link between psychosis and hyperthyroidism is still poorly understood due to the patient’s psychotic symptoms persisting after the definitive treatment of thyroidectomy and the fact that it required anti-psychotic medications for normalization.
Enhancing Fluoride Removal from Wastewater using Aluminum-Yttria-Amended Sludge Biochar
Authors: Li Shushu , Song Mingshan , Tong Lin , Ye Changqing , Yang Yuhuan , Zhou Qingwen
Published: September 2023

This study explored the potential of utilizing aluminum-yttria-amended sludge biochar (Al/Y-CSBC) for efficient fluoride removal from wastewater. The adsorption kinetics of fluoride on modified Al/Y-CSBC followed the pseudo-second-order model, while the adsorption isotherm conformed to the Freundlich equation. Remarkably, the material exhibited excellent fluoride removal performance over a wide pH range, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of 55.24 mg•g-1. Moreover, Al/Y-CSBC demonstrated exceptional reusability, maintaining 95% removal efficiency even after six regeneration cycles. The fluoride adsorption mechanism involved ion exchange, surface complexation, and electrostatic adsorption interactions. The activation and modification processes significantly increased the specific surface area of Al/Y-CSBC, leading to a high isoelectric point (pHpzc = 9.14). The incorporation of aluminum and yttrium metals exhibited a novel approach, enhancing the adsorption capacity for fluoride ions due to their strong affinity. Furthermore, the dispersing effect of biochar played a crucial role in improving defluoridation efficiency by enhancing accessibility to active sites. These findings substantiate the significant potential of Al/Y-CSBC for enhanced fluoride removal from wastewater.
Association of Antenatal Corticosteroids With Mortality and Morbidities in Very Preterm Infants Born to Women with Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Dong Xiaoyu , Qi Jian-Hong , Zhuo Qing-cui , Ding Yan-jie , Qiao Xin , Wang Yan , Yang De-Juan , Li Dan , Li Li , Jiang Hai-Yan , Liu Qiong-Yu , Li Zhong-Liang , Zhang Xiang , Zhang Bing-jin , Yu Yong-hui
Published: September 2023

Background
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is the most common cause of indicated preterm delivery, but the impact of prenatal steroid exposure on the outcomes of preterm infants born to HDP mothers, who may be at risk for intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia, remains uncertain.The study objective is to evaluate the mortality and morbilities in HDP for very preterm infants (VPIs) exposed to different course of ANS.
Methods
This is a prospective cohort study comprising infants with < 32 weeks gestation born to women with HDP only from 1 Jan. 2019 to 31 Dec. 2021 within 40 participating neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Sino-northern network. ANS courses included completed, partial, repeated, and no ANS. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed on administration of ACS and short-term outcomes before discharge.
Results
Among 1917 VPIs born to women with HDP only, 987(51.4%) received a complete course of ANS within 48 hours to 7 days before birth, 560(29.2%) received partial ANS within 24 hours before delivery, 100(5.2%) received repeat ANS and 270 (14.1%) did not receive any ANS. Compared to infants who received complete ANS, infants unexposed to ACS was associated with higher odds of death(AOR 1.93; 95%CI 1.11, 3.34), SNI or death (AOR 1.74; 95%CI 1.06,2.84) and NEC or death (AOR 1.67 ; 95%CI 1.05, 2.66), the repeated ANS group exhibits a significant negative correlation with the duration of oxygen therapy days(correlation coefficient − 17.7; 95%CI -37.5, -1.9). However, there were no significant differences observed between the full course and partial course groups in terms of outcomes. We can draw similar conclusions in the non-SGA group, while the differences are not significant in the SGA group. From KM curve, it showed that the repeated group had the highest survival rate, but the statistical analysis did not indicate a significant difference.
Conclusions
Even partial courses of ANS administered within 24 hours before delivery proved to be protective against death and other morbilities. The differences mentioned above are more pronounced in the non-SGA group. Repeat courses demonstrate a trend toward protection, but this still needs to be confirmed by larger samples.
Determinants of non-adherence to Iron Folic Acid Supplementation among Pregnant Women Attending Public Health Facilities in Bishoftu Town, Ethiopia: Case-Control study
Authors: Guye Ararso Hordofa , Abera Lominat , Nigussie Tadesse , Girma Derara , Diriba Berhanu Senbeta , Dejene Hiwot , Legesse Elsabeth , Iticha Daba , Adugna Leta
Published: September 2023

Background: Iron folic acid supplementation is one of the most global public health interventions to alleviate iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Both folic acid and iron deficiencies constitute the major micronutrient deficiencies in Ethiopian women.Non-adherence, on the other hand, is a factor in these communities' failure to reduce the problem.
Objective: To identify determinants of non-adherence to iron-folic acid intake among pregnant women who attended antenatal care in Bishoftu town public health facilities, Ethiopia 2022.
Methods: Facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted from April 1 to May 30, 2022. A total of 105 cases and 211 controls of pregnant women participated in the studyby structured questionnaire and using systematic random sampling methods for control and consecutive sampling was used for the case. Characteristics of the study participants were analyzed using descriptive Statistics. Variable with P-value < 0.25 at the bivariable analysis was entered into the final multivariable logistic regressions to control potential confounders. Model fitness was also checked by Hosmer Lemeshow. An adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of ≤0.05 was used to declare the statistical significance of variables.
Results: The study response rate was 314 (99.4%). The identified determinants were women aged 15-24 years and 25-34 years [AOR=5, 95% CI (3.04, 12.8), AOR=11.8, 95% CI (18, 20.6)], women who started first ANC >16 weeks (AOR=2.41, 95% CI:1.107, 5.252), women who receive ANC visit two and three were [AOR=5.17, 95% CI (2.5, 13), AOR=2.95 95% CI (1.26, 6.8)], women with inadequate knowledge (AOR=3.5,95% CI:1.7,7.2), women who received 30 and below tablets (AOR=7.8, 95% CI:4, 18) were determinants of non-adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation
Conclusions: Women's age, pregnancy weeks during first ANC, frequency of ANC follow-up, knowledge of women on iron-folic acid supplementation, women who received 30 and below tabletswere significant predictors for non-adherence to folic acid supplementation.Thus, the town health office should work on non-adherence to folic acid supplementation by improving knowledge of women for all age groups of women during ANC visits with concerned stakeholders.
Performance Evaluation of Machine Learning Regression Models for Rainfall Prediction
Authors: Abdullah Maaz , said saif
Published: September 2023

Accurate prediction of rainfall has always been the most demanding task involved in weather forecasting in view of significant variations in weather patterns. With the advent of machine learning algorithms, it is now possible to predict rainfall with higher precision by extracting hidden patterns from the past hydrometeorological data. However, it can be challenging to select a suitable algorithm for the prediction of daily, monthly, or annual rainfall estimates. In this study, three data-driven machine learning (ML) regression models; Random Forest Regression (RFR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and CatBoost Regression (CBR) were applied to predict daily and monthly rainfall for Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Weather datasets from 1980 to 2020 were utilized, that included maximum and minimum temperature, dew point, relative humidity, wind speed, cloud cover as input variables and rainfall as the target. Results revealed that CBR surpassed RFR and SVR in both daily and monthly rainfall predictions. The CBR and RFR models predicted daily rainfall with a moderate correlation, while the SVR model could not predict rainfall on daily timescale data. All three ML models predicted monthly rainfall with strong correlations, with the CBR exhibiting the strongest. The study concluded that the CBR can be effectively utilized for time series hydrological analysis, and the model can serve as a basis for potential comparisons and recommendations.
Evaluation of the marginal adaptation and debonding strength of two types of CAD-CAM implant-supported cement-retained crowns
Authors: Ramzy Nada Ahmed , Azer Amir Shoukry , Khamis Mohamed Moataz
Published: September 2023

Background. Resin-based materials are becoming increasingly popular in implant dentistry even though there is not enough clinical data on the long-term success of such restorations on implant abutments. However, in-vitro data in relation to a clinically well-known lithium disilicate ceramic reference, may help to assess information about the expected performance. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the marginal adaptation and bond strength of nano-ceramic hybrid composite crowns cemented to stock cement retained abutments in comparison to those of lithium disilicate.
Methods. Twenty abutment analogs were embedded into auto-polymerizing acrylic resin blocks. The blocks were divided into 2 groups according to the restorative crown material. Abutment analogs in both groups were scanned using a laboratory scanner, and the restorations designed, manufactured, and cemented over the corresponding group. All samples were tested for marginal adaptation and bond strength after storage for 24 hours at 37°C in 100% humidity.
Results. Marginal gap and debonding force values were significantly different according to the type of material used (P<.05). Resin nano-ceramic crowns (Grandio blocs: VOCO GmbH) presented lower marginal gap values before (20.80±8.87μm) and after (52.11±22.92μm) cementation than lithium disilicate crowns (IPS e.max CAD: ivoclar vivadent). The debonding force value for resin nano-ceramic crowns (284.30±26.44N) was significantly higher than that for lithium disilicate crowns (253.30±33.26N). Adhesive failure mode was detected in all the specimens in both groups.
Conclusions. The type of material used for implant-supported cement-retained crowns had a statistically significant effect on the marginal adaptation and bond strength. Resin nano-ceramic implant-supported cement-retained crowns had better marginal adaptation and higher bond strength than those manufactured using lithium disilicate.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
Nano-ceramic hybrid composite can be an alternative to lithium disilicate when restoring single unit implant restorations.