bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Patients with Incidental Encountered Purulent Urine at Initial Puncture
Authors: Sipal Timucin ,   2.	Ibrahim Senocak,   3.	Mirac Ataman, Yuvanc Ercan , Yilmaz Erdal
Published: July 2023

Objective:
We are reporting the 39 patients’ outcomes who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and purulent urine is encountered at the initial steps of surgery.
Method:
Of 873 patients who underwent PCNL, 48 had purulent fluid during the initial puncture. After excluding those at risk for infection, we studied 39 patients' preoperative and postoperative variables - including postoperative day (POD) 1,3,5 fevers. In group 1, 21 patients had a nephrostomy tube placed, and PCNL was postponed. In group 2, 18 patients had successful stone removal in the first session.
Results:
All surgeries were successful, with no septic events during follow-up. No significant differences in preoperative variables were found. 14% and 22% of patients in groups 1 and 2 had infected fluid (p= 0.470). Four patients in group 1 (19 %) and seven patients in group 2 (38.9 %) had a high fever (≥ 38 C) on POD1 (p =0.171), and 1 (5%) in group 1 and 3 (17%) in group 2 had high fever on POD 3 (p= 0.22). No patients remained with high fever on POD5. Mild sepsis was diagnosed in 9.5 % of group 1 and 16 % of group 2 (p= 0,820), and hospitalization time differed significantly (p< 0.001). Stone size and operation time were correlated with postoperative fever, and prolonged hospital stays were correlated with positive blood cultures and postponed procedures.
Conclusion:
PCNL with proper technique and antibiotics can lead to quicker recovery and reduced hospitalization in selected patients with pus in their urine during surgery
Sexual and reproductive health of university students with a gender and ethnicity focus before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Castro-Benavides Mayra , Morales Gladys , Balboa Teresa , Sanhueza Antonio , Jara-Gavilán Karen , Montalva Nicolás , Otzen Tamara
Published: July 2023

Background
Understanding the sexual and reproductive health practices among university students is crucial due to the transitional phase to adulthood and the potential associated risks. This study aimed to determine sexual and reproductive health practices among university students according to gender, year, and ethnicity.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2018 and 2021 at the University of La Frontera, involving first-year students. The study included 5131 participants, accounting for 58.36% of the total enrolled students. Among the participants, 55.4% were female, and the average age was 18.9 years.
Results
The study revealed that men engaged in higher levels of sexual activity compared to women, with men initiating sexual intercourse at a significantly younger age. Furthermore, women reported lower condom usage in their last sexual encounter and had a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) within the past 12 months. Women also demonstrated a higher frequency of HIV testing, which was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In terms of ethnicity, students identifying as Mapuche displayed a lower proportion of sexual activity compared to those not identifying as Mapuche. The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in sexual activity and the prevalence of STIs, potentially reflecting an annual global trend observed in other research studies as well. Moreover, there was an increasing trend in condom use each year, while HIV testing showed a decline, possibly influenced by the pandemic.
Conclusions
These findings underscore the significance of addressing gender differences, promoting healthy behaviours, and advocating for condom use during sexual encounters. It is essential to implement strategies for STI prevention and encourage regular HIV testing, particularly among high-risk individuals. Additionally, tailored interventions targeting the specific needs of the Mapuche ethnicity should be developed to ensure equitable sexual and reproductive health. The pandemic has significantly impacted sexual activity and sexual health among university students, highlighting the necessity of adapting and reinforcing sexual education and prevention programs in this context.
Post-traumatic growth and influencing factors among parents of premature infants: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Fang , Zhang Shuo , Liu Chunyan , Ni Zhihong
Published: July 2023

Background Post-traumatic growth is a positive psychological change observed in individuals experiencing trauma, which may aid in recovery. Due to the lack of research in the area of parental care for premature infants, we decide to explore the level and influencing factors of post-traumatic growth among parents of premature infants in neonatal intensive care units. We believe these findings will help to re-examine existing care practices so that health care providers can promptly identify negative emotions and take necessary measures to help and develop their potential to enhance post-traumatic growth.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and September 2022 using convenience sampling. Data were analysed using independent-sample t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Bivariate correlations were analysed using Pearson's or Spearman's methods, and related factors were analysed using multiple linear regression. Throughout the study, the authors followed the SRQR checklist.Results In total, 217 were effectively received, with a recovery rate of 98.64%. Univariate analysis showed that length of stay in hospital, presence of an only child, parents' age, marital status, education level, working status, and per capita monthly familial income were influencing factors. Bivariate analysis showed that post-traumatic growth correlated moderately positively with perceived social support as well as with rumination and family resilience. Multiple linear regression showed that purposeful contemplation, family resilience, education, family support, age, and marital status entered the regression equation, and together accounted for 47.4% of the total variation.Conclusions It is necessary to pay attention to post-traumatic growth and familial stability in these families, aid in building a good support system, and encourage parents to mobilise their family and favourable factors to increase post-traumatic growth levels.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Assessment of Various Ureteroscope Cross Sections to Reduce Intra- pelvic Pressure
Authors: Miguel Carla , Sangani Ashok , Wiener Scott
Published: July 2023

Background High intrapelvic pressure (IPP) during ureteroscopy can lead to complications such as pyelovenous backflow, bleeding, and infection. Our study aimed at identifying the best cross-section and orientation of a ureteroscope within a Ureteral Access Sheath (UAS) to minimize IPP and maximize outflow. We have also validated our findings by testing a UAS prototype.Materials and Methods To determine the optimal ureteroscope cross-section within a UAS, four ureteroscopes of equivalent cross-sectional area were simulated within a 10 Fr UAS using computational fluid dynamics software COMSOL. We then created a corresponding prototype by securing a 3 − 0 monofilament suture at the inferior aspect of the 12 Fr outer UAS, inducing an offset to the ureteroscope. Mean flow volumes through a 10/12 Fr UAS occupied by a 9.5 Fr single-use flexible ureteroscope were compared (17 iterations) to those through our prototype UAS.Results Compared to a ureteroscope centered in a UAS during simulation, the lowest IPP and highest outflow were seen with an offset circular ureteroscope (41% resistance). The unmodified UAS had an average volume of 30.0 mL/minute (SD +/- 0.35) compared to 33.76 mL/minute (SD +/-0.90) for the modified UAS (P < 0.05).Conclusions We found that using a circular ureteroscope positioned along the sidewall maximizes outflow through a circular UAS. We made modifications to a UAS to offset the ureteroscope and observed a 12.5% increase in outflow. This approach can potentially decrease IPP during ureteroscopy without impacting inflow or the working channel. Although modifying a ureteroscope is more difficult, it could create an offset without reducing UAS cross-section.
Association of Gut Microbiota and Gastric Cancer: a Two-sample Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Yu Yongkai , Wang Weizhi , Xu Zekuan
Published: July 2023

Purpose
Numerous observational studies and clinical trials have presented evidence of a correlation between gut microbiota and multiple cancers. However, the precise causal relationship between gut microbiota and gastric cancer remains unclear. The objective of this study was to delve into the causal role of gut microbiota in the development of gastric cancer.
Methods
To assess the causal relationship between gut microbiota and gastric cancer, a two-sample Mendelian randomization study was conducted. This study utilized genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from the MiBioGen and IEU Open GWAS projects. Several statistical approaches, including inverse variance weighted, simple mode, MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted model, and MR-PRESSO, were employed to investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and gastric cancer. Additionally, we performed a reverse Mendelian randomization analysis of the gut microbiota that was found to have a causal association with gastric cancer.
Results
Through Mendelian randomization analysis, a causal relationship between gut microbiota dysbiosis and the risk of gastric cancer was identified. Specifically, six groups of gut microorganisms, including short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs)-producing bacteria, demonstrated a protective effect against gastric cancer. Conversely, four groups of gut microorganisms, including the genus. Clostridium sensu stricto1, exhibited a promotive effect on gastric cancer. No inverse causal effect of gastric cancer on the distribution of intestinal microbiota was observed. Furthermore, no significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy of instrumental variables was detected.
Conclusion
The findings of this study indicate that The imbalance of gut mocrobiota, especially the reduction of SCFAs-producing bacteria, may promote the occurrence of gastric cancer Consequently, this study serves as an essential reference for future research pertaining to gut microbiota-mediated cancer.
Effect of data harmonization of multicentric dataset in ASD/TD classification
Authors: Serra Giacomo , Mainas Francesca , Golosio Bruno , Retico Alessandra , Oliva Piernicola
Published: July 2023

Machine Learning (ML) is nowadays an essential tool in the analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data, in particular in the identification of brain correlates in neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. ML requires datasets of appropriate size for training, which in neuroimaging are typically obtained collecting data from multiple acquisition centers. However, analyzing large multicentric datasets can introduce bias due to differences between acquisition centers. ComBat harmonization is commonly used to address batch effects, but it can lead to data leakage when the entire dataset is used to estimate model parameters. In this study, structural and functional MRI data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) collection were used to classify subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) compared to Typical Developing controls (TD). We compared the classical approach (external harmonization) in which harmonization is performed before train/test split, with an harmonization calculated only on the train set (internal harmonization), and with the dataset with no harmonization. The results showed that harmonization using the whole dataset achieved higher discrimination performance, while non-harmonized data and harmonization using only the train set showed similar results, for both structural and connectivity features. We also showed that the higher performances of the external harmonization are not due to larger size of the sample for the estimation of the model and hence these improved performance with the entire dataset may be ascribed to data leakage. In order to prevent this leakage, it is recommended to define the harmonization model solely using the train set.
Relationship between the severity of preoperative anemia and postoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients with bone trauma: a cohort study
Authors: Yang Yitong , Wu Linqin , Zhang Hui , Cheng Bo
Published: July 2023

Objective To analyze the relationship between preoperative anemia and postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with lower limb bone trauma who have a high rate of preoperative anemia. Method In this retrospective cohort study, 957 patients at our center were included. Patients were categorized based on their last preoperative hematocrit (HCT) results. The univariate analysis included general preoperative conditions, complications, surgical and fracture-related factors, preoperative laboratory indicators, anticoagulation, and anemia in patients with DVT (284 cases) and those without DVT (673 cases) after surgery. Results Among the 284 cases with postoperative thrombosis, 61(21.5%) had no anemia before surgery, while 223(78.5%) had anemia before surgery. Among those with anemia, 65(22.9%) had mild anemia, and 158 had moderate to severe anemia. Age over 65 years old, total length of stay (LOS) exceeding 14 days, preoperative anticoagulation, delay of more than 24 h in starting anticoagulation after surgery, 30%≤HCT < 33% and blood transfusion, and HCT < 27% and blood transfusion were identified as independent risk factors for postoperative DVT formation. The ROC curves showed that a preoperative HCT of 35.15% (AUC = 0.670, sensitivity = 64.6%, specificity = 61.2%) in males and 33.45% (AUC = 0.637, sensitivity = 63.7%, specificity = 60.2%) in females were the cut-off values for predicting postoperative DVT occurrence. Conclusions The risk of postoperative DVT increases with the severity of preoperative anemia in patients with bone trauma, and perioperative blood transfusion further increases the risk of DVT. Trial registration: ChiCTR2100049356.
Boosting the structure, linear/nonlinear and dielectric characteristics of PVA/PVP/graphene blend by doping with Zn/CuO nanostructures for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Badawi Ali , Althobaiti M. G.
Published: July 2023

Linear/nonlinear optical, structural and dielectric performance of PVA/PVP/graphene blend has been enhanced by doping with Cu/ZnO (ZCO) nanoparticles (NPs) for optoelectronic applications. Bare and ZCO polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs) blends were fabricated by the casting method. The structure of the synthesized ZCO NPs and ZCO PNCs were studied by the XRD and FT-IR techniques. The optical performance was discussed on the basis of UV-visible-NIR data. XRD investigations reveals the wurtzite structure of ZCO NPs with a crystallite size of 17.8 nm. FT-IR investigations confirm the integration of ZCO NPs with host blend’s structure. The optical analysis exposes that the direct and indirect band gap of the host blend decreases from 5.20 eV and 4.94 eV to 4.36 eV and 4.29 eV (10 wt% of ZCO PNCs). The Urbach energy rises from 0.62 eV to 1.28 eV (ZCO PNCs). The refractive index growths from 1.29 (bare blend) to 1.82 (ZCO PNC) at hν = 2.0 eV. Besides, great enhancement in the nonlinear optical constants is achieved via ZCO doping. The third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3)increases from 1.30 x 10− 13esu (bare) to 9.23 x 10− 11esu (ZCO PNC) at hν = 5.0 eV. These valuable achievements in the optical behavior of PVA/PVP/graphene blend by ZCO doping nominate it for applications in optical devices issues.
Revisiting Fiscal Deficit Sustainability and Revenue-Expenditure Nexus in India
Authors: Sharma Vishal , Adil Masudul Hasan , Fatima Sana
Published: July 2023

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the issue of fiscal sustainability has emerged as one of the most challenging issues for both developing and developed countries. In this backdrop, it is imperative to examine fiscal deficit sustainability, particularly in federal countries like India, where both Central and State governments are continuously borrowing and debt is at relatively high levels. Therefore, the core objective of the study is to empirically investigate the fiscal deficit sustainability in India by employing Gregory-Hansen cointegration approach. In addition, the study also aims at determining the causal relationship between government expenditures and revenues using Toda-Yamamoto Granger non-causality test. The result supports the evidence of “weak” fiscal deficit sustainability for both governments, individually. Further, result also supports the “spend-tax hypothesis” for both governments. Therefore, the present study suggests that there is a dire need for fiscal consolidation along with prudent fiscal policies for lowering the size of fiscal deficit, optimizing the implementation of monetary and exchange rate policies and promoting private sector-led growth.
Enhanced First-order Non-linear Optical Responses of 4-Amino-6-chloro-1,3- benzenedisulfonamide Polymer
Authors: Lakhera Shradha , Devlal Kamal , Rana Meenakshi
Published: July 2023

Polymers enriched with reactive sites and free-charge clouds had been a considerable field of research. The present study reports the nonlinear optical activity of polymer 4-Amino-6-chloro-1,3-benzenedisulfonamide using density functional theory. The substitution of the sulfonamide group on the symmetrical positions gave rise to the intramolecular charge transfer within the title molecule. The molecular electrostatic potential surface illustrates that the O = S = O and NH2 groups act as electrophilic and nucleophilic groups and were found responsible for the intramolecular charge transfer. This gave the dipole moment of 5.4 Debye for the title molecule. The molecular orbitals were used to compute the band gap of 3.81 eV. The value of hyperpolarizability was computed as 499.22 au. This value was found 27 times higher than the general reference nonlinear optical activity compound Urea (18.53 au), four times higher than thiourea (102.3 au), and two times higher than phenyl urea (245.69 au). Thus, the reported study validates that the title molecule can be used as a potential NLO material.
Prevalence of obesity and its associated risk factors among the academic staff in Limpopo Province
Authors: Madzaga Thizwilondi , Mabunda Tsakani Jabu
Published: July 2023

Background
Obesity is an important public health challenge. The World Health Organization has emphasized the assessment of overweight and obesity in different populations, to help with prevention. Obesity is associated with cardiovascular diseases, arthritis and diabetes. Exercise and diet are used in prevention and management. This study sets out to determine the prevalence of obesity and its associated risk factors among University of Venda academic staff.
Methods
Academic staff (n = 179) mean age 43.9 ± 10.1, including 104 male and 75 female were recruited from all eight schools at the University of Venda, South Africa, using simple random sampling in a cross-sectional study. A pretested questionnaire was used to determine demographic and lifestyle characteristics of respondents. Weight and height was measured using a standard procedure and body mass index was calculated and classified using the World Health Organization classification. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists Version 23.0. The Chi-square test was used to determine the association between body mass index and related risk characteristics, both demographic and lifestyle, for obesity. The level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.
Results
The prevalence of obesity was 37.29% (66/177), overweight was 36.16% (64/177) and only 26.55% (46/177) had a normal body mass index. The prevalence of obesity was significantly associated with age, gender and fast-food intake.
Conclusions
The risk of obesity was high considering that the respondents are academic staff. Women had a higher prevalence of obesity than men; possibly as a result of childbearing and different hormonal pathways in the two genders. Age was also a risk factor for obesity, possibly because as people grow older level of physical activity decreases. It is recommended that fast-food intake should be discouraged as it is associated with many non-communicable diseases linked to obesity. The findings have shown that there is a need for programmes directed at academics to assist in prevention and management of obesity.
Multi Sequential Embedding-based Cross-Domain Recommendation
Authors: Hong Minsung , Jung Jason J.
Published: July 2023

In the real world, users interact with various items in a sequential and multi-behavior manner. Cross-domain recommendations (CDRs) usually transfer knowledge across different domains to improve their performance in a target domain. We propose a novel Multi Sequential Embedding for Cross-Domain Recommendation named MSECDR. Exploiting Doc2Vec, it reflects the sequentiality of user-item interactions in multiple domains on user and item modeling. In particular, this approach enables us to learn three types of item relationships (named intra-/inter- and other interaction sequences) simultaneously for representation learning. In addition, a deep neural network structure is introduced to combine the linearity and non-linearity of user-item interactions.Extensive experiments with six domain datasets from two real-world services (Amazon and TripAdvisor) demonstrate that MSECDR outperforms the state-of-the-art for single and cross-domain recommendations. Furthermore, experimental results show that MSECDR can effectively and efficiently adapt to CDRs fusing more domains.
Ten-eleven translocation 1 participates in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain in mice by regulating miR-30b-5p/Nav1.6 signaling
Authors: Zhao Sen , Zhang Jingjing , Zhang Mengya , Yang Qingqing , Ren Xiuhua , Su Songxue , Si Tianen , Li Jianmin , Wu Huirui , Chen Shile , Zang Weidong , Cao Jing
Published: July 2023

Background
Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain refers to a pathological condition of pain that arises as a dose-dependent adverse effect, potentially hindering or obstructing the efficacy of cancer treatment. Oxaliplatin (OXA) is a chemotherapeutic agent belonging to the third generation of platinum-based compounds. Our previous investigation demonstrated the involvement of miR-30b-5p in the development of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain in rats, specifically through the regulation of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6. Additionally, Ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 1 (TET1) has been identified as a significant contributor to gene regulation. Here, we investigated the effects of TET1 on neuropathic pain and explored whether TET1 is involved in oxaliplatin -induced pain through miR-30b-5p/Nav1.6 signaling.
Methods
The chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy model was established using an intraperitoneal injection of OXA. TET1 Lentiviral Activation Particles were microinjected to overexpress TET1. AAV5-CMV-bGlobin-Cre-eGfp were microinjected to decrease TET1 in Tet1flox/flox mice dorsal root ganglions (DRGs). Then, we detect miR-30b-5p and Nav1.6 expression, neuronal excitability, and pain behavior.
Results
We found that oxaliplatin decreased the TET1 expression in the DRGs and led to neuropathic pain symptoms by upregulating the Nav1.6 expression via modulating the methylation site in the Mir30b promoter. Simulating the decrease of TET1 in DRGs significantly reduced the level of DNA hydroxymethylation and led to pain-like behaviors. Conversely, blocking the decrease in TET1 reversed the oxaliplatin -induced miR-30b-5p reduction and attenuated the increase in Nav1.6 in the affected DRGs, thus alleviating oxaliplatin -induced pain hypersensitivities.
Conclusion
Our findings indicated that TET1 insufficiency was implicated in the development of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy via the modulation of Nav1.6 expression in primary sensory neurons, which was mediated by inadequate demethylation of Mir30b.
Tantalum Disulfide (TaS 2 ) Based Symmetrical Long-Range Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor with Ultrahigh Imaging Sensitivity and Figure of Merit
Authors: Kumar Virendra , Pal Sarika
Published: July 2023

This manuscript presents a comprehensive performance analysis of a proposed Kretschman configured Tantalum Disulfide (TaS2) mediated Symmetric Long Range Surface Plasmon Resonance (SLRSPR) biosensor. The sensor performance is optimized and compared for different metals (Au, Ag, and Al) and four dielectric buffer layers, DBLs (LiF, Teflon, Cytop and MgF2) to explore the best suited metal and DBL. The 27 nm thickness of Al and 1000 nm of LiF has demonstrated the best performance by achieving smaller full width at half maximum (FWHM = 0.03 Deg.), higher values of detection accuracy (DA = 33.33 1/Deg.), imaging figure of merit (IFOM = 431933.34 Deg.−1RIU−1), and imaging sensitivity (Simg. =12958 RIU− 1) for the proposed SLRSPR biosensor. The proposed LRSPR sensor show 45.32 times higher Simg., 181.03 times higher IFOM, and 4.37 times higher DA than conventional SPR (CSPR) sensor. Furthermore, it exhibits 6.76 times higher Simg., 13.52 times higher IFOM., and 2 times higher DA than the conventional LRSPR (CLRSPR) sensor. The proposed SLRSPR biosensor shows the highest PD (401.5 nm), indicating deep analyte sensing. The work presented here highlights the significant potential of the proposed SLRSPR biosensor in biomedical applications that require highly accurate and sensitive refractive index sensing.
Success in summative objective structured clinical examinations is associated with clinical training during medical studies
Authors: Carsuzaa Florent , Larid Guillaume , Martin Mickaël , Coudroy Rémi , Allain Géraldine , Arrivé François , Binet Aurélien , Bironneau Vanessa , Danion Jérôme , David Romain , Breuillac Jean , Garcia Magali , Gervais Elisabeth , Guenezan Jérémy , Jedat Vincent , Macchi Laurent , Masson-Regnault Marie , Salaun Karine , Schneider Fabrice , Vallée Maxime , Neau Jean-Philippe , Paccalin Marc , Brunet Kévin , Jutant Etienne-Marie
Published: July 2023

Introduction
Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) have been introduced with the stated objective of assessing the clinical skills acquired by students during internships. Our objective was to assess whether the scores obtained during the summative OSCEs of medical students are associated with having completed an internship in the corresponding disciplines.
Methods
Cross-sectional study assessing the results of the summative OSCEs during the 2021–2022 academic year in Poitiers university (France). Ten stations (5 for each student) were performed. A survey was carried out at the end of the OSCEs and collected: internships carried out, stress level, difficulty level experienced at each station, previous participation to formative and summative OSCEs, supervised clinical examinations during internships and participation in consultations.
Results
Out of the 220 students participating to the summative OSCEs, 182 (83%) answered the survey. The scores obtained in interrogation, communication, therapeutic education and procedure stations were higher when the student had completed an internship in the corresponding disciplines than if he had not (p < 0.01 for each). Eighty-seven (47.8%) had participated before to at least one formative OSCE and 145 (79.7%) to at least one summative OSCE. There was no significant difference in the overall OSCE score according to earlier participation to formative OSCEs (11.1 ± 1.9 vs. 11.5 ± 2.1, p = 0.16) or summative OSCEs (11.4 ± 2.1 vs. 11.1 ± 1.67, p = 0.47).
Conclusion
Success in OSCEs was associated with previous internships in the corresponding disciplines, suggesting the ability of OSCEs to assess the student’s clinical skills acquired during internships.
Extending GPU Container Support to AMD and Intel: A Developer Approach for Decentralized Scaling
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Avimanyu , Kumar Santosh , Kederalah Tewodros , Sisay Dagim , Veitas Kabir
Published: July 2023

The utilization of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) has significantly enhanced the speed and efficiency of machine learning and deep learning applications. Docker containers, developed in a programming language called Go, are becoming more and more favored for guaranteeing the reproducibility and scalability of these applications. Nevertheless, Docker's built-in GPU compatibility is restricted to Nvidia GPUs, creating an obstacle to leveraging AMD and Intel GPUs. In this document, we introduce an innovative method, employing Go, to expand Docker's GPU compatibility to include AMD and Intel GPUs. This approach offers a vendor-neutral solution at the development level.
Trade Openness and Structural Change Dynamics in West African Countries
Authors: Chabi Patrick , Saygılı Refik Fatih
Published: July 2023

In this study, we investigate the contribution of trade openness to the structural change process in ECOWAS countries. Our findings suggest that the production structural change process is significantly and positively affected by the extent of trade openness. Higher openness levels are associated with more production reshuffling between sectors. However, this impact is found to be nonlinear. After a threshold of 147.64% of trade openness, the effect reverses. Considering the labor structural change, results suggest that more openness tends to trigger the reshuffle of labor toward less productive sectors. This effect reverses after the openness reached a level of 152.42%. Moreover, exports contract whereas imports trigger the reshuffling of domestic production factors. So, focusing on industrial-friendly import policies should be a priority for ECOWAS Countries. For labor, exports as well as imports trigger the reshuffling of labor towards less productive sectors. These findings emphasize the importance of external effects in the structural change process in ECOWAS countries. Our analysis suggests that given the basic structure of export products, as long as their increases would fail to develop manufacturing sectors, their ability to shift labor towards more productive sectors would be limited. Also, as imports promote the retail sector, which is less productive, this limits their effect to trigger a desirable labor structural change.
The Fundamental Principles of Social Sciences
Authors: Bhandari Medani P.
Published: July 2023

This paper provides an overview of the fundamental principles of social sciences, encompassing a wide range of academic disciplines dedicated to studying human society and human relationships. Drawing from the author’s understanding of social sciences, it offers a comprehensive examination of key concepts and highlights the significance of social science theories and practices. The paper begins by elucidating the definitions of social sciences, emphasizing their interdisciplinary nature and their focus on understanding societal dynamics. It explores the contributions of major thinkers in the field of social sciences, showcasing their intellectual impact and influential ideas. Furthermore, it presents a selection of notable social science thinkers from the 21st century, illustrating the ongoing evolution of the discipline. A core aspect of the paper focuses on the significant role of social scientists in contributing to societal development. It explores their diverse areas of expertise and the application of their research findings to address social issues and shape public policies. Additionally, the paper delves into the main theories and theoretical developments within social sciences, including the theory of governance, governmentality, network theory, and environmentalism. It specifically addresses the intersection of social sciences with climate change, highlighting the unique challenges and perspectives offered by this field. Sustainable development emerges as a prominent discipline within social sciences, with its emphasis on balancing economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection. The paper explores its relevance in addressing pressing global challenges. Moreover, it examines the emergence of new theories and practices within social sciences, presenting a glimpse of the evolving landscape of research and scholarship. Considering the future direction of social science research and practices, the paper offers insights into potential areas of exploration and the evolving nature of research methodologies. It addresses key research questions, such as what, why, how, when, where, and for whom, providing a framework for comprehensive inquiry. This paper provides a broad overview of social sciences, elucidating key principles, theories, and notable contributions to societal development. By examining the past and present, it also outlines the potential future trajectory of social science research and practices, shedding light on the significance and relevance of this dynamic field.
Policy transfer and health policymaking process: The case of social health insurance in Ghana
Authors: Awojobi Oladayo Nathaniel , Adeniji Oluwatoyin Adenike
Published: July 2023

Since the introduction of the user fee system of healthcare financing in 1969 and its subsequent modifications, the burden of healthcare expenditure on residents of Ghana created health inequality. This system encouraged the poor and vulnerable to have limited access to essential drugs and services. Policy entrepreneurs contributed to raising awareness about the poor and vulnerable people in Ghana not having access to health due to the user fee system as a public policy problem. This awareness began to spread among political leaders, the masses, and professional groups, warranting the attention of policymakers. As significant public dissatisfaction and agitation against the user fee policy continued, the media continued to hold the government responsible for initiating the policy. The democratization process and election period between 1998 and 2000 provided a window of opportunity that led to the idea of health policy change. In 2003, Ghana established the National Social Health Insurance, a form of Social Health Insurance. This study examines the process of establishing the social health insurance scheme through policy transfer framework. First, the paper examines Ghana’s health policy after independence, the National Health Service, and the User Fee Policy that was implemented in 1985. Second, the paper accessed the policy transfer framework and applied it to the transfer of social health insurance. Third, the paper explains the radical change from the user fee policy to the social health insurance model. This essay uses time series analysis and comparative analysis to assess the impact of the social health insurance on the under-five mortality ratio, maternal mortality ratio and out-of-pocket expenditure. The assessment results show that the social health insurance scheme has a positive impact on under-five mortality, maternal mortality and out-of-pocket payment compared to Nigeria without social health insurance for the poor and other vulnerable groups. The paper concludes that policy transfer alone cannot be a single variable to explain radical health policy change, but when combined with other complementary perspectives, an empirically grounded account of policy change can be developed.
Issues concerning Social Security, Medicare and the national debt
Authors: Gentle Paul F.
Published: July 2023

It happens quite usually that national politicians can regularly speak of limiting Social Security and Medicare in some ways. However, when confronted with enough public scrutiny in general, those politicians who advocate such reductions become less strident in their own comments. Taxes from the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) provides revenue for the Social Security and Medicare programs. The amount of gathered tax revenue is partially dependent on the payroll FICA tax cap. This article explains how the cap works. Social Security started in 1935, as part of the New Deal. In 1956, insurance to aid disabled people was started. In this article, different aspects of that cap are also examined. In 1965, the Medicare program came into effect. Any temporary surplus of federal funds must be used to hold US Treasury Securities. Starting in Fiscal Year 1969, the United States of America have operated under the law of the Unified Budget Act. This act stipulates that all receipts and outlays of all federal spending be consolidated into a unified budget. Much of these funds will be needed as future retirees receive benefits from the Social Security and Medicare. As that happens, there may be comparatively less US Treasury securities held by the Social Security and Medicare Trust funds. This article shows some of the concerns that the President and Congress face in budget negotiations. In 2017, the rating for long-term US Treasury Securities stayed at AA+ by Standard and Poor’s, a credit rating firm. Both Congress and the US President needed to work together to slow the growth of annual deficits, which adds to the federal debt. Interestingly, two other bond rating firms, Moody’s Investors and Fitch, maintained the bond rating of AAA. It has to be remembered that none of these ratings are permanent. As time goes on, firms that give bonds ratings will keep on analysing those who issues securities, including the US government. Furthermore, not all credit rating agencies agreed with any fall of the credit rating. As to a more recent credit rating, US Treasuries were rated at AAA. The reader should always be cognizant of the fact that ratings can change over time. Such times as occurred in May 2023 (debt ceilings, tax revenues and spending disagreements between the legislative and executive branches) may or may not be contemplated regarding the credit rating of US Treasuries.
Gapful electrons in a vortex core in granular superconductors
Authors: Kiselov Dmitry , Skvortsov Mikhail A. , Feigel'man Mikhail V.
Published: July 2023

We calculate the quasiparticle density of states (DoS) inside the vortex core in a granular superconductor, generalizing the classical solution applicable for dirty superconductors. A discrete version of the Usadel equation for a vortex is derived and solved numerically for a broad range of parameters. Electron DoS is found to be gapful when the coherence length \xiξ becomes comparable to the distance between neighboring grains ll. Minigap magnitude E_gEg grows from zero at \xi \approx 1.4 lξ≈1.4l to third of superconducting gap $_0 $ at \xi \approx 0.5 lξ≈0.5l. The absence of low-energy excitations is the main ingredient needed to understand strong suppression of microwave dissipation recently observed in a mixed state of granular Al.
Suç Cetvelleri Verilerine Göre Osmanlı Devleti’nde Suç ve Suçlular: Sivas Vilayeti Örneği (R.1329 / M. 1913-1914)
Authors: YANCI Ülkü
Published: July 2023

Osmanlı Devleti’nin son dönemlerinde suç ve suçluların tespiti ve takibi hususunda düzenli bilgi alabilmek için vilayetlerden her ay rapor istenmiştir. Her ay kazalardan sancak merkezine giden raporlar buradan Dâhiliye Nezareti’ne gönderilmiştir. Bunun için bir şablon oluşturulmuş ve her kaza merkezinden bu şablona uygun şekilde bilgiler istenmiştir. Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşiv vesikaları arasında suç ve suçluları gösteren iki tür cetvel bulunmaktadır. Bu cetveller “vukuât-ı cinaiyye” ve “ceraim-i umumiyye” cetvelleridir. Başbakanlık Osmanlı Arşivi’nde bulunan ilk vukuât-ı cinaiyye cetveli, 1878 yılında tutulmuştur. Ancak Osmanlı Devleti’nin son derece zor yıllar yaşadığı bu dönemde istatistik cetvelleri muntazaman tutulamamış, bazı aylar eksik kalmıştır. Vukuat-ı cinaiyye defterlerinde suçun işlendiği yer, faillerin isimleri, yakalanıp yakalanmadıkları, yakalanmadı ise ne sebeple yakalanmadığı ve suçun nasıl işlendiğine dair bilgiler vardır. Ceraim-i umumiyye defterlerinde ise bölgede gerçekleşen suçlar toplu halde rakamsal olarak verilmiştir. İki cetvel türünden vukuât-ı cinaiyye cetvellerinde yalnızca cinayet vakaları ele alınmışken ceraim-i umumiye cetvellerinde tüm suçlar belirtilmiştir. Fakat vukuât-ı cinaiyye defterlerine nadir de olsa diğer suçların işlendiği de anlaşılmaktadır

Bu çalışmada Sivas Vilayeti’nde R. 1329/M. 1913-1914 yıllarına ait vukuat-ı cinaiyye defterlerinin tümü incelenmiş, aynı dönemde Sivas Vilayeti’ne ait ceraim-i cinaiyye defterleri ile de bilgiler karşılaştırılmıştır. Sivas Vilayetine ait suç cetvellerinden Rumi 1 Mart 1329- 28 Şubat 1329/ Miladi 14 Mart 1913- 13 Mart 1914 tarihine ait 12 aylık cetvel incelenmiştir. Sivas Vilayeti bu dönemde, Sivas, Tokat, Amasya ve Karahisar-ı Şarkî olmak üzere dört sancaktan oluşmaktadır. Çalışmanın hacminin büyük olması nedeniyle kazalara ait cetveller sancaklar çerçevesinde birleştirilerek aktarılmıştır. Çalışmada Sivas Vilayeti’nde bu dönemde işlenen suçlara dair bilgiler tablolaştırılarak bilginin daha erişilebilir olması sağlanmış; istatistiksel veriler aktarılmıştır. Bu istatistik sonuçları ile Sivas özelinde ve Osmanlı genelinde toplumun yapısı ortaya konmaya çalışılmıştır. Defterlerde yer alan kayıtlara göre Sivas Vilayet genelinde R. 1329/M. 1913-1914 yılında genelinde 551 suç işlenmiştir. Bu suçlar 15 farklı kategoriye ayrılmaktadır. Bu suçların 240’ı yani % 43’ü Sivas Sancağı’nda, 148’i yani %27’si Tokat Sancağı’nda; 84’ü yani %15’i Amasya Sancağı’nda ve 82’si yani %15’i de Karahisar-ı Şarkî Sancağı’nda işlenmiştir
ANÁLISIS MULTIVARIADO Y MODELAMIENTO FACTORIAL MÚLTIPLE EN LA CLASIFICACIÓN DE MIELES PERUANAS DEL BAJO MAYO, SAN MARTÍN, PERÚ
Authors: Grosso Guillermo , Tangarife Mónica , Franco Anderson
Published: July 2023

MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS AND MULTIPLE FACTORIAL MODELING IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF PERUVIAN HONEYS FROM BAJO MAYO, SAN MARTIN, PERU. Honey is a natural product made mainly from the nectar of flowers; its final quality depends on its botanical and geographical origin. The variability is wide even for honey from the same region. The botanical and geographical origin of honey is still difficult to determine, so it is increasingly necessary to standardize analysis protocols that contribute to the verification of the quality of this important product of the beehive. The physicochemical and sensory properties of fifteen samples of honey from the Mayo River basin, Department of San Martin (Peru) have been evaluated, taking as reference the physicochemical parameters of color, the chromaticity of the CIELab system, pH, free acidity, total sugars, humidity, ash, electrical conductivity, density, and water activity. Additionally, the sensory attributes and intrinsic properties of the honey samples have been related to their classification through a Neuronal Probabilistic Network system, cluster analysis, discriminant, multiple factorial, and PLS-PATH, which have allowed the differentiation and classification of the honey, according to their geographical origin under three categories associated to the Pfund scale in amber, light amber, and extra light amber.
EXTRATOS PIROLENHOSOS DE CASCA DE COCO, ACÁCIA NEGRA E EUCALIPTO: CARACTERIZAÇÃO FÍSICO-QUÍMICA E AVALIAÇÃO IN VITRO COMO POTENCIAIS INIBIDORES DA UREASE
Authors: Cândido Núbia , Modolo Luzia , Pasa Vânya , de Fátima Ângelo
Published: July 2023

PYROLIGNEOUS ACIDS OF COCONUT SHELL, BLACK WATTLE AND EUCALYPTUS: PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VITRO EVALUATION AS POTENTIAL UREASE INHIBITORS. The increase in food production to meet the demand of the world’s growing population is largely conditioned by the efficiency of agricultural fertilizers. The development of relatively low-cost urease inhibitors and more environmentally friendly ones is a challenge for agriculture, especially because urea is the most used nitrogen fertilizer globally. The pyroligneous acid (PA), a by-product of wood charcoal production, stimulates plant growth, increases crop productivity, improves microbial metabolism, and induces plant tolerance to (a)biotic stresses. This work investigated the in vitro urease inhibitory potential of tree PAs of distinct plant biomass origin and production process. Coconut (Cocus nucifera) shell PA showed the highest urease inhibitory activity, followed by black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) PA and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus urograndis, a hybrid of Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus urophylla). The same sequence was observed for the content of phenols and humic substances (humic acids + fulvic acids). This fact probably justifies the greater inhibitory activity, since both humic substances and some phenols normally present in PA, such as hydroquinone, have already been reported in the literature as urease inhibitors. The results are promising in terms of urease inhibition by PA samples, especially due to its low cost, biodegradability, non-toxicity, high solubility in water, and beneficial effects on plant development.
Projected changes in extreme precipitation indices over the Lake Urmia basin in Iran
Authors: Javan Khadijeh , Movaghari Alireza , Park Jeong-Soo
Published: July 2023

This study investigates the future changes in precipitation extreme indices in the Lake Urmia Basin during the period 2021–2100 compared to the base period (1987–2016), using the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 models. Trend analysis was performed using Mann–Kendall test and Sen's estimator. The output of these models was downscaled by the Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator method for the representative concentration pathway (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5. A model averaging technique was employed to create an ensemble model. The results showed that the average precipitation of the basin will decrease by the end of the 21st century. The projection also showed that the consecutive dry day's index increases based on both scenarios. However, other indices (maximum 1-day precipitation, maximum 5-day precipitation, very wet days, consecutive wet days, simple daily intensity index, and wet-day precipitation) are reduced compared to the base period. Moreover, the slope of significant trends in the RCP8.5 is greater and more severe than that in RCP4.5.
Flood-susceptibility-based building risk under climate change, Hyderabad, India
Authors: Madhuri R. , Srinivasa Raju K. , Vasan A.
Published: July 2023

Urban floods have been highly prominent natural disasters occurring in catchments across the globe, causing financial loss and damage to buildings. This necessitates effective and sustainable mitigation mechanisms. In this context, flood-susceptibility-based building risk (FSBR), a combined index for evaluating flood susceptibility and building risk simultaneously to understand the impact of the flood, is proposed by fusing XGBoost (facilitates flood susceptibility) and Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System 2D (enables building risk) in climate change situations. The methodology is applied to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, India. Six combinations of FSBR, namely, high building risk and high flood susceptibility (HH), high and medium (HM), medium and medium (MM), medium and high (MH), low and medium (LM), and low and high (LH) are employed to study the urban floods. The total affected areas for HH, HM, MH, MM, LH, and LM are 63.40 km2 (52.627%), 28.92 km2 (24%), 9.52 km2 (7.9%), 4.81 km2 (3.99%), 9.26 km2 (7.686%), and 4.56 km2 (3.79%) (totalling 120.47 km2). The number of corresponding buildings is 182,178, 84,136, 46,238, 22,691, 48,092, and 23,781. Waterproofing as a mitigation measure is considered. The total cost of waterproofing is Rs 4,964.60 cr.