bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of the partitioning of the organic compounds in air on the worker health risk assessment: A study case in a paint manufacturing
Authors: Khedidji Sidali , Balducci Catia , Rabhi Lyes , Cecinato Angelo , Ladji Riad , Yassaa Noureddine
Published: November 2022

The daily variation of organic contaminants, both gaseous and associated with suspended particulate matter, was investigated inside the National Company of Paintings estate in Lakhdaria, Algeria. Chemical characterization of particulate matter was focused on n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs and a list of highly polar organics HPOC including phthalate esters and heterocyclic compounds, that of vapours on PAHs and polychlorobiphenyls PCBs. low molecular weight compounds were associated primarily with the gas phase (2-ring PAHs, ~ 95%; 3-ring PAHs, ~ 70%), while high molecular weight congeners were mainly associated with the particle phase (6-ring PAHs, 55%). As for PCB, concentrations (0.6 ÷ 42 ng m− 3) exceeded those reported in other Algerian and European cities. The source reconciliation of organic contaminants through principal component analysis PCA demonstrated that the principal ones were petroleum combustion, industrial manufacturing, tobacco smoking and vehicular traffic. The tobacco smoke importance was further confirmed by the analysis of PAHs diagnostic ratios. The different diagnostic ratio rates of gaseous and particulate PAHs was attributed to distinct contributions of sources such as industrial processes. The health risks for workers exposed to PAHs and PCBs in PM10 were quantitatively assessed in terms of BaP equivalent concentration (BaPeq) and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The ILCR associated to particulate PAHs indicated higher cancer risk for workers in the production areas, whereas that to PCBs suggested high potential health risk for laboratory workers.
Unconventional Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state
in a two-dimensional Ising superconductor
Authors: Ye Jianting , Wan Puhua , Zheliuk Oleksandr , Yuan Noah , Peng Xiaoli , Zhang Le , Liang Minpeng , Zeitler Uli , Wiedmann Steffen , Hussey Nigel , Palstra Thomas
Published: November 2022

The conventional Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) state relies on the Zeeman effect of an external magnetic field to break time-reversal symmetry, forming a state of finite-momentum Cooper pairing. In superconductors with broken inversion symmetries, the Rashba or Ising-type spin-orbit coupling (SOC) can interact with either the Zeeman or the orbital effect of magnetic fields, extending the range of possible FFLO states, though evidence for these more exotic forms of FFLO pairing has been lacking. Here we report the discovery of an unconventional FFLO state induced by coupling the Ising SOC and the orbital effect in multilayer 2H-NbSe2. Transport measurements show that the translational and rotational symmetries are broken in the orbital FFLO state, providing the hallmark signatures of finite momentum cooper pairings. We establish the entire orbital FFLO phase diagram, consisting of normal metal, uniform Ising superconducting phase, and a six-fold orbital FFLO state. This study highlights an alternative route to finite-momentum superconductivity and provides a universal mechanism to prepare orbital FFLO states in similar materials with broken inversion symmetries.
Estimation of Dynamic viscosities, Excess molar volumes and Refractive indices of Ternary Liquid Mixtures
Authors: Singh Arun K. , Jain Pratima , Pandey Ranu , Srivas Kirti , Shukla R. K.
Published: November 2022

At atmospheric pressure and over the whole concentration range, densities, viscosities and refractive indices of a ternary system (tetrahydofuran + 2-propanol + 2,2,4-trimethylpentane) and three constituent binary systems at T = 298.15 K were measured. The observed values of excess volumes were obtained from the measured values of density. These findings were utilized to determine excess molar volumes (VE), viscosity variances (Δη), and refractive index deviations (Δn). The estimated values of VE, η, and n were fitted to polynomials of variable degrees (Redlich - Kister). The values estimated by several theoretical equations of prediction (Lorentz-Lorentz (L-L) relation, Flory model, Glinski model, Ramaswamy and Anbananthan (RS), and McAllister three and four-body interaction models) were compared with the ternary results (McA-3&McA-4). In conclusion, these models can help us to understand the viscosities and refractive indices of liquid mixtures. We can analyze interactions involving liquids with the use of the computed deviation quantities (VE, Δη, and Δn). These liquid mixtures' associated and non-associated processes were examined and found to be connected. When compared to non-related processes, associated processes produce a fair amount of agreement between theory and experiment.
Effect of PFOA exposure on ovarian reserve function and its metabolism
Authors: Shen Haofei , Gao Min , Li Qiuyuan , Sun Huipeng , Jiang Yingdi , Liu Lihong , Wu Jingyuan , Yu Xiao , Jia Tianyu , Xin Yongan , Han Shiqiang , Wang Yiqing , Zhang Xuehong
Published: November 2022

Owing to its difficulty in degrading and ease of accumulation in the body, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has a detrimental effect on reproduction. This study aimed to examine the effect of PFOA concentration in follicular fluid during ovulation stimulation on embryo quality and the impact of PFOA exposure on the metabolic components of follicular fluid. This was a single-center prospective study that included 25 patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), 25 with normal ovarian reserve (NOR), and 25 with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Follicular fluid samples were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We demonstrated that the PFOA levels of follicular fluid in the DOR group were higher than those in the NOR group and PCOS group (P<0.05). PFOA concentration in the PCOS group was negatively correlated with high-quality embryos (P<0.05). To gain more insight into the impact of PFOA on the metabolic composition of follicular fluid, we classified the DOR group based on the PFOA concentration, for which metabolomic analysis was performed. In the high-concentration PFOA group, there was an increase and a decrease in three and nine metabolites, respectively, compared to that in the low-concentration group. These results suggest that PFOA may alter the metabolic composition of follicular fluid, thus, affecting ovarian reserve function.
Barriers toward Getting Booster Dose of COVID-19 Vaccination among Turkmen people: A Content Analysis Study
Authors: Ghojoghdordi Malihe , Charkazi Abdurrahman
Published: November 2022

Background
Vaccine hesitancy is a global concern. This study was performed to understand what prevents Turkmen people from getting their third or higher COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Methods
In a qualitative content analysis study, 35 Turkmen residents of Gonbad-e Kavous city in the north of Iran who had not gotten their third or higher doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were put through semi-structured phone interviews during August and September of 2022.
Results
Analysis results determined that the following 5 category are preventing people from getting their COVID-19 vaccine booster shots: 1. Unawareness of the dangers, 2. inaccurate rumors and beliefs, 3. Negative COVID-19 vaccine experiences, 4. Vaccine effectiveness, and 5. Personal freedoms.
Conclussion:
Based on our results, interventions from multiple channels which raise awareness about the dangers of COVID-19 and the importance of booster vaccine shots are crucial. To increase the public acceptance of booster shots, healthcare policymakers must take action to raise the public's trust in vaccines and provide documented and scientific responses to the public's inaccurate rumors and beliefs.
On the Hybridization of Geometric Semantic GP with Gradient-based Optimizers
Authors: Pietropolli Gloria , Manzoni Luca , Paoletti Alessia , Castelli Mauro
Published: November 2022

Geometric Semantic Genetic Programming (GSGP) is a popular form of GP where the effect of crossover and mutation can be expressed as geometric operations on a semantic space. A recent study showed that GSGP can be hybridized with a standard gradient-based optimized, Adam, commonly used in training artificial neural networks.

We expand upon that work by considering more gradient-based optimizers, a deeper investigation of their parameters, how the hybridization is performed, and a more comprehensive set of benchmark problems. With the correct choice of hyperparameters, this hybridization improves the performances of GSGP and allows it to reach the same fitness values with fewer fitness evaluations.
Splitting Photon into Pair Photons to Design a High-Performance Printable Solar Cell
Authors: Hossain Md. Faruque
Published: November 2022

The fine silicon printable solar cell is being layered up by a very thin complex photopolymer (chloro-trifluoro-ethylene vinyl ether fluoropolymer binder and dimethacrylic perfluoropolyether oligomer) to pave forming high temperature inside the solar cell to release gamma-ray to split single photon into pair-photons. Since the conservation of photon momentum are the principal constraints for this process of breakdown of photon particle, thus, all released conserved quantum numbers (photon to electron and positron, basic kinematics, and energy transfer) are being monitored during this pair-photon production by using PerkinElmer® Lambda 25 UV/Vis Spectrometer. Subsequently, the measurement of the required photon frequency (f), and wavelength (λ) to form these pair-photons by the induction of gamma-ray has also been determined to design high-performance solar cells. The results suggested that solar cells profoundly release the gamma-ray due to the presence of photopolymer which initiates high temperature inside the solar cell and pave the photon-photon collision to produce pair-photons from a single one. Subsequently, photon to electron and positron, its basic kinematics have also been monitored during this photon-photon interaction to determine the energy transfer to design high-performance solar cells.
The Mediating Role of Perceived Instructor’s Emotional Support to Students’ Academic Resiliency and School Engagement
Authors: Lobo Joseph
Published: November 2022

Academic resiliency is the ability of students to cope with and overcome setbacks and chronic difficulties, specifically in the school context. Previously conducted studies have discovered that academically resilient students tend to be more engaged in academics than their counterparts. Moreover, studies have also mentioned the importance of teachers’ emotional support to students’ engagement. Concerning this, the current study is focused on determining the mediating role of perceived teachers’ emotional support (TES) in the relationship between academic resiliency (ARS) and school engagement (ENG) of students in a Higher Education Institution context in Angeles City, Philippines. A sample of 910 students (58.9% male and 41.1% female) from different institutes completed self-report questionnaires concerning academic resilience, perceived teachers’ emotional support, and school engagement. Partial Least-Square Structural Equation Modelling using SmartPLS4 was used for the mediation analysis. The results revealed that (1) academic resilience positively influences school engagement, (2) academic resilience leverages perceived teachers’ emotional support, and (3) perceived teachers’ emotional support affects school engagement. Most importantly, it was found that perceived teachers’ emotional support partially mediates the relationship between students’ academic resilience and school engagement. Based on the findings, it was emphasized the importance of teachers’ emotional support in fostering resilience and engagement with college students. Lastly, findings were discussed by stressing the importance of fostering personal and contextual resources in the college to promote students’ well-being.
Metformin inhibits Zika virus infection in trophoblast cell line
Authors: González-García Luis Didier , Velazquez-Cervantes Manuel Adrian , Cruz-Holguin Victor Javier , Flores-Pliego Arturo , Carrizosa Oscar Villavicensio , Lara-Hernandez Ignacio , Comas-García Mauricio , Helguera-Reppeto Addy Cecilia , López-Ortega Orestes , Arevalo-Romero Haruki , Vazquez-Martinez Edgar Ricardo , Juarez Moises Leon
Published: November 2022

Zika virus (ZIKV) infections have been associated with severe clinical outcomes, including neurological manifestations, especially in newborns with intrauterine infection. However, no licensed vaccines or specific antiviral agents are available yet. Therefore, safe and low-cost therapy is required, especially for pregnant women. In this sense, metformin, an FDA-approved drug used to treat gestational diabetes, has previously exhibited an effect anti-ZIKA in vitro in HUVEC cells by activating AMPK. In this study, we evaluated metformin treatment duringin vitroZIKV infection in a permissive trophoblast cell line JEG3. Our results demonstrate that metformin impacts viral replication and protein synthesis and reverts the cytoskeletal changes promoted by ZIKV infection. Beyond this, lipid droplet formation is reduced, which is associated with the lipogenic activation of infection. Taken together, our findings indicate that metformin has potential as an antiviral agent against in vitro ZIKV infection in trophoblastic cells.
Dynamical behavior of the fractional coupled Konopelchenko-Dubrovsky and (3+1)-dimensional modified Korteweg-de Veries- Zakharov- Kuznestsov equations
Authors: Aslam Arslan , Majeed Abdul , Kamran Mohsin , Inc Mustafa
Published: November 2022

This work studies, soliton solutions of time fractional coupled Konopelchenko-Dubrovsky and (3+1)-dimensional modified Korteweg-de Varies-Zakharov-Kuznestsov (mKdVZK) equations. These model are used to define the physical phenomena of oceans dynamic, plasma physics, and soliton theory. The unified method is used to solve these fractional models analytically. Conformable and Local M derivatives are used to tackle the time fractional part. Fractional wave transformation is used to transforme fractional partial differential equation to ordinary differential equation. Using proposed scheme soliton solutions are obtained in polynomial and rational forms. The behaviour of soliton solution is also analyzed at different fractional parameter. The results shows that proposed scheme is straight forward and easy to handle all kinds of time fractional nonlinear homogenous evolution equations that arised in different fields of science.
The Burden of intensive care unit mortality and the Predictors in Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Demass Tilahun Bizuayehu , Guadie Abel Girma , Mengistu Tilahun Birara , Belay Zenaw Ayele , Melese Amare Alemu , Berneh Abraham Amsalu , Mihret Lealem Gedefaw , Bantie Getasew Mulat
Published: November 2022

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) is a multidisciplinary staffed and specially equipped area of a hospital dedicated to providing quality care for patients with life-threatening conditions. The provision of intensive care services to critically ill patients is a global issue. Though care is advancing globally, the quality of available ICUs in Ethiopia is still lagging far from the standard.
Objective: This study aimed to assess ICU mortality and its associated factors among patients at Tibebe Ghion specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.
Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from February 24th, 2019 to January 24th, 2021. Data were collected from medical records by using pretested structured data retrieval checklist. The collected data was entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed using R version 4.0 software. Descriptive statistics computed. A simple logistic analysis was run (at 95% CI and p-value < 0.05) to identify the determinants for ICU mortality.
Results: A total of 568 study participants’ charts were reviewed. The median length of ICU stay was 4 days. The overall mortality rate of the ICU-admitted patients was 29.6% (95% CI: 26%, 33%). Admitted in 2020 (AOR=0.51; 95%CI: 0.31, 0.85), having altered mentation (AOR=13.44; 95%CI: 5.77, 31.27), mechanical ventilator used (AOR = 4.11; 95%CI: 2.63, 6.43), and stayed < 5 days in the ICU (AOR = 3.74; 95%CI: 2.31, 6.06) were significantly associated with ICU mortality.
Conclusion: The ICU mortality rate was 29.6%. Years of admission, altered mentation, mechanical ventilator use and days of stay in the ICU were the predictors for ICU mortality. Improvement efforts led by the Ministry of Health with input from the acute care workforce are an urgent priority.
CT-Based Radiomics and Machine Learning for Differentiating Benign, Borderline, and Early-stage Malignant Ovarian Tumors: A Multi-Class Classification and Multi-Model Comparation Study
Authors: Chen Jia , Liu Lei , He Ziying , Su Danke , Liu Chanzhen
Published: November 2022

Background
To explore and evaluate value a preoperative diagnosis model with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) imaging-based radiomics analysis in differentiating benign ovarian tumors (BeOTs), borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), and early-stage malignant ovarian tumors (eMOTs).
Results
The retrospective research was conducted with pathologically confirmed 258 ovarian tumors patients from January 2014 to February 2021. All patients underwent preoperative CECT examination. The patients were randomly allocated to a training cohort (n = 198) and a test cohort (n = 60). A summary of 4238 radiomic features were extracted per patient. By providing a 3D characterization of the regions of interest (ROI) with ITK SNAP software at the maximum level of enhanced CT image, radiomic features were extracted from the ROI with an in-house software written in Python. The Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney (WMW) test, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression (LASSO-LR) and support vector machine (SVM) were employed to select the radiomic features. Five machine learning (ML) algorithms were applied to construct three-class diagnostic models for characterizing ovarian tumors taking the selected radiomic features parameters. Leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) that estimated performance in an ‘independent’ dataset was implemented to evaluate the performance of the radiomics models in the training cohort. An independent dataset, that is the test cohort, was used to verify the generalization ability of the radiomics models. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) was used to evaluate diagnostic performance of radiomics model. Global diagnostic performance of five models were evaluated by average area under the ROC curve (AUC).
Conclusion
The average ROC indicated that random forest (RF) diagnostic model in training cohort demonstrated the best diagnostic performance (micro average AUC, 0.98; macro average AUC, 0.99), which was then confirmed with by internal cross-validation (LOOCV) (micro average AUC, 0.89; macro average AUC, 0.88) and external validation (test cohort) (micro average AUC, 0.81; macro average AUC, 0.79). Our proposed CECT image-based radiomics diagnostic models may effectively assist in preoperatively differentiating BeOTs, BOTs, and eMOTs.
Objective collapse induced by macroscopic object
Authors: Acharya Arnab , Jeware Pratik , Banerjee Soumitro
Published: November 2022

The collapse of the wavefunction is arguably the least understood process in quantum mechanics. A plethora of ideas---macro-micro divide, many worlds and even consciousness---have been put forth to resolve the issue. Contrary to the standard Copenhagen interpretation, objective collapse models modify the Schrödinger equation with nonlinear and stochastic terms in order to explain the collapse of the wavefunction. In this paper we propose a collapse model in which a particle's wavefunction has a possibility of collapsing when it interacts with macroscopic objects, without the intervention of a conscious observer. We propose four possible conditions of collapse of the wavefunction and make testable predictions which differ from standard quantum mechanics.
Quality of care and quality of life as experienced by patients with advanced cancer of a rare tumour type: results of the multicentre observational eQuiPe study
Authors: Oss Anouk van , Duijts Saskia F.A. , Laarhoven Hanneke van , Kuip Evelien , Raijmakers Natasja JH , Brom Linda
Published: November 2022

Purpose Patients with a rare cancer face difficulties during their disease trajectory, such as delayed diagnosis and lack of expert care. However, little is known about their perceived Quality of Care (QoC) and Quality of Life (QoL) in the advanced disease stage. We aimed to assess the QoC and QoL as experienced by patients with advanced rare cancers compared to patients with advanced common cancers.
Methods In this cross-sectional study, baseline data of patients with advanced cancer from the multicentre, longitudinal, observational eQuipe study were analysed. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to assess differences in experienced QoC (continuity of care, continuity of information, and satisfaction with care) and QoL (functioning, symptoms, overall QoL, and social wellbeing) between advanced rare and common cancer patients.
Results Of the 1,087 included patients, 106 (9.8%) had a rare cancer type. In comparison to patients with advanced common cancers, patients with advanced rare cancers experienced significantly lower continuity of care (77.8 vs. 71.1 respectively, p=0.011) and social functioning (78.8 vs. 72.6 respectively, p=0.012). No differences were found regarding continuity of information, satisfaction with care, overall QoL, and social wellbeing.
Conclusions Patients with advanced rare cancers experience less continuity of care and the impact of the disease on social and family life seems higher compared to patients with advanced common cancers.
Implications for Cancer Survivors To enhance the QoC and QoL of patients with advanced rare cancers, supportive care should mainly focus on improving continuity of care and patients’ social functioning.
Mobility as a Basic Human Right: A Situated Understanding of Mobility among Persons with Physical Disabilities in Rural Talensi District, Ghana
Authors: AGYEMAN LAWRENCE OPOKU
Published: November 2022

Mobility is a requisite for human well-being and cannot be compromised. The mobility barrier research has focused on urban areas, leaving rural areas with few studies on critical challenges related to movement in both the natural and built environment. This study then sought to fill this gap. Snowballing was used to select 75 Persons With Physical Disabilities in the District for a household survey. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities, and the Officers from the Department of Social Welfare to provide further insights into the findings. The data gathered were coded, categorized, and analyzed to identify patterns to create an understanding of the mobility barriers among Persons With Physical Disabilities. The topographical features of the district, consisting of stones, rocks, valleys, hills, and slopes, have made maneuvering extremely difficult for people with disabilities. The built environment, such as small entrances and bad roads, and high ramps have created mobility barriers for people with disabilities. The presence of native stairs and smaller gates forced people with disabilities to park their wheelchairs outside their homes. The lack of a sidewalk puts disabled people at high risk of accidents as both share the same road with vehicles. The study recommended that rural homes and roads be designed and built to make their disability responsive.
Measurements on the Effect of Steps on the Transition of Laminar Boundary Layers
Authors: Heintz Alexander , Scholz Peter
Published: November 2022

The effects of steps on the transition of laminar boundary layers were measured on a flat plate for low Reynolds numbers with critical and subcritical step heights. The transition position was measured by determining the intermittency distribution in streamwise direction, including the characteristic length of the transitional region. The results are compared with formulations of a critical step Reynolds number Reh, i.e. the step height that will instantly trigger transition at the step position, and--for subcritical step heights--with δN-formulations from literature. For backward facing steps the concept of a step Reynolds number can be used to distinguish between subcritical and critical step heights, whereas for forward facing steps there seems not to be one unique Reh. Furthermore, for subcritical backward facing steps the concept of a δN-approximation gives a reasonable description of the experimental observations. Again in contrast, for forward facing steps a δN-approach scattered a lot and no clear dependency was found between the reduction of the critical N-Factor of transition and the relative step height.
MaxEnt modeling in predicting habitat suitability for Syzygium alternifolium - An endangered species from Eastern Ghats, India.
Authors: Pattanaik S. , Koteshwar P. , Hembram K. , Ashok D.
Published: November 2022

Syzygium alternifolium (Wight) Walp. is a medium-sized tree economically exploited locally for its medicinal uses. Its seeds, fruit pulp, leaves and bark are used locally in ayurvedic medicines for the treatment of various ailments. It is an endemic and endangered species that is narrowly confined to the southern parts of Eastern Ghats, India. To understand its ecological and geographic distribution and to identify potential habitats for its introduction/reintroduction to assist its recovery from the endangered category, we used MaxEnt for ecological niche modeling (ENM), taking one hundred sixty-six species occurrences and twenty-six climatic and topographical datasets as input. The MaxEnt model has identified five variables having maximum bearing on S. alternifolium distribution and has successfully reconstructed the species’ geographic distribution in the Seshachalam, Veligonda and Lankamalla hill ranges of Eastern Ghats. The model predicts 95% of the study area to be potentially least suitable for S. alternifolium, whereas only 5% of the study area is predicted to be moderate to highly potentially suitable for the species. Furthermore, the model identified novel, potential habitats with similar ecological conditions that can be used as a guide for the introduction/reintroduction of S. alternifolium to expand its range and assist in species recovery from its endangered category.
Redo mitral surgery after coronary artery bypass grafts under hyperkalemic hypothermia using thoracotomy and axillary artery cannulation in a patient with functional bilateral internal thoracic arteries and atheromatous aorta
Authors: Suzuki Ryo , Akita Masafumi , Itohara Takaki , Komatsu Takuya
Published: November 2022

Background

Redo mitral valve surgery after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is challenging through re-sternotomy as previous CABG with patent internal thoracic artery (ITA) poses a risk of injury due to dense adhesion. It is paramount to have alternative method to minimize this risk.

Case presentation

We report a case of redo mitral and tricuspid valve repair via right thoracotomy under hypothermia and systemic potassium administration with axillary artery cannulation in a patient after CABG with patent bilateral ITAs grafts crossing over the sternum. Herein, dangerous dissection around the aorta and functional ITA grafts was avoided by performing the procedure under systemic hypothermia via thoracotomy. Furthermore, considering the presence of atheroma in the aorta, the axillary artery was used as a perfusion route to prevent stroke events. Postoperative course was uneventful and echocardiography demonstrated preserved cardiac function.

Conclusion

Performing axillary artery cannulation and right thoracotomy under hypothermic cardiac arrest with systemic hyperkalemia without clamping the patent bilateral ITAs and aorta allowed us to execute redo mitral valve surgery after CABG without major postoperative cardiac or cerebral complications.
Improving debris flow evacuation alerts in Taiwan using machine learning
Authors: Tsai Yi-Lin , Irvin Jeremy , Chundi Suhas , Ng Andrew Y. , Field Christopher B. , Kitanidis Peter K.
Published: November 2022

Taiwan has the highest susceptibility to and fatalities from debris flows worldwide. The existing debris flow warning system in Taiwan, which uses a time-weighted measure of rainfall, leads to alerts when the measure exceeds a predefined threshold. However, this system generates many false alarms and misses a substantial fraction of the actual debris flows. Towards improving this system, we implemented five machine learning models that input historical rainfall data and predict whether a debris flow will occur within a selected time. We found that a random forest model performed the best among the five models and outperformed the existing system in Taiwan. Furthermore, we identified the rainfall trajectories strongly related to debris flow occurrences and explored trade-offs between the risks of missing debris flows versus frequent false alerts. These results suggest the potential for machine learning models trained on hourly rainfall data alone to save lives while reducing false alerts.
Pattern and Characteristics of Traffic Congestion in Nigerian Metropolitan Centres: an Example of Abeokuta Metropolis
Authors: Ogunkan David Victor , Eyitayo Olaleye O.
Published: November 2022

Against the background of the ineffable hardship on residents and commuters, this paper examines the intensity, pattern and characteristics of traffic in the selected road corridors in Abeokuta metropolis, Nigeria. Data on road types and land use types was obtained through a structured observation using a predesigned checklist. Traffic census was conducted to obtain traffic characteristics, using the morning and evening peaks as a parameter. The traffic volume and traffic capacity were measured in "vehicle per hour" (vph) and Passengers Car Unit per hour (PCU/hr). The differences in traffic volume at different peak hours were analyzed with the chi-square test, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was deployed to analyse the variations in traffic composition among the studied road corridors. The study finds that Sapo-Ijaye-Iyana Mortuary (2315 vph) recorded the highest daily peak traffic volume, cars (4444 vph.) had the highest numbers traffic composition, while buses (4872 PCU/hr) are the most impactful class of vehicles. The Chi-square test shows that with x = 0.822604; p = 0.84405 there are no significant differences in the vph between morning and evening peaks, while the ANOVA shows that with f = 3.3106 and p = 1.0000, the traffic composition did not vary significantly across the studied roads. The study recommends the enhancement of road capacities through upgrading to meet the current and future transportation requirements. The study also suggests alternative traffic routes such as rail lines to support the movement of heavy-duty trucks.
The physical health recovery, the practice of the reproductive method of adaptive physical education
Authors: Mulyk Vladyslav , Павленко Віктор , Mulyk Kateryna , Yefremenko Andrii , Shutieieva Tetiana , Kraynik Yaroslav , Pyatisotskaya Svetlana
Published: November 2022

The article focuses on the need to introduce modern alternative health-saving methods and technologies of physical education, in particular, health tourism as an important factor in the educational process and a leading factor in the socialization and harmonious development of children and young people with special needs. The problem of physical education of pupil’s and student’s youth is relevant at the present stage of the development of health tourism. Adaptive physical education is an important factor in the rehabilitation of students who have limited physical health opportunities. We admit that the implementation of the program of health measures to organize the physical activity of students using the natural sedative factors of health tourism will have a great impact on the physical and mental development, social and psychophysical condition of students.
Purpose. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the scientific and pedagogical aspects of the reproductive method of adaptive physical education of the student youth with special needs using health tourism. Involvement of this category of students in physical education. To determine the social significance of adaptive physical culture in renewed and maintaining the state of physical and psychological health of people with special needs.
Approach. A set of complementary methods by the assigned task is used in the work. Analysis and generalization of domestic and world experience on the problem of renewal and rehabilitation by methods and means of adaptive physical culture were carried out. The scientific special literature was analyzed on the problems of applying means of physical culture, on the complex resumption of physical health. Students of non-physical education institutions of higher education in Kharkiv took part in the research. The questionnaire survey technique is used in the experiment. In this method, we used the questionnaire that consists of 8 questions and was applied to up to 60 individuals regardless of gender.
Results. The reproductive method of adaptive physical education is aimed at improving the knowledge in physical rehabilitation and forming the skills of persons with special needs to use natural factors for body resumption. The introduction of a mental-conceptual model increased awareness of health tourism means and methods by 18,5% (t = 2,41; p < 0,01). Psychological comfort after the proposed measures to preserve the state of physical and psychological health of students with special needs improved by 61,3% (t = 3,47; p < 0,001).
Conclusions. The search for ways to make optimal use of health tourism for the renewal of health and social adaptation of persons with special needs is one of the main areas of adaptive physical education.
Development and Validation of a Model Based on Cancer Registries for Predicting the Mean Age at Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in Population
Authors: Kim Ha young , Mullaert Jimmy , Tondreau Ambre , Park Boyoung , Rouzier Roman
Published: November 2022

Knowing mean age at diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) in a country is important to set up an efficient BC screening program. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a model to predict mean age at diagnosis of BC at the level of a country. To develop the model, we used the CI5plus database from IARC, which contains incidence data for 122 selected populations for a minimum of 15 consecutive years 1993–2012. The standard model was fitted with a generalized linear model with age of population as fixed effect and continent as random effect. The model was validated on registries of the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents that are not included in the CI5plus database. The intercept of the model was 44.5 (41.8–47.2) and the regression coefficient for age population was 0.35 (95% CI: 0.33–0.37, p < 0.001). The marginal R2 and conditional R2 were respectively 0.159 and 0.69, suggesting that 69% percent of the variance of the mean age at diagnosis of BC was explained by the variance of continent-based population ageing through their linear relationship. The model was highly exportable as the correlation between predicted from the model and observed mean age at diagnosis of BC in registries not included in the CI5plus database was 0.87. We developed a robust model based on population age and continent to predict mean age at diagnosis of BC in populations. This tool could be used to implement BC screening in countries without prevention program.
Economic assessment of selected regulatory ecosystem services (RES) in the Elgeyo and Nyambene Watersheds Ecosystems in Kenya
Authors: Eregae Justus E. , Njogu Paul , Karanja Rebecca , Gichua Moses
Published: November 2022

There is evidence of increased valuation of ecosystem services (ES) globally, however most of these studies tend to focus on marketed subsets of ES at national and international levels. Ecosystems differ in spatial scale, biophysical and ecological structure and functionality. This requires conducting studies at the local level to understand how, for example, the watershed ecosystem contributes to humanity both locally and nationally. This study focuses on selected regulatory ecosystem services (RES) in two catchment area ecosystems (Elgeyo and Nyambene) in Kenya. Both field-based sampling and Landsat imagery with secondary information were used to generate biophysical and ecological data. Market price-based, cost-based and unit transfer methods were used for the valuation. Aggregated economic values ​​for the selected RES were estimated at KES 37.4 billion (US$349.6 million) and KES 14 billion (US$131.3 million) for Elgeyo and Nyambene respectively. This equates to KES 1.5 million (US$13,848.48) and KES 2.6 million (US$24,187.44) per hectare per year. At the national level, the value of regulatory ecosystem services would range from US$16.6 billion to US$29.03 billion. This equates to between 15% and 26% of Kenya’s GDP in 2021, underscoring the importance of watersheds to the national economy.
Outpatients prescribed with fluvoxamine around the time of COVID-19 diagnosis are not at a reduced risk of subsequent hospitalization and death compared to their non-prescribed peers: population-based matched cohort study
Authors: Trkulja Vladimir , Kodvanje Ivan
Published: November 2022

Purpose: To assess the effect of exposure to fluvoxamine around the COVID-19 diagnosis on subsequent hospitalizations and mortality in COVID-19 outpatients in a real-life setting.
Methods: Using nationwide administrative data, we identified adult COVID-19 outpatients diagnosed up to August 15, 2021 and conducted two cohort studies. Study 1 included subjects prescribed fluvoxamine around the index COVID-19 diagnosis (Cohort A), their peers suffering similar psychiatric difficulties but not prescribed fluvoxamine (Cohort B) and those free of psychiatric difficulties/treatments (Cohort C). Study 2 included subjects prescribed fluvoxamine (Cohort Fluvoxamine) and their peers prescribed paroxetine (Cohort Paroxetine). Cohorts were mutually exactly matched and incidence of COVID-19-related hospitalization, 30-day all-cause hospitalization and of COVID-19-related mortality was estimated.
Results: Of the 416030 first-episode outpatients, Study 1 included 1016 Cohort A, 95984 Cohort B and 275804 Cohort C patients. Matched Cohort A (n=749) vs. Cohort B (n=31336) relative risks (95%CI/CrI), frequentist and Bayes with skeptical, otpimistic and pesimistic priors, were: COVID-related hospitalization 1.37 (0.56-3.33), 1.15 (0.55-2.11), 1.03 (0.56.1.96) and 1.43 (0.63-2.94), respectively; 30-day all-cause hospitalization 1.88 (0.76-4.67), 1.76 (1.39-2.25), 1.76 (1.39-2.24) and 1.86 (1.43-2.38), respectively; COVID-19 related mortality 0.73 (0.35-1.55), 0.93 (0.53-1.76), 0.79 (0.40-1.54) and 0.88 (0.37-2.11), respectively. Matched Cohort A vs. C (866 vs. 222792) comparison yielded similar estimates, as did the matched Cohort Fluvoxamine vs. Paroxetine comparison in Study 2 (344 of 994 matched to 535 of 1796 patients).
Conslusion: Outpatients prescribed fluvoxamine around the time of COVID-19 diagnosis were not at a reduced risk of hospitalizations and mortality compared to their non-prescribed peers.
Insights into the mechanism of phospholipid hydrolysis by plant non-specific phospholipase C
Authors: fan ruyi , Zhao Fen , Gong Zhou , Chen Yanke , Yang Bao , Zhou Chen , Zhang Jie , Du Zhangmeng , Wang Xuemin , Yin Ping , Guo Liang , Liu Zhu
Published: November 2022

Non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) hydrolyzes major membrane phospholipids to release diacylglycerol (DAG), a potent lipid-derived messenger regulating cell functions. Despite extensive studies on NPCs reveal their fundamental roles in plant growth and development, the mechanistic understanding of phospholipid-hydrolyzing by NPCs, remains largely unknown. Here we report the crystal structure of Arabidopsis NPC4 at a resolution of 2.1 Å. NPC4 is divided into a phosphoesterase domain (PD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD), and is structurally distinct from other characterized phospholipases. The previously uncharacterized CTD is indispensable for the full activity of NPC4. Mechanistically, CTD contributes NPC4 activity mainly via CTDα1-PD interaction, which ultimately stabilizes the catalytic pocket in PD. Together with a series of structure-guided biochemical studies, our work elucidates the structural basis and provides molecular mechanism of phospholipid hydrolysis by NPC4, and adds new insights into the members of phospholipase family.
Causes of the First Use and their Relationship to Continuing Smoking
Authors: Latifeh Youssef , Abdallah Essam , Arabi Randa , AL-Fawaris Ma'moun
Published: November 2022

Background:
The objectives of the study lies on explaining the reasons for the first use of smoking by the study sample, and the reasons for continuing smoking, and identifying the differences in the views of the study sample according to a set of variables (gender, age, college year, number of family members, type of smoking, smoking times, feeling when quitting, Smoking, parents, number of smoking siblings, educational level of father and mother, parents' marital status, economic status, smoking friends).
Methods:
The study was applied through field application and the Internet, in the period from 6/6/2022 to 13/10/2022, on a sample of (563) students from the Syrian Private University, who were chosen in a random way that allows each individual in the university to be part of the sample, and the tool was a questionnaire composed of personal data related to the study sample, and two axes on the reasons for the first use of smoking and the reasons for continuing with it, and the data was analyzed through the statistical program Spss.
Results:
The reasons for the first use varied, as the item of tension got the highest percentage (95.51%), and in terms of the reasons for continuing to smoke, the item of desire to smoke when feeling angry got a percentage (96.06), and a high percentage found it difficult to give up smoking by (97.02), while there were no differences according to the study variables for each of the reasons for using and continuing to smoke, and there were differences according to the variable smoking times, it was regular, the number of smoking packets, it was one packet / day, friends in favor of the smoking friend, and the reasons for returning to smoking because of the desire to do so.
Conclusion:
The reasons for practicing and continuing the habit of smoking require working to address it by all possible means. There must be concerted efforts between the various private and public bodies and civil society institutions to stop this phenomenon, and to preserve society and its children and their health.
Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway activation suppresses the generation of Th17 cells and promotes the induction of Foxp3+regulatory T cells in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Tao Yuhong , WANG Yamei , Feng Ting , Li Hong , Xiong Ying
Published: November 2022

CD4+T cells mediate the pathogenesis of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Emerging research suggests that a Th17/regulatory T cell (Treg) imbalance plays a pivotal role in the development of renal IRI. The recently identified negative checkpoint T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain family 3 (Tim-3) inhibits the immune response by binding to its ligand, galectin-9 (Gal-9). However, the role of the Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway in the regulation of CD4+T cell subsets in renal IRI remains unclear. In this study, the effect of the Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway on Th17/Treg subsets in renal IRI was investigated using a mouse model. Renal IRI induced the expression of Gal-9 in renal tubular epithelial cells and increased the percentages of Tim-3+Th17 cells and Tim-3+Foxp3+Treg cells in the IR kidneys. The administration of rAAV9-Gal-9 suppressed kidney inflammation, reduced the mortality of mice with renal IRI, increased Foxp3+Treg cells, and reduced Th17 cells. In contrast, the blockade of Tim-3 in vivo with an anti-Tim-3 mAb aggravated renal inflammation, decreased Foxp3+Treg cells, and promoted Th17 cells. Thus, Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway activation may protect against renal IRI by inhibiting Th17 cell production and inducing Foxp3+Treg cell expansion. Our study suggests that the Gal-9/Tim-3 signaling pathway might become a target of immunotherapy in renal IRI.
Research on Vague multi-attribute group decision-making method based on evidence theory
Authors: Cui Chunsheng , Cao Yanli
Published: November 2022

In order to solve the problems of weight solving and information aggregation in the Vague multi-attribute group decision-making, this paper first solves the weight of Vague evaluation value, and then fuses the information of Vague sets through evidence theory, and obtains an information aggregation algorithm for Vague multi-attribute group decision-making. Firstly, The algorithm draws on the idea of solving the weight of evidence in the improved evidence theory algorithm, and calculates the weight of Vague evaluation value, and revises the original evaluation information after obtaining the weight of each Vague evaluation value. Secondly, this algorithm analyzes the mathematical relationship between the Vague sets and the evidence theory, and uses the evidence theory to fuse the evaluation information to obtain the final Vague evaluation value of each alternative. Finally, this algorithm uses a score function to calculate the score of each alternative to determine the best alternative. The algorithm given in the paper enables decision-makers to make rational decisions in uncertain environments, and then select the best alternative.
The application of a novel grey model in the prediction of China's aging population
Authors: Zhang Jun , Liu Chong , Jia Zijun , Zhang Xinyu , Song Yanhua
Published: November 2022

The dramatic increase of the aging population is a current and primary livelihood issue in China. It is very important to accurately predict the aging population for policy-makers such as governments and insurance companies. To explore the future development trend of China’s aging population, a novel grey prediction FPTGM(1,1,α) model is established in this paper. The data from 2003 to 2012 are used to build the model, and the data from 2013 to 2018 are used to assess the modelling accuracy. The results show that the fitting and forecasting accuracy of the proposed FPTGM(1,1,α) model are higher than those of other models. This indicates that the novel grey model is more suitable for predicting the aging population in China. Combined with the idea of metabolism, the FPTGM(1,1,α) model is applied to predict China’s aging population from 2019 to 2042. Finally, some reasonable suggestions for dealing with the aging population are put forward to the government and other decision-makers.