bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Auger Electron Emitting Radionuclides Effects in Therapy Using the Geant4-DNA Toolkit: A Simulation Study
Authors: Ahmadi Parvin , Shamsaei Zafar Ghandi Mojtaba , Shokri Aliasghar 
Published: June 2021

Purpose: The biological effects of ionizing radiation at the cellular and subcellular scales are studied by the number of breaks in the DNA molecule that provides a quantitative description of the stochastic aspects of energy deposition at cellular scales. The Geant4 code represents a suitable theoretical toolkit in microdosimetry and nanodosimetry. In this study, radiation effects due to Auger electrons emitting radionuclides such as 195mPt 113mIn, 125I and 201Tl are investigated using the Geant4-DNA.
Materials and Methods: The Geant4-DNA is the first Open-access software for the simulation of ionizing radiation and biological damage at the DNA scale. Low-energy electrons, especially Auger electron from Auger electron emitting radionuclides during the slowing-down process, deposit their energy within a nanometer volume.
Results: The average number of Single-Strand Breaks (SSB) and Double-Strand Breaks (DSB) of DNA as a function of energy and distance from the center of the DNA axis are shown.
Conclusion: The highest DSBs yield has occurred at energies less than 1 keV, and induces a higher DSBs yield.
POLITICS AS RHETORIC: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PAKISTANI POLITICIANS' PRESS STATEMENTS
Authors: Ramzan Muhammad , Qureshi Abdul Waheed , Samad Abdus , Sultan Neelam 
Published: June 2021

Purpose of the Study: This paper aims at unveiling the linguistic repertoire through the analysis of the press statements of the leading figures of the then ruling party of Pakistan (Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group) - PMLN and the opposition party there (Pakistan People’s Party (Parliamentarians) - PPPP. The main focus of this research is to reveal the language game of key politicians who seem anxious to complete their tenure irrespective of the issues faced by the people and usurpation of their basic rights.
Methodology: For highlighting the hidden meanings in language usage, the researchers have deployed the approach of Gee’s (2011) seven building tasks of language, for the accomplishment of the study objective.
Main Findings: The study findings indicate the manipulation and exploitation of the public by politicians through the game of words, shrouded in manifestos of prosperity/development, leading consequently to deterioration of the law-and-order situation, unemployment, nepotism, poverty, and black-marketing.
Applications of the Study: The Study can help those working in critical linguistics, discourse studies, hermeneutics, and textual studies.
Novelty/Originality of the Study: The study is significant and unique because it is the first of its kind that makes the discourse opposition party a holistic one by focusing on the perspectives of the key figures of the opposition in government. It is not a case study related to a single politician and their outlook(s).
ACQUISITION OF WH-QUESTIONS BY SECOND LANGUAGE SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH IN PAKISTAN
Authors: Pervaiz Azhar , Ikram Abdul Ghaffar , Batool Naima , Saeed Sadia 
Published: June 2021

Purpose of the study: The purpose of the current study is to investigate the acquisition of Wh-questions of English by Urdu L1 speakers in Pakistan. Acquisition of different syntactic structures has been an attractive area of interest for the scholars working in the area of second language acquisition. The study draws on approaches of Universal Grammar (UG) and Second Language Acquisition (SLA). The researchers aim at finding out whether the second language is acquired in the same way as the first language or not. Both Urdu and English allow Wh-questions formation but the placement of the Wh-word is completely at a different position. Urdu is an in-situ language that does not allow Movement of the Wh-word, and English allows the Movement of the Wh-word. So, this study highlights whether speakers of Urdu can acquire the structures of Wh-questions or not.
Methodology: The study uses a mixed-method research design, and the data was collected from the speakers of Urdu who speak it as their native language in order to draw the findings. The current research employs a questionnaire that is divided into two parts: elicitation task and grammatical judgement task. For the elicitation task, the students were provided with the statements with the underlined words of which they had to form Wh-questions and for the second, a task was designed on the basis of the lickert scale and it was designed to judge the grammar of the students. The population of this study is limited to speakers of Urdu who speak English as their second language and the sample was selected from the vicinity of Sargodha city of Pakistan.
Main Findings: The results of this mixed-method study reveal that students face problems while forming and identifying Wh-questions, despite compulsory education in English. The findings of the current study supported the partial access hypothesis.
Applications of this study: The study is very important in the area of second language acquisition and informs how the speakers of the English language as a second language acquire the Wh-question structure. The study can be applied in designing teaching materials for the learners of English as a second language besides informing the language software modulation in order to ease the language learning process.
Simultaneous Clavicle Fracture and Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation: Novel Surgical Technique
Authors: López Palacios Cristina , Sanchez-Munoz Enrique , Pipa Muñiz Iván , Rodríguez García Nicolas , Maestro Fernández Antonio 
Published: June 2021

Case:
A 41-year-old man sustained a midshaft clavicle fracture with associated type IV ipsilateral acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation. The clavicle was fixed with a locking plate and ACJ stabilized with a novel technique: 2 metal anchors with preloaded suture fixed at the coracoid process, looping the sutures over the clavicle, and passing through the plate holes without clavicle bone drilling. Excellent functional outcomes for range of motion, pain, and functional scores persisted 2 and a half years after surgery.

Conclusion:
The described surgical technique achieved exceptional short-term outcomes, sparing clavicle bone stock and allowing an early return to sports.
Water Quality Assessment of Tigris River Using Overall Index of Pollution (OIP)
Authors: Al-Sudani Ibrahem Mahdi 
Published: June 2021

This study was performed on the Tigris River (Baghdad city section) during the period between December 2016 and December 2018 to assess seasonal variation in water quality using the Overall Index of Pollution (OIP). The OIP is one of the reliable tools for the assessment of surface water quality. To calculate OIP-values, eight parameters were measured ( pH, Dissolved Oxygen "DO", Biological Oxygen Demand "BOD", Total Dissolved Solid "TDS", Total Hardness "TH", calcium "Ca", Sulphate "SO4" and Alkalinity). The results showed the anthropogenic activities impact of Baghdad population that directly discharge of "inadequate treated" waste water to the river. OIP values were acceptable (1˃OIP˃ 1.7) in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2018. However, in 2014 and 2017,the OIP recorded values that were acceptable and tend to be slightly polluted (1.7˃OIP˃2.5). The impairment of water quality during 2014 and 2017 might be caused by the decrease in the water share feeding Tigris River from Turkey due to the construction of many dams. Also, markedly reduced rain precipitation rates were recorded in these periods. The study suggests conducting continuous monitoring programs and establishing a reliable Iraqi classification system for water quality by a specialized scientific panel.
OCT-Angiographic Findings in Intermediate Uveitis-related Refractory Macular Edema
Authors: Ghavidel Leila Alizadeh , Mousavi Farideh , hashemi Hesam Sadat , Bagheri Masood 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Objective : To assess the microvascular structure of macula in uveitic refractory macular edemaMethod:In a cross-sectional observational study fifty-five patients in all were assessed for macular microvascular structure using Optuve OCT angiography: 30 patients with intermediate uveitis-related refractory macular edema (RME group), and 25 patients with intermediate uveitis without macular edema (control group).Results:Superficial layer density in RME and control group were significantly different in whole image and parafovea (P=0.027 , P= 0.001), however there was no significant differences between the two groups in fovea superficial density (P=0.711).There was no significant difference in deep layer density between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusion:The density of superficial vessels is lower in refractory macular edema. Micro-cystic changes in inner retina and ischemia can be the cause of alteration in superficial layer density in refractory macular edema.
Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial to Investigate the Enhancement of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing Using Low-Magnitude High-Frequency Vibration Treatment
Authors: Ling Samuel Ka Kin , Hung Natalie Cheuk Lam , Cheung Wing-Hoi , Yung Patrick Shu-Hang 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Diabetes has a prevalence of 11.6% in China with diabetic foot ulcerations affecting over 30 million Chinese. 85% of these patients require amputation and 5-year mortality for diabetics is 70% when associated foot ulcers. Clinical trials have shown that standing on whole-body vibration platforms, specifically low-magnitude high-frequency vibration (LMHFV); promotes angiogenesis, enhances muscle bulk and accelerates epithelization. Investigation on diabetic rats with foot wounds found accelerated wound healing, increased perfusion and upregulation of factors such as VEGF, PECAM-1 and PCNA. Hypothesis: We postulate LMHFV will enhance diabetic foot ulcer healing.Methods: Prospective, single-centre, randomised control trial to treat 106 subjects with diabetic foot ulcers.Interventions: The intervention group will stand on LMHFV whole-body vibration platforms for 20min on alternate days for 20 weeks, together with conventional dressing by a trained wound-care nurse as in the control group.Main Outcome Measures: Ulcer size will be measured at multiple time points, the incidence of amputations/infections will be recorded, perfusion via ankle-brachial pressure index will be calculated and foot function via the foot and ankle outcome score will be analysed.Data analysis: Repeated measure of ANOVA to analyze time-point differences and student’s t-test for same time-point comparison.Discussion: This is the first clinical trial to investigate the effect of whole-body vibration on diabetic foot ulcers. It will show us if the results from animal studies will translate into clinically significant results. If positive effects are established, whole-body vibration can be a valuable treatment regime to tackle diabetic foot ulcers.Trial registration: NCT04275804 clinicaltrials.gov (19 Feb 2020)
Data-driven based logistic function and prediction-area plot for mineral prospectivity mapping: a case study from the eastern margin of Qinling orogenic belt, central China
Authors: Bai Hongyang , Cao Yuan , Zhang Heng , Wang Wenfeng , Jiang Chaojun , Yang Yongguo 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
he present work combines data-driven based logistic function with prediction-area plot for delineating target areas of orogenic gold deposits in eastern margin of Qinling metallogenic belt, central China. Firstly, the values of geological and geochemical information layer were transformed into a series of fuzzy numbers with a range of 0-1 through a data-driven based logistic function on the basis of mineralization theory of the orogenic gold deposits. Secondly, the prediction-area(P-A) plot was performed on the above evidence layers and their corresponding fuzzy overlay layers to pick out a proper prediction scheme for mineral prospectivity mapping(MPM) based on the known gold occurrences. What’s more, to further prove the advantages of this method, we also used a knowledge-driven approach for comparison purpose. Finally, with the concentration-area(C-A) fractal model, the fractal thresholds were determined and a mineral prospecting map was generated. The result, five of the six known gold deposits are located in high and moderate potential areas (accounts for 18.6 % of the study area), one in low potential area (accounts for 38.4 % of the study area) and none in weak potential area (accounts for 43 % of the study area), confirmed the joint application of data-driven based logistic function and prediction-area plot a simple, effective and low-cost method for mineral prospectivity mapping, which can be a guidance for further work in the research area.
Flood Hazards and Livelihood Vulnerability of Flood-Prone Farm Dependent Bait Households in Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Ahmad Dilshad , Afzal Muhammad 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Pakistan is one of the most climate change and natural disasters affected country of the world where livelihood and lives of inhabitants are often affected due to these disasters. In the scenario of various disasters and risks, flood disasters are the most recurrent hazards that causes Bait households livelihood more vulnerable. Hence this research work has focused to investigate livelihood vulnerability of flood-prone Bait households in southern Punjab of Pakistan. This study used multistage sampling technique for collection the cross sectional data of 398 flood disasters vulnerable Bait household’s respondents from three high risks flood-prone districts Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan. Face to face interview procedure and well developed pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection in this research work. This study applied vulnerability framework of LVI-IPCC and LVI in the direction of comparing the level of vulnerabilities in preferred three Bait district households. Empirical estimates of LVI major components and framework of IPCC vulnerability have indicated Bait households of Muzaffargarh more vulnerable owing to higher exposure and sensitivity and lower adaptive capacity rather than other districts. In contrast to other districts Muzaffargarh households have investigated more vulnerable to flood disasters more particularly in LVI sub-components such as health (0.460), water (0.360) and food (0.515) access. These research findings will helpful to policymakers to work out and put into practice effectual programs and strategies such as constructing more water reserves, developing overhead infrastructure, easy access of institutional loans and generating off-farm income sources. These local based feasible measures will helpful for native inhabitants to reducing frequency of floods in the direction of lessen vulnerability and increase resilience via recovering generally the livelihood of vulnerable Bait households in Punjab Pakistan and particularly the district Muzaffargarh.
Performance analysis of symmetrical and bidirectional 40 Gbps TWDM-PON employing m-QAM-OFDM modulation with multi-color LDs based VLC system
Authors: Kumari Meet , Sheetal Anu , Sharma Reecha 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
In this work, a full-duplex time and wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network (TWDM-PON) system is analysed. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with m-quadrature amplitude modulation (m-QAM) is employed to improve the performance of TWDM-PON for downstream and upstream transmission. Simultaneously, multi-color (390–750 nm) laser diodes (LDs) are employed for visible light communication (VLC) using various VLC links to encourage the information rate of fiber/VLC optical network. A TWDM-PON utilizing 16-, 32- and 64-QAM OFDM with ten LDs based VLC system has been analysed for full-duplex multi-color VLC signals of the system. The impact of the LDs input current and high transmission rate in the proposed PON/VLC link has been investigated for m-QAM OFDM modulation. The results show that the 40/40 Gbps 16-, 32- and 64-QAM signals over ten 8000 m VLC links and a 50 km fiber link are successfully transmitted at the modulation input current of 9 mA under bit error rate (BER) of 3.8×10− 3. Also, the proposed system employing 16-, 32- and 64-QAM signals over a 10 km fiber and ten 10 m VLC links provide the maximum transmission rate of 120, 100 and 80 Gbps respectively. Moreover, the measured error vector magnitudes (EVMs) and calculated BER values for 16-QAM downstream and upstream signals, are well below the required FEC limit than high-order modulation formats. Further, the numerical analysis of the proposed system reveals the superiority of the proposed fiber/VLC links.
Influence of Persulfate on Transformation of Phosphorus and Heavy Metals for Improving Sewage Sludge Dewaterability by Hydrothermal Treatment
Authors: Xiong Qiao , Xia Jing , Wu Xiang , Wu Xu , Hou Haobo , Lv Hang 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Activated persulfate oxidation has been proven to be an efficient advanced sludge treatment technique to improve sludge dewaterability. This study investigates the influence of persulfate on the transformation of phosphorus (P) and heavy metals (HMs) during the hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge. The hydrothermal temperature, time, and persulfate concentration are optimized by a Box-Behnken design to obtain the best sludge dewaterability, which is expressed by capillary suction time (CST). The highest CST reduction efficiency is 90.5% at the optimal hydrothermal temperature, time and concentration of persulfate, which are 145 °C, 2 h, and 150 mg/g DS, respectively. The distribution and transformation of P and HMs with different persulfate concentrations (100-200 mg/g DS) during the hydrothermal process are investigated. Results show that more than 90% of the P and HMs in the sludge are retained in sludge cakes after the hydrothermal treatment. The addition of SPS can make the P in the sludge cakes transform into more stable P species according to the extraction capacity of sequential extracts. It can be found from the ecological risk indexes of the HMs that the addition of SPS during the hydrothermal treatment of sludge can reduce the environmental risk of HMs. This study provides insights into the P and HM distribution and transformation during hydrothermal treatment with persulfate, providing a reference for sludge recovery strategies.
Oxidative Degradation/Mineralization of Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP) from Plastic Industrial Wastewater Using Ferrate (VI)/TiO2 under Ultraviolet Irradiation
Authors: Wang Ping , Ding Yi , Zhu Liting , Zhang Yunhao , Zhou Sijie , Xie Linbei , Li Ao 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
A novel ferrate (VI)/titanium dioxide/ultraviolet [Fe(VI)/TiO2/UV] system was successfully established for the photocatalytic oxidation of dimethyl phthalate (DMP). This system demonstrated a higher removel efficiency of DMP (95.2%) than the conventional TiO2/UV and Fe(VI) alone systems (51.8% and 23.5%, respectively), and produced obvious synergistic effects. Response surface methodology (RSM), based on a three level, three independent variables design, was conducted through Design Expert 8.0.6 program, and a second-order polynomial model (R2 = 0.998) was developed to quantitatively describe the photocatalysis of TiO2 combined with Fe(VI) oxidation under ultraviolet irradiation. The fresh TiO2 and photochemical reacted Fe(VI)/TiO2 were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and element dispersive spectrum (EDS), which indicated that Fe(VI) was imprinted into the TiO2, and the surface adsorbed Fe-O-(organic) materials inhibited DMP degradation. This photocatalytic oxidant showed high activity and stability after nine cycles without loss of its effectiveness (counting from the second cycle). The intermediates/products of DMP were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The proposed pathway for DMP degradation involved one electron transfer of hydroxyl radical and breaking of the ester bond and benzene ring. The mineralization efficiencies of DMP in actual industrial wastewater and simulated water were 87.1% and 95.2%, respectively, suggesting practical field applications. A ecotoxicity test (17.3% inhibition on bioluminescence) in treating actual industial wastewater containing DMP implied that the proposed Fe(VI)/TiO2/UV has a potential for industrial water treatment.
Structural, optical and electrical properties of Mn-doped ZnFe2O4 synthesized using sol-gel method
Authors: Cheema Harshpreet , Yadav Vedika , Maurya Ram Sundar , Yadav Varsha , Kumar Aditya , Sharma Nidhi , Alvi Parvej Ahmad , Kumar Upendra 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Samples with doping of Mn (0, 2, and 4%) in ZnFe2O4 were prepared by sol-gel chemical route at 80oC. X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectrum analysis were used to determine the preliminary phase of obtained samples. W-H and SSP plots were used to determine the crystallite size and micro-strain of samples. Using zeta potential and scanning electron microscope, the surface charge and morphology of the prepared samples were studied. The optical bandgap of sample suggested that it was semiconducting. The dielectric characteristics of samples were examined as a function of temperature at various frequencies (1 KHz, 10 KHz, 100 KHz, and 1 MHz) (60-600oC). Dielectric study revealed the presence of interfacial and orientational polarization, with dielectric constants and dissipation factors ranging from (0.7–460) to (0.3–0.8), remain thermally stability up to 300oC. In samples ZF-0, ZF-2, and ZF-4, the thermal dependence of DC conductivity demonstrates Arrhenius transport with one, two, and three regions of conduction, respectively. The sources of charge carrier in samples were Vo,e1 defects (Vo - 2FE2+ Fe3+') and (2M3+ Zn2+ - 2FE2+ Fe3+'). The current work could help identify possible applications in semiconductor devices, thermally stable capacitors, and as mixed ionic electronic conductors in solid oxide fuel cells.
Real-time holographic lensless micro-endoscopy
through flexible fibers via Fiber Bundle Distal Holography (FiDHo)
Authors: Badt Noam , Katz Ori 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Fiber-based micro-endoscopes are a critically important tool for minimally-invasive deep-tissue imaging. However, the state-of-the-art micro-endoscopes cannot perform three-dimensional imaging through dynamically-bent fibers without the use of bulky optical elements such as lenses and scanners at the distal end, increasing the footprint and tissue-damage. Great efforts have been invested in developing approaches that avoid distal bulky optical elements. However, the fundamental barrier of dynamic optical wavefront-distortions in propagation through flexible fibers, limits current approaches to nearly-static or non-flexible fibers. Here, we present an approach that allows holographic 3D bend-insensitive, coherence-gated, micro-endoscopic imaging, using commercially available multi-core fibers (MCFs). We achieve this by adding a miniature partially-reflecting mirror to the distal fiber-tip, allowing to perform low-coherence full-field phase-shifting holography. We demonstrate widefield diffraction-limited reflection imaging of amplitude and phase targets through dynamically bent fibers at video-rates. Our approach holds potential for label-free investigations of dynamic samples