bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and health‐related quality of life in youth with obesity
Authors: Goldfield Gary S. , Cameron Jameason D. , Sigal Ronald J. , Kenny Glen P. , Prud'homme Denis , Ngu Mathew , Alberga Angela S. , Doucette Steve , Goldfield Diana B. , Tulloch Heather , Thai Helen , Simas Kevin R. , Walsh Jeremy 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe brain derived‐neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism causes functional changes in BDNF, and is associated with obesity and some psychiatric disorders, but its relationship to health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unknown. This study examined, in youth with obesity, whether carriers of the BDNF Val66met polymorphism Met‐alleles (A/A or G/A) differed from noncarriers (G/G) on HRQoL. The participants were 187 adolescents with obesity. Ninety‐nine youth were carriers of the homozygous Val/Val (G/G) alleles, and 88 were carriers of the Val/Met (G/A) or Met/Met (A/A) alleles. Blood samples were drawn in the morning after an overnight fast for genotyping. HRQoL was measured using the Pediatric‐Quality of Life core version. Compared to carriers of the Val66Met Val (G/G) alleles, carriers of the Met‐Alleles reported significantly higher physical –HRQoL (p = 0.02), school‐related HRQoL, (p = 0.05), social‐related HRQoL (p = 0.05), and total HRQoL (p = 0.03), and a trend for Psychosocial‐HRQoL. Research is needed to confirm our findings and determine whether carriers of the BDNF Val66Met homozygous Val (G/G) alleles may be at risk of diminished HRQoL, information that can influence interventions in a high‐risk population of inactive youth with obesity.
Digital beamforming enhancement with LSTM-based deep learning for millimeter wave transmission
Authors: Naji Ali A. , Jamel Thamer M. , Khazaal Hassan F. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Digital beamforming (DBF) has emerged as a pivotal technology for large-scale antenna arrays, offering precise beam steering control. This study presents an innovative approach to enhance millimeter wave transmission by integrating DBF with long short-term memory (LSTM)-based deep learning. Departing from conventional analog beamforming, our proposed system leverages digital signal processing and LSTM networks to optimize beamforming parameters, particularly in the presence of imperfect Channel state information. The primary objective is to achieve heightened spectral efficiency and increased robustness to channel uncertainties. Implemented in MATLAB, our methodology demonstrates significant performance enhancement through simulation results. The findings highlight the potential of DBF with LSTM for future communication systems. Furthermore, the study incorporates LSTM network training on historical data and its integration within the DBF process, offering a comprehensive perspective. This provides a clearer overview of the research issue, key findings, and contributions, setting the stage for the subsequent detailed exploration in the study.
Randomized, double-blind clinical trial evaluating the impact of freeze-dried garlic extract capsules on blood pressure, lipid profile, and nitric oxide levels in individuals at risk for hypertension
Authors: Rahmatinia Elham , Amidi Bardia , Naderi Narges , Ahmadipour Saeedeh , Ahmadvand Hasan , Pahlevan-Fallahy Mohammad-Taha , Ghorbanzadeh Vajihe , Nazari Afshin 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Hypertension, substantially heightens the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of freeze-dried garlic extract in blood pressure and lipid profiles in prehypertensive individuals.

Methods
Participants (age of 30–70 years) were allocated to intervention (n=47) or control (n=49) groups. The intervention group received two capsules of freeze-dried garlic extract daily for eight weeks, while the control group received identical placebo capsules. Primary outcomes, SBP, DBP, PP, MAP, TC, TG, LDL and HDL levels, serum NO levels, were assessed at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks.

Results
At the end of study, results showed significant changes in the values of SBP, DBP, and MAP except for PP. In comparison to those who received the placebo, a significant drop in SBP, DBP (p<0.001), and MAP (p<0.001) was observed in the intervention group. Also, there were significant changes in TG, LDL, TC, and HDL levels in the interventional group. A noticeable decline was reported in TG (p<0.001), LDL (p<0.001), and TC (p<0.001), while HDL levels increased (p<0.001) in the intervention group compared to those receiving the placebo. Following garlic supplementation, a significant increase in blood NO levels was reported in the intervention group (p<0.001).

Conclusions
The study showed that garlic supplementation was effective in lowering blood pressure, improving lipid profile, and increasing nitric oxide levels in prehypertensive participants. These results indicate that garlic could be a valuable complementary therapy for managing prehypertension.
Constructing networks for comparison of collagen types
Authors: Wesp Valentin , Scholz Lukas , Ziermann-Canabarro Janine M. , Schuster Stefan , Stark Heiko 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Collagens are structural proteins that are predominantly found in the extracellular matrix of multicellular animals, where they are mainly responsible for the stability and structural integrity of various tissues. All collagens contain polypeptide strands (α-chains). There are several types of collagens, some of which differ significantly in form, function, and tissue specificity. Because of their importance in clinical research, they are grouped into subdivisions, the so-called collagen families, and their sequences are often analysed. However, problems arise with highly homologous sequence segments. To increase the accuracy of collagen classification and prediction of their functions, the structure of these collagens and their expression in different tissues could result in a better focus on sequence segments of interest. Here, we analyse collagen families with different levels of conservation. As a result, clusters with high interconnectivity can be found, such as the fibrillar collagens, the COL4 network-forming collagens, and the COL9 FACITs. Furthermore, a large cluster between network-forming, FACIT, and COL28a1 α-chains is formed with COL6a3 as a major hub node. The formation of clusters also signifies, why it is important to always analyse the α-chains and why structural changes can have a wide range of effects on the body.
Social Systems of Flexible Production: Organizational Conditions for the Resurgence of Craft
Authors: Nyfeler Judith 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Against the background of a growing interest in the resurgence of craft work, this article examines the organizational conditions that characterize craft-based production in contemporary society and how they help to facilitate craft resurgence. The paper identifies three organizational conditions of contemporary craft-based production, relating to the mass market, producing by means of flexible specialization, and using infrastructures. By applying a historical lens, I argue that these organizational conditions have formed into a particular way of organizing craft-based production which is attuned to local and temporal specificities. Therefore, this study builds on a complementary, symbiotic notion of craft which considers industrial manufacture, serial production and digital technologies to be constitutive of craft making. By offering an alternative conceptual framework to grasp the resurgence of craft, this article contributes to the understanding of organizational resilience.
An empirical Bayes approach for estimating skill models for professional darts players
Authors: Haugh Martin B. , Wang Chun 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
We perform an exploratory data analysis on a data-set for the top 16 professional darts players from the 2019 season. We use this data-set to fit player skill models which can then be used in dynamic zero-sum games (ZSGs) that model real-world matches between players. We propose an empirical Bayesian approach based on the Dirichlet-Multinomial (DM) model that overcomes limitations in the data. Specifically we introduce two DM-based skill models where the first model borrows strength from other darts players and the second model borrows strength from other regions of the dartboard. We find these DM-based models outperform simpler benchmark models with respect to Brier and Spherical scores, both of which are proper scoring rules. We also show in ZSGs settings that the difference between DM-based skill models and the simpler benchmark models is practically significant. Finally, we use our DM-based model to analyze specific situations that arose in real-world darts matches during the 2019 season.
The importance of rodents to a specialist carnivore in an industrialized site
Authors: Ravhuanzwo Fortune , Loock Daan J.E. , Swanepoel Lourens H. 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Specialist carnivores are often among the first species disappearing from transformed, human-dominated landscapes. However, some carnivore species can exploit abundant food sources in human-dominated landscapes. In this study, we investigated the diet of a specialist carnivore, the serval (Leptailurus serval), inhabiting artificial and natural landscapes surrounding a petrochemical plant in the Highveld of Mpumalanga, South Africa. From 2013 to 2018, for each year, we collected and analysed a total of 264 scat samples. We found that rodent species dominated the serval diet, while other prey items like birds, insects, and unidentified prey contributed little to the diet. In terms of biomass consumed, Otomys sp (56.94 %), Mastomys sp (19.12 %), and Rhabdomys sp (8.68 %) were the most important rodent prey. We further found that biomass consumed is only affected by species, not season or species–season interactions. Our results concur with previous studies that serval is primarily a rodent specialist and that specialisation holds even in human-altered landscapes.
Does Fiscal Decentralization Mitigate Domestic Terrorism?
Authors: Arzaghi Mohammad , Gaibulloev Khusrav 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Many countries have embarked on decentralization as a way to mitigate separation tendencies. Even though decentralization could satisfy some separation tendencies, the central government might be unable or unwilling to award the localities the level of decentralization they require to stay in the union. This mismatch may give rise to domestic violence and internal conflict. We propose a simple two-stage model that combines the decentralization and domestic terrorism literature in a single structural model, which can be readily tested using existing data in the disciplines. As long as the actual decentralization level meets the unobserved desired value by the localities, there will be a high likelihood of observing a zero incidence of domestic terrorism. Otherwise, the incidents happen regularly with mitigating effects from decentralization. Our model also accounts for the left-censoring of the terrorism data at zero. We examine our model using 5-year interval panel data of more than 60 countries based on the information for 1970–2019. Our results indicate a strong negative and statistically significant relationship between fiscal decentralization and domestic terrorism events. One percent increase in fiscal decentralization is associated with a two to three percent decline in domestic terrorism incidents. The coefficients of the selection model and domestic terrorism model generally conform to the literature.
Energía minihidráulica: una alternativa energética para electrificación rural
Authors: Agudelo-Flórez Sergio , Chamorro Luis Javier 
Published: July 2024

Entre las actividades del Grupo de Energía Alternativa (GEA) de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad de Antioquia, se pretende el desarrollo de prototipos que aprovechen las fuentes no convencionales para la producción de energía eléctrica y así satisfacer las necesidades insatisfechas de las viviendas rurales aisladas de la red energética nacional. En la región del Oriente antioqueño, se encontró un formidable recurso hidráuli­co de grandes ríos, quebradas y fuentes de agua cercanas a viviendas, que no tienen posibilidades de una red rural de energía en un futuro cercano o lejano, debido a su aislamiento y baja capacidad económica. Se desarrolló para esta región un pequeño picogenerador hidráulico con muy pequeñas dimensiones, bajo peso, diseño compacto e integrado, fácilmente fabricable en grandes volúmenes a bajo costo. En su operación carga una o más baterías estacionarias que proveen de electricidad a una residencia; se utiliza en iluminación, comunicaciones y algunos electrodomésticos. Por su capacidad de operación de veinticuatro horas por día, competiría en ventaja con los sistemas de paneles fotovoltaicos, tan utilizados en regiones aisladas. Ventajas de estas plantas:• Es propiedad del usuario.• Cero gastos en administración y operación.• Bajo impacto ambiental (eliminación de embalses).• Protección de microcuencas.• Funcionamiento automático.
Algunos procedimientos de mejoramiento de lodos en reactores tipo UASB en condiciones dinámicas de operación
Authors: Wills-B. Beatriz , Sierra Jorge , Molina Francisco , Agudelo Rubén , Saldarriaga Julio 
Published: July 2024

El presente artículo contiene los principales resultados obtenidos por la Universidad de Antioquia en la investigación "Optimización de la etapa de arranque de reactores anaerobios mediante el mejoramiento de semillas en condiciones dinámicas de operación" desarrollada conjuntamente por la Universidad del Valle, la Universidad de Antioquia, a través del Grupo de Ingeniería y Gestión Ambiental (GIGA) de la Facultad de Ingeniería, y el Instituto ORSTOM de Francia, con el auspicio de Colciencias.La semilla, objeto de mejoramiento, se tomó de la planta de lodos activados del municipio de El Retiro (Antioquia), previa concentración. Una vez ubicada en el laboratorio se sometió a un proceso de aclimatación en condiciones anaerobias, periodo al final del cual se obtuvieron remociones del 85% de DQO, con respecto a una carga de 800 mg/l de DQO.El presente artículo contiene los principales resultados obtenidos por la Universidad de Antioquia en la investigación "Optimización de la etapa de arranque de reactores anaerobios mediante el mejoramiento de semillas en condiciones dinámicas de operación" desarrollada conjuntamente por la Universidad del Valle, la Universidad de Antioquia, a través del Grupo de Ingeniería y Gestión Ambiental (GIGA) de la Facultad de Ingeniería, y el Instituto ORSTOM de Francia, con el auspicio de Colciencias.La semilla, objeto de mejoramiento, se tomó de la planta de lodos activados del municipio de El Retiro (Antioquia), previa concentración. Una vez ubicada en el laboratorio se sometió a un proceso de aclimatación en condiciones anaerobias, periodo al final del cual se obtuvieron remociones del 85% de DQO, con respecto a una carga de 800 mg/l de DQO. Al finalizar el experimento sólo el tratamiento con AGV presentó actividad metanogénica específica (AME), con sustrato fórmico, superior a la presentada por el lodo aclimatado. Exceptuando este hecho, en general se puede afirmar que tanto los tratamientos como el control presentan características similares.
Síntesis y caracterización de un nuevo material tipo fosfato de cobre
Authors: Sierra Germán , Echavarría Adriana , Palacio Luz Amparo , Saldarriaga Carlos 
Published: July 2024

Un nuevo fosfato de cobre, con fórmula CuPO4H.0,5H2O, fue sintetizado usando el método hidrotérmico a bajas temperaturas y caracterizado mediante difracción de rayos X de polvos, análisis termogravimétrico y análisis químico. El patrón de rayos X se indizó dando como resultado una celda monoclínica con grupo espacial P21/c y parámetros de celda: a= 10,6524(2), b = 8,4730(2), c = 9, 2204(2) A, β= 92,43(0) ͦy posee un volumen de 831,47 A3.El análisis termogravimétrico muestra pérdida de peso total del 25,5% entre 70 y 580 ͦC. Un estudio de estabilidad térmica mostró que el sólido no es estable por encima de los 200 ͦC y provoca cambios estructurales significativos.
Descripción de varios métodos y aplicaciones de la radiolocalización a servicios para usuarios móviles
Authors: Flórez-Serna Luis Alberto , Obando-Cadavid Sergio Román 
Published: July 2024

La tecnología inalámbrica ha abierto un nuevo mundo, dando a los usuarios móviles la libertad para tener conocimiento y comunicarse a voluntad con otros usuarios. Las nuevas plataformas de tecnología han evolucionado para unir a los usuarios en una gran comunidad móvil que comparte amistad, infor­mación e intereses comunes. Esta tendencia en la evolución esta ligada al aumento del uso móvil y son excelentes noticias para los operadores móviles quienes prevén hacer los servicios basados en la posición su prioridad. La tecnología geoespacial ha sumado una nueva dimensión a la experiencia móvil y el advenimiento de los servicios basados en la posición ha extendido estas libertades. Los sistemas basados en la posición serán la piedra angular de la Internet móvil, y el tiempo y el lugar serán valores añadidos a la infomtación pedida. Este documento contiene información necesaria para comprender el funcio­namiento de los nuevos servicios que se ven venir con las mejoras en implementación que se están haciendo en las redes celulares del mundo, ade­más posee una descripción de que son los servicios basados en la radiolocalización, un poco de historia, cómo funcionan, de qué se sirven para operar, sus principales características y una mirada hacia el futuro de qué nuevos servicios se pueden sumar a los ya existentes.
Oral health problems and treatment seeking behavior of children during COVID 19 pandemic as perceived by parents- A cross sectional study
Authors: Reshmi J , Ammal Padmakumari Bharathi 
Published: July 2024

This study was designed to investigate the impact of COVID 19 pandemic on the oral health status and oral health care use of children from the perspective of parents. The sociodemographic factors that determined the oral health care use and oral health status of children were also investigated. The decreased health seeking behavior trends of parents during the pandemic could have had its effects on the present oral health problems of children because most of the oral health problems are cumulative in nature. Designed as a hospital based cross sectional study, 187 parents of children between the age of 4 years and 13 years who reported to the out patient department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry were personally interviewed by the principal investigator using the prepared proforma and the data collected entered manually. The most common dental problems experienced by children was dental caries followed by tooth ache, swelling and irregularly or forwardly placed teeth. Majority of children who experienced dental problems during the pandemic did not seek treatment due to a variety of reasons. Those parents who didn’t did not seek treatment during the pandemic reported that their fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus from care centres and other public places, lack of adequate transportation facilities due to lock down, restricted services offered by health care facilities, reluctance to make children undergo COVID screening and financial problems due to job loss or reduced salary prevented them from doing so. The long term burden of neglected oral health on the social, financial and general well being of people especially children has been underestimated during the pandemic. Hence, better preparedness and intervention of the health care sector and policy makers in providing timely oral health care is warranted in the event of any untoward similar situations in future.
Correlation of dermatoglyphics, def index and caries activity test for caries risk assessment in children: A randomised clinical trial
Authors: Upadhyay Manisha , Sharma Jyoti , Agrawal Ankita , Sharma Bhagwat Swaroop , Yadav Shashi Prabha , MIshra Ankur 
Published: July 2024

Dental caries is defined as an infectious disease of microbial origin which is related to every specialty of dentistry in one or the other way. Genetic susceptibility to dental caries is dependent on certain factors, which if evaluated, can help in estimating disease prematurely.: The present study attempts to correlate the dermatoglyphic patterns, caries activity test and ‘def’ index in occurance of caries pattern in children in order to assess future caries risk.The‘def’ indices were recorded using diagnostic instruments, dermatoglyphic interpretation was done using stamp-pad method and S. mutans levels were estimated by caries activity test.: Data were summarised as Mean ± SE (standard error of the mean). Groups were compared by one factor analysis of variance (ANOVA).Pearson correlation analysis and simple linear regression analysis were done to assess correlation and strength of association between the variables respectively. A two-tailed (α=2) p value less than 0.05 (p&#60;0.05) was considered statistically significant. Analyses were performed on SPSS software (windows version 17.0). ResultThe outcome of the study showed a positive correlation between the dermatoglyphic patterns (whorl and loop), def index and total viable salivary Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) bacterial count. The whorls and loops were counted in numbers (no.), ‘def’ index was assessed in scores and S. mutans in CFU/ml.This study showed that dermatoglyphic pattern whorls increases with increase in ‘def’ index and S. mutans count whereas, loops decreases with increase in ‘def’ index and S. mutans count in saliva.
Forensic odontology: A dental detective’s perspective from central India
Authors: Chandrakar Mayank 
Published: July 2024

Forensic dentistry is application of dental knowledge in criminal and civil.A questionnaire study was conducted among 133 Policemen of Mahasamund to assess their knowledge of Forensic Dentistry. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 18.0. 83.50% knew that Forensic Science was useful in solving legal cases. 36.10% participants had knowledge that Forensic Odontology is useful for Age determination, D.N.A. analysis and Bite Marks. Police Personnel who had greater than 10 years’ experience had more knowledge of Forensic Dentistry. (P value &#60; 0.001). Police Personnel who had rank above Constables had more knowledge about Forensic Dentistry. (P value = 0.01).This study revealed that most of the Police Personnel had inadequate knowledge about Forensic Dentistry. A sound knowledge on Forensic Dentistry and their practical applications in crime scenes are essential for Police Personnel to provide timely justice to one and all.
“Let Us Study Ourselves and Our People”: Traditions of Studying the History and Essence of Russian Statehood
Authors: Aleshkovski Ivan 
Published: July 2024

The authors raise theoretical issues connected with the relationship between the concepts of “state” and “statehood” in social and humanitarian space as well as with understanding the features of the development of Russian statehood by Russian social science and social thought leaders. The authors note that the present-day discourse has expanded the concepts of “Russian statehood”, “civic identity” and “civic consciousness” as well as the traditions, constants and continuity of Russia&apos;s evolution. A brief review of the development of the concepts of the state in old Russian, Soviet and modern Russian historiography is given. The article reveals the specific features of Russian statehood such as polyethnicity, communality, unity, coexistence of authoritarian and democratic elements and institutions, tendencies towards strong leaders, the active role of the state in economic, cultural and public life, and the priority of the spiritual over the material. This article is timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Lomonosov Olympiad in the history of Russian statehood for high school students, which has been held at Lomonosov Moscow State University since 2012. Over a decade of its existence, the Olympiad in the history of Russian statehood has become a significant educational event, which introduces students to scientific and creative activities.