bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparative evaluation of the efficacy of complete decongestive therapy in the treatment of unilateral breast cancer–related lymphedema with and without metabolic syndrome
Authors: Pirincci Cansu Sahbaz , Mete Oguzhan , Yasa Mustafa Ertugrul , Dalyan Meltem 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Aim
This study aimed to investigate the effect of the presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the limb volume and quality of life (QoL) of patients who underwent complex decongestive therapy (CDT) due to unilateral breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).

Methods
Forty female patients with unilateral BCRL, of whom 20 had MetS (MetS group) and 20 did not have MetS (control group), were included in the study. The participants received CDT 5 days a week for 3 weeks. The participants’ limb volume (percentage of excess volume (PEV) and percentage reduction of excess volume (PREV) was determined using a tape measure, and their QoL was assessed using the Lymphedema Quality of Life questionnaire (LYMQoL) before and after treatment.

Results
After the treatment, the PEV and PREV values and LYMQoL-symptoms scores of the patients improved (p < 0.05); however, the LYMQoL-function, appearance/body image, mood/emotions, and overall QoL scores did not change in the MetS group (p > 0.05). In the control group, the PEV and PREV values and the LYMQoL-appearance/body image, mood/emotions, and overall QoL scores improved (p < 0.05), but the LYMQoL-symptoms and LYMQoL-function scores did not change (p > 0.05). There was a greater increase in the post-treatment PEV and PREV values of the control group compared to the MetS group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion
The study yielded that CDT was an effective treatment in BCRL with and without MetS; however, the improvement was greater in BCRL cases without MetS than in those with MetS. Therefore, the presence of MetS should be taken into account in the treatment of lymphedema in patients who develop BCRL.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05426993. Registered 2022–06-16. https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?cond=NCT05426993
Quasilinear elliptic problem in anisotropic Orlicz–Sobolev space on unbounded domain
Authors: Wroński Karol 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
We study a quasilinear elliptic problem

$$-\text {div} (\nabla \Phi (\nabla u))+V(x)N'(u)=f(u)$$

-
div

(
∇
Φ

(
∇
u
)

)

+
V

(
x
)

N
′

(
u
)

=
f

(
u
)

with anisotropic convex function

$$\Phi $$

Φ

on the whole

$$\mathbb {R}^n$$

R

n

. To prove existence of a nontrivial weak solution we use the mountain pass theorem for a functional defined on anisotropic Orlicz–Sobolev space

$${{{\,\mathrm{\textbf{W}}\,}}^1}{{\,\mathrm{\textbf{L}}\,}}^{{\Phi }} (\mathbb {R}^n)$$

W

1

L

Φ

(

R

n

)

. As the domain is unbounded we need to use Lions type lemma formulated for Young functions. Our assumptions broaden the class of considered functions

$$\Phi $$

Φ

so our result generalizes earlier analogous results proved in isotropic setting.
Characterization of TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofiber From Biowaste and Its Influence on Molecular Behavior of Fluorescent Rhodamine B Dye in Aqueous Suspensions
Authors: Kaya Mehmet 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCellulose nanofiber (CNFs) obtained through TEMPO oxidation was structurally characterized using FT-IR (Fourier Transformed Infrared) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) spectroscopy. The molecular aggregation and spectroscopic properties of Rhodamine B (Rh-B) in CNFs suspension were investigated using molecular absorption and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. The interaction between CNFs particles in the aqueous suspension and the cationic dye compound was examined in comparison to its behavior in deionized water. This interaction led to significant changes in the spectral features of Rh-B, resulting in an increase in the presence of H-dimer and H-aggregate in CNFs suspension. The H-type aggregates of Rh-B in CNFs suspensions were defined by the observation of a blue-shifted absorption band compared to that of the monomer. Even at diluted dye concentrations, the formation of Rh-B’s H-aggregate was observed in CNFs suspension. The pronounced aggregation in suspensions originated from the strong interaction between negatively charged carboxylate ions and the dye. The aggregation behavior was discussed with deconvoluted absorption spectra. Fluorescence spectroscopy studies revealed a significant reduction in the fluorescence intensity of the dye in CNFs suspension due to H-aggregates. Furthermore, the presence of H-aggregates in the suspensions caused a decrease in the quantum yield of Rh-B compared to that in deionized water.
Efficient iterative procedures for approximating fixed points of contractive-type mappings with applications
Authors: Sharma Puneet , Ramos Higinio , Kanwar Vinay , Behl Ramandeep , Rajput Mithil 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper introduces and analyzes some new highly efficient iterative procedures for approximating fixed points of contractive-type mappings. The stability, data dependence, strong convergence, and performance of the proposed schemes are addressed. Numerical examples demonstrate that the newly introduced schemes produce approximations of great accuracy and comparable to other similar robust schemes appeared in the literature. Nevertheless, all the schemes developed here are more efficient than other robust schemes used for comparison.
Five novel Curvularia species (Pleosporaceae, Pleosporales) isolated from fairy circles in the Namib desert
Authors: van Vuuren Nicole , Yilmaz Neriman , Wingfield Michael J. , Visagie Cobus M. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe Namib Desert (Namibia) is home to fairy circles which are barren, circular to almost-circular patches of land surrounded by grasses. During a survey of the fungi associated with the most common grass species, Stipagrostis ciliata (Poaceae), and its rhizospheric soils associated with these fairy circles, Curvularia was commonly isolated (80 strains). Curvularia is a cosmopolitan fungal genus that occurs in diverse geographical locations and on a wide range of substrates, but particularly on foliar plants. Curvularia strains were identified based on multilocus sequence comparisons of their internal transcribed spacer rDNA region (ITS), and the partial gene regions of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1). The strains belonged to 13 species, including the discovery of five novel Curvularia species. The aim of this paper was to report on the identified species and to formally describe and name the new species as C. deserticola, C. gobabebensis, C. maraisii, C. namibensis, and C. stipagrostidicola.
Superconductivity in a New High-Entropy Alloy (NbTi)$$_{0.67}$$(MoHfV)$$_{0.33}$$
Authors: Nowak Wojciech , Rusin Bartosz , Babij Michał , Topolnicki Rafał , Ossowski Tomasz , Pikul Adam , Idczak Rafał 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe structural and superconducting properties of a new niobium- and titanium-rich high-entropy alloy (NbTi)$$_{\text {0.67}}$$

0.67

(MoHfV)$$_{\text {0.33}}$$

0.33

were determined. The alloy was synthesized by arc melting and its physical properties were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements. Experimental data revealed that the (NbTi)$$_{\text {0.67}}$$

0.67

(MoHfV)$$_{\text {0.33}}$$

0.33

crystalizes in body-centered cubic structure and exhibits type-II superconductivity below about 5 K. In addition, electronic structure calculations were performed using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method. Their results suggest that in case of HEAs, the influence of the local atomic configuration on their electronic structure in the energy region close to E$$_{\mathrm {\text {F}}}$$

F

is rather small or even negligible.
Brauer and Geršgorin Locations of Zeros of Perturbed Chebyshev Polynomials of the Second Kind by Dilation
Authors: da Rocha Zélia 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWe consider some perturbations of Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind obtained by modifying by dilation one of its recurrence coefficients at an arbitrary order. By applying Brauer and Geršgorin theorems to Jacobi matrices associated with such perturbed sequences we obtain some locations of their zeros.
Remote ischemic conditioning prevents ischemic cerebrovascular events in children with moyamoya disease: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Huang Shuang-Feng , Xu Jia-Li , Ren Chang-Hong , Sim Nathan , Han Cong , Han Yi-Qin , Zhao Wen-Bo , Ding Yu-Chuan , Ji Xun-Ming , Li Si-Jie 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Background
Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a significant cause of childhood stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) in children with MMD.

Methods
In a single-center pilot study, 46 MMD patients aged 4 to 14 years, with no history of reconstructive surgery, were randomly assigned to receive either RIC or sham RIC treatment twice daily for a year. The primary outcome measured was the cumulative incidence of major adverse cerebrovascular events (MACEs). Secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke, recurrent TIA, hemorrhagic stroke, revascularization rates, and clinical improvement assessed using the patient global impression of change (PGIC) scale during follow-up. RIC-related adverse events were also recorded, and cerebral hemodynamics were evaluated using transcranial Doppler.

Results
All 46 patients completed the final follow-up (23 each in the RIC and sham RIC groups). No severe adverse events associated with RIC were observed. Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated a significant reduction in MACEs frequency after RIC treatment [log-rank test (Mantel–Cox), P = 0.021]. At 3-year follow-up, two (4.35%) patients had an ischemic stroke, four (8.70%) experienced TIAs, and two (4.35%) underwent revascularization as the qualifying MACEs. The clinical improvement rate in the RIC group was higher than the sham RIC group on the PGIC scale (65.2% vs. 26.1%, P < 0.01). No statistical difference in cerebral hemodynamics post-treatment was observed.

Conclusions
RIC is a safe and effective adjunct therapy for asymptomatic children with MMD. This was largely due to the reduced incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular events.

Graphical abstract
Enhancing optical modulator and link performance through modulation instability: design, simulation and implementation
Authors: shirpay Ali , Zarezadeh Esmail 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn future optical communication applications, broadband tools and technologies are essential for increasing transfer and processing speeds. Conventional microwave tools are too slow and inflexible to meet these demands. Photonic microwave technology offers that most current solution to this issue, utilizing modulation tools to convert microwave signals to the optical domain. However, these modulation tools face significant challenges, including low bandwidth and high voltage requirements. Although various methods have been proposed in recent decades to address these issues, most increase structural complexity and cost without significantly improving modulator performance and bandwidth. In this article, by using a modulation instability in optical fibers, without manipulating and complicating the structure of the modulator and only by using common modulators, their bandwidth was multiplied and the required voltage was significantly reduced. Finally, a special fiber channel was designed, which showed a much better performance.
Sustainable Living: Young Adults Prolonging the Material Life Cycle of Objects Through the Appreciation of Used Furniture, Interiors, and Building Design
Authors: Varpa Jani , Autio Minna , Autio Jaakko 
Published: July 2024

AbstractYoung adults acquire furniture from retail stores, second-hand shops, flea markets, and online marketplaces; they also inherit items from family members. While scholars have focused on consumers who acquire second-hand objects and appreciate inherited furniture, limited attention has been paid to the meanings of second-hand and inherited objects as elements of sustainable home interior decoration. Based on qualitative data, we analyze how young adults living in three northern European cities value used interior-decoration objects and how this enhances sustainable ways of using goods. Our study shows that young people appreciate architectural structures and interior-design aesthetics as well as inherited and recycled items in their homemaking. The building and home-decor style of the era shape the way consumers acquire used interior-design materials and objects. Moreover, young adults engage with inherited and purchased second-hand furniture by incorporating narratives about social ties during their acquisition. The durability of materials is valued in both inherited and second-hand furniture. Thus, young adults prolong the life spans of home-decor items, and they contribute to a sustainable, low-speed circular economy linked to homemaking.
A nonlinear optimal control approach for 3-DOF four-cable driven parallel robots
Authors: Rigatos G. , Abbaszadeh M. , Pomares J. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this article, a nonlinear optimal control approach is proposed for the dynamic model of 3-DOF four-cable driven parallel robots (CDPR). To solve the associated nonlinear optimal control problem, the dynamic model of the 3-DOF cable-driven parallel robot undergoes approximate linearization around a temporary operating point that is recomputed at each time-step of the control method. The linearization relies on Taylor series expansion and on the associated Jacobian matrices. For the linearized state-space model of the 3-DOF cable-driven parallel robot a stabilizing optimal (H-infinity) feedback controller is designed. To compute the controller’s feedback gains an algebraic Riccati equation is repetitively solved at each iteration of the control algorithm. The stability properties of the control method are proven through Lyapunov analysis. The proposed nonlinear optimal control approach achieves fast and accurate tracking of reference setpoints under moderate variations of the control inputs and a minimum dispersion of energy.
Adsorption of Red 141 and methylene blue by cuttlebone: experimental and molecular dynamics study
Authors: Aarfane Abdellatif , Bensemlali Meryem , Byadi Said , Hatimi Badreddine , Baraket Abdoullatif , El Alami El Hassani Nadia , Bakasse Mina , Nasrellah Hamid 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe current study explores the removal of two organic dyes: Reactive Red 141, an anionic dye, and Methylene Blue, a cationic one, via adsorption onto a novel animal-derived biomaterial known as Cuttlebone (Sepia Officinalis). Before conducting experiments, an analysis of the biomaterial was performed. Subsequently, a sequence of experiments was undertaken to investigate the impact of different parameters on adsorption capacity. These parameters included mass of the adsorbent, pH level, duration of contact, and initial concentration of the dye. Findings indicate that Cuttlebone exhibits a more pronounced adsorption affinity for the anionic dye Reactive Red 141 compared to the cationic dye Methylene Blue (MB). The examination of adsorption isotherms for the respective adsorbent/adsorbate systems reveals that the adsorption behavior differs. Specifically, the adsorption of Red 141 on Cuttlebone conforms to the Langmuir model, while the uptake of MB on Cuttlebone shows a superior agreement with the Freundlich model. A peak adsorption capacity of 129.87 mg/g was noted for Red 141, while for MB, it was observed to be 23.86 mg/g. To elucidate the mechanism, the adsorptive characteristics of Red 141 and MB were validated using various methods, including Monte Carlo simulation (MC) and Molecular Dynamics simulation (MD). The results of MC and MD modeling demonstrate that Red 141 is significantly adsorbed onto calcium carbonate via the chemisorption phenomenon.
Graphical abstract
Activation of the osteoblastic HIF-1α pathway partially alleviates the symptoms of STZ-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus via RegIIIγ
Authors: Qiu Minglong , Chang Leilei , Tang Guoqing , Ye Wenkai , Xu Yiming , Tulufu Nijiati , Dan Zhou , Qi Jin , Deng Lianfu , Li Changwei 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) pathway coordinates skeletal bone homeostasis and endocrine functions. Activation of the HIF-1α pathway increases glucose uptake by osteoblasts, which reduces blood glucose levels. However, it is unclear whether activating the HIF-1α pathway in osteoblasts can help normalize glucose metabolism under diabetic conditions through its endocrine function. In addition to increasing bone mass and reducing blood glucose levels, activating the HIF-1α pathway by specifically knocking out Von Hippel‒Lindau (Vhl) in osteoblasts partially alleviated the symptoms of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), including increased glucose clearance in the diabetic state, protection of pancreatic β cell from STZ-induced apoptosis, promotion of pancreatic β cell proliferation, and stimulation of insulin secretion. Further screening of bone-derived factors revealed that islet regeneration-derived protein III gamma (RegIIIγ) is an osteoblast-derived hypoxia-sensing factor critical for protection against STZ-induced T1DM. In addition, we found that iminodiacetic acid deferoxamine (SF-DFO), a compound that mimics hypoxia and targets bone tissue, can alleviate symptoms of STZ-induced T1DM by activating the HIF-1α-RegIIIγ pathway in the skeleton. These data suggest that the osteoblastic HIF-1α-RegIIIγ pathway is a potential target for treating T1DM.
New device for assessment of endothelial function: plethysmographic flow-mediated vasodilation (pFMD)
Authors: Kishimoto Shinji , Hashimoto Yu , Maruhashi Tatsuya , Kajikawa Masato , Mizobuchi Aya , Harada Takahiro , Yamaji Takayuki , Nakano Yukiko , Goto Chikara , Yusoff Farina Mohamad , Iwanaga Yoshitaka , Kanaoka Koshiro , Yada Tomohiko , Itarashiki Tomomasa , Higashi Yukihito 
Published: July 2024

AbstractMeasurement of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in the brachial artery by using ultrasound is a well-established technique for evaluating endothelial function. To make the measurement quicker and simpler than the measurements of conventional ultrasound FMD (uFMD), we have developed a new noninvasive method, plethysmographic FMD (pFMD), to assess vascular response to reactive hyperemia in the brachial artery. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of measurement of pFMD in comparison to that of measurement of conventional uFMD. This study was a multi-center, cross-sectional study. We compared pFMD by a new device using cuff pressure and volume with conventional uFMD using ultrasound in 50 men (mean age, 41 ± 9 years). pFMD significantly correlated with conventional uFMD (β = 0.59, P < 0.001). In Bland–Altman plot analysis of pFMD and conventional uFMD, the mean difference of pFMD and conventional uFMD was 0.78%, and limits of agreement (mean difference ±2 standard deviations of the difference) ranged from −4.53% to 6.11%. We demonstrated validity of the new method for measurement of pFMD, which can automate the evaluation of endothelial function in a short time. Measurement of pFMD is simpler than measurement of conventional uFMD and may have reduced artificial bias compared to that of conventional uFMD measurement (URL for Clinical Trial: https://ethics.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/site/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/eki_giji20221213.pdf. Registration Number for Clinical Trial: E2022-0131).
A DNA robotic switch with regulated autonomous display of cytotoxic ligand nanopatterns
Authors: Wang Yang , Baars Igor , Berzina Ieva , Rocamonde-Lago Iris , Shen Boxuan , Yang Yunshi , Lolaico Marco , Waldvogel Janine , Smyrlaki Ioanna , Zhu Keying , Harris Robert A. , Högberg Björn 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe clustering of death receptors (DRs) at the membrane leads to apoptosis. With the goal of treating tumours, multivalent molecular tools that initiate this mechanism have been developed. However, DRs are also ubiquitously expressed in healthy tissue. Here we present a stimuli-responsive robotic switch nanodevice that can autonomously and selectively turn on the display of cytotoxic ligand patterns in tumour microenvironments. We demonstrate a switchable DNA origami that normally hides six ligands but displays them as a hexagonal pattern 10 nm in diameter once under higher acidity. This can effectively cluster DRs and trigger apoptosis of human breast cancer cells at pH 6.5 while remaining inert at pH 7.4. When administered to mice bearing human breast cancer xenografts, this nanodevice decreased tumour growth by up to 70%. The data demonstrate the feasibility and opportunities for developing ligand pattern switches as a path for targeted treatment.
Analytical solutions for cavity contraction in strain-softening materials with linear or exponential strength decay
Authors: Anthi Maria , Pferdekämper Thomas , Anagnostou Georgios 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper presents an analytical investigation into the contraction of spherical and cylindrical cavities excavated in strain-softening rock masses obeying the Mohr–Coulomb or Tresca yield criterion, with linear or exponential uniaxial compressive strength decay. The derivation of the ground response curves is based on the simplifying assumption that the strains inside the plastic zone are completely plastic. This significantly simplifies the mathematical formulation, enabling the derivation of closed-form solutions. An alternative simplifying approach which partially neglects the elastic strains inside the plastic zone and which is commonly adopted in the literature, is also examined. The accuracy of the simplified solutions is evaluated by comparing their predictions with rigorous solutions obtained by numerical finite-difference analyses. The investigation demonstrates that the proposed closed-form solutions represent a significant improvement on those based on the commonly-made simplifying assumption involving partial neglect of elastic strains.
Revealing the antipolar order in the antiferroelectric SmZA phase by means of circular alignment
Authors: Nacke Pierre , Tuffin Rachel , Klasen-Memmer Melanie , Rudquist Per , Giesselmann Frank 
Published: July 2024

AbstractMany ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals, like one of the archetype materials, DIO, do not have a direct paraelectric N to ferroelectric NF phase transition, but exhibit yet another phase between N and NF. This phase has recently been proposed to be antiferroelectric, with a layered structure of alternating polarization normal to the average director and is sometimes referred to as Smectic ZA (SmZA). We have examined the SmZA phase in circularly rubbed (CR) cells, known to discriminate between the polar NF and the non-polar N phase from the configuration of disclination lines formed. We find that the ground state of SmZA has the same disclination configuration as the non-polar N phase, demonstrating that the SmZA phase is also non-polar, i.e., it has no net ferroelectric polarization. At the same time, the SmZA texture generally has a grainy appearance, which we suggest is partly a result of the frustration related to layered order combined with the imposed twist in CR cells. We discuss possible orientations of the smectic layers, depending on the alignment conditions. While a horizontal SmZA layer structure is always compatible with surface-induced twist, a vertical layer structure would tend to break up in a twisted bookshelf structure to match non-parallel alignment directions at the two surfaces.