bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the increase of the flutter boundary and energy harvesting of subsonic aeroelastic systems using the concept of piezoaeroviscoelasticity.
Authors: de Lima Antonio Marcos G. , Delgado-Filho Marcelo , Silva Alice da , Bouhaddi Noureddine 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

This paper shows the possibility of increasing the energy harvesting and subsonic flutter boundary of aeroelastic systems using viscoelastic materials and shunted piezoceramics, simultaneously. For this purposes, it is used here a two degrees of freedom typical section subjected to an unsteady airflow containing discrete viscoelastic mounts and attached to a resistive piezo-shunted circuit. In the modeling of the piezoaeroviscoelastic problem, the complex modulus approach combined with the concept of shift factor and reduced frequency has been used to represent the frequency- and temperature-dependent behavior of the viscoelastic substructure. To model the unsteady aerodynamic loadings acting on the system, it was assumed the well-known linearized thin airfoil theory. Numerical simulations were performed for some design parameters and subsonic flight conditions to demonstrate the main features of the proposed method and the possibility of increasing the dynamic stability and power generation of the piezoaeroviscoelastic system. In addition, a parametric study has been performed to evaluate the degree of influence of operating temperature and load resistance on the stability and energy harvesting.
Dynamics of small RNAs in a red-fruited wine grape cultivar infected with Grapevine red blotch virus
Authors: Ault Noah , Ren Shuchao , Payne David , Li Yongfang , Sriniva Asha , Zheng Yun , Sunkar Ramanjulu , Naidu Rayapati 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Red blotch disease, caused by Grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV, genus Grablovirus, family Geminiviridae), negatively impacts vine health, fruit yield, and quality, leading to substantial economic losses to growers. While recent studies have enhanced our understanding of the epidemiology of GRBV and its effects, little is known about the molecular basis of the host-virus interactions. Since small RNAs (sRNAs) are known to play a central role in host-virus interactions, this study was undertaken to investigate sRNA dynamics in leaves and berries at two phenological stages (asymptomatic pre- and symptomatic post-veraison) of GRBV-infected grapevines (Vitis vinifera cv. Merlot).
Results
Among the 140 microRNAs (miRNAs) detected, 41 isoforms belonging to 18 miRNA families exhibited significant differential expression in response to GRBV infection. Furthermore, 50 miRNAs showed differential expression in samples from pre- and post-veraison stages. A total of 58 conserved and 41 novel targets for known V. vinifera miRNAs were validated using degradome sequencing data from leaf samples of pre- and post-veraison stages. Viroid-derived small-interfering RNAs (vdsiRNAs) specific to Grapevine yellow-speckle viroid-1 and Hop stunt viroid were also identified in all samples, while virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) specific to GRBV were present only in GRBV-positive samples. The vsiRNAs predominantly ranged from 19 to 24 nucleotides (nt), with the 21nt size being the most abundant. Mapping vsiRNAs across the GRBV genome revealed an uneven distribution, with vsiRNA-generating hotspots predominantly located in the V3 ORF. Of the 83 most abundant vsiRNAs, targets within the grapevine transcriptome were identified for eight of them. Significantly higher levels of HSVd RNAs were observed in GRBV-positive samples compared to GRBV-negative samples, suggesting a potential synergistic interaction between the two pathogens.
Conclusions
The predominance of 21-nt long vsiRNAs, as well as the predominance of those mapping to the V3 ORF compared to other ORFs, provide insight into both the biogenesis and methods of action of GRBV vsiRNAs. Target validations of vsiRNAs and differentially expressed miRNAs are indicative of pathways and mechanisms which may lead to the expression of Grapevine red blotch disease symptoms. This research serves as a foundation for future studies on the molecular interactions in this plant-geminivirus pathosystem.
Comparative Study of Stigma and Discrimination in Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated COVID-19 Survivors in Bangladesh
Authors: Rashid Tamanna , Arefin Shamsul , Bhattacharjee Mowsume , Islam Md. Ashraful 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Historically, pandemics have often resulted in stigma and discrimination against people affected. Despite some studies outlining the stigmatized experiences of COVID-19 survivors in Bangladesh, there is a notable lack of comparative research into the lived experiences of survivors across different pandemic phases. This study is intended to fill this gap by thoroughly investigating the stigmatized experiences of both vaccinated and non-vaccinated COVID-19 survivors in Bangladesh. Using a qualitative comparative case study approach, we interviewed 22 COVID-19 survivors (13 non-vaccinated and 9 vaccinated) in Bangladesh during two pandemic periods (July 26–August 12, 2020, and October 10, 2022–April 10, 2023). Recruitment was made by adopting a convenient sampling technique through social media platforms and personal networks. Due to the pandemic, interviews were conducted primarily via telephone and online, such as Zoom. All interviews were then thoroughly transcribed and subjected to an in-depth thematic analysis. The findings highlight crucial factors that contribute to stigma and discrimination against COVID-19 survivors, including fear of death, infection, disease control measures (such as lockdown, public announcements, and placing red flags on victims' houses), and personal experiences with COVID-19 testing. Notably, non-vaccinated participants reported a variety of experiences associated with COVID-19 stigma and discrimination that differed from those of their vaccinated peers. The study also found that social support and normalized perceptions of COVID-19 played important roles in reducing stigma and discrimination against survivors. As a result, this study is significant for healthcare workers and policymakers in Bangladesh in developing effective pandemic management and control strategies.
Multi-Physics Analysis of Electromagnetic, Vibration, and Temperature Fields for Short-Circuit Faults in GHSPMG
Authors: Qiu Hongbo , Zhang Huaiyuan , li zexing , Yang Cunxiang 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

The Gramme-Ring -winding high-speed permanent magnet generators (GHSPMG) are the most attractive candidates for use as the emergency power supply due to its inherent high efficiency and high power density. Studying the inter-turn short circuit (ITSC)multi-physics characteristics of GHSPMG is of great significance to improving fault tolerance and the reliability of emergency power supply. The existing literature only studies the ITSC fault of stacked winding motor, ignoring the ITSC fault characteristics of the GHSPMG. This paper proposes an analytical-finite element coupling method suitable for GHSPMG motors, and studies the electromagnetic, temperature, and vibration multi-physical fields after GHSPMG failure. Firstly, based on the special structure of the GHSPMG, an electromagnetic model considering the ITSC fault is established, and the impact of the ITSC fault on the air gap magnetic field distribution characteristics is analyzed. Secondly, based on Maxwell tensor method, the influence of post-fault short-circuit circulating current on electromagnetic vibration characteristics is studied. Then, a fluid-structure coupling model is established to compare the internal temperature characteristics between healthy and faulty states. The results show that the fault impact range of the GHSPMG is quite different from that of the stacked winding motor, and when an ITSC fault occurs in the winding, the loop current only affects the multi-physics characteristics of a single fault slot of GHSPMG instead of two slots of stacked winding motor. Finally, an experimental platform is built to verify the effectiveness of the theoretical analysis.
Enhancing synthesis wastewater treatment efficiency and anaerobic sludge characteristics through integration of electrocoagulation process with up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor
Authors: Derakhshesh Saeed , Sharghi Elham Abdollhzadeh , Bonakdarpour Babak 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

The present study investigated effects of coupling electrocoagulation (EC) process with an anaerobic digestion bioreactor, namely up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), for the synthetic wastewater treatment. The EC-UASB mode of operation consisted of one anode and two cathodes subjected to an intermittent electrical current (10 minutes ON/30 minutes OFF) with current density of 1.5 mA/cm2. In light of this integration, the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solids and mixed liquor volatile suspended solids within anaerobic granular sludge (AGS) increased by 20 ± 1.4% and 12.8 ± 0.8%, respectively. The results of sludge volume index, loosely and tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances and their constituents (protein and carbohydrate) revealed that through this integration the quality of AGS has been improved. Furthermore, results of scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed alteration in the morphology and functional groups of AGS, respectively. Additionally, this combination has demonstrated promising results in terms of performance improvement by increasing the removal efficiency of total dissolved solids by 12.1 ± 0.3% and reducing the ionic pollution in treated wastewater. However, economic analysis indicated that the optimization of operating conditions is a prerequisite of a viable economic process.
Addressing gaps in healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices to establish a sustainable model for integrated HIV- hypertension care in Uganda
Authors: Kiggundu John Baptist , Semitala Fred C. , Ayebare Florence , Kiwala Christine , Senfuma Joel , Mutungi Gerald , Ssinabulya Isaac , Spiegelman Donna , Kayima James , Muddu Martin , Schwartz Jeremy I. , Katahoire Anne R. , Longenecker Chris T. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Despite the available guidelines to integrate HIV and hypertension (HTN) care in Uganda, access to quality HTN care is still limited to a few tertiary HIV clinics. We explored the current state of HTN care in HIV settings, understand healthcare providers’ (HCP) knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding HTN care, as well as the perceptions of HCPs, healthcare managers and policymakers about integrated HIV-HTN care. The goal was to use this formative research to inform the design of a sustainable, robust model for integrating HIV-HTN care in primary health care (PHC) HIV clinics in urban and peri-urban areas of Uganda
Methods
We conducted a parallel convergent mixed methods study at ten HIV clinics in Kampala and Wakiso districts. We consecutively surveyed 89 HCPs involved in the provision of routine HIV care to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HTN care. We purposively selected 40 HCPs and 6 healthcare managers to participate in semi-structured key informant interviews (KII). Interviews were audio recorded and later transcribed. Through an iterative process, the data was deductively coded and the final codes were mapped onto the domains of the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Quantitative data was analysed in Stata 14. Categorical data were summarized using proportions and frequencies, while median and interquartile ranges were used for continuous data. The data was stratified by district.
Results
Between June 2021 and November 2021, 89 HCPs (45-Kampala, 44-Wakiso) median age of 35 (IQR, 29–45) years, and 62% of them were female participated in the survey. HCPs reported no in-service training on HTN, had insufficient knowledge on HTN, limited access to simplified protocols for the treatment of HTN, and reported varying levels of HIV-HTN integration across the ten clinics. HCPs reported a lack of sufficient numbers of functional blood pressure (BP) devices, anti-hypertensive medicines, lack of reporting tools and feedback regarding HTN care metrics as the major hindrances to provision of integrated HIV-HTN care. Despite these hindrances, HCP expressed willingness to integrate HIV-HTN care to reduce client waiting time, costs, and HCP workload.
Conclusions
This formative assessment identified gaps in current HTN care in HIV clinics in urban and peri-urban Uganda. This provided a context to inform the design of a sustainable, robust and sustainable model for integrating HTN and HIV-HTN care in PHC HIV clinics in urban and peri-urban areas of Uganda.
Enhancing DeFi Consensus: Scaling Ethereum for Performance
Authors: Kumari Kimmi , M Mrunalini 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Decentralised finance (DeFi) has quickly gained pace in the Ethereum ecosystem, revolutionising traditional financial services thanks to its decentralised, permissionless nature. However, as DeFi applications expand, Ethereum's scaling restrictions become more obvious, limiting its capacity to meet the growing need for high transaction throughput and low latency. In response to this critical dilemma, this study presents a thorough investigation of novel consensus methods designed expressly for the unique needs of DeFi applications. By investigating the design and testing of novel consensus algorithms, as well as the refining of current ones, the study significantly improve Ethereum's scalability while adhering to its fundamental ideals of decentralisation and security. This research aims to address the scalability bottlenecks of current DeFi platforms while also laying the groundwork for Ethereum to evolve into a robust, high-performance infrastructure capable of powering the next wave of decentralised finance innovation.
Impact of Asymptomatic Bacterial Genital Tract Infections on the Implantation Success in Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Authors: Elmongui Naglaa Galal , Hammouda Abdelfattah , Orief Yasser Ibrahim , Elsheredy Amel , Elmongui Ehab , Fekry Marwa 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Assisted reproduction techniques (ART), such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), have gained widespread use globally. Given the expenses associated with these procedures, physicians are continuously working to enhance pregnancy rates and increase the chances of successful outcomes for patients. However, genital infections pose a significant challenge in this field. Infections can disrupt the reproductive process and negatively impact the success of ART. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of bacterial genital tract infections on the implantation success in asymptomatic women undergoing ICSI through identifying the bacterial genital microorganisms at the time of the embryo transfer and investigating whether the presence of these genital microorganisms alters the outcome of ICSI.
Methods
A total of 220 infertile women aged from 23 to 38 years at the time of the embryo transfer during IVF- ICSI were enrolled in the study. They had no clinical symptoms suggestive of vaginitis or cervicitis. Both vaginal and endocervical swabs were collected from each participant. Standard bacteriological culture methods were employed to detect and identify potential genital pathogens. Real-time PCR was used to specifically detect and identify Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in the collected samples. Two weeks after the embryo transfer, a pregnancy test was conducted to identify the ICSI outcome.
Results
The infection rate was lower in the ICSI positive group (82.1%) compared to the ICSI negative group (90.7%), but this difference was not statistically significant. The Lactobacilli spp. was more prevalent in the ICSI positive group (43.3%) than the ICSI negative group (37.2%). The most prevalent pathogenic bacterial organisms were M. hominis, U. urealyticum, Klebsiella, Enterococci spp and E coli. Three organisms were associated with the least ICSI success rates (Enterococci spp. and/or M. hominis and/or U. urealyticum). Infection with Enterococci spp. and/or U. urealyticum was significantly associated with 2.79 times the likelihood of ICSI failure in non-infected participants, also combined infection with Enterococci spp. and/or M. hominis and/or U. urealyticum showed 2.6 times higher risk of ICSI failure.
Conclusion
The results demonstrated the association of definite bacterial pathogens with reduced levels of vaginal lactobacilli. The presence of E. faecalis and/or U. urealyticum and/or M. hominis in genital samples of infertile women was predictive for a negative outcome of ICSI.
Recurrent Orbital Apex Syndrome Presenting with Rapid Vision Loss and Ophthalmoplegia; a Case Report
Authors: Sisirkumar Jyothi Vettiyattusserril , John Manuel , Joseph Jithin Thekkelkuthiyathottil 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background.
Orbital Apex Syndrome (OAS) is a rare and potentially debilitating condition that causes sudden, painful vision loss. Despite its diverse causes, prompt diagnosis and early intervention are crucial for restoring vision and preventing long-term damage. This report presents a unique case of recurrent OAS, highlighting the importance of timely treatment and careful management.
Case presentation.
A 55-year-old woman presented with sudden, painful vision loss in her right eye, accompanied by ptosis and ophthalmoplegia, similar to a presentation she had experienced five years ago. Clinical examination revealed reduced visual acuity and painful restriction of right eye movements, while diagnostic tests showed a mildly bulky right optic nerve in the optic canal on MRI and prolonged P100 latency in the right eye on VEP. Based on these findings, an Orbital Apex Syndrome (OAS) diagnosis was made. She was treated with intravenous steroids and supportive care. Her vision was restored to normal, and her ptosis and painful eye movements were resolved. The patient was discharged with a tapering dose of oral steroids and remained symptom-free at follow-up.
Conclusion.
This case report highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment of Orbital Apex Syndrome (OAS), as timely intervention can significantly impact patient outcomes. The patient's presentation and response to treatment suggest that her OAS was likely caused by inflammatory factors, underscoring the need for swift and targeted management to prevent long-term vision loss and other complications.
Keying into Cognition: Temporal Smoothing of Smartphone Typing Behaviors for Passive Assessment of Processing Speed and Executive Function in Individuals with Mood Disorders
Authors: Ross Mindy K. , Tulabandhula Theja , Nguyen Theresa M. , Ning Emma , Kabir Sarah , Cladek Andrea T. , Barve Amruta , Kennelly Ellyn , Hussain Faraz , Duffecy Jennifer , Langenecker Scott A. , Zulueta John , Demos Alexander P. , Ajilore Olusola A. , Leow Alex D. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Introduction
: Cognitive deficits commonly affect everyday life for individuals with mood disorders, even between mood episodes. Monitoring of these symptoms can pose several challenges due to the limitations of current methods, prompting the need for enhanced modalities to unobtrusively and objectively measure cognitive function and its fluctuations in individuals. This study explored the feasibility of passively assessing processing speed and executive function, traditionally measured by the trail-making test part B (TMT-B), using smartphone keyboard typing behaviors and assessed how diurnal patterns may impact cognitive function.
Methods
Through a novel method of temporal smoothing of smartphone typing behaviors via graph-regularized singular value decomposition, we engineered features to capture typing regularity as a proxy for diurnal patterns and sleep. These features were added to machine learning models constructed to predict TMT-B performance and evaluated for improvement in model performance.
Results
Of the models tested, a random forest model built with the addition of typing regularity features performed the best with the lowest RMSE and MAE of 0.769 and 0.644, respectively. Our findings suggest that aspects of individuals’ cognitive function, specifically processing speed and executive function, can be estimated through their smartphone typing behaviors without the need for clinical or demographic input, and these estimates are improved with additional information capturing diurnal patterns and estimated sleep.
Conclusion
This objective approach, passively administered in-the-wild, has the potential to supplement current methods of cognitive assessment and provide a more detailed report of cognitive fluctuations and the influence of diurnal patterns on cognitive function in individuals with mood disorders.
Improvements in blood and fitness tracker biomarkers in a longitudinal real-world cohort of digital health platform users
Authors: Schneider Nimisha , Fabian Paul , Cawley Michelle , Nogal Bartek , Blander Gil , Deehan Renee 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Digital health technologies offer new opportunities for personalized health management and disease prevention. We examined the use of a digital health platform (DHP) in a retrospective, long-term longitudinal study of over 20,000 users. The DHP evaluates a user’s individual biological profile, consisting of blood biomarkers, polygenic risk scores (PGS), and fitness tracker data, and provides personalized lifestyle interventions based on knowledge about nutrition, supplement, exercise and recovery collected from over 7,000 clinical studies. Here, we show improvement in suboptimal levels of key blood biomarkers that are sustained or increased in the long-term with DHP use. We additionally show correlation of biomarker improvement with specific sleep and activity patterns in users. Lastly, we find significant correlations between polygenic risk and both baseline levels and longitudinal change in biomarkers, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), suggesting that genetic predisposition for a negative trait (e.g., elevated LDL-c) could make it more difficult to improve that trait. This longitudinal, integrated biomarker dataset highlights the potential of digital health tools in fostering improvements in health-related biomarkers through personalized data analytics and targeted behavioral interventions.
Neonatal Leukemia: A Case report of a rare disease with an atypical presentation
Authors: Gebrehana Alazar Wogayehu , Dereje Wondwosen Mengist , Kasawudeg Nestanet Gete , Abebe Bewketu , maru Gebremariam , Awoke Ephrem 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background Even though Leukemia is one of the commonest causes of childhood cancer its occurrence in the newborn period is very uncommon, specially when presenting with non-specific symptoms. Case Presentation A 10 days old female Ethiopian infant was referred from a tertiary hospital to the Neonatal intensive care unit of Gondar university comprehensive specialized hospital after they found a markedly elevated leukocyte count while working her up for early onset neonatal sepsis as she was experiencing persistent vomiting since the first day of delivery. Physical examination was only notable for palpable spleen 3cm below the left costal margin. Further evaluation with peripheral morphology and bone marrow aspiration revealed numerous blast cells and a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Conclusion Neonatal leukemia, a rare disease in newborns, may present with unusual symptoms. It should be considered among the differential diagnosis when accompanied by the presence of abnormalities in blood counts and other suggestive features.