bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the impacts of climate change on the vulnerability of coastal aquifers to the seawater intrusion
Authors: Irani Maryam , Salimi Mahsa , Talouki Fatemeh Ghanbari , Roohi Mohammad 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

In most coastal areas, groundwater is affected by saltwater intrusion. Climate change effects, such as the sea-level rise and rainfall change are the climatic factors affecting the saltwater intrusion into groundwater. This study examines the vulnerability of the Abdan-Lamidan coastal aquifer to the intrusion of Persian Gulf saline waters under different hydrological conditions. First, the SIMCLIM model was used to calculate the regional sea-level rise of the Gulf under 24 future AOGCMs projections. The results showed that the increase in water level under the ensemble of AOGCM models and two RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios is 6.7 and 7.8 cm in 2050 compared to 2013. Then, the GALDIT vulnerability index was used to assess the vulnerability of the aquifer under the current condition and future scenarios. The results showed that parts of the aquifer that are currently at lower levels would be more vulnerable to sea-level rise in the future periods.
Low handgrip strength in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy affects gait and dexterity
Authors: Inoue Hirokazu , Sawamura Hideaki , Watanabe Hideaki , Okami Hitoshi , Shiraishi Yasuyuki , Kimura Atsushi , Takeshita Katsushi , Morita Mitsuya 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) includes neuropathies such as gait and hand dexterity caused by progressive compression of the spinal cord within the cervical canal. Handgrip strength is not just an indicator of muscle weakness, but is used for a variety of indicators, including length of hospital stay and prognosis. This study was aimed to evaluate whether handgrip strength affects frailty, gait status, and dexterity in patients with DCM.
Methods This cross-sectional observational study included 94 patients (29 females, 65 males; mean age 66.9 years) who underwent surgery for DCM. Preoperatively, handgrip strength, lower leg extension power (LEP), pinch strength, 10-m walk test, counter test, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), and the 5-item modified frailty index (mFI-5) were measured (mFI-5: 0 points = healthy group, 1 point = prefrail group, ≥2 points = frail group).
Results Handgrip strength was significantly correlated with age (r=−0.468, p<0.001), height (r=0.601, p<0.001), weight (r=0.459, p<0.001), LEP (r=0.675, p<0.001), walking speed (r=0.617, p<0.001), counter test (r=0.659, p<0.001), pinch strength (r=0.723, p<0.001), total JOA score (r=0.468, p=0.001), upper extremity motor function (r=0.616, p<0.001), lower extremity motor function (r=0.658, p<0.001), mFI-5 (r=−0.369, p=0.001), and GNRI (r=0.207, p=0.046), but not with BMI, upper extremity sensory function, lower extremity sensory function, trunk sensory function, or bladder function. There were 40 patients in the frail group (19.5±9.7 kg), 32 in the prefrail group (25.2±7.1 kg), and 22 in the healthy group (30.0±7.5 kg). Frail patients had significantly lower handgrip strength than prefrail and healthy patients.
Conclusion In DCM patients, handgrip strength was positively correlated with height, weight, LEP, walking speed, pinch strength, and counter test, and negatively correlated with age. In DCM patients before surgery, handgrip strength affected walking speed, dexterity, and frailty.
Factors influencing Exclusive Breastfeeding in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multilevel Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Dushimirimana Theophile , Wanjiru James Njuguna , Kerkula Johnson Socrates , Koray Munawar Harun , Mieh Sudue Epaphroditus , Curry Tanya , Mugisha John , Kanu Lucas K 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the feeding practice where infants are exclusively fed with breastmilk without anything else for the first 6 months of life. Despite its benefits to both the mother and child, the low prevalence of EBF is an alarming public health concern in SSA leading to the highest child mortality attributable to inappropriate EBF practice. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors influencing EBF in SSA using nationally representative data from the Demographic Health Survey program (DHS).
Methods
A cross-sectional study design using the most recent DHS data of 26 SSA countries from 2010 to 2023. A total of 296,966 women aged 15–49 years, who were currently breastfeeding or had breastfed their children within the five years prior to the survey were included in the study. Pearson’s chi-square and multilevel logistic regression test were used to test the association and predictors of EBF at a 95% confidence interval (CI) at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.
Results
The pooled prevalence of EBF in SSA was 7.5%, with the highest EBF prevalence recorded in Ethiopia (17.3%) and Rwanda (15.8%). The multi-level logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of EBF reduces as women age (Women aged 20–24 [AOR: 0.731, 95% CI: 0.636–0.840], and 45–49 [AOR: 0.432, 95% CI: 0.357–0.522] compared to those aged 15–19 years. Richer (AOR: 0.922, 95% CI: 0.877–0.973) and richest (AOR: 0.869, 95% CI: 0.803–0.936) wealth quintiles had significantly lower odds of EBF compared to those in the poorest wealth quintile.
Conclusion
This study identified key factors associated with the low prevalence of EBF in SSA. Therefore, the study highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve EBF rates in SSA, considering the diverse factors influencing these practices.
1,25(OH) 2 D 3 prevents the occurrence of high altitude sickness by regulating the body's immune homeostasis
Authors: Wang Yaxuan , Lin Xue , Dai Chongyang , Liu Meifang , Su Hong , Cheng Qian , Zhao Fubang , Zhu Tong , Li Yinglian , Pu Xiaoyan 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

This study mainly investigated the clinical efficacy and related mechanisms of 1,25(OH)2D3 in preventing high altitude sickness through human trials and animal experiments.Pretreatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 effectively reduced the Lake Louis Score of volunteers, alleviated adverse reactions at high altitudes. 1,25(OH)2D3 effectively reduced inflammatory indicators, inhibiting inflammatory response in the body，reduced blood biochemistry indicators, decreased urinary protein positivity rate, increased serum 25(OH)D levels, alleviated hypoxic liver and kidney damage in the human body. 1,25(OH)2D3 improving oxidative stress indicators in hypoxic rats, decreased inflammatory indicators, urinary protein positivity rate, reduced serum short-chain fatty acid content, induced an increase in Th2 cell count. 1,25(OH)2D3 may prevent high altitude sickness by reducing the body's inflammatory response, promoting Th1 to Th2 differentiation, inducing an increase in Th2 cell count, balancing the immune homeostasis under hypoxic conditions, downregulating serum short-chain fatty acid content, and exerting anti-inflammatory effects in synergy with short-chain fatty acids.
Subtalar joint arthroscopic-assisted reduction and hollow screw fixation versus open reduction and internal fixation for treating displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures
Authors: Yang Hu , Zhang Shuo , Zhong Qigang , Huai Chaoyue , Zhu Nan , Zhan Junfeng 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
The treatment of calcaneal fractures is not uniform. This study aimed to compare the functional and imaging results of subtalar arthroscopic reduction combined with hollow screw fixation (SJAHF) and the extended lateral approach (ELA) for the treatment of Sanders type II and III displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (DIACFs).
Methods
From January 2020 to January 2023, 60 patients with calcaneal fractures were treated with SJAHF or ELA for foot and ankle surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Changes in calcaneal Böhler’s angle, the Gissane angle, length, height, and width were recorded before, after, and at the 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-month, and last follow-up. The preoperative waiting time, operation time, hospital stay, and other data of each patient were analyzed. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores were used to evaluate clinical effects.
Results
All 60 patients were followed up for at least 12 months. There was no statistical difference in baseline data between groups (P > 0.05). The SJAHF group was superior to the ELA group regarding the preoperative waiting time, hospital stay, and intraoperative fluoroscopy times; however, the operative time of the SJAHF group was greater (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in Böhler’s angle, the Gissane angle, length, height, or width between the two groups at any time point (P > 0.05). These imaging values were significantly improved after surgery and at the last follow-up (P < 0.05). The VAS scores of the patients in the SJAHF group at the last follow-up were significantly different from those in the ELA group (P < 0.05). The final AOFAS score and incidence of postoperative complications in the SJAHF group were better; however, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Simultaneously, total weight-bearing and time to return to work in the SJAHF group were earlier (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
Both SJAHF and ELA improved the clinical outcomes of patients with DIACFs. SJAHF reduces surgical wounds and maintains effective reduction and strong internal fixation. It has the advantages of a reduced preoperative waiting time, shortened hospital stay, reduced intraoperative fluoroscopy time, alleviated postoperative pain, and accelerated patient recovery.
A scientific report on heat transfer analysis due to generated and absorbed heat over an oscillatory stretching sheet: A finite difference-based study
Authors: J Punith Gowda R , Kanabar Bhavesh , K Ranganathaswamy M , Kedia Ankit , Nagaraja K. V. , Prakash Chander , Abdulrahman Amal , Kumar Naveen 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

A non-Newtonian liquid flow across a stretching sheet is relevant to various industrial applications, including extruding plastic sheets and stretching plastic films. In connection with this, the effect of endothermic and exothermic chemical reactions on the flow of rate-type liquid via an oscillatory stretching sheet in the presence of permeable media with the Maxwell liquid model is examined in the current study. Scientists and engineers may improve the effectiveness of chemical reactions or heat transfer by designing systems with optimal flow and researching how reactions affect flow. The present study's governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into their non-dimensional form using similarity variables. The finite difference method (FDM) is used to solve the resultant equation numerically. Outcomes disclose that the temperature profile declines as the activation energy and unsteady parameters increase. The influence of the Maxwell and unsteady parameters on the velocity profile with respect to time is represented. The increase in the values of chemical reaction upsurges the thermal profile. As the activation energy parameter and unsteady parameter upsurge, the thermal profile declines. The concentration profile declines as the chemical reaction parameter and the ratio of oscillating frequency to stretching rate values increases.
Molecular evolution of the granule-bound starch synthase in flowering plants
Authors: Leonardo Elvis Santos , Santana Kauê , André Thiago 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Starch is the main storage carbohydrate in plants and, as well as being a natural resource of global importance for human consumption, serves as a raw material for some industries. Granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) is the key enzyme in starch synthesis. However, the evolution of structural diversity of this enzyme in flowering plants remains poorly understood. This study applied a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of genes encoding the GBSS enzyme to better understand its evolutionary history and used homology modeling to determine the enzyme's structure by identifying important protein domains and motifs. The gene encoding the GBSS enzyme was highly conserved in angiosperms and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the evolution of two isoforms, GBSSI and GBSSII. This molecular diversification could be linked to duplication events in plant genomes. Although the two isoforms share similarities, they showed structural variances and amino acid substitutions. Furthermore, the occurrence of destabilizing mutations in key residues in binding sites and conserved domains were under greater influence of purifying selection, maintaining the stability of the protein. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary and structural history of the main enzymes involved in starch synthesis, which could support future studies that aim to increase our understanding of starch biosynthesis and the evolutionary and functional divergence of GBSS in plants. We highlight that attention regarding isoforms is required when using GBSS to reconstruct phylogenetic trees.
E-Governance and Sustainable Development Goals: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: lubis Sandi , Purnomo Eko Priyo , Ahmad Jamaluddin , Hung Chin-Fu 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

E-governance has become an essential aspect in transforming government institutions worldwide. In the ever-growing digital era, governments in various countries are increasingly adopting information and communication technology (ICT) to increase efficiency, transparency, and public participation in decision-making. This article aims to explain various research studies from 2018 to 2023 that have studied e-governance and sustainable development goals through a systematic literature review (SLR). Through the inclusion and exclusion process, 52 articles related to the themes of e-governance and sustainable development goals were identified. As a result, this study contributes significantly to advancing knowledge about how e-governance can help achieve sustainable development goals that impact public policy and future governance practices. Despite the systematic literature review (SLR) method used in this investigation, the findings and their consequences still need to be determined. However, this research has many areas for improvement. First, only articles from one database scope collected over six years were included in this analysis. Second, the search results documents in the database are influenced by the study's strict focus on the terms "e-governance and sustainable development goals."
Acceptability and Feasibility of a Task-Shifted Collaborative Care Model for Depression and Anxiety in Primary HIV Clinics in the Philippines: A Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Dungca-Lorilla Anna Maureen , Mootz Jennifer , Melgar Maria Isabel , RPm Roxanne Emily Tanuecoz , Dizon Timothy John , Sohn Annette H. , Ditangco Rossana 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Depression and anxiety can greatly impact the overall health of a person living with HIV (PLHIV). Management of mental health conditions should be an integral part of HIV care. The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is an evidence-based model of care that integrates mental health in primary care. This study aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of implementing the CoCM for depression and anxiety in HIV clinics in the Philippines using HIV counsellors as care managers.
Methods
We conducted a qualitative study by facilitating focus group discussions (n = 7) and key informant interviews (n = 18) with 53 HIV and mental health stakeholders, including PLHIV (n = 20), HIV counsellors (n = 11), physicians (n = 10), clinic heads (n = 4), policy makers (n = 4), and mental health providers (n = 4) from August 2021 to March 2022. Participants were recruited from 17 HIV clinics in the Philippines. We employed a thematic analysis using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) domains as themes.
Results
Almost all PLHIV participants were men (95%), with a mean age of 28 years old, while 58% of the other stakeholders were women, with a mean age of 44 and working in their field for an average of 8 years. Factors that influenced acceptability of the CoCM included the need for better mental health services, increasing access to mental health care and providing more holistic care. Participants expressed acceptability for HIV providers to do mental health screening and care due to the trust that had previously been built during their HIV care. Perceived barriers included inadequate numbers of psychiatrists, an overburdened and understaffed HIV workforce, low mental health knowledge among HIV providers, and implementation cost. For the CoCM to be feasible and more acceptable, mental health trainings, collaborations for improved access to psychiatrists (e.g., within and across clinics), clear care integration protocols, proper planning and pilot testing were recommended.
Conclusion
We found the CoCM to be acceptable among study participants as a way to integrate mental health in HIV care. Strategies including capacity-building for HIV providers and strengthening of health systems are needed for the CoCM to be more feasible in HIV clinics in the Philippines.
Automatic segmentation of metal surface defects with noise label
Authors: Xu Yanqiu , Zhu Jinxin , Xu Sen , Liu Weiquan , Bian Xuesheng 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Defect detection on metal surfaces is crucial for quality control and precise maintenance in various industrial scenarios. Nevertheless, metal surface defects demonstrate various variations and intricacies, making identifying high-precision metal surface defects a formidable task. With the development of artificial intelligence technology, metal surface defect detection technology has ushered in a huge breakthrough. Compared to manual inspection, metal surface defect detection methods based on computer vision and artificial intelligence technology have apparent advantages in detection efficiency and accuracy, becoming the mainstream means of detecting surface defects in metal parts. While deep learning techniques have shown impressive results in defect detection, the performance is highly susceptible to the influence of annotation quality. Using unreliable annotations to train deep learning models fails to fully utilize the superior performance of deep learning techniques and may even cause model performance degradation, seriously affecting predictive performance. To address these challenges, we propose a novel segmentation-based metal surface defect detection model with unreliable annotations or noise labels. First, we train a semantic segmentation network using pre-existing labels, employing an encoder-decoder architecture. Then, the trained model is employed to rectify the unreliable annotations and enhance the network's resilience through retraining. Our method is validated through adequate experimentation on two publicly accessible datasets, which show superior performance in metal surface defect segmentation. The studies demonstrate that even if there is noise in data annotation, our method can effectively suppress the predictive performance degradation of deep learning models.
Exploring the Role of Maternal-Adult Child Relationship, Early Maladaptive Schemas, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation in Symptoms of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Authors: Mehdi Akbari , zeinali shirin 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Objective
AvoidantAvoidant Restrictive Food IntakeIntake Disorder (ARFID) is a relatively new diagnostic classification, and the DSM-5 has called for further studies and evidence in this field. This study explored the role of maternal-adult-child relationship, early maladaptive schemas, and difficulties in emotion regulation in ARFID Symptoms.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, 791 college students were selected through cluster random sampling in 2024. This correlational study investigated the role of demographic characteristics, the maternal-adult-child relationship, early maladaptive schemas, and difficulties in emotion regulation in predicting ARFID symptoms and its components: 1) sensory sensitivity, 2) lack of interest in eating and food, and 3) fear of aversive consequences.
Results
The study revealed a significant negative relationship between the maternal-adult-child relationship and ARFID, while early maladaptive schemas and difficulties in emotion regulation showed a positive relationship. Gender, field of study, maternal-adult-child relationship, emotion regulation difficulties, and early maladaptive schemas were identified as factors in predicting ARFID. Sensory sensitivity, lack of interest in eating or food, and fear of aversive consequences were also significantly predicted.
Discussion
These findings highlight the intricate connection between parental behaviors and difficulties in emotion regulation in ARFID, emphasizing the importance of considering these components in the identification and treatment of eating disorders, including ARFID.
Development of Prediction Models for Strength Behavior of MSWIA Mixed with Fiber and Cement
Authors: Singh Neelam , Priyadarshee Akash , Chandra Sunayana , Kumar Vikas 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Engineers are increasingly interested in using municipal solid waste incinerator ash (MSWIA) to construct different geotechnical structures. This practice not only helps manage waste but also positively impacts the environment. Stabilizing such wastes by adding admixture and reinforcing material significantly improves their load-carrying capacity. This study investigates the strength behavior of the MSWIA mixed with cement and fiber, providing valuable insights for the practical application of these materials. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and split tensile strength (STS) tests were conducted to understand the behavior. The aspect ratio of the fiber, cement content, fiber content, and curing period varied during testing. The impact of individual variables was evaluated based on the results of the tests through sensitivity analysis. Further, a mathematical model based on the Artificial Neural network (ANN) and Multivariable linear regression model (MLRM) was developed, and results were compared. From the results, it was found that the ANN can predict the strength better than MLR. Also, a correlation between the UCS and STS for the MSWIA mixed with fiber and cement was established.