bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Significant trend in vertical wind velocity variability over the last 40 years
Authors: Barahona Donifan , Breen katherine , Diao Minghui , Ngo Derek , Maciel Flor Vanessa , Patnaude Ryan 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Vertical air motion influences cloud formation, mixing and transport processes. Due to limitations in spatial resolution, global atmospheric models cannot resolve the sub-kilometer scale component of this motion. Instead it is represented using the standard deviation in vertical wind velocity within a grid cell, σW. Using a novel deep learning model constrained by observational data, we reveal significant trends in σW over the period 1980-2023. These trends, reaching up to 1% yr-1 in low and mid-level oceanic regions, indicate a more turbulent atmosphere with enhanced cloud formation over the last few decades. We attribute these trends to global shifts in water vapor, temperature and convection, suggesting a connection between enhanced warming, turbulence and cloud microphysics. Over the industrial era we estimate that increased cloud formation from enhanced σW yields a radiative forcing of about -0.1 ± 0.21 W m-2, slightly mitigating greenhouse warming.
Determinants of Residual Dizziness in BPPV Patients After Effective Repositioning Maneuvers: The Mediating Role of Blood Lipid Levels in a Single-Center Analysis
Authors: Wang Guanyu 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objective
To explore the independent risk factors for residual dizziness in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) patients following successful repositioning maneuvers, and further examine whether different lipid-related indicators act as mediators between these risk factors and residual dizziness.
Methodology:
110 patients diagnosed with BPPV and treated with repositioning maneuvers were recruited between January 2019 and February 2022. The general data and lipid-related data from both patients with residual dizziness and without residual dizziness. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk factors for residual dizziness in BPPV patients, adjusting for demographic variables, underlying diseases, behavioral factors, and lipid-related indicators. Simultaneously, utilizing regression-based mediation analyses, both the immediate impact of the reported statistically significant risk factors on the residual dizziness and the subsequent indirect influence mediated through lipid-related indicators were investigated. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported.
Results
Significant differences were observed between groups with and without residual dizziness in terms of limb weakness, hypertension, nausea, limb arteriosclerosis, medication treatment, DHI scores, HADS scores, and distributions of TC, LDL, and HDL (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified sleep disorders (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06–1.50), medication treatment (OR: 2.57, 95% CI: 2.03–3.02), hypertension (OR: 3.33, 95% CI: 2.90–4.22), Triglyceride (TG, OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02–1.12), and total cholesterol (TC, OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05–1.26) as significant risk factors for residual dizziness after adjusting for all cofounders(P < 0.05). Additionally, a mediating effect of 9.1% for total cholesterol blood concentration between sleep disorders and residual dizziness was revealed.
Conclusions
Our findings highlight the significant risk factors for residual dizziness. We also found that TC blood concentration mediates the relationship between sleep disorders and residual dizziness by 9.1%. These insights emphasize the need to address lipid levels and sleep disorders in managing residual dizziness in BPPV patients after effective repositioning maneuvers.
Enhanced Absorption in Organic Solar Cells Using Core-Shell Iron-ZnO Nanoparticles: Optical and Numerical Simulations
Authors: Bagheri Mahdi Aghlmandi Sadigh 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed numerical and optical simulation analysis of iron (Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) with zinc oxide (ZnO) shells embedded in a square periodic array within the active layer of organic solar cells (OSCs). Utilizing the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method, we first calculate the intrinsic absorption of P3HT:PCBM. Following this, Fe-ZnO NPs are introduced into the active layer, and their absorption properties are analyzed and compared to the intrinsic absorption. The Absorption Enhancement (AE) metric is employed to optimize the period, thickness, and edge length of the rectangular prism Fe NPs to achieve maximum AE. Additionally, AE is compared in similar structures with different core materials, including gold (Au), silver (Ag), and aluminum (Al). The proposed structure, characterized by a thick shell on the top and base faces, demonstrates that Fe NPs can achieve an AE 1.282 times greater than the intrinsic absorption, and 1.13, 1.165, and 1.07 times more than Au, Ag, and Al, respectively. Notably, Al exhibits greater absorption enhancement than Au and Ag, indicating its potential as a future candidate. Furthermore, the electric field and absorption density are investigated, revealing how near-field plasmonics can significantly enhance absorption within the active layer, even in the red part of the spectrum. Iron NPs offer several advantages over traditional noble metal NPs, including cost-effectiveness, guaranteed biodegradability in OSCs, highest AE, and interesting magnetic properties that can influence excitons and electron-hole separation and velocity. These factors make Fe NPs an attractive option for enhancing the efficiency of OSCs.
Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding HIV post-exposure prophylaxis after occupational exposure among doctors working at Royal Care International Hospital (2021)
Authors: Khalid Rawan , Mohamed Raheeg , Abdelrahman Elmuiz , Mohammed Hassan , Makki Ahmed , Abdeldaim Abdulrahman , Idrees Malaz , Magzoub Yumna , Gaafar Nada , AbdAlla Eltayeb 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: Despite the high rates of needle stick injuries, post-exposure prophylaxis usage is mainly unreported. Healthcare workers are at high risk of contracting HIV due to occupational exposure to blood and bodily fluids. The purpose of this study is to evaluate physicians working at Royal Care International Hospital regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).Methods: From Janury to march 2021, 204 doctors participated in a facility-based cross-sectional study at Royal Care International Hospital. The study used a structured self-administered questionnaire that included questions about demographic information, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding HIV PEP.Results: While 74% of participants knew that HIV PEP existed, the majority of participants (79.4%) knew very little about it. Only 69.6% of participants knew when it is best to begin HIV PEP after exposure, and the majority of participants were unable to name the conditions under which it is recommended. All of the participants thought HIV PEP was important, and 82.4% of them thought it was generally a good thing. Of the participants, 63 (30.9%) reported having been exposed to HIV-risky situations at work; however, only 42 (66.6%) of them disclosed this information, and only 27 (42.8%) of them received HIV PEP.Conclusion: While a considerable proportion of the participants had experienced an HIV-risky condition, the study found that there was a low reporting rate and low use of HIV PEP among them. Additionally, the majority of the participants had a positive attitude towards HIV PEP.
Characterization and proteomic analysis of plasma-derived small extracellular vesicles in locally advanced rectal cancer patients
Authors: Chen Haiyan , Fang Yimin , Dai Siqi , Jiang Kai , Shen Li , Zhao Jian , Huang Kanghua , Zhou Xiaofeng , Ding Kefeng 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) stands as a pivotal therapeutic approach for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), yet the absence of a reliable biomarker to forecast its efficacy remains a challenge. Thus, this study aimed to assess whether the proteomic compositions of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) might offer predictive insights into nCRT response among patients with LARC, while also delving into the proteomic alterations within sEVs post nCRT.
Methods
Plasma samples were obtained from LARC patients both pre- and post-nCRT. Plasma-derived sEVs were isolated utilizing the TIO2-based method, followed by LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis. Subsequently, pathway enrichment analysis were performed to the Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs). Additionally, ROC curves were generated to evaluate the predictive potential of sEV proteins in determining nCRT response. Public databases were interrogated to identify sEV protein-associated genes that are correlated with the response to nCRT in LARC.
Results
A total of 16 patients were enrolled. Among them, 8 patients achieved a pathological complete response (good responders, GR), while the remaining 8 did not achieve a complete response (poor responders, PR). Our analysis of pretreatment plasma-derived sEVs revealed 67 significantly up-regulated DEPs and 9 significantly down-regulated DEPs. Notably, PROC (AUC: 0.922), F7 (AUC: 0.953) and AZU1 (AUC: 0.906) demonstrated high AUC values and significant differences (P value < 0.05) in discriminating between GR and PR patients. Furthermore, a signature consisting of 5 sEV protein-associated genes (S100A6, ENO1, MIF, PRDX6 and MYL6) was capable of predicting the response to nCRT, yielding an AUC of 0.621(95% CI: 0.454–0.788). Besides, this 5-sEV protein-associated gene signature enabled stratification of patients into low- and high-risk group, with the low-risk group demonstrating a longer overall survival in the testing set (P = 0.048). Moreover, our investigation identified 11 significantly up-regulated DEPs and 31 significantly down-regulated DEPs when comparing pre- and post-nCRT proteomic profiles. GO analysis unveiled enrichment in the regulation of phospholipase A2 activity.
Conclusions
Differential expression of sEV proteins distinguishes between GR and PR patients and holds promise as predictive markers for nCRT response and prognosis in patients with LARC. Furthermore, our findings highlight substantial alterations in sEV protein composition following nCRT.
Soft Sensing Modeling of Penicillin Fermentation Process Based on Local Selection Ensemble Learning
Authors: Huang Feixiang , Li Longhao , Du Chuanxiang , Wang Shuang , Liu Xuefeng 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In the process of penicillin fermentation, there is a strong nonlinear relationship between the input eigenvector and multiple output vectors, which makes the prediction accuracy of the existing model difficult to meet the requirements of chemical production. Therefore, a local selective integrated learning multi-objective soft sensing modeling strategy is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a localization method based on transfer entropy and K-means is proposed to reconstruct the sample set. Then, based on the reconstructed local samples, the local soft sensing model is established by the multi-objective support vector regression method, and the selective integration of sub-models and the adaptive calculation of prediction weights are realized. At the same time, to reduce the adverse effects caused by improper selection of model parameters, the sparrow search algorithm is used to realize the tuning of the mentioned model parameters. Finally, the proposed modeling strategy is simulated. The results show that, compared with other methods, the proposed local selective integrated learning multi-objective soft sensing modeling strategy has better prediction performance.
An easier life to come for mosquito researchers: field-testing across Italy supports VECTRACK system for automatic count, identification and capture rate estimation of Aedes albopicts and Culex pipiens adult females and males.
Authors: Micocci Martina , Manica Mattia , Bernardini Ilaria , Soresinetti Laura , Varone Marianna , Lillo Paola Di , Caputo Beniamino , Poletti Piero , Severini Francesco , Montarsi Fabrizio , Epis Sara , Salvemini Marco , Torre Alessandra della 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background. Monitoring of mosquito vectors of human and zoonotic diseases is an essential prerequisite to optimize control interventions and for evidence-based risk predictions. However, conventional entomological monitoring methods are labor- and time-consuming and do not allow high temporal/spatial resolution. In 2022, a novel system coupling an optical sensor with machine learning technologies (VECTRACK) was proven effective in counting and identifying Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens adult females and males. Here, we carried out the first extensive field evaluation of the VECTRACK system to assess: i) whether the catching capacity of a commercial BG-Mosquitaire trap (BGM) for adult mosquito equipped with VECTRACK (BGM+VECT) was affected by the sensor; ii) the accuracy of the VECTRACK algorithm in correctly classifying the target mosquito species genus and sex; iii) Ae. albopictus capture rate of BGM with or without VECTRACK.
Methods. The same experimental design was implemented in four areas in Northern (Bergamo and Padua districts), Central (Rome) and Southern (Procida Island, Naples) Italy. In each area, three types of traps - a BGM, a BGM+VECT, and Sticky Trap (N=4) were rotated each 48h in three different sites. Each sampling scheme was replicated three times/area. Collected mosquitoes were counted and identified both by the VECTRACK algorithm and by operator-mediated morphological examination. The performance of the VECTRACK system was assessed by generalized linear mixed and linear regression models. Aedes albopictus capture rates of BGMs were calculated based on the known capture rate of ST.
Results. A total of 3,829 mosquitoes (90.2% Ae. albopictus) were captured in 18 collection-days/trap type/site. The performance of BGM+VECT in collecting target mosquitoes and the VECTRACK algorithm performance in identifying Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens females and males were overall satisfactory, although with some inaccuracies. Moreover, the results allowed to quantify the heterogeneous effectiveness associated with different trap types in collecting Ae. albopictus and to predict estimates of its absolute density.
Conclusions. Obtained results strongly support the VECTRACK system as a powerful tool for mosquito monitoring and research, and its applicability over a range of ecological conditions, accounting for its high potential for continuous monitoring with minimal human effort.
18S and 25S ribosomal RNA molecules resistant to a 5'-monophosphate dependent exonuclease are produced by a mechanism independent of TOR
Authors: Rocha Miguel , Gowda Bhavani , Fleischmann Jacob 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

It has been previously shown that Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells produce 18S and 25S ribosomal RNA components that are resistant to exonucleases and require a single phosphate at the 5’- end of the RNA. These molecules are produced during the stationary growth phase when TOR activity decreases. We wanted to further define the relationship between TOR and these resistant RNA molecules. Active suppression of TOR activity by rapamycin results in the production of these molecules. Similarly, a TORC1-deleted mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces resistant 18S and 25S in a steady fashion. Thiouracil labeling of these molecules showed that molecules previously produced during the logarithmic growth phase can be converted to this resistant state. Thiouracil uptake assays also revealed that fewer 18S and 25S genes are produced during the stationary phase. The decapping of these molecules converts them back to an exonuclease-sensitive state. These data indicate that the production of exonuclease resistance of 18S and 25S is independent of TOR activity and is perhaps suppressed when TOR is active. Decapping converts them back to an exonuclease-sensitive state, indicating that at the minimum, there is an additional phosphate at their 5’-end. These molecules likely allow the presence of some ribosomes in the nutritional decline phase to maintain protein production.
Mathematical Modeling of the Sentiment Analysis Results of Psychoanalytic Diaries of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Duran Volkan , Hazar Elman , Gençel Nurgün 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This study models the sentiment analysis results of "Psychoanalytic Diaries of the COVID-19 Pandemic" by Goisis and Moroni (2022) using differential equations. By employing sentence-level sentiment analysis, the research delves into the dynamic emotions documented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The integration of black box mathematical modeling enables the prediction of sentiment dynamics, revealing the intricate interplay of neutral and positive sentiments amidst collective trauma. Sentiment indicators are quantitatively transformed into percentage-based densities to facilitate a nuanced examination of the evolving emotional landscape. Sensitivity and cluster analyses, followed by linear regression, are utilized to construct a robust mathematical model that includes only variables with substantial influence. Critical evaluation of statistical indicators such as R-squared values and the Durbin-Watson statistic ensures the model's validity. The findings underscore the significant predictive power of emotions in understanding social perceptions, highlighting the essential role of sentiments in shaping human cognition and behavior. This research enhances our comprehension of sentiment dynamics during the COVID-19 crisis, demonstrating the potential of differential equations in modeling emotional structures. By bridging the gap between quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the study offers a unique perspective at the intersection of psychology, sociology, and mathematical modeling. The approach not only deepens our understanding of the emotional responses elicited during the pandemic but also sets a precedent for future research in exploring complex emotional phenomena through an integrated lens.
Associations between self-stigma and health promotion behaviors in overweight/obese patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Niu Shilian , Li Rao , Yuan Li , Huang Dan 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

The correlation between stigma and health-promoting behaviors in overweight/obese type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between the two in this particular population. Data were collected from an offline cross-sectional survey of 200 overweight/obese patients with T2DM aged 18-84 who were admitted to the Department of a tertiary general hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China between July 2022 and July 2023. Respondents were assessed for Stigma and health promoting behaviors using the SSCI and T2DHPS scales. Additionally, to examine the factors that influenced stigma, we utilized multiple linear regression analysis. Results revealed that stigma was significantly associated with health-promoting behaviors, with negative correlations with stress management and enjoyment of life. Several factors were found to increase the chronic disease stigma, including low monthly income, hypoglycemia, inpatient, and GLP-1RA treatment.
The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on the Health and Well-being of Women Living in Informal Settlements in Uganda.
Authors: Tetui Moses , Lee Na-Mee , Alhafi Laseen , Johnston Lesley A. , Babirye Susan , Dodd Warren , Mayora Chrispus , Kawooya Shafiq , Nakasinde Zeridah , Kirkpatrick Sharon I. , Butt Zahid A. , Kasasa Simon , Achom Mary , Byamukama Daniel , Janes Craig R. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Uganda, with the first case reported in March 2020, resulting in extensive public health restrictions, including a lockdown, curfew, and closure of schools and workplaces. Urban residents, particularly those living in poverty in informal settlements, faced heightened challenges due to inadequate access to basic services, financial hardships, and increased caregiving responsibilities, especially for women. Women faced heightened risks of gender-based violence and engaged in transactional sex as coping mechanisms. This study explored the strategies used by women in Kampala and Mbale cities to meet basic needs during the pandemic and their implications for HIV infection vulnerability.
Methods:
Researchers conducted in-depth discussions with 282 women from various age groups in Kampala and Mbale's largest informal settlements, gathering insights into their pandemic experiences. These discussions, held in local languages, explored women's social, family, and financial challenges, as well as their perceptions of HIV risks. Transcripts were translated by local language experts before analysis. The team analyzed the transcripts using NVivo version 14 software, identifying patterns and themes that revealed survival strategies employed by women.
Results:
The study identified three interconnected themes that capture the complex strategies and challenges faced by women in informal settlements in Kampala and Mbale during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women struggled to cope with financial hardships and increased caregiving responsibilities, often resorting to desperate measures like transactional sex to survive, despite their resilience. The pandemic exacerbated vulnerabilities, heightening risks of HIV transmission and mental health issues, particularly among women living in poverty. While support networks provided some relief, they often fell short of meeting the diverse needs of women in these communities.
Conclusions:
The study shows that women in Uganda's informal settlements demonstrated resilience by taking on new roles and engaging in trading, but their reliance on transactional sex revealed stark power imbalances, increasing their vulnerability to gender-based violence, unintended pregnancies, and HIV infection. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions that address the complex challenges women face in crisis situations, which could enhance their resilience and alleviate their multiple struggles, with valuable lessons for similar contexts in low- and middle-income countries.