bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Levels of knowledge and beliefs of osteoporosis among Moroccan women over 18 years old living in Casablanca
Authors: BERKCHI J. MOULAY , TAHRI D. , FEJRY K. , BELKHADIR S. , ACHEMLAL L. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Goals: Osteoporosis is a common, silent disease that can be diagnosed and prevented before fractures occur. The aim of this study is to get closer to the beliefs and knowledge of Moroccan women over 18 years old living in Casablanca, to convey the impact of osteoporosis and to target the information to be developed during future awareness campaigns. Methods and patients: The survey was conducted by the Rheumatology department at the Cheikh Khalifa International University Hospital in Casablanca among a population aged 18 and over to determine their levels of knowledge and beliefs about osteoporosis. A questionnaire was carried out with the aim of distinguishing gaps in knowledge but also popular beliefs limiting good understanding. Results: A total of 322 participants were included. Their ages ranged from 19 to 86 years, with a mean of 39.39 ± 15.34 years. The educational level of the study group was mainly university (54%), with (86%) coming from an urban environment. 96% of participants were familiar with the term osteoporosis without any correlation with age, level of education or place of residence (p-value was 0.976, 0.447, 0.423 respectively). The primary source of information was family and neighborhood in 59%. The group from the urban area was more educated, particularly regarding diagnosis (85%). The salary status of the participants was between 3000 and 10000 Moroccan dirhams for 54% of the participants, however 57% considered the therapeutic arsenal expensive, and was in no way correlated with monthly income. In terms of vitamin-calcium intake, 25% took calcium supplementation and 54% took vitamin D supplementation. 90% of our participants mentioned the preponderant role of calcium and vitamin intake in preserving bone health. Vitamin D deficiency, rheumatic and endocrine history, early menopause, and smoking represented the popular beliefs most involved in the occurrence of osteoporosis with rates of 90%, 86%, 78% and 60% respectively. The major impact of osteoporosis represented by the risk of fracture and the disability caused were part of the achievements with spectacular rates of 97% and 95% respectively. Conclusion: Better understanding leads to early diagnosis and better management. Our approach through this survey is to process current information on osteoporosis to amplify the impact of awareness campaigns.
Patients’ motives and considerations on treatment decision-making for heavy menstrual bleeding: a qualitative study
Authors: Oderkerk T.J. , Singotani R.G. , Zuidema L. , Hijden E.J.E. , Geomini P.M.A.J. , Bongers M.Y. , Donker M.H. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Several treatment modalities for heavy menstrual bleeding are available. However, many women report being unsatisfied in their search for an appropriate and effective treatment. The aim of this study is to gain insights in the experienced impact of HMB and the motives and considerations of women during the decision-making process for different treatment options for heavy menstrual bleeding.
Methods
An interpretative qualitative study was performed, using in-depth interviews. In total, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients who consulted a physician for treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. Participants were recruited via the Dutch Patient Federation (N = 10) or via the outpatient clinic in the Máxima Medical Centre (N = 4). The interviews were conducted by phone or online between February 2020 and March 2021. In the interviews three topics were addressed: 1) participants experience with heavy menstrual bleeding, 2) patient experience with treatment journey and 3) elaborating on alternative treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding. A thematic content analysis was conducted.
Results
Fourteen participants aged between 30 and 59 years old were interviewed. Three main themes emerged; “Considerations in taking the first step to seek help”, “Various sources of information can contribute, confuse or frighten decision-making process” and “A physician’s support and understanding is needed to guide the decision-making process”.
Conclusion
Our results show that women's considerations and decision making strongly depend on the obtained information and experience, the relationship with the physician, the influence of the social environment, the pre-visit expectations/ desires, the fear of treatment complications and uncertainty of the effect of the treatment. It’s a physicians roll to create a trusting and open atmosphere during consultation. Patient-centered communication is helpful to share knowledge, and gain inside into a patient’s hopes, fears and worries.
Simple and Fast Modelling of Radio Frequency Passives in View of Beyond-5G and 6G Applications – Case Study of an RF-MEMS Multi-State Network Described by an Equivalent Lumped Element Network
Authors: Iannacci Jacopo , Tagliapietra Girolamo , Marinković Zlatica , Guha Koushik , Karumuri Srinivasa Rao , Chiele Irene Dal , Donelli Massimo 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The utilization of RF-MEMS, which stands for Microsystem-based (MEMS) Radio Frequency (RF) passive components, is garnering growing attention within the realm of Beyond-5G (B5G) and 6G technologies, despite its longstanding existence. This trend is fueled by the impressive RF characteristics achievable through the judicious exploitation of this technology. However, the complex interplay of various physical phenomena in RF-MEMS, spanning mechanical, electrical, and electromagnetic domains, renders the design and optimization of new configurations challenging. In this study, a modeling approach based on Lumped Element Networks (LEN) is employed to accurately predict the Scattering Parameters (S-parameters) characteristics of multi-state and highly reconfigurable RF-MEMS devices. The device under scrutiny is a multi-state RF step power attenuator, previously fabricated, tested, and documented in literature by the principal author. Although these physical devices exhibit flat attenuation characteristics, they are subject to certain non-idealities inherent to the technology. The refined LEN-based methodology presented herein aims to interpret and incorporate such undesirable parasitic effects to provide precise predictions for real RF-MEMS devices. Two custom metrics, referred to as Percent Magnitude Difference (PMD) and Percent Phase Difference (PPD), are utilized to evaluate the accuracy of the LEN model, revealing differences consistently within 1% and 8%, respectively, across a frequency range spanning from 100 MHz to 13.5 GHz.
Optimal investment, consumption and life insurance problem with labour income and jump-diffusion model
Authors: Jere Stanley , Mukupa George , Offen Elias Rabson 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Optimal investment, consumption and life insurance control problem with labour income and jump-diffusion model for a CRRA wage earner is solved in this study. The wage earner invest in thefinancial market with one bond, two stocks, receive labor income and has a life insurance policy resulting toan incomplete market. The two stocks are described by jump-diffusion processes. Investors are concernedwith sudden breaks or jumps in the dynamics of the risky securities. We investigates optimal investmentconsumption-insurance premium strategies that maximize the expected utility of consumption, legacy andterminal wealth under jump-diffusion models. A life insurance policy is purchased in order to hedge thefinancial wealth for the beneficiary in case of wage earner premature death. By applying Martingale approach,we prove the existence of optimal controls and optimal martingale measure
Adjoint-based shape optimization for compressible flow based on volume penalization method
Authors: Liu Ming , Hasegawa Yosuke 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Reducing the resistance of compressible flow around a blunt body is of great interest in engineering applications, while an efficient shape optimization method for compressible flows remains far from well established, especially for high Mach numbers. To this end, a volume penalization method for simulating compressible flows past a no-slip and isothermal solid is established by introducing an artificial body force and a heat sink into the governing equations. The level-set functions are introduced as design variables, and the cost functional is defined as the total drag acting on the solid. Then, a continuous adjoint-based shape optimization algorithm for drag reduction is developed by deriving the adjoint equations, the adjoint boundary conditions, and the shape update formula. Both the forward and adjoint simulations are verified by existing studies. The results show that the relative deviations of the drag coefficients obtained in the present study from those reported in the reference studies are around 5% at most, and also a comparable drag reduction rate and also optimal shapes can be reproduced by the present optimization scheme for benchmark problems at relatively low Mach numbers considered in previous studies. Finally, the present method is applied to shape optimization of an initially two-dimensional cylinder and also a three-dimensional sphere in the transonic regime of Ma∞ = 1.2. The drag reduction of over 20% is achieved for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases.
An innovative seismo-petrophysical characterization of a turbidite sand in the Nam Con Son Basin, using permeability-linked adapted rock physics template (K-ARPT) with reference to gas exploration and carbon storage
Authors: Giao P. H. , Hien D. H. , Trang P. H. , Ngoc P. Q. , Dung B. V. , Man H. Q. , Phuong B. T. N. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The MMF30 sand in the Hai Thach-Moc Tinh (HT-MT) field, located in the Nam Con Son basin (NCSB) offshore Southern Vietnam, is a significant gas condensate-producing reservoir. However, its deep depth and complex, highly-cemented nature pose unique challenges for reservoir characterization. Due to the limited availability of well log data over a large area, seismo-petrophysical characterization of this turbidite sand is particularly challenging. With the declining gas production observed in many fields in the NCSB since 2018 one needs to explore more hydrocarbon reservoirs. Moreover, in line with the ongoing global energy transition, there is a growing interest in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), which would involve injection of carbon dioxide (CO2) into depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs or deep saline aquifers. For the latter, reservoir characterization efforts must pay a particular attention to mapping the highly permeabley zones within the depleted reservoir that are pertinent for CCS. In this study, we successfully conducted a comprehensive seismo-petrophysical characterization of the MMF30 sand. This was achieved by integrating core testing, well log analysis, machine learning-assisted prediction of permeability, construction of a new Permeability-linked Adapted Rock Physics Template (K-ARPT), and prestack seismic inversion techniques. By combining these methodologies, we were able to address the challenge of characterizing highly-cemented turbidite sands for augmented gas exploration, optimal gas production and potential carbon injection and storage in the near future.
Socio-economic, environmental and health trade-offs in Bangladesh’s food system transformation
Authors: de Lange Thijs , Dijk Michiel van , Kuiper Marijke , Zeist Willem-Jan van , Bartelings Heleen , Mizan Arefin , Meijl Hans van 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The transition to healthier diets might be accompanied by trade-offs that occur in other parts of the food system. In this study the trade-offs between socio-economic, environmental, and health indicators were analyzed in different dietary scenarios for Bangladesh between 2022 and 2050. We used a global economic simulation model with updated national food consumption data, extended with a footprint module to track environmental impacts through the food value chain in Bangladesh and its trading partners. The study compares a business-as-usual (BAU) diet with the EAT-Lancet diet and the Bangladesh food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). The BAU diet has a higher intake of animal products and sugar, and a lower intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts than the EAT-Lancet and FBDG diets. It was found that promoting a diet with more plant-based proteins would have a strong positive impact on dietary health and an overall positive impact on the environment compared to the BAU scenario, due to the reduced impact of animal protein production on greenhouse gas emissions and the reduced impact of rice production on water use and nitrogen application. In addition, the transition to sustainable and healthy diets had minor impacts on the wages of low-skilled workers, Bangladesh’s self-sufficiency, and the affordability of food and cereals. In particular, the FDBG diet scenario scored best on self-sufficiency and cereal affordability compared to the other two scenarios, and the increase in low-skilled wages was comparable to the BAU diet scenario.
DC-Net: A Distant-range Content Interaction Network for Radio Map Construction
Authors: QiChen  , Yang Jingjing , Huang Ming 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

The Radio Map (RM) stands as a powerful tool in the field of wireless communication and radio regulation. Currently, several algorithms based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have been proposed. However, due to the inherent limitations of vanilla convolutions, capturing distant-range information of the radio propagation environment becomes challenging, ultimately resulting in poor RM construction accuracy. Therefore, this letter introduces a novel RM construction model called Distant-range Content interaction Network (DC-Net) and validates its effectiveness using the radiomapseer dataset. Experiment results reveal that the proposed DC-Net achieves State-Of-The-Art (SOTA) performance in mapping accuracy for both known and unknown transmitter locations in RM construction. Additionally, the model demonstrates rapid and stable convergence during the training process, leading to reduced computational resource consumption.
How to Conduct CSR Activities to Build Consumer Trust and Corporate Reputation in Covid-19 Pandemic?
Authors: Thao Thi Phuong Nguyen  , Anh Van Nguyen  
Published: May 2024

The world has changed dramatically since the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. This crisis has put companies under the test for their commitment to moral business conduct and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Facing the challenges for survival as well as financial strains could push firms with difficult choices in their CSR practices. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of CSR activities in building customer trust and company reputation with limited resources in the Covid-19 pandemic context. The paper collected data on latent constructs through a survey of 494 consumers by convenience sample in Vietnam. Confirmatory factor analysis assessed psychometric properties of the constructs, while the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used to examine posited hypotheses. The results show that economic responsibility has a positive impact on expertise trust; legal responsibility and ethical responsibility positively impact integrity trust; philanthropic responsibility has a positive effect on social benevolence trust. However, only ethical responsibility and philanthropic responsibility can directly influence corporate reputation. In addition, three dimensions of trust strengthen the link between CSR initiatives and company reputation. Among them, social benevolence trust plays the most critical role in creating a reputation. Based on this finding, some management implications are also discussed regarding how corporations can allocate appropriate resources for different CSR activities so that they could leverage benefits from CSR strategy in their business. Moreover, the results obtained open future lines of comparative research on the impact of CSR practices, mediated by trust in corporate reputation, between countries with different cultures and religious beliefs.
Shareholders’ Monitoring and Online Disclosures of Minutes of Shareholders’ Meeting
Authors: Mohd Shazwan Mohd Ariffin  , Wan Nordin Wan-Hussin  , Siti Seri Delima Abdul Malak  , Ili Syahirah Kamaruzaman  
Published: May 2024

Making detailed annual general meeting (AGM) minutes available online allows absentee investors to understand the discussion that took place during the AGM, and other interested parties to gauge the intensity of investor activism and stakeholder engagement from the questions posed. This paper investigated the effects of shareholders’ monitoring through the Minority Shareholders Watch Group (MSWG), the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and other government-linked institutions on corporate communication via minutes of shareholders’ meeting. This study also incorporated firm size, audit quality, profitability, and grey directors as control variables. Based on a sample of 261 listed firms with financial year ended 31 December 2016 who held their AGMs in 2017, the findings showed that shareholders’ monitoring through the MSWG, EPF, and other government- linked institutions were significant and positively associated with corporate transparency. This implies that minority and institutional shareholders’ activism can be the advocate in pushing for dissemination of online corporate disclosure to enhance the information environment, in align with agency theory.
Applying vibroacoustic therapy in the treatment of patients with COVID-associated pneumonia
Authors: Nuralieva G. S. , Shmidt A. S. , Nekludova G. V. , Gaynitdinova V. V. , Tsareva N. A. , Merzhoeva Z. M. , Chikina S. Yu. , Trushenko N. V. , Berikkhanov Z. G. , Suvorova O. A. , Kurkieva F. T. , Avdeev I. S. , Bolotskaia A. A. , Avdeev S. N. 
Published: May 2024

Introduction. Pneumonia is a group of acute infectious (mainly bacterial) diseases of various etiology, pathogenesis, and morphological characteristics characterized by focal lesions of the respiratory tract of the lungs with the obligatory presence of intraalveolar exudation. Currently, a wide range of not only pharmacological, but also physiotherapeutic methods of treatment is available. Vibroacoustic therapy is also used to facilitate the discharge of bronchopulmonary secretions.Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of vibroacoustic pulmonary therapy using the BARK VibroLUNG device (manufactured by BARK Technology, Kazakhstan) in patients with COVID-19.Materials and methods. 70 patients with PCR-confirmed positive COVID-19 infection were included in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups, which statistically did not differ from each other. Group 1 (n = 35) underwent vibroacoustic pulmonary therapy (VALT) in combination with basic treatment. Group 2 (n = 35) received only basic treatment. VALT was performed for 7 days, 2 sessions per day for 20 minutes.Results. Against the background of complex therapy in combination with the course of VALT, patients in the study group showed a statistically significant decrease in the duration of hospitalization to 19 (12–29) days, as opposed to 27 (24–34) days (p = 0.003) in the control group. When comparing the changes in the indicators of the surviving patients of the study group, a positive dynamics of the main indicators against the background of VALT was obtained: ∆VAS -2 (-3; -1), р = 0.000; ∆SpO2– 6 (2; 7), р = 0.002; ∆PaO2–13 (2; 19), р= 0.001 in comparison with the dynamics of similar indicators of the control group.Conclusions. The results have shown the effectiveness of vibroacoustic therapy in the treatment of patients with coronavirus pneumonia. This method can optimize healthcare costs for the treatment of COVID-19, as there is a significant decrease of duration of hospitalization.
Interferon gamma as a trigger of chronic viral infections and inflammatory dermatoses
Authors: Evdokimov E. Yu. , Svechnikova E. V. , Ponezheva Zh. B. 
Published: May 2024

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is the only representative of the type II interferon family regulating Th1 and Th2 immune responses. The discovery of IFN-γ is associated with the name of E. Frederick Wheelock. The expression of the IFNG gene provides a pleiotropic effect for IFN-γ, the main immune directions of this cytokine are antiviral, antibacterial and antiprotozoal. Unfortunately, in publications devoted to the relationship between the severity of inflammatory dermatoses (psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis) and levels of interferon gamma production, there is no consensus on the direct unity of these events. Although in most cases with acute viral diseases, an increase in interferon production is noted at the initial stages, but in some acute respiratory viral infections, its increase is not recorded (COVID-19, etc.), in cases of chronic viral diseases caused by retroviral infections – human immunodeficiency virus, human type 1 T-lymphotropic virus and endogenous human retroviruses as a result of prolonged exposure to IFN-γ on tissues, their damage may be noted, as well as a change in the functional state of CD4+ T cells. In cases of diseases caused by the herpes simplex virus 2, IFN-γ also has a complex effect on the intercellular relationships of infected and uninfected keratinocytes, as well as on the processes of apoptosis in Langerhans cells migrating to the dermis, which causes a violation of CD4+ and CD8+ involvement in the focus+ T-lymphocytes. In autoimmune diseases, IFN-γ can have a multidirectional effect. In particular, in patients with multiple sclerosis, IFN-γ regulates the processes of neuroinflammation and, depending on the concentration, can either reduce the number of CD11b+ myeloid cells of the central nervous system and reduce the infiltration of inflamed cells and normalize the processes of demyelination, or with an increase in IFN-γ production lead to reverse effects. At the same time, an enhancement of IFN-γ for transcription factors of differentially expressed genes in the case of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients has been proven.