bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult pneumococcal meningitis patients – a Dutch prospective nationwide cohort study
Authors: Liechti Fabian D. , Bijlsma Merijn W. , Brouwer Matthijs C. , van de Beek Diederik 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To investigate clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with pneumococcal meningitis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods
In a Dutch prospective cohort, risk factors and clinical characteristics of pneumococcal meningitis episodes occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic (starting March 2020) were compared with those from baseline and the time afterwards. Outcomes were compared with an age-adjusted logistic regression model.

Results
We included 1,699 patients in 2006–2020, 50 patients in 2020–2021, and 182 patients in 2021–2023. After March 2020 relatively more alcoholism was reported (2006–2020, 6.1%; 2020–2021, 18%; 2021–2023, 9.7%; P = 0.002) and otitis–sinusitis was less frequently reported (2006–2020, 45%; 2020–2021, 22%; 2021–2023, 47%; P = 0.006). Other parameters, i.e. age, sex, symptom duration or initial C-reactive protein level, remained unaffected. Compared to baseline, lumbar punctures were more frequently delayed (on admission day, 2006–2020, 89%; 2020–2021, 74%; 2021–2022, 86%; P = 0.002) and outcomes were worse (‘good recovery’, 2020–2021, OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.8).

Conclusion
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed worse outcomes in patients with pneumococcal meningitis. This may be explained by differing adherence to restrictions according to risk groups or by reduced health care quality.
Local relaxation of residual stress in high-strength steel welded joints treated by HFMI
Authors: Ono Yuki , Remes Heikki , Kinoshita Koji , Yıldırım Halid Can , Nussbaumer Alain 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis research studies the influence of high-peak loads on local relaxation of residual stress and fatigue damage in high-strength steel welded joints treated by high-frequency mechanical impact (HFMI) treatment. The joint behavior is simulated with elastic–plastic finite element analyses that account for the combined effect of geometry, residual stress, and material properties. This simulation uses two treated geometry models: with or without surface roughness on HFMI groove, and two material properties: S690QL and AH36 structural steels. The results show that surface roughness and load history, including high-peak loads, significantly influence fatigue response. It is revealed that the model neglecting the surface roughness cannot represent the amount of residual stress change and fatigue damage at less than 100 µm depth from the surface. In addition, the local yield strength in the HFMI-treated zone affects the plasticity behavior near the surface imperfection under the high-peak loads, which provides comparatively different fatigue damage between S690QL and AH36 in some cases. As a result, this study provides the further understanding needed to develop a robust modeling approach to the fatigue life estimation of HFMI-treated welds subjected to high-peak loads.
Examining the Etiology of Asian American Suicide in the United States
Authors: DiBenedetti Cassie , Zimmerman Gregory M. , Fridel Emma E. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractResearch highlights racial and ethnic disparities in suicide, but Asian American suicide receives very little attention in the literature. This is the first comprehensive, large-scale, nationally representative study of completed suicide among Asian Americans in the United States. Descriptive and multilevel regression techniques compared the risk factors for completed suicide across 227,786 Asian American, White, African American, Hispanic, and American Indian suicide decedents from 2003 to 2019. Results indicated that Asian American suicide decedents were significantly less likely than their counterparts to have several risk factors for suicide. Asian Americans were less likely to be male, uneducated, and unmarried. Asian Americans were less likely to use alcohol and drugs, to have mental health problems, and to die by firearm, relative to other suicide methods. Asian Americans were less likely to have a history of prior suicide attempts, to have intimate partner problems, and to have criminal legal problems. Conversely, Asian Americans were more likely to reside in places with higher levels of concentrated disadvantage, residential instability, racial and ethnic heterogeneity, and population density. The results underscore the need for race-specific suicide prevention strategies that, for Asian Americans in particular, take into account cultural values and barriers to help-seeking behavior.
Acromegalia e gravidanza: gestione clinica
Authors: Comune Irene , Cristilli Giulia , Verrienti Martina , Zatelli Maria Chiara , Ambrosio Maria Rosaria 
Published: June 2024

SommarioL’acromegalia si associa frequentemente a ridotta fertilità nelle donne affette, complici più fattori tra cui l’età media alla diagnosi, l’iperprolattinemia, l’ipogonadismo ipogonadotropo e l’effetto diretto dell’eccesso di Growth Hormon/Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (GH/IGF-1) sull’asse gonadotropo e sull’ovaio. Nonostante ciò, negli ultimi anni è in aumento il numero di gravidanze che si verificano in queste donne, grazie a una migliore efficacia dei trattamenti disponibili, permettendo il raggiungimento di un buon controllo di malattia, e grazie al ricorso a tecniche di riproduzione medicalmente assistita. Di conseguenza, aumenta anche la conoscenza riguardo ai rischi potenzialmente connessi a questa condizione. La gravidanza nelle donne acromegaliche ha generalmente un decorso privo di complicanze per madre e feto, tuttavia deve essere pianificata e gestita in maniera adeguata. In questa rassegna, in particolare, vengono esaminati gli effetti della gravidanza sulle dimensioni tumorali e sui livelli di GH e IGF-1, gli effetti dei farmaci GH soppressivi sul feto e l’impatto delle comorbilità cardiovascolari e metaboliche che si associano a malattia non controllata; viene inoltre proposto un modello di gestione alla luce delle evidenze in letteratura.
Monotonic Fuzzy Systems With Goniometric Membership Functions
Authors: Hušek Petr 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Fuzzy logic-based systems are nowadays commonly used in nonlinear function approximation when incoming data are available. Their main advantage is that the resulting rules can be interpreted understandably. Nevertheless, when the data are noisy an overfitting may occur which leads to poor accuracy and generalization ability. Prior information about the nonlinear function may improve fuzzy system performance. In this paper the case when the function is monotonic with respect to some or all variables is considered. Sufficient conditions for the monotonicity of first-order Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems with raised cosine membership functions are derived. Performance of the proposed fuzzy system is tested on two benchmark datasets
Multi-Objective Optimization of the Recovery of Base and Precious Metals from Waste Printed Circuit Boards by Two-Stage Hydrometallurgical Process Using Taguchi-Based Grey Relationship Analysis
Authors: Aral Serdar , Beşe Ayşe Vildan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis study focused on determining the optimum conditions for the maximum recovery of base and precious metals from printed circuit boards of end-of-life desktop computer motherboards using Taguchi-based grey relation analysis. In the first stage of the two-stage study, optimum conditions were investigated for the dissolution of base metals (copper and zinc) in waste printed circuit boards under high-pressure leaching. The dissolution of base metals was performed based on the L25 orthogonal array designed by Taguchi method. In the second step, designed according to Taguchi L9 orthogonal array to recover gold and silver from the solid remaining from the pressure-leaching process. Optimum combinations of parameters in both stages were determined using the multi-criteria optimization technique grey relationship analysis. In the experiments carried out in the determined optimum combinations, 99.62% of copper, 98.76% of zinc, 99.15 of silver and 85.82% of gold in waste printed circuit boards were recovered.
Graphical Abstract
Compact spaces homeomorphic to their respective squares
Authors: Dudák Jan , Vejnar Benjamin 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWe deal with topological spaces homeomorphic to their respective squares. Primarily, we investigate the existence of large families of such spaces in some subclasses of compact metrizable spaces. As our main result we show that there is a family of size continuum of pairwise non-homeomorphic compact metrizable zero-dimensional spaces homeomorphic to their respective squares. This answers a question of Włodzimierz J. Charatonik. We also discuss the situation in the classes of continua, Peano continua and absolute retracts.
Conditions for approaching shared value creation management in the Japanese rice flour-related business: application of mixed methods research
Authors: Kiminami Lily , Furuzawa Shinichi , Kiminami Akira 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis is the second paper on creating shared value (CSV) management in Japanese rice flour-related businesses conducted by the same authors. In the first study, the relationships among business philosophies, business strategies and business outcomes of rice flour-related corporates in Japan were clarified using structural equation modeling (SEM) and cognitive mapping of questionnaire survey results. The management philosophy, effective altruism, influences business strategies (potential head market, tail market, organizational learning, and proposals from stakeholders) of rice flour-related corporates, inducing innovation and determining current business performance and future prospects for shared value creation. The business performance reflects their expectations for the rice flour market, and influences the direction of market development. In addition, we showed a need for policy innovations that strengthen effective altruism and create shared value through organizational learning of the stakeholders in rice flour-related businesses. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify conditions for approaching CSV management in domestic rice flour-related businesses by applying mixed methods research (MMR). Specifically, a latent class analysis (LCA) was introduced to classify the management characteristics of rice flour-related businesses with survey results, and a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) conducted on the CSV management entities extracted from the LCA to clarify the necessary and sufficient conditions for achieving CSV management. The results revealed that there are very few rice flour-related businesses in Japan that have approached CSV management, and sufficient conditions for approaching CSV management in rice flour-related businesses are a combination of effective altruism and various management strategies (long tail/organizational learning/innovation/stakeholder proposals). Therefore, we conclude that to achieve a sustainable regional development of rice flour-related businesses, policy innovations that integrate pull-type and push-type strategies are important.
Total factor productivity and institutional quality in Vietnam: which institutions matter most?
Authors: Ha Van , Andre John , Kim Anh Tran , Thu Hien Nguyen Thi 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe roles of institutional quality’s impact on firm performance are becoming increasingly prominent in the literature. This is true in the Global North and South. Vietnam has seen less research on this topic than other developing countries, so this paper seeks to rectify this by examining whether or not institutional quality influences firm performance, as measured by total factor productivity (TFP). This paper also digs deeper into the sub-components to see which institutions are the most influential. We applied the General Method of Moments (GMM) approach to a firm-level panel dataset covering the 2010–2020 period to examine institutional quality's impact on firm TFP. Results are explored by firm size and by ownership type (domestic private, foreign and state-owned). Using rich datasets covering institutional quality at the provincial level in Vietnam and also individual firm performance from 2010 to 2020, we found that Time cost (how long it takes firms to deal with the government on various issues) and Labor policy (how easy it is to hire good quality labor) are the most important of the 10 institutions studied. Additionally, while not all institutions influence TFP, institutional quality overall (all 10 institutions combined) clearly has a positive influence on TFP. This study fills a research gap by examining the relationship between institutional quality and firm performance in Vietnam. The findings emphasize the significance of Time cost and Labor policy as influential institutions and highlight the positive overall impact of institutional quality on TFP. The policy recommendations offered provide valuable insights for the government to further enhance firm productivity through targeted measures.
Hybrid photo paper-based microfluidic device for colorimetric detection of iodine in salt
Authors: Chong Arechkang , Sriv Tharith , Chey Chan Oeurn , Khan Sovann , Shin Kwanwoo , Soum Veasna 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMicrofluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) have gained widespread use in various analytical applications because they are low-cost and suitable for onsite testing. The development of µPADs, including fabrication methods, new materials, and enhancement functionality is crucial to advance their practical application in analytical chemistry. In this study, we introduce a new hybrid paper-based analytical device, the hybrid photo paper-based microfluidic device (hPPMD), which combines a photo paper-based microfluidic device (PPMD) with a µPAD. We conducted a systematic study that detailed hPPMD’s characteristics, including surface properties and fluidic transportation. The hPPMD showed two fluidic transportation behaviors: continuous flow and discontinuous flow at the device junction, depending on the orientation of the device combination. Our hPPMD could increase fluidic flow approximately four times the speed when six layers of guided channels were added. The customized hPPMD was used for colorimetric detection of iodine in table salt, and then the result was quantitatively analyzed using a computer and smartphone with color analysis software. The detection zones of the hPPMD showed a flawless circular color signal. Under optimum conditions, the hPPMD was sensitive enough to detect iodine in salt solutions at various concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 ppm. The developed hPPMD should be a simple and low-cost analytical device for onsite qualitative analysis of the iodine and other chemical contaminants in food and the environment.
Synergistic effect between biochar and sulfidized nano-sized zero-valent iron enhanced cadmium immobilization in a contaminated paddy soil
Authors: Zhou Yu , Lv Lu , Yu Zhi , Zhang Jian , Wang Bing , Yang Ruidong , Chen Miao , Wu Pan , Wang Shengsen 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBiochar-based sulfidized nano-sized zero-valent iron (SNZVI/BC) can effectively immobilize cadmium (Cd) in contaminated paddy soils. However, the synergistic effects between biochar and SNZVI on Cd immobilization, as well as the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, a soil microcosm incubation experiment was performed to investigate the immobilization performance of SNZVI/BC towards Cd in the contaminated paddy soil. Results indicated that the addition of SNZVI/BC at a dosage of 3% significantly lessened the concentration of available Cd in the contaminated soil from 14.9 (without addition) to 9.9 mg kg−1 with an immobilization efficiency of 33.3%, indicating a synergistic effect. The sequential extraction results indicated that the proportion of the residual Cd in the contaminated soil increased from 8.1 to 10.3%, manifesting the transformation of the unstable Cd fractions to the steadier specie after application of SNZVI/BC. Also, the addition of SNZVI/BC increased soil pH, organic matter, and dissolved organic carbon, which significantly altered the bacterial community in the soil, enriching the relative abundances of functional microbes (e.g., Bacillus, Clostridium, and Desulfosporosinus). These functional microorganisms further facilitated the generation of ammonium, nitrate, and ferrous iron in the contaminated paddy soil, enhancing nutrients’ availability. The direct interaction between SNZVI/BC and Cd2+, the altered soil physicochemical properties, and the responded bacterial community played important roles in Cd immobilization in the contaminated soil. Overall, the biochar-based SNZVI is a promising candidate for the effective immobilization of Cd and the improvement of nutrients’ availability in the contaminated paddy soil.
Graphical Abstract
Square-grid sampling to address the vegetation patterns of declined Mediterranean forest ecosystems
Authors: La Montagna Dario , Buffi Francesca , Cambria Vito Emanuele , De Sanctis Michele , Attorre Fabio , Fanelli Giuliano 
Published: June 2024

AbstractPalo Laziale Wood is a relatively small biotope (129 ha) situated along the coast of the Metropolitan Area of Rome, Lazio region, Italy. Despite being one of the region's remaining patches of an ancient oak floodplain broad-leaved forest, it conserves numerous priority habitats and species of high conservation interest. The vegetation consists mainly of Turkey oak stands with small temporary ponds and flooded meadows. The forest underwent a dieback in 2003, triggered by a significantly hot and dry summer. In 2018, an ecological restoration project (LIFE PRIMED LIFE17 NAT/GR/000511) was initiated to restore Palo Laziale’s ecosystems. This paper presents the methodological approach employed to assess the vegetation ecology of a degraded forest ecosystem. Such an investigation was a key component of the Adaptative Restoration Plan of the Project. It provided the baseline necessary for designing and calibrating the planned direct conservation actions on the target habitat types (91M0: Pannonian-Balkanic turkey oak-sessile oak forests, 3170*: Mediterranean temporary ponds, 5230*: Arborescent matorral with Laurus nobilis, etc.) and establishing reference values to enable long-term monitoring. Plant taxa comparison from 1 ha square-grid sampling and multivariate analyses were carried out to group species and identify environmental and Ellenberg-based drivers. Six ecologically distinct units were found, eventually confirming the distinctive ecological heterogeneity of Mediterranean ecosystems. Amongst these, the hygrophilous vegetation has resulted to be the one mainly affected by the dieback outbreak. Due to the high heterogeneity, introduced by the massive tree mortality, the method of regular 1 ha squares turned out to be a reliable alternative to random vegetation sampling plots (e.g., phytosociological relevés) to disentangle ecological patterns of fragmented and disturbed habitats.
Applications of martingale Hardy Orlicz–Lorentz–Karamata theory in Fourier analysis
Authors: Hao Zhiwei , Li Libo , Weisz Ferenc 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn this article, we discuss the applications of martingale Hardy Orlicz–Lorentz–Karamata spaces in Fourier analysis. More precisely, we show that the partial sums of the Walsh–Fourier series converge to the function in norm if $$f\in L_{\Phi ,q,b}$$

f
∈

L

Φ
,
q
,
b

with $$1<p_-\le p_+<\infty $$

1
<

p
-

≤

p
+

<
∞

. The equivalence of maximal operators on martingale Hardy Orlicz–Lorentz–Karamata spaces is presented. The Fejér summability method is also studied and it is proved that the maximal Fejér operator is bounded from martingale Hardy Orlicz–Lorentz–Karamata spaces to Orlicz–Lorentz–Karamata spaces. As a consequence, we obtain conclusions about almost everywhere and norm convergence of Fejér means.
Recent progress on catalyst development for ring-opening C-O hydrogenolysis of cyclic ethers in the production of biomass-derived chemicals
Authors: Tomishige Keiichi , Honda Masayoshi , Sugimoto Hiroshi , Liu Lujie , Yabushita Mizuho , Nakagawa Yoshinao 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCatalytic hydrogenolysis systems of C-O bonds in furan ring, tetrahydrofuran ring and tetrahydropyran ring in biomass-derived cyclic compounds are reviewed. Furfural or its hydrogenation products (furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol) have been frequently used as substrates for this type of reactions. Ring-opening of furfuryl alcohol over metal catalysts combined with basic components gives a mixture of 1,2-pentanediol, 1,5-pentanediol and other by-products. The selectivity much depends on catalysts and reaction conditions, and good 1,2-pentanediol selectivity can be obtained. For 1,5-pentanediol synthesis, more selective approaches have been reported such as Cu-zeolite catalysts for furfuryl alcohol hydrogenolysis in flow reactor and M-M’Ox-type (M: noble metal; M’: transition metal) supported catalysts or Ni-LnOx (Ln: rare earth element) catalysts for tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol hydrogenolysis. The metal catalysts and M-M’Ox-type catalysts can be applied to ring-opening hydrogenolysis of other furan- and tetrahydrofuran-based compounds, respectively. Among the products of ring-opening hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived compounds, 1,5-pentanediol seems to be the most important because of the potential use as a monomer. The recent progress and reported properties of polymers using 1,5-pentanediol as a monomer are also summarized.
Achievement of Guideline-Recommended Targets for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in 38 Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Liu Zhiguang , Yan Minghai , Tse Lap Ah , Zhu Yingxuan , Lang Xinyue , Liu Xin , Lin Yang , Hu Bo 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of achieving the secondary prevention targets recommended in the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 38 low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods
We pooled nationally representative cross-sectional surveys from 38 LMICs between 2013 and 2020. Treatment, metabolic and lifestyle targets were assessed for individuals with a self-reported history of CVD according to WHO’s recommendations. Associations between the prevalence of guideline adherence and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed using multivariate Poisson regression models.

Results
The pooled sample included 126 106 participants, of whom 9821 (6.8% [95% CI 6.4–7.2]) reported a history of CVD. Overall, the prevalence of achieving treatment targets in patients with CVD was 22.7% (95% CI, 21.0-24.5%) for antihypertensive drugs, 19.6% (17.9-21.4%) for aspirin, and 13.6% (12.0-15.44%) for statins. The prevalence of achieving metabolic targets was 54.9% (52.5-57.3%) for BMI, 39.9% (37.7-42.2%) for blood pressure, 46.1% (43.6-48.6%) for total cholesterol, and 84.9% (83.1-86.5%) for fasting blood glucose. The prevalence of achieving lifestyle targets was 83.2% (81.5-84.7%) for not smoking, 83.1% (81.2-84.9%) for not drinking, 65.5% (63.1-67.7%) for sufficient physical activity and 16.2% (14.5-18.0%) for healthy diet. Only 6.1% (5.1-7.4%) achieved three treatment targets, 16.0% (14.3-17.9%) achieved four metabolic targets, and 6.9% (5.8-8.0%) achieved four lifestyle targets. Upper-middle income countries were better than low-income countries at achieving the treatment, non-drinking and dietary targets. Being younger and female were associated with poorer achievement of metabolic targets.

Conclusion
In LMICs, achieving the targets recommended in the guideline for treatment, metabolism and healthy lifestyles for patients with CVD is notably low. This highlights an urgent need for effective, systematic secondary prevention strategies to improve CVD management.