bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Size Distributions and Health Risks of Particulate Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Atmosphere at Coastal Areas in Ningbo, China
Authors: Wang Keqiang , Shi Yasheng , Zhang Jingjing , Tong Lei , Li Dan , Zheng Jie , Xiao Hang 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Most current research focusing on the health risk assessments of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have not analyzed the size distributions and human respiratory deposition rates. In the present study, size-separated particulate matter (PM) was collected in the coastal area of Ningbo using an Anderson eight-stage air sampler over a 1-year period (2014–2015). The 16 US Environmental Protection Agency priority PAHs associated with PM were pretreated with rapid solvent extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The respiratory exposure assessment was determined using the multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model. The results show that all PAHs exhibited bimodal distribution with one mode peak in accumulation mode (0.43–0.65 µm) and another mode peak in coarse mode (4.7–5.8 µm). In addition, a low coefficient of divergence of PAHs between PM2.1 and PM2.1−10 indicated a high spatial heterogeneity in source factor contribution and formation mechanism. The deposition fluxes (tracheobronchial + pulmonary) of PM were highest for children in the size range of 3.3 µm &lt; particle diameter (Dp) &lt; 9 µm, while for males and females the highest fluxes occurred in the size range of 1.1 µm &lt; Dp &lt; 2.1 µm. The depositions of coarse PM in children were significantly higher than those in adults. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPeq) depositions of dibenz[a,h]anthracene ranged from 1.4e-04 to 0.015 ng h−1, which were highest among the PAHs. The PAHs on particles with Dp &gt;4.7 µm contributed approximately three times more to children than to males and females. Therefore, the toxicity of coarse PM to children needed attention. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) for children, males, and females were estimated to be 2.92 × 10−7, 1.82 × 10−7, and 2.38 × 10−7, respectively, which were below the cancer risk guideline value (10−6). These ILCR values were much lower than the risks calculated without considering particle size distributions and respiratory depositions. The combination of the size-segregated sampling technique and the MPPD model can effectively avoid the overestimation of human respiratory exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1364–1377. © 2024 SETAC
A mathematical‐boundary‐recognition domain‐decomposition Lattice Boltzmann method combined with large eddy simulation applied to airfoil aeroacoustics simulation
Authors: Jia Qi , Zhang Jin , Liang Wen‐zhi , Liu Pei‐qing , Qu Qiu‐lin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBeing a direct computational aeroacoustics method, Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has great potential and broad application perspective in the field of numerical simulation of aerodynamic noise due to its low dispersion and low dissipation. A series of numerical algorithms and the related improvements based on the standard LBM method are proposed and developed in this paper to adapt to the airfoil noise calculation with complex grid at middle‐high Reynolds number. First, a new mathematical‐boundary‐recognition algorithm based on Green's formula is proposed to deal with complex curved geometric models, which is validated by three‐element airfoil 30P30N benchmark. Then, in order to reduce grid redundancy and improve computing efficiency, the grid refinement technique of domain decomposition model (DDM) is adopted and also improved, which is verified by calculating the flow and sound fields around 2D and 3D cylinders at Reynolds number equal to 90,000. Finally, three different LES turbulence models are combined with the standard MRT‐LBM method, where different finite difference schemes are used to solve Reynolds stress tensor which is different from the traditional one. Through the direct acoustic numerical simulation of NACA0012 airfoil at Reynolds number equal to 200,000, the effects of Smagorinsky models and Wall‐adapting local eddy‐viscosity (WALE) model on aerodynamic noise prediction are compared and analyzed. Overall, the proposed methodology is shown to be appropriate for predicting the aerodynamic noise at low Mach number and can successfully simulate the generation and propagation of far field acoustics.
Boosting Water Retention in Agriculture: Vine Biochar‐Doped Hydrogels' Swelling and Germination Effects
Authors: Uysal Yağmur , Doğaroğlu Zeynep Görkem , Makas Mehmet Nuri , Çaylali Zehranur 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWater scarcity presents a formidable challenge to agriculture, particularly in arid, semiarid, and rainfed settings. In agricultural contexts, hydrogels serve as granular agents for water retention, undergoing considerable expansion upon water exposure. They assume versatile roles encompassing soil‐water retention, the dispensation of nutrients and pesticides, seed encapsulation, erosion mitigation, and even food supplementation. This study's objective involves the examination of biochar‐infused hydrogels, fashioned by incorporating vine pruning waste‐derived biochars, and the assessment of swelling behaviors in various aqueous environments encompassing deionized, tap, and saline water at concentrations of 0.5–1%. Characterizations of the vine‐biochars‐VB and biochar‐incorporated hydrogels‐VBHG are executed, with particular attention to their swelling properties across diverse media. As an initial step toward appraising their agricultural relevance, these hydrogels are introduced to a germination medium featuring wheat seeds to discern potential influences on germination dynamics. The maximum swelling capacity of VBHG is recorded in deionized water, tap water at pH 7.0, tap water at pH 9.0, saline water at 0.5%, and saline water at 1%, reaching 352%, 207%, 230%, 522%, and 549%, respectively. Remarkably, the 0.5% VBHG treatment exhibits the most pronounced root elongation. The application of hydrogels in agriculture exhibits promise, particularly within drought‐related contexts and potential soilless applications.
Examining the classification performance of pre‐trained capsule networks on imbalanced bone marrow cell dataset
Authors: Aydin Atasoy Nesrin , Faris Abdulla Al Rahhawi Amina 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe automatic detection of bone marrow (BM) cell diseases plays a vital role in the medical field; it helps to make diagnoses more precise and effective, which leads to early detection and can significantly improve patient outcomes and increase the chances of successful intervention. This study proposed a fully automated intelligent system for BM classification by developing and enhancing Capsule Neural Network (CapsNet) architecture. Although CapsNet has demonstrated success in many classification tasks, it still has some limitations and challenges associated with using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), which suffer from information loss during the pooling and discarding of detailed spatial information, resulting in the loss of fine‐grained features. Additionally, CNNs must help capture hierarchical feature relationships and often learn them implicitly by stacking convolutional layers. In contrast, CapsNets are designed to capture hierarchical features through dynamic routing and relationships between capsules, resulting in a more explicit representation of spatial hierarchy. CapsNets manage transformations and offer equivariance, preserving spatial information through capsule routing mechanisms. Further, to improve how features are represented, pre‐trained models such as Residual Capsule Network (RES‐CapsNet), Visual Geometry Group Capsule Network (VGG‐CapsNet), and Google Network (Inception V3) (GN‐CapsNet) have been used. This helps the network obtain the low‐ and mid‐level features and information it has previously learned so that subsequent capsule layers receive better initial information. Additionally, the Synthetic Minority Over‐Sampling Technique (SMOTE) was implemented to mitigate class imbalance. It generates synthetic samples in feature space by over‐sampling the minority class, leading to improving model performance in accurately classifying rare instances. Fine‐tuning the hyperparameters and implementing these improvements resulted in remarkable accuracy rates on a large BM dataset, with reduced training time and trainable parameters. CapsNet achieved 96.99%, VGG‐CapsNet achieved 98.95%, RES‐CapsNet achieved 99.24%, and the GN‐CapsNet model demonstrated superior accuracy at 99.45%. GN‐Caps Net was the best because it requires a small number of epochs and has an effective deep inception architecture that efficiently extracts features at different scales to form a robust representation of the input. Our proposed models were compared with existing state‐of‐the‐art models using the BM dataset; the results showed that our models outperformed the existing approaches and demonstrated excellent performance. Further, this automated system can analyze large amounts of data and complex cells in images of the BM dataset. Thus, it gives healthcare professionals a detailed understanding of different diseases, which may take time to achieve manually.
Efficiency and productivity growth in US food manufacturing industries: Exporters, ownership changes, and firm characteristics
Authors: Geylani Pinar Celikkol 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study employs a stochastic production frontier framework to measure productivity growth among exporters, non‐exporters, and firms experiencing ownership changes through mergers and acquisitions in US food manufacturing. Analyzing a panel data set that integrates Economic Censuses and transaction‐level exports, the results reveal the coexistence of more productive exporters, driven by technical efficiency, alongside less productive non‐exporters. Exporters in arm's length transactions show productivity growth driven by technical efficiency change, while those in related party transactions benefit mainly from technological change. Firms undergoing ownership changes exhibit positive productivity growth with a greater contribution from technical efficiency compared to those without such changes.
Challenges in the diagnosis and management of Robert's uterus: Systematic review and case presentation
Authors: Gulino Ferdinando Antonio , Occhipinti Sara , Ettore Carla , Incognito Giosuè Giordano , Russo Emanuele , Cannone Francesco Giuseppe , Ettore Giuseppe 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRobert's uterus is a rare Müllerian duct anomaly (MDA) characterized by complete asymmetric septum dividing uterine cavity into two non‐communicating parts. This study offers insights into diagnosing and management of this condition in a young patient, and a systematic literature review. The review included 19 studies from 2013 to 2023. 11.4% of women reported a history of miscarriage and 5.7% primary infertility. Dysmenorrhea was the most frequent symptom (54.3%), and 14.3% of patients had a coexisting endometriosis. The surgical interventions most commonly combine laparoscopic and hysteroscopic techniques. Robert's uterus requires heightened clinical awareness for early diagnosis, particularly in young women.
The effect of augmented reality book on the proficiency of local anesthesia administration of the inferior alveolar nerve
Authors: Yari Amir , Fasih Paniz , Goodarzi Ali , Nouralishahi Atieh , Nikeghbal Dorsa 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackground/objectiveAdvancements in augmented reality (AR) technology enable developers to create augmented reality books (AR Books). AR Books can show interactive 3D objects and multimedia content to the user. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a developed AR Book on the theoretical and practical abilities in the administration of local anesthesia of the inferior alveolar nerve block.MethodsAn exclusive AR Book was developed based on Chapter 14, Handbook of Local Anesthesia, seventh edition, Stanley F. Malamed, which enabled students to use their book (printed or electronic) as an AR Book. Forty dental students were randomly divided into control and study groups. In the control group, students were asked to use regular books, while in the study group, students were instructed to use interactive AR Books. All students took the written exam, scoring 0 to 10. Also, the administration of mandibular local anesthesia was evaluated in students. The level of concentration during the study, the written exam score, the practical score, the success rate of local anesthesia, and the needed time for injection were compared between the two groups.ResultsThere was a significant difference in the level of concentration during the study (p < 0.001), practical skill score (p = 0.037), and needed time for injection (p = 0.040) between the two groups. Conversely, the success rate of local anesthesia was almost similar (p = 0.705). Although the written exam score was higher in the study group than in the control group, the difference was not significant (p = 0.414).ConclusionUsing AR Books can engage students and help them to remain focused during the study. AR Books may be beneficial in enhancing the practical abilities of dental students.
Acute effects of negative heel shoes on perceived pain and knee biomechanical characteristics of runners with patellofemoral pain
Authors: Gu Yu , Zheng Zhiyi , Zeng Quanshou , Yang Chen , Song Yu , Wan Xianglin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundTo determine the effects of negative heel shoes on perceived pain and knee biomechanical characteristics of runners with patellofemoral pain (PFP) during running.MethodsSixteen runners with PFP ran in negative (−11 mm drops) and positive (5 mm drops) heel shoes while visual analog scale (VAS) scores, retroreflective markers, and ground reaction force were acquired by applying a 10‐cm VAS, infrared motion capture system, and a three‐dimensional force plate. Knee moment, patellofemoral joint stress (PFJS), and other biomechanical parameters during the stance phase were calculated based on inverse dynamics and a biomechanical model of the patellofemoral joint.ResultsThe foot inclination angle, peak PFJS during the stance phase, patellofemoral joint reaction force, knee extension moment, and quadriceps force at the time of peak PFJS of runners with PFP in negative heel shoes were lower than that in positive heel shoes, no significant difference was found in VAS scores, knee flexion angle, patellofemoral contact area, and quadriceps moment arm at the time of peak PFJS.ConclusionsCompared to positive heel shoes, running in negative heel shoes decreases peak PFJS in runners with PFP, which may decrease patellofemoral joint loading, thus reducing the possibility of further development of PFP.Trail RegistrationSports Science Experiment Ethics Committee of Beijing Sport University. 2023095H, April 18, 2023 (prospectively registered).
It is Monday again: Weekend sleep differentially relates to the workweek via reattachment on Monday
Authors: Völker Jette , Wiegelmann Monika , Koch Theresa J. S. , Sonnentag Sabine 
Published: March 2024

SummaryThe weekend constitutes an important recovery period for employees. However, psychologically reattaching to work on Monday can be difficult because employees must transition from their private to their work role. Building on boundary theory and integrating a sleep and circadian perspective, we shed light on this transition by investigating antecedents and outcomes of Monday reattachment. We propose that three weekend sleep characteristics differentially relate to reattachment on Monday: weekend sleep quality, catch‐up sleep (extended sleep duration on the weekend), and social sleep lag (differences in sleep times workweek vs. weekend). Successful reattachment on Monday should, in turn, be related to lower levels of exhaustion and higher task performance during the workweek. We conducted a weekly diary study with 310 employees (933 weeks) over four workweeks. Two‐level path models demonstrated that higher weekend sleep quality was indirectly related to lower levels of workweek exhaustion via higher levels of Monday reattachment. In contrast, higher catch‐up sleep was related to higher levels of workweek exhaustion via lower levels of Monday reattachment. Accordingly, we demonstrate that Monday reattachment can set the tone for the entire workweek, but the capability to reattach can depend on weekend sleep as a core recovery process.
Development and perception of surgery‐specific goals of care discussions in the preoperative setting: A learning pilot
Authors: Letica‐Kriegel Allison S. , Rosen Roni , McNeil Nita , Thompson Errika , James Monique , Broach Vance , Roche Kara Long , Riportella Michaela , Ng Susan , Bernal Camila , Vaynrub Max , Downey Robert , Voigt Louis , Epstein Andrew S. , Nelson Judith , Goldfrank Deborah , Nash Garrett M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundGoals of care discussions are infrequently documented in the preoperative period. Furthermore, documentation does not consistently address what matters most to patients, although patient values (PV) are central to person‐centered care.MethodsA multidisciplinary working group was formed. An electronic note comprised of (1) topics of discussion, (2) PV, and (3) advance care planning (ACP), was created and embedded into existing note templates for Gynecologic Surgical Oncology. Surgeons and advanced practice providers (APPs) were educated to conduct and document these conversations in preoperative clinic for patients undergoing cancer surgery for a pilot period. Data were collected regarding usage of the template. Focus groups with surgeons, APPs, and patients were conducted. Qualitative analysis was performed on transcripts.ResultsDuring the pilot, 7 surgeon/APP teams utilized the template on a total of 55 notes. Average number of notes completed per surgeon was 7.8 (SD 8.5). Forty‐six notes (84%) included topics of discussion, 15 (27%) included PV, 4 (7%) included ACP. Qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts revealed that clinicians and patients perceived the initiative to be useful and important, although implementation barriers were identified.ConclusionCreating a surgery‐specific GOC template is feasible. Iterative revisions are needed to increase utility in clinic workflows.
Bilateral communication in procurement auctions
Authors: Brosig‐Koch Jeannette , Heinrich Timo , Sterner Martin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe ask how buyers can make use of bilateral communication in a procurement setting with moral hazard. We focus on a setting where buyers and potential sellers can exchange cheap‐talk messages before trading and where the seller is determined via a buyer‐determined procurement auction. In this type of auction, buyers can freely choose among bidders based on bidders' observable characteristics and the prices they ask for. In a controlled laboratory experiment, we found that buyers use free‐form text messages to make requests and to reduce social distance. The relationship between the offers sellers make and the messages they send is mediated by buyers' requests. But, in general, buyers may increase their profits by choosing sellers who promise high quality or large profits. Furthermore, despite the cheap‐talk nature of requests, buyers in our experiment increase their profits by specifically demanding high quality or large profits.
Examining the role of artificial intelligence in advancing pollution reduction strategies
Authors: Liu Fang , Liang Chen 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study is based on the panel data from 2006 to 2020 to explore the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and pollution emission. The study demonstrates a notable and statistically significant reduction in pollution emission intensity attributable to AI. This finding is robust, holding up under various sensitivity analyses and addressing endogeneity using instrumental variable techniques. The mechanism analysis reveals that AI's role in decreasing emissions primarily arises from three factors: the promotion of technological innovation, increased investment in emission reduction technology, and the replacement of low‐skilled labor with more efficient alternatives. We also find more substantial environmental benefits in areas with stricter environmental regulations and higher initial levels of pollution. Additionally, AI is shown to facilitate a symbiotic relationship between economic growth and environmental management. This research provides both empirical evidence and theoretical insights that reinforce the essential role of AI in driving green transformations, process upgrades, and high‐quality development. It situates these advancements within the broader context of the interplay between artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability, and economic progression.
Merger and acquisition, firm‐level cybersecurity risk, and research and development intensity
Authors: Vu Giang Thi Minh , Hoang Khanh , Hoang Huy Viet 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis paper investigates the relationship between firm‐level cybersecurity risk and merger and acquisition (M&A) activities of firms in the United States from 2007 to 2018. Using a novel measure of firm‐level cybersecurity risk and the multivariate regression analysis, we find empirical evidence of a positive association between M&A and cybersecurity risk. Interestingly, cybersecurity risk only increases with intangible assets acquisitions, but not with tangible assets acquisitions. Further empirical analysis shows that the impact of M&A on cybersecurity risk is moderated by technological intensity, with firms that have higher levels of research and development (R&D) intensity facing less pronounced cybersecurity risk. Our findings are robust to different variable measurements and endogeneity diagnoses. Our results deliver important implications for practitioners and policymakers and make a valuable contribution to the literature by providing a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between M&A and cybersecurity risk and by highlighting the role of corporate innovation in mitigating this risk.
Clinical effectiveness of postoperative prostaglandin E1 administration in reducing flap necrosis following microsurgical reconstruction
Authors: Park Se Yeon , Lee Kyeong‐Tae 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundExtensive experimental evidence has suggested the potential efficacy of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in enhancing flap survival, leading to its widespread empirical use following free flap operation. However, the translation of these experimental findings into clinical benefits remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness of postoperative PGE1 administration on the outcomes of microsurgical reconstruction.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted for patients who underwent free flap‐based reconstruction between September 2020 and November 2022, dividing into two cohorts. For all consecutive cases conducted during the formal half, PGE1 was administered for postoperative 7 days (PGE1 cohort), and for those during the latter, PGE1 was not given (non‐PGE1 cohort). The profiles of perfusion‐related complications (PRC) were compared between the two cohorts. Further analyses after propensity‐score matching were performed.ResultsIn total, 274 cases were analyzed, consisting of 142 in PGE1 and 132 in non‐PGE1 cohort. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two cohorts, except for higher rates of comorbidities and chronic wound‐related defects in the PGE1 cohort. Overall PRC developed in 37 cases (13.5%), including 6 (2.1%) total loss and 38 (10.2%) partial necrosis. Compared to the control, the PGE1 cohort exhibited significantly lower rates of overall PRC and partial flap necrosis. This difference remained significant on multivariable analyses. The rate of total flap loss did not differ between the cohorts. Consistent associations were observed in the propensity‐score matching analysis.ConclusionPostoperative administration of PGE1 appears to be associated with reduced risks for the development of partial flap necrosis.