bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Urban Sustainability Using Land-Use Transport Interaction Models
Authors: Spiekermann Klaus , Wegener Michael 
Published: November 2023

The objective of the EU research project PROPOLIS (Planning and Research of Policies for Land Use and Transport for Increasing Urban Sustainability) was to assess urban strategies and to demonstrate their long-term effects in European cities. To reach this goal, a comprehensive framework of methodologies including integrated land-use, transport and environmental models as well as indicator, evaluation and presentation systems was developed.

Sustainable development is viewed as comprising the environmental, socio-cultural and economic dimension. Thirty-five indicators were defined to measure the three dimensions of sustainability, such as air pollution, consumption of natural resources, quality of open space, population exposure to air pollution and noise, equity and opportunities and economic benefits from transport and land use.

Indicator values are derived from state-of-the-art urban land-use and transport models. A number of additional modules, including a justice evaluation module, an economic evaluation module and a GIS-based raster module, were developed and integrated to provide further indicator values. Both multicriteria and cost-benefit analysis methods are used to consistently evaluate the impacts of the policies. The environmental and social dimensions of sustainability are measured using multicriteria analysis for the evaluation of the indicators, whereas cost-benefit analysis is used for the economic dimension. The modelling and evaluation system was implemented in seven European urban regions: Bilbao (Spain), Brussels (Belgium), Dortmund (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Inverness (Scotland), Naples (Italy) and Vicenza (Italy).

A large number of policies were tested with the modelling and evaluation system in the seven urban regions. Policies investigated are land use policies, transport infrastructure policies, transport regulation and pricing policies and combinations of these. Besides a common set of policies examined in all seven urban regions, also city-specific local policies were assessed in each urban region.

The first part of the paper introduces the methodology and the model system developed. A particular focus is on the development of indicators describing urban sustainability derived from different indicator modules in the modelling system. The second part presents selected aggregated results of the policy testing and evaluation for Dortmund as one of the seven urban regions. The paper concludes with recommendations on how successful strategies to enhance the long-term ustainability of urban regions should look like.
Modelling Land Use – Transport Dynamics
Authors: Devereux Lynn , Jin Ying , Elston Ian 
Published: November 2023

This paper describes the use of an integrated land use and transport model in the development of a long-term strategy for sustainable transport in the London to Ipswich Corridor (LOIS) in the UK. The project is one of a number of larger scale corridor studies commissioned by the UK government as part of a major programme of Multi Modal Studies. The application of the model is reviewed in the dynamic interactions between land use and transport policies, and the choice behaviours of the households and travellers in the region. This helps to explain the ways in which policy initiatives may be assessed in terms of the effectiveness in achieving sustainability objectives for the corridor.
Book Review
Authors: van der Heijden Rob E.C.M. 
Published: November 2023

Transport planning has become one of the more complex challenges in our western regions. The tremendous increase in motorised transport in the past decades has had enormous impacts on urban and regional development, social and economic opportunities, environmental quality and technological innovations. Where half a century ago we expected mainly positive impacts of these developments and planned for accommodating them, since about 30 years we are more and more seeking strategies for balancing the advantages with the ever increasing negative impacts. To be mentioned are congestion, traffic accidents, fuel consumption, emissions, noise production, land use, and so on. The process of seeking the right balance is not a smooth one, but a battle based on a lack of knowledge and intervention means, with uncertainty, with unexpected impacts of policy measures, with locked-in behaviour of individuals and firms, with beliefs and changing policy values. In short: transport planning is an ongoing process of often trial- and error based attempts to find the best long term transport management concept for all of us within a dynamic context of rapidly changing conditions. Professionals involved in this battle, often experiencing the failure or only partly success of some policy measure, sometimes start fundamentally doubting whether traffic problems can be tackled by analytical approaches. Such doubts give space to a more normative view, that however has the danger to end in an individual belief.
Effect of different broodstock diets on breeding performance of the critically endangered peninsular carp Hypselobarbus pulchellus (Day, 1870)
Authors: Barlaya G. , Raghavendra C. H. , Ananda Kumar B. S. , Basumatary P. , Hemaprasanth K. 
Published: November 2023

Effect of different broodstock diets on breeding performance of the critically endangered peninsular carp Hypselobarbus pulchellus (Day, 1870) was evaluated. Male and female fish were reared in earthen ponds and fed one of the following diets viz. (i) Control - Fishmeal based feed (crude protein, CP- 35%); (ii) Control feed supplemented at 2% with a commercial product used for lipid regulation in poultry (LC feed) and (iii) Specially formulated diet (CP 35%) with horse gram and black gram in addition to fishmeal (PB feed). Breeding trials were first conducted in 2019. No significant difference in fecundity was recorded among fish from different groups. The experiment was repeated in 2020, where, the Control feed was fed to fish maintained in a pond with aquatic weed Vallisneria spiralis (C+V treatment). Highest relative fecundity and spawn to fry survival was obtained with C+V treatment, there being no significant difference among other breeding performance parameters between treatments. The study indicated that the presence of submerged aquatic plants in the culture environment improves the breeding performance of H. pulchellus.
Keywords: Broodstock diet, Fecundity, Induced breeding, Puntius pulchellus
Microplastic ingestion in Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847 and Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the Gulf of Bejaia, Algeria
Authors: Zeghdani Zouhir , Aissa Zehira Ait , Kherfallah Lyna , Bouchema Nadir , Gherbi Rachida , Ramdane Zouhir 
Published: November 2023

This study reports for the first time, the relationship between microplastic ingestion and biological parameters in Sardinella aurita and Lithognathus mormyrus from the Gulf of Bejaia, Algeria. Gastrointestinal tracts content of 144 fishes belonging to two different habitats (pelagic and demersal) were examined for microplastics contamination. Our results showed that 74.30% of individuals ingested microplastics. The most common colour of plastic particles was blue (49% in S. aurita and 30% in L. mormyrus) and the most of microplastics extracted from gastrointestinal tracts of samples were fibers (71.64%). There was no significant relationship between age and Fulton’s factors of both the species and the quantity of microplastics ingested by them.
Keywords: Biological parameters, Fish age, Gastrointestinal tracts, Marine pollution, Plastic particles
Examining the Malaria Burden: Estimates of Repeat Malaria Cases in Select Counties in the Lake Endemic Region, Kenya, June 2021-May 2022
Authors: Kiprop Jedidah , Andala Clara , Musumba Cynthia , Karani Vallerian , Githinji Geoffrey , Ouma Fredrick , Odhiambo Fredrick , Owiny Maurice , Oyugi Elvis 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
According to the 2020 malaria indicator survey, in Kenya, the prevalence of malaria in children aged 6 months to 14 years was 6%, with the highest prevalence in Busia at 38.5%, followed by Siaya at 28.8%, and Kisumu at 15.6%. Repeat malaria cases are infections confirmed by lab tests that occur after seven days of treatment. However, there is limited information on the prevalence of repeat cases. Thus, this study aims to examine the characteristics of repeat cases in select hospitals in Busia, Kisumu, and Siaya, with high incidence rates.
Methods
We conducted retrospective record reviews in several hospitals in Busia, Kisumu, and Siaya, which were selected based on their high incidence rates. We extracted patient data from outpatient, laboratory, and inpatient registers into MS Excel, including the date of visit, age, sex, residence, and malaria tests. We analyzed categorical data using frequencies and percentages and continuous variables using the median and interquartile range.
Results
In this study, there were 26,133 cases, out of which 3,136 (12%; 95% CI, 11.6–12.4) were repeat cases. Children under 15 years accounted for 64% (1,993) of the repeat cases, with females making up 58% (1,833), and Busia contributing 72% (n = 2,249). Urban and peri-urban facilities contributed 44% (1,333) and 42% (1,275) of repeat cases, respectively. Microscopy diagnosed 22% (687) of repeat cases in both the first and second episodes, while mRDT diagnosed 43% (1,335) in both episodes. Of those diagnosed with mRDT in both episodes, 80.8% (1,079) exceeded the 42-day interval between tests. The laboratory testing compliance with national malaria diagnosis, testing, and treatment guidelines was 88% for first repeat cases. Children under 5 years were 1.5 times more likely to undergo laboratory testing according to national guidelines than those aged 5–14 years. The use of microscopy versus rapid test in the first repeat episode was strongly associated with patients' age (ꭓ28.2, p = 0.004). The median interval between the first and second malaria episodes was 146 days (IQR, 51–341).
Conclusion
Repeat malaria cases represented 12% of the total, depicting similar distribution in person and place. The majority of these cases were contributed by females and children below 15 years. However, the actual burden of these cases could be greater as lower-level healthcare facilities were not investigated. To curb repeat malaria infections in children, the malaria lake-endemic counties should enhance laboratory surveillance and treatment
Artificial intelligence tools for optimizing recruitment and retention in clinical trials: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Lu Xiaoran , Chen Mingan , Lu Zhuolin , Shi Xiaoting , Liang Lu 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
In recent years, the influence of artificial intelligence technology on clinical trials has been steadily increasing. It has brought about significant improvements in the efficiency and cost reduction of clinical trials. The objective of this protocol is to conduct a comprehensive review that aims to systematically map, describe, and summarize the current utilization of artificial intelligence in recruitment and retention process of clinical trials. Additionally, it aims to identify the benefits and drawbacks, as well as the barriers and facilitators associated with the application of artificial intelligence in optimizing recruitment and retention in clinical trials. The findings of this review will provide valuable insights and recommendations for future development of artificial intelligence in the context of clinical trials .
Methods
The review of relevant literature will follow the methodological framework for scoping studies provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A comprehensive electronic search will be conducted using the search strategy developed by the authors. Leading medical and computer science databases such as PubMed, Embase, Scopus, IEEE Xplore and Web of Science Core Collection (including SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI, A&HCI, ESCI), will be searched. The search will encompass all original research, descriptive studies, randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, conference papers, comments and feasible or acceptable studies published in English, without any time limitations, that utilize artificial intelligence tools in the recruitment and retention process of clinical trials. The review team will carefully screen the identified studies and import them into a dedicated electronic library specifically created for this review. Data extraction will be performed using a data charting table, which will include publication details, study design, and specific outcomes/results.
Discussion
The objective of this scoping review is to provide a comprehensive overview of current status of artificial intelligence tools utilized in recruitment and retention process of clinical trials. By examining the existing literature, we aim to identify the barriers and facilitators that have influenced the application of these tools. Through our study, we will uncover gaps in the current knowledge, which can guide future research efforts. Additionally, our findings will offer recommendations to stakeholders regarding the use of artificial intelligence tools and may contribute to the advancement of their application in clinical trials.
Systematic review registration:
Open Science Framework https://osf.io/c9yhk/
A field study on the management practices in a productive vineyard for efficient C sequestration and improved water resistance of soil structure
Authors: Šimanský Vladimír , Jonczak Jerzy , Bordoloi Samandan , Horák Ján 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

The current study explores the soil management practices in a productive vineyard in Slovakia from the viewpoint of soil organic matter and water resistance of soil structure. Five distinct management practices - Intensive tillage system (T); Intensive tillage system with poultry manure (T + M); Strip grass (G); Fertilization in lower rates of NPK (NPK1); and Fertilization in higher level of NPK (NPK2) - were adopted to observed growth of vine. During a period of 14 years, the soil samples were characterized to measure soil parameters including soil organic matter (SOM) and size fractions of water-stable aggregates. The application of NPK1 to grass strips appeared to result in highest improvements in SOM and soil structure while G between vines rows most effectively improved soil structure and C sequestration. Based on principal component analysis, soil organic carbon had a more significant influence on the content of water-stable aggregates than labile carbon. Intense changes in SOM took place in larger size fractions of water-stable macroaggregates more than 2 mm, while smaller water-stable macroaggregates below 2 mm and water-stable microaggregates were more stable.
Chasing Weakly Bound Biological Water Near Peptide Backbone in Aqueous Environment by Ultrafast 2D IR Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Wang Jianping , Zhao Juan , Yu Pengyun , Dong Tiantian , Wu Yanzhou , Yang Fan 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
There has been a long-standing debate as to how many hydrogen bonds a peptide backbone amide can form in aqueous solutions. In this work, the hydrogen-bonding structural dynamics of N-ethylpropionamide (NEPA, a b-model peptide) in water was examined using linear and nonlinear infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The results showed two sub bands in the amide-I mode in heavy water (D2O), which were found to arise from a weakly hydrogen-bonded (WHB) dynamical water molecule in the vicinity of the amide C=O group on the basis of a commonly known nearby water molecule that is strongly hydrogen bonded (SHB). This picture is supported by quantum calculations, molecular dynamics simulations and NMR spectroscopy. Further, the thermodynamics and kinetics of the WHB species, whose amide-I frequency is 13 cm-1 higher than the SHB state (with two strongly H-bonded water molecules on the amide C=O side), are examined by waiting-time and temperature dependent chemical-exchange 2D IR spectroscopy. While the activation energy for the change from the SHB state to the SHB state is about 13.25 kJ/mol, the breaking or weakening the WHB with the amide occurs with a time constant of half picosecond at room temperature. Our results provided experimental evidence of a mobile water molecule nearby the peptide backbone, allowing us to gain more insights into the dynamics of the backbone hydration of both a- and b-peptides.
Dosimetric study of line scanning for prostate cancer in comparison with passive scattering and volumetric modulated arc therapy
Authors: Takagi Masaru , Hasegawa Yasuhiro , Tateoka Kunihiko , Takada Yu , Hareyama Masato 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Purpose
We performed a planning study to compare the dose distribution of the line scanning (LS) method with that of passive scattering (PS) method and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for patients with localized prostate cancer.
Methods
Thirty patients treated in 2017–2019 were randomly selected. The dose constraints were the clinical target volume (CTV) D98 ≥ 73.0 Gy (RBE), rectal wall V65 < 17% and V40 < 35%, and bladder wall V65 < 25% and V40 < 50%. The CTV doses and rectal and bladder wall dose volumes were calculated and evaluated using the Freidman test. P < 0.05 was determined to be statistically significant.
Results
In all patients, the LS technique satisfied the dose restrictions for the CTV, rectal wall, and bladder wall. Ten (33.3%) and 21 (70.0%) patients using the PS method and five (16.7%) and one (3.3%) patients using the VMAT, respectively, failed to meet the requirements for the rectal and bladder walls. Wide ranges of the rectal and bladder wall volumes of V10–V70 were lower with LS than with PS and VMAT. LS was superior to VMAT in all dose-volume rectal and bladder wall indexes. PS outperformed the other two methods at Dmax.
Conclusion
Compared with PS and VMAT, the LS method enables further reduction of the rectal and bladder doses while maintaining the CTV dose. Our results suggest that proton therapy for patients with localized prostate cancer could lower gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities by changing from PS to LS.
Nutritional Value Score rates foods based on global health priorities
Authors: Beal Ty , Ortenzi Flaminia 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Nutrient profiling systems are used to rate foods by nutritional value or healthfulness using food composition data. Each nutrient profiling system has different purposes and limitations. Existing systems have not adequately addressed energy density and nutrient bioavailability. Recent publications have also called for developing nutrient profiling systems for global use and for assessing environmental impacts of foods. To address these needs, we developed the Nutritional Value Score (NVS), which is based on nutrients of public health priority and nutrient ratios predictive of noncommunicable disease risk. The NVS adjusts for nutrient bioavailability and quantifies nutrient density in terms of Calories and grams, to address limitations in existing systems. Using common foods from Indonesia and Bangladesh as examples, the NVS effectively highlights nutritious items within recommended food groups. It also enables more nutritionally equivalent comparisons in environmental impact assessments. The NVS is a flexible tool for researchers, program implementers, and policymakers in varied contexts to identify healthy and sustainable foods. Although further validation is needed, initial testing suggests the NVS is an adaptable nutritional metric with diverse global applications.
The effects of a new aminosilane external donor on propylene polymerization with MgCl2supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst
Authors: Chang Hefei , Li Huamei , Li Chunguang , Huo Xiaojian , Ding Cong 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
A new aminosilane external donor named piperidine methyl dimethoxysilane (Donor-PMe) was firstly synthesized, and then was used as external donor on propylene polymerization with MgCl2-supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The effects of Donor-PMe on the catalytic activity, isotacticity, molecular weight distribution, isotactic sequence length, isotactic sequence distribution of polypropylene were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and self-nucleation and annealing (SSA), respectively. It was found that it was conducive to improving the activity and stereoregularity of catalyst when the new aminosilane Donor-PMe was used as external donor with MgCl2-supported ZieglerNatta catalyst. The catalytic activity of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst and the isotacticity of PP prepared by Donor-PMe increased with the increase of Si/Ti ratio on propylene polymerization.The GPC results showed that the molecular weight distribution of polypropylene was about 6.7, which was broader than that of industrial homo-polypropylene about 3.0. The SSA results showed that the relative contents of the highest isotactic component and the lamellar thickness in the PP chain gradually increased with the increase of Si/Ti of Donor-PMe, indicating the isotactic sequence length of polypropylene got longer with the increase of Si/Ti ratio of Donor-PMe. Meanwhile, the lamellar thickness distribution of polypropylene became broader, revealing the isotactic sequence length distribution of polypropylene got broader, indicating there were more higher isotactic sequence length in PP chain.
Different HLA genotype pattern in patients with Multiple Sclerosis onset after COVID-19 vaccine.
Authors: Bianco Assunta , Sante Gabriele Di , Colò Francesca , De Arcangelis Valeria , Cicia Alessandra , Giacomo Paola Del , De Bonis Maria , Morganti Tommaso , Carlomagno Vincenzo , Lucchini Matteo , Minucci Angelo , Calabresi Paolo , Mirabella Massimiliano 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background: Few cases of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) onset after COVID-19 vaccination have been reported, even though the evidence is insufficient to establish causality. The aim of this study is to compare cases of newly diagnosed MS before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of COVID-19 vaccination. Potential environmental and genetic predisposing factors were also investigated, as well as clinical patterns.
Methods: This is a single-centre retrospective cohort study including all patients who presented with MS onset between January 2018 and July 2022. Data on COVID-19 vaccination administration, dose, and type were collected. HLA-DRB1 genotyping was performed in three subgroups.
Results: 266 patients received a new diagnosis of MS in our centre, 143 before the COVID-19 pandemic (until and including March 2020) and 123 during COVID-19 era (from April 2020). The mean number of new MS onset per year was not different before and during COVID-19 era, as well as baseline patients’ characteristics, type of onset, clinical recovery, and radiological patterns.
Fourteen (11.4%) patients who subsequently received a new diagnosis of MS had a history of COVID-19 vaccination within one month before symptoms onset. Patients’ characteristics, type of onset, clinical recovery, and radiological patterns do not differ from those of patients with non-vaccine-related new diagnosis of MS.
The allele frequencies of HLA-DRB1*15 were 17.6% and 22.2% in patients with not-vaccine-related disease onset before and during COVID-19 era respectively, while no case of HLA-DRB1*15 was identified among patients with a new diagnosis of MS post-COVID-19 vaccine. In contrast HLA-DRB1*08+ or HLA-DRB1*10+ MS patients were present only in this subgroup.
Conclusions: Although a causal link between COVID-19 vaccination and MS cannot be detected, it is interesting to note and speculate about the peculiarities and heterogeneities underlying disease mechanisms of MS, where the interactions of genetic and environment could be crucial also for the follow up and the evaluation of therapeutic options.