bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender Inequality and Poverty: The Role of Financial Development in Mitigating Poverty in Pakistan
Authors: Kanat Orazaliyev , Yan Zhijun , Asghar Muhammad Mansoor , Zaidi Syed Anees Haider , Sami Abdul 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPoverty and gender inequality are among the major issues in developing countries that can hinder their economic progress and human development. Hence, this research is designed to investigate the impact of financial development on gender imbalance and poverty in the context of Pakistan controlling a number of other variables using the Bayer and Hanck cointegration method and the ARDL bound test on the data from 1985 to 2022. The results of the study indicated cointegration among the variables. The long-run estimates unfolded that financial development decreases the gender imbalance (gender inequality) in the context of Pakistan; however, it boosts poverty levels in the country. In the context of control variables, we found that education is helpful in decreasing gender inequality in Pakistan while economic growth boosts gender inequality. Moreover, economic growth is a reliable tool to decrease the poverty level in Pakistan, and reducing gender inequality can help to alleviate poverty levels in the country. Surprisingly, education is mounting poverty level in Pakistan indicating that the education system in Pakistan is not providing quality education to poor people. Based on these results, the study suggests that government can focus on developing a strategic plan to decrease gender inequality and poverty by introducing suitable policies in the context of the financial sector, education, and economic growth.
Experiences and Psychological Impact Derived from Unwanted Exposure to Online Pornography in Spanish Adolescents
Authors: Ballester-Arnal Rafael , Gil-Julia Beatriz , Elipe-Miravet Marcel , Giménez-García Cristina , Gil-Llario Maria Dolores 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Unwanted exposure (UE) to sexual content may have important consequences on children/adolescents’ psychosexual development. Our objective was to analyze UE to online pornography, parental filter use, type of sexual contents seen, emotional/behavioral reactions, and UE as positive/traumatic experience in Spanish adolescents and to examine these experiences and reactions depending on the type of sexual content.

Methods
In 2020, 500 Spanish teenagers (13–18 years) completed an ad hoc questionnaire for the evaluation of different dimensions involved in UE to sexual contents, such as those mentioned in the study objectives.

Results
A high frequency of UE (88.2%) is observed. Regarding the kind of scenes, naked people, straight porn, and people showing genitals are the most unexpectedly seen. Adolescents used to react to the UE closing the window and deleting sexual materials. A greater predominance of negative emotions was revealed, and another noteworthy result is related to the role played by type of sexual content and gender. Gay scenes and being woman increased the probability of living the experience as non-positive, and being woman and viewing naked people/BDSM scenes/under-age sex were associated with reactions of rejection.

Conclusions
This study contributes significantly to the knowledge of UE to online pornography in adolescents. It provides valuable information about the role played by the type of sexual content seen and the gender in the diverse reactions/experiences derived from the UE to pornography.

Policy Implications
This topic, that is, involuntary exposure to online sexual material in adolescents, should be included in affective-sexual education and prevention programs at early ages, so that children/adolescents are already trained in healthy sexuality when facing this type of content for the first time. These programs, adjusted to the reality of our adolescents, will minimize the negative impact that UE may have on their psychosexual development.
Variation for maize B chromosome preferential fertilization: a component of the B chromosome drive mechanism
Authors: Brennan Vincent A. , Yang Hua , Gao Zhi , Birchler James A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe B chromosome in maize is a supernumerary chromosome that due to its dispensability is present in only some lines of maize. Over its evolution, the B chromosome has developed a two-part drive mechanism that ensures its continued presence in maize populations. Its drive mechanism involves nondisjunction at the second pollen mitosis in which two sperm cells are produced and preferential fertilization by the sperm with the two B chromosomes more often joining with the egg as opposed to the central cell in the process of double fertilization. Previous work had suggested some lines of maize exhibit a different response and that this was controlled by the female parent. We sought to examine the variation for this trait by testing a wide spectrum of characterized maize lines. Most inbred lines exhibit the canonical preference for the egg cell, some appear to have random fertilization, and one inbred line (B73) shows a preference for the B containing sperm to fertilize the central cell.
Comparison of clinical outcomes of anal fistula plug and endoanal advancement flap repair treating the complex anal fistula: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: An Yongkang , Chen Xueqing , Tian Maosheng , Qi Wenyue , Gao Jihua 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAnal fistula (AF) is a common disease with high prevalence and surgical operations are effective treatments in clinical work. There exist many well‐known surgical techniques treating complex anal fistula (CAF), however, none is ideal. To compare the superiority of Anal fistula plug (AFP) and Endoanal advancement flap repair (EAFR) for complex anal fistula. We searched worldwide databases including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and SinoMed from their inception to March 2023. Studies comparing the outcomes of AFP and EAFR were included according to the PICO principles. The indicators of the healing rate, recurrence rate, wound infection rate, and complication rate, et al. were extracted and compared between different surgical methods. 5 RCTS and 7 non-RCTs were included in the meta-analysis with a total of 847 patients (341 patients conducted with AFP and 506 patients with EAFR). By combining the total effect of the 12 articles, we found that there was a statistical difference reporting the healing rate of AFP 48.3% and EAFR 64.4% treating the CAF (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.30,1.55,P = 0.03), and EAFR has a better healing rate. However, there was no significant difference in terms of the recurrence rate (OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.80,3.54,P = 0.17), the wound infection rate (OR 1.82, 95% CI 0.95,3.52,P = 0.07), and the complication rate (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.70,1.61,P = 0.77) either in the 12 articles or in the subgroup. The meta-analysis indicated that the EAFR was superior to AFP in terms of the healing rate treating the CAF, however, there were no significant differences between the two groups when it came to the recurrence rate, the wound infection rate, and the complication rate. EAFR might be one initial treatment for the complex cryptoglandular anal fistulas compared with AFP.
Integrating bioprinting, cell therapies and drug delivery towards in vivo regeneration of cartilage, bone and osteochondral tissue
Authors: Abbadessa Anna , Ronca Alfredo , Salerno Aurelio 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe biological and biomechanical functions of cartilage, bone and osteochondral tissue are naturally orchestrated by a complex crosstalk between zonally dependent cells and extracellular matrix components. In fact, this crosstalk involves biomechanical signals and the release of biochemical cues that direct cell fate and regulate tissue morphogenesis and remodelling in vivo. Three-dimensional bioprinting introduced a paradigm shift in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, since it allows to mimic native tissue anisotropy introducing compositional and architectural gradients. Moreover, the growing synergy between bioprinting and drug delivery may enable to replicate cell/extracellular matrix reciprocity and dynamics by the careful control of the spatial and temporal patterning of bioactive cues. Although significant advances have been made in this direction, unmet challenges and open research questions persist. These include, among others, the optimization of scaffold zonality and architectural features; the preservation of the bioactivity of loaded active molecules, as well as their spatio-temporal release; the in vitro scaffold maturation prior to implantation; the pros and cons of each animal model and the graft-defect mismatch; and the in vivo non-invasive monitoring of new tissue formation. This work critically reviews these aspects and reveals the state of the art of using three-dimensional bioprinting, and its synergy with drug delivery technologies, to pattern the distribution of cells and/or active molecules in cartilage, bone and osteochondral engineered tissues. Most notably, this work focuses on approaches, technologies and biomaterials that are currently under in vivo investigations, as these give important insights on scaffold performance at the implantation site and its interaction/integration with surrounding tissues.
Graphical Abstract
Boole-Dunkl polynomials and generalizations
Authors: Gil Asensi Alejandro , Labarga Edgar , Mínguez Ceniceros Judit , Varona Juan Luis 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAppell sequences of polynomials can be extended to the Dunkl context replacing the ordinary derivative by the Dunkl operator on the real line, and the exponential function by the Dunkl kernel. In a similar way, discrete Appell sequences can be extended to the Dunkl context; here, the role of the ordinary translation is played by the Dunkl translation, which is a much more intricate operator. Some sequences as the falling factorials or the Bernoulli polynomials of the second kind have already been extended and investigated in the mathematical literature. In this paper, we study the discrete Appell version of the Euler polynomials, usually known as Euler polynomials of the second kind or Boole polynomials. We show how to define the Dunkl extension of these polynomials (and some of their generalizations), and prove some relevant properties and relations with other polynomials and with Stirling-Dunkl numbers.
Characterising Productivity Factors Affecting Maize (Zea mays) Production in a Smallholder Crop-Livestock System
Authors: Mncube Temnotfo L. , Phiri Ethel E. , Mothapo Palesa N. , Rugare Joyful T. , Pieterse Petrus J. , Mloza-Banda Henry R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSocio-economic factors can influence decisions and the intensity of management practices, which when appropriately considered could bridge yield gaps. The study aimed to investigate factors affecting maize (Zea mays L.) production in a smallholder crop-livestock system. Social and management analyses were performed to ascertain the factors influencing maize productivity using interviews and questionnaires. The study was conducted in two main maize-producing regions of Eswatini, the Highveld at Mankayane and Middleveld at Luve. Additionally, on-farm trials were established for two cropping seasons to evaluate maize response to three fertiliser regimes: cattle manure only, cattle manure plus inorganic fertiliser, and inorganic fertiliser only and lastly to determine the most economic fertiliser regime. Each fertiliser regime was replicated six times. Weed biomass and maize yield were collected from a 5 m × 1 m quadrat. Moreover, economic analysis for each fertiliser regime was performed using partial budgets comprising fertiliser and weed management costs. The social and management analyses showed that maize yield was strongly associated with household size (p < 0.05), land area cultivated (p < 0.05) and herbicide application timing (p < 0.05) indicating the effect of these factors on yield. On-farm trials revealed that the inorganic fertiliser only regime resulted in a significantly (p < 0.05) higher maize yield compared to manure only and manure plus inorganic fertiliser regimes in both study areas. Weed biomass was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the inorganic fertiliser only regime at Mankayane compared to the manure only and manure plus inorganic fertiliser at both localities. The economic analysis showed that the manure only fertiliser regime had low costs that vary and high net benefits indicating that manure has the potential to improve soil conditions, reduce environmental impacts, and increase profits.
Corrosion Performance of Sn-Doped AlCrFeNiMn High-Entropy Alloy Synthesized via Arc-Melting Technique
Authors: Mpofu Praise , Malatji Nicholas , Shongwe Mxolisi B. , Kanyane Lehlogonolo R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractFailure of materials such as steels during engineering applications can result in economic harm; hence, developing new corrosion-resistant materials is critical. In this work, high-grade powders of Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni were used to synthesize an equimolar AlCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy (HEA) for potential chemical industry application. The cast alloy's properties were further altered by the addition of 1at%, 3at%, and 5at% tin (Sn) as alloying additives. To assess the impact of Sn on the alloy's resistance to corrosion, potentiodynamic polarization tests were conducted in various acidic and basic environments. Several surface inspection techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OPM), X-ray diffractrometry (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), were employed to examine the morphological changes and elemental composition of the alloy after it was subjected to corrosive conditions. The nano-indentation machine was used to analyze the materials' nanohardness. TGA analysis was also performed to determine how Sn additions affected the AlCrFeNiMn HEA’s thermal stability. In 0.5 M HCl solution, the Sn-doped alloys demonstrated good corrosion resistance. Their exposure to 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 solution, on the other hand, found to be deleterious to their electrochemical stability. The weight loss of 5 at% Sn-doped samples in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution was found to be substantially reduced. The mass of all the samples stayed constant in 3.5 wt% NaOH solution.
Primary sequence based protein–protein interaction binder generation with transformers
Authors: Wu Junzheng , Paquet Eric , Viktor Herna L. , Michalowski Wojtek 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe design of binder proteins for specific target proteins using deep learning is a challenging task that has a wide range of applications in both designing therapeutic antibodies and creating new drugs. Machine learning-based solutions, as opposed to laboratory design, streamline the design process and enable the design of new proteins that may be required to address new and orphan diseases. Most techniques proposed in the literature necessitate either domain knowledge or some appraisal of the target protein’s 3-D structure. This paper proposes an approach for designing binder proteins based solely on the amino acid sequence of the target protein and without recourse to domain knowledge or structural information. The sequences of the binders are generated with two new transformers, namely the AppendFormer and MergeFormer architectures. Because, in general, there is more than one binder for a given target protein, these transformers employ a binding score and a prior on the sequence of the binder to obtain a unique targeted solution. Our experimental evaluation confirms the strengths of this novel approach. The performance of the models was determined with 5-fold cross-validation and clearly indicates that our architectures lead to highly accurate results. In addition, scores of up to 0.98 were achieved in terms of Needleman-Wunsch and Smith-Waterman similarity metrics, which indicates that our solutions significantly outperform a seq2seq baseline model.
A two-stage hybrid ant colony algorithm for multi-depot half-open time-dependent electric vehicle routing problem
Authors: Fan Lijun 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis article presents a detailed investigation into the Multi-Depot Half-Open Time-Dependent Electric Vehicle Routing Problem (MDHOTDEVRP) within the domain of urban distribution, prompted by the growing urgency to mitigate the environmental repercussions of logistics transportation. The study first surmounts the uncertainty in Electric Vehicle (EV) range arising from the dynamic nature of urban traffic networks by establishing a flexible energy consumption estimation strategy. Subsequently, a Mixed-Integer Programming (MIP) model is formulated, aiming to minimize the total distribution costs associated with EV dispatch, vehicle travel, customer service, and charging operations. Given the unique attributes intrinsic to the model, a Two-Stage Hybrid Ant Colony Algorithm (TSHACA) is developed as an effective solution approach. The algorithm leverages enhanced K-means clustering to assign customers to EVs in the first stage and employs an Improved Ant Colony Algorithm (IACA) for optimizing the distribution within each cluster in the second stage. Extensive simulations conducted on various test scenarios corroborate the economic and environmental benefits derived from the MDHOTDEVRP solution and demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm. The outcomes highlight TSHACA’s capability to efficiently allocate EVs from different depots, optimize vehicle routes, reduce carbon emissions, and minimize urban logistic expenditures. Consequently, this study contributes significantly to the advancement of sustainable urban logistics transportation, offering valuable insights for practitioners and policy-makers.
Not Equivalent (Yet?): The Current EU Third Country Regime for Credit Institutions and Incoming Changes
Authors: Binder Jens-Hinrich 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAs part of the European Commission’s ‘Banking Package’, introducing a series of amendments to the key legal sources of EU banking regulation, a comprehensive proposal for the treatment of third country branches of credit institutions (i.e., branches of institutions licensed by non-EU jurisdictions seeking authorisation in an EU Member State) has been presented. If and when ultimately adopted, this new framework will, for the first time, harmonise the applicable authorisation procedures and substantive conditions for authorisation hitherto left exclusively to the discretion of EU Member States. Under the new regime, the equivalence of third country regulatory and supervisory approaches with EU banking regulation will play a role, albeit a limited one. While taking up, and refining, approaches that have been present in a range of Member States for some time already, the new framework will require others to fundamentally change their existing regimes. The new amendments will be of particular relevance for the future regulatory relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, since a bespoke arrangement for continuing access of UK financial intermediaries to the EU markets has not been achieved, and UK credit institutions wishing to continue to operate within the EU other than through legally separate and independently capitalised subsidiaries have to rely on authorisations as third country branches. Against this backdrop, the present paper presents a functional analysis of the incoming regime in light of experiences made with regard to the existing landscape of diverging national laws.
Hetero Nucleus Growth Stabilizing Zinc Anode for High-Biosecurity Zinc-Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Jingjing , Liu Zhexuan , Han Shaohua , Zhou Peng , Lu Bingan , Zhou Jianda , Zeng Zhiyuan , Chen Zhizhao , Zhou Jiang 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBiocompatible devices are widely employed in modernized lives and medical fields in the forms of wearable and implantable devices, raising higher requirements on the battery biocompatibility, high safety, low cost, and excellent electrochemical performance, which become the evaluation criteria toward developing feasible biocompatible batteries. Herein, through conducting the battery implantation tests and leakage scene simulations on New Zealand rabbits, zinc sulfate electrolyte is proved to exhibit higher biosecurity and turns out to be one of the ideal zinc salts for biocompatible zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs). Furthermore, in order to mitigate the notorious dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution in mildly acidic electrolyte as well as improve their operating stability, Sn hetero nucleus is introduced to stabilize the zinc anode, which not only facilitates the planar zinc deposition, but also contributes to higher hydrogen evolution overpotential. Finally, a long lifetime of 1500 h for the symmetrical cell, the specific capacity of 150 mAh g−1 under 0.5 A g−1 for the Zn–MnO2 battery and 212 mAh g−1 under 5 A g−1 for the Zn—NH4V4O10 battery are obtained. This work may provide unique perspectives on biocompatible ZIBs toward the biosecurity of their cell components.
Beyond Public Health and Private Choice: Breastfeeding, Embodiment and Public Health Ethics
Authors: Subramani Supriya 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe key objective of this paper is to emphasize the importance of acknowledging breastfeeding as an embodied social practice within interventions related to breastfeeding and lactation and illustrate how this recognition holds implications for public health ethics debates. Recent scholarship has shown that breastfeeding and lactation support interventions undermine women’s autonomy. However, substantial discourse is required to determine how to align with public health goals while also recognizing the embodied experiences of breastfeeding and lactating individuals. Presently, interventions in this realm predominantly revolve around health-related messaging and the promotion of individual behaviors, often neglecting the systemic and structural factors that influence choices and practices. I closely examine breastfeeding interventions in India, in particular Mothers’ Absolute Affection health promotion program, along with breastfeeding narratives. I argue that for such interventions to evolve, they must acknowledge the intrinsic embodied social nature of breastfeeding during their design and implementation. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that achieving equity and justice objectives necessitates moving beyond the confines of both conventional public health frameworks and frameworks solely centered on private choices. Instead, a more encompassing approach that embraces the concept of embodiment should be adopted.
Spatial Dynamics and Solitary Hydroelastic Surface Waves
Authors: Ahmad R. , Groves M. D. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis paper presents an existence theory for solitary waves at the interface between a thin ice sheet (modelled using the Cosserat theory of hyperelastic shells) and an ideal fluid (of finite depth and in irrotational motion). The theory takes the form of a review of the Kirchgässner reduction to a finite-dimensional Hamiltonian system, highlighting the refinements in the theory over the years and presenting some novel aspects including the use of a higher-order Legendre transformation to formulate the problem as a spatial Hamiltonian system, and a Riesz basis for the phase space to complete the analogy with a dynamical system. The reduced system is to leading order given by the focussing cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, agreeing with the result of formal weakly nonlinear theory (which is included for completeness). We give a precise proof of the persistence of two of its homoclinic solutions as solutions to the unapproximated reduced system which correspond to symmetric hydroeleastic solitary waves.