bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forest and forestry in Gondär, (Ethiopia) from 1938 to 1991: utilization, opportunities and constraints
Authors: Derso Tesfamichael 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Recent investigations on man’s interaction with the natural environment try to show the long-term environmental shift and the challenges faced by people in the respective areas. One of the big issues in the course of the environmental theme of Ethiopia in the sub region of Amhara, Gondär, is the study of forest and forestry. Although there is no study of the different government policies and gradual historical variation of forest and its management in Gondär, from the Italian occupation to the downfall of the socialist government in Ethiopia in 1991, the forest passed several ups and downs, just like human political history. Reforestation and deforestation were the fates of forests interchangeable in Gondär. This essay’s objectives are to review forest and forestry from a historical perspective from 1938 to the 1990s, to equate and counterpoint different governmental decrees on the forest, and to examine socio-economic and environmental opportunities and the constraints they faced for the people of the study area. This study implies a qualitative approach to data gathering. In this regard, both primary and secondary data sources were utilized. It tried to dig out the neglected course of the town’s environmental history. Therefore, it’s believed that the study adds knowledge and understanding about forests and forestry in Gondär and can be a source for future researchers on the topic under study.
Choice and Determinants of Delivery Mode in Pregnant Women with One Cesarean Scar: A Cross-Sectional Study in Two Urban Ugandan Public Hospitals
Authors: Nabawanuka Brenda , Ngabirano Tom , Nankumbi Joyce 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
The number of caesarian sections among women with a previous scar has continued to increase in Uganda. Such women can opt for a trial of labor, and the success rate for spontaneous vaginal delivery is 60–80%. This study assessed the choice and determinants of delivery mode among pregnant women with one cesarean scar.
Methods
A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among pregnant women who were attending antenatal care in two public hospitals in Uganda. A total of 169 pregnant women with one previous cesarean scar and a nonrecurring indication for cesarean section were consecutively recruited into the study. A modified Poisson regression was performed to identify factors associated with the preferred choice of mode of delivery.
Results
The mean age of the participants was 28 (4.88) years. Out of 169 women, the majority 137 (81%) preferred a trial of labor. Mothers who preferred to have more than four children were more likely to opt for a trial of labor (aPVR = 0.27, CI;1.01–1.49, p = 0.009). Mothers who were concerned about the cost associated with cesarean section were more likely to choose a trial of labor (aPVR = 1.2, CI;1.01–1.49, p = 0.03), and mothers who perceived that a cesarean section affects body image (aPVR = 3.06, CI;1.39–6.75, p = 0.03) and being employed (aPVR = 0.84, CI:0.74–0.96, p = 0.01) were more likely to prefer a cesarean section.
Conclusion
Trial of labor after cesarean remains the preferred choice of delivery among women. The desire to have more children and concern about medical expenses increased the likelihood of having a vaginal birth preference. Women with body image concerns and being employed increased the likelihood of a caesarian section preference. It is recommended to consider a trial of labor after cesarean section for all women with nonrecurring indications for cesarean section. Empowering women through health education on the risks and benefits of cesarean section helps them make an informed choice.
Cryptic diploid lineage of Betula ermanii at its southern boundary populations in Japan
Authors: Aihara Takaki , Araki Kyoko , Tsumura Yoshihiko 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Polyploidy is thought to enable species diversification and adaptation to extreme environments. Resolving the ecological differences between a taxon’s ploidy levels would therefore provide important insights into local adaptation and speciation. The genus Betula includes many polyploids, but estimates of their phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history are uncertain because of cryptic lineages and species. As one of the southern boundary populations of Betula ermanii in Japan has been shown to have distinctive genetic characteristics and traits, the differences in ploidy levels between three southern boundary and various other Japanese B. ermanii populations were investigated using flow cytometry. Leaf and seed morphologies were also compared. Apart from individuals in southern boundary populations, all those sampled were tetraploid. Individuals from the southern boundary populations were mostly diploid, apart from a few from lower altitude Shikoku populations, which were tetraploid. Leaf and seed morphologies differed between tetraploids and diploids. Diploid individuals were characterized by leaves with a heart-shaped base and many leaf teeth, and seeds with relatively longer wings. The diploid populations could be considered a cryptic relict lineage of B. ermanii, and there is a possibility that this lineage is a diploid ancestor of B. ermanii and a relict population of the Sohayaki element. Further investigation of the Japanese Betula phylogenetic relationships would enable an informed discussion of taxonomic revisions.
Effect of olfactory stimulation from aromatherapy on the autonomic nervous activity during aerobic exercises
Authors: Okada Katsuki , Shimatani Koji 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Variations in the autonomic nervous system activity during exercise therapy in patients with cardiovascular diseases may lead to adverse events. Aromatherapy may reduce these adverse events by enhancing parasympathetic nervous activity (PNA). However, the effects of aromatherapy during exercise remain relatively unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aromatherapy on autonomic nervous activity and cardiorespiratory parameters during exercise and recovery. This randomized crossover study included 20 healthy men subjected to both aroma and placebo conditions which involved rest and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer, followed by recovery. Heart rate variability (HRV) indices and cardiorespiratory parameters were measured during the rest, exercise, and recovery phases. Moreover, aroma preferences and emotional changes in response to the aroma were assessed. Under the placebo condition, high frequency (HF), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) indices, and heart rate (HR) showed delayed recovery (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was identified between aroma preference, pleasant emotions induced by aromatherapy, and the HF index (P < 0.05). These results indicate that aromatherapy facilitates the recovery of PNA after exercise. Furthermore, these effects were more pronounced among individuals who exhibited a stronger preference for and more positive emotions toward aromas.
Integrating Molecular Graphs and Fingerprints through Contrastive Learning for Enhanced Molecular Property Prediction
Authors: Long Wei , Ci Lei , Hu Linxi , Xu Jiahao , Peng Sihua , Jiang Linhua 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The molecular structure is closely linked to its properties. While graph representations of molecules have become popular due to the non-Euclidean nature of compound structures, they may not encompass as rich semantic information as molecular sequence representations. This can lead to potential conflicts in semantic features between different representations within neural networks. To address this issue, we propose a contrastive learning framework that combines molecular graphs with molecular fingerprints. Firstly, we employ clustering algorithms to group molecules and obtain cluster centers. Subsequently, we utilize these cluster centers for contrastive learning, allowing the model to learn molecular structural information on unlabeled data. Additionally, we introduce a self-attention mechanism during the graph pooling process to selectively extract graph features. Experimental results demonstrate that our model achieves an average improvement of 2.04% in ROC-AUC over the previous state-of-the-art models in molecular property classification tasks, validating the effectiveness of our computational framework.
Enhancing Economic/Environmental Dispatch using NS-MJPSO(loc): A Multi-Objective Optimization Approach with Improved Pareto-Optimal Solutions
Authors: Rahman Izaz Ur , Khalil Muhammad Ilyas Khan , Zakarya Muhammad , Zia Ashraf , Khan Ayaz Ali , Qazani Mohammad Reza Chalak , Al-Bahri Mahmood , Haleem Muhammad 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This work applies the recently developed n th state Markovian jumping particle swarm optimisation algorithm with local search (NS-MJPSOloc) awareness method to address the economic/environmental dispatch (EED) problem. The proposed approach, known as the Non-dominated Sorting Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimisation with Local Best (NS-MJPSOloc), aims to enhance the performance of the Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) algorithm in multi-objective optimisation problems. This is achieved by redefining the concept of best local candidates within the search space of the multi-objective optimisation. Economic dispatch refers to the systematic allocation of available power resources in order to fulfil all relevant limitations and effectively meet the demand for electricity at the lowest possible operating cost. As a result of heightened public consciousness regarding environmental pollution and the implementation of clean air amendments, nations worldwide have compelled utilities to adapt their operational practises in order to comply with environmental regulations. The (NS-MJPSOloc) approach has been utilised for the resolution of the EED problem, including cost and emission objectives that are not commensurable. Multiple optimisation iterations of the suggested methodology have been conducted on a conventional test setup. The objective of economic dispatch is to minimise the overall expenditure on fuel, without taking into account any limitations related to emissions. The emission dispatch prioritises the reduction of emissions without taking into account economic considerations. The findings illustrate the efficacy of the suggested (NS-MJPSOloc) approach in producing a collection of Pareto-optimal solutions that are evenly dispersed within a single iteration. The comparison of several approaches reveals the higher performance of the suggested (NS-MJPSOloc) in terms of the diversity of the Pareto-optimal solutions achieved. In addition, a measure of solution quality based on Pareto optimality has been incorporated. The findings validate the effectiveness of the proposed (NS-MJPSOloc) approach in addressing the multi-objective EED issue and generating a trade-off solution that is both optimal and of high quality.
Can DNA barcoding reveal predatory mites for biological control against redlegged earth mite, Halotydeus destructor?
Authors: Kang Holly Hyojung , Hoffmann Ary A. , Arthur Aston L. , Seeman Owen D. , Carew Melissa E. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Predatory mites have potential to provide biocontrol against invertebrate pasture and crop pests. However, more information is needed on which species are effective as predators of agricultural pest species in a field setting. This study uses DNA barcodes to investigate species diversity of predatory mites associated with the redlegged earth mite (RLEM), Halotydeus destructor (Tucker) (Trombidiformes; Penthaleidae), a major Australian pasture and crop pest. We also use DNA barcodes to investigate whether these predatory mites ingest RLEM or other invertebrates. Predatory mites from the family Bdellidae were the dominant group across collection sites in southern Australia. DNA barcodes were linked to taxonomic identifications and showed all Bdellidae were from a single genus, Odontoscirus. Barcode diversity was high, particularly at sites from Victoria, Australia. Most species barcodes were not found in published DNA sequence databases. There was little evidence predatory mites frequently fed on RLEM; only three individuals from the Bdellidae species Odontoscirus (Bdelloides) lapidaria (Kramer) (< 2% of Bdellidae predatory mites surveyed) showe evidence of ingesting RLEM, and Collembola formed the main dietary component detected. This study highlights predatory mite biodiversity as revealed by DNA barcoding and the potential use of barcodes in assessing dietary preferences of different mite species under field conditions.
Infrared spectra of the main optical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films
Authors: Strugariu Laura Maria , Șerban Sorina Gabriela , Berdie Antonia Maria , Jitian Simion 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Infrared spectra are presented for the main optical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) films. They are obtained from the complex permittivity using the Drude-Lorentz model for permittivity. This approach is original in obtaining the permittivity and then in obtaining the main optical properties of the polymer film. Classical dispersion analysis of the reflection-absorption spectrum of poly(methyl methacrylate) films cast on the metal mirror was used. Subsequently, the complex electric modulus, energy loss function, optical constants, absorption coefficient, penetration depth, dissipation factor, and complex optical conductivity were obtained from the complex permittivity.
Arias intensity Macrozonation and the effect of shear wave velocity on its propagation Case Study of Khoy region
Authors: Dogahe Mohammadreza Javadi , Akasheh Bahram , Pourkermani Mohsen , Gheytanchi Mohammadreza , Dorostian Arezo 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Earthquakes are one of the natural hazards that have caused many casualties and financial losses around the world. This is why earthquake risk analysis studies need to be conducted more seriously. Iran is located in one of the seismogenic regions of the world, the Himalayan-Alpine belt, which is subject to many earthquakes every year. The Arias intensity, as one of the important seismic parameters, helps in seismic hazard analysis, and can be used to estimate structural performance, slope stability, and liquefaction during an earthquake. In this study, the tectonics and seismotectonics of the region of Khoy in northwestern Iran were investigated, and the location of future earthquake was determined. Next, Arias intensity’s maps ​​for return periods of 475, 975 and 2475 years were prepared. The effect of shear wave velocity (Vs30) was also considered during the analyses. The most dangerous area, who’s located at one of future earthquake locations, and also has the potential of resonance and liquefaction, is the northeast of the Salmas fault. Evidently, other than the distance from the fault, the intensity of the earthquake is affected by changes in Vs30. It means, in some cases, at more distant points from the seismic source, the intensity even increases. This shows the importance of the effects of geological conditions on the estimation of intensity.
A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)
Authors: Canessa Martina , Trainito Egidio , Bavestrello Giorgio , Petović Slavica , Đorđević Nikola , Mačić Vesna 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The golden coral Savalia savaglia is a long living ecosystem engineer of the Mediterranean circalittoral assemblages, able to induce necrosis of gorgonians and black corals coenenchyme and grow on their cleaned organic skeleton. Despite its rarity, in Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro) a shallow population of more than 1000 colonies was recorded close to underwater freshwater springs, which create very peculiar environmental conditions. In this context, the species was extremely abundant in two sites, while gorgonians were rare. The abundance and size of S. savaglia colonies and the diversity of the entire benthic assemblage were investigated by photographic sampling in a depth range of 0–35 m. Several living fragments of S. savaglia spread on the sea floor and small settled colonies (< 5 cm height) suggested a high incidence of asexual reproduction and a non-parasitic behaviour of this population. This was confirmed by studying thin sections of the basal portion of the trunk lacking the central core due to the remains of the gorgonian host skeleton. The S. savaglia population of Boka Kotorska Bay forms the unique Mediterranean animal forest of the species. Recent important mitigation measures of anthropogenic impact are now temporary and minimal. Therefore, establishing an MPA is strongly recommended.
Arthroscopic modified trans-osseous rotator cuff repair using the giant needle technique and racking hitch knot
Authors: Hafez Moustafa Raafat Mahmoud , Shewy Mohamed Taha El , El-Singergy Abdel Aziz , Hashem Moataz Osama , Zawam Sherif Hamdy 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Purpose
This study analyzed the midterm functional outcomes of arthroscopic trans-osseous (TO) rotator cuff repair using special needles called giant needles. The aim of revisiting and modifying a previously described technique is to facilitate the passage of the giant needle, making it easier, and more reliable. We also enhanced the repair construct by passing the sutures through the tendon in a separate step and applying a strong racking hitch knot.
Methods
Sixty-two patients (41 females and 21 males with a mean age of 55.16 years) underwent arthroscopic TO rotator cuff repair for symptomatic full-thickness tears. Pre- and post-operative pain severity, the Constant Shoulder (CS) score of the affected shoulders and the subjective value of the shoulders (SSV) were recorded. Patients were followed up at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.
Results
The mean pain severity improved from 8.61 preoperatively to 1.73 after two years of surgery. Similarly, the mean preoperative CS score and SSV improved from 41.29 to 88.72 and from 42.85–92.15%, respectively. We recorded two cases with postoperative stiffness and two other cases underwent arthroscopic revision of rotator repair due to traumatic cuff re-tears.
Conclusion
The trans-osseous modified technique with giant needle is a reliable, and safe technique yielding satisfactory midterm outcome scores. This technique combines the minimal invasive advantage of arthroscopic procedures with the cost-effectiveness and biomechanical advantages of the open TO procedures. Further comparative studies are recommended to support our results.
Determinants of Gender Preferences at the Presidential, Parliamentary, Assembly Member, and Unit Committee Member Elections in Ghana
Authors: Dary Stanley Kojo , Yendaw Elijah , Abubakari Kabiru , Abdul-Aziz Suleman 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

The study examines the determinants of gender preferences in representative democratic elections at the presidential, parliamentary, assembly member, and unit committee member levels in Ghana. The study uses the Ghana Living Standards Survey (Round 7) dataset with 13,833 observations. Multinomial Probit (MNP), Heckman Probit, and Binary Probit estimation techniques were employed in the analysis. The study finds that gender preferences of Ghanaian voters in elections are higher at the lower levels of elections and lower at the higher levels of elections. That is, gender preferences increase as one moves from presidential to parliamentary, assembly, and unit committee-level elections. At all levels of elections, voters prefer their own-gender candidates. Other factors found to be significantly associated with gender preferences in elections at various levels are age, religion, literacy status, rally attendance, and location (rural/urban). The study is unique to the extent that it examines gender preferences at all levels of elections in Ghana, which has not been done in previous studies. Policies that focus on reducing gender affinity and encouraging voting based on the abilities of candidates are essential. In general, policies aimed at reducing gender preferences in elections should focus on the correlates of gender preferences identified in this study.
Performance Experiment of Ultra high Temperature Cementing Slurry System
Authors: Zou Qiang , Chen Xu , Zhong Shiming , Yi Dan , Liu Liankai 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

The continuous development of oil and gas exploration and development to deep and ultra deep wells in China, the formation temperature is also getting higher and higher, which has brought huge problems to the drilling and completion work. When the formation temperature is higher than 180 ℃, the cementing operation is defined as ultra-high temperature cementing. The working condition of ultra-high temperature cementing is complex, which puts forward higher requirements for the performance of cementing cement slurry. Cementing cement slurry should not only meet the requirements of high temperature thickening time, but also maintain a certain slurry stability and mechanical strength under high temperature conditions to improve the cementing quality. With the increasing number of ultra deep wells and ultra-high temperature wells, ultra-high temperature has put forward higher requirements for the temperature resistance of cement slurry. In order to solve this problem, based on the requirements of ultra-high temperature cementing operation on the performance of cement slurry, this paper configures high-temperature resistant fluid loss reducer DRF-1S, high-temperature resistant retarder DRH-2L and other supporting high-temperature resistant cement additives to form ultra-high temperature conventional density cement slurry, and carries out indoor test research to evaluate the settlement stability, water loss performance, thickening performance and mechanical performance of ultra-high temperature cement slurry, An ultra-high temperature cementing slurry system is established for oil and gas well cementing. The research results show that: based on the design idea of high temperature cement slurry system, fluid loss additive DRF-1S, retarder DRH-2L, stabilizer DRK-3L, anti fading agent DRB-3S, etc. have been developed under high temperature conditions. Strength tests of cement pastes with different silica sand dosage have been carried out, and the optimal dosage of silica sand is determined to be 50%; The conventional density cement slurry system with fluid loss reducer DRF-1S and retarder DRH-2L as the main agents can meet the cementing needs under the high temperature conditions of 180 ~ 210 ℃, and achieve a new breakthrough in the high-temperature resistance of cement slurry. At the same time, the API water loss of cement slurry is controlled within 100mL, the thickening time can be adjusted, and the high-temperature settlement stability is less than 0.04g/cm3; The anti decay material DRB-3S ensures that the 28d compressive strength of the water debris at 210 ℃ is higher than 50MPa, effectively solving the problem of the compressive strength decline of the cement paste at ultra-high temperatures. The cementing quality of the cement slurry is high, providing technical support for the exploration and development of cementing. The research results provide theoretical data support for ultra-high temperature cement slurry cementing technology.