bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Readiness of public schools before reopening during COVID-19 pandemic: School-based cross-sectional survey in southern Ethiopia
Authors: Endriyas Misganu , Woldemariam Belete , Shibru Endashaw , Hussen Mamush , Bedru Bersabeh , Moges Mathewos , Melka Mintesinot , Lemango Fiseha , Mate Male , Lejiso Tesfaye , Gebremedhin Biruk , Tolcha Alemu , Shiferaw Biniam , Wondimu Girma , Terefe Tesfatsion , Ayele Sinafikish , Misganaw Tebeje , Samuel Teka , Kelaye Temesgen , Gebru Agegnehu , Assefa Amare , Getachew Wogene , Yalew Bereket , Geleta Dereje 
Published: October 2023

Background
School closures in response to the COVID-19 impacted children’s education, protection, and wellbeing. After understanding these impacts and that children were not super spreaders, countries including Ethiopia decided to reopen schools with specified preconditions. But when deciding to reopen schools, the benefits and risks across education, public health and socio-economic factors have to be evaluated. However, there was information gap on status of schools as per preconditions. Hence, this study was designed to investigate status of schools in Southern Ethiopia.

Methods
School based cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2020 in Southern Ethiopia. Sample of 430 schools were included. National school reopening guideline was used to develop checklist for assessment. Data was collected by public health experts at regional emergency operation center. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarize data.

Results
A total of 430 schools were included. More than two thirds, 298 (69.3%), of schools were from rural areas while 132 (30.7%) were from urban settings. The general infection prevention and water, sanitation and hygiene (IPC-WASH) status of schools were poor and COVID-19 specific preparations were inadequate to meet national preconditions to reopen schools during the pandemic. Total score from 24 items observed ranged from 3 to 22 points with mean score of 11.75 (SD±4.02). No school scored 100% and only 41 (9.5%) scored above 75% while 216 (50.2%%) scored below half point that is 12 items.

Conclusion
Both the basic and COVID-19 specific IPC-WASH status of schools were inadequate to implement national school reopening preconditions and general standards. Some of strategies planned to accommodate teaching process and preconditions maximized inequalities in education. Although COVID-19 impact lessened due to vaccination and other factors, it is rational to consider fulfilling water and basic sanitation facilities to schools to prevent communicable diseases of public health importance.
Acoustic scattering properties of a seagrass, Cymodocea nodosa: in-situ measurements
Authors: Mutlu Erhan , Olguner Cansu 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Marine prairies play various crucial roles in marine ecosystems. The seagrasses that compose them are one of the most important components engineering the marine coastal system, providing significant spatial niches. Some of the seagrasses found in marine prairies are protected, and it is not recommended to sample them with destructive methods. Non-destructive methods such as remote sensing have been proposed as important means of studying these protected species. In the present study, the acoustic scattering properties of Cymodocea nodosa were studied with two different in/ex situ experiments conducted on a Turkish Mediterranean coast using a scientific echosounder (206 kHz split beam transducer) in different months over the years 2011 and 2012. After a series of acoustic processes, correlations and regression equations were established between different acoustic parameters of the Elementary Distance Sampling Units and biometric traits of below/above ground parts of the seagrass. The relationships were logarithmically established producing first a Rayleigh zone, followed by a geometrical zone that occurred with increased biometrics. No seasonal difference occurred in the relationships for the above-ground parts. Unlike the leaves, seagrass sheaths demonstrated unstable echo energy, inconsistent relationships, and unexplained acoustic responses over the span of several months. Regarding leaf density changing in time, significant relationships were explained as a function of the acoustic zones. Four points were highlighted to explain the differences in the estimations between the two experiments; i) the backscattering strengths depended on strength of biomass and its fractions (leaf area, shoot density and volume) between the two experiments, ii) the first experiment measured backscattering strength from individual specimens, but the second experiment was performed on the total biomass of seagrass per unit area, iii) different frequency response to the biometrics occurred in the two experiments, and iv) the non-linear effect of the sheath could not be separated from that of the leaf during the second experiment. The present study was the first attempt to characterize relationships between the biometric and acoustic backscattering properties of C. nodosa, and will guide researchers in future use of non-destructive methods.
On Waring’s problem for larger powers
Authors: Brüdern Jörg , Wooley Trevor D. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Let

G
⁢

(
k
)

{G(k)}

denote the least number s having the property that every
sufficiently large natural number is the sum of at most s positive integral k-th powers.
Then for all

k
∈
ℕ

{k\in\mathbb{N}}

, one has

G
⁢

(
k
)

⩽

⌈

k
⁢

(

log
⁡
k

+
4.20032

)

⌉

.

G(k)\leqslant\lceil k(\log k+4.20032)\rceil.

Our new methods improve on all bounds available hitherto when

k
⩾
14

{k\geqslant 14}

.
Platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells regulate pulmonary artery endothelial cell dysfunction through extracellular vesicle miR-409-5p
Authors: Heo Jeongyeon , Kang Hara 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced changes in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulate vascular remodeling, resulting in vascular diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension. VSMCs communicate with endothelial cells through extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying cargos, including microRNAs. To understand the molecular mechanisms through which PDGF-stimulated pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) interact with pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) under pathological conditions, we investigated the crosstalk between PASMCs and PAECs via extracellular vesicle miR-409-5p under PDGF stimulation. miR-409-5p expression was upregulated in PASMCs upon PDGF signaling, and it was released into EVs. The elevated expression of miR-409-5p was transported to PAECs and led to their impaired function, including reduced NO release, which consequentially resulted in enhanced PASMC proliferation. We propose that the positive regulatory loop of PASMC-extracellular vesicle miR-409-5p-PAEC is a potential mechanism underlying the proliferation of PASMCs under PDGF stimulation. Therefore, miR-409-5p may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of vascular diseases, including pulmonary arterial hypertension.
User-centered design in mobile human-robot cooperation: consideration of usability and situation awareness in GUI design for mobile robots at assembly workplaces
Authors: Colceriu Christian , Theis Sabine , Brell-Cokcan Sigrid , Nitsch Verena 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Mobile cobots can increase the potential for assembly work in industry. For human-friendly automation of cooperative assembly work, user-centered interfaces are necessary. The design process regarding user interfaces for mobile human-robot cooperation (HRC) shows large research gaps. In this article an exemplary approach is shown to design a graphical user interface (GUI) for mobile HRC at assembly workplaces. The design is based on a wireframe developed to support situation awareness. An interactive mockup is designed and evaluated. This is done in two iterations. In the first iteration, a user analysis is carried out using a quantitative survey with n = 31 participants to identify preferred input modalities and a qualitative survey with n = 11 participants that addresses touch interfaces. The interactive mockup is developed by implementing design recommendations of the usability standards ISO 9241 – 110, 112 and 13. A heuristic evaluation is conducted with n = 5 usability experts and the measurement of situation awareness with n = 30 end users. In the second iteration, findings from the preceding iteration are implemented in the GUI and a usability test with n = 20 end users is conducted. The process demonstrates a combination of methods that leads to high usability and situation awareness in mobile HRC.
Effect of Information Literacy on Academic Performance of Business Students in Pakistan
Authors: Mughari Shahzeb , Naveed Muhammad Asif , Rafique Ghulam Murtaza 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe present research investigated the effect of information literacy on the academic performance of business students enrolled at the top seven business education institutions from urban Sindh, Pakistan. A quantitative research approach using a cross-sectional survey was used to conduct this investigation. The data were collected from 385 business students enrolled in different degree programs using a questionnaire. The recruitment of the participants was done through proportionate stratified simple random and systematic sampling techniques, with the results indicating that business students are information literate. In addition, the information literacy of business students appeared as a positive predictor of their academic performance. These results may inform policy and practice to improve business education and might be useful for business educators, policymakers, librarians, and business accrediting bodies (e.g., National Business Education Accreditation Council and Higher Education Commission) in designing a needs-based information literacy instruction program and curriculum for business students of all levels for better human-information interaction. This study contributed to the existing literature on the effectiveness of information literacy in academia, particularly on business students’ academic performance, as no such research was available in the existing literature at the time of writing this article, specifically from the South-Asian region.
Multiplexing in photonics as a resource for optical ternary content-addressable memory functionality
Authors: London Yanir , Van Vaerenbergh Thomas , Ramini Luca , Descos Antoine , Buonanno Luca , Youn Jinsung , Li Can , Graves Catherine E. , Fiorentino Marco , Beausoleil Raymond G. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn this paper, we combine a Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) encoding scheme previously proposed for analog electronic CAMs (E-CAMs) with optical multiplexing techniques to create two new photonic CAM architectures—wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical ternary CAM (O-TCAM) and time-division multiplexing (TDM) O-TCAM. As an example, we show how these two O-TCAM schemes can be implemented by performing minor modifications in microring-based silicon photonic (SiPh) circuits originally optimized for exascale interconnects. Here, our SiPh O-TCAM designs include not only the actual search engine, but also the transmitter circuits. For the first time, we experimentally demonstrate O-TCAM functionality in SiPh up to∼4Gbps${\sim} 4\,\,\text{Gbps}$and we prove in simulation feasibility for speeds up to 10 Gbps, 10 times faster than typical E-TCAMs at the expense of higher energy consumption per symbol of our O-TCAM Search Engine circuits than the corresponding E-TCAMs. Finally, we identify which hardware and architecture modifications are required to improve the O-CAM’s energy efficiency towards the level of E-CAMs.
Dynamic Shrinkage Priors for Large Time-Varying Parameter Regressions Using Scalable Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods
Authors: Hauzenberger Niko , Huber Florian , Koop Gary 
Published: October 2023

AbstractTime-varying parameter (TVP) regression models can involve a huge number of coefficients. Careful prior elicitation is required to yield sensible posterior and predictive inferences. In addition, the computational demands of Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods mean their use is limited to the case where the number of predictors is not too large. In light of these two concerns, this paper proposes a new dynamic shrinkage prior which reflects the empirical regularity that TVPs are typically sparse (i.e. time variation may occur only episodically and only for some of the coefficients). A scalable MCMC algorithm is developed which is capable of handling very high dimensional TVP regressions or TVP Vector Autoregressions. In an exercise using artificial data we demonstrate the accuracy and computational efficiency of our methods. In an application involving the term structure of interest rates in the eurozone, we find our dynamic shrinkage prior to effectively pick out small amounts of parameter change and our methods to forecast well.
Recommendations on Use of DIC in Experimental Geotechnics
Authors: Chouhan Kritesh , Rai Harsh , Chavda Jitesh T. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Image-based deformation measurement techniques, like digital image correlation (DIC), are used to measure the displacement of soil particles and thereby to investigate the behavior of geo-structure in experimental geotechnics. The precision of the measurement from the DIC technique depends on the position of the camera and light panels, the color temperature of light, size of the region of interest (RoI), type and relative density of sand, seeding ratio, type of camera, and strain rate used in experiments. In the paper, the effect of above-mentioned parameters is investigated experimentally in 1-g model tests. The studies show that the precision in DIC measurements is dependent on the position of camera and light panels, size of RoI, texture of the sand, and seeding ratio. However, the relative density of sand and strain rate do not significantly affect the results from the DIC analysis. The efficacy in the measurement of the large deformations and suitability of smartphone cameras using DIC are also addressed. Last, we developed recommendations to obtain precise results from DIC in experimental geotechnics.
An Accumulating Neural Signal Underlying Binocular Rivalry Dynamics
Authors: Nie Shaozhi , Katyal Sucharit , Engel Stephen A. 
Published: October 2023

During binocular rivalry, conflicting images are presented one to each eye and perception alternates stochastically between them. Despite stable percepts between alternations, modeling suggests that neural signals representing the two images change gradually, and that the duration of stable percepts are determined by the time required for these signals to reach a threshold that triggers an alternation. However, direct physiological evidence for such signals has been lacking. Here, we identify a neural signal in the human visual cortex that shows these predicted properties. We measured steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) in 84 human participants (62 females, 22 males) who were presented with orthogonal gratings, one to each eye, flickering at different frequencies. Participants indicated their percept while EEG data were collected. The time courses of the SSVEP amplitudes at the two frequencies were then compared across different percept durations, within participants. For all durations, the amplitude of signals corresponding to the suppressed stimulus increased and the amplitude corresponding to the dominant stimulus decreased throughout the percept. Critically, longer percepts were characterized by more gradual increases in the suppressed signal and more gradual decreases of the dominant signal. Changes in signals were similar and rapid at the end of all percepts, presumably reflecting perceptual transitions. These features of the SSVEP time courses are well predicted by a model in which perceptual transitions are produced by the accumulation of noisy signals. Identification of this signal underlying binocular rivalry should allow strong tests of neural models of rivalry, bistable perception, and neural suppression.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDuring binocular rivalry, two conflicting images are presented to the two eyes and perception alternates between them, with switches occurring at seemingly random times. Rivalry is an important and longstanding model system in neuroscience, used for understanding neural suppression, intrinsic neural dynamics, and even the neural correlates of consciousness. All models of rivalry propose that it depends on gradually changing neural activity that on reaching some threshold triggers the perceptual switches. This manuscript reports the first physiological measurement of neural signals with that set of properties in human participants. The signals, measured with EEG in human observers, closely match the predictions of recent models of rivalry, and should pave the way for much future work.
How does parents' psychological distress relate to adolescents' problematic gaming? The roles of parent-adolescent relationship and adolescents' emotion regulation
Authors: Lin Li , Ding Ruyi , Ni Shiguang 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsEmerging research has identified parents' psychological distress as a potential risk factor that increases adolescents' vulnerability to problematic gaming. This study attempted to address “why” from a relational perspective. We hypothesized that parents' psychological distress may link to adolescents' problematic gaming through the mediation of parent-child relationship quality, while the mediating effects of parent-child relationship quality may vary depending on adolescents' emotion regulation.MethodsWe collected data from 4,835 parent-child dyads in China (parental age = 41.45 ± 4.53 years; adolescent age = 13.50 ± 1.00 years). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to analyze the relationships among the variables under study.ResultsParent-reported parental depression/anxiety was related to worse adolescent-reported parent-child relationship, which in turn related to more severe adolescent-reported problematic gaming. Moreover, the mediating effects of parent-child relationship quality were weaker when adolescents used more expressive suppression (but not cognitive reappraisal).Discussion and ConclusionsThe findings of this study highlight the need to consider both parent-child relationships and adolescents' active role in their own emotion regulation in order to understand parental influence on adolescent problematic gaming.
Developments of additive manufacturing and 5D printing in tissue engineering
Authors: Lai Jiahui , Wang Min 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAdditive manufacturing, popularly known as “3D printing”, enables us to fabricate advanced scaffolds and cell-scaffold constructs for tissue engineering. 4D printing makes dynamic scaffolds for human tissue regeneration, while bioprinting involves living cells for constructing cell-laden structures. However, 3D/4D printing and bioprinting have limitations. This article provides an up-to-date review of 3D/4D printing and bioprinting in tissue engineering. Based on 3D/4D printing, 5D printing is conceptualized and explained. In 5D printing, information as the fifth dimension in addition to 3D space and time is embedded in printed structures and can be subsequently delivered, causing change/changes of the environment of 5D printed objects. Unlike 3D/4D printing that makes passive/inactive products, 5D printing produces active or intelligent products that interact with the environments and cause their positive changes. Finally, the application of 5D printing in tissue engineering is illustrated by our recent work. 3D/4D/5D printing and bioprinting are powerful manufacturing platforms for tissue engineering.
Graphical abstract
Synthesis and characterization of the graft copolymer PTFE-g-HEMA using gamma rays for the load and delivery of ciprofloxacin
Authors: Ramírez-Flores Benito E. , Bucio Emilio 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe aim of this study was to develop a drug delivery copolymer. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was grafted onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) films using gamma rays as the initiator agent. The optimal conditions for the grafting procedure were determined through a series of experiments, considering the following factors: reaction time, temperature, HEMA concentration, solvent type, and gamma-ray doses. Grafting was accomplished using the oxidative-pre-irradiation method. The resulting copolymer was subjected to various characterizations, including thermal analysis (TGA and DSC), FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and assessment of physicochemical properties. Additionally, its ability to load and release ciprofloxacin was evaluated.
Graphical abstract
Application of the metauniverse in cities, its concept, advantages and disadvantages
Authors: Kashiripoor Mohammad M. 
Published: October 2023

In the second half of 2021, companies around the world decided to make a massive digital transition into the virtual space. The development of metaverse poses a lot of questions for the society, but so far, few people think about how the appearance and structures of cities will change if the majority of residents go into virtual reality. The article discusses the latest trends and directions in society and science, which is known to us as the metaverse, attempts to discuss this trend and its connection with architecture and urban planning through scientific literature, their analysis and the actual stage of development of this trend.
The purpose of study is to provide a basic understanding of the metaverse and its application analyses to cities at this stage.
The tasks of the study are: definition and understanding of the metaverse and its working systems; application of this direction/trend in cities; reveal the main advantage and disadvantage of using this direction for cities. To achieve the proposed result, it is necessary to use the method of analysis of scientific literature and documents related to the metaverse concept and its application in cities to reach and form conclusions. This study concluded in studying the latest direction and application of metaverse in urban planning and identifying some of its advantages and disadvantages.
The scientific novelty of the study lies in the study and application of the metaverse concept in cities and the identification of its main advantages and disadvantages. The author emphasizes that this direction does not actually reconstruct cities, but on the contrary, a new function of reality appears in the city that people want to see and, as a result, should make cities more livable.