bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is local excision with chemoradiotherapy the optimal treatment for early stage rectal cancer patients？a population-based study
Authors: zhu si rui , Tu Jiawei , Pei Wei , Bi Jianjun , Zheng Zhao-xu , Feng Qiang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Objective Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy in early stage rectal cancer is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to access the survival benefits of chemoradiotherapy for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with early stage rectal cancer and find the optimal treatment for these patients.
Methods The study analyzed data from patients diagnosed with T1-2N0M0 rectal cancer between 2010 and 2016, using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The researchers then divided the patients into low-risk and high-risk groups based on various prognostic factors. Kaplan-Meier analysis was employed to evaluate the impact of chemoradiotherapy on OS and CSS in these patient groups.
Results The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with T1 stage (T1N0M0) had better OS and CSS outcomes than the T2 stage (T2N0M0) groups. Furthermore, it was shown that both low-risk groups of T1 stage and T2 stage had better OS and CSS outcomes than the high-risk groups. No significant benefits was shown when adding chemoradiotherapy in T1 stage groups while it was observed significant improvements for OS and CSS in T2 stage groups. Furthermore, local excision alone in T1 stage groups and local excision with chemoradiotherapy in T2 stage shown no significant difference comparing to those treated with segmental resection.
Conclusion In our study, we found that chemoradiotherapy was beneficial for T2N0M0 rectal cancer patients. What’s more, local excision alone was a feasible alternative for T1N0M0 rectal cancer patients and local excision with chemoradiotherapy was a promising alternative for T2N0M0 rectal cancer patients.
Informal recycling sector contribution to plastic pollution mitigation: A systematic scoping review and analysis of prevalence and productivity
Authors: Cook Ed , Cano Nathalia Silva de Souza Lima , Velis Costas A. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

A large global workforce of informal entrepreneurs has historically dominated circular economy practices in the Global South, collecting many millions of tonnes of waste for recycling, and supplementing insufficiencies in struggling municipal waste management systems. Ongoing negotiations for a ‘Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution’ implicitly recognise the substantial contribution made by the informal recycling sector (IRS - waste pickers) to plastic pollution mitigation. To this, we carried out a systematic scoping review of IRS prevalence and productivity following the PRISMA-ScR method followed by extensive data analytics. Waste pickers represent median 0.2% (interquartile range – IQR: 0.1-0.5%) of the urban population worldwide, collecting between 20 kg and 80 kg of engineered materials for recycling each day, of which 30% (mean wt. ar) are plastics. We identify substantial shortcomings in most methodologies used to gather data on the IRS, introducing epistemic uncertainty into some previous estimates of the sector’s activity. We recommend development of a standardised resource-efficient method of sampling and data gathering, suitable for implementation at municipal/local scale. Our work offers verifiable quantitative knowledge on the sector’s activities to date, suitable for use in plastic pollution quantification models and local/national action plans required to baseline and monitor progress towards multilateral targets.
Biosorption of Fluoride from Water Using Aluminum Hydroxide Modified Activated Carbon from Composte Coffee Husk and Corn Cob
Authors: Hirbo Hirbo Geremew , Hola Roba Nebi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

The earth's crust contains the highest concentration of fluoride minerals. Long-term exposure to water containing fluoride concentrations higher than the 1.5 mg/L WHO recommendation can be harmful to one's health and cause dental, skeletal fluorosis, neurological, and thyroid problems. Therefore, it is imperative to create an affordable, accessible, and eco-friendly way to remove fluoride from water using activated carbon made from a locally available composite of maize cob and coffee husk. In this study, coffee husk and maize cob were ground, dried, and calcined in a muffle furnace at 500°C for two hours. The materials were then activated with a 30% aqueous Al (OH)3solution. To describe its properties, the resultant activated carbon—known as CMAC (coffee husk and maize cob derived activated carbon) was put through proximate and ultimate analysis. Using batch adsorption methods, the impact of several parameters, including pH, sorbent dosage, contact time, and initial fluoride concentration, is investigated with respect to the extraction of fluoride. The adsorption kinetics were investigated using pseudo first and second-order kinetic analysis, and Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were used for analysis. The study's maximum fluoride removal efficiency of 88.1 percent was attained with an initial fluoride concentration of 10 mg/L, pH of 3, contact time of 90 minutes, and adsorbent dosage of 3 grams. It is discovered that CMAC works well as an adsorbent to remove fluoride from water. The study's adsorption data had pseudo-second-order kinetics (R^2 = 0.957) and a high coefficient of determination (R^2 = 0.976), indicating a good fit to the Freundlich isotherm model. These results point to a high potential for efficiently removing fluoride from aqueous solution using the modified adsorbent CMAC composite.
Optimization validation of online system for COD variation measurement in wastewater at levels of parallel matrixes designed through bias correction by Deming regression under AD hypothesis test
Authors: Douwen Wang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Chemical oxygen demand (COD), with its unique socio-economic structure and conditions in regional wastewater of Dalian, China, can bring about the long-term potential harm impacts to ecosystems and human health. As the key indicators of total sewage discharge control and the must-measure item for routine testing in China, COD test is basically completed by the online system (as X-method). However, X-method belongs to the domains of non-standard, and the validity of its reported results deserves attention. The background effect treatment has been debated when dealing with the accuracy of COD test, and the usual practice is referred to the matrixes spikes at multiple levels. However, we hold the opinion that COD of the actual extraction efficiency (naturally existing matrix matched), is out of the question while measuring for unstable samples greatly fluctuated in wastewater, with its instantaneous effluent and temporal and spatial characteristics, and cannot be repeated and predicted. Instead, we decided to use regression to solve this problem. We may assess the methodology of leverage (hi) and Cook’s distance (Di) to identify influential observation prior to model transformation for ordinary least squares (OLS) fitting, in which, the random parallel samples designed, within each level consistent differing by ≤ 10%, is deployed to establish the bias correction reasoning between X-method and the arbitration, referee or primary system (as Y-method). As OLS fitting is, yielding biased and inefficient estimates, not suitable for uncertainties existed in both regressed variables, instead, we use a knowledge-based Deming regression (DR) to optimally monitor and validate the validity of X-method system. In this paper, we give the detailed fitting process of DR technique with its weighted iteration accounted for measurement error in both methods. To ensure the residuals, in chronological order, deduced from the bias correction function, under independence identical distribution (i.i.d) condition, we strongly advocate a more robust Anderson Darling (AD) hypothesis test for validation of X-method. If the AD null hypothesis is held, we further hold the opinion that X-method is, under the site precision (sR'), reliable for its COD determination in wastewater. Meanwhile, the sR' is more appropriate to maximally incorporate all cumulative effects, even with the annoying interaction, into the data quality objective (DQO) of the COD system over an entire range levels range, and minimize the intractable problem caused by matrix effect. Our motive is to compare the COD variation measurement from real-time online system, across all matrices, with the results obtained historically or subsequently, to meet client’s needs in a way that allows the operation of the COD system from X-method in consistency, in impartial, in competency, and to assist management decision making.
Picard Estimation Method for the Weibull Extension Model Parameters
Authors: Maswadah M. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In parameter estimation techniques, the Bayesian estimation method is the most common technique that has been used in social science and psychology, despite the fact that it is subjective to prior information other than data, which worries some statisticians. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to introduce a numerical iteration technique, which is Picard’s method for estimating the distribution parameters. This method has been applied for deriving the estimators for the Weibull extension model parameters and compared with the Bayes method via Monte Carlo simulations. The simulation results indicate that Picard’s method is strongly favorable because it provides better estimates and outperforms the Bayes method. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methods.
Numerical Estimation for the Three-Parameter Burr-XII Model Parameters Based on Picard’s Method
Authors: Maswadah M. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In parameter estimation techniques, there are several methods for estimation in lifetime distributions and reliability theory. However, most of them are less efficient than the Bayes method based on the informative prior. Thus, the main objective of this study is to present an optimal estimation technique using Picard’s method for estimating the three-parameter Burr type-XII distribution parameters. A comparison between the Picard and Bayes methods is provided using an extensive Monte Carlo simulation based on two criteria, namely, the average bias and the mean squared error. The simulation results indicate that Picard’s method is highly efficient and outperforms the Bayes method based on the generalized progressive hybrid censoring scheme. Finally, two real dataset analyses are presented to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed methods.
Spatial Distribution and Determinant Factor of Women's Unemployment Status in Ethiopia
Authors: Hirbo Hirbo Geremew , Kuse Kenenisa Abdisa , Asnakew Alemnesh Mulugeta , Wudu Tadele Kasahun 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background: Those who are capable of working but do not have a job are said to be unemployed and are looking for compensation or profit. One of the biggest issues facing both developed and developing nations in the modern era is unemployment. Private and societal issues including prostitution, alcoholism, poverty, and an increase in crimes are all caused by unemployment. This study's primary goal was to characterize the geographic disparities in women's unemployment in Ethiopia. Techniques: The EDHS 2016 provided the dataset used in this investigation. Basic social and demographic information was included in the data. We used spatial analysis to find the geographical variation in our data.
Findings: Of the 15683 women who participated in the study, 10011 (63.8%) are unemployed, and 5672 (36.2%) are employed in Ethiopia. in line with EDHS data from 2016. The Global Moran's I test results show that Ethiopian women's unemployment rates were either clustered or not random. Nearly the whole region of Afar and Somalia, southwest Tigray, north and west Oromia, and eastern and southern Amhara were identified as high-risk areas for women's unemployment status. Conversely, low-risk areas included Addis Abeba, eastern and central Oromia, Gambela, Dire Dawa and Hariri, nearly all Benshangul-bearing areas, and the eastern SNNPR.
Conclusion: This study shows the regional cluster-level spatial distribution of women's unemployment status in Ethiopia. High outlier clusters were found to be more prevalent than low outlier clusters, according to the cluster and outlier analysis. The eastern regions of Tigray and Gambela, the central portion of Oromia, and the western portion of Benshangul Gumuz were the locations of these high outliers. However, low outliers were primarily discovered in Northern and Central Somalia, Eastern Afar, Eastern Amhara, Eastern and Northern part of Oromia, and Western Tigray.
Reprogramming of DNA methylation and changes of gene expression in grafted Hevea bralisiensis
Authors: Li Hui-Liang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Rubber tree (Hevea bralisiensis) is reproduced by bud grafting for commercial planting, but significant intraclonal variations exist in bud-grafted clones. DNA methylation changes related to grafting may be partly responsible for intraclonal variations. In the current study, whole genome DNA methylation profiles of grafted rubber tree plants (GP) and its donor plants (DP) were evaluated by whole genome bisulfite sequencing. Data showed that DNA methylation were down-regulated and DNA methylations in CG, CHG and CHH sequences were reprogrammed in GP, suggesting graft induced reprogramming of DNA methylation. 5939 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified by comparing fractional methylation levels between GP and DP. Transcriptional analyse revealed that there were 9798 differentially expression genes (DEGs) in the DP and GP comparison. 1698 overlapping genes between DEGs and DMGs were identified. These overlapping genes were markedly enriched in the metabolic pathway and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites by KEGG pathway analysis. Global DNA methylation and transcriptional analyses revealed that reprogramming of DNA methylation is correlated with gene expression in grafted rubber tree. The study provides a whole genome methylome of rubber tree and an insight on the molecular mechanisms underlying the intraclonal variations existing in commercial planting grafted rubber trees.
Stochastic Multivariable Extremum Seeking Control Considering Input and Output Delays
Authors: Silva Paulo Cesar S. , Pellanda Paulo Cesar , Oliveira Tiago Roux 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This paper introduces a design and analysis framework for a multivariable gradient-based stochastic extremum-seeking control system that considers delays. The study addresses multi-input systems with time delays in both input and output channels. The introduced new predictor feedback mechanism utilizes stochastic sinusoidal perturbation-based estimates of the Hessian's matrix in order to compensate the delay effects in the real-time optimizer. The incorporation of this feedback into the closed-loop system ensures exponential stability for the average dynamics and convergence to a small neighborhood around the unknown extremum point. The derived results are rigorously established through the application of backstepping transformation and stochastic averaging techniques in infinite dimensions. The effectiveness of the proposed predictor-based stochastic extremum seeking approach for delay compensation is illustrated through a numerical example.
EM-DAT: the Emergency Events Database
Authors: Delforge Damien , Wathelet Valentin , Below Regina , Sofia Cinzia Lanfredi , Tonnelier Margo , Loenhout Joris van , Speybroeck Niko 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

The Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) compiles global disaster data resulting from both technological and natural hazards. It details the human and economic impacts from 1900 to present, with systematic recording since 1988. Serving the humanitarian, disaster risk reduction, and academic sectors, EM-DAT's transition to open access and increasing climate change concerns have expanded its reach and visibility. The dataset, freely available for non-commercial use, is downloadable as an Excel file. It is categorized by hazard type and standardized by individual disaster events for each country. With over 26,000 unique entries, the database is populated through the monitoring of textual documents and their manual processing. The data collection and validation processes involve systematic daily checks from predefined sources, searches for additional sources, and periodic thematic updates. The evolution of EM-DAT's data content mirrors societal and technological advancements in disaster reporting. Besides these progresses, known inconsistencies and biases in the data quality have been reported. The article acknowledges these issues, highlighting their potential implications for research and decision-making.
Detecting drought-prone regions through drought indices
Authors: Pawar Sangita , Shelke Mahesh , Kushare Nikita 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Climate change has led to heightened variability in global rainfall patterns, resulting in greater unpredictability and inconsistency, and it has led to the origin of meteorological drought situation. This has amplified the frequency of droughts or drought-like conditions worldwide. India, being primarily agrarian, faces significant challenges due to drought, affecting various regions intermittently. Given the urgency of addressing recurring drought issues, it is crucial to determine specific ‘drought-prone’ areas through the analysis of historical and current meteorological data. It is still a challenge to quantitatively understand where and to what extent the impact of rainfall patterns could lead the drought. Whether any region likely comes under drought-prone area or not? Can we help policy makers to apply their knowledge effectively? It will help to undertake the long-term mitigation measures for drought assessment and management which encompasses early warning, monitoring, and relief toward the good health of the society. The present study is a further step in the same direction in which Akola district in Maharashtra, India has been assessed for drought-prone declaration using two drought measuring indices; seasonality index (SI) and aridity index (AI). For this, the measured meteorological data precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration, from 1952 to 2002 is made available from India Water Portal.
1,3,4-Thiadiazole: A Versatile Scaffold for Drug Discovery
Authors: Mittal Ravi K. , Mishra Raghav , Sharma Vikram , Mishra Isha 
Published: December 2023

Abstract::
1,3,4-Thiadiazole has garnered considerable attention in the scientific community due to
its captivating molecular structure and ability to serve as a foundation for creating novel pharmaceutical
compounds. Numerous medications feature the 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring in their chemical structure,
highlighting its relevance and efficacy in pharmaceutical research and development. The key
objective of this comprehensive review is to provide an understandable overview of the chemistry
and diverse pharmacological activities associated with 1,3,4-thiadiazole compounds. The manuscript
was compiled by conducting a thorough literature review, which included an in-depth analysis of
globally esteemed scientific research databases. The remarkable chemical characteristics and diverse
pharmacological impacts of 1,3,4-Thiadiazole highlight its significant potential as a structural scaffold
for the development of novel therapeutic substances. Based on the information available on synthetic
molecules that incorporate the 1,3,4-thiadiazole framework and their wide range of uses, it is
reasonable to expect significant advancements in the near future and the possibility of employing
these compounds in different domains.
Strategies for Promoting Positive Childbirth Experiences: Delphi
Approach
Authors: Shahhosseini Zohreh , Motaghi Zahra , Keramat Afsaneh , Kolahdozan Sakineh , Hosseini Tabaghdehi Leila , Moosazadeh Mahmood , Hosseini Tabaghdehi Monirolsadate 
Published: December 2023

Background::
The experiences that women gain during childbirth remain with them
throughout life. This study aimed to provide strategies to promote positive childbirth experiences.

Method::
This Delphi study was conducted in three rounds from September to November 2019. A
purposively selected 17 national experts, including obstetricians, reproductive health professionals,
and midwives, participated in this study.

Results::
Most of the 52 initial strategies in the first round (50 strategies) were approved with a
few corrections in the first and second rounds, and 23 strategies were presented in the third-round
questionnaire; most panelists agreed upon them. Finally, they approved 73 strategies with five categories:
promoting professional support, enhancing control skills, encouraging empowerment, promoting
spouse and other important support, and improving childbirth preparation.

Conclusion::
The Delphi approach allows for developing a consensus that will serve as a template
for education, practice, and future research in maternity care units. Hence, multidimensional approaches
are required to promote positive childbirth experiences that can potentially improve
mothers’ well-being outcomes.
Preparation and Optimization of Gemcitabine Loaded PLGA Nanoparticle Using Box-Behnken Design for Targeting to Brain: In Vitro Characterization, Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Study
Authors: Alik Kumar Ladi , Pattnaik Gurudutta , Satapathy Bhabani Sankar , Mohanty Dibyalochan , Prasanth P.A. , Dey Suddhasattya , Debata Jitendra 
Published: December 2023

Background:Treatment of glioma with conventional approaches remains a far-reaching target to provide the desired outcome. This study aimed to develop and optimize Gemcitabine hydrochloride- loaded PLGA nanoparticles (GNPs) using the Box-Behnken design methodology. The independent variables chosen for this study included the quantity of Polymer (PLGA) (X1), Tween 80 (X2), and Sonication time (X3), whereas the dependent variables were Particle size (Y1) EE % (Y2) and PDI (Y3). The optimized biodegradable nanoparticles were investigated for their anticancer effectiveness in U87MG human glioblastoma cells in vitro.Method:The formulation process involved two steps. Initially, emulsification was carried out by combining the organic polymer solution with the aqueous surfactant solution. Subsequently, in the second step, the organic solvent was evaporated, resulting in the precipitation of the polymer and the formation of nanoparticles. The quantity of PLGA, Tween 80, and PVA (at a constant concentration) was adjusted based on the experimental trial approach. Subsequently, the PLGA-based nanoparticles underwent characterization, wherein their particle size, encapsulation efficiency, polydispersity index (PDI), and cumulative release were assessed. The optimal formulation composition was determined as 200 mg of PLGA, 4 ml of Tween 80, and 2 mg of PVA. Further, the optimized GNPs were evaluated for their anti-cancer effectiveness on U87 MG cells by MTT and apoptosis assay.Results:The results demonstrated that the optimized GNPs exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 81.66 %, a particle size of 140.1 nm, and a PDI of 0.37. The morphology of the Opt-GNPs was observed to be spherical through transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Conclusion:The Apoptosis study further confirmed the observations of MTT assay as the Opt- GNPs significantly enhanced the apoptosis in U-87 MG cells than the Standard marketed formulation.