bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Propolis as an adjunctive therapy for treatment of uncomplicated cystitis in women: A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Shekari Mahdi , Hadi Amir , Daabo Hamid Mahmood Abdullah , Allahyari Zahra Haj , Hjazi Ahmed , Rafie Nahid , Heidari Mohammad 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe current research is designed to investigate the effect of propolis supplementation on the clinical manifestations in women suffering from uncomplicated cystitis. In this randomized double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial, 120 women with uncomplicated cystitis were selected and randomly assigned into two groups to receive two 500 mg capsules of propolis or placebo daily for 7 days along with ciprofloxacin (250 mg). Clinical symptoms including hematuria, urinary frequency, dysuria, suprapubic pain, and urgency, as well as bacteriuria, were assessed before and after the intervention. After supplementation, participants in the intervention group had significantly fewer days of urinary frequency (p < 0.001), dysuria (p = 0.005), and urgency (p = 0.03). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding hematuria and suprapubic pain (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the severity of bacteriuria decreased significantly in both groups. In conclusion, it seems that propolis supplementation in women with uncomplicated cystitis could improve urinary frequency, dysuria, and urgency. However, further clinical trials should be conducted to fully understand the effects of propolis in women suffering from uncomplicated cystitis.
Anomeric‐Schleyer hyperconjugative interaction as a convenient avenue for aromaticity enhancement of phospholes
Authors: Saeidian Hamid , Asadabad Seyed Mahdi Mortazavi , Szczepanik Dariusz W. , Al‐Juaifari Noorhan Jasim Mohammed , Mirjafary Zohreh 
Published: October 2023

AbstractDue to the insufficient interaction of the phosphorus lone pair with the butadiene moiety, the aromaticity of the phosphole ring is lower than that of its counterpart's pyrrole, furan, and thiophene. Considering the high importance of phosphole core in organic chemistry, increasing its stability through reinforcement its aromaticity can be very valuable. In the present work, the aromaticity of the phosphole on the anomeric carbon in both the axial and equatorial conformers of the unsaturated six‐membered heterocycles, using structural, electronic, energetic, and magnetic indices were investigated by the DFT‐B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) computational method. Electron pumping through anomeric and then Schleyer hyperconjugative interaction increase the aromaticity of the phosphole ring in axial conformer of compounds 1–11. Based on various types of aromaticity indices, the results showed that the phosphole ring in the axial position has far higher aromaticity than the equatorial position. The phosphole ring containing cyano groups shows an efficient anomeric effect and, as a result, higher aromaticity. Excellent correlations were observed between aromaticity indices with different backgrounds.
Exploring the impact of language models, such as ChatGPT, on student learning and assessment
Authors: Zirar Araz 
Published: October 2023

AbstractRecent developments in language models, such as ChatGPT, have sparked debate. These tools can help, for example, dyslexic people, to write formal emails from a prompt and can be used by students to generate assessed work. Proponents argue that language models enhance the student experience and academic achievement. Those concerned argue that language models impede student learning and call for a cautious approach to their adoption. This paper aims to provide insights into the role of language models in reshaping student learning and assessment in higher education. For that purpose, it probes the impact of language models, specifically ChatGPT, on student learning and assessment. It also explores the implications of language models in higher education settings, focusing on their effects on pedagogy and evaluation. Using the Scopus database, a search protocol was employed to identify 25 articles based on relevant keywords and selection criteria. The developed themes suggest that language models may alter how students learn and are assessed. While language models can provide information for problem‐solving and critical thinking, reliance on them without critical evaluation adversely impacts student learning. Language models can also generate teaching and assessment material and evaluate student responses, but their role should be limited to ‘play a specific and defined role’. Integration of language models in student learning and assessment is only helpful if students and educators play an active and effective role in checking the generated material's validity, reliability and accuracy. Propositions and potential research questions are included to encourage future research.
Complementary currencies and entrepreneurship: Sustaining micro‐entrepreneurs in Kenyan informal settlements
Authors: Kuk George , Meyer Camille , Giamporcaro Stephanie 
Published: October 2023

AbstractResearch SummaryWith over a billion people inhabiting informal settlements worldwide, micro‐entrepreneurs are vital to local economies. Complementary currencies have emerged as tools to sustain these entrepreneurs, providing alternative trading and payment options. This study explores the daily strategies of micro‐entrepreneurs in Kenyan informal settlements using the digital complementary currency Sarafu. Our findings reveal that complementary currencies act as external enablers, transforming the local economies by enhancing payment systems, influencing supply and demand, and altering pricing structures. Significantly, when integrated with savings groups, they provide financial inclusion and collective purpose, strengthening local business networks. This research enriches our understanding of the mechanisms micro‐entrepreneurs deploy to leverage complementary currencies for growth, emphasizing the need for further exploration into the role of complementary currencies in supporting entrepreneurship.Managerial SummaryThis study explores how a complementary currency called Sarafu benefits micro‐entrepreneurs in Kenyan informal settlements. Sarafu acts as catalysts for entrepreneurship by boosting local markets and empowering community cooperation. Our findings reveal that micro‐entrepreneurs use Sarafu to adapt to the unique challenges of informal economies. They employ smart strategies like flexible pricing and inventory management to keep Sarafu flowing smoothly. Sarafu serves a dual purpose: a means of immediate spending and a tool for saving and growing capital. It also strengthens local business networks and creates a sense of collective purpose. For practitioners, this study suggests using complementary currencies to support local business networks, promote collective savings, and align the issuance of complementary currencies with local assets to foster sustainable entrepreneurship in informal economies.
Mapping spatiotemporal soil moisture in highly heterogeneous agricultural landscapes using mobile dual‐spectra cosmic‐ray neutron sensing
Authors: Andreasen Mie , Kragh Søren Julsgaard , Meyer Rena , Jensen Karsten Høgh , Looms Majken C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAccurate large‐scale soil moisture (SM) maps are crucial for catchment‐scale hydrological models used for water resource management and warning systems for droughts, floods, and wildfires. SM can be mapped by mobile cosmic‐ray neutron (CRN) systems of moderated detectors at homogeneous landscapes of similar soil and vegetation. In this study, we present a new approach for mobile CRN detection to perform to its full potential, where CRN measurements can also be converted to SM at heterogeneous landscapes. The approach is based solely on thermal and epithermal neutron datasets obtained from mobile dual‐spectra CRN detection, combined with theoretical developments using a particle transport model. For each measurement point, the land cover type is identified using the thermal‐to‐epithermal (T/E) ratio, and the relevant neutron‐count‐to‐soil‐moisture conversion function is estimated from CRN stations located at the main land cover types in the catchment. With this approach, the requirement of collecting 100+ soil samples for each point along the survey route is omitted. We use this T/E‐dependent approach to obtain SM maps from 12 CRN surveys and compare it with a simple approach where only the conversion function from the agricultural site is used. SM by the simple approach is comparable to the estimates of the agricultural stations of a capacitance sensor network, while the estimates of the T/E‐dependent approach also compare well with the heathland and forest stations. With accurate SM estimates for all landcover types, the average error is reduced from 0.089 to 0.038 when comparing CRN SM with space‐borne Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission estimates.
Recent advance in self‐assembled polymeric nanomedicines for gaseous signaling molecule delivery
Authors: van der Vlies André J. , Yamane Setsuko , Hasegawa Urara 
Published: October 2023

AbstractGaseous signaling molecules such as nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have recently been recognized as essential signal mediators that regulate diverse physiological and pathological processes in the human body. With the evolution of gaseous signaling molecule biology, their therapeutic applications have attracted growing attention. One of the challenges in translational research of gaseous signaling molecules is the lack of efficient and safe delivery systems. To tackle this issue, researchers developed a library of gas donors, which are low molecular weight compounds that can release gaseous signaling molecules upon decomposition under physiological conditions. Despite the significant efforts to control gaseous signaling molecule release from gas donors, the therapeutic potential of gaseous signaling molecules cannot be fully explored due to their unfavorable pharmacokinetics and toxic side effects. Recently, the use of nanoparticle‐based gas donors, especially self‐assembled polymeric gas donors, have emerged as a promising approach. In this review, we describe the development of conventional small gas donors and the challenges in their therapeutic applications. We then illustrate the concepts and critical aspects for designing self‐assembled polymeric gas donors and discuss the advantages of this approach in gasotransmistter delivery. We also highlight recent efforts to develop the delivery systems for those molecules based on self‐assembled polymeric nanostructures.This article is categorized under:
Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
From tree- to loop-simplicity in affine Toda theories II: higher-order poles and cut decompositions
Authors: Dorey Patrick , Polvara Davide 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Recently we showed how, in two-dimensional scalar theories, one-loop threshold diagrams can be cut into the product of one or more tree-level diagrams [1]. Using this method on the ADE series of Toda models, we computed the double- and single-pole coefficients of the Laurent expansion of the S-matrix around a pole of arbitrary even order, finding agreement with the bootstrapped results. Here we generalise the cut method explained in [1] to multiple loops and use it to simplify large networks of singular diagrams. We observe that only a small number of cut diagrams survive and contribute to the expected bootstrapped result, while most of them cancel each other out through a mechanism inherited from the tree-level integrability of these models. The simplification mechanism between cut diagrams inside networks is reminiscent of Gauss’s theorem in the space of Feynman diagrams.
Fusion of conformal defects in interacting theories
Authors: Rousu Alexander Söderberg 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
We study fusion of two scalar Wilson defects. We propose that fusion holds at a quantum level by showing that bare one-point functions are the same. This is an expected result as the path integral is invariant under fusion of the two defects. The difference instead lies in renormalization of local quantities on the defects. Those on the fused defect takes into account UV divergences in the fusion limit when the two defects approach eachother, in addition to UV divergences in the coincident limit of defect-local fields and in the near defect limits of bulk-local fields. At the fixed point of the corresponding RG flow the two conformal defects have fused into a single conformal defect identical to one of the original scalar Wilson defects.Parts of this paper was first presented in my thesis [1].
Celebrating Loday’s associahedron
Authors: Pilaud Vincent , Santos Francisco , Ziegler Günter M. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe survey Jean-Louis Loday’s vertex description of the associahedron, and its far reaching influence in combinatorics, discrete geometry, and algebra. We present in particular four topics where it plays a central role: lattice congruences of the weak order and their quotientopes, cluster algebras and their generalized associahedra, nested complexes and their nestohedra, and operads and the associahedron diagonal.
Paper sludge saccharification for batch and fed-batch production of bacterial cellulose decorated with magnetite for dye decolorization by experimental design
Authors: Saleh Ahmed K. , Salama Ahmed , Badawy Ahmed S. , Diab Mohamed A. , El-Gendi Hamada 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCellulosic wastes represent a great environmental challenge, with potential conversion to product-added value through microbial fermentation. Currently, bacterial cellulose (BC) is considered a promising natural polymer for multiple applications. However, the high production cost challenges its wide application. Hence, the current study evaluated the applicability of paper sludge as a cost-effective medium for both cellulases and BC production. The local isolate Streptomyces rochei revealed the highest cellulase production titer (about 3 U/mL) at optimized conditions. For BC production, batch and fed-batch fermentation strategies were evaluated using enzymatically hydrolyzed paper sludge. The results asserted the advantage of fed-batch fermentation for advanced BC production (3.10 g/L) over batch fermentation (1.06 g/L) under the same cultivation conditions. The developed BC membranes were characterized through different instrumental analyses, which revealed an increase in fiber diameters and crystallinity under fed-batch fermentation. Furthermore, BC/magnetite (BC/Fe3O4) nanocomposite was developed by an in-situ approach. The newly developed composite was evaluated for dye removal applications, using methyl orange (MO) as a model. The dye removal conditions were optimized through Box Behnken design (BBD), which indicated maximal MO removal (83.5%) at pH 3.0 and BC/Fe3O4 concentration of 0.1 mg/dL after 60 min. Therefore, the current study asserts the good applicability of enzymatically hydrolyzed paper sludge as a medium for cost-effective BC production and the high capacity of BC/magnetite nanocomposite for MO decolorization. The study paves the way for the cost-effective implementation of BC/magnetite nanocomposite for dye removal.
Graphical Abstract
The wrapped XLindley distribution
Authors: Zinhom E. , Nassar M. M. , Radwan S. S. , Elmasry A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn the study of many environmental phenomena, circular statistical analysis and applications to directional data are crucial. In this paper, we introduce the wrapped XLindley distribution, a novel circular distribution with a single parameter. We derive expressions for the distribution’s characteristic function, trigonometric moments, and other associated descriptive measures. The unknown distributional parameter is estimated using the maximum likelihood, least squares, and weighted least squares approach, and the accuracy of these estimates is tested using a simulation study. Finally, to clarify the suggested distribution’s modeling potential, we fit the proposed model to two circular real-world data sets and evaluate the goodness of fit of this distribution in comparison to the wrapped Lindley, wrapped modified Lindley, Von Mises, Jones–Pewsey, and Kato–Jones distributions.
Automatic weighing system vs. manual weighing precision comparison in PM-loaded filter measurements under different humidity conditions
Authors: Chyzhykov Dmytro , Widziewicz-Rzońca Kamila , Błaszczak Monika , Rogula-Kopiec Patrycja , Słaby Krzysztof 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCurrently, there is a lack of research directly comparing the precision of automatic weighing systems and manual weighing in the context of particulate matter (PM) filter equilibration and measurements under different humidity conditions. During experimental measurements, three different types of PM-loaded filters were weighed using manual and automatic balances. During manual weighing, every filter was weighed twice in three different relative humidity conditions. The same procedure was done using an automated weighing system. In most cases, it was found that under relative humidities in the range of 30–55% RH, the manual and automated methods can be treated as referential. Regarding device stability, very slight but overall better precision was found for 30% RH, suggesting that 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix L requirements regarding conditioning humidity (30–40% RH) seem more suitable than those presented in the PN-EN 12341:2014 standard (45–50% RH). Understanding the effects of the influence of the RH% on PM mass measurements is a matter of great importance, because water vapor condensed on a filter can affect the particulate matter concentrations. This is especially important in areas where regulatory limits are exceeded. Calculation of uncertainty in the PM mass measurements is therefore crucial for determining the actual sample mass and improving air monitoring practices. In a nutshell, the experimental results obtained clearly describe how changing RH% conditions affect the PM weighing precision during manual and automated measurements.
Causality in extremes of time series
Authors: Bodik Juraj , Paluš Milan , Pawlas Zbyněk 
Published: October 2023

AbstractConsider two stationary time series with heavy-tailed marginal distributions. We aim to detect whether they have a causal relation, that is, if a change in one causes a change in the other. Usual methods for causal discovery are not well suited if the causal mechanisms only appear during extreme events. We propose a framework to detect a causal structure from the extremes of time series, providing a new tool to extract causal information from extreme events. We introduce the causal tail coefficient for time series, which can identify asymmetrical causal relations between extreme events under certain assumptions. This method can handle nonlinear relations and latent variables. Moreover, we mention how our method can help estimate a typical time difference between extreme events. Our methodology is especially well suited for large sample sizes, and we show the performance on the simulations. Finally, we apply our method to real-world space-weather and hydro-meteorological datasets.
Quality of life among people living with mental illness and predictors in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alemu Wondale Getinet , Due Clemence , Muir-Cochrane Eimear , Mwanri Lillian , Azale Telake , Ziersch Anna 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Quality of life (QoL) of patients with mental illness has been examined internationally but to a lesser extent in developing countries, including countries in Africa. Improving QoL is vital to reducing disability among people with mental illness. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of QoL and associated factors among people living with mental illness in Africa.

Methods
Using the PICOT approach, Scopus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, the Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched. A structured search was undertaken, comprising terms associated with mental health, mental illness, QoL, and a list of all African countries. The Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Appraisal Checklist is used to evaluate research quality. Subgroup analysis with Country, domains of QoL, and diagnosis was tested using a random-effect model, and bias was assessed using a funnel plot and an inspection of Egger's regression test. A p value, OR, and 95% CI were used to demonstrate an association.

Results
The pooled prevalence of poor QoL was 45.93% (36.04%, 55.83%), I2 = 98.6%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that Ethiopia (48.09%; 95% CI = 33.73, 62.44), Egypt (43.51%; 95% CI = 21.84, 65.18), and Nigeria (43.49%; 95% CI = 12.25, 74.74) had the highest mean poor QoL prevalence of the countries. The pooled prevalence of poor QoL by diagnosis was as follows: bipolar disorder (69.63%; 95% CI = 47.48, 91.77), Schizophrenia (48.53%; 95% CI = 29.97, 67.11), group of mental illnesses (40.32%; 95% CI = 23.98, 56.66), and depressive disorders (38.90%; 95% CI = 22.98, 54.81). Being illiterate (3.63; 95% CI = 2.35, 4.91), having a comorbid medical illness (4.7; 95% CI = 2.75, 6.66), having a low monthly income (3.62; 95% CI = 1.96, 5.27), having positive symptoms (0.32; 95% CI = 0.19, 0.55), and having negative symptoms (0.26; 95% CI = 0.16, 0.43) were predictors of QoL. Thus, some factors are significantly associated with pooled effect estimates of QoL.

Conclusions
The current systematic review and meta-analysis showed that almost half of patients with mental illness had poor QoL. Being illiterate, having a comorbid medical condition, having a low monthly income, having positive symptoms, and having negative symptoms of mental illness were independent predictors of poor QoL. This systematic review and meta-analysis emphasize that poor QoL of people with mental illness in Africa needs attention to reduce its negative consequences.
Digitalization in Vulnerable Populations: A Systematic Review in Latin America
Authors: Espinosa Zárate Zaida , Camilli Trujillo Celia , Plaza-de-la-Hoz Jesús 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe present systematic review seeks to collect and analyze relevant academic approaches to the effects of digitalization on the populations that live in vulnerable contexts in Latin America with the purpose of examining to which extent the ongoing universalization of information and communication technologies has the potential to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged in this region. For this aim, both theoretical as well as empirical studies on these populations were considered, as long as they were from Latin America with the aim of listening to the voice of those involved, thus avoiding assigning understandings of the phenomenon and solutions that are alien to the characteristics of the region. Five databases (SCOPUS, Web of Science, ERIC, Communication & Mass Media Complete and Dialnet) were consulted for the period 2001–2021. The analysis of the studies that met the inclusion criteria led to identifying seven themes that point to specific needs that must be met to advance development for the populations under study and that are useful for generating hypotheses for future effective interventions. Among them, some stand out: the specific demands of indigenous communities in the political agendas, the increasingly noticed opportunity for political empowerment through e-government, the development of a sense of belonging through technology, the potential of a digitally-mediated construction of personal identity, and the lack of enough consideration of cultural and situational factors that led to limited results in the implementation of digital public policies.