bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tick‐borne encephalitis: A comprehensive review of the epidemiology, virology, and clinical picture
Authors: Chiffi Gabriele , Grandgirard Denis , Leib Stephen L. , Chrdle Aleš , Růžek Daniel 
Published: July 2023

AbstractTick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a flavivirus commonly found in at least 27 European and Asian countries. It is an emerging public health problem, with steadily increasing case numbers over recent decades. Tick‐borne encephalitis virus affects between 10,000 and 15,000 patients annually. Infection occurs through the bite of an infected tick and, much less commonly, through infected milk consumption or aerosols. The TBEV genome comprises a positive‐sense single‐stranded RNA molecule of ∼11 kilobases. The open reading frame is > 10,000 bases long, flanked by untranslated regions (UTR), and encodes a polyprotein that is co‐ and post‐transcriptionally processed into three structural and seven non‐structural proteins. Tick‐borne encephalitis virus infection results in encephalitis, often with a characteristic biphasic disease course. After a short incubation time, the viraemic phase is characterised by non‐specific influenza‐like symptoms. After an asymptomatic period of 2–7 days, more than half of patients show progression to a neurological phase, usually characterised by central and, rarely, peripheral nervous system symptoms. Mortality is low—around 1% of confirmed cases, depending on the viral subtype. After acute tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE), a minority of patients experience long‐term neurological deficits. Additionally, 40%–50% of patients develop a post‐encephalitic syndrome, which significantly impairs daily activities and quality of life. Although TBEV has been described for several decades, no specific treatment exists. Much remains unknown regarding the objective assessment of long‐lasting sequelae. Additional research is needed to better understand, prevent, and treat TBE. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology, virology, and clinical picture of TBE.
Adaptive output observer for a nonautonomous leader system over periodic switching topologies and its applications to the formation control of offshore vessels
Authors: Zhou Panpan , Hu Xiaoming , Dong Yi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThis paper proposes an adaptive observer for an active leader and designed a distributed observer‐based control law for the formation control of networked uncertain offshore vessels under the switching topologies. The design of the observer, only depending on the output of the leader system, is featured with the ability of accurately estimating the output of the leader system with an unknown input over the time‐varying communication network, satisfying the periodic switching condition. Then based on the output‐based observer, the formation problem of multiple offshore vessels is converted into the stabilization problem of a multi‐input multi‐output augmented system by further combining the internal model technique and performing a coordinate and input transformation. The original problem is finally solved through constructing a stabilizer for the time‐varying uncertain augmented system, and the efficiency of our design is validated by the formation control of a group of offshore vessels.
Observer‐based sliding mode fault tolerant control for nonlinear descriptor systems
Authors: Li Rongchang , Yang Ying 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIn this article, the design and analysis of fault tolerant control (FTC) are investigated for stochastic nonlinear descriptor systems by using the sliding mode approach. First, an integral sliding mode‐based descriptor observer (ISM‐DO) is constructed to estimate the state and fault. The proposed ISM‐DO retains the basic characteristics of descriptor systems, meanwhile, it is not only suitable for dual normalized descriptor systems, but also for non‐dual normalized descriptor systems. It is more universal than the existing sliding mode fault tolerant control (SMFTC) methods. In the sequel, a novel restricted equivalent form based algorithm is developed to solve the sliding parameters. The proposed method provides a general algorithm, and it does not impose additional rank constraints. Further, a new adaptive sliding mode fault tolerant controller is constructed to stabilize the fault system, the assumption related to the diffusion matrix is removed. Based on these ingredients, the asymptotically mean square admissibility of the closed‐loop fault system and the observer gain matrix are got by a sufficient linear matrix inequality condition. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulations.
Water table effect on phosphorus solubility in biosolids‐amended soils
Authors: Vieira‐Filho Leandro O. , Silveira Maria L. , Kohmann Marta M. , Sales Caetano A. R. , Sollenberger Lynn E. , Bhadha Jehangir H. , Strauss Sarah L. , Moriel Philipe 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe predominantly coarse texture of Florida Spodosols, limited P‐holding capacity, and fluctuating water table present major challenges for management of P, particularly in agricultural areas receiving biosolids. This study evaluated the impacts of water table level on P fate in Spodosols with contrasting P‐management histories. Treatments were a combination of soils with different biosolids histories (control [no biosolids], intermediate and high [biosolids‐P loads of 567 and 706 kg P ha−1, respectively]) and two moisture regimens (drained and flooded [water table at the depth of spodic horizon or 2 cm above soil surface, respectively]). Soil samples (A, E, and B horizons) were packed into PVC columns (96 cm tall, 11 cm in diameter), mimicking the soil profile. Leachate and pore water samples were collected at 2‐week intervals for 20 weeks. Regardless of treatment, proportion of P leached was low (∼0.2% total P mass). This was due to the significant P storage provided by the spodic horizon. Despite elevated soil P levels, Al and Fe added with biosolids reduced P solubility by as much as 55% compared with the control. Although flooding increased P leaching due to the reductive dissolution and hydrolysis of Al‐P and Fe‐P compounds, moisture regimen effects were generally negligible and inconsistent. Soil P storage capacity has been used as a risk assessment tool to determine biosolids‐P applications; however, our data demonstrated that additional field studies are needed to validate this concept, particularly its applicability and interpretation in biosolids‐amended soils that contain appreciable amounts of Fe‐ and Al‐organic complexes.
Towards a sustainable future: The role of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and urbanization in limiting CO2 emissions in Sweden
Authors: Adebayo Tomiwa Sunday , Ullah Sami 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe curtailment of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions plays a pivotal role in realizing sustainable development goals, protecting the environment, mitigating climate change, and preserving biodiversity for a cleaner and more resilient future. Thus, it is essential to adopt comprehensive approaches that prioritize energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable urbanization to achieve a sustainable and prosperous future. This study employs wavelet analysis methods, involving Wavelet correlation and covariance, Wavelet coherence (WTC), Wavelet cohesion (WC), and Wavelet‐based Granger causality (WCT), to examine the time and frequency‐based interactions between the variables over the period of 1990–2020. The empirical analysis reveals a significant and negative correlation among CO2 emissions and energy efficiency measures such as coal and gas in the short‐, medium‐, and long‐term frequency domains. Similarly, renewable energy usage and urbanization also exhibit negative correlation with CO2 emissions during analyzed years in the short‐ and medium‐term. Furthermore, the intensity of the correlations among considered variables varies across time and frequency domains. The study recommends to implement such policies that enhance the energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and sustainable urbanization to achieve the net‐zero goal and fostering sustainable development in Sweden.
An inverse probability weighted regression method that accounts for right‐censoring for causal inference with multiple treatments and a binary outcome
Authors: Yu Youfei , Zhang Min , Mukherjee Bhramar 
Published: July 2023

SummaryComparative effectiveness research often involves evaluating the differences in the risks of an event of interest between two or more treatments using observational data. Often, the post‐treatment outcome of interest is whether the event happens within a pre‐specified time window, which leads to a binary outcome. One source of bias for estimating the causal treatment effect is the presence of confounders, which are usually controlled using propensity score‐based methods. An additional source of bias is right‐censoring, which occurs when the information on the outcome of interest is not completely available due to dropout, study termination, or treatment switch before the event of interest. We propose an inverse probability weighted regression‐based estimator that can simultaneously handle both confounding and right‐censoring, calling the method CIPWR, with the letter C highlighting the censoring component. CIPWR estimates the average treatment effects by averaging the predicted outcomes obtained from a logistic regression model that is fitted using a weighted score function. The CIPWR estimator has a double robustness property such that estimation consistency can be achieved when either the model for the outcome or the models for both treatment and censoring are correctly specified. We establish the asymptotic properties of the CIPWR estimator for conducting inference, and compare its finite sample performance with that of several alternatives through simulation studies. The methods under comparison are applied to a cohort of prostate cancer patients from an insurance claims database for comparing the adverse effects of four candidate drugs for advanced stage prostate cancer.
A Patient-Centred Conceptual Model of Nocturnal Scratch and its Impact in Atopic Dermatitis: A Mixed-Methods Study Supporting the Development of Novel Digital Measurements
Authors: Cesnakova Lucia , Meadows Keith , Avey Stefan , Barrett Judy , Calimlim Brian , Chatterjee Meenakshi , Goss Sandra , Keyloun Katelyn R. , Lambert Jérémy , Northcott Carrie A. , Patalano Francesco , Sirbu Doina , Begolka Wendy Smith , Thyssen Nadia , Zorman Sylvain , Goldsack Jennifer C. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Background
Emerging digital measures and clinical outcome assessments (COAs) leveraging digital health technologies (DHTs) could address the need for objective, quantitative measures of symptoms of atopic dermatitis (AD), such as nocturnal scratching. Development of such measures needs to be supported by evidence reflecting meaningfulness to patients.

Objectives
To assess nocturnal scratching as a concept of interest associated with meaningful aspects of health of patients with AD (adults and children); and to explore patient-centred considerations for novel COAs measuring nocturnal scratch using DHTs.

Methods
Phase 1 evaluated disease impacts on everyday life and the lived experience with nocturnal scratching through qualitative interviews of AD patients and caregivers. Phase 2 deployed a quantitative survey to a sample of AD patients as well as caregivers.

Results
Four cohorts with various AD severity levels participated in Phase 1: (1) adults with AD (n = 15), (2) their caregivers/spouses/partners (n = 6), (3) children with AD (n = 14), and (4) their adult caregivers (n = 14). Findings were used to develop a conceptual model for nocturnal scratching as a potential concept of interest. The Phase 2 survey was completed by 1349 of 27640 invited adults with AD and caregivers of children with AD. The most burdensome aspects of AD reported were itchy skin and scratching. Overall, ~65% of participants reported nocturnal scratching ≥1 day/week, resulting in ~1–1.4 h of sleep lost per night. In all, 85%–91% of respondents considered it at least somewhat valuable that a treatment reduces night-time scratching. About 50% reported willingness to use technology to this end and ~25% were unsure.

Conclusion
Our results represented by the conceptual model confirm that nocturnal scratch is a concept of interest related to meaningful aspects of health for patients with AD and therefore is worth being captured as a distinct outcome for clinical and research purposes. DHTs are suitable tools presenting an important measurement opportunity to assess and evaluate occurrence, frequency, and other parameters of nocturnal scratching as a disease biomarker or COA of treatment efficacy.
The half‐life of political capital: An examination of the temporal effects of board political connections
Authors: Hawk Ashton , Lahiri Debtanu , Pacheco‐de‐Almeida Gonçalo 
Published: July 2023

AbstractResearch SummaryDoes corporate political activity (CPA) help sustain performance? Prior literature did not address this question, only whether CPA increases profits—with mixed results over short timescales. We theorize about how political capital affects the regression‐to‐the‐mean of profits through firm and industry persistence mechanisms. Using data on over 6000 firms from 14 democratic countries, we estimate time‐varying, firm‐specific performance persistence coefficients with random‐coefficient models—and profit volatility measures. Triangulating identification methods suggests that the half‐life of political capital is shorter than expected, also compared with other strategy interventions. Political connections are marginally effective at sustaining performance and reducing volatility, delaying profit convergence by only 0.180 years—and with no effect beyond 7 years. Preliminary evidence shows that legislative constraints further curb these modest benefits of CPA.Managerial SummaryCorporate political activity (CPA) has an ambiguous impact on firm profits. Yet, it still is a prominent and recurrent firm strategy. Do firms use CPA to sustain existing performance advantages—rather than to create new ones? We show that one type of CPA—the co‐optation of politicians into company boards—does increase the persistence and lowers the volatility of firm performance. However, this effect is surprisingly small: advantages only last 2.4% longer, 7.44 years compared to 7.26 years for politically unconnected firms. Political capital erodes faster than expected, presumably due to political cycles or politically motivated firm strategies that are detrimental to performance. CPA seems less effective at sustaining performance advantages than firm investments in R&D or skilled labor—and has a limited anticompetitive effect.
Elucidating Individual Magnetic Contributions in Bi‐Magnetic Fe3O4/Mn3O4 Core/Shell Nanoparticles by Polarized Powder Neutron Diffraction
Authors: Golosovsky I. V. , Kibalin I. A. , Gukasov A. , Roca A. G. , López‐Ortega A. , Estrader M. , Vasilakaki M. , Trohidou K. N. , Hansen T. C. , Puente‐Orench I. , Lelièvre‐Berna E. , Nogués J. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractHeterogeneous bi‐magnetic nanostructured systems have had a sustained interest during the last decades owing to their unique magnetic properties and the wide range of derived potential applications. However, elucidating the details of their magnetic properties can be rather complex. Here, a comprehensive study of Fe3O4/Mn3O4 core/shell nanoparticles using polarized neutron powder diffraction, which allows disentangling the magnetic contributions of each of the components, is presented. The results show that while at low fields the Fe3O4 and Mn3O4 magnetic moments averaged over the unit cell are antiferromagnetically coupled, at high fields, they orient parallel to each other. This magnetic reorientation of the Mn3O4 shell moments is associated with a gradual evolution with the applied field of the local magnetic susceptibility from anisotropic to isotropic. Additionally, the magnetic coherence length of the Fe3O4 cores shows some unusual field dependence due to the competition between the antiferromagnetic interface interaction and the Zeeman energies. The results demonstrate the great potential of the quantitative analysis of polarized neutron powder diffraction for the study of complex multiphase magnetic materials.
Properties of cement‐based materials containing calcium stearate and supplementary cementitious materials
Authors: Chari Mehdi Nemati , Naseroleslami Ramin , Ahmadi Babak 
Published: July 2023

AbstractCalcium stearate (CS) is effective to reduce permeability of different building materials under nonhydrostatic pressure but more actions need to be taken to shed light on its main and side effects on properties of cement‐based materials. This research project investigates the effect of CS on properties of these materials. Compressive strength analysis shows that the addition of CS at the dosage of 1% of cement weight reduces this parameter by approximately 20% but reducing water‐to‐binder ratio, and replacing 7.5% of cement weight with silica fume (SF) compensate for the strength loss caused by CS. Results of drying shrinkage test show that the addition of CS slightly increases drying shrinkage but replacing 7.5% of cement weight with SF can compensate for the negative effects of CS on drying shrinkage. Permeability analysis shows that CS is not as effective as SF and natural zeolite (NZ) to improve impermeability under hydrostatic pressure but it is more effective than SF and NZ to improve impermeability under nonhydrostatic pressure because the addition of CS at the dosage of 1% of cement weight reduces capillary water absorption by roughly 60%. Therefore, the simultaneous use of CS and these supplementary cementitious materials improves not only impermeability under hydrostatic pressure but also impermeability under nonhydrostatic pressure.
Correlation analysis of pore structure and frost resistance of carbon nanotube concrete based on gray relational theory
Authors: Song Shushuang , Niu Yanning , Kong Lingping 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIn order to explore the micro‐pore structure improvement mechanism of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on the frost resistance of concrete, five kinds of MWCNT concrete with different contents were prepared and the frost resistance test and mercury intrusion test were carried out. The results show that when the content of MWCNT is 0.1 wt%, the mass loss rate and compressive strength loss rate of concrete after freezing and thawing are 15.97% and 23.85% lower than that of ordinary concrete, respectively, indicating that this content is best amount to improve the frost resistance of concrete in this study. Moreover, 0.1 wt% MWCNT can significantly optimize the internal pore structure of concrete, and the average pore diameter growth rate and harmful pore ratio are 30.1% and 64.45%, respectively, after 200 freeze–thaw cycles. The proportion of more harmful pores has the greatest influence on compressive strength and relative elastic modulus, and the gray correlation degree is more than 0.8. Finally, the mathematical models of compressive strength‐pore parameters and relative dynamic elastic modulus‐pore parameters of MWCNT concrete after freeze–thaw cycle are established considering pore structure parameters and pore size distribution.
Seismic design and engineering practice of a 10‐story self‐centering precast concrete wall structure
Authors: Zhou Ying , Zhu Xiaoying , Wu Hao , Gu Anqi , Tian Wenbo 
Published: July 2023

SummaryThe increasing expectation of structures capable of fulfilling the requirements of minimizing post‐earthquake repair or re‐occupancy has led to the emergence of damage‐control technologies. In recent years, self‐centering precast concrete wall systems that are characterized by low damage as well as full prefabrication have become a popular topic. Previous research has shown that the system is not only capable to reduce the construction time but also has the characteristics of small residual displacement and quick restoration of normal service function after a major earthquake event. Nevertheless, there is still much to be studied for high‐rise buildings and practical engineering applications. This paper introduces the process of self‐centering precast concrete wall systems from conceptual design to detailing and construction aspects of a 10‐story case study building. Specifically, the hybrid type of unbonded post‐tensioned wall is adopted with mild steel functioning as the energy‐dissipating component. The design and construction of mild steel take into account the requirements of both building function and replaceability. In addition, the lateral resisting system is decoupled from the gravity system using isolated joints for wall‐to‐floor connection. Various factors such as higher mode effects, torsional effects, and wind loads are considered in the design process in order to achieve the overall high performance of the structure. Finally, the numerical model of the designed structure is established and analyzed under both static and dynamic loading. Results show that the self‐centering wall structure studied in this paper has satisfactory seismic performance, i.e., each component and joint can work to achieve the function as expected, and has broad engineering application prospects in the future.
Preliminary phytochemical screening and antibacterial effects of root bark of Ferula communis (Apiaceae)
Authors: Yirdaw Betelihem , Kassa Temesgen 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIntroductionPlants are widely used in traditional medicine because they contain a high concentration of antimicrobial agents, serving as the foundation for medicines. The aim of this study was preliminary identification of phytochemicals and assesses the antimicrobial activity of extracts of Ferula communis root bark.MethodsPlant was collected, and standard qualitative procedures were conducted. The plant samples were extracted with 99.9% methanol and 80% ethanol. To identify phytochemicals found in plants, a preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed. Agar diffusion tests, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were performed to evaluate antibacterial activity.ResultThe preliminary phytochemical analysis of the ethanol and methanol extract revealed positive results for flavonoids, coumarins and tannins. Terpenoids and anthraquinones were detected only in the methanol extract. The extract of Ferula communis showed an antibacterial effect on both gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacteria in a concentration‐dependent manner. The average zone of inhibition for gram‐positive bacteria was 11 mm, whereas for gram‐negative bacteria, it was 9 mm. The MIC and MBC values also varied with the type of bacteria. In all bacterial species tested, the mean MBC value was similar to the MIC.ConclusionDifferent phytochemicals were detected in extracts of the root bark of F. communis and extracts showed antibacterial effects in a concentration‐dependent manner. Therefore, further purification and evaluation of the extracts and antioxidant activity of the plant should be investigated.