bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Natural regeneration of drylands and associated pathways to human health outcomes: perspectives from rural households
Authors: Murage Peninah , Asenga Ayoub , Tarimo Angelina , Njunge Tabby , Zaan Thijs van der zaan van der , Chiwanga Faraja 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Land degradation and climate change are intertwined global challenges, their implications on human health is driven by unsustainable use of natural resources which results to loss of vital ecosystem services. Although exploitation of natural resources has benefited human-wellbeing, this has also resulted to catastrophic degradation of landscapes, acutely affecting populations living in the most fragile ecosystems. Landscape restoration is widely advocated to reverse degradation, however, implementation has outpaced research on impact, particularly with regards to human-health outcomes. This study documents perspectives of rural communities living in East African drylands and applies ecosystem services framework to demonstrates the impact of natural regeneration. The group discussions show how Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) can reverse decades of land degradation with cascading benefits in climate change adaptation, physical and mental health outcomes linked to sustained food and nutritional security, improved air and water quality, income diversification and gender equality.
Analysing cluster randomised controlled trials using MLE, GEE, GEE2 and QIF: results from four case studies
Authors: Offorha Bright C. , Walters Stephen J. , Jacques Richard M. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background: Using four case studies, we aim to provide practical guidance and recommendations for the analysis of cluster randomised controlled trials.
Methods: Four modelling approaches (Generalized Linear Mixed Models with parameters/coefficients estimated by Maximum likelihood; Generalized Linear Models with parameters/coefficients estimated by Generalized Estimating Equations (1st order or second order) or Quadratic Inference Function) for the analysis of correlated individual participant level outcomes in cluster randomised controlled trials were identified after we reviewed the literature. These four methods are applied to four case studies of cluster randomised controlled trials with the number of clusters ranging from 10 to 100 and individual participants ranging from 748 to 9,207. Results are obtained for both continuous and binary outcomes using the statistical packages, R and SAS.
Results: The intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC) for each of the case studies was small (<0.05) indicating little dependence of the outcomes related to cluster allocation. In most cases the four methods produced similar results. However, in a few analyses quadratic inference function produced different results compared to the other three methods.
Conclusion: This paper demonstrates the analysis of cluster randomised controlled trials with four modelling approaches. The results obtained were similar in most cases, a plausible reason could be the negligible correlation (small ICCs) observed among responses in the four case studies.
Due to the small ICC values obtained the generalisability of our results is limited. It is important to conduct simulation studies to comprehensively investigate the performance of the four modelling approaches.
Synthesis, structural properties and nonlinear optical response of some aromatic thioamides in bulk vs. laser-processed films
Authors: MARINESCU Maria , BERCEA Adrian , IONITA Iulian , CINTEZĂ Ludmila-Otilia , ZARAFU Irina , PETCU Cristian , MATEI Andreea , Constantinescu Catalin 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Currently, the effects of nonlinear optics are important in almost all optoelectronic applications. Here, we present results on new, laboratory synthesized aromatic thioamides. Thin films with controlled thickness are subsequently deposited by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE), on fused silica / SiO2, and silicon substrates / Si (100), with the aim of evaluating their nonlinear optical properties for potential optoelectronic applications. The concentration of the guest compound in the DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) matrix used was 1% wt. At fluences ranging from 0.1 to 1 J/cm², a Nd:YAG laser (7 ns pulse duration, 4ω/266 nm, 10 Hz repetition rate) was used to irradiate the frozen target. The techniques involved in probing the morphology of the film surfaces are optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Spectroscopy-ellipsometry (SE) was used to investigate the optical properties of the thin films, and also the dependence of the refractive index with respect temperature was studied. The second harmonic generation (SHG) potential is assessed by using a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser (800 nm, 60–100 fs pulse duration, 80 MHz), at 250 mW maximum output power, revealing the thickness of the films strongly influences the intensity of the SHG signal. An understanding of these effects combines the classical theory of light with the quantum nature of the energy levels in materials.
The Importance of Psychosociological Variables in Frailty Syndrome: A Study on Heart Failure Patients Using Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Pasieczna Aleksandra , Szczepanowski Remigiusz , Sobecki Janusz , Katarzyniak Radosław , Uchmanowicz Izabella , Gobbens Robbert J.J. , Kahsin Aleksander , Dixit Anant 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Prevention and diagnosis of frailty syndrome (FS) in cardiac patients require innovative systems supporting medical personnel and patient adherence and self-care behavior. Modern medicine uses artificial intelligence (AI) to study the psychosocial domains of frailty in cardiac patients with heart failure (HF). This study aimed to determine the absolute and relative diagnostic importance of individual components of the Tilburg frailty Indicator (TFI) syndrome questionnaire in patients with HF. An exploratory analysis was performed using machine learning algorithms and permutation method to determine the absolute importance of frailty components in HF. Based on the TFI data, which contains physical and psychosocial components, machine learning models were built based on three algorithms: a decision tree, a random decision forest, and the AdaBoost Models classifier. The absolute weights were used to make pairwise comparisons between the variables and obtain relative diagnostic importance. The analysis of HF patients’ responses showed that the psychological variable TFI20 diagnosing mood was more diagnostically important than the variables from the physical domain: lack of strength in the hands and physical fatigue. The psychological variable TFI21 linked with agitation and irritability was diagnostically more important than all three physical variables considered: difficulty walking, lack of strength in the hands and physical fatigue. In the case of the two remaining variables from the psychological domain (TFI19, TFI22), and for all variables from the social domain, the obtained results do not allow for the rejection of the null hypothesis. Our study justified the AI based approach for developing and improving existing frailty measurements in patients with HF. In long-term perspective, the AI based frailty approach can support healthcare professionals, including psychologists and social workers in drawing their attention to non-physical origins of HF.
Genome-environment associations along elevation gradients in two snowbed species of the North-Eastern Calcareous Alps
Authors: Felkel Sabine , Tremetsberger Karin , Moser Dietmar , Dohm Juliane C , Himmelbauer Heinz , Winkler Manuela 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background Anthropogenic climate change leads to increasing temperatures and altered precipitation and snowmelt patterns, especially in alpine ecosystems. To understand species’ responses to climate change, assessment of genetic structure and diversity is crucial as the basis for the evaluation of migration patterns, genetic adaptation potential as well as the identification of adaptive alleles.
Results We studied genetic structure, diversity and genome-environment associations of two snowbed species endemic to the Eastern Alps with a large elevational range, Achillea clusiana Tausch and Campanula pulla L. Genotyping-by-sequencing was employed to assemble loci de novo , call variants and perform population genetic analyses. Populations of either species were distinguishable by mountain, and to some extent by elevation. We found evidence for gene flow between elevations. Results of genome-environment associations suggested similar selective pressures acting on both species, emanating mainly from precipitation and exposition rather than temperature.
Conclusions Given their genetic structure and amount of gene flow among populations the two study species are suitable to serve as a model for genetic monitoring of climate change adaptation along an elevation gradient. Consequences of climate change will predominantly manifest via changes in precipitation and, thus, duration of snow cover in the snowbeds and indirectly via shrub encroachment accompanied by increasing shading of snowbeds at lower range margins. Assembling genomes of the study species and studying larger sample sizes and time series will be necessary to functionally characterize and validate the herein identified genomic loci putatively involved in adaptive processes.
Methodical study of Chromium (VI) ions adsorption from aqueous solution using low-cost agro-waste material: Isotherm, Kinetic and Thermodynamic studies
Authors: Akiode Olubunmi Kolawole , Adetoro Ahmed , Anene Augustine Ikechukwu , Afolabi Samson Olusegun , Alli Yakubu Adekunle 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The presence of chromium (VI) ions in waste water is highly hazardous to humanity and their environment. Therefore, removal of Cr (VI) ions from waste water is essential. Adsorption process remediation is an alternative efficient method to conventional chemical methods of water treatment which is expensive. In this study, adsorbent prepared from Saccharum officinarium was used for the removal of Cr (VI) ions in a batch process. The adsorbent was modified with oxalic acid for improved performance. Surface morphology of the adsorbents were characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) while Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) analysis was carried out before and after the adsorption of Cr (VI) ions to determine the participating functional group in the processes. The effect of pH, contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature on the biosorption process were studied. Adsorption isotherm studies were subjected to two-parameter (Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R)) and three-parameter (Redlich-Peterson (R-P) and Sips,) isotherms. The experimental data were best fitted to the isotherms with R2 > 0.9 for adsorption of Cr (VI) ions onto raw S. officinarium (RSO) and modified S. officinarium (MSO). The adsorption energy (E) obtained from D-R were found to be 3.460 and 6.325 kJmol-1 for RSO and MSO respectively. This indicate that the physiosorption process was favoured in interaction of Chromium (VI) ion with both adsorbents. Separation factors obtained shows that the process is favoured with increase in initial concentration of the adsorbate. Thermodynamic parameters values obtained showed that the sorption of chromium (VI) ions onto RSO and MSO is feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The positive value of ΔSo indicates increase in disorderliness of the process. Kinetic data achieved at different concentrations have been analysed and the mechanism of the reaction were also studied by intra-particle and Bangham kinetic model. Each of the model were tested with R2 ˃ 0.9 where pseudo-second-order is the best fitted model and Bangham mechanism only fitted with adsorption of Cr (VI) ion with RSO. The reusability potential of RSO and MSO contribute to their economic value and reliability as adsorbent for removal of Cr (VI) ion from aqueous solution.
Analyze capabilities of structural social capital to enhance disaster recovery
Authors: KUMARI APARNA , Frazier Tim , Humes Karen 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Given the ever-increasing impacts from disasters (FEMA 2020), it is more important than ever to develop strong public/private partnerships to enhance preparedness and post disaster recovery. Structural social capital is a part of this partnership and is considered a crucial element for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The structural dimension of social capital includes social institutions and their capacity to work in cooperation to achieve a common good. The hazards and climate change literature put emphasis on the importance of social institutions for the purpose of disaster recovery; however, how the capabilities of social institutions can impact the recovery process has not been thoroughly analyzed. For better utilization of social institutions, it is important to assess the factors that strengthen or weaken the social institutions contributing to disaster response and recovery trajectories. This study analyzes the association between structural social capital of institutions and their capabilities for disaster recovery and demonstrates how capabilities of institutions can have positive impact on the structural social capital and thus in turn affect the recovery trajectories.
YOLOOD: An Arbitrary-Oriented Flexible Flat Cable Detection Method in Robotic Assembly
Authors: Bai Yuxuan , Wei Shimin , Dong Mingshuai , Li Jian , Yu Xiuli 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Flexible Flat Cable (FFC) detection is the premise of robot 3C assembly and is challenging because FFCs are often non-axis aligned with arbitrary orientations having cluttered surroundings. However, to date, the traditional robotic object detection methods mainly regress the object horizontal bounding box (HBB), in which the size and aspect ratios do not reflect the actual shape of the target object and hardly separate the FFCs in dense. In this paper, rotated object detection was introduced into FFC detection, and a YOLO-based arbitrary-oriented FFC detection method named YOLOOD was proposed. Firstly, oriented bounding boxes (OBB) are used to reflect the object's physical size and angle information and better separate the FFCs from the dense background. Secondly, the circular smooth label (CSL) angular classification algorithm is adopted to obtain the angle information of FFCs. Finally, the head point regression branch is introduced to distinguish between the head and the tail of the FFC and expand the range of FFC detection angle to [0° , 360°). The proposed YOLOOD can reach the detection performance with an average precision of 90.82% and a detection speed of 112 FPS on an FFC dataset. Meanwhile, an actual FFC grasping experiment demonstrated the proposed YOLOOD's effectiveness and feasibility in practical assembly scenarios. In conclusion, this paper innovatively introduces rotating object detection into robot object detection, and the proposed YOLOOD solves the problem of detecting and locating non-axis aligned FFCs and has particular significance for robot 3C assembly.
Efficacy of CytoSorb® - A Metaanalysis
Authors: Becker Sören , Lang Hannah , Barbosa Clara Vollmer , Tian Zhejia , Melk Anette , Schmidt Bernhard M.W. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Cytokine adsorption using the CytoSorb® device has been proposed in various clinical settings including sepsis, ARDS, hyperinflammatory syndromes, cardiac surgery or recovery after cardiac arrest. The aim of this analysis is to provide evidence for the efficacy of the CytoSorb® device with regard to mortality in various settings. Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library database and the database provided by Cytosorbents™ (01.1.2010–29.5.2022). We considered randomized controlled trials and intervention studies with control groups. The longest reported mortality was defined as primary endpoint. For analyzing the data, we computed risk ratios and 95%-confidence intervals and used DerSimonian and Lairds random effects model. We analyzed all studies combined and divided into the subgroups sepsis, cardiac surgery, other severe illness, SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovery from cardiac arrest. The meta-analysis was registered in advance (PROSPERO: CRD42022290334). Results: Of an initial 1295 publications, 34 studies were found eligible, including 1297 patients treated with CytoSorb® and 1314 controls. Cytosorb® did not lower mortality in all studies together (1.07 [0.88; 1.31] RR [95%-CI]), in sepsis (0.98 [0.74; 1.31]), CPB surgery (0.91 [0.64; 1.29]), severe illness (0.95 [0.59; 1.55]) or SARS-CoV-2 (1.58 [0.50; 4.94]). In patients with cardiac arrest, we found a significant survival advantage of the untreated controls (RR 1.22 [1.02; 1.46]). We did not find significant differences in ICU length of stay, lactate levels, or IL-6 levels after treatment. Interpretation: To date there is no evidence for a positive effect of the CytoSorb® adsorber on mortality across a variety of indications that justifies its widespread use in intensive care medicine.
Evaluation of health literacy and its associated factors in paramedical students
Authors: Rahmani Faezeh , Moghbeli Fatemeh , Khoshkangin Atefeh , Habibi Mohammad Reza Mazaheri 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Low levels of health literacy lead to reduced health, increased length of hospital stays, and increased use of emergency services in patients and impose higher medical costs on individuals. Considering the effect of paramedical students' health literacy on community health promotion, this study aimed to determine the level of health literacy and its associated factors in paramedical students.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was performed on 310 paramedical students during a two-month period from January to March 2021. The data collection tool was the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA) questionnaire. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the questionnaire was designed online, and its link was provided to students.
Results
Among the participants, 247 (79.7%) cases were female, and 63 (20.3%) cases were male with a mean age of 21.16 ± 1.97 years. According to the results, 3.9% of the students had inadequate health literacy, 37.3% had not so adequate health literacy, 46.6% had adequate health literacy, and 12.2% had excellent health literacy. The results of ANOVA and t-test showed a significant association between the mean total health literacy score of students and their age, gender, and semester (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
This study findings showed that more than half of the participating students had adequate and excellent levels of health literacy. Since paramedical students are promoters of health in the community, more attention should be paid to the education of these individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to empower them in the field of health literacy.
Institutional Review Boards in Saudi Arabia: The First Survey- Based report on Their Functions and Operations
Authors: AlFattani Areej , AlBedah Norah , AlShahrani Asma , Alkawi Ammar , AlMeharish Amani , Altwaijri Yasmin , Omar Abeer , AlKawi M. Zuheir , Khogeer Asim 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Institutional review boards (IRBs) are formally designated to review, approve, and monitor biomedical research. They are responsible for ensuring that researchers are compliant with the ethical guidelines concerning human research participants. IRBs might face different obstacles that cause delay in their processes or conflicts with investigators. This study aims to report the functions, roles, resources, and review process of the IRBs in Saudi Arabia.
Method
This was a cross-sectional self-reported survey conducted from March 2021 until March 2022. The survey was sent to the IRB chairperson and the administration director (or secretary) through email after receiving verbal consent. The validated survey consisted of eight aspects: (a) organizational aspects, (b) membership and educational training, (c) submission arrangements and materials, (d) minutes, (e) review procedures, (f) communicating a decision, (g) continuing review, and (h) research ethics committee (REC) resources. A total of 200 points indicates optimal IRB functions.
Results
Twenty-six IRBs across Saudi Arabia responded to the survey. Relatively newer IRBs that were established less than ten years ago, conducted meetings at least once in a month, had annual funding, and more balanced gender representation tended to score higher than older IRBs. The organizational aspect score was the lowest among all items in the survey (14.3 score difference, p-value < 0.01). The average turnaround time for expedited research from proposal submission to final decision was 7 days, while it was 20.5 days for the full committee review.
Conclusion
Saudi IRBs performed well generally. However, there is room for focused improvement with respect to extra resources and organizational issues that require closer evaluation and guidance from the regulatory bodies.
TET1 inhibits the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells by regulating autophagy
Authors: Ren ji , Chen Xiuying , Li Jing , Zan Yuxin , Wang Shan , Tan Yujie , Ding Yan 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Methylation modifications play pertinent roles in regulating gene expression and various biological processes. The silencing of the demethylated modifier TET1 can affect the expressions of key oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, thus contributing to tumor formation. Nonetheless, how TET1 affects the progression of cervical cancer is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we found that the expression of TET1 was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues. Functionally, TET1 knockdown in cervical cancer cells can promote cell proliferation, self-renewal, migration, invasion, and cervical xenograft tumor formation. On the contrary, its overexpression can reverse the aforementioned processes. Moreover, the autophagy level of cervical cancer cells can be enhanced after TET1 knockdown. Mechanistically, methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP)-sequencing and MeDIP quantitative real-time PCR revealed that TET1 mediates the methylation of autophagy promoter regions. These findings suggest that TET1 affects the malignant biological behavior of cervical cancer cells by altering the methylation levels of autophagy genes NKRF and HIST1H2AK, but the specific mechanism needs to be investigated further.
Characterization of Oral Bacterial and Fungal Microbiome in Recovered COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Wei Nana , Zhu Guangqi , Zhao Tingxiao , Wang Yan , Lou Haifei , Li Haoxuan , Yang Zhejuan , Zhang Zheen , Wang Qiujing , Han Mingfang , Lin Zhibing , Li Shibo 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
COVID-19 has emerged as a global pandemic, challenging the world’s economic and health systems. Human oral microbiota comprises the second largest microbial community after the gut microbiota and is closely related to respiratory tract infections; however, oral microbiomes of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have not yet been thoroughly studied. Herein, we compared the oral bacterial and fungal microbiota after clearance of SARS-CoV-2 in 23 COVID-19 recovered patients to those of 29 healthy individuals. Our results showed that both bacterial and fungal diversity were nearly normalized in recovered patients. However, the relative abundance of some specific bacteria and fungi, primarily opportunistic pathogens, decreased in recovered patients (RPs), while the abundance of butyrate-producing organisms increased in these patients. Moreover, these differences were still present for some organisms at 12 months after recovery, indicating the need for long-term monitoring of COVID-19 patients after virus clearance.