bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on Hematological and Biochemical Markers, Hormonal Behavior, and Oxidant Response in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gómez Afonso Adrián , Fernandez-Lazaro Diego , Adams David P. , Monserdà-Vilaró Aniol , Fernandez-Lazaro Cesar I. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Purpose of Review
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Ws) is a common herb plant that has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of conditions, particularly certain chronic diseases due to its antidiabetic, cardioprotective, antistress, and chondroprotective effects, among many others. No conclusive evidence, however, exists about the potential health effects of Ws in adults without chronic conditions. We aimed to evaluate the current evidence on the health benefits of Ws supplementation in healthy adults.

Recent Findings
Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we systematically reviewed studies indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed to assess the effects of Ws on hematological and biochemical markers, hormonal behavior, and oxidant response in healthy adults. Original articles published up to March 5, 2022, with a controlled trial design or pre-post intervention design, in which supplementation of Ws was compared to a control group or data prior to intervention were included. Among 2,421 records identified in the search, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, most of the studies reported beneficial effects of the Ws supplementation, and no serious adverse events were reported. Participants supplemented with Ws displayed reduced levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, and counterbalanced hormone levels. No evidence of the beneficial effects of Ws supplementation on hematological markers was reported.

Summary
Ws supplementation appears to be safe, may regulate hormone levels, and has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the relevance of its application.
Evaluating heavy metal levels and their toxicity risks in an urban lake in Chennai, India
Authors: Rosado D. , Castillo F. , Nambi I. , Sadhasivam R. , Valleru H. , Fohrer N. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractMany urban water bodies in Chennai, India receive untreated sewage that pollutes their waters. An example is the Sembakkam lake, in which water reaches the Pallikaranai marshland, a proposed Ramsar site. In 2019, the city experienced the worst water crisis in 30 years, and many lakes were extremely dry, favoring peaks of heavy metals. Therefore, this study focuses on analysing heavy metal pollution and evaluating its potential effects on biota. In situ parameters were measured and water, sediment, and water hyacinth samples were collected during four campaigns. Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured in all samples. Digestions for total metal content were performed in solid samples and acetic acid extractions only in sediments. The average pH (7.89–8.46) was neutral-alkaline and electrical conductivities (1559–2864 µS/cm) were high. In water, Pb (average: 2.59 µg/l) posed the highest toxicity risk according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, followed by Cu and Cr. In sediment, Cu and Cr reached severe enrichment with respect to continental crust (averages: 19.46 and 13.65) followed by Ni and Zn with moderately severe enrichment. Ni produced the highest toxicity risk (average: 76.18 mg/kg), above the effects range-median, followed by Cr and Cu, between the effects range-low and effects range-median. The highest bioaccumulation factors in the water hyacinth were in the roots. Translocation factors showed similar concentrations in stems and leaves. Proper management of sewage is necessary to diminish the potential deleterious effects of metals on aquatic life and by extension, human health.
Gelation of Hole Transport Layer to Improve the Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhou Chenxiao , Lin Lizhi , Pei Fengtao , Xiao Mengqi , Yang Xiaoyan , Yuan Guizhou , Zhu Cheng , Chen Yu , Chen Qi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractTo achieve high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and long-term stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), a hole transport layer (HTL) with persistently high conductivity, good moisture/oxygen barrier ability, and adequate passivation capability is important. To achieve enough conductivity and effective hole extraction, spiro-OMeTAD, one of the most frequently used HTL in optoelectronic devices, often needs chemical doping with a lithium compound (LiTFSI). However, the lithium salt dopant induces crystallization and has a negative impact on the performance and lifetime of the device due to its hygroscopic nature. Here, we provide an easy method for creating a gel by mixing a natural small molecule additive (thioctic acid, TA) with spiro-OMeTAD. We discover that gelation effectively improves the compactness of resultant HTL and prevents moisture and oxygen infiltration. Moreover, the gelation of HTL improves not only the conductivity of spiro-OMeTAD, but also the operational robustness of the devices in the atmospheric environment. In addition, TA passivates the perovskite defects and facilitates the charge transfer from the perovskite layer to HTL. As a consequence, the optimized PSCs based on the gelated HTL exhibit an improved PCE (22.52%) with excellent device stability.
Building wildland–urban interface zone resilience through performance-based wildfire engineering. A holistic theoretical framework
Authors: Tampekis Stergios , Sakellariou Stavros , Palaiologou Palaiologos , Arabatzis Garyfallos , Kantartzis Apostolos , Malesios Chrisovalantis , Stergiadou Anastasia , Fafalis Dimitrios , Tsiaras Evangelos 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIn recent years, a worldwide expansion in the frequency of large, uncontrolled, and catastrophic wildfire events has occurred, creating drastic social, economic, and environmental damage, especially in wildland–urban interface (WUI) zones. This damage includes losses of life, infrastructure, and ecosystem services. The impacts of wildfires at the WUI derive from the complicated and multidimensional interconnected relationships present in the Anthropocene. To enforce resilience of the environment and human communities against wildfires, it is critical to comprehend the local social-ecological systems holistically. In this paper, we present a theoretical framework approach, built on performance-based wildfire engineering, that is envisioned to be a stepping stone towards WUI resilience. To attain this objective, performance benchmarking and design is disaggregated into explicit components of a rigorous mathematical framework. They are linked to a causal inference chain, providing an integrated picture and enabling decision analysis to identify the optimal management strategies based on quantitative parameters. The proposed framework is developed from the total probability theorem and divides the risk assessment into single parts, in particular (1) hazard (wildfire) analysis, (2) social-ecological impact characterization, (3) social-ecological interaction analysis, (4) social-ecological impact analysis, (5) damage analysis, and (6) loss analysis. Therefore, the proposed framework can be applied by emergency agencies directly to assess the performance of society and ecosystem recovery after a wildfire, making emergency management and resilience policy-making more effective.
Effects of insecticides and repellents on the spread of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ under laboratory and field conditions
Authors: Riedle-Bauer Monika , Brader Günter 
Published: July 2023

AbstractRecent outbreaks of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ resulted in severe losses in potatoes, vegetable crops and grapevines in certain regions of Austria and constituted a major challenge for seed potato production. Therefore, the effects of various insecticides and insect deterrents on pathogen spread were studied both in laboratory and field experiments from 2018 to 2021. In laboratory transmission experiments, field captured Hyalesthes obsoletus were caged on differently treated Catharanthus roseus for five days. The insecticides lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, acetamiprid and chlorpyriphos showed the most rapid impact on insect survival and fully prevented phytoplasma transmission. The particle film forming products kaolin and diatomaceous earth had some effect. A transfer of the promising laboratory results to potato fields, however, was achieved to a limited extent only. Treatments with pyrethroids and acetamiprid every 8–10 days over the flight period of H. obsoletus roughly halved the number of symptomatic plants and tubers in case of moderately susceptible varieties and moderate infection pressure. In the event of susceptible varieties and high disease pressure, treatment effects were hardy discernible. In practical terms, the experiments indicate that insecticide applications alone are not sufficient to mitigate the disease. Spraying of diatomaceous earth and mineral oil did not affect disease incidence in the field.
Sign systems of lust and slavery
Authors: Hanappi Hardy 
Published: July 2023

AbstractMoney is real. Few other objects are perceived with comparable attention. At the same time, its content, its mystery, evaporates behind its physical form. For every commodity producing human society money has been a steady companion since it emerged. (Compare Hanappi 2013a) Money forms, the way in which money took on its material cloth, have changed a lot. Money forms, the blood running through almost all social interaction, have been a mirror, a reflection of the essence of a society’s working. This paper is an attempt to look behind the veil that money forms as sign systems for social value produce. Thus, two concepts are the starting point for the investigation: sign systems and social value. Sign systems are directly coupled to the perceptions of human individuals. More precisely, they are connected to a society’s communication processes, including self-communication, i.e., personal thought. The mystic force of money forms, its resemblance to sexual attraction, derives from its root in direct and blunt relevance for each human individual in a fully developed commodity producing society. It can be redemption, it can be disgust. “Money speaks, wealth whispers” expresses this interface between individual and society and distinguishes how the force of the money form is transmitted. (This part can build on important work done by Alfred Sohn-Rethel 1978, 1990, compare also Ausubel 1968) The first part of the paper will develop a sketch of a theory of this interface, of sign systems as social systems. The second part will then focus on the concept “social value.” The perspective will be changed: what is beneficial from the point of view of the species will be the starting point for a discussion on how it materializes in certain money forms. It turns out that money forms follow an evolutionary trajectory, (Compare Hanappi and Scholz-Wäckerle 2017) leading through alternating stages of contributing to the stabilization of a mode of production and then actively destroying it in revolutionary turning points—just to give birth to a new form of representation of social value. (It is, of course, only a question of naming if this new form should be called a new “money form.”.) Finally, a third part shall provide ideas on the connection between the first two parts: How is desire and pain injected in personal perceptions by the interference of social value loaded money forms and how are vice versa these passions and grievances shaping the potential constellation of social value regulating institutionalized forms in revolutionary times? In conclusion this part will also present some immediate consequences of the theoretical results on contemporary global economic policy.(Compare also Hanappi 2020).
The Biomechanics of Converting Torque into Spin Rate in Spin Bowlers Analyzed with a Smart Cricket Ball
Authors: Fuss Franz Konstantin , Doljin Batdelger , Ferdinands René E. D. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
In previous studies that analyzed the biomechanics of spin bowling with a smart cricket ball, it was evident that not all the torque applied to the ball was converted into spin rate, with varying losses among different bowlers. This study aims to investigate the factors contributing to these losses.

Methods
Developed in 2011, the world's first intelligent cricket ball features five physical and five skill performance parameters. Our study correlates five skill parameters with the ratio of total torque to spin rate to determine the most influential skill parameter.

Results
The parameter that most affected the conversion of torque to spin rate was the ratio of maximum angular acceleration to maximum angular velocity. Since the unit of the latter ratio is measured in s–1 or Hz, we hypothesized that the duration of a time-window in which the torque is generated could be a factor in determining the effectiveness of torque to spin conversion. Upon closer examination of the data, we discovered that the spin torque (the torque component that boosts the spin rate) generated earlier in relation to the release point led to greater conversion of total torque into spin rate. Paradoxically, this occurred at smaller peak spin torques. As the time-window of the spin torque widens despite its decreasing magnitude, the angular impulse increases.

Conclusions
As the skill parameter calculated from the ratio of maximum angular acceleration to maximum angular velocity correlates well with the time-window during which torque is generated, it can serve as a good indicator of skillful torque to spin conversion, and a potential parameter for talent identification.
Hybrid Defect Prediction Model Based on Counterfactual Feature Optimization
Authors: Zheng Wei , Chen Teng Fei , Hu Mei Ting , Yang Feng Yu , Fan Xin , Xiao Peng 
Published: July 2023

AbstractSoftware defect prediction is critical to ensuring software quality. Researchers have worked on building various defect prediction models to improve the performance of defect prediction. Existing defect prediction models are mainly divided into two categories: models constructed based on artificial statistical features and models constructed based on semantic features. DP-CNN [Li J, He P, Zhu J, et al. Software defect prediction via convolutional neural network. In: 2017 IEEE international conference on software quality, reliability and security (QRS). IEEE, 2017; 318–328.] is one of the best defect prediction models, because it combines both artificial statistical features and semantic features, so its performance is greatly improved compared to traditional defect prediction models. This paper is based on the DP-CNN model and makes the following two improvements: first, using a new Struc2vec network representation technique to mine existing information between software modules, which specializes in learning node representations from structural identity and can further extract structural features associated with defects. Let the DP-CNN model once again incorporate the newly mined structural features. Then, this paper proposes a feature selection method based on counterfactual explanations, which can determine the importance score of each feature by the feature change rate of counterfactual samples. The origin of these feature importance scores is interpretable. Under the guidance of these interpretable feature importance scores, better feature subsets can be obtained and used to optimize artificial statistical features within the DP-CNN model. Based on the above methods, this paper proposes a new hybrid defect prediction model DPS-CNN-STR. Evaluating our model on six open source projects in terms of F1 score in defect prediction. Experimental results show that DPS-CNN-STR improves the state-of-the-art method by an average of 3.3%.
In the Wake of Bonsucro: Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives and Third-Party Certifiers at the Test Bench of OECD National Contact Points
Authors: Corcione Elena 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIn January 2022, the UK National Contact Point (UK NCP) issued a final statement in a specific instance claim brought against Bonsucro, a multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI) that aims to promote sustainable production of sugarcane. The claim alleged that Bonsucro had failed to comply with the OECD Guidelines because it had not carried out appropriate due diligence towards one of its members, accused of human rights abuses. While NCP complaints had been brought against MSIs and certifiers before, the UK NCP’s final statement is the first to recognize the leverage MSIs have over members due to their ability to deny membership and related reputational benefits to companies wishing to show sustainability logos, and to affirm their responsibility to use this leverage to avoid abuses. The statement sheds light on the accountability of actors involved in private voluntary sustainability standard systems, with possible impacts on other actors such as third-party certifiers.
Implementing diagnostic stewardship to improve diagnosis of urinary tract infections across three medical centers: A qualitative assessment
Authors: Claeys Kimberly C. , Weston Lauren E. , Pineles Lisa , Morgan Daniel J. , Krein Sarah L. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackground:Urine-culture diagnostic stewardship aims to decrease misdiagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTIs); however, these interventions are not widely adopted. We examined UTI diagnosis and management practices to identify barriers to and facilitators of diagnostic stewardship implementation.Methods:Using a qualitative descriptive design, we conducted semistructured interviews at 3 Veterans’ Affairs medical centers. Interviews were conducted between November 2021 and May 2022 via Zoom videoconferencing using an interview guide and visual prototypes of proposed interventions. Interviewees were asked about current practices and thoughts on proposed interventions for urine-culture ordering, processing, and reporting. We used a rapid analysis matrix approach to summarize key interview findings and compare practices and perceptions across sites.Results:We interviewed 31 stakeholders and end users. All sites had an antimicrobial stewardship program but limited initiatives targeting appropriate diagnosis and management of UTIs. The majority of those interviewed identified the importance of diagnostic stewardship. Perceptions of specific interventions ranged widely by site. For urine-culture ordering, all 3 sites agreed that documentation of symptomology would improve culturing practices but did not want it to interrupt workflow. Representatives at 2 sites expressed interest in conditional urine-culture processing and 1 was opposed. All sites had similar mechanisms to report culture results but varied in perceptions of the proposed interventions. Feedback from end users was used to develop a general diagnostic stewardship implementation checklist.Conclusion:Interviewees thought diagnostic stewardship was important. Qualitative assessment involving key stakeholders in the UTI diagnostic process improved understanding of site-specific beliefs and practices to better implement interventions for urine-culture ordering, processing, and reporting.
“Fit to Be a Midwife”: Protestantism, Moral Character, and the State Supervision of Black Lay Midwives, 1931–1946
Authors: Drake Jamil W. 
Published: July 2023

ABSTRACTScholars of religion and medicine have discussed the rise of scientific birthing while also capturing the significance of religion among Black midwives in the American South. Yet they have seldom discussed the place of Protestantism and African American Protestantism in state-sponsored midwifery programs for Black women in the twentieth century. This essay focuses on the 1945–1946 Leon County “Plan for Improving the Midwife Service Program” in North Florida to argue how state health workers promoted Black religion to determine the moral fitness of Black women to practice midwifery in their communities. Black religion was incorporated into the regulatory scheme of the health state. Using primary documents from state archives, this paper adds to the history of African American religion and medicine by demonstrating that African American Protestantism was integral to the state health apparatus and consequently used to legitimate the authority of modern obstetrics for Black communities in the Depression and World War II periods.
Modulation of Democracy: Partisan Communication During and After Election Campaigns
Authors: Castanho Silva Bruno , Schürmann Lennart , Proksch Sven-Oliver 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIt is well known that politicians speak differently when campaigning. The shadow of elections may affect candidates' change in tone during campaigns. However, to date, we lack a systematic study of the changes in communication patterns between campaign and non-campaign periods. In this study, we examine the sentiment expressed in 4.3 million tweets posted by members of national parliaments in the EU27 from 2018 to 2020. Our results show that (1) the opposition, even populists and Eurosceptics, send more positive messages during campaigns, (2) parties trailing in the polls communicate more negatively, and (3) that the changes are similar in national and European elections. These findings show the need to look beyond campaign times to understand parties' appeals and highlight the promises of social media data to move beyond traditional analyses of manifestos and speeches.
Diet composition, diel feeding periodicity and daily ration of mature adultDiaphus fulgens(Teleostei: Myctophidae) in the Kuroshio waters
Authors: Sassa Chiyuki , Takahashi Motomitsu , Tsukamoto Youichi 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDiaphus fulgensis a diel vertical migrant myctophid, occurring abundantly in the Kuroshio waters of the East China Sea. They are multiple batch spawners with a short interspawn period, resulting in high egg productivity. Multiple spawning would be supported by feeding during their spawning season; however, there is no information on the feeding habits of this species. The present study examined the diet composition, diel feeding periodicity and daily ration of mature adultD. fulgenscollected at different periods of the day during February to March. The most prevalent item was appendicularians and their mucus houses, which dominated the stomach contents in both number and weight. Additionally, various species of copepods were predated, with a prevalence, by weight, of the large-sizedPleuromamma piseki.Diaphus fulgensfeeds actively in the epipelagic layer at night and moves down to the mesopelagic layer in the early morning, and digests most of the consumed food by the late afternoon, showing a typical nocturnal feeding pattern. Based on diel changes in the stomach content index and instantaneous gastric evacuation rate estimated in this study (0.118–0.129 h−1), the daily ration was calculated to be 4.0–4.2% of body weight, equivalent to a daily caloric intake of 21.2–22.3 cal day−1. Since the caloric value to produce a batch of oocytes was estimated to be 8.2–11.5 cal day−1, on an energetic basis,D. fulgenscan maintain the multiple spawning at a cost of approximately 37–54% of its daily caloric intake.