bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Telemedicine and its acceptance by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at a single care center during the COVID-19 emergency: A cross-sectional observational study
Authors: Sartore Giovanni , Caprino Rosaria , Ragazzi Eugenio , Lapolla Annunziata 
Published: February 2023

Introduction
When Italy was placed under lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic from 9 March to 18 May 2020, alternative approaches to delivering care—such as telemedicine—were promoted for patients with chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to analyze patients’ perception of, and satisfaction with the telehealth services offered during the COVID-19 emergency at an outpatient diabetes care unit in Italy.

Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 250 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who regularly attended our diabetes care unit. Data were collected by means of telephone interviews, asking patients how they perceived the telehealth services, and their satisfaction with the televisit and computer-based care. A standardized questionnaire was administered: there were questions answered using a five-point Likert scale, and one open-ended question. Patients’ demographic, anthropometric and biological data were collected from their medical records. Correlations between patients’ characteristics, their perception of telemedicine, and their satisfaction with the televisit were examined. Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient ρ (rho) and Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient τ (tau) were used as nonparametric measures of the strength of the association between the scores obtained for the two ordinal variables, Perception and Satisfaction, and between other clinical parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) was also used to assess overall links between the variables.

Results
Almost half of the interviewees expressed a strongly positive perception of the medical services received, and more than 60% were very satisfied with the telehealth service provided during the COVID-19 emergency. There was a strong correlation between patients’ perception and satisfaction ratings (p<0.0001). Duration of disease showed a significant positive correlation with patients’ satisfaction with their medical care. By means of PCA, it was found that BMI correlated inversely with both perception and satisfaction. Following a qualitative analysis of patients’ answers to the open-ended question, contact with their specialist was important to them: it was reassuring and a source of scientifically correct information about their disease and the association between COVID-19 and diabetes.

Conclusions
Based on our telephone interviews, patients appreciated the telehealth approach and were satisfied with it, regardless of the characteristics of their disease. Telemedicine proved essential to avoid interrupting the continuity of care, and therefore had not only clinical, but also psycho-social repercussions.
Sadness, hopelessness and suicide attempts in bullying: Data from the 2018 Iowa youth survey
Authors: Newman Kaela L. , Alexander Daniel S. , Rovers John P. 
Published: February 2023

Background
Bullying in schools is a common problem that can have significant consequences on the mental health of both bullies and victims of bullying. Some estimates suggest that 30% of American youth are bullied. Self-reported incidence of depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts has been correlated with bullying. Victims may also suffer from a variety of somatic complaints such as headache, sleep disorders, and others. Youth surveys undertaken by Education or Public Health Departments in most US states are an underutilized resource in evaluating the problem and any consequences.

Objective
The objective of this study was to explore the association of being involved in bullying either as a victim and/or a bully on mental health and suicide ideation by analyzing data from the 2018 Iowa Youth Survey. The results will then be applied to the published anti-bullying literature to make suggestions for how anti-bullying programs may be designed.

Methods
Data were obtained from the 2018 Iowa Youth Survey (IYS), which is a cross-sectional survey of 6th, 8th and 11th grade students. We chose two mental health questions as dependent variables and used a multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate the correlation between the two dependent variables and ten types of bullying included in the IYS. Since some respondents in the IYS were prescribed psychotropic medications to help with feeling angry, anxious, nervous, or sad, we adjusted for the use of psychotropic medication in our analysis. Similarly, the literature suggests that some students are both bullies and victims (bully-victims). Accordingly, we also adjusted for bully-victims.

Results
Unadjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) showed that not all forms of bullying were correlated with a significant risk of mental distress. Physical bullying had comparatively little association (ORs < 1 or overlapped 1), while identity bullying on sexual orientation or gender identity or sexual joking was consistently correlated with significant ORs for feeling sad or hopeless and attempting suicide (ORs 1.40–2.84). Cyberbullying (ORs 1.32–1.70) and social bullying (ORs < 1–2.21) were correlated with mental distress with ORs generally between physical and identity bullying. When adjusting for medication use or bully-victim status, adjusted ORs (aORs) were generally lower than unadjusted ORs.

Conclusions
Not all types of bullying were significantly correlated with feeling sad or hopeless or attempting suicide. Being able to evaluate the specific associations of different types of bullying may have implications for teachers or policy makers hoping to implement bullying mitigation strategies in their schools.
In Ethiopia’s Kutaber district, does community-based health insurance protect households from catastrophic health-care costs? A community- based comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Kassa Ayesheshim Muluneh 
Published: February 2023

Objective
Every health system needs to take action to shield households from the expense of medical costs. The Ethiopian government implemented community-based health insurance (CBHI) to protect households from catastrophic health care expenditure (CHE) and enhance the utilization of health care services. The impact of CBHI on CHE with total household expenditure and non-food expenditure measures hadn’t been studied, so the study aimed to evaluate the impact of CBHI on CHE among households in Kutaber district, Ethiopia.

Methods
A total of 472 households (225 insured and 247 uninsured) were selected by multistage sampling techniques. Households total out-of-pocket (OOP) health payments ≥10% threshold of total household expenditure or ≥40% threshold of household non-food expenditure categorized as CHE. The co-variants for participation in the CBHI scheme were estimated by using a probit regression model. A propensity score matching analysis was used to determine the impact of CBHI on CHE. A Chi-square (χ2) test was computed to compare CHE between insured and uninsured households.

Results
The magnitude of CHE was 39.1% with total household expenditure and 1.8% with non-food expenditure measures among insured households. Insured households were 46.3% protected from CHE when compared to uninsured households with total household expenditure measures and 24.2% to 25% with non-food expenditure measures.

Conclusion
The magnitude of CHE was lower among CBHI-enrolled households. CBHI is an effective means of financial protection benefits for households as a share of total household expenditure and non-food expenditure measures. Therefore, increasing the upper limits of benefit packages, minimizing exclusions, and CBHI scale-up to uninsured households is essential.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of free vaccination policy on influenza vaccination coverage: An analysis of vaccination behavior in South Korea
Authors: Yeo Muhan , Seo Jeongmin , Lim Juwon 
Published: February 2023

Background
Annual vaccination for influenza is globally recommended for some prioritized groups due to its high morbidity and mortality. Until 2019, South Korea has provided free influenza vaccination to children aged ≤12, adults aged ≥65, and pregnant women to enhance vaccination coverage. In 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, free flu vaccination was temporarily broadened to adults aged 62–64 and children aged 13–18. We analyzed the trends in influenza vaccination coverages in South Korea and evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of the free vaccination policy on influenza vaccination coverage.

Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study with nationwide survey data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We evaluated the trends in influenza vaccination coverages of target populations from 2010 to 2020. Influenza vaccination coverages of children aged 13–18, adults aged 62–64, and adults aged ≥65 were compared between 2019 and 2020.

Results
In total, 72,443 individuals were analyzed. From 2019 to 2020, with the expansion of free influenza vaccination and the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccination coverage of children aged 13–18 increased from 27.8% to 43.5% (P<0.001) but that of people aged 62–64 showed insignificant change from 57.4% to 51.5% (P = 0.266). Furthermore, the vaccination coverage in adults aged ≥65 declined from 87.2% to 79.1% (P<0.001).

Conclusion
In 2020, along with COVID-19 outbreaks, a decline of influenza vaccination coverage in older adults was observed regardless of free immunizations. It is likely due to behavioral changes to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is supported by a greater reduction of influenza vaccination coverage in regions with higher COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as by South Korea’s high medical accessibility and highly congested medical facilities. To sustain a high level of vaccination coverage of high-risk population during epidemics, additional efforts beyond free vaccination policies should be implemented.
Dual-band open-loop monopole (2 × 1) printed MIMO antenna for 4G and 5G applications
Authors: Abdulhameed Abdulghafor A. , Alnahwi Falih M. , Abdullah Abdulkareem S. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
This paper presents a compact dual-band open-loop monopole MIMO antenna to serve 4G/5G applications. This antenna consists of two printed monopole antennas with very high isolation. Two enhancement techniques are utilized to improve the isolation between ports. Since each technique can provide high isolation of a single band, a combination of λ/4 slot and T-shape techniques are used to achieve high isolation of −19 dB and −35 dB at 2.4 GHz and 3.5 GHz, respectively. The proposed design has high efficiency, a low envelope correlation coefficient, and an acceptable level of realized gain (2.7 dBi and 2.2 dBi) at low and high bands. This design has been fabricated using low-profile printed circuit technology with a compact patch size of 50 × 25 mm2 based on an FR-4 substrate. Moreover, the simulation and measurement results are in good agreement.
A novel non-iterative algorithm for the joint design of transceiver beamforming and surface reflection in an IRS-enhanced MIMO system
Authors: Asgari Tabatabaee Seyyed Mohammad Javad , Samsami Khodadad Farid 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) is an emerging and low-cost revolutionary technology that can be deployed in future communication systems to enhance data transmission performance. An IRS comprises a lot of small, passive, and low-cost elements that can smartly reflect the incident signal from the transmitter to the receiver. In this paper, an IRS-enhanced multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) downlink network is considered, in which a cell-edge user receives the data signal from a base station (BS). In this network, the direct path between the BS and the user is blocked by an obstacle, and the user receives only the tunable reflected signal from the IRS. To achieve spatial diversity, beamforming is applied to the antennas at the BS and the user. The goal is to jointly design the transceiver beamforming vectors and the IRS reflection coefficients so that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the user is maximized. Since the IRS elements are passive, the amplitude of the IRS reflection coefficients must be equal to or smaller than one. The constrained SNR optimization problem is non-convex. We propose a three-step procedure to obtain an effective sub-optimal solution for this problem. Accordingly, an innovative non-iterative algorithm is proposed to design the problem parameters. Simulation results show that the IRS-enhanced MIMO downlink system, in which the proposed non-iterative algorithm is used to develop the network parameters, outperforms the conventional network without IRS in terms of bit error rate (BER).
A New Perspective on Humanity in the Cosmic Future: A Critical Reflection on Some Transhumanist Visions
Authors: Farbák Martin , Plašienková Zlatica 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The authors of this article critically consider selected transhumanist views of new perspectives on humanity in the cosmic future. Their focus is on philosophical and ethical thinking about the futuristic concepts of Cyborgs and Cosmic Beings promoted by Ted Chu. They weight up the possible negative consequences of radical human enhancement and analyse the utilitarian roots of the conceptions discussed. The theory of planetary and cosmic personality appears to be a safer alternative to radical human enhancement but they also pinpoint drawbacks to the theory. The authors conclude that a more conservative and authentic approach to human enhancement is found in the truly human enhancement proposed by Nicholas Agar and consider life-centred ethics an appropriate ethical standpoint in the search for humans’ place in the cosmic future.
Influence of surfactant concentration on structural properties and corrosion behaviour of electrodeposited Ni–SiO2 nanocomposite coatings
Authors: Guerguer Louiza , Hamdi Ahmed , Ziouche Aicha , Benbertal Djamel , Belalem Mohammed Abdelkader , Benmoussat Abderrahim 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
In this study, Ni–SiO2 nanocomposite coatings were deposited on the surface of X70 steel by performing direct current electrodeposition. The effect of different concentrations of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactant (0.3, 0.5, 1, and 2 g L−1) on particle distribution and corrosion behaviour of the coatings was analysed. The structural properties of the obtained coatings were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The corrosion behaviour of the coatings was tested by potentiodynamic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results showed that the electrodeposited coatings obtained from the electroplating bath with 1 g L−1 of surfactant modified the surface morphology of the Ni–SiO2 nanocomposite coating and presented a finer and more uniform microstructure. The results of the phase structure analysis showed that the addition of the surfactant in the electrodeposition process changed the preferred orientations for the coatings from (111) to (220) and (200) planes. The anti-corrosion performance of the resulting coating produced in the presence of 1 g L−1 of surfactant was significantly higher than the anti-corrosion performance of the other coatings and showed a lower corrosion rate.
Synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles as an agent for antibacterial and wastewater remediation applications by calcination
Authors: Şenocak Ayşegül , İmamoğlu Rızvan , Yılmaz Sefa 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
In this paper, a nickel complex with the general formula [Ni(HST)(OAc)] (HST: 1-salicylaldehydethiosemicarbazone, OAc: acetate) was subjected to thermal decomposition to produce nanoparticles at three different temperatures. The semiconductor nanoparticles have a particle size of 22.18 nm and a band gap of 2.68 eV. Furthermore, it was observed that the nanoparticles exhibiting a zeta-potential value of −26.1 are stable in colloidal media. The produced nanoparticles have the potential to be used as wastewater treatment agents under optimized conditions, as evidenced by the photocatalytic activity on methylene blue degradation with a 69.30% decomposition. Although all the synthesized compounds exhibit high antibacterial activity with low minimal inhibitory concentration values, the nanoparticles obtained by calcination at 400 °C had the highest activity, which is consistent with the literature.
Deep learning for content-based image retrieval in FHE algorithms
Authors: Abdullah Sura Mahmood , Jaber Mustafa Musa 
Published: February 2023

AbstractContent-based image retrieval (CBIR) is a technique used to retrieve image from an image database. However, the CBIR process suffers from less accuracy to retrieve many images from an extensive image database and prove the privacy of images. The aim of this article is to address the issues of accuracy utilizing deep learning techniques such as the CNN method. Also, it provides the necessary privacy for images using fully homomorphic encryption methods by Cheon–Kim–Kim–Song (CKKS). The system has been proposed, namely RCNN_CKKS, which includes two parts. The first part (offline processing) extracts automated high-level features based on a flatting layer in a convolutional neural network (CNN) and then stores these features in a new dataset. In the second part (online processing), the client sends the encrypted image to the server, which depends on the CNN model trained to extract features of the sent image. Next, the extracted features are compared with the stored features using a Hamming distance method to retrieve all similar images. Finally, the server encrypts all retrieved images and sends them to the client. Deep-learning results on plain images were 97.87% for classification and 98.94% for retriever images. At the same time, the NIST test was used to check the security of CKKS when applied to Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR-10) dataset. Through these results, researchers conclude that deep learning is an effective method for image retrieval and that a CKKS method is appropriate for image privacy protection.
Sustainable development of simulation setups and addons for OpenFOAM for nuclear reactor safety research
Authors: Lehnigk Ronald , Bruschewski Martin , Huste Tobias , Lucas Dirk , Rehm Markus , Schlegel Fabian 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Open-source environments such as the Computational Fluid Dynamics software OpenFOAM are very appealing for research groups since they allow for an efficient prototyping of new models or concepts. However, for downstream developments to be sustainable, i.e. reproducible and reusable in the long term, a significant amount of maintenance work must be accounted for. To allow for growth and extensibility, the maintenance work should be underpinned by a high degree of automation for repetitive tasks such as build tests, code deployment and validation runs, in order to keep the focus on scientific work. Here, an information technology environment is presented that aids the centralized maintenance of addon code and setup files with relation to reactor coolant system safety research. It fosters collaborative developments and review processes. State-of-the-art tools for managing software developments are adapted to meet the requirements of OpenFOAM. A flexible approach for upgrading the underlying installation is proposed, based on snapshots of the OpenFOAM development line rather than yearly version releases, to make new functionality available when needed by associated research projects. The process of upgrading within so-called sprint cycles is accompanied by several checks to ensure compatibility of downstream code and simulation setups. Furthermore, the foundation for building a validation data base from contributed simulation setups is laid, creating a basis for continuous quality assurance.
Topological phases and non-Hermitian topology in photonic artificial microstructures
Authors: Liu Hui , Lai Pengtao , Wang Haonan , Cheng Hua , Tian Jianguo , Chen Shuqi 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
In the past few decades, the discovery of topological matter states has ushered in a new era in topological physics, providing a robust framework for strategically controlling the transport of particles or waves. Topological photonics, in particular, has sparked considerable research due to its ability to construct and manipulate photonic topological states via photonic artificial microstructures. Although the concept of topology originates from condensed matter, topological photonics has given rise to new fundamental ideas and a range of potential applications that may lead to revolutionary technologies. Here, we review recent developments in topological photonics, with a focus on the realization and application of several emerging research areas in photonic artificial microstructures. We highlight the research trend, spanning from the photonic counterpart of topological insulator phases, through topological semimetal phases, to other emerging non-Hermitian topologies.
Plasmonic spin induced Imbert–Fedorov shift
Authors: You Hao , Alturki Abdullah , Zeng Xiaodong , Zubairy Muhammad Suhail 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The spin angular momentums of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on chiral material interfaces and the Imbert–Fedorov shifts of linearly polarized light beams are investigated. Compared to a traditional TM-polarized SPP having a transverse spin, the SPP on a chiral material interface also has a longitudinal spin component, resulting from the nature that this new kind of SPP is a hybrid of TE and TM-polarized evanescent waves. When a light beam is incident on a sandwich structure composed of chiral material, prisms, and metal layers, in which the SPP is supported, the reflection and transmission processes can be analogous to the transport of a photon in a waveguide QED system. The SPP with longitudinal spin can be excited by the incident wave and the reflected and transmitted beams carry the spin features of the SPP. Moreover, the beams exhibit large Imbert–Fedorov shifts stemming from the spin–orbit coupling even for a linearly polarized incident beam. The shifts are determined by the longitudinal spin angular momentum and excitation coefficient of the SPP. This present work extends the study of photonic spin–orbit coupling and provides an important platform to investigate the plasmonic spin.
Impact of thermal modification on color and chemical changes of African padauk, merbau, mahogany, and iroko wood species
Authors: Gaff Milan , Kubovský Ivan , Sikora Adam , Kačíková Danica , Li Haitao , Kubovský Matúš , Kačík František 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThermal modification is an environment-friendly technology for improving various wood properties, especially the dimensional stability, decay resistance, and color homogeneity. In this work, four tropical wood species (African padauk, merbau, mahogany, and iroko) were thermally modified by the ThermoWood process. The influence of heat treatment on the color and chemical changes of wood was studied by spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and wet chemistry methods. As the temperature increased, a decrease in lightness (L*) and a simultaneous decrease in chromatic values (a*,b*) were observed, indicating darkening and browning of the wood surface. As a result of the heat treatment, the relative content of hemicelluloses decreased the most in merbau and mahogany, while the thermal stability of iroko and African padauk was higher. All examined wood species showed a strong correlation between the lightness difference value (ΔL*) and the content of hemicelluloses (r= 0.88–0.96). The FTIR spectroscopy showed that the breakdown of C═O and C═C bonds in hemicelluloses and lignin plays an important role in the formation of chromophoric structures responsible for the color changes in the wood.