bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma with duodenal obstruction with diagnostic use of endoscopic ultrasound: A case series and literature review
Authors: Makazu Makomo , Koizumi Kazuya , Masuda Sakue , Jinushi Ryuhei , Shionoya Kento , Tsukiyama Toshitaka 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma is rare and can cause duodenal obstruction. We report four cases of spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma with duodenal obstruction, wherein endoscopic ultrasound was useful for diagnosis. The patients complained of vomiting with stable vital signs. Computed tomography, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and endoscopic ultrasound findings were similar in all cases. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a low-density mass around the 2nd to 3rd part of the duodenum. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed an edematous, reddish, but non-neoplastic duodenal mucosa with stenosis of the lumen. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a low-echoic mass around the duodenum and high-echoic floating matter suggesting debris and anechoic areas that indicated a liquid component. These findings suggested hematomas or abscesses. Although pseudoaneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery was suspected in Case 3, we chose conservative treatment because the aneurysm was small. In Case 4, median arcuate ligament syndrome was suspected on angiography. No aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations were found; thus, endovascular embolization was not performed. The patients were treated conservatively and discharged within 3–5 weeks. English literature queries on spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma with duodenal obstruction in MEDLINE revealed 21 cases in 18 studies. The clinical features of these patients and the present four cases have been discussed.
WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): a tool for estimating weaning age from stable isotope ratios of dentinal collagen
Authors: Ganiatsou Elissavet , Souleles Angelos , Papageorgopoulou Christina 
Published: March 2023

AbstractNitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ15N) of incremental dentine collagen have been extensively used for the study of breastfeeding and weaning practices in ancient populations. The shifts in δ15N values reveal the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, the onset and completion of weaning. Despite the significant progress in sampling precision protocols, the weaning estimation is still performed by visual observation of δ15N individual profiles, a time-consuming, labor-intensive, and error-prone task. To fill this gap, we generated WEAN, a tool that enables automated estimation of weaning age based on δ15N measurements from incremental dentine collagen. WEAN generates a refined age assignment based on regression analysis and calculates the knee/elbow point of the δ15N curvature as the individual’s weaning age. We tested the accuracy of the tool by re-estimating 130 weaning ages from published datasets with the calculation of the root mean square error (RMSE). The results show a strong agreement between the visual observation and the elbow method underlining that an automatic mathematical framework can be used for the accurate estimation of weaning age. The tool can estimate the weaning age of a single or many individuals and produces visually appealing graphics (scatter and line plots) and output files. WEAN introduces a novel and robust method that streamlines the assessment of δ15N values for the exploration of breastfeeding and weaning patterns in antiquity.
A novel computerized adaptive testing framework with decoupled learning selector
Authors: Ma Haiping , Zeng Yi , Yang Shangshang , Qin Chuan , Zhang Xingyi , Zhang Limiao 
Published: March 2023

AbstractComputerized adaptive testing (CAT) targets to accurately assess the student’s proficiency in the required subject/area. The key issue is how to design a question selector that adaptively selects the best-suited questions for each student based on previous performance step by step. Most existing question selectors execute via greedy metric functions (e.g., question information and uncertainty), which can not effectively capture data characteristics. There also exist learning-based question selectors that redefine the CAT problem as a bilevel optimization problem, where the parameter learning of the question selector and the student proficiency estimation model are coupled, which is not flexible enough. To this end, in this paper, we propose a novel CAT framework with Decoupled Learning selector (DL-CAT). Specifically, we first use the currently estimated student ability and question characteristics as input and design a deep learning-based question selector to predict question selection scores. Then, to address the issue that there is no ground truth to measure the quality of the selected question, an approximate ground-truth and a pairwise rank loss function are specially designed to update the parameters of the question selector independently. Extensive experiments on two real datasets demonstrate that our proposed DL-CAT has certain advantages in effectiveness and significant advantages in efficiency.
Instability of the Kerr Cauchy Horizon Under Linearised Gravitational Perturbations
Authors: Sbierski Jan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis paper establishes a mathematical proof of the blue-shift instability at the sub-extremal Kerr Cauchy horizon for the linearised vacuum Einstein equations. More precisely, we exhibit conditions on the$$s=+2$$s=+2Teukolsky field, consisting of suitable integrated upper and lower bounds on the decay along the event horizon, that ensure that the Teukolsky field, with respect to a frame that is regular at the Cauchy horizon, becomes singular. The conditions are in particular satisfied by solutions of the Teukolsky equation arising from generic and compactly supported initial data by the recent work [51] of Ma and Zhang for slowly rotating Kerr.
The Effect of Classroom Acoustic Treatment on Listening, Learning, and Well-being: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mealings Kiri 
Published: March 2023

AbstractClassrooms are important learning spaces, however, the acoustic conditions in these spaces can often be suboptimal. The aim of this scoping review, which used the PRISMA-ScR protocol, was to understand what is known from the literature about the effect of classroom acoustic treatment on students’ listening, learning, and well-being. Thirteen papers from the database searches were deemed relevant for the review. Information on the years of publication of the papers, the population studied, the types of acoustic treatment used, the measures and methods used to assess the effect of acoustic treatment, and the outcomes of the papers was gathered. Seven of the 13 studies reported positive effects of classroom acoustic treatment on student’s speech perception, attention, and well-being. Five studies reported both positive effects and no effect depending on the measure, condition, or population. The remaining study reported a negative effect of classroom acoustic treatment on children’s speech perception and listening effort. These findings suggest that the effect of ceiling and/or wall absorbers/diffusers on sound and reverberation in the room can help students’ speech perception, attention, reading, and well-being, but they may also reduce the speech transmission index resulting in increased listening effort. The limitations of the reviewed studies and avenues for future research on the effect of acoustic treatment on a broader range of listening, learning, and well-being outcomes for students are discussed.
Daily Work Stressors and Unhealthy Snacking: The Moderating Role of Trait Mindfulness
Authors: Vasiļjeva Dārta , Nübold Annika , Hülsheger Ute R. , Nederkoorn Chantal 
Published: March 2023

AbstractUnhealthy snacking is considered one of the main contributors to the current obesity pandemic. Initial research suggests that work-related stress may be an important predictor of unhealthy snacking, however, there is still much to learn about the underlying mechanisms and conditions of work-related snacking. To address this research gap, we investigated the effect of two prominent work stressors, workload and interpersonal conflict, on unhealthy snacking behaviors during work and in the evening after work. We propose that these effects may be explained through a homeostatic motive to restore energy following depletion and a hedonic motive to induce pleasure, thus investigating the potential mediating effect of emotional exhaustion and negative affect. Additionally, since individual differences play an important role for snacking behaviors, we examined the potential moderating effect of trait mindfulness. Results from diary data across two workweeks (N = 118) did not show a significant positive linear relationship between daily work stressors and unhealthy snacking. The protective nature of trait mindfulness became apparent in the relationship between after-work emotional exhaustion and unhealthy snacking, indicating that individuals high in trait mindfulness consume less unhealthy snacks in the evening after work when emotionally exhausted. Furthermore, a supplementary analysis revealed that employees especially snack in the evening after low workload days. Taken together, our results unfold the complex nature of work-related snacking and offer valuable input for practical implementations.
Unraveling the role of resistin, retinol-binding protein 4 and adiponectin produced by epicardial adipose tissue in cardiac structure and function: evidence of a paracrine effect
Authors: Christou Georgios A. , Andriopoulou Christina E. , Liakopoulou Alexandra , Tsape Eirini , Apostolakis Efstratios , Tselepis Alexandros D. , Konstandi Maria , Frühbeck Gema , Kiortsis Dimitrios N. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Purpose
Adipokines produced by adipose tissue have been found to be involved in the pathophysiology of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate the relationships of resistin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and adiponectin produced by epicardial adipose tissue with coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiac structure and function.

Methods
Forty-one non-diabetic males scheduled for cardiothoracic surgery were examined. Anthropometric measurements, echocardiography, coronary angiography, and blood analysis were performed preoperatively. We measured the serum levels of resistin, RBP4, and adiponectin and their mRNA expression in thoracic subcutaneous adipose tissue and two epicardial adipose tissue samples, one close to left anterior descending artery (LAD) (resistin-LAD, RBP4-LAD, adiponectin-LAD), and another close to the right coronary artery (RCA) (resistin-RCA, RBP4-RCA, adiponectin-RCA).

Results
Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction correlated negatively with adiponectin-LAD (rho =  − 0.390, p = 0.025). The ratio of early to late diastolic transmitral flow velocity, as an index of LV diastolic function, correlated negatively with resistin-LAD (rho =  − 0.529, p = 0.024) and RBP4-LAD (rho =  − 0.458, p = 0.049). There was no difference in epicardial adipose tissue mRNA expression of resistin, RBP4, and adiponectin between individuals with CAD and those without CAD. When we compared the individuals with CAD in the LAD with those without CAD in the LAD, there was no difference in resistin-LAD, RBP4-LAD, and adiponectin-LAD. There was no difference in resistin-RCA, RBP4-RCA, and adiponectin-RCA between the individuals with CAD in the RCA and those without CAD in the RCA.

Conclusion
Elevation of epicardial adipose tissue mRNA expression of adiponectin was associated with LV systolic dysfunction, while that of both resistin and RBP4 was linked to LV diastolic dysfunction.
Individual and combined treatments with imidacloprid and spinosad disrupt survival, life-history traits, and nutritional physiology of Spodoptera littoralis
Authors: Shaurub El-Sayed H. , Tawfik Amer I. , El-Sayed Asmaa M. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe Egyptian cotton leafwormSpodoptera littoralis(Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a pervasive agricultural polyphagous insect pest. Because of the negative side-effects of conventional pesticides used in agricultural fields, safer alternatives for insect pest management are required. We evaluated here susceptibility, biological features, and nutritional indices ofS. littoralisafter treatment of 4th-instar larvae with the neonicotinoid imidacloprid and the spinosyn spinosad separately or in combination. Larvae were fed for three successive days on treated leaves of castor-beanRicinus communisusing leaf-dip technique (treatment period). In addition, in case of nutritional indices study, treated leaves were replaced by fresh untreated leaves for two successive days (recovery period). Spinosad was more toxic than imidacloprid, and their combination revealed additive effects based on the co-toxicity factor. Individual and combined treatments significantly decreased pupation rate, adult emergence rate, pupal weight, number of eggs laid per female, egg-hatch, and female longevity, compared to those of controls. Pupal and adult malformations were recorded. During the treatment period, nutritional indices were insecticide- and time-dependent. On the 2ndday of recovery, all nutritional indices of treated larvae were not significantly different, compared to those of controls. The results presented herein may help in developing more effective crop protection methodologies within integrated pest management of this insect.
Biochar-Bacillus consortium for a sustainable agriculture: physicochemical and soil stability analyses
Authors: Ajeng Aaronn Avit , Abdullah Rosazlin , Ling Tau Chuan 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBiochar has various agricultural applications, including the promising use as a carrier for beneficial microorganisms. However, most recent research has demonstrated the possible attachment or immobilization of a single bacterial species onto biochar rather than a consortium of microbes for biotechnological applications. Thus, an assessment on the potential of oil palm kernel shell (OPKS) biochar as a biofilm-producing Bacillus consortium carrier through optimization study on the operating and environmental factors influencing the biofilm adhesion was conducted using response surface methodology (RSM) and the subsequent soil stability and storage potential of the formulation. The highest Bacillus population was observed at temperature 33 °C, agitation speed of 135 rpm, at a neutral pH of 7.5 with 10% (w/w) of sago starch as the co-carbon source. The adhesion of Bacillus on OPKS biochar following the optimized conditions fitted pseudo-second order (PSO) of kinetic modelling (R2 = 0.998). The optimized formulation was subjected to storage in different temperatures and in vitro soil incubation which revealed that the Bacillus biofilm-adhered OPKS biochar may be stored up to 4 months with minimum range of live Bacillus viability reaching 107 CFU g-1 of biochar which is within the minimum range of acceptable biofertilizer viability (106 CFU mL-1). Formulation that is viable in room storage can be easily incorporated into current agricultural distribution networks that do not have refrigeration. This work highlighted the physicochemical and soil stability qualities of optimized Bacillus consortium adhesion on biochar for agricultural usage.Article Highlights

Integration of biochar with Bacillus consortium biofilms served as novel organic fertilizer in agriculture.

The biochar-integrated Bacillus biofilms persisted in challenging temperature and environment.

Biochar-integrated Bacillus biofilm fertilizer fostered the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals

Graphical Abstract
A remake of Bourgain–Brezis–Mironescu characterization of Sobolev spaces
Authors: Foghem Gounoue Guy Fabrice 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe introduce a large class of concentratedp-Lévy integrable functions approximating the unity, which serves as the core tool from which we provide a nonlocal characterization of the Sobolev spaces and the space of functions of bounded variation via nonlocal energies forms. It turns out that this nonlocal characterization is a necessary and sufficient criterion to define Sobolev spaces on domains satisfying the extension property. We also examine the general case where the extension property does not necessarily hold. In the latter case we establish weak convergence of the nonlocal Radon measures involved to the local Radon measures induced by the distributional gradient.
Fidelity, Feasibility and Adaptation of a Family Planning Intervention for Young Women in Zimbabwe: Provider Perspectives and Experiences
Authors: Mavodza Constancia V. , Bernays Sarah , Mackworth-Young Constance R. S. , Nyamwanza Rangarirayi , Nzombe Portia , Dauya Ethel , Chikwari Chido Dziva , Tembo Mandikudza , Apollo Tsitsi , Mugurungi Owen , Madzima Bernard , Nguwo Dadirai , Ferrand Rashida Abbas , Busza Joanna 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe CHIEDZA (Community-based Interventions to improve HIV outcomes in youth: a cluster randomised trial in Zimbabwe) trial evaluated an integrated package of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for young people aged 16–24 years in Zimbabwe. The family planning component aimed to improve access to information, services, and contraceptives delivered by trained youth-friendly providers within a community-based setting for young women. Responsively adapting the intervention was a part of the intervention design’s rationale. We investigated the factors influencing implementation fidelity, quality, and feasibility using provider experiences and perspectives. We conducted provider interviews (N = 42), non-participant (N = 18), and participant observation (N = 30) of intervention activities. The data was analyzed thematically. CHIEDZA providers were receptive to providing the family planning intervention, but contexts outside of the intervention created challenges to the intervention’s fidelity. Strategic adaptations were required to ensure service quality within a youth-friendly context. These adaptations strengthened service delivery but also resulted in longer wait times, more frequent visits, and variability of Long-Acting Reversible contraceptives (LARCS) provision which depended on target-driven programming by partner organization. This study was a practical example of how tracking adaptations is vital within process evaluation methods in implementation science. Anticipating that changes will occur is a necessary pre-condition of strong evaluations and tracking adaptations ensures that lessons on feasibility of design, contextual factors, and health system factors are responded to during implementation and can improve quality. Some contextual factors are unpredictable, and implementation should be viewed as a dynamic process where responsive adaptations are necessary, and fidelity is not static.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03719521.
Has maternal sensitivity been comprehensively investigated in sub-Saharan Africa? A narrative scoping review
Authors: Prag A. , Donald K.A. , Weldon E. , Halligan S.L. , Stein D.J. , Malcolm-Smith S. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Child development is strongly influenced by maternal characteristics. Maternal sensitivity, as well as risks to and outcomes of sensitive maternal style, are well studied in industrialised western contexts, but it is unclear if this is the case for other contexts. Sub-Saharan Africa has been subjected to and continues to negotiate socio-economic and psychological sequelae of colonial and race-based politics: exploring the nature and outcomes of early caregiver input in such challenging conditions is imperative. This scoping review thus aims to 1) evaluate the nature and extent of quantified observational assessments of dyadic interactions, with a focus on maternal sensitivity, in Sub-Saharan Africa and 2) ascertain which risk and outcome factors have been examined in relation to maternal sensitivity. Study quality and cross-cultural appropriateness will also be considered. The search using expanded search terms yielded 20 papers –four characterizing maternal sensitivity or style, eight examining maternal sensitivity in relation to risks and outcomes, and eight intervention studies examining efforts to improve maternal sensitivity. Most research was conducted in South Africa – only seven studies were conducted in four other countries. Researchers used a wide array of coding schemes, mostly developed in the west. Ten studies made some adaptations to measures. Language issues and cultural considerations were often not explicitly addressed. Taken together, very limited research on this important topic exists. For the work that does exist, questions around westernized assumptions, language, and appropriateness of measures remain. Substantially more research, informed by both culturally flexible conceptualizations and methodological rigour, is required.
STRICT REGULARITY FOR -COCYCLES OF FINITE GROUPS
Authors: HIGGS R. J. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLet
$\alpha $
be a complex-valued
$2$
-cocycle of a finite group
$G.$
A new concept of strict
$\alpha $
-regularity is introduced and its basic properties are investigated. To illustrate the potential use of this concept, a new proof is offered to show that the number of orbits of G under its action on the set of complex-valued irreducible
$\alpha _N$
-characters of N equals the number of
$\alpha $
-regular conjugacy classes of G contained in
$N,$
where N is a normal subgroup of
$G.$
HALL SUBGROUPS AND -COCYCLE REGULARITY
Authors: HIGGS R. J. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractLet H be a subgroup of a finite group G and let
$\alpha $
be a complex-valued
$2$
-cocycle of
$G.$
Conditions are found to ensure there exists a nontrivial element of H that is
$\alpha $
-regular in
$G.$
However, a new result is established allowing a prime by prime analysis of the Sylow subgroups of
$C_G(x)$
to determine the
$\alpha $
-regularity of a given
$x\in G.$
In particular, this result implies that every
$\alpha _H$
-regular element of a normal Hall subgroup H is
$\alpha $
-regular in
$G.$
Effect of pre-grazing herbage mass and post-grazing sward height on herbage production and intake and performance of suckler-bred steers within a weanling-to-beef production system
Authors: Doyle P. R. , McGee M. , Moloney A. P. , Kelly A. K. , O'Riordan E. G. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe current study investigated the effects of pre-grazing herbage mass (PGHM, 1500 or 2500 kg dry matter (DM)/ha) and post-grazing sward height (PGSH, 4 or 6 cm) on herbage production and its nutritive value and DM intake, grazing behaviour and growth of Charolais steers (n = 96; 12 months of age; 396 ± 19.0 kg) during a 222-day grazing season, and the subsequent effect of an indoor finishing diet (grass silage alone or supplemented with concentrates) for 146 days, on performance and carcass traits. Steers were assigned to one of 12 grazing groups and group was assigned to a 2 (PGHM) × 2 (PGSH) factorial arrangement of treatments. At the end of the grazing season, live-weight was 16 kg heavier for PGHM-1500 than PGHM-2500 and 34 kg heavier for PGSH-6 than PGSH-4. After indoor finishing, there was no difference in carcass weight between PGHM treatments, but PGSH-6 had a 19 kg heavier carcass than PGSH-4. Herbage production was 881 and 517 kg DM/ha greater for PGHM-2500 than PGHM-1500 and for PGSH-4 than PGSH-6, respectively. Grazing stocking rate did not differ between PGHM treatments but PGSH-4 carried 1.35 more steers/ha than PGSH-6. Supplementing concentrates during the indoor period increased carcass weight (42 kg) and fat score (2.10 units). In conclusion, grazing to 6 rather than 4 cm, increased individual carcass weight but not carcass weight gain/ha. Compared to PGHM-2500, grazing PGHM-1500 increased steer live-weight gain at pasture, but did not affect carcass weight following indoor finishing.