bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mevalonate pathway and male reproductive aging
Authors: Zhang Jia‐Le , Lv Meng , Yang Chao‐Fan , Zhu Ying‐Xi , Li Chao‐Jun 
Published: September 2023

AbstractMale fertility declines with age. The mevalonate pathway, through which cholesterol and nonsteroidal isoprenoids are synthesized, plays key role in metabolic processes and is an essential pathway for cholesterol production and protein prenylation. Male reproductive aging is accompanied by dramatic changes in the metabolic microenvironment of the testis. Since the mevalonate pathway has an important role in spermatogenesis, we attempted to explore the association between male reproductive aging and the mevalonate pathway to explain the mechanism of male reproductive aging. Alterations in the mevalonate pathway may affect male reproductive aging by decreasing cholesterol synthesis and altering testis protein prenylation. Decreased cholesterol levels affect cholesterol modification, testosterone production, and remodeling of germ cell membranes. Aging‐related metabolic disorders also affect the metabolic coupling between somatic cells and spermatogenic cells, leading to male fertility decline. Therefore, we hypothesized that alterations in the mevalonate pathway represent one of the metabolic causes of reproductive aging.
Stable parameters identification for rational approximation of Single degree of freedom frequency response function of semi‐infinite medium
Authors: Tang Zhenyun , Li Xin , Wang Zhiyu 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe rational approximation is an important tool for establishing a dynamic analysis model in time domain for semi‐infinite water and soil. It accurately represents the interaction between the semi‐infinite medium and an engineering structure. Current research on rational approximation method focuses mainly on the establishment of time‐domain analysis models. However, the stability, accuracy, and calculation efficiency of the rational approximation model cannot be guaranteed simultaneously. Based on linear system control theory, this work decomposes the continuous‐time rational approximation (CRA) and the discrete‐time rational approximation (DRA) into a combination of first‐ and second‐order subsystems, and the stability boundaries for the identified parameters are established according to the stability conditions of each subsystem. A genetic algorithm and a sequential quadratic programming algorithm are used to construct a parameter identification method that can ensure stability in the time domain. Through parameter identification of complex frequency response functions, it is demonstrated that the method proposed in this work can guarantee the stability and accuracy simultaneously, and the calculation efficiency is also substantially improved over that of the existing methods.
COVID‐19 pandemic and the prevalence of domestic violence against Iranian married women
Authors: Mahdavifar Neda , Kalan Farmanfarma Khadijeh , Hiteh Masoud , Mohammadian Maryam , Abbasian Ali , Vafi Sani Fatemeh , Khosrorad Razieh , Salehiniya Hamid 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAimDomestic violence is an important public health and human rights problem. In most countries of the world, including Iran, the COVID‐19 pandemic made quarantine necessary to reduce the disease transmission rate. Therefore, due to the spread of the COVID‐19 disease and the emergence of mandatory quarantine conditions, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of domestic violence against women during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Iran.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, which was done in 2020, 240 married women were investigated. Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, data collection was performed through virtual networks using standard questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics (relative frequencies, mean, and standard deviation) were used to determine the extent of violence. Independent t‐test and Chi‐square were used to analyze the data of the relation between the types of violence with independent variables. Also, the data were analyzed using the logistic regression model.ResultsIn this study, 240 married women with a mean age of 36.27 were studied. The highest frequency was related to social violence (56.3%), and the lowest was related to financial and verbal violence (11.7%). In addition, a significant relationship was observed between sexual violence and age (p‐value < 0.05). A significant relationship was also observed between social violence and education [(OR = 1.99)] Jobs [(OR = 2.4, CI = 95%, 1.30–4.4), quarantine duration [(OR = 1.94, CI = 95%, 0.98–3.7)] and underlying diseases [OR = 1.90].ConclusionThe high prevalence of domestic violence against women during quarantine indicates the poor health of women in society. Therefore, the roots of violence against women and methods to reduce this problem should be sought. Therefore, identification of subjects at risk and raising women's knowledge may be useful for the prevention of domestic violence and its physical and psychological complications.
Relationships of pregnancy and postpartum diet quality with offspring birth weight and weight status through 12 months
Authors: Lipsky Leah , Cummings Jenna , Siega‐Riz Anna Maria , Nansel Tonja 
Published: September 2023

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined relationships of maternal pregnancy and postpartum diet quality with infant birth size and weight status indicators through 12 months and tested whether breastfeeding duration modifies these associations.MethodsIn the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study (PEAS), dietary intake was assessed six times in 458 mothers who were followed from early pregnancy through 12 months postpartum (2014–2018). Logistic and linear mixed models estimated relationships of pregnancy and postpartum diet quality (Healthy Eating Index [HEI]) with offspring who were large‐for‐gestational‐age (LGA) at birth, as well as BMI z score (BMIz) and weight‐for‐length z score (WFLz) at birth, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months.ResultsPregnancy HEI was inversely related to LGA (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92 to 0.98); HEI was also inversely related to WFLz (β = −0.01, 95% CI: −0.02 to −0.002) and BMIz (β = −0.009, 95% CI: −0.02 to −0.0009) from birth through 12 months. Postpartum HEI was inversely related to WFLz (β = −0.01, 95% CI: −0.02 to −0.0009) and BMIz (β = −0.008, 95% CI: −0.02 to 0.0007) in infants who were breastfed for at least 6 months, but not in those who were breastfed for a shorter duration.ConclusionsMaternal diet quality during pregnancy (and during postpartum in mothers who breastfed for a longer duration) was inversely related to LGA and weight status indicators from birth through 12 months. Increasing maternal diet quality may have use for promoting healthy infant weight development.
A Novel Method to Classify the Responses of Genioglossus to Negative Pressure in OSA Patients
Authors: Zhou Yingqian , Yin Guoping , Xu Jinkun , Cao Xin , Ye Jingying 
Published: September 2023

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to develop a novel method to classify different genioglossus (GG) responses to upper airway (UA) negative pressure in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.Study DesignA single‐center, prospective, cohort study.SettingSleep Medical Center.MethodsPatients with OSA underwent drug‐induced sleep endoscopy with synchronous genioglossus electromyography (ggEMG) and UA pressure monitoring. In spontaneous obstructive apnea events, the value of epiglottis negative pressure at the end of inspiration (Pepi) and corresponding peak phasic ggEMG were recorded as pairing data for linear regression analysis to classify GG response modes: peak phasic ggEMG‐Pepi linear mode (P < .05) were classified as group 1; others (P ≥ .05) were classified as group 2. Using nasopharyngeal tube (NPT) to reopen the palatopharyngeal cavity for comparing the improvement between the OSA patients with different GG response modes.ResultsSixty subjects were analyzed for GG response modes: 22 patients were in group 1 (r2 = 0.233‐0.867), and 38 patients were in group 2. The proportion of partial (63.16% vs 59.09%) or complete (36.84% vs 22.73%) collapse rate of the tongue base in group 2 was significantly higher (χ2 = 7.823, P = .020). The improvement of the apnea‐hypopnea index after NPT placement in group 2 was significantly lower than in group 1 (59.09% vs 31.58%, χ2 = 4.339, P = .037).ConclusionThis novel method is advantageous for distinguishing OSA patients with different GG response abilities to UA negative pressure, whose GG responses conforming to peak phasic ggEMG‐Pepi linear mode might be more suitable for palatopharyngeal surgery.
Simplified description of hard particles in tribological systems using statistical sample particles
Authors: Bilz Raphael , de Payrebrune Kristin M. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractTechnical applications often include tribological systems in which friction and wear occur. Hard particles, such as sand, are often present in the contact between the surfaces of two bodies in contact and affect both the system dynamics and the resulting surface topography of the contacting bodies. Real tribological systems can contain a very high number of particles. Hence, for performance reasons of numerical studies, the explicit representation of each particle in a simulation is often not practical. The approach presented here is based on a model simplification by grouping several particles to form statistical sample particles (SSPs). SSPs can only move as a whole, and thereby simplify the motions of the individual particles, but the contact stiffness and orientation dependence of the force are still determined by the set of individual particles that are part of the statistical sample. Using sample size 1, each individual particle is represented without simplification, while using a sample size larger than one, the total number of particles in the system reduces to a minimum of one SSP representing all particles in the system. This approach provides a very efficient way to specify the model complexity and desired level of detail for the particle representation within a model of a tribological system.
Topology optimization for uniform flow distribution in electrolysis cells
Authors: Baeck Leon , Blauth Sebastian , Leithäuser Christian , Pinnau René , Sturm Kevin 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn this paper, we consider the topology optimization for a bipolar plate of a hydrogen electrolysis cell. We present a model for the bipolar plate using the Stokes equation with an additional drag term, which models the influence of fluid and solid regions. Furthermore, we derive a criterion for a uniform flow distribution in the bipolar plate. To obtain shapes that are well‐manufacturable, we introduce a novel smoothing technique for the fluid velocity. Finally, we present some numerical results and investigate the influence of the smoothing on the obtained shapes.
Modeling and parameter identification for agricultural machines
Authors: Simonelli Ruggero , Büskens Christof 
Published: September 2023

AbstractA series of technical and social aspects have led the pressure to increase energy efficiency and reduce the level of environmental impact in agricultural production. Crop producers and equipment manufacturers have identified computerized assistance in operation management as an indispensable tool to optimize agricultural processes. A central place is occupied in this regard by the so called digital twins, computer models of a specific instance of an object or system, which are also capable of exchanging data with the physical counterpart and updating their state accordingly. The core of a digital twin is given by the digital mock‐up, or offline digital twin, that is the computer model of the system's physics. The goal of this work is to present the development of an offline digital twin for a novel gantry‐tractor type autonomous agricultural machine. The peculiarity of this system resides in its until now scarcely adopted mechanical design, and its ability to perform a range of processes by attaching different modules to its frame. After a brief introduction into the characteristics of a gantry‐type tractor and its role in the context of precision autonomous agriculture and controlled traffic farming, different components of the machine and dynamic phenomena are separately investigated and mathematically modeled. Particular focus is placed thereby on the study of the vehicle's longitudinal dynamics. Based on the software implementation of the mathematical models, the unknown parameters of the system model are estimated by means of nonlinear optimization techniques, using sensor data collected during field operation as the measurement reference. The accuracy of different estimation methods is then evaluated against experimental samples collected by sensors.
Developing an immersed boundary method for compressible flow
Authors: Kristoffersen Frederik , Larsson Martin , Johnsen Sverre Gullikstad , Schröder Wolfgang , Müller Bernhard 
Published: September 2023

AbstractDevelopment of a 3D sharp interface ghost node immersed boundary method (IBM) within a fluid solver based on the compressible Navier–Stokes equations is underway. The objective of the IBM is to accurately apply boundary conditions at fluid–solid interfaces. The Navier–Stokes solver is currently being verified using various test cases, including the classic cylinder in cross flow. As part of this verification process, particular attention was given to investigating the effects of different lateral boundary conditions. The results demonstrate that extrapolation boundary conditions exhibit better agreement with the literature compared to symmetry conditions, in cases with relatively narrow domains. These findings highlight the potential benefits of extrapolation boundary conditions in reducing confinement effects and removing nonphysical waves in external flow problems.
Opioid tapering and mental health crisis in older adults
Authors: Maharjan Shishir , Ramachandran Sujith , Bhattacharya Kaustuv , Bentley John P. , Eriator Ike , Yang Yi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBackgroundOpioid tapering and discontinuation have increased in recent years with the implementation of national prescribing guidelines. This study aimed to examine the relationship between opioid tapering velocity and mental health crisis events in older Medicare beneficiaries.MethodsA nested case–control study was conducted using the 2012–2018, 5% national Medicare claims data. Older adults with chronic non‐cancer pain (CNCP) who were receiving long‐term opioid therapy (LTOT) were included in the study. Cases were defined as individuals experiencing mental health crisis events; controls were identified using incidence density sampling. The opioid tapering velocity was measured in the 120‐day hazard period that yielded a monthly percentage of dose change. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the relationship of interest.ResultsA total of 42 091 older adults with CNCP were eligible for the study. Cases (n = 952) were matched with controls in a 1:2 ratio based on age (±1 year) and time of cohort entry (±30 days). A higher percentage of controls (67.65%) were on steady dose compared with cases (59.03%). In the adjusted model, tapering (aOR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.02–1.83), rapid tapering (aOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.11–1.91), and dose escalation (aOR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.32–2.39) were significantly associated with the mental health crisis, compared with steady dose.ConclusionBoth opioid tapering and dose escalation are associated with mental health crisis events. Patient‐driven and gradual dose tapering, as recommended by prescribing guidelines, should be promoted to prevent mental health crisis events among older adults on LTOT.
Polyvinyl alcohol composite gel membrane modified by natural polysaccharide and waterborne polyurethane
Authors: Shao Kaiyuan , Li Xiaofeng , Tan Bowen , Wang Qingwei , Guo Zhangwei , Liu Tao , Dong Lihua 
Published: September 2023

AbstractA new composite gel material was obtained by blending polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aqueous solution with sodium alginate (SA), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC‐Na), waterborne polyurethane (WPU), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) were doped as an antibacterial agent. The liquid composite could to form a transparent protective gel membrane. The microstructure of the gel membrane was observed via scanning electron microscopy, and the intermolecular interaction was investigated by total reflection infrared spectroscopy. The results demonstrated a homogeneous phase and significant hydrogen bonding between chain segments. The best results indicated that the equilibrium swelling rate increased from 147% to 170%, the 3‐h water vapor transmission rate increased from 279.41 g/m2∙day to 374.75 g/m2∙day, and the water contact angle increased from 16.8° to 60.7°, relative to the PVA substrate. The properties of this composite gel material suggest possible biomedical usage, particularly in skin and wound protection scenarios.Highlights
A novel gel film‐forming material consisting of a viscous liquid is prepared.
Adding polysaccharides modifiers resulted in significant improvements of the performance.
The bacteriostatic and antihemorrhagic properties are introduced to the material.
Low‐irritating materials were used to prepare the gel material.
Transmitted Electromagnetic Beam Steering of Pyramid All‐Dielectric Encoding Surface Microstructure
Authors: Zhao Tianqi , Zhang Peng , Fang Bo , Li Chenxia , Hong Zhi , Jing Xufeng 
Published: September 2023

AbstractA transmission‐type all‐medium element is proposed to construct a coded metasurface. Due to the single‐layer metasurface unit structure, large reflection loss will be caused when the base plane is incident. In order to improve the efficiency of the coded metasurface device and reduce the reflection loss, the authors propose a double‐sided metasurface digital unit structure and introduces a wideband anti‐reflection pyramid microstructure to achieve significantly improved transmission characteristics. The optimized unit structure is coded and the coded metasurface is constructed. Different coding metasurface sequences are constructed based on 1‐bit, 2‐bit, and 3‐bit digital coding units. According to generalized Snell's law, the number of transmitted beams can be controlled. The authors introduce complex code addition theory to construct multifunctional beam control metasurface. Based on the far field scattering theory of metasurface, the addition theory of different sequences of transmission‐coded metasurface is analyzed. The addition operation of the superposition of two sets of symmetric double beams and two sets of ordinary double beams can be realized. Based on the analysis of far‐field scattering characteristics, the multifunctional coded metasurface is demonstrated, that is, multiple functions are simultaneously superimposed in one array without interference.
Strategies for a resilient, sustainable, and equitable Mississippi River basin
Authors: Guo Qizhong 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe Mississippi River and its vast basin play a critical role in supporting ecological, economic, and social systems in the United States. However, managing this extensive watershed has become increasingly challenging due to a range of complex issues. This paper explores the historical developments in the watershed management of the Mississippi River, including navigation, flood control, sediment management, water supply, and pollution control. The current issues affecting the resilience, sustainability, and equity of the river and its basin are analyzed, leading to the formulation of a vision for its future. To realize this vision, various strategies are proposed, including embracing integrated water resources management, leveraging information technologies, synergizing green, grey, and blue infrastructure measures, and preparing for extreme weather events. Additionally, addressing equity issues, recognizing the water–energy–food nexus, exploring the river as a carbon capture reservoir, and investigating geoengineering concepts are also discussed. The paper concludes with essential research needs and provides recommendations to foster a resilient, sustainable, and equitable Mississippi River and its basin.
The effect of international travel on the spread of COVID‐19 in the United States
Authors: Prince Jeffrey T. , Simon Daniel H. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractWe examine the relationship between incoming international passengers and COVID‐19 cases and deaths during the pandemic's initial wave in the United States. We find passengers from Milan, Italy, the location of an early outbreak, were an important source of exposure, increasing the early spread of COVID‐19 in the United States. Cities that received more passengers from Milan during the first quarter of 2020 experienced more COVID‐19 cases during March 2020 than cities receiving fewer passengers from Milan. Concurrently, cities that received more passengers from China or Rome (the latter not experiencing a major outbreak until later in 2020), did not experience increased cases. These results show passengers from at least one foreign epicenter were an important source of exposure that increased COVID‐19 spread in the United States. Given Milan was a secondary hotspot, our results also illustrate the importance of a holistic view of international pandemic hotspots when considering corresponding travel policy.
Rational Design of Hollow Structural Materials for Sodium‐Ion Battery Anodes
Authors: Qin Chu , Jiang Zhong‐Jie , Maiyalagan Thandavarayan , Jiang Zhongqing 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe development of sodium‐ion battery (SIB) anodes is still hindered by their rapid capacity decay and poor rate capabilities. Although there have been some new materials that can be used to fabricate stable anodes, SIBs are still far from wide applications. Strategies like nanostructure construction and material modification have been used to prepare more robust SIB anodes. Among all the design strategies, the hollow structure design is a promising method in the development of advanced anode materials. In the past decade, research efforts have been devoted to modifying the synthetic route, the type of templates, and the interior structure of hollow structures with high capacity and stability. A brief introduction is made to the main material systems and classifications of hollow structural materials first. Then different morphologies of hollow structural materials for SIB anodes from the latest reports are discussed, including nanoboxes, nanospheres, yolk shells, nanotubes, and other more complex shapes. The most used templates for the synthesis of hollow structrual materials are covered and the perspectives are highlighted at the end. This review offers a comprehensive discussion of the synthesis of hollow structural materials for SIB anodes, which could be potentially of use to research areas involving hollow materials design for batteries.
Online Voting in Ontario Municipalities: A Standards-Based Review
Authors: Brunet James , Essex Aleksander 
Published: September 2023

AbstractOver two hundred municipalities now offer online voting in Ontario, Canada, representing one of the largest deployments of digital elections worldwide. Many have eliminated the paper ballot altogether. Despite this, no provincial or federal-level standards exist. This gap leaves local election officials to create and apply their own cybersecurity requirements with varying degrees of success.Until a standard can be developed and adopted, we turn to perhaps the most natural and immediate stand-in: The Council of Europe’s (CoE) standards for e-voting. We use this baseline to present the first standards-based analysis of online voting practices in Ontario.Our results find the province is broadly non-compliant, with only 14% of the CoE’s 49 standards and 93 implementation guidelines categorized as fully met. We summarize these differences and identify areas for improvement in the hope of underscoring the need for domestic e-voting standards.