bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Role of Chance in Fencing Tournaments: an Agent-Based Approach
Authors: Zappalà Chiara , Pluchino Alessandro , Rapisarda Andrea , Biondo Alessio Emanuele , Sobkowicz Pawel 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
It is a widespread belief that success is mainly due to innate qualities, rather than to external forces.This is particularly true in sport competitions, where individual talent is usually considered the main, if not the only, ingredient in order to reach success. In this study, with the help of both real data and agent-based simulations, we explore the limits of this belief by quantifying the relative weight of talent and chance in fencing, a combat sport involving a weapon. Fencing competitions are structured as direct elimination tournaments, where randomness is explicitly present in some rules. Our dataset covers the last decade of international events and consists of both single competition results and annual rankings for male and female fencers under 20 years old (Junior category). Our model is calibrated on the dataset and parametrized by just one free variable 'a' describing the importance of talent - and, consequently, of chance - in competitions (a = 1 indicates the ideal scenario where only talent matters, a = 0 the complete random one). Our agent-based approach is able to reproduce the main stylized facts observed in real data, at the level of both single fencing tournaments and entire careers of a given community of fencers. We find that simulations approximate very well the real data for both Junior Men and Women when talent weights slightly less than chance, i.e. when 'a' is around 0.45. We conclude that the role of chance in fencing is unusually high and it probably represents an extreme case for individual sports. Our results shed light on the importance of external factors in both athletes' results in single tournaments and their entire career, making even more unfair the ``winner-takes-all'' disparities in remuneration which often occur among the winner and the other classified.
Improvement the performance of composite PCM paraffin-based incorporate with volcanic ash as heat storage for low-temperature application
Authors: Rahmalina Dwi , Adhitya Dwi Chandra , Rahman Reza Abdu , Ismail Ismail 
Published: January 2022

Paraffin is well known thermal energy storage with the high latent heat of fusion. Unfortunately, low thermal conductivity and low melting temperature inhibit large-scale applications for lower temperature applications like solar water heaters and desalination. The addition of high thermal conductivity material can increase the thermal conductivity of paraffin and increase the melting temperature of paraffin. In this study, a new approach is taken by using volcanic sand as thermal conductivity enhancement material. The properties of the sand are examined. The chemical composition of the sand is dominated by Fe (51.23 %), Fe2O3 (23.24 %) and SiO2 (11 %), which are known as good thermal conductivity materials. Six different compositions of paraffin/sand (weight ration) are tested to observe the melting and vapor temperature of the composite. Adding sand (with granule size of 44 µm) by 30 wt % can accelerate the charging rate by 25 % compared to pure paraffin, where the discharging rate is increased significantly by 17.8 %. The supercooling degree of the composite is only 1 °C, where pure paraffin has a supercooling degree by 8 °C. The charging and discharging characteristics for each sample are discussed in detail within the article. Overall, the addition of volcanic sand improves paraffin's charging and discharging rate, reducing the supercooling degree and can be considered a convenient method to improve the paraffin performance as latent heat storage
Problems of blood glucose self-monitoring in patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kononova Yu. A. , Bregovskiy V. B. , Babenko A. Yu. 
Published: January 2022

Glycemic self-monitoring is essential in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Compliance with the recommendations for selfmonitoring of glycemia is an important condition for the prevention of diabetes complications. The article provides a review of the problems associated with blood glucose self-monitoring faced by diabetic patients and doctors. These include low frequency of blood glucose self-monitoring, technical errors in glucose measurements, errors in keeping a diary and errors in using measurement data to diabetes control. The blood glucose monitoring system, which includes the glucometer, test strips, application, сloud for data storage can be used for blood glucose self-monitoring in patients with diabetes mellitus. The article discusses the features and advantages of the blood glucose monitoring system. The advantages of the glucometer are the no сoding technology and the following options: аpplication of additional amount of blood to the test strip; adding meal marks, testing as the measurement results compare with targets and informing about it; storage a large number of measurement results. In addition to the standard blood glucose measurement, the glucose meter and the application offer many features to improve blood glucose self-monitoring that can help to improve diabetes management: automatic transferring measurement results to smartphone or tablet; saving notes in logbook; display of glucose trends and testing as they compare with targets; offering quick and valuable tips for critical high/low glucose values.
“Long covid” (postcovid syndrome). Mechanism of occurrence, diagnosis and rehabilitation
Authors: Choi En. D. 
Published: January 2022

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the mechanism of occurrence of postcovid syndrome, a new laboratory method for its diagnosis and issues of drug and non-drug rehabilitation of patients who have suffered COVID-19.The purpose of this work was to study the possibilities of using the method of monochrome analysis of nanoparticles for instrumental and laboratory diagnostics of postcovid syndrome and to substantiate the use of complex therapeutic approaches to the treatment of patients.Materials and methods. The biomaterial (saliva) of 250 patients who underwent COVID-19 in mild, moderate and severe forms, with a slight predominance of males, in the age range from 18 to 75 years, who were in the Center of Eastern and European Medicine (Moscow) on rehabilitation treatment in the period from June 2020 to September 2021, was studied by the method of monochrome analysis of nanoparticles. According to the results of the work carried out, it was found that the most typical saliva spectrum of patients diagnosed with “postcovid syndrome” was multimodal (three or more peaks) with the greatest contribution (45%) to light scattering on agglomerates of nanoparticles with a diameter of more than 1000 nm, with detectable nanoparticles of the middle sub-range of the spectrum from 119 to 122 nm with a 15% contribution to light scattering and an increased contribution to light scattering up to 41% on small nanoparticles with a diameter of 22 nm.Results. Analysis of the results of the study showed a statistically significant (p < 0.01) appearance of a peak of 119 nm on the histogram of patients, which was not observed either in the group of practically healthy individuals (control group) or in the group of patients with general somatic pathology (comparison group). Conclusions. An algorithm for non-invasive diagnosis of postcovid syndrome by saliva was developed. Also, special attention was paid during the study to the development of an integrated approach to the rehabilitation of patients who have undergone a new coronavirus infection, including medicinal and non-medicinal methods of treatment. >< 0.01) appearance of a peak of 119 nm on the histogram of patients, which was not observed either in the group of practically healthy individuals (control group) or in the group of patients with general somatic pathology (comparison group).Conclusions. An algorithm for non-invasive diagnosis of postcovid syndrome by saliva was developed. Also, special attention was paid during the study to the development of an integrated approach to the rehabilitation of patients who have undergone a new coronavirus infection, including medicinal and non-medicinal methods of treatment.
Neck pain: diagnostic and therapeutic features
Authors: Pilipovich A. A. 
Published: January 2022

Neck pain is a fairly common complaint when visiting a doctor, its occurrence frequency is 10–21% per year, and neck pain takes the 4th place among the causes of disability; almost 50% of patients continue to experience unpleasant sensations or repeated pain episodes. The elderly people are the most prone to the neck pain, this is associated with the progressive degenerative changes in the facet joints and intervertebral discs. However, reasons of this symptom can be of different kinds. Cervicalgia diagnosis is directed primarily to eliminate symptomatic pains associated with severe somatic pathology, immune diseases, infections and oncology. Comorbid diseases and risk factors can combine with each other causing the polyetiologic pain syndrome. Main steps of the cervicalgia diagnostic algorithm are the following: collection of complaints and anamnesis in detail, physical and neurological examination, and also use of visualization methods. Visualization and electrodiagnostic methods are not always informative for patients with chronic cervicalgia and in the degenerative etiology of the syndrome. MRI and the surgeon consultation must be recommended to patients with deteriorating neurological symptoms or with long-term constant pain. Conservative therapy of cervicalgia implies a combination of non-drug methods (compliance with regime, orthopedic treatment, leaf, physiotherapy, etc.) and pharmacotherapy. The last depends on the presence of a neuropathic component of pain and the duration of pain syndrome. The pain therapy with a nociceptive nature is usually implies a combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory remedies, non-opioid analgesics and muscle relaxants. Whereas neuropathic pains first-line preparations are tricyclic antidepressants, duloxetine, venlafaxine, pregabalin, gabapentine. The therapy success depends on the proper individual estimation of the pain factors, pain chronization and possible treatment complications. The therapeutic forecast of the acute nonspecific cervicalgia is usually good, but it becomes less predictable if the pain acquires chronic character.
Histomorphological view of the cornea investigated by laser confocal microscopy in keratoplasty
Authors: Krakhmaleva D. A. , Surnina Z. V. , Malzhoen S. A. , Gamidov A. A. 
Published: January 2022

Introduction. Corneal transplantation is the most successful and commonly performed allotransplantation procedure as compared with other organs and tissues. Over 100,000 corneal transplantations are performed worldwide every year.Purpose. This study investigated whether in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) can aid in the diagnosis of a graft rejection reaction by detecting changes in cellular structures and density of immune cells after penetrating keratoplasty.Materials and methods. The study included thirty-four eyes of 34 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (7 eyes with corneal graft rejection, 27 without rejection). The average age of patients is 51.1 ± 13.6 years (from 23 to 76 years). The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 36 months (24.5 ± 4.84 months). Follow-up was performed at 1, 3, 6, 12 months and annually after PKP. To study the morphology of the cornea all patients underwent IVCM to assess the basal epithelium, subbasal layer, stroma and endothelium. Immune cells were identified and evaluated for the shape, length of the processes and their density.Results. Patients with corneal graft rejection demonstrated significant accumulation of corneal dendritic-like immune cells compared to patients with non-rejected grafts. In addition, the cells acquired a more mature morphology (grade 2–3). The density of dendritic cells (DC) was 809.17 ± 342.19 (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between DC density and graft rejection (p < 0.001). As well the patients showed signs of endothelial failure with low endothelial cell density and pleomorphism, increased light scattering and hyperreflectivity of the stroma.Conclusions. In a complex of diagnostic measures, confocal microscopy may provide a valuable clinical adjunctive tool in diagnosis and management of early corneal graft rejection.
Study on optimal adsorption conditions of norfloxacin in water based on response surface methodology
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zhang Kuo , Wang Jinpeng , Zhou Runjuan , Li Jiyuan , Zhao Wei 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The waste pomelo peel was pyrolyzed at 400 °C to prepare biochar and used as adsorbent to remove norfloxacin (NOR) from simulated wastewater. The adsorption conditions of norfloxacin by biochar were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). On the basis of single-factor experiment, the adsorption conditions of biochar dosage, solution pH and reaction temperature were optimized by Box-Behnken Design (BBD), and the quadratic polynomial regression model of response value Y1 (NOR removal efficiency) and Y2 (NOR adsorption capacity) were obtained respectively. The results show that the two models are reasonable and reliable. The influence of single factor was as follows: solution pH &gt; biochar dosage &gt; reaction temperature. The interaction between biochar dosage and solution pH was very significant. The optimal adsorption conditions after optimization were as follows: biochar dosage = 0.5 g/L, solution pH = 3, and reaction temperature = 45 °C. The Y1 and Y2 obtained in the verification experiment were 75.68% and 3.0272 mg/g, respectively, which were only 2.38% and 0.0242 mg/g different from the theoretical predicted values of the model. Therefore, the theoretical model constructed by response surface methodology can be used to optimize the adsorption conditions of norfloxacin in water.
Isolation, characterization and S2−-oxidation metabolic pathway of a sulfur-oxidizing strain from a black-odor river in Beijing
Authors: Zhang Linyi , Song Chen , Xu Yaoyao , Shi Yajun , Liu Xiaoling 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
A single strain capable of efficient S2−-oxidizing was isolated from a black-odor river in Beijing. The single strain was identified as Stenotrophomonas through the physiology and biochemical characteristics as well as the 16S rRNA sequencing experiment. This strain was named as Stenotrophomonas sp.sp3 (strain sp3). The experimental results showed that for the strain sp3 growth and S2− oxidization, the optimal conditions were as follows: 25 °C of temperature, initial pH 7, 2.5 g/L of initial glucose concentration and 1.00 g/L of initial cell concentration. It was found that there were 31 kinds of sulfur oxidation-related genes in the strain sp3 through the whole genomic analysis. The results of the transcriptome analysis suggested that the main metabolic pathway of S2− to SO42− was the paracoccus sulfur oxidation process. The bioconversion processes of S2− to S0, S2− to SO32−, S2O32− to S0 and SO32−, and SO32− to SO42− were controlled by hdrA, cysIJ, tst and sox gene, respectively.
The Prevalence and Risk Factors for Symptomatic Dry Eye in Adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almujalli Anas Abdulaziz , Almatrafi Abdulaziz Abdullah , Aldael Anas Abdullah , Aljudi Talal Waleed , Abdulhalim Bahaa-Eldin Hasan 
Published: January 2022

Objectives:
The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of symptomatic suspected dry eye, diagnosed dry eye syndrome (DES), and associated risk factors; in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods:
A cross-sectional study of 654 participants was employed using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire that included demographic characteristics like age, gender, and risk factors (smoking, using contact lenses, chronic comorbidities, etc.).

Results:
There were 266 (40.7%) previously diagnosed DES participants and 388 (59.3%) non-diagnosed DES, of which 497 were female and 157 were male. Females had a significantly higher rate of diagnosed DES than males (p<0.001), with a significant increase in the rate of DES diagnosis with age (p<0.001). There was also a significant increase in DES in participants with diabetes mellitus, allergic eye, thyroid eye, and skin diseases, as well as having undergone laser surgery or using contact lenses. There was no significant increase in DES in cases of smoking, daily use of electronic devices, or duration of sleep.

Conclusion:
The prevalence of dry eye among adults in Riyadh was 46.6%, with the most important risk factors being female gender, increasing age, Lasik refractive surgery, skin disease around the eye, and thyroid eye disease.
Intelligent Transportation Systems along with the COVID-19 Pandemic will Significantly Change the Transportation Market
Authors: Wiseman Yair 
Published: January 2022

Background:
Reducing human presence in vehicles and transportation infrastructure is a common concept of Intelligent Transportation Systems and COVID-19 guidelines. However, the motivation for the reduced human presence is different. Intelligent Transportation Systems aim to improve transportation services with innovative technologies that can replace human handling and supervision. In contrast, COVID-19 guidelines aim to make the transportation means less busy, because a busy bus or a busy train means more opportunities for potential infection of passengers.

Objective:
The study aims to explain how the transportation market will be changed and why these changes are going to take place.

Methods:
The paper analyzes the current situation with its pros and cons and evaluates the ways in which the Intelligent Transportation Systems and the COVID-19 pandemic will affect this situation. A case study is also considered.

Results:
Intelligent Transportation Systems and the COVID-19 pandemic are two major factors in the transportation market that will significantly change the transportation means we know.

Conclusion:
It seems that the influence of the intense Intelligent Transportation Systems development and the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is still underestimated by many governments; hence they continue to invest in traditional transportation instead of moving forward for a new generation of transportation.
ideology of “taking people as the root” of the ly dynasty in Vietnam
Authors: Hien Do Thi , Ha Do Thi Thanh 
Published: January 2022

Ideology is always an issue that plays an important role in the life of a society, and that ideology also greatly influences the process of ruling the country of dynasties in the history. Unlike previous dynasties, which lasted only a few decades, the Ly dynasty represents a flourishing period of feudalism lasting more than 200 years. A major event was that King Ly Thanh Tong changed the country name from Dai Co Viet to Dai Viet in 1054, ushering in a brilliant era in Vietnamese history. The ideology of “taking people as the root” of Vietnamese feudal dynasties highlights the unyielding and indomitable fighting spirit for the right to enjoy independence and freedom in the old land of Giao Chi and Cuu Chan, which later was Dai Viet and is now Vietnam. It also reflects the desire for people to live in peace and harmony. This articles focuses on studying the ideology of “taking people as the root” through the reign of kings of the Ly dynasty in Vietnam. From there, the article points out the achievements and limitations in the process of taking care of people, as well as historical lessons for the development of the country today.
The Efficacy of a Smartphone Game to Prevent HIV Among Young Africans: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial in the Context of COVID-19
Authors: Mudhune Victor , Sabben Gaëlle , Ondenge Ken , Mbeda Calvin , Morales Marissa , Lyles Robert H , Arego Judith , Ndivo Richard , Bednarczyk Robert A , Komro Kelli , Winskell Kate 
Published: January 2022

Background
Adolescents contribute slightly less than one-third of all new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a need for more effective intervention approaches to help young adolescents safely navigate through adolescence and into adulthood. We are assessing the efficacy of Tumaini, a smartphone game designed to prevent HIV among young Africans. Against the background of COVID-19, meaningful alteration of the research protocol was necessary to ensure successful implementation and retention of the study participants in ongoing research.

Objective
The objective of our protocol is to determine (1) if Tumaini delays sexual debut and increases condom use at first sex and (2) whether it influences behavioral mediators of early and unprotected sex.

Methods
Participants were recruited from Kisumu County in Western Kenya. This study is a 2-arm, individual-randomized controlled trial that enrolled 1004 adolescents aged between 12 years and 15 years. The intervention arm participants are playing Tumaini, while the control arm is provided with Brainilis, a commercially available control game. The study period will last 45 months. At baseline, participants in both arms completed a baseline survey and biological testing for HIV and herpes simplex virus, type 2 (HSV-2); participants will have annual game play periods in years 1-3. They will also complete a total of 12 follow-up surveys. At endline, repeat biological testing will be conducted. Protocol adaptations were necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented in accordance with local public health guidelines.

Results
Participants were enrolled between October 2020 and November 2020. We plan to complete study procedures in September 2024. The enrolled participant sample was 50.1% (499/996) female and had a mean age of 14.0 (SD 0.6) years.

Conclusions
This ongoing research demonstrates that, with appropriate revisions to planned protocol activities guided by the need to maintain study integrity, protect both study participants and staff, and adhere to institutional review board and local health authority guidelines, human subject research is possible in the context of a global pandemic. If the trial demonstrates efficacy, Tumaini would provide an alternative, remote means of delivering age-appropriate education to adolescents on safer sex, HIV prevention, and effective life skills on a highly scalable, low-cost, and culturally adaptable platform.

Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04437667; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04437667

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)
DERR1-10.2196/35117
Variant analysis of SARS-CoV-2 strains with phylogenetic analysis and the Coronavirus Antiviral and Resistance Database
Authors: Sayan Murat , Arikan Ayse , Isbilen Murat 
Published: January 2022

Aims:
This study determined SARS-CoV-2 variations by phylogenetic and virtual phenotyping analyses.
Materials & methods:
Strains isolated from 143 COVID-19 cases in Turkey in April 2021 were assessed. Illumina NexteraXT library preparation kits were processed for next-generation ]sequencing. Phylogenetic (neighbor-joining method) and virtual phenotyping analyses (Coronavirus Antiviral and Resistance Database [CoV-RDB] by Stanford University) were used for variant analysis.
Results:
B.1.1.7–1/2 (n = 103, 72%), B.1.351 (n = 5, 3%) and B.1.525 (n = 1, 1%) were identified among 109 SARS-CoV-2 variations by phylogenetic analysis and B.1.1.7 (n = 95, 66%), B.1.351 (n = 5, 4%), B.1.617 (n = 4, 3%), B.1.525 (n = 2, 1.4%), B.1.526-1 (n = 1, 0.6%) and missense mutations (n = 15, 10%) were reported by CoV-RDB. The two methods were 85% compatible and B.1.1.7 (alpha) was the most frequent SARS-CoV-2 variation in Turkey in April 2021.
Conclusion:
The Stanford CoV-RDB analysis method appears useful for SARS-CoV-2 lineage surveillance.