bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood urea nitrogen to serum albumin ratio: a novel mortality indicator in intensive care unit patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Zhang Lingzhi , Xing Muqi , Yu Qi , Li Zihan , Tong Yilin , Li Wenyuan
Published: March 2024

The blood urea nitrogen to albumin ratio (BAR) has been demonstrated as a prognostic factor in sepsis and respiratory diseases, yet its role in severe coronary heart disease (CHD) remains unexplored. This retrospective study, utilizing data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV database, included 4254 CHD patients, predominantly male (63.54%), with a median age of 74 years (IQR 64–83). Primary outcomes included in-hospital, 28-day and 1-year all-cause mortality after ICU admission. The Kaplan–Meier curves, Cox regression analysis, multivariable restricted cubic spline regression were employed to assess association between BAR index and mortality. In-hospital, within 28-day and 1-year mortality rates were 16.93%, 20.76% and 38.11%, respectively. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed associations between the increased BAR index and higher in-hospital mortality (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.21), 28-day mortality (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08–1.27) and 1-year mortality (HR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16–1.31). Non-linear relationships were observed for 28-day and 1-year mortality with increasing BAR index (both P for non-linearity < 0.05). Elevated BAR index was a predictor for mortality in ICU patients with CHD, offering potential value for early high-risk patient identification and proactive management by clinicians.
A computational model of epidemic process with three variants on a synthesized human interaction network
Authors: Seprianus  , Nuraini Nuning , Saputro Suhadi Wido
Published: March 2024

Virus mutations give rise to new variants that cause multiple waves of pandemics and escalate the infected number of individuals. In this paper, we develop both a simple random network that we define as a synthesized human interaction network and an epidemiological model based on the microscopic process of disease spreading to describe the epidemic process with three variants in a population with some features of social structure. The features of social structure we take into account in the model are the average number of degrees and the frequency of contacts. This paper shows many computational results from several scenarios both in varying network structures and epidemiological parameters that cannot be obtained numerically by using the compartmental model.
A prospective phase II clinical trial of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma
Authors: Shi Jin-Ming , Li Ning , Jiang Li-Ming , Yang Lin , Wang Shu-Lian , Song Yong-Wen , Liu Yue-Ping , Fang Hui , Lu Ning-Ning , Qi Shu-Nan , Chen Bo , Li Ye-Xiong , Zhao Dong-Bing , Tang Yuan , Jin Jing
Published: March 2024

To investigate the safety and efficacy of the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) followed by neoadjuvant consolidation chemotherapy (NCCT) and surgery for locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Patients diagnosed as locally advanced GC or Siewert II/III GEJ adenocarcinoma with clinical stage T3-4 and/or N positive were prospectively enrolled. Patients underwent NCRT (45 Gy/25 fractions) with concurrent S-1, followed by NCCT (4 to 6 cycles of the SOX regimen) 2 to 4 weeks after NCRT. Gastric cancer radical resection with D2 lymph node dissection was performed 4 to 6 weeks after the total neoadjuvant therapy. The study was conducted from November 2019 to January 2023, enrolling a total of 46 patients. During the NCRT, all patients completed the treatment without dose reduction or delay. During the NCCT, 32 patients (69.6%) completed at least 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Grade 3 or higher adverse events in NCRT (5 cases) were non-hematological. During the course of NCCT, a notable occurrence of hematological toxicities was observed, with grade 3 or higher leukopenia (9.7%) and thrombocytopenia (12.2%) being experienced. A total of 28 patients (60.9%) underwent surgery, achieving R0 resection in all cases. A significant proportion of cases (71.4%) exhibited pathological downstaging to ypT0-2, while 10 patients (35.7%) demonstrated a pathologic complete response (pCR). The total neoadjuvant therapy comprising NCRT followed by NCCT and surgery demonstrates a low severe adverse reactions and promising efficacy, which could be considered as a viable treatment for locally advanced GC or GEJ adenocarcinoma.

Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (registration number: NCT04062058); the full date of first trial registration was 20/08/2019.
The longitudinal volumetric and shape changes of subcortical nuclei in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Yang Wenyi , Bai Xueqin , Guan Xiaojun , Zhou Cheng , Guo Tao , Wu Jingjing , Xu Xiaojun , Zhang Minming , Zhang Baorong , Pu Jiali , Tian Jun
Published: March 2024

Brain structural changes in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are progressive throughout the disease course. Changes in surface morphology with disease progression remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the volumetric and shape changes of the subcortical nuclei during disease progression and explore their association with clinical symptoms. Thirty-four patients and 32 healthy controls were enrolled. The global volume and shape of the subcortical nuclei were compared between patients and controls at baseline. The volume and shape changes of the subcortical nuclei were also explored between baseline and 2 years of follow-up. Association analysis was performed between the volume of subcortical structures and clinical symptoms. In patients with PD, there were significantly atrophied areas in the left pallidum and left putamen, while in healthy controls, the right putamen was dilated compared to baseline. The local morphology of the left pallidum was correlated with Mini Mental State Examination scores. The left putamen shape variation was negatively correlated with changes in Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale PART III scores. Local morphological atrophy of the putamen and pallidum is an important pathophysiological change in the development of PD, and is associated with motor symptoms and cognitive status in patients with PD.
Recovery of cardiac electrophysiological alterations by heart rate complexity based on multiscale entropy following liver transplantation
Authors: Shih Po-Yuan , Cheng Ya-Jung , Ho Shih-I , Huang Hui-Hsun , Yeh Jia-Rong , Sun Wei-Zen , Chan Kuang-Cheng
Published: March 2024

Autonomic nervous dysfunction is a known cardiac sequalae in patients with end-stage liver disease and is associated with a poor prognosis. Heart rate analysis using nonlinear models such as multiscale entropy (MSE) or complexity may identify marked changes in these patients where conventional heart rate variability (HRV) measurements do not. To investigate the application of heart rate complexity (HRC) based on MSE in liver transplantation settings. Thirty adult recipients of elective living donor liver transplantation were enrolled. HRV parameters using conventional HRV analysis and HRC analysis were obtained at the following time points: (1) 1 day before surgery, (2) postoperative day (POD) 7, (3) POD 14, (4) POD 90, and (5) POD 180. Preoperatively, patients with MELD score ≥ 25 had significantly lower HRC compared to patients with lower MELD scores. This difference in HRC disappeared by POD 7 following liver transplantation and subsequent analyses at POD 90 and 180 continued to show no significant difference. Our results indicated a significant negative correlation between HRC based on MSE analysis and liver disease severity preoperatively, which may be more sensitive than conventional linear HRV analysis. HRC in patients with MELD score ≧ 25 improved over time and became comparable to those with MELD < 25 as early as in 7 days.
A comprehensive review direct methods to overcome the limitations of gas injection during the EOR process
Authors: Shafiei Masoud , Kazemzadeh Yousef , Escrochi Mehdi , Cortés Farid B. , Franco Camilo A. , Riazi Masoud
Published: March 2024

Among the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods, gas-based EOR methods are very popular all over the world. The gas injection has a high ability to increase microscopic sweep efficiency and can increase production efficiency well. However, it should be noted that in addition to all the advantages of these methods, they have disadvantages such as damage due to asphaltene deposition, unfavorable mobility ratio, and reduced efficiency of macroscopic displacement. In this paper, the gas injection process and its challenges were investigated. Then the overcoming methods of these challenges were investigated. To inhibit asphaltene deposition during gas injection, the use of nanoparticles was proposed, which were examined in two categories: liquid-soluble and gas-soluble, and the limitations of each were examined. Various methods were used to overcome the problem of unfavorable mobility ratio and their advantages and disadvantages were discussed. Gas-phase modification has the potential to reduce the challenges and limitations of direct gas injection and significantly increase recovery efficiency. In the first part, the introduction of gas injection and the enhanced oil recovery mechanisms during gas injection were mentioned. In the next part, the challenges of gas injection, which included unfavorable mobility ratio and asphaltene deposition, were investigated. In the third step, gas-phase mobility control methods investigate, emphasizing thickeners, thickening mechanisms, and field applications of mobility control methods. In the last part, to investigate the effect of nanoparticles on asphaltene deposition and reducing the minimum miscible pressure in two main subsets: 1- use of nanoparticles indirectly to prevent asphaltene deposition and reduce surface tension and 2- use of nanoparticles as a direct asphaltene inhibitor and Reduce MMP of the gas phase in crude oil was investigated.
Use of nonlinear pulsed magnetic fields for spatial encoding in magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Tušar Kaja , Serša Igor
Published: March 2024

This study examines the use of nonlinear magnetic field coils for spatial encoding in magnetic resonance imaging. Existing theories on imaging with such coils share a complex reconstruction process that originates from a suboptimal signal interpretation in the spatial-frequency domain (k-space). In this study, a new solution to this problem is proposed, namely a two-step reconstruction process, in which in the first step, the image signal is converted into a frequency spectrum, and in the second step, the spectrum, which represents the distorted image, is geometrically and intensity corrected to obtain an undistorted image. This theory has been verified by numerical simulations and experimentally using a straight wire as a coil model for an extremely nonlinear magnetic field. The results of this study facilitate the use of simple encoding coil designs that can feature low inductance, allowing for much faster switching times and higher magnetic field gradients.
Mechanical property dependence on compositional heterogeneity in Co-P metallic nanoglasses
Authors: Li Tian , Li Nana , Zhang Shengming , Zheng Guangping
Published: March 2024

The glass–glass interfaces (GGIs) are in a unique glass phase, while current knowledge on the interfacial phase has not completely established to explain the unprecedented improvements in the ductility of metallic nanoglasses (NGs). In this work, Co–P NGs prepared through the pulse electrodeposition are investigated, whose GGI regions clearly show elemental segregation with chemical composition dominated by element Co. Such compositional heterogeneity is further verified by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation on the formation of GGIs in Co-P NGs and atomic structures of GGIs with Co segregation are found to be less dense than those of glassy grains. More importantly, Co segregation at GGIs is closely related to the improved ductility observed in Co-P NGs, as demonstrated by nanoindentation measurements and MD simulations. This work facilitates the understanding on the relations between compositional heterogeneity and improved ductility as observed in Co-P NGs, and thus opens a new window for controlling the mechanical properties of NGs through GGI engineering.
Single-step phase identification and phase locking for coherent beam combination using deep learning
Authors: Xie Yunhui , Chernikov Fedor , Mills Ben , Liu Yuchen , Praeger Matthew , Grant-Jacob James A. , Zervas Michalis N.
Published: March 2024

Coherent beam combination offers a solution to the challenges associated with the power handling capacity of individual fibres, however, the combined intensity profile strongly depends on the relative phase of each fibre. Optimal combination necessitates precise control over the phase of each fibre channel, however, determining the required phase compensations is challenging because phase information is typically not available. Additionally, the presence of continuously varying phase noise in fibre laser systems means that a single-step and high-speed correction process is required. In this work, we use a spatial light modulator to demonstrate coherent combination in a seven-beam system. Deep learning is used to identify the relative phase offsets for each beam directly from the combined intensity pattern, allowing real-time correction. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the deep learning agent can calculate the phase corrections needed to achieve user-specified target intensity profiles thus simultaneously achieving both beam combination and beam shaping.
A new DNA aptamer which binds to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and reduces pro-inflammatory response
Authors: Kim Woong , Song Eun Su , Lee Song Ha , Yang Seung Ho , Cho Junhyung , Kim Seok-Jun
Published: March 2024

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly around the world, endangering the health of people globally. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein initiates entry into target cells by binding to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). In this study, we developed DNA aptamers that specifically bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, thereby inhibiting its binding to ACE2. DNA aptamers are small nucleic acid fragments with random structures that selectively bind to various target molecules. We identified nine aptamers targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) method and selected three optimal aptamers by comparing their binding affinities. Additionally, we confirmed that the DNA aptamers suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in ACE2-overexpressing HEK293 cells. Overall, the DNA aptamer developed in this study has the potential to bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and inhibit or block its interaction with ACE2. Thus, our DNA aptamers can be used as new biological tools for the prevention and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Auto-amplification and spatial propagation of neutrophil extracellular traps
Authors: Deng Pan , Xu Alec , Grin Peter M. , Matthews Kerryn , Duffy Simon P. , Ma Hongshen
Published: March 2024

The release of cellular DNA as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) plays a pivotal role in the immune response to pathogens by physically entrapping and killing microbes. NET release occurs at a greater frequency within neutrophil clusters and swarms, indicating a potential for collective behavior. However, little is known about how dense clustering of cells influences the frequency of NET release. Using an image-based assay for NETosis in nanowells, we show that the frequency of NETosis increases with cell density. We then co-incubate NETotic neutrophils with naïve neutrophils and find that NETotic neutrophils can induce secondary NETosis in naïve neutrophils in a cell density-dependent manner. Further mechanistic studies show that secondary NETosis is caused by a combination of DNA and protein factors. Finally, we immobilize NETotic neutrophils in a plaque, and then place the plaque near naïve neutrophils to characterize the spatial propagation of secondary NETosis. We find that secondary NETosis from naïve neutrophils increases over time, but remains spatially restricted to the periphery of the plaque. Together, we show that NETosis is an auto-amplified process, but that the spatial propagation of NET release is strictly regulated.
Unraveling the origin of the high photocatalytic properties of earth-abundant TiO2/FeS2 heterojunctions: insights from first-principles density functional theory
Authors: Awe Oluwayomi F. , Eya Henry I. , Amaral Ricardo , Komalla Nikhil , Nbelayim Pascal , Dzade Nelson Y.
Published: March 2024

The atomistic structure of a TiO2/FeS2 heterojunction and the corresponding type-II band alignment at the interface.
A stable N-doped NiMoO4/NiO2 electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Hou Zhengfang , Fan Fangyuan , Wang Zhe , Du Yeshuang
Published: March 2024

N-doped NiMoO4/NiO2 nanorods were fabricated via hydrothermal method and chemical vapor deposition. It exhibited outstanding OER performance with a low overpotential of 185.6 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2 and was stable at 10 mA cm−2 for 90 h.
Carbonaceous particulate matter promotes the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes
Authors: Peng Xuexia , Zhou Jiake , Lan Zishu , Tan Rong , Chen Tianjiao , Shi Danyang , Li Haibei , Yang Zhongwei , Zhou Shuqing , Jin Min , Li Jun-Wen , Yang Dong
Published: March 2024

CPM promoted the transfer of ARGs, and the effect of G was the strongest, while the promoted effect of CPM was related to the concentration and particle size.
Realization of temperature-insensitive energy band-gap based on nanowire-well quantum systems for thermally frequency-stable laser diodes
Authors: Wang Yuhong , Tai Hanxu , Duan Ruonan , Zheng Ming , Shi Yue , Zhang Jianwei , Zhang Xing , Ning Yongqiang , Wu Jian
Published: March 2024

A novel mechanism is proposed to overcome the band-gap variation with temperature in a hybrid quantum system, which is of a great significance in some advanced fields, such as atomic clocks of quantum sensing systems and optical communications.
An acid-responsive DNA hydrogel-mediated cascaded enzymatic nucleic acid amplification system for the sensitive imaging of alkaline phosphatase in living cells
Authors: Shi Shaochuan , Kan Ailing , Lu Lu , Zhao Weichong , Jiang Wei
Published: March 2024

An acid-responsive intelligent DNA hydrogel was designed to deliver a cascaded enzymatic nucleic acid amplification system for the sensitive imaging of ALP activity in living cells. The DNA hydrogel is formed by two kinds of Y-shaped DNA monomers and acid-responsive cytosine-rich linkers.
Nanoscale liquid Al phase formation through beam heating of MgAl2O4 in TEM
Authors: Lee Sung Bo , Chae Jun Young , Han Heung Nam
Published: March 2024

In this study, electron-beam irradiation of a MgAl2O4 single-crystalline thin-film specimen in a transmission electron microscope reveals an unexpected formation of nanoscale liquid Al droplets.
Pd-catalyzed three-component [2 + 2 + 1] cycloamination toward carbazoles
Authors: Shen Mingzhu , Li Min , Yu Jingxun
Published: March 2024

A novel and efficient diamination route to synthesize carbazole skeletons via a Pd-catalyzed three-component [2 + 2 + 1] cycloamination reaction is developed.
Highly reversible lithium metal anodes enabled by a lithium sulfamate layer with high ionic conductivity and a low surface diffusion barrier
Authors: Zou Pinjuan , Jiang Wenbin , Ma Longtao , Ouyang Liuzhang
Published: March 2024

We have proposed a “simultaneous high ionic conductivity and low surface diffusion barrier” route by fabricating lithium sulfamate layer for Li metal anode. The artificial layer enabled uniform Li deposition at high rate, thus Li dendrite was inhibited and the interfacial stability was enhanced.
Oxygen vacancy-induced efficient hydrogen spillover in Ni17W3/WO3−x/MoO3−x for a superior pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Sun Yiqing , Bao Yiwei , Yin Di , Bu Xiuming , Zhang Yuxuan , Yue Kaihang , Qi Xiaoshuang , Cai Ziyan , Li Yongqiang , Hu Xiulan , Ho Johnny C. , Wang Xianying
Published: March 2024

By regulating the oxygen vacancy in the WO3−x/MoO3−x support synergistically, the active phase transition can be accomplished at low voltage, resulting in fast intermediate hydrogen uptake/transfer/desorption kinetics on the prepared catalyst surface and interface.
Enhancing smart contract security: Leveraging pre‐trained language models for advanced vulnerability detection
Authors: He Fei , Li Fei , Liang Peili
Published: March 2024

The burgeoning interest in decentralized applications (Dapps), spurred by advancements in blockchain technology, underscores the critical role of smart contracts. However, many Dapp users, often without deep knowledge of smart contracts, face financial risks due to hidden vulnerabilities. Traditional methods for detecting these vulnerabilities, including manual inspections and automated static analysis, are plagued by issues such as high rates of false positives and overlooked security flaws. To combat this, the article introduces an innovative approach using the bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT)‐ATT‐BiLSTM model for identifying potential weaknesses in smart contracts. This method leverages the BERT pre‐trained model to discern semantic features from contract opcodes, which are then refined using a Bidirectional Long Short‐Term Memory Network (BiLSTM) and augmented by an attention mechanism that prioritizes critical features. The goal is to improve the model's generalization ability and enhance detection accuracy. Experiments on various publicly available smart contract datasets confirm the model's superior performance, outperforming previous methods in key metrics like accuracy, F1‐score, and recall. This research not only offers a powerful tool to bolster smart contract security, mitigating financial risks for average users, but also serves as a valuable reference for advancements in natural language processing and deep learning.
UKF‐MOT: An unscented Kalman filter‐based 3D multi‐object tracker
Authors: Liu Meng , Niu Jianwei , Liu Yu
Published: March 2024

Multi‐object tracking in autonomous driving is a non‐linear problem. To better address the tracking problem, this paper leveraged an unscented Kalman filter to predict the object's state. In the association stage, the Mahalanobis distance was employed as an affinity metric, and a Non‐minimum Suppression method was designed for matching. With the detections fed into the tracker and continuous ‘predicting‐matching’ steps, the states of each object at different time steps were described as their own continuous trajectories. We conducted extensive experiments to evaluate tracking accuracy on three challenging datasets (KITTI, nuScenes and Waymo). The experimental results demonstrated that our method effectively achieved multi‐object tracking with satisfactory accuracy and real‐time efficiency.
Quaternary periglacial silicifications in the Paris Basin
Authors: Thiry Médard , Milnes Anthony
Published: March 2024

In this paper, and in previous works, quartzites within the Sable de Fontainebleau are clearly shown to occur only near outcrops in Plio-Pleistocene plateau landscapes and are related to groundwater flows. These arrangements, together with dating of encased calcites, led us to consider that silicification occurred during Plio-Pleistocene glacial stages. The precipitation of silica was most likely triggered by cooling of groundwaters as they approached cold zones in the regolith close to points of discharge. We describe the arrangement and morphologies of quartzites in Tertiary sand formations in the Paris Basin to demonstrate how cold climates could have influenced hydrologic regimes and promoted silicification. The coeval precipitation of calcite and silica in gypseous formations at the edges of plateaux-bordering valleys, along with the dissolution of gypsum, also points to interactions between silica-laden groundwater and carbonate host rocks during cold periods. In parallel, the distribution and micromorphology of silicifications in associated Tertiary limestone formations suggests that they formed during cold climates in the Quaternary. These are key pointers to the role of groundwater in regolith environments in controlling silicification processes. We detail a link to palaeosurfaces of the distinctive meulières facies in the Paris Basin. Geotropic structures and micromorphological organisations are the basis of new ideas about their origin in a combination of vadose and phreatic environments and proximity to impervious cold horizons. The active zone in a permafrost landscape is a good hydrological example. All silicifications in Tertiary formations in the Paris Basin can be linked to the hydrology of Quaternary periglacial environments in a single model. This could apply more widely to similar silicifications elsewhere and be tested using new analytical techniques that date silicifications and unravel the isotopic relationships between silicification, groundwater composition and the prevailing climate.
Green Microwave-Assisted Cladding: Enhancing SS-304 with Ni-ZrB2 Composite Coatings
Authors: B Santosh Kumar , V Manasa , Singla Atul , Tyagi Lalit Kumar , Srivastava Arun Pratap , Kareem Hawraa
Published: March 2024

This study focuses on achieving effective deposition of a Ni and 15% ZrB2 particle mixture onto SS-304 substrate surfaces through meticulous preparation steps. Thorough cleaning of the SS-304 substrate using alcohol in an ultrasonic bath eliminated contaminants, ensuring optimal adhesion. Simultaneously, the Ni-ZrB2 mixture underwent preheating at 1200°C for 20 hours in a muffle furnace to eliminate moisture content, crucial for preventing coating defects. Uniform distribution of the preheated powder onto the substrate was crucial for consistent coating thickness. Microwave hybrid heating (MHH) using charcoal as a susceptor material overcame microwave reflection by rapidly heating the powder mixture. SEM analysis revealed a uniform dispersion of both Ni and ZrB2 particles across the substrate surface, indicating successful deposition and optimal adhesion. The cladding resulted in a significant improvement in surface hardness, with an increase of approximately 42.43%. The wear rate, measured at 0.00178 mm³/m, and the coefficient of friction, determined to be 0.246, provided crucial insights into the surface’s wear resistance and frictional behavior, confirming its suitability for applications requiring enhanced durability and performance. These findings highlight the efficacy of the microwave-assisted cladding process in enhancing SS-304 with Ni-ZrB2 composite coatings, paving the way for its utilization in various industrial applications.
Advancements in Aluminum-Based Composite Manufacturing: Leveraging ZrO2 Reinforcement through Friction Stir Process
Authors: Q Mohammad , Borah Asha Rani , R P Ram Kumar , Nagpal Amandeep , Chauhan Shilpi , Meheta Ankit
Published: March 2024

This paper explores advancements in aluminum-based composite manufacturing by leveraging ZrO2 reinforcement through the Friction Stir Process (FSP). The FSP method, utilizing an electric field to enhance sintering, ensures a highly uniform dispersion of nanoparticles within the material matrix, crucial for optimizing mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, and electrical performance. Micrograph analysis reveals the homogeneous distribution of ZrO2 particles, indicating the effectiveness of FSP. Tensile strength improves by 19.26%, hardness by 34.56%, fatigue strength by 22.45%, and wear resistance by 28.45% after integrating ZrO2 nanoparticles via FSP. These enhancements underscore the significance of nanoparticle reinforcement in fortifying aluminum alloys against various mechanical stresses and wear mechanisms. The findings highlight the potential of FSP-based techniques in tailoring the properties of aluminum-based composites for applications in aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing industries, where superior performance and durability are essential.
IoT-based smart garbage monitoring system and advanced disciplinary approach
Authors: Mallikarjuna Raju K. , Banuri Sheshanth , Shaik Abdussami Huzaifa , Kowdi Saieshwara , Saleh Mashkour Muthana , Manjunatha  , Singh Navdeep , Kumar Ashwani
Published: March 2024

The rapid urbanization and population growth in cities have led to an unprecedented increase in municipal waste generation. Efficient management of this waste is crucial to maintaining a clean and healthy environment. Traditional waste management methods often fall short in addressing the dynamic nature of waste generation patterns. This project presents a Garbage Monitoring System (GMS) that utilizes advanced sensor technologies and data analytics to revolutionize waste collection processes in urban areas. The system integrates different sensors, devices for communication, and software applications to furnish real-time monitoring and data analysis for waste management. The system not only enhances the operational efficiency of waste management but also promotes environmental sustainability. By optimizing collection schedules, reducing waste overflow, and reducing environmental negative impact, the system represents a significant step towards building smart and eco-friendly cities. The approach is to help in an innovative way while collecting garbage and monitoring systems in an effective way.
Sustainable practices for plant nutrient control using IoT
Authors: Anjaneyulu M. , Gaud Pandala Devika , Keerthika Sabbineni , Merugu Reva , Almusawi Muntather , V Asha , Pal Thethi H , Praveen
Published: March 2024

Fertilizers play a key role in promoting healthy plant growth and increasing crop yields. However, excessive use of fertilizers often leads to several negative environmental impacts, including soil pollution, nutrient runoff into water bodies and reduction of long-term soil fertility. An abrupt ban on the use of fertilizers would be infeasible hence, sustainable practices play a huge role towards the management of crop health and productivity. To address the challenge, the mentioned proposal introduces an IoT-based Plant Nutrient Control System designed to work towards soil conservation. The proposal revolves around the usage of NPK (Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K)) sensors for providing real-time data on soil nutrient concentrations. The data collected from the NPK sensors is transmitted to a cloud service (Google Firebase) for storage purposes. The system analyzes the data based on which it checks off the necessity of the required minerals for healthy plant growth. It then provides recommendations to the farmers regarding the minimal amount of fertilizer content that will be necessary for the same. Also, the system continuously monitors the moisture and temperature of the soil. In case of a need for watering, the system sends an alert to the farmer. Therefore it has a userfriendly interface, which is developed using Kodular API, ensuring that data is accessible to farmers through minimal complexity.
Smart fitness trainer using an advanced interdisciplinary approach
Authors: Sundari M Rama , Sreeman Reddy Puchakayala Sai , Naga Datta Samayamantry Kishan , Sai Venkata Narasimham Ogirala Sri , Saeed Hazim Y. , K Aravinda , Lakhanpal Sorabh , Kalra Ravi
Published: March 2024

The Smart Fitness Trainer represents a pioneering endeavor at the intersection of diverse disciplines, amalgamating computer vision and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Its primary objective is to redefine the fitness landscape by introducing real-time exercise form analysis and assistance. Through the fusion of biomechanics, human-computer interaction, and data analytics, this innovative system provides instantaneous visual feedback via a mirror interface, thereby augmenting safety and efficacy during workout sessions. Embracing sophisticated interdisciplinary methodologies, the Smart Fitness Mirror fosters healthier lifestyles and delivers tailored training experiences, heralding a transformative era in fitness technology. This initiative underscores the transformative potential of collaborative multidisciplinary efforts in reshaping the domain of fitness and well-being.
Steel Chips Reinforcement in Aluminum-Based Composites: Revolutionizing Manufacturing via Stir Casting Technique
Authors: Gurulakshmi A.B. , Rama Sundari M.V. , Lakhanpal Sorabh , Dhamija Koushal , Parmar Ashish , Mohammad Q.
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the utilization of waste steel chips as reinforcement in aluminum-based composites through the stir casting technique. Steel chip particles were introduced gradually into the molten aluminum alloy while stirring at 400 rpm for 10 minutes to ensure uniform dispersion. Precise temperature control prevented premature solidification, facilitating effective incorporation of steel chips. The resulting composite exhibited a predominantly uniform distribution of reinforcement, indicating successful processing.The addition of 7.5% waste steel chips led to remarkable improvements in mechanical properties. Tensile strength increased by 15.67%, while hardness showed a substantial enhancement of 25.56% compared to the base composite. Moreover, wear resistance exhibited a notable improvement of 19.45%. These enhancements underscore the efficacy of waste steel chips as reinforcement, revolutionizing manufacturing practices in aluminum composites. The findings highlight the potential for sustainable and cost-effective approaches to enhance mechanical performance, contributing to advancements in materials engineering and promoting eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
Flexural behavior of composite material under three point bending load
Authors: Gupta Manish , Gundlapalle Rajesh , Annapoorna E. , Al-Farouni Mohammed , Tyagi Lalit Kumar , Pratap Bhishm
Published: March 2024

The behavior of composite materials under tensile and bending loading differs, and material designs optimized for tensile loading may not be suitable for applications subjected to bending loading. In this study, the bending behavior of two different composite materials, namely glass and carbon fiber-reinforced composites, was analyzed under a three-point bending load. The output from the analysis of these two materials was compared, revealing that, in addition to longitudinal direction strength, transverse and through-thickness directional strength, as well as shear strength in all planes of the composite, are essential to minimize deformations, normal stress, and shear stress. In the study, under the same loading and boundary conditions, the carbon epoxy composite exhibited 84% more deformation than the FR-4 composite at the maximum load considered for the study. Furthermore, the strength of the FR-4 composite in the loading direction was 2.4 times greater than that of the carbon epoxy composite. The present work is used for the effective design of the composite material under bending loading.
Study of GSO-GL based secondary source configuration optimization method for broadband sound field reproduction
Authors: LIU Yidong , CHEN Kean , XU Jian , YANG Lei
Published: March 2024

Sound field reproduction is a method that uses multiple secondary sound sources to reproduce a predefined desired sound field in a listening area. The configuration of the secondary sound sources is a key factor affecting the reproduction performances. To optimize the secondary source configuration, this study proposes a new method that combines the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization method with the group Lasso method, which is called GSO-GL method. Firstly, it selects a certain number of the secondary sources from all the alternative secondary sources using the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization method. The excitation sources are then further selected from the secondary sources selected in the previous step using the group Lasso method. The sound field simulation from the 2D room model show that the GSO-GL method outperforms the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization method or the group Lasso method alone, combining the high system stability of the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization method with the high reproduction accuracy of the group Lasso method.
A logic obfuscation attack method based on gate-level information flow tracing techniques
Authors: LIU Liang , ZHU Jiacheng , ZHANG Zhe , SHEN Lixiang , SUN Yufeng , MU Dejun
Published: March 2024

Logical obfuscation technique is a mainstream technical means to achieve intellectual property protection and prevent reverse engineering. In this paper, we propose a logical obfuscation attack method based on the gate-level information flow tracking technique, using the information flow analysis method at the gate-level abstraction level, establishing an information flow model, constraining the output and its contamination labels, and solving the obfuscation key sequence satisfying the constraints using an SAT solver. The experimental results show that the attack method has good cracking effect and efficiency for benchmarks generated by five obfuscated encryption algorithms with two test area costs.
Social workers’ role in the provision of services for families with children and youth with disabilities in Latvia, Slovakia, and Portugal
Authors: Rahim Rozina
Published: March 2024

The current qualitative case study aims at exploring the role of social workers in the provision of support services to families of children and youth with disabilities in Latvia, Slovakia, and Portugal. To get a deeper understanding of the knowledge and lived experiences of professionals, a qualitative research design was used. Using purposive sampling, fifteen participants were identified of which 11 were social workers and 4 other professions. Social workers work closely with other professions to support families of children and youth with disabilities. Even though most of the participants agreed to a face-to-face interview, there were a few who were not able to participate in person due to language and the nature of work; therefore, an online means of gathering the data was used for a few participants. A thematic analysis was used to identify themes in the study that explained the available support and social services to families, which come from both private and public institutions. The study also revealed community-based services (deinstitutionalization) process in these three European countries.
Psychometric properties of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment v8.2. test: Pilot study
Authors: Pelse Irina , Sneidere Kristine , Stepens Ainars , Krone Ilona , Karelis Guntis , Kostiks Andrejs
Published: March 2024

Objectives. The world is rapidly ageing and, with the increasing age, there is a potential increase in the number of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. This calls for a reliable screening tool that easily and rapidly could identify the symptoms of pathological cognitive decline. As currently such tools are limited in Latvia, the objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the newly translated Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. Materials and Methods. Sixty-five Latvian native speakers aged 55-90 (M = 72.11, SD = 10.26) participated in the study and were divided into three groups – with diagnosis of dementia (n = 21), mild cognitive impairment (n = 18) and control group (n = 26). All participants were assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test [1], and a test-retest was conducted after 2 weeks (n = 37). Results. Almost all mean values and inter-item correlation coefficients were acceptable (.2-.8), apart from indices in the Naming task and Verbal fluency task. The items showed very high reliability (α = .95) and the test-retest reliability showed consistent results (r = .98). Conclusions. Overall, the results from the pilot study show acceptable psychometric properties; however, the pilot study should be continued and criterion validity should be tested.
Reducing sedentary behaviour in office workers – motivational factors and barriers
Authors: Kauce Rūta , Kiseļova Viola Daniela , Jaudzeme Māra , Hvostovoja Anna , Reste Jeļena
Published: March 2024

The office workplace is considered a significant risk setting for long-term sedentary behaviour, which can lead to various adverse health consequences. Therefore, this article examines the obstacles and external factors that motivate office workers, who spend a significant part of their workday sitting, to engage in physical activity. This cross-sectional study analysed data from an anonymous survey of 232 Latvian office workers. Our results indicated that most respondents would be motivated to engage in physical activity during working hours, if employer provided motivational system (mean score 4.04 out of maximal 5 points), a specialist-led physical activity classes (4.01) or exercising together with colleagues (3.91) would be implemented at their workplace. Respondents in the following subgroups agreed more that employer provided motivational system would encourage them to be more physical activity at work: all age groups (between 3.93 and 4.18), both ‘time of sitting’ subgroups (between 4.00 and 4.07), men (3.93) and in-office workers (4.07). However, women (4.06) and remote workers (4.08) agreed more, that physical activity classes led by a specialist would be the most motivational. In contrast, highly intense work tasks were the main barrier for office workers not to be involved in physical activities at work, as it was the obstacle for 59% of the respondents. These findings can be helpful in implementing and organising health promotion interventions for office workers.
Older adults’ digital inclusion: New challenges for Lithuanian social policy
Authors: Zemaitaityte Irena , Pivoriene Jolanta , Bardauskiene Raminta , Katkoniene Agata
Published: March 2024

Lithuania, as most of the EU countries, has an aging population. At the beginning of 2019, there were 552.4 thousand elderly people (aged 65 and older), or 19.8 per cent of the total resident population. Each seventh man and each fourth woman were aged 65 and older ‘(Official statistics portal, 2019). The aim of the paper is to investigate possibilities of Lithuanian social policy to meet older adults’ digital needs for better inclusion and active ageing. Paper is based on secondary data analysis including legal documents (EU and National Programmes, Strategies, Orders), scientific research, statistical (of older adults’ population) and other data (results of national research). A significant proportion of older adults lack the skills to use digital technology, which are essential for successful functioning in society. The rapid development of technology and the recent Covid-19 pandemic have accelerated the transference of many services on the Internet. The importance of the use of technology for older adults was particularly evident during the Covid 19 pandemic. Various research works revealed that the telephone, and less often the computer, had become the main working tool for a significant proportion of close care workers. This situation points to a new need for the development of digitised social services and a new approach to social policy.
Videogestützte Psychotherapie für
Geflüchtete: Eine Pilotstudie
Authors: Schneider Johanna , Wiechers Maren , Burger Max , Pogarell Oliver , Übleis Aline , Padberg Frank , Strupf Michael
Published: March 2024

Ziel der Studie Globale Konflikte und humanitäre Krisen
führten in den vergangenen Jahren zu einer erhöhten
Fluchtmigration nach Deutschland. Um perspektivisch die Versorgungsstruktur
für Menschen mit Fluchthintergrund im deutschen Gesundheitssystem zu
verbessern, werden im Rahmen dieser Pilotstudie erste Erfahrungen in der
videogestützten Durchführung der Gruppenpsychotherapie
Empowerment für Geflüchtete vorgestellt.

Methodik Empowerment ist eine kultursensible, dolmetschergestützte
Gruppentherapie zur Behandlung von depressiven und stressbezogenen Symptomen bei
Geflüchteten. Vier afghanische Männer nahmen an der Pilotstudie
teil. Die Intervention umfasste 16 Sitzungen, die innerhalb von 12 Wochen per
Video durchgeführt wurden.

Ergebnisse Die Internetverbindung war teils instabil und führte zu
organisatorischen Herausforderungen. Sprachlich und interaktionell war die
Therapie durchführbar.

Diskussion Eine stabile Internetverbindung stellt das zentrale Kriterium
für eine erfolgreiche Durchführung der Therapie dar. Es werden
mögliche Lösungsansätze und Einschränkungen
für zukünftige Studien diskutiert.

Schlussfolgerung Hinsichtlich der potenziellen Chancen auf eine
zukünftige Erweiterung der Versorgungsoptionen für Menschen mit
Fluchthintergrund, könnte das videogestützte Therapiekonzept in
einer randomisierten kontrollierten Studie untersucht werden.
Spektrum komplexer Teilleistungsstörungen bei Patienten mit
psychischen Erkrankungen
Authors: Christensen Nils , Warnke Max Holger , Naaß Paulina , Muschalla Beate
Published: March 2024

Einleitung Bisherige Studien verweisen auf ein erhöhtes Vorkommen
von komplexen Teilleistungsstörungen bei Patienten mit psychischen
Erkrankungen, insbesondere bei Patienten mit ADHS oder
Entwicklungsstörungen. Bis heute ist über die Verteilung von
Teilleistungsstörungen und diffusen neuropsychologischen
Beeinträchtigungen bei erwachsenen Patienten mit psychischen
Erkrankungen empirisch wenig bekannt.

Vorgehen Explorativ wurden 399 Patienten mit verschiedenen psychischen
Erkrankungen hinsichtlich des gesamten Spektrums von
Teilleistungsstörungen untersucht. 329 Patienten waren zum
Untersuchungszeitpunkt in einer psychosomatischen Rehabilitation, 40 in einer
forensischen Psychiatrie, und 30 auf einer Suchtstationen eines psychiatrischen
Krankenhauses. Symptommuster und soziodemografische Merkmale der Patienten
wurden mittels strukturierter Fragebögen erfasst.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt berichteten rund 29% aller Patienten
ausgeprägte und vielfältige Teilleistungsstörungen.
Patienten mit komplexen Teilleistungsstörungen berichteten in
Alltagsbewältigung (Aufmerksamkeit, Rechnen, Gedächtnis,
Lärmempfindlichkeit, Orientierung) und sozialer Interaktion
(Außenseiter, Erregbarkeit) eine stärkere Problembelastung als
Patienten ohne Teilleistungsstörungen.

Diskussion/Schlussfolgerung Teilleistungsstörungen sind
häufig und in vielfältigen Mustern bei Patienten mit psychischen
Erkrankungen zu finden und müssen in Diagnostik und Behandlung
mitberücksichtigt werden. Weitere Studien sollten kompensatorische
therapeutische Maßnahmen im Sinne des Modells der Selektiven Optimierung
und Compensation (SOC-Modell nach Baltes) evaluieren.
Schulabsentismus und Angststörungen
Authors: Pflug Verena , Schneider Silvia
Published: March 2024

Viele Kinder und Jugendliche in Deutschland besuchen trotz Schulpflicht nicht
regelmäßig die Schule. Manche von ihnen fehlen nur einzelne Schulstunden, andere
hingegen bleiben ganze Tage, Monate oder bis hin zu einigen Jahren der Schule
fern. Der Beitrag zeigt, wann Angststörungen Ursache für Schulabsentismus sein
können, und wie dies therapeutisch behandelt werden kann.
„Nie wieder ist jetzt!“ – Relevanz
für unsere Professionen
Authors: Strauß Bernhard
Published: March 2024

Es gäbe viele aktuelle und längst nicht ausdiskutierte Themen in
unseren Fächern, die immer wieder eines Editorials wert wären. In
jüngster Zeit haben wir uns an dieser Stelle mit Digitalisierung und KI
befasst, den Folgen von Covid-19, dem Einsatz von Psychedelika in der Psychotherapie
und kürzlich mit transtheoretischen Ansätzen in der Psychotherapie
1
2
3
4
5
6. Es gibt
nach wie vor Facetten dieser und anderer Themen, die sich unmittelbar auf die
Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und die medizinische Psychologie beziehen, die in den
Diskurs gehören. Aktuelle Diskurse werden gesellschaftlich momentan aber von
ganz anderen Dingen bestimmt!