bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study protocol for integrating outpatient services at the primary health care level as part of the universal health coverage benefit package within the national health insurance program of Pakistan through private health facilities
Authors: Azmat Syed Khurram , Thom Ellen Mpangananji , Arshad Muhammad , Hamza Hasan Bin , Aabroo Atiya , Balal Asma , Awan Muhammad Ali , Rifaq Faisal , Hemachandra Nilmini , Qudsia Uzma
Published: March 2024

Introduction and aim

Pakistan has a mixed-health system where up to 60% of health expenditures are out of pocket. Almost 80% of primary healthcare (PHC) facilities are in the private sector, which is deeply embedded within the country’s health system and may account for the unaffordability of healthcare. Since 2016, the existing national health insurance program or Sehat Sahulat Program (SSP), has provided invaluable coverage and financial protection to the millions of low-income families living in Pakistan by providing inpatient services at secondary and tertiary levels. However, a key gap is the non-inclusion of outpatient services at the PHC in the insurance scheme. This study aims to engage a private provider network of general practitioners in select union councils of Islamabad Capital Authority (ICT) of Pakistan to improve access, uptake, and satisfaction and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on quality outpatient services at the PHC level, including family planning and reproductive health services.

Methods and analysis

A 24-month research study is proposed with a 12-month intervention period using a mixed method, two-arm, prospective, quasi-experimental controlled before and after design with a sample of 863 beneficiary families from each study arm, i.e., intervention and control groups (N = 1726) will be selected through randomization at the selected beneficiary family/household level from four peri-urban Union Councils of ICT where no public sector PHC-level facility exists. All ethical considerations will be assured, along with quality assurance strategies. Quantitative pre/post surveys and third-party monitoring are proposed to measure the intervention outcomes. Qualitative inquiry with beneficiaries, general practitioners and policymakers will assess their knowledge and practices.

Conclusion and knowledge contribution

PHC should be the first point of contact for accessing health services and appears to serve as a programmatic engine for universal health coverage (UHC). The research aims to study a service delivery model which harnesses the private sector to deliver an essential package of health services as outpatient services under SSP, ultimately facilitating UHC. Findings will provide a blueprint referral system to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and improve timely access to healthcare. A robust PHC system can improve population health, lower healthcare expenditure, strengthen the healthcare system, and ultimately make UHC a reality.
Moral sensitivity and caring behavior in nursing interns: the mediating role of empathy
Authors: Chen Jin yan , Chen Hong fang , Wang Xing huan , Zong Qing zhen , Yao Zhen zhen
Published: March 2024

Background

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between moral sensitivity, empathy, and caring behaviors and to explore the mediating effect of empathy on moral sensitivity and caring behaviors of nursing interns.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to September 2022 in which 261 nursing interns from two Grade 3A Hospitals in Xi’an participated. The questionnaires used in the survey include the General Information Questionnaire (GIQ), the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire—Revised Version translated into Chinese (MSQ R-CV), the Chinese version of the Jefferson Empathy Scale (JSE), and the Chinese version of the Caring Behavior Inventory (C-CBI). The obtained data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and the mediating effect of empathy was tested through structural equations.

Results

The overall mean of moral sensitivity of nursing interns in two Grade 3A Hospitals in Xi’an is 40.84 ± 8.73, the overall mean of empathy is 100.51 ± 21.56, and the overall mean of caring behavior is (113.81 ± 21.05). Statistical analysis showed that there is a positive correlation between moral sensitivity and caring behavior of nursing interns (r = 0.376, p < 0.01), between their empathy and moral sensitivity (r = 0.336, p < 0.01), and between their empathy and caring behavior (r = 0.394, p < 0.01). The empathy of nursing interns has a mediated effect on the relationship between moral sensitivity and caring behavior. The mediated effect value was 0.14, accounting for 31.82% of the total effect.

Conclusion

The moral sensitivity of nursing interns can have a direct impact on predicting the caring behavior and indirect influences their caring behaviors mediated by empathy, with the latter effect being mediated by empathy. Therefore, nursing educators and hospital administrators should adopt targeted interventions to improve the moral sensitivity and empathy of nursing interns, which can further prove to be beneficial in improving their caring behaviors, leading to enhanced quality of nursing care and reduced nurse–patient conflicts and finally to a stabilized nursing team.
Environmental injustice in the privatization of Brazilian sanitation: an empirical analysis
Authors: Bermann Celio , Hermsdorff Sonia Maria Gaspar Lontro
Published: March 2024

This study analyzes whether the low rate of universalizing water supply and sanitation services in Brazil is related to the low participation of private companies in the concession of these services in municipalities in the country. To this end, it discusses basic sanitation in Brazil and its current scenario, its problems from the point of view of environmental injustice, and the existing public/private conflicts. The empirical analysis conducted a data survey of eight municipalities defined in four population groups, comparing data from 13 operational, efficiency, quality, and cost indicators of the services provided. Each population group compared two municipalities providing water and sewerage services, one provided by a public company and the other by a private company. The compared data were from 2021, obtained through the Brazilian National Sanitation Information System (SNIS). As a result of the comparative analyses, it was shown that the performance of public companies was more positive for most indicators, compared to private companies. It is concluded that the main challenge to overcome the social and environmental injustice resulting from the deficit in basic sanitation coverage lies in the promotion of public management instruments that enable the articulation of public and private investments in the expansion of basic sanitation services, in the improvement of the quality of services with the inclusion of social control through popular participation.
Spatiotemporal analysis and forecasting of lumpy skin disease outbreaks in Ethiopia based on retrospective outbreak reports
Authors: Tesfaye Shimels , Regassa Fikru , Beyene Gashaw , Leta Samson , Paeshuyse Jan
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle belonging to genus Capripoxvirus (Poxviridae) and lead to significant economic losses.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreaks and predict future patterns based on retrospective outbreak reports in Ethiopia.

Methods

Data were collected through direct communication with regional laboratories and a hierarchical reporting system from the Peasant Associations to Ministry of Agriculture. Time-series data for the LSD outbreaks were analyzed using classical additive time-series decomposition and STL decomposition. Four models (ARIMA, SARIMA, ETS, STLF) were also used to forecast the number of LSD outbreaks that occurred each month for the years (2021–2025) after the models’ accuracy test was performed. Additionally, the space–time permutation model (STP) were also used to study retrospective space–time cluster analysis of LSD outbreaks in Ethiopia.

Results

This study examined the geographical and temporal distribution of LSD outbreaks in Ethiopia from 2008 to 2020, reporting a total of 3,256 LSD outbreaks, 14,754 LSD-positive cases, 7,758 deaths, and 289 slaughters. It also covered approximately 68% of Ethiopia’s districts, with Oromia reporting the highest LSD outbreaks. In the LSD’s temporal distribution, the highest peak was reported following the rainy season in September to December and its lowest peak in the dry months of April and May. Out of the four models tested for forecasting, the SARIMA (3, 0, 0) (2, 1, 0) [12] model performed well for the validation data, while the STLF+Random Walk had a robust prediction for the training data. Thus, the SARIMA and STLF+Random Walk models produced a more accurate forecast of LSD outbreaks between 2020 and 2025. From retrospective Space–Time Cluster Analysis of LSD, eight possible clusters were also identified, with five of them located in central part of Ethiopia.

Conclusion

The study’s time series and ST-cluster analysis of LSD outbreak data provide valuable insights into the spatial and temporal dynamics of the disease in Ethiopia. These insights can aid in the development of effective strategies to control and prevent the spread of the disease and holds great potential for improving efforts to combat LSD in the country.
IWO-IGA—A Hybrid Whale Optimization Algorithm Featuring Improved Genetic Characteristics for Mapping Real-Time Applications onto 2D Network on Chip
Authors: Saleem Sharoon , Hussain Fawad , Baloch Naveed Khan
Published: March 2024

Network on Chip (NoC) has emerged as a potential substitute for the communication model in modern computer systems with extensive integration. Among the numerous design challenges, application mapping on the NoC system poses one of the most complex and demanding optimization problems. In this research, we propose a hybrid improved whale optimization algorithm with enhanced genetic properties (IWOA-IGA) to optimally map real-time applications onto the 2D NoC Platform. The IWOA-IGA is a novel approach combining an improved whale optimization algorithm with the ability of a refined genetic algorithm to optimally map application tasks. A comprehensive comparison is performed between the proposed method and other state-of-the-art algorithms through rigorous analysis. The evaluation consists of real-time applications, benchmarks, and a collection of arbitrarily scaled and procedurally generated large-task graphs. The proposed IWOA-IGA indicates an average improvement in power reduction, improved energy consumption, and latency over state-of-the-art algorithms. Performance based on the Convergence Factor, which assesses the algorithm’s efficiency in achieving better convergence after running for a specific number of iterations over other efficiently developed techniques, is introduced in this research work. These results demonstrate the algorithm’s superior convergence performance when applied to real-world and synthetic task graphs. Our research findings spotlight the superior performance of hybrid improved whale optimization integrated with enhanced GA features, emphasizing its potential for application mapping in NoC-based systems.
Acoustic Characteristics of Greek Vowels Produced by Adult Heritage Speakers of Albanian
Authors: Georgiou Georgios P. , Giannakou Aretousa
Published: March 2024

Investigating heritage language (HL)-contact effects on the dominant language has received limited attention despite its importance in understanding the dynamic interplay between linguistic systems in situations of bilingualism. This study compares the acoustic characteristics of Greek vowels produced by heritage speakers (HSs) of Albanian and monolingual Greek speakers, aiming to identify potential differences and explain them. The participants were adult second-generation HSs of Albanian with Greek as their dominant language, born and raised in Greece. A control group of age-matched monolingual Greek speakers was included for comparison purposes. All participants engaged in a controlled speech production task, with the data segmented to extract acoustic values pertaining to the first three formants and the duration of Greek vowels. Bayesian regression models were employed for the subsequent statistical analysis. The results demonstrated differences in the first three formants of certain vowels and the duration of all vowels. These differences can be attributed to the crosslinguistic effect of HL on the dominant language, as well as the interplay between the dynamic and internalized language system of the speakers and the complex effect of the sociophonetic context. These outcomes contribute to the hypothesis positing the emergence of deflected phonetic categories among a distinctive group of bilinguals, namely HSs. Furthermore, this study underscores the significance of a comprehensive exploration of the sociophonetic context of HSs for a nuanced understanding of their phonetic patterns.
Research on Passenger Evacuation Behavior in Civil Aircraft Demonstration Experiments Based on Neural Networks and Modeling
Authors: Feng Zhenyu , You Qianqian , Chen Kun , Song Houjin , Peng Haoxuan
Published: March 2024

Evacuation simulation is an important method for studying and evaluating the safety of passenger evacuation, and the key lies in whether it can accurately predict personnel evacuation behavior in different environments. The existing models have good adaptability in building environments but have weaker adaptability to personnel evacuation in civil aircraft cabins with more obstacles and stronger hindrances. We target the narrow seat aisle environment on airplanes and use a BP neural network to establish a continuous displacement model for personnel evacuation. We compare the simulation accuracy of evacuation time with the social force model based on continuous displacement and further compare the similarity of personnel evacuation process behavior. The results show that both models were close to the experimental values in simulating evacuation time, while our BP neural network evacuation model based on experimental data was more accurate in predicting the personnel evacuation process, showing more realistic details such as the probability of conflicts and bottleneck evolution in the cross aisle.
Daptomycin Use for Persistent Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Bacteremia in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Papachatzi Eleni , Gkentzi Despoina , Tzifas Sotiris , Dassios Theodore , Dimitriou Gabriel
Published: March 2024

During the last two decades, the incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) has increased due to improved survival of premature neonates. Persistent bacteremia (PB) in LOS is defined as more than two positive blood cultures obtained on different calendar days during the same infectious episode. Although rare, PB should be treated aggressively to prevent adverse outcomes. Daptomycin, a lipopeptide antibiotic, has been used in neonates with persistent coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) bacteremia with promising results, but studies reporting on the efficacy and safety of the agent are scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of daptomycin use for persistent CoNS bacteremia in a neonatal cohort. This is a retrospective, observational, single-center study of neonates treated with daptomycin during 2011–2022 in the Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the University General Hospital of Patras, Greece. For the years 2011–2022, there were 3.413 admissions to the NICU. During the last 3 years (2020–2022)—the active epidemiological surveillance period—123 infants (out of 851 admissions, 14.4%) developed CoNS bacteremia (LOS). During the study period, twelve infants with PB were treated with daptomycin. They had a median gestational age of 32 weeks (IQR 31–34) and mean (SD) birth weight of 1.840 (867) grams. CoNS bacteremia isolates were s. epidermidis (50%), s. haemolyticus (20%), s. hominis (20%) and s. warneri (10%). The decision to start daptomycin (6 mg/kg/dose twice daily) was taken on median day 10 (ΙQR 7–15) of infection. None of the infants had focal complications or meningitis. Daptomycin therapy caused no renal, hepatic, muscular or gastrointestinal adverse events. One neonate developed seizures, and one death occurred due to multiple complications of prematurity. Most infants (11/12) were successfully treated and eventually had negative blood culture. Daptomycin monotherapy showed an adequate cure rate in premature neonates with persistent CoNS bacteremia in a tertiary NICU. In our study, daptomycin was effective and well tolerated; the safety profile, however, needs to be confirmed in larger studies and randomized controlled trials.
Potential Phytotherapy of DSS-Induced Colitis: Ameliorating Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Necroptosis and Gut Dysbiosis with a New Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge Variety—Daehong
Authors: Lee Kang-In , Jo Yousang , Yuk Heung Joo , Kim Sun-Young , Kim Hyungjun , Kim Hye Jin , Hwang Soo-Keol , Park Ki-Sun
Published: March 2024

Developing new plant varieties plays a crucial role in competitiveness in the agricultural and food industries and enhancing food security. Daehong (DH) is a new variety of Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge (CP); however, its physiological functions and potential as a nutraceutical ingredient remain unknown. Here, the efficacy of DH on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was investigated using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice, and its relative pharmacological effects were analyzed against CP. DH improved colitis-induced weight loss, colon shortening, and inflammatory responses and reduced intestinal permeability. The reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated necroptotic signal that triggers enterocyte cell death in DSS-induced colitis was effectively controlled by DH, attributed to epicatechin. DSS-induced gut dysbiosis was recovered into a healthy gut microbiome environment by DH, increasing beneficial bacteria, like Akkermansia muciniphila, and changing harmful bacteria, including Bacteroides vulgatus and Peptostreptococcaceae. DH shows potential as a dietary or pharmaceutical ingredient to promote gut health and to prevent and treat IBD.
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aid Availability across the Spectrum of Human Skin Colors
Authors: Kirjava Shade Avery , Faulkner Sam Jones
Published: March 2024

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids were recently approved for sale in the United States. Research has shown that consumers prefer hearing devices that match their skin color because these devices are less noticeable. Colorism is discrimination against individuals with relatively darker skin that manifests in “skin-color” product offerings as products being offered primarily in relatively lighter colors. Methods: This study compared images of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-registered over-the-counter hearing aids to a range of human skin colors. Results: Most over-the-counter hearing aids are only offered in relatively lighter beige colors. Few over-the-counter hearing aids are available in darker skin colors. Conclusions: These findings may represent structural bias, preventing equitable access to darker skin-color OTC hearing aids for individuals with darker skin.
Restrictive Diets in Patients with Fibromyalgia: State of the Art
Authors: Almirall Miriam , Musté Marta , Serrat Mayte , Touriño Rafael , Espartal Esther , Marsal Sara
Published: March 2024

Around 20–30% of Fibromyalgia patients modify their dietary habits after diagnosis, including avoiding certain food groups such as cereals. In this systematic review, we used the PRISMA guidelines to select the main studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of restrictive diets, including elimination and vegetarian diets, in patients with Fibromyalgia. Data on vegetarian/vegan diets are more consistent than data on elimination diets due to higher quality and better results of the published studies. Although the results are favorable in most of the studies, their heterogenicity and the scarce and low quality of the evidence (small number of patients included, often non-randomized and uncontrolled studies and multiple confounding factors and biases) does not allow for a positive recommendation about these restrictive diets in Fibromyalgia patients. Several factors other than food restriction could influence the symptomatic and functional improvements observed after restrictive diets, such as the placebo effect, weight loss that often occurs, coexistence with gastrointestinal diseases and positive effects of unrestricted foods. We must advance more and improve in our knowledge of the effectiveness of restrictive diets and variables related to them before recommending them systematically to all patients with Fibromyalgia. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials with large sample sizes, longer follow-up periods and standardized outcome measures that explore predictors of dietary response are needed to better understand the relationship between Fibromyalgia and nutrition.
Propensity of Predator Mimicry in Steller’s Jays
Authors: Harvey Trinity C. , Gabriel Pia O. , Black Jeffrey M.
Published: March 2024

Avian vocal mimicry has been described in a variety of contexts, suggesting its function is multifaceted within and across species; however, basic empirical data describing mimetic signal prevalence and context are lacking for numerous species. We examined the occurrence and context of mimicked Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) calls over a 12-month period in a population of 49 individually color-marked Steller’s Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri). We documented mimicry of Red-shouldered Hawk calls in 14 of 49 (28.6%) jays during this 12-month period. We also reviewed the occurrence of the behavior in historic observation data. Hawk mimicry occurred more often during the early breeding season when jays were within home territories, their mates were present, and aggression was absent. Younger, larger, and bolder jays were most likely to perform imitations. These results suggest jays individually vary in mimetic propensity, and individuals’ proclivity for mimicry may be influenced by social and ecological contexts, physical characteristics, and personality traits.
Therapeutic Potential of Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Domain Inhibitors for Synovial Sarcoma Cells
Authors: Kotani Yuki , Imura Yoshinori , Nakai Sho , Chijimatsu Ryota , Takami Haruna , Inoue Akitomo , Mae Hirokazu , Takenaka Satoshi , Outani Hidetatsu , Okada Seiji
Published: March 2024

Synovial sarcoma (SS), a rare subtype of soft-tissue sarcoma distinguished by expression of the fusion gene SS18-SSX, predominantly affects the extremities of young patients. Existing anticancer drugs have limited efficacy against this malignancy, necessitating the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. Given the established role of SS18-SSX in epigenetic regulation, we focused on bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein (BET) inhibitors and epigenetic agents. Our investigation of the BET inhibitor ABBV-075 revealed its pronounced antitumor effects, inducing G1-phase cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis, in four SS cell lines. Notably, BET inhibitors exhibited regulatory control over crucial cell-cycle regulators, such as MYC, p21, CDK4, and CDK6. Additionally, RNA sequencing findings across the four cell lines revealed the significance of fluctuating BCL2 family protein expression during apoptotic induction. Notably, variations in the expression ratio of the anti-apoptotic factor BCLxL and the pro-apoptotic factor BIM may underlie susceptibility to ABBV-075. Additionally, knockdown of SS18-SSX, which upregulates BCL2, reduced the sensitivity to ABBV-075. These findings suggest the potential utility of BET inhibitors targeting the SS18-SSX-regulated intrinsic apoptotic pathway as a promising therapeutic strategy for SS.
Deep-Learning-Based Predictive Imaging Biomarker Model for EGFR Mutation Status in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer from CT Imaging
Authors: Mahajan Abhishek , Kania Vatsal , Agarwal Ujjwal , Ashtekar Renuka , Shukla Shreya , Patil Vijay Maruti , Noronha Vanita , Joshi Amit , Menon Nandini , Kaushal Rajiv Kumar , Rane Swapnil , Chougule Anuradha , Vaidya Suthirth , Kaluva Krishna , Prabhash Kumar
Published: March 2024

Purpose: The authors aimed to develop and validate deep-learning-based radiogenomic (DLR) models and radiomic signatures to predict the EGFR mutation in patients with NSCLC, and to assess the semantic and clinical features that can contribute to detecting EGFR mutations. Methods: Using 990 patients from two NSCLC trials, we employed an end-to-end pipeline analyzing CT images without precise segmentation. Two 3D convolutional neural networks segmented lung masses and nodules. Results: The combined radiomics and DLR model achieved an AUC of 0.88 ± 0.03 in predicting EGFR mutation status, outperforming individual models. Semantic features further improved the model’s accuracy, with an AUC of 0.88 ± 0.05. CT semantic features that were found to be significantly associated with EGFR mutations were pure solid tumours with no associated ground glass component (p < 0.03), the absence of peripheral emphysema (p < 0.03), the presence of pleural retraction (p = 0.004), the presence of fissure attachment (p = 0.001), the presence of metastatic nodules in both the tumour-containing lobe (p = 0.001) and the non-tumour-containing lobe (p = 0.001), the presence of ipsilateral pleural effusion (p = 0.04), and average enhancement of the tumour mass above 54 HU (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This AI-based radiomics and DLR model demonstrated high accuracy in predicting EGFR mutation, serving as a non-invasive and user-friendly imaging biomarker for EGFR mutation status prediction.
Topical Immunotherapy for Actinic Keratosis and Field Cancerization
Authors: Bernal Masferrer Laura , Gracia Cazaña Tamara , Bernad Alonso Isabel , Álvarez-Salafranca Marcial , Almenara Blasco Manuel , Gallego Rentero María , Juarranz de la Fuente Ángeles , Gilaberte Yolanda
Published: March 2024

This comprehensive review delves into various immunotherapeutic approaches for the management of actinic keratoses (AKs), precancerous skin lesions associated with UV exposure. Although there are treatments whose main mechanism of action is immune modulation, such as imiquimod or diclofenac, other treatments, apart from their main effect on dysplastic cells, exert some immunological action, which in the end contributes to their efficacy. While treatments like 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, photodynamic therapy, and nicotinamide are promising in the management of AKs, especially in immunocompetent individuals, their efficacy is somewhat reduced in solid organ transplant recipients due to immunosuppression. The analysis extends to optimal combination, focusing on cryoimmunotherapy as the most relevant. New immunotherapies include resimiquimod, ingenol disoxate, N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate (PALA), or anti-PD1 that have shown promising results, although more studies are needed in order to standardize their use.
Clinical Symptomatology of Anxiety and Family Function in Adolescents—The Self-Esteem Mediator
Authors: Farmakopoulou Ignatia , Lekka Maria , Gkintoni Evgenia
Published: March 2024

Background: Family, the child’s first environment, shapes their psycho-emotional balance. The literature links adolescent anxiety to family relationships, interactions, and dynamics. The self-esteem of adolescents appears to protect their mental health. Goal: This study examines whether family cohesion and adaptability affect adolescent anxiety symptoms. It also examines whether teen self-esteem mediates this relationship. Method: This cross-sectional, descriptive study included 166 Attica youth aged 12–18 from schools and educational units. The adolescents completed Olson’s FACES-III cohesion and adaptability scale, Spielberger’s STAI-C, Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale, and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Results: Family cohesion, but not adaptability, was negatively correlated with state (rho = −0.25, p = 0.001) and trait (rho = −0.46, p < 0.001) anxiety in the adolescents. Teenagers from extreme families with the lowest cohesion and adaptability had higher trait anxiety (x2(2) = 6.91, p = 0.032) than those from moderately balanced/balanced families. Self-esteem mediated the relationship between the family cohesion functioning and adolescent’s state anxiety (p = 0.005) and trait anxiety (p = 0.011). Conclusions: The findings show that family dysfunction negatively impacts adolescent anxiety, as well as their self-esteem, which protects mental balance.
Association of Meal Timing with Sleep Quality and Anxiety According to Chronotype: A Study of University Students
Authors: Luz Cristina Souza da Silva , Fonseca Ana Elizabeth Teixeira Pimentel da , Santos Jefferson Souza , Araujo John Fontenele , Duarte Leandro Lourenção , Moreno Claudia Roberta de Castro
Published: March 2024

There are several determinants of mental health symptoms, ranging from individual characteristics to social factors. Consistent with patterns in the general population, students with evening characteristics tend to exhibit more anxiety symptoms and poorer sleep quality compared to morning students. Meal timing also appears to affect sleep and may be associated with mental health symptoms. In this context, the aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the timing of the main and last meals of the day with sleep quality and anxiety levels, according to the chronotype of university students. This study was conducted in colleges in São Paulo, Brazil, and involved application of a questionnaire to 162 university students. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic information meal and study times, and included scales assessing eveningness and morningness, sleep quality, and anxiety. Students demonstrating a phase delay in both chronotype and dinner timing exhibited higher levels of anxiety compared to morning-type students. Although no associations were observed between meal timing and sleep quality, sleeping later was associated with poorer sleep quality. The study suggests that evening students and those who eat late at night are more prone to presenting mental health symptoms. More studies are needed to further investigate this association.
Towards mmWave Altimetry for UAS: Exploring the Potential of 77 GHz Automotive Radars
Authors: Awan Maaz Ali , Dalveren Yaser , Kara Ali , Derawi Mohammad
Published: March 2024

Precise altitude data are indispensable for flight navigation, particularly during the autonomous landing of unmanned aerial systems (UASs). Conventional light and barometric sensors employed for altitude estimation are limited by poor visibility and temperature conditions, respectively, whilst global positioning system (GPS) receivers provide the altitude from the mean sea level (MSL) marred with a slow update rate. To cater to the landing safety requirements, UASs necessitate precise altitude information above ground level (AGL) impervious to environmental conditions. Radar altimeters, a mainstay in commercial aviation for at least half a century, realize these requirements through minimum operational performance standards (MOPSs). More recently, the proliferation of 5G technology and interference with the universally allocated band for radar altimeters from 4.2 to 4.4 GHz underscores the necessity to explore novel avenues. Notably, there is no dedicated MOPS tailored for radar altimeters of UASs. To gauge the performance of a radar altimeter offering for UASs, existing MOPSs are the de facto choice. Historically, frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radars have been extensively used in a broad spectrum of ranging applications including radar altimeters. Modern monolithic millimeter wave (mmWave) automotive radars, albeit designed for automotive applications, also employ FMCW for precise ranging with a cost-effective and compact footprint. Given the technology maturation with excellent size, weight, and power (SWaP) metrics, there is a growing trend in industry and academia to explore their efficacy beyond the realm of the automotive industry. To this end, their feasibility for UAS altimetry remains largely untapped. While the literature on theoretical discourse is prevalent, a specific focus on mmWave radar altimetry is lacking. Moreover, clutter estimation with hardware specifications of a pure look-down mmWave radar is unreported. This article argues the applicability of MOPSs for commercial aviation for adaptation to a UAS use case. The theme of the work is a tutorial based on a simplified mathematical and theoretical discussion on the understanding of performance metrics and inherent intricacies. A systems engineering approach for deriving waveform specifications from operational requirements of a UAS is offered. Lastly, proposed future research directions and insights are included.
Fundamental Limits of Coded Caching in Request-Robust D2D Communication Networks
Authors: Wang Wuqu , Tao Zhe , Liu Nan , Kang Wei
Published: March 2024

D2D coded caching, originally introduced by Ji, Caire, and Molisch, significantly improves communication efficiency by applying the multi-cast technology proposed by Maddah-Ali and Niesen to the D2D network. Most prior works on D2D coded caching are based on the assumption that all users will request content at the beginning of the delivery phase. However, in practice, this is often not the case. Motivated by this consideration, this paper formulates a new problem called request-robust D2D coded caching. The considered problem includes K users and a content server with access to N files. Only r users, known as requesters, request a file each at the beginning of the delivery phase. The objective is to minimize the average and worst-case delivery rate, i.e., the average and worst-case number of broadcast bits from all users among all possible demands. For this novel D2D coded caching problem, we propose a scheme based on uncoded cache placement and exploiting common demands and one-shot delivery. We also propose information-theoretic converse results under the assumption of uncoded cache placement. Furthermore, we adapt the scheme proposed by Yapar et al. for uncoded cache placement and one-shot delivery to the request-robust D2D coded caching problem and prove that the performance of the adapted scheme is order optimal within a factor of two under uncoded cache placement and within a factor of four in general. Finally, through numerical evaluations, we show that the proposed scheme outperforms known D2D coded caching schemes applied to the request-robust scenario for most cache size ranges.
More Evidence of Low Inter-Rater Reliability of a High-Stakes Performance Assessment of Teacher Candidates
Authors: Lyness Scott A.
Published: March 2024

From 2010 to 2015, our school of education used the Performance Assessment for California Teachers (PACT), a summative assessment designed to assess preservice teacher competence. Candidate portfolios were uploaded to an evaluation portal, and trained evaluators assigned a final score of Pass or Fail to the work samples. Three consensus estimates of inter-rater reliability of 181 candidate portfolios that were either double- or triple-scored were computed. Two chance-corrected estimates of inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s kappa and Gwet’s AC1) and percent agreement were computed and calculated within five content areas: elementary math, secondary history/social science, math, science, and English language arts. An initial Pass or Fail score was not more likely to be followed by either a Pass or Fail score given by a subsequent evaluator. Inter-rater reliability was interpreted as being low across all content areas that were examined. None of the percent agreement coefficients attained the minimum standard of 0.700 for consensus agreement. Increasing research access to proprietary double-scored data would lead to an increased understanding of, and perhaps improvement in, teacher performance assessments.
Enhancing the Viability of a Promising E-Fuel: Oxymethylene Ether–Decanol Mixtures
Authors: Virt Márton , Zöldy Máté
Published: March 2024

Achieving sustainable mobility is a crucial factor in maintaining long-term economic growth without adverse effects on human health and the environment. E-fuels, such as the promising oxymethylene ether (OME), can contribute to sustainable road transport. However, this compound does not meet the requirements of EN590; thus, it is unsuitable for unmodified diesel engines. This work aims to improve the applicability of OME by blending it with n-decanol, which can also be produced sustainably. Combustion and emissions were investigated in a medium-duty commercial diesel engine with different binary and ternary mixtures of oxymethylene ether, n-decanol, and B7 diesel. Laboratory analysis of six key mixture parameters revealed that the formulated blends met the EN590 requirements, with the exception of that of density. The results demonstrated that the created mixtures, including one without any diesel fuel, can be efficiently utilized in unmodified diesel engines. OME’s beneficial effects on combustion and emission were preserved while its viability was improved; a maximum increase of 7.6% in brake thermal efficiency was observed, alongside a potential decrease of nearly 70% in PM emissions at unaltered NOx levels.
A Comprehensive Review on Comparison and Performance of Five-Phase Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation Overmodulation Strategies
Authors: Sun Tiankui , Sun Yingying , Ma Beijia , Bu Feifei , Qin Ya , Liu Qi , Deaconu Sorin Ioan
Published: March 2024

High-performance overmodulation strategies for voltage source inverters (VSIs) can further broaden the operation range of machines. Among them, Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) is worth researching as it performs well in digital implementation. This paper presents a detailed comparison of various SVPWM overmodulation strategies and analysis of their performance. It firstly briefly elaborates fundamental laws of two subspaces of five-phase VSIs. Then, it focuses on several overmodulation strategies. Their corresponding basic principles and main characteristics are researched, and conclusions are given. In addition, differences and relationships between them are proved and summarized. Lastly, comparative simulations and experiments were carried out and verify that in the overmodulation region, the output voltage distortion degree increases with the increase in modulation ratio, and strategies with more control degrees of freedom (CDFs) are capable of better controlling the third harmonic subspace, which means that higher-quality output voltage waveforms would be obtained.
Growing Importance of Micro-Meteorology in the New Power System: Review, Analysis and Case Study
Authors: Zhang Huijun , Zhang Mingjie , Yi Ran , Liu Yaxin , Wen Qiuzi Han , Meng Xin
Published: March 2024

With the increasing penetration of renewable energy resources, their variable, intermittent and unpredictable characteristics bring new challenges to the power system. These challenges require micro-meteorological data and techniques to provide more support for the power systems, including planning, dispatching, operation, and so on. This paper aims to provide readers with insights into the effects of micro-meteorology on power systems, as well as the actual improvement brought by micro-meteorology in some power system scenarios. This paper provides a review including the relevant micro-meteorological techniques such as observation, assimilation and numerical techniques, as well as artificial intelligence, presenting a relatively complete overview of the most recent and relevant micro-meteorology-related literature associated with power systems. The impact of micro-meteorology on power systems is analyzed in six different forms of power generation and three typical scenarios of different stages in the power system, as well as integrated energy systems and disaster prevention and reduction. Finally, a case study in China is provided. This case takes wind power prediction as an example in a power system to compare the performance when applying micro-meteorological data or not. The experimental results demonstrated that using the micro-meteorological reanalysis dataset with high spatial--temporal resolution for wind power prediction performed better, verifying the improvement of micro-meteorology to the power system to some extent.
Heritability Estimates for Growth Traits and Correlation Analysis between Weight and Metamorphosis Rate in the Bullfrog Rana (Aquarana) catesbeiana
Authors: Xu Wencheng , Wang Yanzhe , Wang Guodong , Zhang Lili , Zhang Guiling , Huo Zhipeng , Ge Hui
Published: March 2024

Metamorphosis is a crucial process in the life cycle of Rana (Aquarana) catesbeiana. R. catesbeiana tadpoles, in their short larval period, possess a high survival rate and also a highly competitive ability in the amphibious stage. In actual seed production, the economic traits of larval period and metamorphosis rate are used as quantifiable indicators of quality for individuals and populations, respectively. However, studies of these economic traits in larval cultivation and production are still lacking. In this study, we constructed 40 full-sib families of R. catesbeiana and measured the weight and metamorphosis rate of tadpoles at different developmental stages. Subsequently, we calculated the phenotypic and genetic association between weight and metamorphosis rate in tadpoles and assessed the heritability of these two traits. The heritabilities of weight at three developmental stages were all higher than 0.40 and decreased with advancement of the developmental stage; the heritability of the metamorphosis rate was 0.18 ± 0.20, a moderate level. Correlation analysis of weight and metamorphosis rate at each developmental stage in each tadpole family showed that weight at stages 25-I, 25-II, and 25-III was significantly correlated at the phenotypic level but non-significantly at the genetic level. The metamorphosis rate was only moderately associated with stage 25-III weight (0.38, p < 0.05). The results of this study confirm the importance and transportability of tadpole weight in actual seed production and provide basic data and a potentially optimized direction for the selective breeding of high-metamorphosis-rate bullfrogs.
Hydromechanical Transmission IC2OC: Component Sizing and Optimization
Authors: Andretta Nicola , Rossetti Antonio , Macor Alarico
Published: March 2024

The IC2OC transmission is a continuous transmission whose layout can change from simple IC to simple OC configuration and vice versa. It was proposed to cover a wider range of vehicle speeds without adding gears. Its sizing can lead to higher efficiencies than those of the IC and OC layouts. Therefore, this work deals with the sizing methodologies of this transmission. Two methodologies are proposed and discussed: the first uses the functional and constitutive equations of the transmission; the second is based on a mathematical programming problem. Both methodologies start from the choice of the full mechanical point speeds. The comparison between the two methods is carried out on the transmission of a commercially available 230 kW reach stacker. The comparison shows that the functional method, leaner and faster, can provide results very close to those obtained with the heavy and time-consuming optimization, provided that the values of the two full mechanical point speeds are the optimal ones for the two basic transmissions taken individually.
Evaluating Microbiological Safety, Sensory Quality, and Packaging for Online Market Success of Roasted Pickled Fish Powder
Authors: Aussanasuwannakul Aunchalee , Butsuwan Pisut
Published: March 2024

This study explores the pivotal roles of microbiological safety, sensory qualities, packaging efficiency, and consumer preferences in determining the success of roasted pickled fish powder (RPFP) variants in the online marketplace. The comparison of the nutritional composition of the developed RPFP variants with a commercial benchmark reveals significant differences: the protein content in the herbal flavor variant is found to be 28.97%, which is lower than the 40.17% found in the commercial benchmark, while the fat content in the spicy flavor variant is measured at 19.51%, exceeding the 10.60% present in the benchmark. Additionally, the herbal flavor boasts a superior dietary fiber content of 14.23%, highlighting the intricate relationship between nutritional content and sensory attributes, which is critical in online retail, where physical product evaluation is not possible. Our comprehensive approach, evaluating both nutritional and sensory dimensions, introduces a novel perspective to the adaptation of traditional food products for e-commerce, addressing a gap in the literature. Despite this study’s limitations, including a focused market analysis and constrained sample size, our findings offer valuable insights into enhancing product quality and integrity in the digital marketplace, positioning RPFP for competitive success while suggesting directions for future research.
Smooth and Efficient Path Planning for Car-like Mobile Robot Using Improved Ant Colony Optimization in Narrow and Large-Size Scenes
Authors: Li Likun , Jiang Liyu , Tu Wenzhang , Jiang Liquan , He Ruhan
Published: March 2024

Car-like mobile robots (CLMRs) are extensively utilized in various intricate scenarios owing to their exceptional maneuverability, stability, and adaptability, in which path planning is an important technical basis for their autonomous navigation. However, path planning methods are prone to inefficiently generate unsmooth paths in narrow and large-size scenes, especially considering the chassis model complexity of CLMRs with suspension. To this end, instead of traditional path planning based on an integer order model, this paper proposes fractional-order enhanced path planning using an improved Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) for CLMRs with suspension, which can obtain smooth and efficient paths in narrow and large-size scenes. On one hand, to improve the accuracy of the kinematic model construction of CLMRs with suspension, an accurate fractional-order-based kinematic modelling method is proposed, which considers the dynamic adjustment of the angle constraints. On the other hand, an improved ACO-based path planning method using fractional-order models is introduced by adopting a global multifactorial heuristic function with dynamic angle constraints, adaptive pheromone adjustment, and fractional-order state-transfer models, which avoids easily falling into a local optimum and unsmooth problem in a narrow space while increasing the search speed and success rate in large-scale scenes. Finally, the proposed method’s effectiveness is validated in both large-scale and narrow scenes, confirming its capability to handle various challenging scenarios.