bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Precision Agriculture 4.0: Implementation of IoT, AI, and Sensor Networks for Tomato Crop Prediction
Authors: Pérez Miguel Ángel Giménez , González Antonio Guerrero , Rodríguez Francisco Javier Cánovas , Leon Inocencia María Martínez , Abrisqueta Francisco Antonio Lloret
Published: January 2025

Precision agriculture introduces an innovative approach to farm management by involving the use of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and sensor networks to optimize resources and increase crop yields. In this context, the present study aimed to develop a tomato crop prediction system using IoT, AI, and sensor networks. A system architecture was designed, including distributed sensors, IoT gateways, and a cloud platform running AI models based on recurrent neural networks. These AI models were trained with environmental data and validated using actual harvest data. The results showed up that the model could predict weekly harvest volumes with an average error of 3.2% during the best 4-week period. The integration of IoT, AI, and sensor networks proved to be effective for accurate crop prediction and has potential for other applications in precision agriculture.
McDxNewJeans collaborative campaign: How Co-Branding impacts fandom purchase behavior
Authors: Thoyib Amali Muhammad , Camelia Putri Lathifa
Published: January 2025

The effective marketing approach that has gained popularity in recent decades as an innovative strategy to enhancing consumer engagement and boost visibility is co-branding, where two or more brands collaborate to create unique products or marketing campaigns that combine their strengths and appeal. This study aims to examine the influence of co-branding between McDonald's and NewJeans on fandom purchase behavior, particularly focusing on how brand image and co-branding shape consumer attitudes and behavior. Using an explanatory quantitative approach, 120 members of the NewJeans fandom in Indonesia were surveyed. Data were analyzed using Smart PLS, and mediation effects were tested with the Sobel test. The findings reveal a significant impact of both McDonald's and NewJeans brand image on co-branding campaign, which in turn positively influences fandom attitudes toward McDonald’s K-Meals and drives purchase behavior. Additionally, Co-branding fully mediates the relationship between McDonald’s brand image and fandom attitudes, while it partially mediates the relationship between NewJeans’s brand image and fandom attitudes. Moreover, attitudes towards K-Meals serve as a partial mediator between the co-branding campaign and purchase behavior. Overall, this study highlights the significance of strategic co-branding campaigns as a collaborative marketing approach to strengthen consumer engagement, especially within K-pop fandom communities.
Digital communication model in increasing public trust
Authors: Kusuma Alan , Dwihantoro Prihatin , Ilham Nova Rizal Muhammad
Published: January 2025

This study aims to develop a digital communication model to enhance public trust in election monitoring in Magelang Regency, classified as a high-risk area in the 2024 elections. Using a qualitative method with a case study approach, involving observation, interviews, and documentation, the research focuses on creating a communication model that effectively increases public trust. The findings reveal that digital communication implemented by Bawaslu through social media is more effective in engaging the public, but synchronization with the website requires improvement to ensure better information transparency. Website management is centrally integrated to facilitate maintenance and address server issues, with hosting responsibilities handled at the national level, while local branches are limited to content management without access to modify the website. This study recommends a digital communication model that provides practical guidelines for creating digital content to strengthen public trust in election monitoring institutions.
Testing transient deviations from quantum mechanics’ predictions in spatially spread optical entangled states
Authors: Agüero M. , Hnilo A. , Kovalsky M. , Nonaka M.
Published: January 2025

One of the conflicts between quantum mechanics (QM) and classical physics
is visible in the high correlation predicted by QM to exist between
observations performed on remote regions of a spatially spread entangled
state. It has been hypothesized that this correlation needs a time longer
than
L/c
to build up, where
L
is the spatial spread of the entangled state and
c
is the speed of light. In shorter times, the level of correlation would be
compatible with classical physics. This hypothesis is appealing, among
other reasons, as it solves that conflict by minimally modifying the
interpretation of QM. The hypothesis is difficult to test directly because
the observable difference would vanish fast, but a stroboscopic
observation is at hand. We present the results of such observation,
performed on a specially designed optical Bell setup with a distance
between stations up to
L=24m
in a straight line. This completes the preliminary results for short
L,
which we recently reported in this journal [J. Opt. Soc. Am. B
40, C28 (2023)JOBPDE0740-322410.1364/JOSAB.482398]. No
evidence of deviations from QM predictions is found. Yet, some additional
assumptions are involved; they are detailed and discussed. If fair
sampling is valid, then the hypothesis of transient deviations is refuted
unless the stroboscopic approach with a decay time shorter than
1.5 µs
(≈19L/c)
is false.
High-precision 1.5  µm band tunable single-frequency fluoro-sulfo-phosphate fiber laser based on a self-injection locking scheme
Authors: Geng Xin , Yang Changsheng , Wang Weichao , Zhang Qinyuan
Published: January 2025

In this paper, a high-precision 1.5 µm band tunable single-frequency Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped fluoro-sulfo-phosphate (EYFSP) fiber laser based on a self-injection locking scheme is experimentally demonstrated. A self-developed 4 cm long EYFSP fiber with a high gain coefficient (3.2–4.7 dB/cm) at the C-band serves as the gain medium for laser output. The single longitudinal mode (SLM) operation is realized via a 15 cm long commercial unpumped gain fiber and a self-injection locking scheme, while flexible wavelength tuning is controlled by a fiber Fabry–Perot tunable filter (FFP-TF). The laser wavelength is tuned from 1528.08 to 1555.55 nm, with a tuning precision of up to 10–18 pm and a tuning speed of 30 nm/s. Throughout the entire tuning range of 27.47 nm, the measured laser linewidth is less than 1.3 kHz, the relative intensity noise remains below −140dB/Hz at frequencies above 3 MHz, and the power fluctuation is as low as 1% over a measurement period of 2 h. These results demonstrate that the high-precision 1.5 µm band tunable single-frequency EYFSP fiber laser is a promising candidate for future coherent optical communication systems and optical fiber sensing.
Bleaching effect of radiation-induced darkening in Yb3+-doped large mode area photonic crystal fiber based on deuterium and hydrogen loading
Authors: Wang Yanting , Shao Chongyun , Feng Suya , Wang Meng , Zhang Lei , Wang Fan , Yu Chunlei , Hu Lili
Published: January 2025

We report the radiation-induced darkening (RD) effect caused by X-ray radiation and the bleaching effect caused by D2/H2/N2 loading in self-developed Yb3+-doped large mode-area photonic crystal fibers (LMA PCFs). The decrease in the slope efficiency caused by irradiation decays exponentially with an increase in the X-ray radiation doses, and the radiation-induced gain variation (RIGV) showed a linear decay trend with increasing irradiation doses. The slope efficiency of Yb3+-doped LMA PCF, which significantly degraded from 71.00% to 50.42% after 50 Gy irradiation, can be significantly restored after D2 loading to 97.21% of the slope efficiency of pristine fiber. However, the slope efficiency of the PCF loaded by H2 can be recovered to 88.54% that of the pristine. These results suggest that D2 loading has a more pronounced bleaching ability than H2, while N2 does not exhibit any bleaching effect. Based on the all-fiber modular amplification experiment, an average amplified output power of 41.4 W at the pump power of 62.3 W was achieved from Yb3+-doped LMA PCFs irradiated with 50 Gy followed by D2 loading. The slope efficiency (with respect to the pump power) was 69.05%, with the laser beam quality factor M2 of 1.2. No obvious power decaying of the laser output was observed for about 10 h. RD and bleaching effects of the Yb3+-doped LMA PCF core glass have been thoroughly investigated using the absorption, radiation-induced attenuation (RIA), continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW-EPR), emission, Raman, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra.
Computationally efficient physics-informed difference-symmetric nonlinear equalizer for C-band DML-DD links
Authors: Zhang Yikun , Zhu Yixiao , Zhuge Qunbi , Hu Weisheng
Published: January 2025

Volterra nonlinear equalizer (VNE) is widely used in intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) systems because it employs multi-order operations to effectively capture the nonlinear characteristics of signals as a generic tool. In the specific directly-modulated laser with direct detection (DML-DD) link, the interaction between the chirp of DML and chromatic dispersion (CD) can be modeled as composite second-order (CSO) distortion. By incorporating the CSO model into the nonlinear equalizer, it is possible to better extract the feature of the end-to-end channel, achieving superior performance with lower complexity. In this work, we propose a computationally efficient physics-informed difference-symmetric nonlinear equalizer (DSNE) based on the analytical formulation of the CSO. Additionally, we provide a thorough comparison of the computational complexity and bit-error-rate (BER) performance of various equalizers. Compared to the conventional VNE, the DSNE provides a 1-dB improvement in receiver sensitivity while reducing computational complexity by 51%. It is shown that the model-assisted DSNE structure enhances the matching to channel nonlinearity by omitting the less cost-effective taps in the conventional VNE and applying difference operations to the symmetric taps. The DSNE incorporates difference-symmetric terms, in contrast to the quadratic nonlinear equalizer (QNE), which uses only diagonal terms. This addition leads to a 56% reduction in BER while incurring only a 12% increase in computational complexity. The proposed DSNE technique demonstrates significant potential for low-cost, high-performance DML-DD optical transmission systems.
Thulium doped all-fiber laser based on a double-cladding Bragg grating via femtosecond laser plane-by-plane writing technology
Authors: Zhu Yuehong , Miao Zixiao , Wu Zhujing , Shi Chaoying , Deng Guoliang , Zhang Hong , Zhou Shouhuan
Published: January 2025

The fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is fabricated by the femtosecond laser writing technique with a plane-by-plane (Pl-by-Pl) method in the double-cladding fiber (DCF). The refractive index modified (RIM) region formed by this method is 12 μm × 8 μm in size. Due to the Pl-by-Pl method, high-order Bragg resonances with reflectance greater than 99% can be achieved. The fabricated high-quality FBG features a narrow full width at 3 dB bandwidth of approximately 0.45 nm, a high reflectivity above 99%, and almost no side-mode peaks. To investigate the application of fabricated FBGs, we have built a thulium-doped all-fiber oscillator with purely forward-pumped structures. A thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) at a central wavelength of 1953.79 nm was constructed by using the prepared fiber grating. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is above 56 dB. When the pump power is 19 W, the total output power of the continuous wave is 4 W, and the output efficiency is 25.6%. In addition, the numerical calculation has been carried out to further optimize the output power. This work provides a possible approach for designing and implementing a continuous Tm-doped fiber laser with enhanced output efficiency.
Single-shot characterization of ultrashort laser pulses on wide-bandgap solid material
Authors: Xu Lu , Tang Jiajun , Xiang Hailong , Wu Xiaolong , Hou Chunzi , Gan Qianli , Nie Zan , Lan Pengfei , Lu Peixiang
Published: January 2025

In this Letter, we focused on the precise and rapid characterization of infrared (IR) ultrashort laser pulses. We mapped the time delay between the strong excitation IR laser pulse and the perturbation IR laser pulse onto the transverse spatial coordinates of the ZnS crystal, a wide-bandgap material, where the modulated fluorescence signal was generated from strong-field multiphoton excitation with the perturbation. Under single-shot measurement, the temporal profile of IR laser pulses was reconstructed by recording and analyzing the modulated fluorescence signal. Furthermore, the presented scheme not only possessed the characteristic of single-shot measurement for high-power, low-repetition laser pulses but also had the measurement bandwidth range that fully covered the near-IR to IR bands, which provides the potential for characterization of single-cycle (even sub-cycle) IR laser pulses.
Vectorial acousto-optic Raman–Nath diffraction effect of chiral liquid media
Authors: Xu Haoying , Wu Shudan , Wu Yan , Hu Xiaobo , Chew Khian-Hooi , Chen Rui-Pin
Published: January 2025

The acousto-optic Raman–Nath (RN) diffraction effects of vector beams diffracted by the chiral ultrasonic grating are demonstrated experimentally and theoretically. The deviation of left- and right-handed circularly polarized components in higher-order diffraction light leads to the rearrangement of their polarization states and intensity due to the different refractive indices of left- and right-hand circularly polarized lights. When the difference between the refractive indices for left- and right-hand circular polarizations is small, linear polarization components of the higher-order diffraction light with the input localized linearly polarized vector optical field rotate compared to the zero-order diffraction light. Novel, to the best of our knowledge, intensity distributions of linear polarization components appear for the input hybridly polarized vector beam.
Mode-locked, dual-wavelength fiber laser with a dual-repetition rate of 1.3/1.4 um in a space-division multiplexing cavity
Authors: Yang Xinyun , Yao Yongjia , Zhang Ruichen , He Mingyue , Wang Hang , Dong Zhipeng , Luo Zhengqian
Published: January 2025

Dual-color mode-locked fiber lasers are widely applied in various domains, including difference-frequency generation, Raman scattering spectroscopy, and microscopy. A dual-color mode-locked laser can be obtained through a shared main path along with dedicated subpaths, which pumps either a single or multiple gain media, offering a more flexible design and a simpler structural configuration. In this Letter, we demonstrated a dual-repetition rate of a 1.3/1.4 µm mode-locked fiber laser based on a nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) technology in a bismuth (Bi)-doped fiber by a space-multiplexed cavity. By utilizing the extensive luminescent properties of Bi-doped fibers, the laser can deliver mode-locked pulses with repetition rates of 3.18 and 2.62 MHz and central wavelengths of 1314.60 and 1410.76 nm, respectively. Besides, by fine-tuning polarization controllers (PCs) and pump power, we can also achieve Q-switched pulses with a distinct repetition rate for the 1.3/1.4 µm bands. This compact and cost-effective all-fiber laser system may have significant potential for practical applications in the fields of optical communication, difference-frequency generation, microscopy, etc.
Wafer-scale mapping of carrier density and mobility with terahertz time-domain ellipsometry
Authors: Agulto Verdad C. , Iwamoto Toshiyuki , Zhao Zixi , Liu Shuang , Kato Kosaku , Nakajima Makoto
Published: January 2025

Terahertz (THz) measurements are increasingly valued for nondestructive testing of materials in power devices and other applications. Hence, there is a growing demand for highly accurate characterization methods in the THz range. Here we demonstrate the application of THz time-domain ellipsometry (THz-TDE) to large-scale, quantitative mapping of semiconductor wafers. While THz-TDE is an established technique, its application in wafer-scale mapping, which is an important process in the semiconductor industry, has not yet been demonstrated. In this work, we highlight the effectiveness of THz-TDE by mapping the electrical properties of a widely used semiconductor, silicon carbide (SiC). Spatial distribution maps of conductivity, carrier density, and mobility of a commercial 4-in. SiC wafer are derived using the measured ellipsometric parameters. THz-TDE mapping offers a nondestructive, contactless testing method to evaluate semiconductor quality and electrical homogeneity and is notably suitable for doped semiconductors characterized by high THz absorption.
Feedback-corrected laser micromachining based on in-situ depth monitoring using laser triangulation
Authors: Yan Yongkang , Wu Zhiheng , Su Xinhong , You Zitong , Chen Kaishuo , Long Jiangyou
Published: January 2025

Conventional laser micromachining technologies rely on trial-and-error optimization to obtain precise surface geometry. In this study, we present a laser micromachining setup that enables the preparation of the desired surface geometry without the need for parameter exploration. The setup consists of a laser scanning system, a coaxial imaging system, a paraxial laser line projector, and a three-axis stage. The coaxial imaging system serves not only for positioning but also for in-situ depth monitoring via the laser triangulation method. After each processing, the ablation depth is measured to adjust the parameters for subsequent steps. Thus, feedback-corrected laser micromachining was achieved and can be used for rigorous applications.
Multispectral laser-scanning pulse-sampling fluorescence lifetime system for large-scale tissue imaging
Authors: Liu Xuhui , Bec Julien , Zhou Xiangnan , Garcia Alba Alfonso , Marcu Laura
Published: January 2025

We report a multispectral laser-scanning pulse-sampling fluorescence lifetime imaging (LSPS-FLIm) system designed for rapid, high-resolution imaging of large tissue specimens. This system provides a substantial imaging field of view (FoV) of 6 × 15 cm2 with a high spatial resolution of ∼17.5 µm. The LSPS-FLIm system has been tested on a range of fluorescent dyes, endogenous tissue fluorophores, and tissue specimens with varied sizes and properties. These tests demonstrate the system’s versatility in resolving morphological and molecular features, enabling centimeter-scale FoV imaging, and distinguishing complex microstructures in tissue specimens. With the capability to maintain high imaging quality and acquisition speed while minimizing tissue damage, LSPS-FLIm represents a promising advancement in the field of fluorescence lifetime imaging for biological and clinical applications.
Isotropic and anisotropic edge enhancement using a lemon–star polarization dipole
Authors: Maurya Anuj , Bhargava Ram B. S. , Bansal Sarvesh , Senthilkumaran P.
Published: January 2025

A spiral phase filter can perform a radial Hilbert transform (RHT) and is useful in isotropic edge enhancement. For selective edge enhancement, the inclusion of anisotropy warrants the filter to be replaced. In this Letter, we introduce for the first time, to our knowledge, a novel and versatile filter that can be tuned between isotropic/anisotropic edge detection and contrast enhancement protocols. To achieve this, we use a lemon–star polarization dipole: a special kind of spin–orbit beam that is a superposition of spin and orbital angular momentum states of light. We devised a 4f imaging setup in microscope configuration to encode the object Fourier spectrum into inhomogeneous polarization distribution. The novelty and advantages of the proposed method lie in selecting the spatial frequency content through polarization transformations in the image reconstruction path, just before the detector, without altering the Fourier plane parameters. Considering a scalar-to-vector diffraction approach and invoking the polarization degree of freedom of light, the edge enhancement capabilities of a lemon–star polarization dipole and a monopole (star or lemon) are shown through experiment results.
Microsphere-assisted super-resolution polarized light microscopy for polarization-sensitive materials
Authors: Ye Ran , Zhang Xiangyu , Zhi Lingjie , Cao Yurong , Melinte Sorin , Wang Zengbo , Yang Songlin
Published: January 2025

Polarization sensitivity is a fundamental phenomenon observed in nature, and its application is vital for advancing scientific discoveries. Here, we present a microsphere-assisted polarized light microscopy method that enables high-quality, label-free super-resolution imaging of polarization-sensitive materials. We investigated the imaging performance of this method using various samples, including colloidal crystals and grating structures. Both simulations and experiments were performed to explore the underlying physical mechanisms driving the enhancement in imaging quality. The results of this work have potential values for the fields of polarized light microscopy and super-resolution imaging.
Silicon computational spectrometer with 32-channel meta-structures
Authors: She Zeruihong , Zhang Tianyue , Wang Kai , Tan Hongren , Zhang Lei
Published: January 2025

We present a compact silicon-on-insulator computational spectrometer utilizing a 32-channel meta-structure array. By exploiting the high design flexibility of meta-structures, each channel is engineered to possess a distinct transmission spectrum, facilitating high-resolution spectral reconstruction. The meta-structures, with a minimum feature size of 70 nm, occupy a footprint of 1.15 µm × 24.5 µm per channel. Experimental results corroborate the device’s performance, demonstrating a spectral resolution of 50 pm in the C-band.
Ultralow-limit of detection optical fiber LSPR biosensor based on a ring laser for des-γ-carboxy prothrombin detection
Authors: Li Xiangshan , Singh Ragini , Zhang Bingyuan , Kumar Santosh , Li Guoru
Published: January 2025

The ultralow limit of detection (LoD) and exceptional sensitivity of biosensors are a significant challenge currently faced in the field. To address this challenge, this work proposes a highly sensitive laser ring cavity biosensor capable of detecting low concentrations of des-
γ
-carboxy prothrombin (DCP). A tapered W-shaped fiber probe based on multi-mode fiber (MMF)-multi-core fiber (MCF)-MMF is developed to excite strong evanescent waves (EWs). By immobilizing gold nanorods (GNRs) on the fiber probe, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is generated at the near infrared wavelength to further enhance the sensitivity of the fiber probe. Moreover, an erbium-doped fiber (EDF) ring laser with a narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.11 nm is employed as a light source. The spectrum with narrow FWHM has been demonstrated to obtain lower LoD. Compared to the ASE light source, the LoD of the laser ring cavity can be reduced by an order of magnitude. The developed biosensor is capable of detecting DCP within a concentration range of 0–1000 ng/mL, and the detection sensitivity of 0.265 nm/lg(ng/mL) and the LoD of 367.6 pg/mL are obtained. In addition, the proposed laser ring cavity biosensor demonstrates good specificity, reproducibility, and repeatability by corresponding tests. The study results indicate that the proposed biosensor has potential in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma markers.
Prevalence of mental health in relation to religious practices in a contemporary small-scale older Amdo Tibetans
Authors: Zhou Liqiong , Zhang Aijie , Zhang Yasi , Chen Yuan , Ge Erhao , Du Juan , Hu Zhao , Mace Ruth , Zhan Yiqiang
Published: January 2025

Amdo Tibetans, a devout and cohesive non-industrial society, intertwine religious practices, such as pray, kowtow, and pilgrimage, aspect of their private and public lives. This unique cultural and religious framework fosters a profound connection between their religious practices and health behaviors. The primary aim of this study was to assess the links between religious practices (pray, kowtow, and pilgrimage) and mental health, as well as physical activity and physical function among older Amdo Tibetans. A cross-sectional field survey was conducted involving 538 agropastoral older Amdo Tibetans aged ≥40, situated in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Evaluated various mental health scales, including psychological well-being (Resilience (SRS-7) and Flourish (SFI-12)), distress (Depression (CESD-8) and Anxiety (GAD-7), and social integration (F_SozU K-6), were assessed, along with objectively measured parameters such as moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sleep duration, grip strength, gait speed, and walking endurance. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the associations. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple testing, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, health status, and health behavior. The study revealed significant positive associations between participation in religious practices and psychological well-being, social integration, and self-rated health, with inverse associations observed with psychological distress. MVPA was positively correlated with daily kowtow. Daily kowtow also showed positive associations with sleep duration. In terms of physical function, daily prayer was negatively associated with grip strength, while daily kowtow exhibited positive correlations with grip strength and gait speed, but distant pilgrimage showed no significant. Religious practices among older Amdo Tibetans were associated with positive mental health, while presenting complex and contrasting effects on physical activity and functional health. In contrast to industrialized societies, unique Amdo Tibetan culture provides a distinctive lens for exploring the relationship between religion and health.
Molecular xenomonitoring of Schistosoma mansoni infections in Biomphalaria choanomphala at Lake Victoria, East Africa: Assessing roles of abiotic and biotic factors
Authors: Andrus Peter S. , Standley Claire J. , Stothard J. Russell , Wade Christopher M.
Published: January 2025

Lake Victoria is a well-known hot spot for intestinal schistosomiasis, caused by infection with the trematode Schistosoma mansoni. The snail intermediate hosts of this parasite are Biomphalaria snails, with Biomphalaria choanomphala being the predominant intermediate host within Lake Victoria. The prevalence of S. mansoni infection within snail populations is influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors, including the physical and chemical characteristics of their environment, the incidence of infection in human populations (and reservoir hosts) and the level of genetic compatibility between the parasite and the host. Using molecular xenomonitoring, we measured the prevalence of S. mansoni infection within B. choanomphala populations along the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan shorelines of Lake Victoria and related this to the abiotic (habitat type, water depth, turbulence, temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, pH level) and biotic (B. choanomphala abundance, genetic diversity of host snail populations) factors of the lake. The overall mean prevalence of S. mansoni infection at Lake Victoria was 9.3%, with the highest prevalence of infection occurring on the Tanzanian shoreline (13.1%), followed by the Ugandan (8.2%) and Kenyan (4.7%) shorelines. There was a significant difference in B. choanomphala abundance, water temperature, conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids and major anion/cation concentrations between the Kenyan, Tanzanian and Ugandan shorelines of Lake Victoria. A Spearman’s rank analysis found that the prevalence of S. mansoni infection had a significant, positive relationship with higher levels of B. choanomphala abundance, water acidity, and cation (Ca2+, Mg2+) concentrations. Additionally, we observed that sites with S. mansoni infection correlated with B. choanomphala populations with a higher mean haplotype diversity score compared to sites found without infection, though there was no significant relationship between the prevalence of infection and B. choanomphala haplotype diversity scores. Although our analysis is based upon an archival and unique collection of Biomphalaria snails, the abiotic and biotic relationships uncovered are useful for eco-epidemiological comparisons of intestinal schistosomiasis across Lake Victoria in future.
Inpatient treatment for severe obesity: A retrospective cohort study in Brazil, comparing exposure variables in a secondary data analysis
Authors: Rios Domingos L. S. , Oliveira Márcia C. A. M. , Braga Sérgio Q. , Chamorro Matheus J. , Cunha Beatriz L. B. , Reis Ana C. R. , Guimarães Ana P. , Silva Ana D. N. , Silva Dandara A. R. , Araújo Edilene M. Q. , Pimentel Magno M. W.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Very low-calorie diets with hospitalization have demonstrated promise as a viable therapeutic option for severe obesity and its associated comorbidities. However, large studies providing a comprehensive longitudinal observation of patients undergoing this therapy are lacking. We evaluated the effectiveness of treating severe obesity in hospitalized patients, using very low-calorie diets and clinical support to develop lifestyle changes. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort comparing exposure variables in a secondary data analysis with a pre-post treatment design. Data were obtained from medical records of patients with severe obesity (grade II or III) treated in a Brazilian obesity specialist hospital from 2016 to 2022. The patients underwent a very low-calorie diet (500–800 kCal/day) and immersive changes in lifestyle habits, monitored by a multidisciplinary team. At 3 months, 777 patients presented complete data and 402 presented complete data at 6 months. The study compared changes in bioimpedance and laboratory tests, between men and women and age groups. Results: Three months of hospitalization yielded significant reductions in weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat, skeletal muscle mass, glucose, inflammatory, and lipid parameters. These reductions were more pronounced after 6 months, nearly doubling those observed at 3 months. In women, BMI and fat mass reduced by 10.4% and 15.2% at 3 months and 20.4% and 31.3% at 6 months, respectively. In men, BMI and fat mass decreased by 12.9% and 25.3 at 3 months and 23.6% and 45.3% at 6 months, respectively. Elderly individuals (aged ≥ 60 years) had smaller reductions in BMI and fat mass than non-elderly individuals (aged < 60 years) but still presented significant improvements. Conclusion: This study suggests the viability of treating severe obesity by hospitalization with low-calorie diets and immersive lifestyle changes. This treatment modality significantly improves anthropometric measurements, glucose, lipids, and inflammatory markers, thereby reducing cardiovascular risk.
Development and validation of trigger tools in primary care: A scoping review
Authors: Dhamanti Inge , Zairina Elida , Nurhaida Ida , Salsabila Salsabila , Yakub Fitri
Published: January 2025

In primary care, trigger tools have been utilized to evaluate and identify patient safety events. The use of trigger tools could help clinicians and patients detect adverse events in a patient’s medical record. Due to a lack of research on the process development of trigger tools in primary care, the purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the trigger development and validation process in primary care settings. A scoping review methodology was used to map the published literature using the Joanna Briggs Methodology of performing scoping review. We considered only studies published in English in the last five years and included both qualitative and quantitative study designs. The final review included five articles. The primary care and combined primary-secondary care studies are included to gain more knowledge in the process development and validation of trigger tools. The trigger tool development process begins with clearly defining the triggers, which are then programmed into a combined computerized algorithm. The validation process was then carried out in two steps by both physician and non-physician experts for content and concurrent validity. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) of the final algorithm were critical in determining the validity of each trigger. This study provided a comprehensive guide to developing trigger tools, emphasizing the importance of precisely defining triggers through a thorough literature review and dual validation process. There were similarities in the development and validation of trigger tools across primary care and hospital settings, allowing primary care to learn from hospital settings.
Predicting learning achievement using ensemble learning with result explanation
Authors: Tong Tingting , Li Zhen
Published: January 2025

Predicting learning achievement is a crucial strategy to address high dropout rates. However, existing prediction models often exhibit biases, limiting their accuracy. Moreover, the lack of interpretability in current machine learning methods restricts their practical application in education. To overcome these challenges, this research combines the strengths of various machine learning algorithms to design a robust model that performs well across multiple metrics, and uses interpretability analysis to elucidate the prediction results. This study introduces a predictive framework for learning achievement based on ensemble learning techniques. Specifically, six distinct machine learning models are utilized to establish a base learner, with logistic regression serving as the meta learner to construct an ensemble model for predicting learning achievement. The SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) model is then employed to explain the prediction results. Through the experiments on XuetangX dataset, the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified. The proposed model outperforms traditional machine learning and deep learning model in terms of prediction accuracy. The results demonstrate that the ensemble learning-based predictive framework significantly outperforms traditional machine learning methods. Through feature importance analysis, the SHAP method enhances model interpretability and improves the reliability of the prediction results, enabling more personalized interventions to support students.
Patterns and predictors of mortality in the first 24 hours of admission among children aged 1–59 months admitted at a Regional Referral Hospital in South Western Uganda
Authors: Ochora Moses , Kyoyagala Stella , Kyasimire Lydia , Akambasisa Mercy , Twine Margaret , Ahmed Muna , Lutasingwa Dan , Nampijja Dorah , Kumbakumba Elias
Published: January 2025

Most deaths among children under 5 years occur within the first 24 hours of hospital admission from preventable causes such as diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. The predictors of these deaths are not yet well documented in our setting. This study aimed to describe the patterns and predictors of these mortalities among children aged 1–59 months at a regional hospital in South Western Uganda. We conducted a prospective cohort study among 208 children aged 1–59 months admitted to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. The mortality rate within the first 24 hours was 7.7% (95% CI 4–12) and the median time to death was 7.3(2.62–8.75) hours. Most deaths occurred in infants, with severe pneumonia, severe acute malnutrition, and malaria as leading causes. Factors predicting mortality included admission during the night (AHR: 3.7, 95% CI 1.02–13.53, p-value 0.047) and abnormal neutrophil count(AHR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.10–11.31, p-value 0.034). The study highlights the importance of timely interventions, particularly for infants, and suggests extra monitoring for those admitted at night or with abnormal neutrophil counts.
Impact of regenerative procedure on the healing process following surgical root canal treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Muthanna Nader , Guan Xiaoyue , Alzahrani Fouad , Saif Badr Sultan , Seyam Abdelrahman , Alsalman Ahmed , Alajami Ahmed Es , Li Ang
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Different Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) procedures, such as membranes, bone substitute materials, and Autologous Platelet Concentrates (APCs), have been applied after surgical root canal treatment (SRCT), which produce different outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of regenerative procedures on the healing process following SRCT.

Methods

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and the Web of Science found Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) published until February 25, 2024. Manual searches were also conducted. Our main outcome was SRCT success or failure after GTR procedures. The Risk Ratio (RR) and failure rate meta-analysis used a fixed effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the use of different GTR procedures for varying lesion types in SRCT.

Results

Out of 1,605 records, 16 studies with 690 lesions were included. Overall, GTR procedures significantly improved healing after SRCT in both 2D (RR: 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34–0.73; P < 0.001) and 3D evaluation methods (RR: 0.36; 95% CI, 0.15–0.90; P < 0.001) with no significant difference between the two methods.

Conclusion

GTR significantly improved SRCT healing regardless of the evaluation method used. Combining collagen membranes with bovine bone-derived hydroxyapatite significantly enhanced the healing process. Additionally, GTR procedures significantly improve healing in through-and-through lesions.
Exploring happiness factors with explainable ensemble learning in a global pandemic
Authors: Hamja Md Amir , Hasan Mahmudul , Rashid Md Abdur , Shourov Md Tanvir Hasan
Published: January 2025

Happiness is a state of contentment, joy, and fulfillment, arising from relationships, accomplishments, and inner peace, leading to well-being and positivity. The greatest happiness principle posits that morality is determined by pleasure, aiming for a society where individuals are content and free from suffering. While happiness factors vary, some are universally recognized. The World Happiness Report (WHR), published annually, includes data on ‘GDP per capita’, ‘social support’, ‘life expectancy’, ‘freedom to make life choices’, ‘generosity’, and ‘perceptions of corruption’. This paper predicts happiness scores using Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and ensemble ML and DL algorithms and examines the impact of individual variables on the happiness index. We also show the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the happiness features. We design two ensemble ML and DL models using blending and stacking ensemble techniques, namely, Blending RGMLL, which combines Ridge Regression (RR), Gradient Boosting (GB), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Linear Regression (LR), and Stacking LRGR, which combines LR, Random Forest (RF), GB, and RR. Among the trained models, Blending RGMLL demonstrates the highest predictive accuracy with R2 of 85%, MSE of 0.15, and RMSE of 0.38. We employ Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) techniques to uncover changes in happiness indices, variable importance, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on happiness. The study utilizes an open dataset from the WHR, covering 156 countries from 2018 to 2023. Our findings indicate that ‘GDP per capita’ is the most critical indicator of happiness score (HS), while ‘social support’ and ‘healthy life expectancy’ are also important features before and after the pandemic. However, during the pandemic, ‘social support’ emerged as the most important indicator, followed by ‘healthy life expectancy’ and ‘GDP per capita’, because social support is the prime necessity in the pandemic situation. The outcome of this research helps people understand the impact of these features on increasing the HS and provides guidelines on how happiness can be maintain during unwanted situations. Future research will explore advanced methods and include other related features with real-time monitoring for more comprehensive insights.
Trade deregulation and fiscal revenue in selected Pacific Island countries
Authors: Makun Keshmeer , Singh Baljeet
Published: January 2025

This paper examines the revenue implications of trade deregulation in a panel of Pacific Island countries from 2010 to 2021. First, we undertake a cross-country analysis of tax revenue, trade, and tax structure. Secondly, we empirically analyze the effect of trade deregulation on trade tax and overall government tax revenue. We find that as the countries have become more deregulated over the decade, the trade tax revenues and direct income tax revenues have declined whereas domestic indirect tax revenues have increased. The empirical estimation reveals the potential Laffer effect for trade tax revenues with respect to trade openness. The effect of regional trade agreements also shows some support for trade tax revenues. Further, the external public debt has a significant positive effect on aggregate tax revenues, while foreign aid has been significant in explaining the decline in both aggregate tax revenues as well as trade tax revenues in the selected Pacific Island countries.
The Scania Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Implementation Study (SATIS)–Lessons from an accelerated treatment protocol
Authors: Persson Marcus , Fabri Viktor , Reijbrandt Alexander , Lexén Annika , Eriksson Hans , Movahed Rad Pouya
Published: January 2025

Background and objective

The Scania Accelerated Intermittent Theta-burst Implementation Study (SATIS) aimed to investigate the tolerability, preliminary effectiveness, and practical feasibility of an accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (aTBS) protocol in treating depression.

Methods

We used an open-label observational design, recruiting 20 patients (aged 19–84 years) from two public brain stimulation centers in Sweden. During the five-day treatment period and at a follow-up visit after 30 days we closely monitored adverse events and collected self-rated side effect data. Objective (MADRS, CGI) and subjective (MADRS-S) measures of symptoms and functioning (EQ-5D) were also assessed. Feasibility was evaluated using direct patient ratings combined with a qualitative approach evaluating staff experience.

Results

All patients reported adverse events at some point, the most common being headache (18/20 patients), but they were generally transient. MADRS scores decreased from 28.4 (min = 17, max = 38. SD = 6.9) at baseline to 20.0 (min = 1, max = 42. SD = 11.6) after the last day of treatment. 25% (n = 5) met the response criteria, with a mean time to response of 2.2 days (min = 1, max = 3. SD = 1.1). The practical arrangements surrounding this new treatment proved challenging for the organization, but patients reported few practical problems.

Conclusion

SATIS provided further insights into the potential benefits and challenges associated with aTBS protocols. Effectiveness and drop-out rates were comparable to national data of conventional iTBS, but with a markedly faster time to response. More resources were required than anticipated, increasing the clinical workload.
Research on the risk spillover effect between China’s national carbon emissions trading market and crude oil futures market
Authors: Bai XueRong , Chen Yan , Yang Fan
Published: January 2025

The development of China’s National Carbon Market has strengthened the inherent link between the carbon market and the broader energy market, providing a potential for cross-market risk transmission resonance. Studying the risk spillover effects between China’s National Carbon Market and the crude oil futures market is of significant practical importance, both in terms of carbon market development and carbon risk management. Based on the Maximal Overlap Discrete Wavelet Transform (MODWT), the price series are decomposed across multiple scales, and the risk spillover effects between the carbon market and the crude oil futures market are examined from both the time domain and the frequency domain. Methods such as wavelet energy decomposition, wavelet correlation, lead-lag analysis, and wavelet coherence are used to explore the mean spillover effects and volatility spillover effects (collectively referred to as risk spillover effects) across various scales. The study finds that China’s National Carbon Market exhibits a clear compliance-driven effect, with relatively low market liquidity. The crude oil futures market experiences frequent price fluctuations, primarily driven by long-term factors. In the time domain, the risk transmission resonance between the carbon market and the crude oil futures market is high, with significant positive correlations observed at the D1 to D4 scales, and noticeable mean spillover effects. In the frequency domain, at the D3 to D4 scales, the carbon market and the crude oil futures market exhibit similar volatility frequencies, indicating strong volatility spillover effects. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the trading volume of the carbon market be gradually increased to improve market liquidity. Furthermore, the risk monitoring and early warning mechanisms of China’s National Carbon Market should be improved. For carbon-emitting companies, enhancing awareness of carbon asset management and making informed investment and hedging decisions based on the correlation between the two markets is crucial.
Association between composite dietary antioxidant indices and anemia: NHANES 2003–2018
Authors: Wu Qian , Wang Zhiyu , Xia Jieyu , Xu Hui , Huang Gang , Feng Guangyong , Gou Xiaoxia
Published: January 2025

Background

There is increasing acknowledgment of the potential role that diet rich in antioxidants may play in the prevention of anemia. As a significant indicator of antioxidant-rich diet, the relationship between the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) and anemia has not been extensively studied. Therefore, this study aims to explore the association between CDAI and anemia.

Methods

Utilizing datas from the 2003–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. The CDAI was calculated using six dietary antioxidants, based on two 24-hour dietary recall interviews, serving as comprehensive measure of the intake of these antioxidants. Weighted multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was conducted to investigate the association between CDAI and anemia. Furthermore, subgroup analyses were performed to enhance datas reliability.

Results

A total of 33914 participants were included in the study, among which 3,416 (10.07%) were diagnosed with anemia. The unadjusted model showed negative association between CDAI and anemia (odds ratio [OR]: 0.94; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.93–0.96; P < 0.001). After adjusting for all covariates, with each increase in CDAI level linked to 3% lower risk of anemia (OR: 0.97; 95%CI: 0.95–0.98; P < 0.001). Moreover, when CDAI was categorized into quartiles, the observed trend persisted (P < 0.001). The RCS analysis revealed linear negative relationship between CDAI and anemia (P for nonlinearity = 0.619). Except for sex, smoking, diabetes and hypertension, no statistically significant interactions were found in any subgroup analysis (P < 0.05 for interaction).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that CDAI levels are inversely related to the prevalence of anemia. Consequently, monitoring individuals with low CDAI scores may facilitate the timely identification of anemia and enhance clinical decision-making.