bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uninterrupted Growth, Redistribution and Inequality: The Australian Case 1991-2020
Authors: Tran Chung , Zakariyya Nabeeh
Published: February 2024

To what extent can a progressive tax and transfer system moderate the distributional impacts of uneven economic growth? We revisit this question in the unique Australian context of three decades of uninterrupted economic growth from 1991 to 2020. We use longitudinal tax records of millions of Australian taxpayers to examine the distributional impacts of uneven growth and the redistributive role of progressive income taxes and targeted transfers. Our results indicate that the uneven distribution of income growth, favoring higher income groups of taxpayers, shapes a rising trend in market income inequality. The increased progressivity of the tax and transfer system has been instrumental in moderating these uneven gains across dierent groups. While inter-cohort income inequality has risen over time, lifetime inequality within cohorts has remained relatively lower and more stable, revealing potentially biased conclusions drawn from cross-sectional analyses. Employing a dynamic general equilibrium lifecycle model, we highlight the trade-offs between effciency and equity when implementing more progressive tax and transfer policies. Thus, our findings suggest that accounting for taxes and transfers, and lifetime income materially affects measures of inequality.
JEL: E62, H24, H31
Association between thyroid indices and ischemic stroke: Glycated albumin as a mediator
Authors: Jia Ruirui , Wang Hui , Chen Dong , Wang Long , Li Zhaoyang , Zhang Youyou
Published: February 2024

Limited data are available on the association between the thyroid indices and ischemic stroke (IS) risk, and the mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of thyroid indices and the prevalence of IS and examine the mediating effects through glycated albumin (GA). A total of 332 patients with ischemic stroke were matched 1:1 to patients without ischemic stroke for age and gender. Serum thyroid indices (free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and GA were collected from biochemical test results. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for thyroid indices and IS. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the associations between levels of thyroid indices and GA. Mediation analyses were further conducted to evaluate the potential mediating role of GA in the associations between thyroid indices and IS. Each SD increment of FT4 was associated with 26% higher odds (OR: 1.26; 95%CI: 1.05, 1.51) increment in ORs of IS. However, each SD increment of FT3 or FT3/FT4 ratio was associated with 20% lower odds (OR: 0.80; 95%CI: 0.67, 0.96) and 30% lower odds (OR 0.70; 95%CI: 0.58, 0.85) decrements in ORs of IS, respectively. Further mediation analyses indicated that GA mediated 18.16% and 11.35% of the associations between FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio and IS, respectively. Higher serum FT4 or lower serum FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio was associated with an increased risk of IS. The association of FT3 and FT3/FT4 ratio with IS was partially mediated by GA. Further large prospective studies are warranted to corroborate our findings.
A new fuzzy location-based approach for fire station site selection in Tehran
Authors: KhoshAmooz Giti
Published: February 2024

The growing population density would increase the demand for urban facilities. One of the most important kinds of these facilities is fire stations, whose duties include securing, preventing, and fighting fire. One of the most important problems with fire stations could be their inappropriate distribution and, therefore, the limitation of their service area. So, optimal site selection of fire stations is considered the main problem in this study. The goal of our study is to do site selection in Tehran, the capital of Iran, by considering seven criteria: distance from existing fire stations, nearness to main roads, nearness to dense places, nearness to gas and fuel stations, nearness to historical, cultural and recreational sites (cinemas and museums), nearness to green spaces and nearness to evacuation places. These criteria maps were fuzzified with the help of a linear membership function. Then, they were overlaid with the Gamma fuzzy operation. Then the 5-minute service area of each station was computed and excluded from the decision space, and the places with high scores were determined as the best places to locate new fire stations. These places are located in five of Tehran's regions. These regions are 14, 15, 16, 17 and 20.
Thermal analysis in 3-D Simulation of Thin-Film ZnO/MoS 2 /Si solar cells
Authors: Parasuraman R , Rathnakannan K
Published: February 2024

ZnO and MoS₂ thin-film solar cells hold immense research potential due to their unique and exceptional photoswitching characteristics and piezotronics behavior. This work unveils the 3D simulation of an n-ZnO/MoS₂/p-Si heterostructure solar cell, where photovoltaic and temperature distributions are modeled using Multiphysics. By coupling optical, semiconductor, and thermal modules, the simulation reveals crucial insights into total generating rate, current density-voltage curve, heat generation, recombination, and electric field profile. Notably, optimizing layer thicknesses and analyzing the heat profile led to enhanced total heat generation and the simulated device achieved a significant boost in both short-circuit current density (36.3 mA/cm²), open-circuit voltage (1.1206 V) and a conversion efficiency of 36.286%. This study not only demonstrates the first instance of multi-state photoswitching in these devices but also paves the way for further optimizing their remarkable efficiency through meticulous thermal management.
The Gender Health Gap in Ghana: Exploring the Role of Financial Inclusion
Authors: Iddrisu Abdul Ganiyu , Mohammed Jabir Ibrahim , Bakth Nazmunnesa , Darius Ibzan
Published: February 2024

This paper investigates the impact of financial inclusion on health and the gender-health differences in Ghana using micro data from the sixth wave of the Ghana Living Standards Survey (GLSS) and relying on the IV-probit and 2SLS-IV techniques. The findings suggested significant gender health differences, with female individuals reporting lower health than their male counterparts. Additionally, financial inclusion matters for health and the gender-health gap, as people who have higher level of financial inclusion reports being healthier than their counterparts who are less included, and there is no significant health difference across gender for people with higher level of financial inclusion. This finding is novel and important for policy implications, as financial inclusion may help reduce the gender-health gap in Ghana.
JEL: J16, G2, I12
Glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament light, matrix metalloprotease 3 and fatty acid binding protein 4 as non-invasive brain tumor biomarkers
Authors: Ghorbani Atefeh , Chatanaka Miyo K. , Avery Lisa M. , Wang Mingyue , Brown Jermain , Cohen Rachel , Gorham Taron , Misaghian Salvia , Padmanabhan Nikhil , Romero Daniel , Stengelin Martin , Mathew Anu , Sigal George , Wohlstadter Jacob , Horbinski Craig , McCortney Katy , Xu Wei , Zadeh Gelareh , Mansouri Alireza , Yousef George M. , Diamandis Eleftherios P. , Prassas Ioannis
Published: February 2024

Background: Gliomas are aggressive malignant tumors, with poor prognosis. There is an unmet need for the discovery of new, non-invasive biomarkers for differential diagnosis, prognosis, and management of brain tumors. Our objective is to validate four plasma biomarkers – glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light (NEFL), matrix metalloprotease 3 (MMP3) and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) – and compare them with established brain tumor molecular markers and survival.
Methods: Our cohort consisted of patients with benign and malignant brain tumors (GBM= 77, Astrocytomas= 26, Oligodendrogliomas= 23, Secondary tumors= 35, Meningiomas= 70, Schwannomas= 15, Pituitary adenomas= 15, Normal individuals= 30). For measurements, we used ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence multiplexed immunoassays.
Results: High plasma GFAP concentration was associated with GBM, low GFAP and high FABP4 were associated with meningiomas, and low GFAP and low FABP4 were associated with astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas. Several prognostic genetic alterations were significantly associated with plasma biomarker levels. We found no independent associations between plasma GFAP, NEFL, FABP4 and MMP3, and overall survival. The candidate biomarkers could not reliably discriminate GBM from primary or secondary CNS lymphomas.
Conclusions: GFAP, NEFL, FABP4 and MMP3 are useful for differential diagnosis and prognosis, and are associated with molecular changes in gliomas.
An inpatient mental health placement for paramedic undergraduate students: A pilot study
Authors: Carney Emma , Thornberry Phoebe , Bear Robert , Bilton Natalia , Bilton Dean
Published: February 2024

Background
The prevalence of mental and behavioural illnesses in the Australian community is increasing. Paramedics are frequently the first health responders to a mental health crisis, and their workload associated with mental health presentations is also increasing. The present study explored the experience and perspectives of undergraduate paramedic students who participated in a pilot mental health placement.
Methods
A pilot workplace learning opportunity was established in which students completed a portion of their community service hours in an inpatient mental health setting at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Eight students attended and completed the placement and were administered the Clinical Placement Evaluation Questionnaire.
Results
Student responses to this placement experience were overwhelmingly positive. The data showed that all the students responded “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” to each of the survey items. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data yielded four central themes related to benefits, additional training and education, nursing staff, and improvements.
Conclusions
This study revealed that mental health placements for paramedics have meaningful educational value and that it has a major impact on student learning. Since this pilot study, mental health placements have been permanently included as part of the undergraduate curriculum in our institution.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of Bsr-d1 enhances blast resistance of rice in Northeast China
Authors: Zhang Ying , Lin xiufeng , Li Li , Piao Ri-Hua , Wu Songquan , Song Anqi , Gao Mengmeng , Jin Yongmei
Published: February 2024

Rice blast is a globaldisease, which has a significant negative impact on rice yield and quality. Due to the complexity and changeability of the physiological races of rice blast, controlling the rice blast is challenging in agricultural production. Bsr-d1, a negative transcription factor confers broad-spectrum resistance to rice blast which was identified from the indica rice cultivar Digu, however, the biological function in japonica rice varieties is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the blast resistance allele of OsBsr-d1 in a total of 256 japonica rice varieties of Jilin province in Northeast China and found that it does not exist in these varieties. Therefore, we developed Bsr-d1 knockout mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 system using a japonica rice variety Jigeng88 (JG88) as a recipient variety. Compared with the wild-type JG88, the homozygous Bsr-d1 mutant lines, KO#1 and KO#2, showed enhanced leaf blast resistance at seedling stage to several Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) races collected from Jilin Province in Northeast China. Physiological and biochemical indicators revealed that the homozygous mutant lines produced more hydrogen peroxide compared to JG88 when infected by M. oryzae. Comparative RNA-seq revealed that the DEGs were mainly involved in the synthesis of amide compounds, zinc finger proteins and transmembrane transporters, etc. In summary, our results indicate that the Bsr-d1 knockout mutants developed through gene editing technology can enhance the broad-spectrum resistance of rice in Northeast China to rice blast. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for disease resistance breeding of Bsr-d1 gene in Northeast China, but also provides new germplasm resources for disease resistance rice breeding.
“There was nobody else, no duniya.” – Covid-19 and the meaning of Home for Older Adults in India
Authors: Bhargava Swarnima , Sri Sujata
Published: February 2024

The Covid-19 pandemic fractured the known world; imprisoning people in their homes for their safety. The meaning of home and family altered, leaving people with limited access to social networks and social rituals. Older adults were especially vulnerable with greater restrictions placed on their movement. This paper illustrates some of the reconfigurations what home meant for older adults in India, using data from a qualitative study conducted during the second wave of the pandemic. Eighteen urban dwelling older adults in the age range of 60 to 78 years, from diverse socio-economic and linguistic backgrounds were interviewed. Individual stories about living through the pandemic were derived from narrative interviews. The transcripts were analysed using Riessman’s thematic narrative analysis framework. The meaning of home changed from a place of safety and comfort to “an antiseptic bubble”, a place of loneliness and separation, and a repository of painful memories of loved ones who had died during the pandemic Forced separation from friends and family exacerbated feelings of loss, deprivation and feeling adrift in an increasingly unpredictable/lonely/isolated world. Anxiety, vulnerability and insecurity about the future was voiced. Ongoing implications of the pandemic for social ties and mental health are discussed.
Evaluating the Translation of Figurative Language: A Comparative Study of ChatGPT and Human Translators
Authors: Sahari Yousef , Qasem Fawaz , Asiri Eisa , Alasmri Ibrahim , Assiri Ahmad , Mahdi Hassan
Published: February 2024

Recently, Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT) has demonstrated significant advancements in a variety of language-related tasks, including machine translation. However, many studies that evaluated the performance of ChatGPT in translation tasks focused on general texts. Consequently, the primary objective of this study was to assess how well GPT-3, can translate figurative language content from Arabic into English and vice versa and compare its performance with that of human translators. To achieve this objective, the study selected some passages from Gharkas (2003) focusing on different topics which included figurative language. These passages underwent translation by both a professional human translator and GPT-3. The study evaluated translation performance of GPT-3 against human translation using qualitative criteria. The criteria included accuracy, fluency, cohesion, and coherence, and translating figurative language. The findings of the analysis of these passages revealed that GPT-3 generated translations that were generally comprehensible but fell short in capturing figurative language in comparison to human translation. The results indicated that GPT-3 rendered similar number of sentences if the ST was English. However, when the ST was Arabic, GPT-3 reduced the length of long Arabic sentences and divided them to be shorter.
Equity as the new normal: the economic consequences of the pandemic, from The COVID Impact Project - focusing on systemically oppressed populations
Authors: Pakhale Smita , Jama Sadia , Ambade Preshit , Kitty Darlene , Bignell Ted , Florence Kelly , Magwood Michael "Max" , Tariq Saania , Huynh Nina , Hegarty Terry , Fareau Vanessa , Hegarty Meaghan , Ramsay Tim , Thavorn Kednapa , Grosjean Sylvie , Szerszunowicz Natalia , Falavinha Bruna , Rizvi Maryam , Ichiba Maryame , Etowa Josephine , Boyd Rob , Najafizada Maisam , Crighton Eric , Selby Peter
Published: February 2024

The objective of this study is to assess the employment impacts of COVID on systemically marginalized populations. A cross-sectional COVID Impact study examined participants during October 2020 to November 2021 at the Bridge Engagement Center in Ottawa, Canada. A survey co-created and administered by people with lived/living experience of being precariously housed, low-income, and/or racialized (including Indigenous peoples) assessed their demographics, socioeconomics, and health. Income and employment were assessed by descriptive statistics, directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), Bayesian logistic modeling and constructed a directed acyclic diagram to test the causality between selected demographics and employment income. Participants aged 16–65 years (n = 416) were male (n = 201), female (n = 198), and other (n = 5). Ethnicities were white (n = 118), African Caribbean Black (n = 118), Indigenous (n = 142) and other (n = 26). We observed social assistance receipt (88%), psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire-12 > 3) (47%), housing insecurity (61%), and food insecurity (65%). Sixteen of 59 newly unemployed people received pandemic funding. Unemployment (n = 340) odds ratios (95% credible intervals) were: Indigenous, 6.38 (5.36, 7.54); African Caribbean Black, 5.76 (4.85, 6.79); other, 3.81 (3.19, 4.50); and white, 1.81 (1.64, 1.99). Systemically marginalized populations demonstrated disproportionate impact by the COVID-19 pandemic with the highest odds of unemployment being for non-white populations during COVID, as compared to pre-COVID. The findings from this study indicate the urgent need for an equitable, inclusive, just, comprehensive, and most importantly compassionate social safety net that supports everyone.
A novel fluorescence cross-priming amplification based on universal molecular beacon for rapid and specific detection of Salmonella enterica in food samples
Authors: Hou Wenfu , Du Juan , Liu Tingting , Wang Wensi , Ai Youwei , Zhou Min , Wang Hongxun
Published: February 2024

A methodology with rapidity and specificity is of great significance for effectively control and management of disease epidemics caused by Salmonella enterica as it has presented an obvious threat to food safety and public health worldwide. One major drawback to the traditional cross-priming amplification (CPA) detection method is the possibility of detecting false-positive signals derived from opening tube lids or non-specific amplification, and molecular beacon was firstly employed to solve aforementioned problems. The reaction system was optimized and the results showed that the MB-CPA method was highly specific for detection of S. enterica. The LOD of established assay was found to be 10 CFU/mL, 40 CFU/mL, 4 CFU/mL in pure culture, chicken sample without and with 6 h enrichment, respectively. And the LOD of MB-CPA was 10 times higher than that of real-time PCR. An application of MB-CPA assay was conducted with 78 naturally contaminated food samples to test its practicality. After an enrichment step at 37℃ for 6h, the results showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity compared with standard culture-based method. Considering its rapidity, user-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, this MB-CPA assay will aid in the broader application in food industry for the detection of S. enterica in small or resource-limited food testing laboratories.
Predictive Role of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte And Cytokine Phenotypes in Patients with Operable Breast Cancer And Neoadjuvant Therapy: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Wu Jiangping , Ou Xin , Yuan Keyu , Shi Feng , Zhou Quan , Lyu Suzhen , Li Yanping , Zhao Yanjie , Cao Yu , Sun Jianping , Wang Jing , Song Qingkun
Published: February 2024

Background
PD-L1 is an indicator for immunotherapy however, the detection is based on biopsy and affected by tumor heterogeneity and patients’ intolerance. This study aimed to explore convenient alternatives for PD-L1 tissue detection.
Methods
With 134 cases recruitment, the peripheral lymphocyte subtypes and cytokines was detected by flow cytometry and PD-L1 expression in tumor microenvironment (TME) was detected by immunohistochemistry and assessed by two qualified pathologists.
Results
The patients with positive PD-L1 expression had peripheral CD8+/CD28+ T lymphocytes 20% higher than those with negative expression (p = 0.008) with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) being 0.66 (p = 0.002). Among patients with positive PD-L1 expression and negative neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), peripheral CD8+/CD28+ T lymphocytes were 54% higher than those with negative expression (p = 0.003), with the AUC being 0.68 (p = 0.003). In patients receiving NAT, peripheral TNF-α (p = 0.010), increased from 0.45pg/ml to 0.64pg/ml in positive PD-L1 group, and the AUC was 0.79 (p = 0.012). Among breast cancer patients with negative NAT experience, 1% increase of peripheral CD8+/CD28+ T lymphocytes was associated with a 21% higher probability of positive PD-L1 expression (OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.06–1.37) and among patients with NAT, the OR of peripheral TNF-α > 0.5pg/ml was increased to 24.5 for positive TME PD-L1 expression (p = 0.008).
Conclusion
In breast cancer patients receiving NAT, peripheral TNF-α could be used to predict the TME PD-L1 expression, and in breast cancer patients without NAT, peripheral percentage of CD8+/CD28+ T lymphocytes could be used to predict the TME PD-L1 expression. These biomarkers should be further implemented in practice to guide the immunotherapy.
Potential of Producing Organic Lettuce Seedlings without Peat Using Agricultural and Agro-industrial Compost
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed M.A. , Mohamed Yahia , El-Helaly Mostafa A. , Afifi Mohamed M.I. , El-Tawashy Mohamed K.F.
Published: February 2024

Peat is an unrenewable resource. The potential of using composts made from a mixture of agricultural and agro-industrial wastes as peat substitutes was evaluated in this study. Four compost piles (C1-C4) were constructed by mixing various wastes after estimating their properties. C1 was a 1:1:1.5 weight ratio mixture of filter mud, mushroom waste, and date-palm fronds, while C2-C4 were a 0.5:1 weight ratio mixture between either bagasse, cutting grassland, or date-palm fronds and cattle dung. After four months of decomposition, the compost’s physical, chemical, and biological properties were estimated in comparison to commercial compost (CC), peatmoss (PM), and their ideal ranges (IR) for seed germination and seedling growth. Composts had significant differences in physical and chemical properties. Some composts revealed property values within the IR. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that composts lack peat-like properties. Composts had a lower C/N ratio and organic matter, along with higher bulk density, electrical conductivity, and pH compared to PM. Cattle manure enhanced organic matter and carbon, total nitrogen and potassium, and ammonium levels and reduced ash levels in C2-C4, compared to filter mud in C1. The suitability of C1-C4, CC, and PM substrates for growing crisp lettuce 'Big Bell' seedlings was evaluated during the winters of 2018 and 2019 under plastic-house conditions. The substrates had significant effects on lettuce seedling traits. C2-C4 substrate seedlings’ vegetative shoots grew more rapidly than other substrate seedlings due to the increased length and diameter of their stem and leaf area. The PCA revealed that PM-substrate and C2-C4 substrates had similar effects on lettuce seedling growth traits. The proper mixing of agricultural and agro-industrial wastes based on their properties can produce compost with relatively suitable physical, chemical, and biological properties for lettuce seed germination and seedling growth. It will take more investigation to improve the C2-C4 compost’s properties by using certain techniques.
Forecasting of Groundwater Level Variation Under Changing Climate in Chhattisgarh State Using Deep Learning Technique
Authors: Dey Mukesh Kumar , Singh Chandan Kumar
Published: February 2024

Groundwater is the most precious natural resource in modern days. India is the largest consumer of groundwater globally, with over 25% of the world's groundwater extraction. Climate change affects the groundwater level both in direct and indirect ways. Recently developed machine learning approaches have led to the consideration of selected climate variables that can govern the groundwater dynamic. The inclusion of indirect key drivers such as anthropogenic activities and lithology to forecast groundwater levels using machine learning techniques is not well understood. This paper aims to consider both the direct and indirect key drivers for forecasting seasonal groundwater levels. In this context, a modified approach based on a deep learning model has been formulated that considers land cover dynamics, lithological properties, and climatic variables such as temperature and precipitation. The model was calibrated and validated to forecast seasonal groundwater levels for four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) scenarios. The results show that the accuracy level, R2 is 0.86 which is acceptable. Overall, the results obtained broadly correspond to an acceptable degree of accuracy. The proposed methodology is applicable for seasonal groundwater level forecasting and can be useful to farmers and key stakeholders.
Onsager-Machlup functional for stochastic differential equations with additive noise
Authors: Zhang Xinze , Li Yong
Published: February 2024

This paper is devoted to studying the Onsager-Machlup functional for stochastic differential equations (SDEs) with additive noise of the α-Hölder, 0 < α < 1/4, dXt = f (t, Xt)dt + g(t)dWt. When the diffusion term of SDEs is not a fixed constant, we obtain the Onsager-Machlup functional. This function is the Lagrangian giving the most probable transition path connecting metastable states for stochastic processes driven by additive noise. This is done by introducing new measurable norms and applying an appropriate version of the Girsanov transformation. Moreover, we provide examples of numerical simulations, including a one-dimensional SDE and a fast-slow SDE for multiscale stochastic volatility models.
MSC2020 subject classifications: Primary 82C35, 60H10; secondary 37H10
High Gain Artificial Magnetic Conductor Integrated Antenna for Wi-Fi 6E/Automotive Radar Systems Applications
Authors: Kanuri Naveen , Damera Vakula
Published: February 2024

This article presents a compact and high-gain novel p-shape triple-band printed monopole antenna. The proposed antenna is made of a p-shaped monopole radiator with rectangular slot etched on the radiating arm. The slots create triband resonance frequencies. The antenna is also integrated with a novel artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) to achieve high gain. The AMC is implemented with a rectangular structure and has zero phase reflection characteristics, which helps to improve the antenna gain. The proposed antenna resonates at 1.18 GHz, 6 GHz, and 9.4 GHz. The proposed antenna has an improved gain of 6.75dBi. The proposed antenna structures are fabricated and measured peak gain, S11, and radiation pattern are compared with the simulation results. The proposed antenna operates at 6GHz for Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, operates at 1.18 GHz for GPS navigation, and operates at 9.4 GHz for automotive radar systems for collision avoidance.
Automatic Localization of Cochlear-Implant-Electrodes using Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images
Authors: Thormählen Jasmin , Krüger Benjamin , Nogueira Waldo
Published: February 2024

Background: Cochlear implants (CI) are implantable medical devices that enable the perception of sounds and the understanding of speech by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve in case of inner ear damage. The stimulation takes place via an array of electrodes surgically inserted in the cochlea. After CI implantation, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is used to evaluate the position of the electrodes. Moreover, CBCT is used in research studies to investigate the relationship between the position of the electrodes and the hearing outcome of CI user. In clinical routine, the estimation of the position of the CI electrodes is done manually, which is very time-consuming.
Results: The aim of this study was to optimize procedures of automatic electrode localization from CBCT data following CI implantation. For this, we analyzed the performance of automatic electrode localization for 150 CBCT data sets of 10 different types of electrode arrays. Our own implementation of the method by Noble et al. 2015 for automated electrode localization served as a benchmark for evaluation. Differences in the detection rate and the localization accuracy across types of electrode arrays were evaluated and errors were classified. Based on this analysis, we developed a strategy to optimize procedures of automatic electrode localization.
It was shown that particularly distantly spaced electrodes in combination with a deep insertion can lead to apical-basal confusions in the localization procedure. This confusion prevents electrodes from being detected or assigned correctly, leading to a deterioration in localization accuracy.
Conclusions: We propose an extended cost function for automatic electrode localization methods that prevents double detection of electrodes to avoid apical-basal confusions. This significantly increased the detection rate by 11.15 percent points and improved the overall localization accuracy by 0.53 mm (1.75 voxels). In comparison to other methods, our proposed cost function does not require any prior knowledge about the individual cochlea anatomy.
Spatio-Temporal Modelling for Downscaling Long-Range Daily Precipitation Forecasts at Unmonitored Sites
Authors: Bakar K. Shuvo , Jin Huidong , Shao Quanxi , Li Ming , Dobrohotoff Peter , Powell Andrea
Published: February 2024

Downscaling low-resolution long-range climate forecasts to specific sites, in the absence of historical observations, poses a challenge yet holds significant value for weather-sensitive sectors. Existing methods for statistical downscaling and climatological forecasts, however, necessitate site-specific observations. In this study, we propose a novel solution for generating daily precipitation forecasts at any unmonitored site. We introduce a Bayesian non-stationary truncated spatio-temporal model that uses data from meteorological stations within its surrounding region. The model employs a truncated random process to handle dry days and utilises a Gaussian-process-based spatio-temporal stochastic process to capture non-stationary spatial dependencies. Besides utilising ensemble seasonal forecasts and hindcasts from a climate model, it also incorporates Quantile Mapping (QM) downscaled long-range forecasts for these stations. Our proposed model, Spatio-Temporal Forecast downscaling with QM (STFQM), is employed to downscale climate forecasts from ACCESS-S1 (Australian Community Climate and Earth-System Simulator – Seasonal, version 1) at a 60km spatial resolution to any site within the Murray-Darling basin, Australia. Through comprehensive leave-one-station-out cross-validation, our model demonstrates superior performance in one-month lead time forecasts compared to both the raw ACCESS-S1 forecasts and their QM downscaled counterparts, in terms of accuracy, reliability, and overall ensemble forecast skill. Furthermore, our results illustrate that STFQM is on par with Climatology, a benchmark for seasonal forecasts. Our innovative approach complements existing statistical downscaling techniques, eliminating the need for site-specific observations while providing high-quality localised precipitation forecasts.
Toripalimab plus chemotherapy and radiotherapy for treatment-naive, advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A single-arm phase II trial
Authors: Wu Lei , Li Baisen , Wan Gang , Wang Yi , Zhu Jie , Liang Long , Leng Xuefeng , He Wenwu , Peng Lin , Han Yongtao , He Shuya , Wang Dongsheng , Zhou Yehan , Yi Liang , Zhang Wencheng , Pang Qingsong , Zhang Wei , Li Tao , Lang Jinyi , Liu Yang , Cao Bangrong , Wang Qifeng
Published: February 2024

Background
The effectiveness of chemo-immunotherapy for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains limited. Therefore, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of radiotherapy plus chemo-immunotherapy as a first-line therapy for advanced ESCC.
Methods
In this single-arm clinical trial, individuals aged 18–75 years with previously untreated stage IV ESCC received chemotherapy comprising four cycles of 135–175 mg/m2 paclitaxel with carboplatin every three weeks. Toripalimab (240 mg) was intravenously infused every three weeks for 12 months or until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Radiotherapy commenced in the third cycle, encompassing radiation (50–50.4 Gy in 25–28 fractions) to primary lesions and metastases (30–40 Gy in 3–5 fractions). The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary outcomes were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of remission (DoR), one- and two-year overall survival rates, and adverse events.
Results
In this study, 33 participants (29 men; median age 59 years) were enrolled. Ultimately, 26 patients (78.8%) completed the entire radio-chemotherapy course, achieving an ORR, DCR, and DoR of 57.7% (95% CI: 37.3–78.0), 73.1% (95% CI: 54.8–91.3), and 11.5 months (IQR, 6.4–15.0 months), respectively. Within a median follow-up of 22.2 months, the median PFS was 12.8 months. Lymphopenia was the most frequent grade ≥ 3 adverse event (82%), and esophageal fistula occurred in three patients (9.1%). No treatment-related deaths occurred.
Conclusion
Radiotherapy supplementation to first-line chemo-immunotherapy for treatment-naive advanced ESCC demonstrated substantial antitumor activity and manageable safety, warranting further randomized controlled trials.
Trial Registration:
http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=126830 , identifier ChiCTR2100046715.
The Relationship between Medication Beliefs, Patient Activation, and Self-Rated Health in Patients Taking Oral Anticancer Agents
Authors: Hwang Misun , Cho Youmin , Gong Yang , Jiang Yun
Published: February 2024

Purpose: Patients on oral anticancer agent (OAA) therapies have the autonomy to manage their cancer treatments in home settings. However, patients may not have adequate knowledge, confidence, or ability to effectively manage OAA-related consequences, such as severe side effects, which can significantly impact their treatment and health outcomes. This study aims to identify the associations between medication beliefs, patient activation, and self-rated health (SRH) among oncology patients taking OAAs and explore the potential mediation effects of patient activation on the relationship between medication beliefs and SRH.
Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted on cross-sectional data from 114 patients who were taking or had previously taken OAAs and were diagnosed with breast, colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, hierarchical multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis were conducted.
Results: The results indicate that patients taking OAAs have ambivalent attitudes toward medication. Both medication necessity and concerns were negatively associated with SRH, while patient activation was positively associated with SRH. Patient activation had a negative association with medication concerns and fully mediated the relationship between medication concerns and SRH in patients taking OAAs.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the significance of activating patients to better understand and manage their OAAs. It is crucial for oncology professionals to provide multifaceted interventions to promote patient activation with an effort to mitigate the negative impact of medication beliefs on patient-perceived health outcomes.
Clinical application of CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization in thoracoscopic lung nodule resection: A single-centre retrospective study
Authors: Zhu Xiao , Chen Zhi , Zhu Kun-Lun , Zhou Shao , Xing Fu-Bao , Chen Wen-Bang , Zhang Lei
Published: February 2024

Background
To evaluate the clinical value of CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization in thoracoscopic lung nodule resection.
Methods
We retrospectively collected the clinical data of 120 patients who underwent lung nodule localization and resection surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, from January 2020 to January 2022. Among them, 30 patients underwent CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization, 30 patients underwent only CT-assisted body surface localization, 30 patients underwent only intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization, and 30 patients underwent CT-guided percutaneous microcoil localization. The success rates, complication rates, and localization times of the four lung nodule localization methods were statistically analysed.
Results
The success rates of CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization and CT-guided percutaneous microcoil localization were both 96.7%, which were significantly higher than the 70.0% success rate in the CT-assisted body surface localization group (P < 0.05). The complication rate in the combined group was 0%, which was significantly lower than the 60% in the microcoil localization group (P < 0.05). The localization time for the combined group was 17.73 ± 2.52 min, which was significantly less than that (27.27 ± 7.61 min) for the microcoil localization group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
CT-assisted body surface localization combined with intraoperative stereotactic anatomical localization is a safe, painless, accurate, and reliable method for lung nodule localization.
Evaluation of smooth reaction rate of noisy experimental data using Legendre series expansion
Authors: Aghili Alireza , Shabani Amir Hossein
Published: February 2024

The accurate calculation of reaction rates from experimental data is crucial for understanding and characterizing chemical processes. However, the presence of noise in experimental data can introduce errors in rate calculations. In this study, we introduced a novel approach that utilizes the Legendre series expansion method to directly derive smooth reaction rates from noisy experimental data, eliminating the need for numerical differentiation methods. This approach proves to be highly effective in handling noisy thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) data obtained from the thermal decomposition of specific polymers. We demonstrated the robustness and reliability of this method and provided Gnu Octave codes as a free alternative to MATLAB, making the implementation more accessible. Furthermore, the smooth reaction rates obtained were used to evaluate the activation energy using the Friedman isoconversional method. The results showed excellent agreement with those obtained using the Vyazovkin integral method. Additionally, the proposed method can be applied to obtain smooth derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves using noisy TGA data set.
MSC Classification: 41A10 , 41A58 , 42C10 , 65D25 , 65D30 , 80A30
Ultra-wide measurement range D-shaped photonic crystal fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance
Authors: Zhang Shuhuan , Yang Ying , Dong Jiyu
Published: February 2024

In this paper, a kind of D-type photonic crystal fiber (PCF) sensor with an ultra-wide detection range based on micro-opening gold film coating is proposed. This sensor allows for the sensing detection of the refractive index (RI) of the analyte ranging from 1.30 to 1.42. However, the sensor coated with a micro-opening gold film only achieves an average wavelength sensitivity of 1489 nm/RIU in the x-polarization direction. To improve the performance of the sensor, an attempt was made to replace the micro-opening gold film with MoO2 nanofilm. After simulation calculation, it was found that the RI detection range of the sensor using MoO2 nano-film became 1.33–1.39. Excitingly, the average wavelength sensitivity in the x-polarized direction reaches 17, 178 nm/RIU, which is 11.5 times better than the original sensor. This implies that the sensor is more sensitive to changes in the RI and can provide more accurate sensing and detection results. It has been demonstrated that the performance of a D-type PCF sensor can be significantly improved by using MoO2 nanofilm. This improvement helps to expand the application domain of sensors and enhance the accuracy of sensing detection. We believe that this research result has important implications for the development of fiber sensor technologies.
Regulation of alternative splicing of lipid metabolism genes in sepsis-induced liver damage by RNA-binding proteins
Authors: Abuduaini Buzukela , Jiyuan Zhang , Rehati Aliya , Liang Zhao , Yunlin Song
Published: February 2024

Background:RNA binding proteins (RBPs) have the potential for transcriptional regulation in sepsis-induced liver injury, but precise functions remain unclear.
Aim: To conduct a genome-wide expression analysis of RBPs and illuminate changes in regulation of alternative splicing in sepsis-induced liver injury.
Method: RNA-seq data on "sepsis and liver" from the publicly available NCBI dataset was analyzed, and differentially expressed RBPs and alternative splicing events (ASEs) in healthy and septic liver were identified. Co-expression analyses of sepsis-regulated RBPs and ASEs were performed. Models of sepsis were established to validate hepatic RBP gene expression patterns with different treatments.
Result: Pairwise analysis of gene expression profiles of sham, cecum ligation puncture (CLP) and CLP with dichloroacetate (CLPDCA) mice allowed 1208 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 800 were upregulated and 408 downregulated, to be identified. DEGs were similar in both CLP and CLPDCA mice. A further 67 upregulated and 58 downregulated DEGS were identified by comparison of sham and CLPDCA groups. GO functional analysis showed DEGs to be enriched in immune and inflammatory-related processes and KEGG analysis showed that lipid metabolism-related pathways were downregulated. Differences in lipid metabolism-related alternative splicing events, including A3SS, were also found in CLP and CLPDCA compared with sham mice. Thirty-seven RBPs, including S100a11, Ads2, Fndc3b, Fn1, Ddx28, Car2, Cisd1 and Ptms, were differentially expressed in CLP mice and shown to be enriched in lipid metabolic and immune /inflammatory-related processes by GO functional analysis. The models of sepsis were constructed with different treatment groups and S100a11 expression in the CLP group found to be higher than in the sham group, a change that was reversed by DCA. The alternative splicing ratio of Srebf1 and Cers2 decreased compared with the Sham group increased after DCA treatment.
Conclusion: Abnormal profiles of gene expression and alternative splicing were associated with sepsis-induced liver injury. Unusual expression of RBPs, such as S100a11, may regulate alternative splicing of lipid metabolism-associated genes, such as Srebf1 and Cers2, in the septic liver. RBPs may constitute potential treatment targets for sepsis-induced liver injury.
Horizontal and vertical variations in soil properties under different pruning regimes in Albizia procera and Hardwickia binata based agroforestry systems under semi-arid conditions
Authors: Prasad Rajendra , Shukla Ashok , Arunachalam A. , Singh Prashant , Gupta Ajit , Newaj Ram , Singh Ramesh , Saroj N. K. , Tripathi V. D. , Debnath Sovan
Published: February 2024

Trees’ canopy pruning is one of the most important management practices in agroforestry that allows understory crops to receive adequate sunlight. The effect of pruning on the productivity of intercrops is well known; however, information on its effect on soil properties is scanty. Hence, studies were conducted to determine 1) whether canopy pruning has any effect on soil properties and 2) what level of pruning should be adopted in selected agroforestry systems. Two separate agroforestry models, based on Albizia procera (10-year-old) and Hardwickia binata (20-year-old), were selected for the study, which included three factors: pruning level (0, 50 and 75%), sampling location (under and outside canopy) and soil depth (0–15 and 16–30 cm), each of which was replicated three times in a completely randomized block design. Canopy pruning yielded varying effects on the studied soil parameters without any definite relationship with pruning levels. Sampling location and soil depth had a significant effect on the studied parameters. Their values were found to be higher and favorable in the upper soil and under the tree canopy. The findings revealed that unpruned trees of A. procera caused the maximum improvement in soil, followed by trees subjected to 50 and 75% crown pruning, while in the case of H. binata, improvement in soil health in 50% pruning over no pruning was noticeable, but similar improvement in 75% pruning over 50% was not so prominent, implying that heavy pruning (75%) should be avoided to keep evapotranspiration under control. Thus, the study concludes that a moderate level of pruning (50%) is desirable in A. procera and H. binata based agroforestry under semi-arid conditions for efficient use of above- and below-ground resources and improved soil health.
Investigation of the Rate of Benign Histology and Related Factors in Clinical Stage T1 Kidney Tumors Tİtle
Authors: Yıldız Serkan , Yılmaz Muhammet Şahin , Kokurcan Alihan , Cavıldak İdris Kıvanç , Baylan Burhan , Gök Alper , İmamoğlu Muhammet Abdurrahim
Published: February 2024

Purpose: To compare the relationship between a benign pathology of preoperative parameters of renal masses <7cm (T1) in diameter.
Methods: Between January 2007 and June 2016 and applied to radical nephrectomy, nephron sparing surgery for renal masses < 7 cm (T1) were evaluated retrospectively. Age, sex, tumor size, tumor location, laterality, symptomatology, tumor endophytic / exophytic whether or not the tumor cystic / solid whether or not, smoking history and comorbidities were compared in terms of pathology results.
Results: A total of 243 patients, 58 (23%) were benign pathology. Female sex (63%) were significantly higher rate of benign pathology (p = 0.004). 60% of patients with benign pathology was observed that 44% of symptomatic patients with malignant pathology (p = 0.033). We found symptomatic benign pathology that 60% of patients and malignant pathology in 44% of patients (p = 0.033). Pain as a symptom was associated with benign pathology (51.7%). 1-2 cm, 2-3 cm, 3-4 cm benign pathology of renal masses rates were 33%, 20%, 12.5%, respectively. In this study; age, tumor size, tumor location, laterality, tumor endophytic / exophytic whether or not the tumor cystic / solid whether or not, smoking history and comorbidities were observed pathological results to impact not significantly.
Conclusion: In our study, symptomatic and female sex in small renal masses appeared benign pathology markers. As a result, predictors before surgery may be considered due to the high rate of benign pathology of small renal masses.