bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Machine Learning Algorithm for Detecting Abnormal Patterns in Continuous Capnography and Pulse Oximetry Monitoring
Authors: Spijkerboer Feline L. , Overdyk Frank J. , Dahan Albert
Published: November 2023

Purpose: Continuous capnography monitors patient ventilation but can be susceptible to artifact, resulting in alarm fatigue. Development of smart algorithms may facilitate accurate detection of abnormal ventilation, allowing intervention before patient deterioration. The objective of this analysis was to use machine learning (ML) to classify combined waveforms of continuous capnography and pulse oximetry as normal or abnormal.
Methods: This analysis used data collected during the observational, prospective PRODIGY trial, in which patients receiving parenteral opioids underwent continuous capnography and pulse oximetry monitoring while on the general care floor [1]. Abnormal ventilation segments in the data stream were reviewed by nine experts and inter-rater agreement was assessed. Abnormal segments were defined as the time series 60sec before and 30sec after an abnormal pattern was detected. Normal segments (90sec continuous monitoring) were randomly sampled and filtered to discard sequences with missing values. Five ML models were trained on extracted features and optimized towards an Fβ score with β=2.
Results: The inter-rater agreement was high (>87%), allowing 7,858 sequences (2,944 abnormal) to be used for model development. Data were divided into 80% training and 20% test sequences. The XGBoost model had the highest Fβ score of 0.94 (with β=2), showcasing an impressive recall of 0.98 against a precision of 0.83.
Conclusions: This study presents a promising advancement in respiratory monitoring, focusing on reducing false alarms and enhancing accuracy of alarm systems. Our algorithm reliably distinguishes normal from abnormal waveforms. More research is needed to define patterns to distinguish abnormal ventilation from artifacts.
Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02811302, registered June 23, 2016
Measuring General Health Literacy in Chinese Adults: Validation of the HLS19-Q12 Instrument
Authors: Liu Rongmei , Zhao Qiuping , Yu Mingyang , Chen Hui , Yang Xiaomo , Liu Shuaibin , Okan Orkan , Chen Xinghan , Guo Shuaijun , Xing Yuhan
Published: November 2023

Background
Health literacy measurement lays a solid foundation to identify associations with health outcomes and monitor population health literacy levels over time. In mainland China, most existing health literacy instruments are either knowledge-based or practice-based, making health literacy results incomparable between China and other countries. This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the 12-item Health Literacy Population Survey (HLS19-Q12) in a general population of Chinese adults.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit primary carers of students from 11 schools in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, using convenience cluster sampling. Participants completed an online self-administered survey that collected information on key sociodemographics, health literacy (HLS19-Q12 and a comparison tool: Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ)), and health-related outcomes. Using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist as a guideline, we tested internal consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, structural validity, concurrent predictive validity, and convergent validity of the HLS19-Q12.
Results
Overall, 14184 participants completed the full survey, resulting in a response rate of 87.6% (14184/16187). The HLS19-Q12 showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.93), moderate test-retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.54), satisfactory content validity (based on the 12-matrix health literacy model), and strong structural validity (comparative fit index = 0.94, Tucker and Lewis’s index of fit = 0.93, root mean square error of approximation = 0.095). Concurrent predictive validity results showed health literacy was associated with both health determinants and health-related outcomes. The HLS19-Q12 had moderate to strong correlations (coefficients = 0.24 to 0.42) with the nine scales of the HLQ. Respondents had an average score of 81.6 (± 23.0) when using the HLS19-Q12, with 35.0% and 7.5% having problematic and inadequate levels of health literacy, respectively.
Conclusions
The HLS19-Q12 is a reliable and valid instrument to measure health literacy in general populations of adults in China. The HLS19-Q12 can be used as a comprehensive, skills-based, and easy-to-administer health literacy assessment tool integrated into population surveys and intervention evaluations. The percentage of Chinese adults who had problematic or inadequate levels of health literacy was comparable with that of European adults. Improving health literacy has the potential to improve population health and reduce health inequities.
Factors impacting clinical data and documentation quality in Australian aged care and disability services: A user-centred perspective
Authors: Tshering Gap , Troeung Lakkhina , Walton Rebecca , Martini Angelita
Published: November 2023

Background: Research has highlighted a need to improve the quality of clinical documentation and data within aged care and disability services in Australia to support improved regulatory reporting and ensure quality and safety of services. However, the specific causes of data quality issues within aged care and disability services and solutions for optimisation are not well understood.
Objectives: This study explored aged care and disability workforce (referred to as ‘users’) experiences and perceived root causes of clinical data quality issues at a large aged care and disability services provider in Western Australia, to inform optimisation solutions.
Methods: A purposive sample of n=135 participants comprising aged care, disability, (including community-based and residential-based), staff in clinical, care, administrative and/or management roles participated in user consultations. Data collection was undertaken through semi-structured interviews and web-based surveys. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis method, where themes and subthemes were derived.
Results: Eight overarching causes of data and documentation quality issues were identified: 1) staff-related challenges, 2) education and training, 3) external barriers, 4) operational guidelines and procedures, 5) organisational practices and culture, 6) technological infrastructure, 7) systems design limitations, and 8) systems configuration-related challenges.
Conclusion: The quality of clinical data and documentation within aged care and disability services is influenced by a complex interplay of internal and external factors. Coordinated and collaborative effort is required between service providers and the wider sector to identify behavioural and technical optimisation solutions to support safe and high-quality care and improved regulatory reporting.
Gravity Data Reveal Origin of Cryptomaria
Authors: Qiu Denggao , Sasaki Sho , Yan Jianguo , Wang Xianmin , Ye Mao , Deng Qingyun , Guo Xi , Fang Zhice , Li Fei
Published: November 2023

Incomplete studies exist on the identification and formation processes of lunar cryptomaria, which stand as crucial hubs of late lunar magma ocean activity and early volcanism, presenting a mystery in their orgin. Here, we show 29 delineated cryptomaria regions, based on remote sensing data. A thorough investigation of gravity anomalies within these proposed cryptomaria regions was undertaken. Through this analysis, we successfully identified and classified cryptomaria by integrating topographic features and chemical compositions. Our findings reveal that the formation of ancient cryptomaria is linked to large impact events. This establishes a clear correlation between impact events and the formation timeline and spatial distribution of cryptomaria. Older cryptomaria owe their existence to these impact events, while the younger cryptomaria is primarily located in the interiors and margins of maria, with their basalts originating from the lateral spread of these maria. Furthermore, the study of maria thickness remains a contentious subject, and we anticipate that forthcoming investigations, consolidating data from various sources, will ultimately resolve this matter.
Bioprospecting of Artemisia genus: from artemisinin to other potentially bioactive compounds
Authors: Negri Stefano , Pietrolucci Fabio , Andreatta Sebastiano , Njoku Ruth , Ramos Carolina Antunes Silva Nogueira , Crimi Massimo , Commisso Mauro , Guzzo Flavia , Avesani Linda
Published: November 2023

Species from genus Artemisia are widely distributed throughout temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and many cultures have a long-standing traditional use of these plants as herbal remedies, liquors, cosmetics, spices, etc. Nowadays, the discovery of new plant-derived products to be used as food supplements or drugs has been pushed by the exploitation of bioprospection approaches. Often driven by the knowledge derived from the ethnobotanical use of plants, bioprospection explores the existing biodiversity through integration of modern omics techniques with targeted bioactivity assays.
In this work we set up a bioprospection plan to investigate the phytochemical diversity and the potential bioactivity of five Artemisiaspecies with recognized ethnobotanical tradition (A. absinthium, A. alba, A. annua, A. verlotiorum and A. vulgaris), growing wild in the natural areas of the Verona province. We characterized the specialized metabolomes of the species (including sesquiterpenoids from the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway) through an LC-MS based untargeted approach and, in order to identify potential bioactive metabolites, we correlated their composition with the in vitro antioxidant activity. We propose as potential bioactive compounds several isomers of caffeoyl and feruloyl quinic acid esters (e.g. dicaffeoylquinic acids, feruloylquinic acids and caffeoylferuloylquinic acids), which strongly characterize the most antioxidant species A. verlotiorum and A. annua. Morevoer, in this study we report for the first time the occurrence of sesquiterpenoids from the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway in the species A. alba.
Probabilistic Seasonal Precipitation Forecasts Using Quantiles of Ensemble Forecasts
Authors: Jin Huidong , Mahani Mona E. , Li Ming , Shao Quanxi , Crimp Steven
Published: November 2023

Seasonal precipitation forecasting is vital for weather-sensitive sectors. Global Circulation Models (GCM) routinely produce ensemble Seasonal Climate Forecasts (SCFs) but suffer from issues like low forecast resolution and skills. To address these issues in this study, we introduce a post-processing method, Quantile Ensemble Bayesian Model Averaging (QEBMA). It utilises quantiles from a GCM ensemble forecast to create a pseudo-ensemble forecast. Through their reasonable linear relationships with observations, each pseudo-member connects a hurdle distribution with a point mass at zero for dry months and a gamma distribution for wet months. These distributions are mixed to construct a forecast probability distribution with their weights, proportional to the quantiles’ historical forecast performance. QEBMA is applied to three GCMs, including GloSea5 from the United Kingdom, ECMWF from Europe and ACCESS-S1 from Australia, for monthly precipitation forecasts in 32 locations across four climate zones in Australia. Leave-one-month-out cross-validation results illustrate that QEBMA enhances forecast skills compared to raw GCMs and other post-processing techniques, including quantile mapping and Extended Copula Post-Processing (ECPP), for forecast lead time of 0 to 2 months, based on five metrics. The skill improvements by QEBMA are often statistically significant, especially compared to raw GCM forecasts. Among these post-processing models, only QEBMA consistently outperforms the SCF benchmark climatology, offering a promising alternative for improving seasonal precipitation forecasts.
WLP3 Encodes the Ribosomal Protein L18 and Regulates Chloroplast Development in Rice
Authors: Lu Tao , Yin Wenjin , Zhang Yinuo , Zhu Chaoyu , Zhong Qianqian , Li Sanfeng , Wang Nuo , Chen Zhengai , Ye Hanfei , Fang Yuan , Mu Dan , Wang Yuexing , Rao Yuchun
Published: November 2023

Plastid ribosomal proteins play a crucial role in the growth and development of plants, predominantly in key gene translation and expression within chloroplasts. While some information is known about the regulatory processes of plastid ribosomal proteins in many plant species, there is limited knowledge about the underlying mechanisms in rice. In this study, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis was used to induce a new mutant called wlp3 (white leaf and panicle3), characterized by white or albino leaves and panicle, exhibiting this phenotype from the second-leaf stage until tillering. Furthermore, the newly emerging leaves developed the same phenotype as the ZH11 rice variety after a certain period, while the albino leaves of wlp3 displayed incomplete chloroplast structure and significantly low chlorophyll content. A transition mutation (T to C) at position 380 was identified in the coding region of the LOC_Os03g61260 gene, resulting in the substitution of isoleucine with threonine during translation. WLP3 encodes the ribosomal L18 subunit, which is localized in the chloroplast. Complementation experiments confirmed that LOC_Os03g61260 was responsible for the albino phenotype in rice. During the seedling stage, wlp3 expression was higher in leaves and panicles. Compared to the wild-type (WT), wlp3 exhibited reduced chlorophyll synthesis and significantly decreased expression levels of genes associated with plastid development. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) analysis demonstrated that WLP3 interacts with other ribosomal subunits, thereby influencing chloroplast development. These findings contribute to a further understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of chloroplast development and plastid gene translation.
Performance Analysis of Supersonic Combustion Chamber using Planar-Shaped Strut Injector
Authors: Roga Sukanta
Published: November 2023

Significant researches have been enthusiastic throughout the last centuries for supersonic and hypersonic flight conditions for enabling flights many times faster than sound. This current work presents the performance analysis of supersonic combustor interface and flow construction through a scramjet engine with a Planar-shaped strut injector (PSSI) at the supersonic Mach. An important aspect of this study is the discovery of the fuel mixing mechanism inside the combustion chamber with PSSI. Mixing and combustion performance can be enhanced by the novel PSSI configuration. The scramjet configuration is incorporated with the supersonic inlet air temperature of 1250 K, where the vitiated air follows at Mach 3, and this technique is based on a high accelerating effect of scramjet propulsion mechanism. Scramjet engines can maintain a naturalistic high enthalpy conditions in minimum durations. It is observed that the maximum temperature of 3510 K is attained at the recirculating zones that are produced because of undulation enlargement and therefore the fuel jet losses concentration whereas the maximum combustion efficiency of 86% is investigated from the current research work.
A Survey on IoT Application Layer Protocols, Security Challenges, and the Role of Explainable AI in IoT (XAIoT)
Authors: Quincozes Vagner , Quincozes Silvio , Kazienko Juliano , Gama Simone , Cheikhrouhou Omar , Koubaa Anis
Published: November 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a fundamental role in contemporary society, necessitating an in-depth comprehension of its application layer protocols, intertwined technologies, security issues, and effective countermeasures. This survey delivers an exhaustive analysis of these protocols, emphasizing the escalating significance of Explainable Artificial Intelligence in IoT (XAIoT). To elucidate its practical implications, we conducted a case study examining a real-world scenario where XAIoT significantly bolstered IoT security. This case study demonstrated XAIoT's potential to enhance transparency and trustworthiness in IoT systems. Furthermore, the survey critically evaluates existing literature, pinpointing specific opportunities and gaps in the present state of IoT application layer security. For instance, our analysis revealed a pressing need for more robust security protocols and the integration of advanced machine learning techniques for anomaly detection in IoT applications. This survey, designed to provide a comprehensive perspective, seeks to stimulate additional innovation and research in the realm of secure and intelligent IoT applications. In doing so, it contributes to the ongoing dialogue on improving IoT security, offering valuable insights for researchers and practitioners alike.
Assessing Developmental Delays in Early Childhood: Insights from Iranian Children Using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III)
Authors: Karimi Mehran , Emarati Alireza , Nafei Zahra , Shamsi Farimah , Mazar Niloofar Gashty , Akbarian Elahe
Published: November 2023

Background
Developmental delay in early childhood is a significant concern with multifaceted causes and implications. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) is widely used for developmental assessment but remains understudied in Iranian children.
Methods
This cross-sectional study assessed 707 Iranian children aged 1 to 42 months in Yazd, Iran, using the BSID-III. We hypothesized differences in BSID-III scores compared to normative samples, considering age, gender, and parental education. Data were collected from two health centers in Yazd, with trained examiners following standardized procedures. Parental education was analyzed for its impact on developmental outcomes. Comparisons between BSID-III scores and Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) outcomes provided additional insights.
Results
Iranian children exhibited varying rates of developmental disorders across cognitive, language, and motor domains, influenced by parental education (higher parental education correlated with a reduced occurrence of developmental disorders). For instance, in the cognitive domain, 15.8% of children demonstrated developmental disorders. The language scale exhibited varying rates: 20.1% for perceptual communication and 18.4% for expressive communication. Furthermore, the BSID-III and ASQ results demonstrated discordances, highlighting the complexities of assessment.
Conclusions
This study contributes to the knowledge of developmental assessment in Iranian early childhood. It emphasizes the importance of culturally sensitive adaptations of assessment tools and the role of parental education in shaping developmental outcomes. Future research should incorporate diverse, longitudinal samples for enhanced understanding. Ultimately, this study aims to inform clinical practices, policy development, and early intervention programs, committed to fostering optimal development for all children, irrespective of their backgrounds.
Diagnostic value of routine blood tests in differentiating between SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and RSV infections in hospitalized children: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Huang Longli , Ye Cuiying , Zhou Renxi , Ji Zexuan
Published: November 2023

Background:
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza A, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections have similar modes of transmission and clinical symptoms. There is a need to identify simple diagnostic indicators to distinguish these three infections, particularly for community hospitals and low- and middle-income countries that lack nucleic acid detection kits. This study used clinical data to assess the diagnostic value of routine blood tests in differentiating between SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and RSV infections in children.
Methods:
A total of 1420 children treated at the Hangzhou Children's Hospital between December 2022 and June 2023 were enrolled in this study, of whom 351 had SARS-CoV-2, 671 had influenza, and 398 had RSV. In addition, 243 healthy children were also collected. The blood test results of SARS-CoV-2 patients were compared to those of patients with influenza A and RSV and the healthy controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) was employed to evaluate each blood parameter's diagnostic value.
Results:
Children with SARS-CoV-2 exhibited notably elevated levels of white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, neutrophil count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) compared to influenza A patients (P < 0.05). In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 patients exhibited a decrease in the mean platelet volume to platelet count ratio (MPV/PLT) and the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) when compared to other individuals (P < 0.05). These parameters had an AUC between 0.5 and 0.7. Compared to patients with RSV, SARS-CoV-2 patients had significantly higher MPV/PLT and significantly lower WBC, lymphocyte, PLT, LMR, and lymphocyte multiplied by platelet (LYM*PLT) values (P < 0.05). However, only LYM*PLT had an acceptable diagnostic value above 0.7 for all age groups. Compared to healthy children, children with COVID-19 exhibited elevated NLR and MPV/PLT levels, alongside decreased lymphocyte, PLT, LMR, and LYM*PLT values. (P < 0.05). The AUC of the LMR, LYM*PLT, and PLT were above 0.7 in all age groups, indicating promising diagnostic values.
Conclusions:
The routine blood parameters among patients with COVID-19, influenza A, and RSV differ significantly early in the disease and could be used by clinicians to discriminate between the 3 types of infection.
A Comparative Analysis of Local Binary Pattern(LBP) Variants for Image Tamper Detection
Authors: . Suresh , Kaur Mandeep
Published: November 2023

The proliferation of image tampering in the digital age poses a significant challenge to the authenticity and integrity of visual content. This study presents an approach for detecting image tampering using the Local Binary Pattern (LBP) techniques in conjunction with Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). LBP is a powerful image texture descriptor. The LBP method is employed to extract robust and discriminative features by capturing local texture and intensity patterns from tampered images. These features are then input into a CNN architecture, which is trained using 5-fold cross-validation to ensure generalization and prevent overfitting. A comprehensive benchmark image dataset CASIA-2.0 comprising of 7,541 authentic and 5,124 tampered images is utilized to evaluate the proposed method, and performance evaluation metrics, including accuracy, and confusion matrix, are employed to assess the effectiveness of the system. Experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach over existing state-of-the-art methods, achieving high accuracy in detecting image tampering. A comparative analysis of four types of LBP variants is presented in this work. With circular LBP, Rotation-Invariant LBP, Default, and Uniform LBP we achieved an accuracy of 68%, 72%, 84%, and 96% respectively. This research has significant implications in various domains, including forensic investigations, journalism, and image integrity verification, as it addresses the challenges posed by image tampering, enhancing trust and confidence in digital visual content by ensuring its authenticity and reliability.
miR-455-3p in peripheral blood is a potentially superior diagnostic marker for prostate cancer to PSA
Authors: Cen Yi , Xu Yuyu , Zhang Churuo , Lin Xiangjin , Ye Xuan , Zha Zeyu , Zhu Guangbin , Wang Haiyan
Published: November 2023

Purpose
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is commonly used as a biomarker to diagnose and predict the course of prostate cancer (PCa). However, PSA detection is susceptible to changes in the physiologic environment, which may lead to some misdiagnosis. Thus, it is crucial to find a novel diagnostic marker.
Methods
GEO2R platform was used to screen for a target miRNA in two GEO datasets (GSE206793 and GSE112264). Correlation between target miRNA and clinical features of PCa was further analyzed and ROC analysis was performed. Next, qRT-PCR was used to assay the target miRNA expression in human peripheral blood samples and validated with GSE206793 dataset. Finally, miRWalk website was used to predict the downstream genes of the target miRNA. STRING website was used to construct a PPI network and perform KEGG pathway analysis.
Results
Serum miR-455-3p was highly expressed in PC patients and was associated with high Gleason score, independent of tumor stage, age and PSA. miR-455-3p had favorable diagnostic efficacy (AUC > 0.8) and lower misdiagnosis rate compared to PSA. PPP2R2A, ITGB1 and CDKN1A were key targets of miR-455-3p enriched in various cancers, biological processes and molecular signals.
Conclusion
miR-455-3p can be used as a novel diagnostic marker for PCa, with potentially superior diagnostic efficacy to PSA.
Low Ankle-GO score while returning to sport after lateral ankle sprain leads to a 9-fold increased risk of recurrence: a two-year prospective cohort study.
Authors: Picot Brice , Fourchet François , Lopes Ronny , Rauline Gauthier , Freiha Kinan , D'hooghe Pieter , Valentin Eugénie , Hardy Alexandre
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND: Lateral ankle sprain is the most common sports injury, leading to a high rate of recurrence and the development of chronic ankle instability. One possible explanation is the lack of objective, evidence-based criteria to inform return to sport decisions following LAS. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the efficacy of a new functional score to distinguish patients at risk of recurrent LAS within two years after the initial injury.
METHODS: The Ankle-GO score was used in 64 active patients two months after LAS. This composite score includes 2 self-reported questionnaires and 4 functional tests, for a maximum score of 25 points. The rate of reinjury was prospectively recorded 2 years after inclusion. Potential predictive variables for reinjury were tested using the Chi-square test and the independent t-test. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) with the optimal cut-off score was determined to assess the predictive value of the Ankle-GO score for the risk of reinjury. Multivariate logistic regression was then used to determine the influence of risk factors of reinjury.
RESULTS: Fifty-four (85%) patients were included (23 men and 31 women, 34.7±13 years old) including 18 (33.3%) with a reinjury. The two-month Ankle-GO score was lower in patients with a recurrent LAS (5.4±2.8 points vs 9.1±4.5, p=0.002) and predicted the risk of reinjury (AUC=0.75). Patients with < 8 points were found to have a significantly higher risk of reinjury (OR=8.6; 95%CI: 2-37.2, p=0.001). Women also tend to have a higher risk of reinjury (OR=3.8; 95%CI: 0.9-15.5, p=0.065).
CONCLUSION: The Ankle-GO score is a new objective criterion for RTS after LAS. Patients with a poor score have a 9-fold greater risk of recurrence within two years.
Research on depth measurement calibration of light field camera based on Gaussian fitting
Authors: Yang Miao
Published: November 2023

Optical field imaging technology does not require a complicated optical path layout and thus reduces hardware costs. Given that only one single exposure of a single camera can obtain three-dimensional information, this paper proposes an improved calibration method for depth measurement based on the theoretical model of optical field imaging. Specifically, the calibration time can be reduced since the Gaussian fitting can reduce the number of refocused images used to obtain the optimal refocusing coefficient calibration. Moreover, the proposed method achieves the same effect as the multiple refocusing calibration strategy but requires less image processing time during calibration. At the same time, this method's depth resolution is analyzed in detail.
Early Surgical Outcome of Esophagectomy Performed for Carcinoma Esophagus after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy – a single center experience from Sub Himalayan region
Authors: Mukherjee Chiranjit , Nandi Sourabh , Arora Anshika , Saini Sunil , Gupta Meenu , Sundram Shivangi
Published: November 2023

Esophageal cancer poses a significant global health burden, characterized by high aggressiveness and mortality rates. Despite a decline in overall incidence, certain regions exhibit a rise of adenocarcinoma incidence. At present multimodality approach with neoadjuvant treatment (Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy or both) followed by surgery with or without adjuvant treatment is standard of care, although there is no standard protocol. This retrospective, conducted at a tertiary center in the Himalayan region, explores the outcomes of esophageal and gastroesophageal junctional cancer patients undergoing surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Among 106 patients, 87 received preoperative chemotherapy, with demographic data revealing a male predominance and prevalent squamous cell carcinoma histology. Neoadjuvant therapy mainly comprised taxane-platinum regimens, with subsequent surgical procedures predominantly Ivor Lewis or McKeown esophagectomies. 30-day morbidity and mortality were observed in 35.29% of cases, with nonsurgical complications, particularly respiratory issues, being the most common. Our study reported a complete pathological response in 12.5% cases and an R0 resection rate exceeding 93%. While acknowledging the study’s retrospective and non-randomized nature, these findings suggest that neoadjuvant chemotherapy facilitates safe esophageal cancer surgeries specifically in undernourished patients.
Mathematical conditions for quantum mechanics postulates to be deduced from a local superdeterministic theory
Authors: Tardella Armand
Published: November 2023

In an attempt to provide a novel approach to foundations of quantum mechanics, we have built a scheme of superdeterministic theories, where reality is governed by a classical nonlinear field equation. We show that under certain mathematical conditions that we have identified and that we substantiate in terms of algebra and invariance, the postulates of quantum mechanics can be deduced from them. Specifically, we show that these conditions essentially express properties of the structure of the invariance group of the nonlinear field equation, and we argue that there is no a priori reason why they cannot be satisfied. If these conditions were satisfied, quantum mechanics would acquire the status of a mathematical method for predicting what is predictable in an essentially chaotic world, a paradigm that would have many concrete consequences in physics.
PACS Numbers : 03.65.Ud
Conjectures concerning the explanation of recurrent patterns in COVID-19 spread dynamics based on time-variant networks.
Authors: Krall Peter
Published: November 2023

The paper discusses conjectures concerning patterns in virus spread observed in the Covid-19 event, including fluctuations of activity under constant environmental conditions, plateaus of near-constant activity, and rapid wild-type replacement at rather low levels of population immunity. Based on models of time-variant networks, it is shown that the patterns can be explained if spread dynamics result from superposition of three components: Continuous activity in reservoirs with limited fluctuation where fluctuation of group members allows transmissions from active cases to new arrivals before the active cases leave or reach the end of the contagious period. Hospitals are the obvious candidates for these reservoirs. The second component is propagation within stable groups, such as families, office staff, or religious groups. In addition, there are outbursts in temporary groups. The second and third components multiply case numbers but, due to strong segmentation of the population, do not support self-sustained spread which would allow the previous wild-type to coexist with a mutant strain until population immunity gets too high.
Piecewise Linear Continuation: Derivative-free Manifold Generation
Authors: Henderson Michael E , Melville Robert
Published: November 2023

We describe the Piecewise Linear Continuation algorithm Allgower and Georg (2000) for finding solutions of a set of nonlinear equations that depend on k parameters Allgower and Schmidt (1985). Unlike predictor–corrector continuation, the algorithm does not require the derivatives of the system; so is perfectly suited for applications like controlling experimental apparatus or extending the capability of legacy codes.
While the algorithm is not new, we describe it here with an emphasis on implementation rather than its mathematical formulation. In addition, we present a new result that relates the face-checking step to one step of Newton’s Method, and show how it can be used to refine the solution. The presentation is motivated with a hardware continuation, where the algorithm is used to control an experimental apparatus and traces the I-V characteristic. A reference implementation in C and C++ Melville (2023) has been provided, and its use to solve two example problems is described here.
Surface Erosion Equations For Biodegradation Analysis Of Several Common Three-Dimensional Shapes
Authors: Dotson Kirk , Pisano Kyle , Renegar D. Abigail
Published: November 2023

This appears to be the first publication to rigorously develop mathematical relationships for the mass loss of common three-dimensional shapes as they progressively diminish in size. Equations were derived for the erosion of the surfaces of circular and square objects due to biodegradation, i.e., the decrease in volume caused by the high catalytic activity of enzymes secreted by microorganisms attached to the object’s surfaces. Surface erosion is the dominant mode of biodegradation for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) objects resting on the ocean floor. Although the derivations were motivated by a need to assess the time-varying biodegradation and ultimate disintegration of PHA tubes and straws in the benthic environment, generality was maintained during the mathematical development such that the resulting equations are also applicable to other degrading circular and square objects including cylindrical rings, discs, and rods, and square plates, cubes, and prisms. Surface erosion is dominant for some in vivo biodegrading medical devices, so it is believed that the equations will also be useful in the biomedical field. In the theory, surface erosion is expressed in terms of the ratio of the instantaneous mass to the initial mass. The value of this ratio and the relative dimensions of the object establish a surface erosion function and its evolution over the lifetime of the object.
Towards Privacy Preserved Document Image Classification - A Comprehensive Benchmark
Authors: Saifullah Saifullah , Mercier Dominique , Agne Stefan , Dengel Andreas , Ahmed Sheraz
Published: November 2023

As data-driven AI systems become increasingly integrated into industry, concerns have recently arisen regarding potential privacy breaches and the inadvertent leakage of sensitive user data through the exploitation of these systems. In this paper, we explore the intersection of data privacy and AI-powered document analysis systems, presenting a comprehensive benchmark of well-known privacy-preserving methods for the task of document image classification. In particular, we investigate four different privacy methods---Differential Privacy (DP), Federated Learning (FL), Differentially Private Federated Learning (DP-FL), and Secure Multi-Party Computation (SMPC)---on two well-known document benchmark datasets, namely RVL-CDIP and Tobacco3482. Furthermore, we investigate the performance of each method under a variety of configurations for thorough benchmarking. Finally, the privacy strength of each approach is assessed by subjecting the private models to well-known membership inference attacks. Our results demonstrate that, with sufficient tuning of hyperparameters, Differential Privacy (DP) can achieve reasonable performance on the task of document image classification while also ensuring rigorous privacy constraints, both in standalone and federated learning setups. On the other hand, while FL-based approaches present less implementation complexity and incur little to no loss in performance on the task, they do not offer sufficient protection against privacy attacks. By rigorously benchmarking various privacy approaches, our study paves the way for integrating deep document classification models into industrial pipelines while meeting regulatory and ethical standards, including GDPR and the AI Act 2022.
PatchMix: Patch-Level Mixup for Data Augmentation in Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Hong Yichao , Chen Yuanyuan
Published: November 2023

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have demonstrated impressive performance in fitting data distribution. However, due to the complexity in learning intricate features from data, networks usually experience overfitting during the training. To address this issue, many data augmentation techniques have been proposed to expand the representation of the training data, thereby improving the generalization ability of CNNs. In this paper, we propose PatchMix, a novel mixup-based augmentation method that applies mixup to patches within an image rather than blending between multiple images. Despite the challenge of label mixing, PatchMix generates numerous reliable training samples. Additionally, we propose PatchMix-R to enhance the robustness of the model against perturbations by processing adjacent pixels. Easy to implement, our methods can be integrated with most CNN-based classification models and combined with varying data augmentation techniques. The experiments show that PatchMix and PatchMix-R consistently outperform other state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy and robustness. Class activation mappings (CAMs) of the trained model are also investigated to visualize the effectiveness of our approach.
Influence of grazing intensity on phylogenetic and CSR plant strategy diversity of species-rich grasslands, Mazandaran, Iran
Authors: Bahreini Zeinab , Jafarian Zeinab , Alavi Seyed Jalil , Tatian Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2023

Recently more studies have been made to predict plant response to livestock grazing using plant functional traits that can be used as effective indicators to study the adaptation of species under grazing disturbances. Here, we test the responses of different plant diversity (taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity) and strategies (Competitive, stress tolerant, and ruderal) in order to grazing intensity. This study was carried out in Siah Bisheh Rangelands, located in the extreme southeast of Mazandaran province, Iran. In the study area, three sites were selected in an area subjected to low and high grazing intensity (LG and HG, respectively), totaling 6 sites. In each site and condition of grazing intensity, 3 transects of 100 meters were randomly placed, and along each transect, 5 plots (1×1 m2) were sampled at 20 m intervals, totaling 45 m2 per grazing intensity. In each plot, the plant’s crown cover was recorded. To access the evolutionary relationship among species, we generate a phylogenetic tree for the plant communities in the two grazing intensities (76 and 66 species in LG and HG, respectively). In order to estimate plant strategy and functional diversity in different types of rangeland, A competitive, stress tolerant, and ruderal (CSR) plant strategy scheme was applied based on key leaf traits: leaf area (LA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA). Based on the results, higher grazing intensity led to the shift from the ruderal strategy to the stress-tolerance strategy, both at the species level and plot community weighted mean (CWM) traits. Also, higher grazing intensity significantly reduces species richness and diversity but increases the functional divergence evenness and CWM of LDMC. Finally, stress-tolerant and ruderal strategies dominated under high and low grazing intensities, respectively. Our studied results suggest the vital role of plant functional traits in assessing plant strategies.
Massive use of lime for the stabilization of adobes: Cold-formed bricks from Area 11 of the protohistoric city of Giribaile (Spain)
Authors: Torre-López María José de la , Gutiérrez-Soler Luis María , Pérez-Alba Francisco
Published: November 2023

The archaeological site of Giribaile (Vilches, Jaén) has provided numerous examples of lime-rich adobes. The main mineralogical and physicochemical characteristics of this site have been determined from X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray diffraction, petrographic optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The analyses allow them to be characterized as cold-formed bricks. The use of lime stabilizes these blocks and gives them greater resistance than conventional adobes. These construction materials have not yet been identified in contemporary contexts of regional Iberian culture, which have specific uses for lime. These materials require a great availability of resources, especially heat strength, and the widespread use of this material in Roman architecture is anticipated. This material is an advanced technology for its time: the middle of the second century BC.
Large Language Models for Qualitative Research in Software Engineering: Exploring Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Bano Muneera , Hoda Rashina , Zowghi Didar , Treude Christoph
Published: November 2023

The recent surge in the integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT into qualitative research in software engineering, much like in other professional domains, demands a closer inspection. This vision paper seeks to explore the opportunities of using LLMs in qualitative research to address many of its legacy challenges as well as potential new concerns and pitfalls arising from the use of LLMs. We share our vision for the evolving role of the qualitative researcher in the age of LLMs and contemplate how they may utilize LLMs at various stages of their research experience.
Association of the triglyceride glucose-body mass index with the extent of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yang Xueyuan , Li Kui , Wen Jiaojiao , Yang Changlong , Li Yunhang , Xu Guanxue , Ma Yi
Published: November 2023

Background
Studies have shown that insulin resistance is strongly associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, and the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI index) is considered to be a reliable surrogate marker of insulin resistance. There are limited studies on the relationship between TyG-BMI index and the extent of coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TyG-BMI index and the extent of coronary artery disease in patients with ACS.
Methods
Overall, 2,317 patients with ACS who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University were included in this study. The TyG-BMI index was grouped according to the tertile method. The extent of coronary artery disease in patients with ACS was quantitatively assessed using the SYNTAX score, which was categorised as low (≤ 22), intermediate (23–32), and high risk (≥ 33).
Results
Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed no statistically significant association between TyG-BMI index and moderate/high SYNTAX scores in patients with ACS. Subgroup analyses showed that in one-way logistic regression analyses, TyG-BMI index was associated with a high risk of moderate/high SYNTAX scores in female patients [odds ratio (OR) = 1.0076; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.0014–1.0138; P = 0.0160)], and the last tertile group (OR = 2.1100; 95% CI = 1.1200–3.9800; P = 0.0220) had a 2.11 times higher risk of having a moderate/high SYNTAX score than the first tertile group. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a linear correlation between TyG-BMI index and complex coronary artery disease (SYNTAX score > 22) in female patients with ACS. In these patients, the inclusion of the TyG-BMI index provided limited improvement in the predictive power of the baseline risk model.
Conclusions
Higher TyG-BMI index was linearly associated with the risk of developing complex coronary lesions in female patients with ACS. However, the inclusion of TyG-BMI index provided limited improvement in the predictive power of the baseline risk model for female patients with ACS.
Impact of Pan-Cancer Analysis of The Exportins Family on Prognosis, The Tumour Microenvironment and Its Potential Therapeutic Efficacy
Authors: Peng Ying , Li Youheng , Wang Lingmei , Lin Shenlai , Xu Hong
Published: November 2023

Objective
This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of the Exportin (XPO) family in cancer development and progression. The XPO family, a group of nuclear transport proteins, has been increasingly implicated in oncogenic processes and tumor growth.
Methods
Utilizing updated public databases, we employed various bioinformatics methods to examine XPO family expression levels and their associations with patient survival, immune subtypes, tumor microenvironment, stemness scores, drug sensitivity, and DNA methylation in different cancers.
Results
We found that XPO family expression varies across cancers, indicating a cancer-specific role. Some XPO members were associated with poor prognosis in certain cancers. Their expression correlated with immune subtypes and tumor purity, with lower expression in tumors having higher stromal and immune scores. There was a significant positive correlation between XPO family members and RNA stemness scores, and varying degrees of correlation with DNA stemness scores. Additionally, XPO expression significantly influenced cancer cell drug sensitivity and was generally negatively correlated with gene methylation, which varied across different cancers.
Conclusions
Our study highlights the distinct roles of XPO family members in cancer, emphasizing their links to immune infiltration, tumor microenvironment, and drug sensitivity. These findings enhance our understanding of XPO's prognostic value and therapeutic potential in cancer, setting a foundation for further research into their mechanisms and applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Perceptions of the Harms of E-Cigarettes, Combustible Cigarettes, and Other Substances Among Adults Who Smoke in the UK: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: McKeganey Neil , Barnard Gabriel , Notley Sophie , Patton Andrea , Coyle Joanne , Haseen Farhana
Published: November 2023

Whilst e-cigarettes have been characterised by public health bodies as substantially less harmful than combustible tobacco products, research shows that a proportion of adults who smoke perceive these devices to be as harmful, or more harmful, than combustible cigarettes. In addition, research also indicates that adults who are smoking are less likely to use these devices to quit smoking when they overestimate the harms of e-cigarettes. In this paper, we focus upon the harm perceptions of a sample of adults who smoke in the United Kingdom. Whilst most of the adults surveyed viewed e-cigarettes as less harmful than combustible cigarettes, around four in ten (41%) viewed these devices as equally harmful as combustible cigarettes, more harmful, or did not know how harmful e-cigarettes were relative to combustible cigarettes. Qualitative interviews with survey participants indicated that the perceptions of relative harm between combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes were a complex amalgam of beliefs, fears, predictions, reactions, and uncertainties about the long-term impact of e-cigarettes arising from the relative recency with which these devices have been available for widespread use. There is an important need to identify the most effective means through which accurate information around e-cigarettes can be communicated and in doing so to draw upon the diverse range of expertise of those involved in the use, regulation, manufacture, and media reporting of these devices in fashioning those communications.