bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceptual sensitivity to changes in interpersonal distance when observing social interactions: The effects of dyad arrangement and orientation
Authors: Bunce Carl , Press Clare , Gray Katie LH , Cook Richard
Published: August 2024

In recent years, there has been growing interest in how we perceive dyadic interactions between people. It has been proposed that pairs of individuals shown upright and face-to-face recruit a form of configural processing, similar to that engaged by upright faces. This processing is thought to aid the detection and interpretation of social interactions. Dyadic arrangements shown back-to-back or upside-down are not thought to engage configural dyad processing. One of the key advantages conveyed by configural face processing is greater sensitivity to the spatial relationships between facial features when faces are viewed upright, than when viewed upside-down. If upright dyads arranged face-to-face engage similar configural processing that is not engaged by non-facing or inverted dyads, participants should therefore exhibit disproportionate sensitivity to the spatial relations between the constituent actors under these conditions. In four well-powered experiments, we find no evidence for this prediction: Participants exhibited similar levels of sensitivity to changes in interpersonal distance regardless of whether dyads were shown upright or inverted, face-to-face, or back-to-back. In contrast, we observe clear evidence that upright presentation affords greater sensitivity to interfeature spatial relationships (interocular distance) when viewing faces. These results suggest that any configural processing engaged by upright facing dyads likely differs qualitatively from that engaged by upright faces.
Prehospital stroke detection scales: A head-to-head comparison of 7 scales in patients with suspected stroke
Authors: Dekker Luuk , Moudrous Walid , Daems Jasper D , Buist Ewout FH , Venema Esmee , Durieux Marcel DJ , van Zwet Erik W , de Schryver Els LLM , Kloos Loet MH , de Laat Karlijn F , Aerden Leo AM , Dippel Diederik WJ , Kerkhoff Henk , van den Wijngaard Ido R , Wermer Marieke JH , Roozenbeek Bob , Kruyt Nyika D
Published: August 2024

Background:

Several prehospital scales have been designed to aid paramedics in identifying stroke patients in the ambulance setting. However, external validation and comparison of these scales are largely lacking.

Aims:

To compare all published prehospital stroke detection scales in a large cohort of unselected stroke code patients.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic literature search to identify all stroke detection scales. Scales were reconstructed with prehospital acquired data from two observational cohort studies: the Leiden Prehospital Stroke Study (LPSS) and PREhospital triage of patients with suspected STrOke (PRESTO) study. These included stroke code patients from four ambulance regions in the Netherlands, including 15 hospitals and serving 4 million people. For each scale, we calculated the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for a diagnosis of stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic, or transient ischemic attack (TIA)). Moreover, we assessed the proportion of stroke patients who received reperfusion treatment with intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy that would have been missed by each scale.

Results:

We identified 14 scales, of which 7 (CPSS, FAST, LAPSS, MASS, MedPACS, OPSS, and sNIHSS-EMS) could be reconstructed. Of 3317 included stroke code patients, 2240 (67.5%) had a stroke (1528 ischemic, 242 hemorrhagic, 470 TIA) and 1077 (32.5%) a stroke mimic. Of ischemic stroke patients, 715 (46.8%) received reperfusion treatment. Accuracies ranged from 0.60 (LAPSS) to 0.66 (MedPACS, OPSS, and sNIHSS-EMS), sensitivities from 66% (LAPSS) to 84% (MedPACS and sNIHSS-EMS), and specificities from 28% (sNIHSS-EMS) to 49% (LAPSS). MedPACS, OPSS, and sNIHSS-EMS missed the fewest reperfusion-treated patients (10.3–11.2%), whereas LAPSS missed the most (25.5%).

Conclusions:

Prehospital stroke detection scales generally exhibited high sensitivity but low specificity. While LAPSS performed the poorest, MedPACS, sNIHSS-EMS, and OPSS demonstrated the highest accuracy and missed the fewest reperfusion-treated stroke patients. Use of the most accurate scale could reduce unnecessary stroke code activations for patients with a stroke mimic by almost a third, but at the cost of missing 16% of strokes and 10% of patients who received reperfusion treatment.
Integrating knowledge systems for holistic approaches to addressing knowledge and health inequities: combining fuzzy cognitive maps
Authors: Dion Anna , Sarmiento Ivan , Šajna Mateja , Andersson Neil
Published: August 2024

This paper describes fuzzy cognitive mapping as an accessible and robust tool to strengthen community engagement in health promotion research. We outline how fuzzy cognitive mapping can combine, compare, and contextualize knowledge and priorities from diverse population groups as well as from evidence syntheses. We present procedures to represent a shared perspective across populations or population groups through reconciling maps by simple or weighted averaging. We present a novel second approach to reconciling derived from discourse analysis. We then present two procedures to contextualize one knowledge in another knowledge. The first procedure draws on Bayesian updating, providing a formal way to account for stakeholder knowledge in contextualizing other knowledge sources, including evidence syntheses. A second approach compares discourse patterns across maps derived from different sources. We provide examples of each procedure, describe how each may contribute to greater incorporation of patient- and community-level input in decision-making, and share tools for researchers interested in applications of fuzzy cognitive mapping.
Oral delivery of pH-sensitive nanoparticles loaded Celastrol targeting the inflammatory colons to treat ulcerative colitis
Authors: Zhao Yue , Yao Yinlian , Fan Shilong , Shen Xin , Chai Xingxing , Li Zimin , Zeng Jiachun , Pi Jiang , Zhou Zhikun , Huang Gonghua , Jin Hua
Published: August 2024

The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is rapidly rising worldwide. Oral drug delivery system is a promising approach for treating UC, but it often fails to accumulate to the inflammatory lesions, thus, it is impressive to develop a colon-targeted oral delivery system for preventing systemic toxicity and maintaining UC therapeutics. Here, a negative-charged PLGA nanoparticle system was designed to encapsulate celastrol (Cel), and then chitosan and mannose were coated on the surface of the nanoparticles (MC@Cel-NPs) to endow these nanoparticles with the mucosal adsorption and macrophage targeting abilities. MC@Cel-NPs demonstrate excellent resist decomposition ability against the strong acidic gastrointestinal environment, and accumulates in the specific inflammatory sites through the affinity of electrostatic reaction. After releasing the payload, MC@Cel-NPs could remarkably alleviate the colon inflammation, which was evidenced by the decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in both blood and colon sections, and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) in colon cells, including macrophage, neutrophil, T cell, and B cell. This nanoparticle system provided a new approach for treating UC through a Chinese herbal ingredient-related oral delivery manner.
Two-dimensional vascularized liver organoid on extracellular matrix with defined stiffness for modeling fibrotic and normal tissues
Authors: Ma Lei , Yin Lin , Zhu Hai , Li Jing , Wang Dong
Published: August 2024

Antifibrotic drug screening requires evaluating the inhibitory effects of drug candidates on fibrotic cells while minimizing any adverse effects on normal cells. It is challenging to create organ-specific vascularized organoids that accurately model fibrotic and normal tissues for drug screening. Our previous studies have established methods for culturing primary microvessels and epithelial cells from adult tissues. In this proof-of-concept study, we used rats as a model organism to create a two-dimensional vascularized liver organoid model that comprised primary microvessels, epithelia, and stellate cells from adult livers. To provide appropriate substrates for cell culture, we engineered ECMs with defined stiffness to mimic the different stages of fibrotic tissues and normal tissues. We examined the effects of two TGFβ signaling inhibitors, A83-01 and pirfenidone, on the vascularized liver organoids on the stiff and soft ECMs. We found that A83-01 inhibited fibrotic markers while promoting epithelial genes of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. However, it inhibited microvascular genes on soft ECM, indicating a detrimental effect on normal tissues. Furthermore, A83-01 significantly promoted the expression of markers of stem cells and cancers, increasing the potential risk of it being a carcinogen. In contrast, pirfenidone, an FDA-approved compound for antifibrotic treatments, did not significantly affect all the genes examined on soft ECM. Although pirfenidone had minor effects on most genes, it did reduce the expression of collagens, the major components of fibrotic tissues. These results explain why pirfenidone can slow fibrosis progression with minor side effects in clinical trials. In conclusion, our study presents a method for creating vascularized liver organoids that can accurately mimic fibrotic and normal tissues for drug screening. Our findings provide valuable insights into the potential risks and benefits of using A83-01 and pirfenidone as antifibrotic drugs. This method can be applied to other organs to create organ-specific vascularized organoids for drug development.
The Chinese Version of the Couples Satisfaction Index: Psychometric Assessment and Differential Item Functioning Analysis with Item Response Theory
Authors: Wang Shaojie , Lee Won-Chan , Ma Huixia
Published: August 2024

The Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI) is one of the most widely used instruments to assess intimate relationship satisfaction and status. However, its performance in the Chinese population has yet to be validated, including investigation of potential differential item functioning (DIF). To verify the performance of the adapted Chinese CSI, data were collected from 740 participants (235 males and 505 females). Under the item response theory (IRT) framework, the graded response (GR) model was fit. Key assumptions and model fit were checked first, followed by a DIF analysis. Category response curves and information functions were also examined. Results showed that the two IRT assumptions—unidimensionality and local independence—were generally satisfied. The GR model fit the data well. Moreover, the items from the CSI scale performed very well in assessing and differentiating among participants of differing levels of intimate relationship satisfaction. Meanwhile, high test information distributed across a wide range of latent ability ensured that the CSI was reliable and accurate. Moreover, there was no significant DIF for all CSI items, which supported its equity and fairness when administered to different gender groups. Overall, the CSI shows good psychometric characteristics, has no systematic DIF between genders, and holds promise to facilitate further research on intimate relationship satisfaction.
Does Green Entrepreneurial Orientation Improve the Sustainable Performance of Agribusiness? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Xiang , Zhang Xiu-e , Yang Liu
Published: August 2024

Agribusinesses play an important role in the process of green and low-carbon transformation of China’s economy. It is extremely necessary to explore how to promote green entrepreneurship in agribusiness to promote a win-win situation for the environmental and economic and social performance to achieve the sustainable development goals of agribusinesses. Based on intellectual capital theory and natural resource-based theory, this study introduces green intellectual capital (GIC) and sustainable business model innovation (SBMI) as chain mediators to build a theoretical model for exploring the impact mechanism of green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) on sustainable performance (SP) of agribusinesses. Through the empirical analysis of 621 agribusinesses’ research data, the results show that (1) GEO has a positive impact on SP of agribusinesses; (2) GIC and SBMI are important transmission factors for the transformation of green entrepreneurial orientation into the sustainable performance of enterprises, and play a mediating role in the relationship between GEO and SP of agribusinesses; and (3) GEO promotes SBMI through the accumulation of GCI, which in turn enhances SP of agribusiness. This study not only enriches the theoretical scope of green entrepreneurship research in terms of subdimensions, but also provides theoretical references and practical guidance for agribusinesses to improve their sustainable performance.
Energy Subsidies and Energy Access in Developing Countries: Does Institutional Quality Matter?
Authors: Shittu Ibrahim , Saqib Abdul , Abdul Latiff Abdul Rais , Baharudin Siti ‘Aisyah
Published: August 2024

Millions of people in developing countries lack access to modern energies and for long, these countries have relied on energy subsidies to scale up their access rate. However, there is no evidence that those energy subsidies contribute to energy poverty reduction. Similarly, while good governance and strong institutions are touted as critical for implementing energy policy and improving access rate, empirical evidence of their impact remains very scanty. This study assesses the impact of energy subsidies and institutional quality on access to electricity in selected developing countries. Result from the Praise-Winston regression revealed that energy subsidies as a policy tool for achieving universal electrification do not hold in the selected developing countries. We also found that energy subsidies accompanied by a strong governance mechanism can help developing countries scale up their electricity access rate. We recommend practical ways to help developing countries achieve universal access to modern energy solution.
Price Control Policies for Medicines: How Far the Accessibility Is Achieved by Patients?
Authors: Patil Ashok R. , Stephen Sanitta Maria
Published: August 2024

The price control legislations are the main policy tool used in India to make medicines accessible. It is important to understand the real impact of these interventionist policies on patients’ lives. The objective of the article is centred on understanding the effectiveness of price interventionist policy to reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure of patients. The article examines whether the ability to pay by patients is considered or linked while fixing the prices after regulation. The article focuses on the direct price control and trade margin rationalization imposed on drugs to increase accessibility. The article deliberates the drugs under both price regulations to check how significant are the price reduction and how it would reduce the inequity among the patients.
Pediatric Concussions in Contact Sports: A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis of Mechanisms and Associated Symptoms
Authors: Cassinat Joshua J. , Grise Alison , Aceto Matthew , Wright Vonda
Published: August 2024

Background:

Concussions make up a significant proportion of sports injuries. This study aimed to describe the mechanisms of injury and associated symptoms of pediatric patients diagnosed with concussions (age range, 4-17 years) from contact sports.

Hypothesis:

Mechanisms of injury would differ based on sex and age, with female athletes and younger athletes aged 4 to 11 years sustaining fewer concussions from player-to-player contact.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was queried for all contact sport concussions presented to United States emergency departments. The sports analyzed included basketball, football, soccer, hockey, rugby, and lacrosse. Descriptive data, mechanisms of injury, and associated symptoms were analyzed for each sport. Differences in the number of concussions sustained by year and sport, the severity of the injury, and associated symptoms were compared using chi-square test, and differences in proportion were calculated for mechanisms of injury stratified by sex and age.

Results:

A total of 12,602 youth athletes sustained concussions between 2012 and 2021. Most patients were male (78.5%), with a mean age of 13.48 years. Football concussions were the most common, with 45.32% of the concussions. The mechanism of injury was largely sport-specific, with player-to-player contact the most common overall. Older male athletes were more likely to have concussions from player-to-player contact, whereas younger athletes were more impacted by head-to-ground mechanisms. Symptom presentation was not sport-specific, and headache and dizziness were the most common presentation at 41.2% and 26.2%, respectively.

Conclusion:

The most important overall mechanism of injury was player-to-player contact, especially in older male youth athletes, whereas younger athletes were more likely to be concussed due to head-to-ground injuries.
Systematic Elastostatic Stiffness Model of Over-Constrained Parallel Manipulators Without Additional Constraint Equations
Authors: Yang Chao , Yu Wenyong , Ye Wei , Chen Qiaohong , Huang Fengli
Published: August 2024

The establishment of an elastostatic stiffness model for over constrained parallel manipulators (PMs), particularly those with over constrained subclosed loops, poses a challenge while ensuring numerical stability. This study addresses this issue by proposing a systematic elastostatic stiffness model based on matrix structural analysis (MSA) and independent displacement coordinates (IDCs) extraction techniques. To begin, the closed-loop PM is transformed into an open-loop PM by eliminating constraints. A subassembly element is then introduced, which considers the flexibility of both rods and joints. This approach helps circumvent the numerical instability typically encountered with traditional constraint equations. The IDCs and analytical constraint equations of nodes constrained by various joints are summarized in the appendix, utilizing multipoint constraint theory and singularity analysis, all unified within a single coordinate frame. Subsequently, the open-loop mechanism is efficiently closed by referencing the constraint equations presented in the appendix, alongside its elastostatic model. The proposed method proves to be both modeling and computationally efficient due to the comprehensive summary of the constraint equations in the Appendix, eliminating the need for additional equations. An example utilizing an over constrained subclosed loops demonstrate the application of the proposed method. In conclusion, the model proposed in this study enriches the theory of elastostatic stiffness modeling of PMs and provides an effective solution for stiffness modeling challenges they present.
Microplastic clouds in rivers: spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastic pollution in a fluvial system
Authors: Balla Alexia , Moshen Ahmed , Kiss Tímea
Published: August 2024

Background

The microplastic transport of rivers is a complex spatiotemporal process; however, only limited knowledge exists on it, making its monitoring complicated. The study aimed to analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of suspended sediments and microplastics based on measurements (1) every five days for 2 years at one site and (2) annual repetition at 29 sites along the 750-km-long Tisza River for 3 years. Water samples were taken by pumping (1 m3). Machine learning algorithms were applied to Sentinel images to analyze the spatiality of sediment transport.

Results

In the Tisza River (Central Europe), the microplastic concentration (MPCmean: 35 ± 27 item/m3) and the suspended sediment concentration (SSCmean: 60 ± 57 g/m3) showed high temporal variations. During low stages, the concentrations dropped as most transported sediments were deposited on the bottom. These sediments, including microplastics, were remobilized during flood waves, thus, higher MPC and SSC were measured. The first flood wave after a low-stage period had the highest concentrations. The increased transport capacity of the river during floods created large-scale suspended sediment and microplastic waves with increased concentrations. The mean MPC gradually increased between 2021 (19 ± 13.6 item/m3) and 2022 (23.7 ± 15.8 item/m3), and then it more than doubled (2023: 57 ± 44.8 item/m3). The tributaries acted as suspended sediment and microplastic conveyors.

On the Sentinel images, medium-scale clouds were identified, with the suspended sediment clouds being more pronounced than microplastic clouds. Fewer and longer clouds appeared during low stages, separated by clearer water bodies. During flood waves, shorter clouds were detected. The tributaries with increased suspended sediment and microplastic transport created well-distinguishable clouds in the main river.

Conclusions

Identifying suspended sediment and microplastic clouds in a river could support more precise monitoring. The hydrological background of the monitoring and the existence of these clouds should be considered, as sampling from clouds with increased SSC and MPC provides different data than sampling from the clearer water bodies between two clouds.

Graphical Abstract
A study of risk factors associated with the presence of oral potentially malignant disorders: a community-based study from Northeastern Thailand
Authors: Chiewwit Pim , Khovidhunkit Siribang-on Piboonniyom , Tantipoj Chanita , Worakhajit Prangtip , Klongnoi Boworn
Published: August 2024

Background

The principal objective of this study is to ascertain the connections between well-known risk factors of oral cancer, including smoking (cigarette and tobacco), alcohol consumption, betel quid chewing, irritations in the oral cavity, history of head and neck cancer, and history of working outdoor more than 4 days/week, and the presence of OPMDs within the Thai population.

Method

349,318 subjects were recruited for initial screening, then 1,483 subjects who had at least 1 risk factor and a suspicious lesion underwent comprehensive oral examinations followed by a clinical diagnosis and then received initial treatment from either oral surgeons or oral medicine specialists. Among these subjects, individuals with at least 1 risk factor and with a clinical diagnosis of OPMDs were classified as cases, while those with at least 1 risk factor but without OPMDs were categorized as controls. The case group comprised a total of 487 subjects, whereas the control group consisted of 996 subjects. Exclusion criteria were known cases of currently having oral cancer or OPMDs.

Results

The outcomes of the multivariate analysis revealed that among the variables assessed, betel quid (adjusted OR 5.12 [3.93–6.68], p < 0.001) and smoking (adjusted OR 1.46 [1.08–1.97], p = 0.013), there were an association with the presence of OPMDs. Conversely, alcohol drinking, having irritations in the oral cavity, a history of head and neck cancer, and a history of working outdoors more than 4 days/week were not associated with the presence of OPMDs. Furthermore, we also study the synergistic effect of alcohol drinking, irritations in the oral cavity, history of head and neck cancer, and history of working outdoors more than 4 days/week using subgroup analysis. The analysis showed that alcohol consumption combined with smoking or betel quid chewing expressed a significantly increased risk of OPMDs, from 1.46 to 2.03 (OR 2.03 [1.16–3.56], p = 0.014) and from 5.12 to 7.20 (OR 7.20 [3.96–13.09], p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Smoking and exposure to betel quid were a significant risk factors for the presence of OPMDs. The combination of alcohol with smoking or betel quid chewing was also found to increase the risk of OPMDs in this Thai northeastern population.
Heterozygosity for the Budapest 3 mutation in SERPINC1 in a family with thrombophilia and structural anomalies of the inferior vena cava
Authors: Iversen Nina , Henriksson Carola Elisabeth , Sletten Marit , Le Marie Skogstad , Lindberg Beate Rikken , Andersen Rune , Paus Benedicte
Published: August 2024

Background

Atresia of the infrarenal inferior vena cava (IVC) is associated with thrombophilia and antithrombin (AT) deficiency (ATD) due to homozygosity for the so-called Budapest 3 variant, c.391C > T, in the gene, SERPINC1.

Case presentation

We report on a father and his two sons that had severe thrombosis at a young age. One son had absence of, and the other had very gracile infrarenal IVC. The father had gracile vena iliaca. All had significant collateral building. AT activity was determined with four different methods and varied between moderately reduced and borderline normal values, depending on the method. While all were heterozygous for c.391C > T, the father was also heterozygous for a variant of uncertain significance in SERPINC1.

Conclusions

The findings support the association between c.391C > T in SERPINC1, thrombophilia, and atresia of the IVC system and indicate that even heterozygosity for c.391C > T may contribute to such anomalies. ATD detection was hampered by the varying sensitivity of methods used for AT activity measurement.
Maternal n-3 enriched diet reprograms the offspring neurovascular transcriptome and blunts inflammation induced by endotoxin in the neonate
Authors: Chumak Tetyana , Jullienne Amandine , Ek C. Joakim , Ardalan Maryam , Svedin Pernilla , Quan Ryan , Salehi Arjang , Salari Sirus , Obenaus Andre , Vexler Zinaida S , Mallard Carina
Published: August 2024

Infection during the perinatal period can adversely affect brain development, predispose infants to ischemic stroke and have lifelong consequences. We previously demonstrated that diet enriched in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) transforms brain lipid composition in the offspring and protects the neonatal brain from stroke, in part by blunting injurious immune responses. Critical to the interface between the brain and systemic circulation is the vasculature, endothelial cells in particular, that support brain homeostasis and provide a barrier to systemic infection. Here, we examined whether maternal PUFA-enriched diets exert reprograming of endothelial cell signalling in postnatal day 9 mice after modeling aspects of infection using LPS. Transcriptome analysis was performed on microvessels isolated from brains of pups from dams maintained on 3 different maternal diets from gestation day 1: standard, n-3 enriched or n-6 enriched diets. Depending on the diet, in endothelial cells LPS produced distinct regulation of pathways related to immune response, cell cycle, extracellular matrix, and angiogenesis. N-3 PUFA diet enabled higher immune reactivity in brain vasculature, while preventing imbalance of cell cycle regulation and extracellular matrix cascades that accompanied inflammatory response in standard diet. Cytokine analysis revealed a blunted LPS response in blood and brain of offspring from dams on n-3 enriched diet. Analysis of cerebral vasculature in offspring in vivo revealed no differences in vessel density. However, vessel complexity was decreased in response to LPS at 72 h in standard and n-6 diets. Thus, LPS modulates specific transcriptomic changes in brain vessels of offspring rather than major structural vessel characteristics during early life. N-3 PUFA-enriched maternal diet in part prevents an imbalance in homeostatic processes, alters inflammation and ultimately mitigates changes to the complexity of surface vessel networks that result from infection. Importantly, maternal diet may presage offspring neurovascular outcomes later in life.

Graphical Abstract
Enhancing K-nearest neighbor algorithm: a comprehensive review and performance analysis of modifications
Authors: Halder Rajib Kumar , Uddin Mohammed Nasir , Uddin Md. Ashraf , Aryal Sunil , Khraisat Ansam
Published: August 2024

The k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN) method, established in 1951, has since evolved into a pivotal tool in data mining, recommendation systems, and Internet of Things (IoT), among other areas. This paper presents a comprehensive review and performance analysis of modifications made to enhance the exact kNN techniques, particularly focusing on kNN Search and kNN Join for high-dimensional data. We delve deep into 31 kNN search methods and 12 kNN join methods, providing a methodological overview and analytical insight into each, emphasizing their strengths, limitations, and applicability. An important feature of our study is the provision of the source code for each of the kNN methods discussed, fostering ease of experimentation and comparative analysis for readers. Motivated by the rising significance of kNN in high-dimensional spaces and a recognized gap in comprehensive surveys on exact kNN techniques, our work seeks to bridge this gap. Additionally, we outline existing challenges and present potential directions for future research in the domain of kNN techniques, offering a holistic guide that amalgamates, compares, and dissects existing methodologies in a coherent manner.

Graphical Abstract
Experimental study of characterization and optimization of shape memory alloy sheet for enhanced mechanical actuation performance for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
Authors: Suraj  , Kumar Arun
Published: August 2024

In this paper, a shape memory alloy (SMA), NiTiNOL, zigzag sheet is used and experimental method is developed using programmable power supply, laser displacement sensor, and K-type thermocouple to investigate actuation and thermo-mechanical behavior of trained SMA zigzag sheet under three different weights, 2.5 N, 3.5 N, and 4.5 N, along with three distinct voltage levels 2.0 V, 3.0 V, and 4.0 V and hysteresis curves are comprehensively examined to get optimum value of load and voltage to achieve better life cycle and actuation as per the requirement of the design. The displacement and temperature data of the zigzag sheet is recorded for every 200 ms for the entire operating life, utilizing heating and cooling processes, of the zigzag sheet and the value of constant displacement for each cycle is optimized which can be used for the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).
Rethinking assessment strategies to improve authentic representations of learning: using blogs as a creative assessment alternative to develop professional skills
Authors: O’Rourke Mark , Doyon Andreanne
Published: August 2024

This research explores using blogs as an innovative assessment tool to enhance authentic learning and professional skill development in students. Unlike traditional methods, blogs foster active knowledge building and peer interaction, making learning more engaging and aligned with industry contexts. The study involved third-year planning students, in the course Governance and Planning, and utilised questionnaires, focus groups, and blog post analyses. Results indicated that blogs promoted reflective practice, facilitated peer review, and improved learning efficiencies. Despite some initial resistance and concerns about academic rigor, students found that blogging enhanced their understanding of course content and professional practices. Teacher support and peer feedback played a crucial role in this process. The literature supports blogs’ effectiveness in motivating students and aligning learning activities with real-world applications. However, assumptions about students’ familiarity with blogging were challenged, highlighting the need for thorough induction and support. Overall, blog-based assessments proved beneficial in creating authentic learning experiences and preparing students for their future careers. Future research should consider long-term studies on graduate outcomes and further explore peer review mechanisms.
Predictors of mortality among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients after decentralization of services in Tanzania from 2017 to 2019: retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mrema George , Hussein Ally , Magoge Welema , Mmbaga Vida , Balama Robert , Nkiligi Emmanuel , Lekule Isack , Kisonga Riziki , Kwesigabo Gideon
Published: August 2024

Background

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) presents persistent global health challenges, characterized by low treatment success rates among patients enrolled for treatment. The World Health Organization recommends decentralization to improve outcomes. This study aims to assess predictors of mortality among MDR-TB patients after decentralization of services in Tanzania. This was a retrospective cohort study involving all MDR-TB patients enrolled in treatment in all 31 regions in Tanzania from 2017 to 2019. The overall mortality rate among MDR-TB patients was calculated using the incidence rate. Additionally, independent factors of MDR-TB mortality were determined using multivariable cox proportional hazards models.

Results

The study followed 985 patients for a total of 12,929 months. During this time, it found that approximately 12 out of every 1000 patients died each month. Specifically, the death rates were about 18 out of 1000 patients at 6 months, 8 out of 1000 at 12 months, and 7 out of 1000 at 24 months. Patients who had both MDR-TB and HIV, as well as those who were malnourished, had a lower chance of surviving at 6, 12, and 24 months. Malnourished patients had almost three times the risk of dying [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.96, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2.10–4.19], while those with HIV had nearly double the risk [aHR 1.91, with a 95% CI of 1.37–2.65].

Conclusion

In summary, our study on MDR-TB patient outcomes in Tanzania between 2017 and 2019 reveals a pattern of high mortality rates within the first 6 months of treatment. Furthermore, malnutrition and HIV co-infection were found to be significant predictors of mortality. To decrease mortality, it is crucial to closely monitor patients during the initial 6 months of treatment, especially those who are malnourished or co-infected with HIV, and ensure they receive appropriate and timely care. Additionally, further investigation is needed to find out what may be contributing to possible rise in mortality rate.
A multi-channel spatial information feature based human pose estimation algorithm
Authors: Xie Yinghong , Hao Yan , Han Xiaowei , Gao Qiang , Yin Biao
Published: August 2024

Human pose estimation is an important task in computer vision, which can provide key point detection of human body and obtain bone information. At present, human pose estimation is mainly utilized for detection of large targets, and there is no solution for detection of small targets. This paper proposes a multi-channel spatial information feature based human pose (MCSF-Pose) estimation algorithm to address the issue of medium and small targets inaccurate detection of human key points in scenarios involving occlusion and multiple poses. The MCSF-Pose network is a bottom-up regression network. Firstly, an UP-Focus module is designed to expand the feature information while reducing parameter computation during the up-sampling process. Then, the channel segmentation strategy is adopted to cut the features, and the feature information of multiple dimensions is retained through different convolutional groups, which reduces the parameter lightweight network model and makes up for the loss of the feature information associated with the depth of the network. Finally, the three-layer PANet structure is designed to reduce the complexity of the model. With the aid of the structure, it also to improve the detection accuracy and anti-interference ability of human key points. The experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms YOLO-Pose and other human pose estimation algorithms on COCO2017 and MPII human pose datasets.
The impact of childhood abuse on patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder: an Egyptian study
Authors: Raya Yasser Abo , Sehlo Mohammad Gamal , Mahdy Reehab Saeed , Kotb Heba Mesbah , Ibrahim Abdallah Saad
Published: August 2024

Background

The presence of childhood abuse is expected to have a great impact on several psychological domains on obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) patients. This study was designed to assess the psychological impact of history childhood abuse (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional and physical neglect) on five psychological domains among OCD patients (self-esteem, depression, suicidal risk, cognitive functions, and anxiety).

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 101 OCD patients who were seen in the psychiatric department’s outpatient clinic at Zagazig University Hospital. They were diagnosed according to DSM-IV (SCID-I interview). All the patients were assessed using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Beck’s Suicide Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the MoCA scale (Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test).

Results

The prevalence of childhood abuse in the studied group was 74.3%. 24.8% with emotional abuse, 20.8% with physical abuse, 16.8% with sexual abuse, and 11.9% of patients with emotional and physical neglect. The different types of childhood abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse) were significantly associated with decreased self-esteem and increased depressive symptoms, while emotional and physical neglect were associated with decreased self-esteem only among OCD patients. The most powerful and significant predictor of lower self-esteem and depression was sexual abuse, and it was also the only significant predictor of increased suicidal risk among OCD patients.

Conclusions

History of childhood abuse was significantly associated with decreased self-esteem and increased depressive symptoms among OCD patients. Only history of sexual abuse was significantly associated with increased suicidal risk. So, evaluation of the childhood abuse history is highly important among OCD patients to be incorporated in the management plan to reduce the suffering of OCD patients and for better improvement.
Automated crack identification in structures using acoustic waveforms and deep learning
Authors: Barbosh Mohamed , Ge Liangfu , Sadhu Ayan
Published: August 2024

Structural elements undergo multiple levels of damage at various locations due to environments and critical loading conditions. The level of damage and its location can be predicted using acoustic emission (AE) waveforms that are captured from the generation of inherent microcracks. Existing AE methods are reliant on the feature selection of the captured waveforms and may be subjective in nature. To automate this process, this paper proposes a deep-learning model to predict the damage severity and its expected location using AE waveforms. The model is based on a densely connected convolutional neural network (CNN) that offers superior feature extraction and minimal training data requirements. Time-domain AE waveforms are used as inputs of the proposed model to automate the process of predicting the severity of damage and identifying the expected location of the damage in structural elements. The proposed approach is validated using AE data collected from a concrete beam and a wooden beam and plate. The results show the capability of the proposed method for predicting the level of damage with an accuracy range of 92-95% and identifying the approximate location of damage with 90-100% accuracy. Thus, the proposed method serves as a robust technique for damage severity prediction and localization in civil structures.
Unsupervised 3D seismic data reconstruction using a weighted-attentive deep-learning framework
Authors: Chen Gui , Liu Yang , Sun Yuhang
Published: August 2024

The physical and cost limitations of seismic data acquisition often result in the spatial undersampling of data, which has a detrimental impact on subsequent data processing. Seismic data reconstruction plays a crucial role in recovering missing traces arising from the acquisition process. In recent years, deep learning (DL) has emerged as an intelligent solution for this purpose. We introduce an innovative approach called the weighted-attentive DL framework for unsupervised 3D seismic data reconstruction, which combines an attentive transformer network (ATNet) with a conventional projection onto convex sets (POCS) algorithm. Our framework follows the plug-and-play concept, requiring only the original subsampled data to achieve robust performance. It accomplishes this by iteratively updating ATNet parameters, wherein ATNet serves as the reconstruction operator during the DL process. This approach allows us to simultaneously recover missing traces and filter out random noise, with a key feature being its enhanced attention to the observed signal compared with convolutional neural networks. In addition, we incorporate the POCS algorithm into our framework to introduce a linear decay weight for the aliasing space containing noise and signal during the reconstruction process. We rigorously evaluate our method against four existing approaches: adaptive POCS, fast dictionary learning sequential generalized K-means, optimally damped rank-reduction, and DenseNet methods. Our comparative experiments, conducted on synthetic and field data examples, clearly demonstrate the substantial improvements achieved by our method in terms of reconstruction and denoising when compared with the four benchmarked methods.
Review of physics-informed machine-learning inversion of geophysical data
Authors: Schuster Gerard T. , Chen Yuqing , Feng Shihang
Published: August 2024

We review five types of physics-informed machine-learning (PIML) algorithms for inversion and modeling of geophysical data. Such algorithms use the combination of a data-driven machine-learning (ML) method and the equations of physics to model or invert geophysical data (or both). By incorporating the constraints of physics, PIML algorithms can effectively reduce the size of the solution space for ML models, enabling them to be trained on smaller data sets. This is especially advantageous in scenarios in which data availability may be limited or expensive to obtain. In this review, we restrict the physics to be that from the governing wave equation, either as a constraint that must be satisfied or by using numerical solutions of the wave equation for modeling and inversion. This approach ensures that the resulting models adhere to physical principles while leveraging the power of ML to analyze and interpret complex geophysical data. There are several potential benefits of PIML compared to standard numerical modeling or inversion of seismic data computed by, for example, finite-difference solutions to the wave equation. 1) Empirical tests suggest that PIML algorithms constrained by the physics of wave propagation can sometimes resist getting stuck in a local minima compared with standard full-waveform inversion (FWI). 2) After the weights of the neural network are found by training, then the forward and inverse operations by PIML can be more than several orders of magnitude more efficient than FWI. However, the computational cost for general training can be enormous. 3) If the ML inversion operator [Formula: see text] is locally trained on a small portion of the recorded data [Formula: see text], then there is sometimes no need for millions of training examples that aim for global generalization of [Formula: see text]. The benefit is that the locally trained [Formula: see text] can be used to economically invert the remaining test data [Formula: see text] for the true velocity [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] can comprise more than 90% of the recorded data.
Menace to the Future
Authors: Whatcott Jess
Published: August 2024

In Menace to the Future, Jess Whatcott traces the link between US disability institutions and early twentieth-century eugenicist ideology, demonstrating how the legacy of those ideas continues to shape incarceration and detention today. Whatcott focuses on California, examining records from state institutions and reform organizations, newspapers, and state hospital museum exhibits. They reveal that state confinement, coercive treatment, care neglect, and forced sterilization were done out of the belief that the perceived unfitness of disabled, mad, and neurodivergent people was hereditary and thus posed a biological threat—a so-called menace to the future. Whatcott uncovers a history of disabled resistance to these institutions that predates disability rights movements, builds a genealogy of resistance, and tells a history of eugenics from below. Theorizing how what they call “carceral eugenics” informed state treatment of disabled, mad, and neurodivergent people a century ago, Whatcott shows not only how that same logic still exists in secure treatment facilities, state prisons, and immigration detention centers, but also why it must continue to be resisted.
Impact of Nusinersen on Neurofilament, Creatinine Levels, and Motor Function in Pediatric Spinal Muscular Atrophy Rehabilitation: A Biomarker Analysis
Authors: Badina Mihaela , Sporea Corina , Bejan Gabriel Cristian , Mirea Andrada , Ion Daniela Adriana
Published: August 2024

Background: Spinal amyotrophy is a rare, neurodegenerative disease, with progressive evolution, disabling until death in severe forms, but for which 3 disease-modifying drugs have recently been approved (in the last 8 years). In this context, it became necessary to find predictive factors for the evolution of patients and for the effectiveness of the treatment applied to personalize the therapy to obtain the best results according to the particularities of each patient. Objective: The objective of this retrospective study is to analyze the evolution of different clinical (motor functional scales) and paraclinical biomarkers (level of pNF-H neurofilaments in serum and cerebrospinal fluid and of serum creatinine) under treatment with nusinersen in various types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods: We analyzed the biomarkers values for a group of 69 pediatric patients diagnosed with SMA in different stages of treatment over three years, depending on the type of SMA, the number of copies of the SMN2 gene, and the age at initiation of therapy. Results: We observed significant increases in the levels of pNF-H neurofilaments in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum, with correlations to the age of symptom onset in patients and an inverse relationship to the number of copies of the SMN2 gene. These levels decreased during treatment with nusinersen, coinciding with increased serum creatinine values and improved motor functional assessment scores. The most pronounced effects were noted in patients with severe forms of the disease, such as SMA type 1, mainly when treatment was initiated at a younger age. Conclusion: The evolution of patients under disease-modifying treatments should be analyzed both for the evolution on specific motor functional scales, as well as against the biomarkers of neuronal degradation: pNF-H, present in CSF and serum, and serum creatinine, a marker of muscle activity. Administering the disease-modifying treatment promptly after diagnostic confirmation halts neural degradation and enhances the patient's motor function.

Keywords: spinal muscular atrophy; neurofilaments; cerebrospinal fluid; biomarkers; nusinersen; creatinine; motor evolution