bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Living with long-term conditions: validation of a new instrument for family caregivers in a Spanish-speaking population
Authors: Marín-Maicas Patricia , Ambrosio Leire , Corchon Silvia , González-Moreno Jesús , Portillo Mari Carmen
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Optimising the management of chronicity has been a global challenge for decades. Individuals with long-term conditions (LTCs) and their families live with them for years. Thus, it is necessary to include both of their perspectives in the management and adaptation of the interventions proposed. The psychometric properties of the living with LTCs scale from the perspective of the family caregiver are unknown. The objective of the present study is to describe the psychometric properties of the EC-PC-Fam in a Spanish-speaking population.

Methods

An observational, cross-sectional study was performed with a retest of part of the sample. The fit of the model was optimised with a factorial analysis, and the psychometric properties were verified.

Results

A sample of 311 caregivers was recruited. Most of them were women (68.2%) and had a mean age of 58.29±9.91 years (range: 32–84 years). The initial version did not obtain acceptable fit scores. To improve the fit, different versions were tested, refining the distribution of the items until optimisation was reached in V.10 (19 items). Cronbach’s alpha was 0.81 for the scale as a whole. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.77. The EC-PC-Fam scale is strongly and inversely correlated with a scale that measures the burden of the caregiver (rs=−0.46), and moderately related to the health-related quality of life (rs=0.373) and social support (rs=0.38).

Conclusions

The EC-PC-Fam scale from a family perspective is defined as a promising tool for promoting personalised care and for optimising the management of LTCs, and a new approach that includes family caregivers is proposed for clinical practice. The scale is an instrument with a moderate fit and optimum psychometric properties to measure living with LTCs from the perspective of a family caregiver. New validation studies are recommended to verify the fit of the proposed factorial solution.
Comparison of the accommodative amplitude measured with and without the use of a specialised accommodative rule in children
Authors: Hashemi Hassan , Nabovati Payam , Khabazkhoob Mehdi , Yekta Abbasali , Emamian Mohammad Hassan , Fotouhi Akbar
Published: September 2024

Objective

To determine the agreement between measurements of accommodative amplitude (AoA) in children using a specialised accommodative rule and measurments without it.

Methods

A total of 502 children underwent optometric examinations, including the measurement of visual acuity, objective and subjective refraction. AoA measurements were done with and without the Berens accommodative rule. The measurements of AoA were conducted monocularly using a −4 D lens. A fixation stick containing English letters equivalent to 20/30 visual acuity and a long millimetre ruler was used to measure AoA without the accommodative rule. This measurement was performed by the two trained examiners. The agreement between these methods was reported by 95% limits of agreement (LoA) and interclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

The mean age of the participants was 11.7±1.3 years (range: 9–15 years) and 52.4% were male. The mean AoA with and without the accommodative rule was 20.02±6.02 D and 22.46±6.32 D, respectively. The 95% LoA between the two methods was −12.5 to 7.5 D, and the ICC was 0.67 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.70). The 95% LoA was narrower in higher age groups and males compared with females (18.92 vs 20.87). The 95% LoA was narrower in hyperopes (16.83 D) compared with emmetropes (18.37 D) and myopes (18.27 D). The agreement was not constant and decreased in higher values of AoA.

Conclusion

There is a poor and non-constant agreement between the measurements of the AoA with and without the accommodative rule. The mean AoA was 2.5 D lower with using the accommodative rule.
Health and economic impacts of Vaccae vaccination incorporating active case finding in India and South Africa: a modelling study
Authors: Yue Wan-Lu , Zhai Pei-Yao , Mao Jun-Jie , Ma Jun-Feng , Ren Wen-Long , Jiang Ting , Zhang Bin , Zhuang Xun , Feng Jian , Zang Xiao , Qin Gang
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health issue, particularly, in India and South Africa. We aim to evaluate the potential of the new TB vaccine, Vaccae, to enhance TB control by integrating with active case finding (ACF) strategies in these regions.

Methods

Using age-structured dynamic models, we projected the epidemiological and economic outcomes of combining Vaccae vaccination with ACF over 27 years. In India, four age-targeted strategies were analysed: (1) adolescent (15 years), (2) adolescent and young adult (AYA, 15–34 years), (3) adult (18–55 years) and (4) elderly (60+ years). In South Africa, strategies were based on HIV status: (1) HIV-targeted, (2) non-HIV and (3) general population. The vaccine efficacy of Vaccae was set at 54.7%, priced at US$120 per course. Outcomes measured included reductions in TB incidence and mortality, prioritised based on budget, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) and benefit-cost ratios (BCR).

Results

In India, the adult strategy could prevent 8.70 (95% UI: 6.86–11.13) million TB cases and 0.61 (0.39–0.91) million deaths, reducing incidence and mortality by 20.1% (18.7%–23.5%) and 19.0% (17.5%–22.5%), respectively. In South Africa, the general population strategy could avert 0.67 (0.45–0.99) million TB cases and 0.21 (0.15–0.28) million deaths, reducing incidence by 28.1% (26.1%–30.3%) and mortality by 27.0% (23.5%–30.0%). The vaccination budgets for the AYA strategy in India and the HIV-targeted strategy in South Africa were US$14.0 (10.14–23.29) billion and US$0.09 (0.06–0.15) billion, respectively. The ICERs were US$1082 (927–1426) and US$70 (53–123) per disability-adjusted life year averted, and the BCRs were 2.0 (1.6–2.4) and 176 (83.4–255.3), respectively. Thus, the AYA strategy in India and the HIV-targeted strategy in South Africa were the most favourable.

Conclusion

Integrating Vaccae vaccination with ACF could significantly enhance TB control in high-burden countries. Policymakers should consider these strategies, with further research needed to confirm the findings.
Diminished functional segregation and resilience are associated with symptomatic severity and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia: a large-scale study
Authors: Yan Haohao , Han Yiding , Xu Xijia , Zhang Hongxing , He Yiqun , Xie Guojun , Li Huabing , Liu Feng , Li Ping , Zhao Jingping , Guo Wenbin
Published: September 2024

Background

The research findings on the topological properties of functional connectomes (TP-FCs) in patients with schizophrenia (SZPs) exhibit inconsistencies and contradictions, which can be attributed to limitations such as small sample sizes and heterogeneous data processing techniques.

Aims

To address these limitations, we conducted a large-scale study. Uniform data processing flows were employed to investigate the aberrant TP-FCs and the associations between TP-FCs and symptoms or cognitions (A-TP-SCs) in SZPs.

Methods

The large-scale study included six datasets from four sites, involving 497 SZPs and 374 healthy controls (HCs). A uniform process for imaging data preprocessing and functional connectivity matrix configuration was used. ComBat was employed for data harmonisation, and various TPs were calculated. We explored between-group differences in brain functional integration (FI) and functional segregation (FS) measured with TP-FCs, and conducted partial correlation analyses, with adjustments for age, gender and educational level, to identify A-TP-SCs.

Results

Compared with random networks and HCs, SZPs maintained small-worldness and global FI capacity despite their compromised global FS capacity and resilience. A decline in nodal FI and FS capacity was observed in sensory areas, whereas an increase in nodal FI capacity was found in regions associated with cognition and information integration. In addition, associations between TP-FCs and positive symptoms, negative symptoms or cognitive functions including speed of processing, visual learning and the ability to inhibit cognitive interference were identified in SZPs.

Conclusions

The identified A-TP-SCs verified that reductions in FS and resilience indicated pathological impairments in schizophrenia. The A-TP-SCs or TP-FCs, which measured the same attributes of the functional connectomes, exhibited high internal consistency, robustly reinforcing these findings.
Comparative early effectiveness across 14 PsA drugs and 5 classes of PsA treatment: 3-month results from the PRO-SPIRIT study
Authors: Kristensen Lars Erik , Ng Khai Jing , Ngantcha Marcus , Morel Jacques , Lubrano Ennio , Tillett William , Alten Rieke , Chandran Vinod , Martinez Ferrer Àngels , Zhu Baojin , Kennedy Dominika , Holzkämper Thorsten , Gullick Nicola , Kronbergs Andris , Fakhouri Walid , de la Torre Inmaculada , McGonagle Dennis G
Published: September 2024

Background

The psoriatic arthritis (PsA) Observational Study of Persistence of Treatment (PRO-SPIRIT) assesses effectiveness and persistence of real-world PsA treatments. Ixekizumab (IXE) is an interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitor (i) (IL-17Ai), approved for the treatment of adult PsA.

Methods

The aim of this predefined interim analysis was to report baseline characteristics along with early (3-month) descriptive and comparative real-world effectiveness in patients with PsA prescribed with advanced treatment including IL-17Ai; IXE or secukinumab (SEC), IL-12/23i, IL-23i, tumour necrosis factor (TNFi) or Janus kinase (JAKi).

Results

1192 patients across 6 countries were analysed. At baseline, patients receiving IXE had longer disease duration and higher previous biological/targeted-synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs experience than patients starting TNFi and SEC 150, and less concomitant conventional-synthetic DMARD use than TNFi and JAKi. Comparative analyses at 3 months showed that: (a) versus TNFi, IXE exhibited similar improvement in clinical Disease Activity in PsA (cDAPSA) but significantly greater improvement in body surface area affected by psoriasis (BSA) and global assessments (physician GA, patient GA (PatGA)); (b) versus IL-12/23i and IL-23i (pooled), IXE showed significantly greater improvement in cDAPSA and PatGA; (c) IXE was as fast as JAKi in improving joint disease activity. Ad hoc analysis indicated that more patients with active psoriasis (BSA ≥3%) achieved minimal disease activity with IXE than JAKi or IL-12/23i. The responses to SEC varied by dosage.

Conclusions

This study confirms the rapid 3-month effectiveness of IXE on joint disease activity—as fast as TNFi and JAKi (cDAPSA), and exceeding IL-12/23i and IL-23i—along with clear benefits to skin.
The cost of hatchery straying: an economic case study on Alaska pink salmon
Authors: May Samuel A. , Westley Peter A.H.
Published: September 2024

Augmenting harvest using hatchery-produced salmon relies on fish returning to intended sites for capture. However, not all do—some stray, evading capture, and entering wild spawning grounds, thus representing foregone yield. Here we ask, “what is the theoretical loss to harvesters as a result of straying?” We applied existing stray estimates and ex-vessel values from the world’s largest pink salmon hatchery-fishery program: Prince William Sound, Alaska, across three return years with full accounting of system-wide harvest, escapement, and straying, to examine the value of strays under a range of scenarios that varied the component of the harvesting sector that might catch strays. In this system, approximately 1%–5% of returning hatchery fish are estimated to stray away from release sites, which translates to approximate 0.8–4.5 million fish. We found that these strays were worth between $1 and $8 million per year, depending on the scenario and harvest year examined. While many important assumptions factor into this evaluation, our intention is for this work to spark dialogues about the economic tradeoffs associated with investing in stray reduction technologies, complementing the well-studied eco-evolutionary costs and benefits of straying.
Interplay between charge ordering and superconducting correlations in the extended Hubbard model
Authors: Farkašovský Pavol
Published: September 2024

We examine effects of charge ordering on superconducting correlations in the extended Hubbard model with Falicov-Kimball coupling in two dimensions. Charge orderings are generated by f-electron distributions on the localized f orbitals, which act as an internal potential for itinerant d electrons moving in the Hubbard d band. For the small finite cluster of $$L=4 \times 4$$

L
=
4
×
4

sites the model is studied exactly over the complete set of f-electron distributions, while for larger clusters the projector Quantum-Monte-Carlo method and the reduced set of f-electron distributions (the periodic, phase separated and phase segregated configurations) is used. It is found that the enhancement of superconducting correlations in the d-wave channel depends strongly on the type of f-electron ordering and changes significantly with f and d electron concentration ($$n_f$$

n
f

,$$n_d$$

n
d

) as well as with interband Coulomb interaction $$U_{fd}$$

U

fd

. In particular, it is found that for small values of $$U_{fd}$$

U

fd

and $$n_d$$

n
d

the superconducting correlations are the most significantly enhanced for segregated configurations (all f-electrons clump together), for all f-electron concentrations, while for higher d-band fillings axial stripes (bands) with f-electron concentrations $$n_f \sim 0.5$$

n
f

∼
0.5

yield the largest enhancement of superconducting correlations. The region of axial striped phases is systematically reduced with increasing $$U_{fd}$$

U

fd

and for sufficiently large $$U_{fd}$$

U

fd

($$U_{fd}\sim 2$$

U

fd

∼
2

) it persists only in the region of small $$n_f$$

n
f

and $$n_d$$

n
d

values.
Collaborative E-Learning Application with Course Recommendation in Cloud Computing
Authors: Venkatesh Naik N. , Madhavi K.
Published: September 2024

Abstract.Cloud computing is quickly expanding, with applications in practically every industry, including education. E-learning systems often necessitate a large number of hardware and software resources. Many educational institutions cannot afford such investments, thus cloud computing is the best solution. Here, the Matrix Factorisation-based maximum rate recommendation system (MatFac-Maxirate RS) is utilised to recommend the courses for students to choose their career. According to user access, the e-learning application server is acquired from the E-Khool dataset which is subjected to learner or course agglomerative matrix calculation. The E-learning application server is executed based on Minkowski and Kumar Hasebrook’s distance to retrieve learner preference items. The recommended course having the maximum rating is considered which is forecasted with matrix factorisation considering the course ID and learner ID. The MatFac-Maxirate RS generated the finest efficacy with the best precision of 88.9%, recall of 88.2% and F-measure of 87.5%.
Confidential Container Groups
Authors: Johnson Matthew A. , Volos Stavros , Gordon Ken , Allen Sean T. , Wintersteiger Christoph M. , Clebsch Sylvan , Starks John , Costa Manuel
Published: September 2024

Implementing confidential computing on Azure container instances.
ArmSpy++: Enhanced PIN Inference through Video-based Fine-grained Arm Posture Analysis
Authors: Dai Huan , Chen Yuefeng , Du Yicong , Wang Luping , Shao Ziyu , Liu Hongbo , Ren Yanzhi , Yu Jiadi , Liu Bo
Published: September 2024

As one of the most common ways for user authentication, Personal Identification Number (PIN), due to its simplicity and convenience, has suffered from plenty of side-channel attacks, which pose a severe threat to people’s privacy and property. The success of existing attacks is usually built upon the premise of no occlusion between the attacker and the victim’s hand gesture, but it increases the difficulty of launching the attack and the possibility of exposure. To overcome such limitation, we propose ArmSpy++, an improved video-assisted PIN inference attack built upon our previous research, ArmSpy. Specifically, ArmSpy++ employs new modules to leverage more features like the keystroke-induced elbow bending, wrist speed variation, and the spatial relationship between different arm joints, to correctly detect Keystrokes. ArmSpy++ delves into the perspective relationship and natural typing habits to ensure a high success rate of PIN inference. We also re-designed the inferred PIN pattern coordination mechanism to accurately deduce the PINs. By using a pre-trained HigherHRNet model for posture estimation ArmSpy++ eliminates the necessity of additional training. The extensive experiments demonstrate that ArmSpy++ can achieve over 83.1% average accuracy with 3 attempts and even 92.5% for some victims, indicating the severity of the threat posed by ArmSpy++.
Towards Recognizing Food Types for Unseen Subjects
Authors: Guan Jiexiong , Wang Junjie , Niu Wei , Peng Zhen , Wang Shuangquan , Liu Zhenming , Zhou Gang , Ren Bin
Published: September 2024

Recognizing food types through sensor signals for unseen users remains remarkably challenging despite extensive recent studies. The efficacy of prior machine learning techniques is dwarfed by giant variations of data collected from multiple participants, partly because users have varied chewing habits and wear sensor devices in various manners. This work treats the problem as an instance of the domain adaptation problem, where each user represents a domain. We develop the first multi-source domain adaptation (MSDA) method for food-typing recognition, which consists of three major components: stratified normalization, a multi-source domain adaptor, and adaptive ensemble learning. New techniques are developed for each component. Using a real-world dataset comprised of 15 participants, we demonstrate that our method achieves

\(1.33\times\)

to

\(2.13\times\)

improvement in accuracy compared with nine state-of-the-art MSDA baselines. Additionally, we perform an in-depth ablation study to examine the behavior of each component and confirm its efficacy.
User Opinion-Focused Abstractive Summarization Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Lee Hyunho , Lee Younghoon
Published: September 2024

Recent methodologies have achieved good performance in objectively summarizing important information from fact-based datasets such as Extreme Summarization and CNN Daily Mail. These methodologies involve abstractive summarization, extracting the core content from an input text and transforming it into natural sentences. Unlike fact-based documents, opinion-based documents require a thorough analysis of sentiment and understanding of the writer’s intention. However, existing models do not explicitly consider these factors. Therefore, in this study, we propose a novel text summarization model that is specifically designed for opinion-based documents. Specifically, we identify the sentiment distribution of the entire document and train the summarization model to focus on major opinions that conform to the intended message while randomly masking minor opinions. Experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms existing summarization models in summarizing opinion-based documents, effectively capturing and highlighting the main opinions in the generated abstractive summaries.
Robust Hashing with Deep Features and Meixner Moments for Image Copy Detection
Authors: Yu Mengzhu , Tang Zhenjun , Liang Xiaoping , Zhang Xianquan , Li Zhixin , Zhang Xinpeng
Published: September 2024

Copy detection is a key task of image copyright protection. Most robust hashing schemes do not make satisfied performance of image copy detection yet. To address this, a robust hashing scheme with deep features and Meixner moments is proposed for image copy detection. In the proposed hashing, global deep features are extracted by applying tensor Singular Value Decomposition (t-SVD) to the three-order tensor constructed in the DWT domain of the feature maps calculated by the pre-trained VGG16. Since the feature maps in the DWT domain are slightly disturbed by digital operations, the constructed three-order tensor is stable and thus the desirable robustness is guaranteed. Moreover, since t-SVD can decompose a three-order tensor into multiple low-dimensional matrices reflecting intrinsic structure, the global deep feature calculation from the low-dimensional matrices can provide good discrimination. Local features are calculated by the block-based Meixner moments. As the Meixner moments are resistant to geometric transformation and can efficiently discriminate various images, the use of the block-based Meixner moments can make discriminative and robust local features. Hash is ultimately determined by quantifying and combining global deep features and local features. The results of extensive experiments on open image datasets demonstrate that the proposed robust hashing outperforms some state-of-the-art robust hashing schemes in terms of classification and copy detection performances.
First Voltammetric Determination of Karbutylate via Pencil Graphite, Glassy Carbon, and Boron-Doped Diamond Electrodes in Soil Sample
Authors: Bilge Selva , Donar Yusuf Osman , Sınağ Ali
Published: September 2024

We investigated the electrochemical behavior of carbamate pesticide-type karbutylate (KB) with boron-doped diamond (BDD), glassy carbon (GC), and pencil graphite (PG) electrode, and analytical determination in real samples. Similar to organophosphate insecticides, carbamate pesticides are produced from carbamic acid and are extensively utilized in agriculture, gardens, and residences. Therefore, a rapid and simple detection of KB in real samples is important. Carbon-based electrodes are widely used in electroanalytical chemistry due to their rich surface chemistry, chemical inertness, broad potential window, low background current, and congruency for various demanding applications. Three different carbon-based electrodes were used. The effect of buffer solutions, scan rate, square wave (SWV), and differential pulse voltammetry parameters on the voltammetric response of KB was tested. The optimum working media for all three electrodes was determined as pH 2.00 phosphate buffer solution and voltammetric measurements were carried out in this media. Under optimum experimental conditions, linear calibration dependences for KB were obtained as 6.00 × 10−7–8.00 × 10−5 M, 4.00 × 10−7–8.00 × 10−5 M, and 8.00 × 10−8–8.00 × 10−5 M with a limit of detection of 2.18 × 10−7, 3.71 × 10−8 M, and 2.66 × 10−8 M by the BDD, GC, and PG electrodes, respectively, using SWV. As a result, sensitive determination of KB has been successfully performed using different carbon-based electrodes in real soil samples.
Rhabdomyolysis Induced by Levetiracetam: A Case Report in Kuwait
Authors: Qureshi Moaz , Abraham Prakash A. , Al-Faras Abdullah , Bamasood Omar M. , Matar Kamal M.
Published: September 2024

Epilepsy is a common disorder caused by a myriad of drugs, of that levetiracetam is being commonly used late because of its strong safety profile and efficacy. With the increasing usage of drugs, some rare side effects may sometimes appear that can escape the most stringent checks, possibly due to the rarity of their occurrence. Rhabdomyolysis is known to occur in some patients owing to a variety of causes, even leading to kidney injury. When a drug has a side effect that is not well recognized in the literature, especially when the side effect can mimic an adverse effect of an uncommon primary illness, identifying the causal factor can be doubly difficult. To date, only limited studies have been published suggesting rhabdomyolysis linked to levetiracetam use. We report the first case of levetiracetam‐induced​ rhabdomyolysis in Kuwait.
When Transfer Learning Meets Dictionary Learning: A New Hybrid Method for Fast and Automatic Detection of Cracks on Concrete Surfaces
Authors: Chen Si-Yi , Wang You-Wu , Ni Yi-Qing , Zhang Yang
Published: September 2024

Cracks in civil structures are important signs of structural degradation and may indicate the inception of catastrophic failure. However, most of studies that have employed deep learning models for automatic crack detection are limited to high computational demand and require a large amount of labeled data. Long training time is not friendly to model update, and large amount of training data is usually unavailable in real applications. To bridge this gap, the innovation of this study lies in developing a hybrid method that comprises transfer learning (TL) and low‐rank dictionary learning (LRDL) for fast crack detection on concrete surfaces. Benefiting from the availability of preextracted features in TL and a limited number of parameters in LRDL, the training time can be significantly minimized without GPU acceleration. Experimental results showed that the time for training a dictionary only takes 25.33 s. Moreover, this new hybrid method reduces the demand for labeled data during training. It achieved an accuracy of 99.68% with only 20% labeled data. Three large‐scale images captured under varying conditions (e.g., uneven lighting conditions and very thin cracks) were further used to assess the crack detection performance. These advantages help to implement the proposed TL‐LRDL method on resource‐limited computers, such as battery‐powered UAVs, UGVs, and scarce processing capability of AR headsets.
Effect of Substituting Wheat Flour With Protein‐Rich Sources on Quality of Instant Noodles
Authors: Rahimi Mona , Elhamirad Amir Hossein , Shafafi Zenoozian Masoud , Jafarpour Afshin , Armin Mohammad
Published: September 2024

There is a lack of dietary fiber and some essential amino acids in instant noodles. Enriching this popular food with protein‐ and fiber‐rich sources is important to improve the nutritional quality of noodles. The current study is aimed at enriching instant noodles by substituting wheat flour with lentil flour (7%–35%: L7%, L21%, and L35%), soy‐protein isolate (1%–5%: S1%, S3% and S5%), egg‐white protein (1–5: E1%, E3%, and E5%) and Spirulina platensis (1%–5%: S.p1%, S.p3% and S.p5%). The physicochemical, microbial, textural, and sensorial properties of noodle samples were investigated. The spatial relationship between parameters was also evaluated based on principal component analysis (PCA) to select the suitable noodle formulation. The highest protein (17.06%) and lowest carbohydrate contents (76.44%) were for L35%. The lowest (1.69%) and highest fat contents (2.04%) were for S5% and S.p5%m, respectively (p > 0.05). Energy values varied from 394.83 (E5%) to 396.37 kcal/100 g (S.p5%). There was no significant difference between the microbial quality of noodle samples (p > 0.05). The hardness of noodles with 1%–5% soy protein, 21% or more lentil flour, and 3% or more egg‐white/Spirulina was higher than the control/unenriched group (p < 0.05). The color difference of E1 and E3% with the control sample was not obvious (ΔE∗ < 3). Although all the ingredients improved the nutritional value of the noodles, the overall acceptance of samples with 3% or more of Spirulina was lower than the acceptable limit (a score of 3). According to PCA, when the nutritional value and sensory acceptance are important, the L35% may be a better choice. E1%, E3%, S1%, S5%, and L7% noodles received almost the same sensory score as the control sample, while they had more nutritional values. A combination of animal, plant, and microalgae protein sources may provide a noodle with high nutritional value, containing a wide range of essential amino acids and bioactive compounds. More research is needed to optimize such a formulation.
Nonlinear Failure Analysis of Critical Area of Transmission Towers Based on the Continuum Damage Theory
Authors: Zhang Nailong , Chen Jie , Gao Chao , Tan Xiao , Li Hongze
Published: September 2024

Transmission towers serve as crucial safety pillars within the power transmission system, and their damage can lead to severe consequences. The structural failure of a tower undergoes a process from the initiation of local damage to overall failure, emphasizing the importance of conducting detailed local safety research. This paper introduces a nonlinear damage analysis method rooted in the continuous damage theory, specifically designed for critical areas of transmission towers. A material subroutine for elastic‐plastic‐damage constitutive equations is developed using commercial software, and thorough verification ensures the accuracy of both the subroutine and the algorithm. The proposed algorithm is then applied to analyze the damage in critical areas of a tower, simulating the plasticity‐damage coupling evolution of the main leg during the collapse of the transmission tower. Regarding the treatment of bolt connections in the local model, it indicates that there is a small difference between the contact model and the rigid‐joint model results. Taking computational efficiency into consideration, it is recommended to employ rigid‐joint model to simulate the evolution of damage. The presented example illustrates damage occurring on the outer side of the main leg, ultimately leading to lateral damage under the combined influence of bending and torsion. This research offers a novel method for investigating the failure mechanisms of transmission towers under extreme weather conditions and proposes precise reinforcement strategies.
Predictors of Discharge from Hospital to Supported Accommodation and Support Needs Once in Supported Accommodation for People with Serious Mental Illness in Scotland: A Linked National Dataset Study
Authors: Harrison Michele , Irvine Fitzpatrick Linda , Maciver Donald
Published: September 2024

Background. Many individuals with serious mental illness live in supported accommodation. Decisions regarding type of supported accommodation required and level of support to meet individual’s needs are crucial for continuing rehabilitation and recovery following admission to hospital. This study aimed to identify personal and contextual predictive factors for (1) discharge from hospital to different levels of supported accommodation and (2) self‐directed support needs of individuals with serious mental illness once they are in supported accommodation in Scotland. Method. Linked data from the Scottish Morbidity Record‐Scottish Mental Health and Inpatient Day Case Section and the Scottish Government Social Care Survey were analysed using multinomial regression and multivariable logistic regression to identify personal and contextual factors associated with accommodation destination at the time of discharge and four self‐directed support needs: personal care; domestic care; healthcare; and social, educational, and recreational. Results. Personal factors (age and having a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizotypal, or delusional disorder) were associated with individuals moving to supported accommodation with higher levels of support. One contextual factor, compulsory detention when admitted to hospital, decreased the likelihood of moving to any type of supported accommodation. The personal and contextual factors associated with identified self‐directed support needs varied by need. Support provided by the local authority was associated with all self‐directed support needs, with having a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizotypal, or delusional disorder associated with identifying domestic care, healthcare, and social, educational, and recreational needs, while living in the most deprived areas was associated with identifying healthcare needs. Advancing age and being compulsorily detained decreased the likelihood of identifying social, educational, and recreational needs. Conclusion. The study highlights that older men with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizotypal, or delusional disorder require higher levels of support upon discharge from hospital. When living in supported accommodation, having this diagnosis increases the likelihood of identifying support with looking after the home, looking after their health, and social and recreational activities; however, being older decreases the likelihood of identifying support with social and recreational activities.
Design and Application of Flexible Sensors in Human–Machine Interaction
Authors: Zheng Liuqing , Wang Jia , Wang Junjie , Lei Ruochen , Jin Hongxiao , Chai Wenxiang , Ge Hongliang , Jin Dingfeng
Published: September 2024

To improve the electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and antibacterial properties of conventional hydrogels while simplifying their preparation steps for better application in wearable, flexible sensors and biomimetic electronic skins. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels were doped with an ionic liquid based on zinc chloride to synthesize improved hydrogels using the freeze‐thawing method. It is found that the addition of ionic liquid based on zinc chloride to the hydrogel resulted in a significant increase in electrical conductivity. However, an excessive amount of these liquids led to a reduction in their mechanical properties. The results reveal that the balance between conductivity and mechanical properties can be achieved by controlling the concentration of the ionic liquid based on zinc chloride. The higher the ionic liquid concentration based on zinc chloride in the composite hydrogels, the better the conductivity performance. The addition of an ionic liquid based on zinc chloride resulted in a significant improvement in the conductivity performance of the hydrogels. Furthermore, excellent mechanical properties are maintained even at a mass ratio of 1 : 10 between ionic liquids based on zinc chloride and PVA hydrogels, and composite hydrogels exhibit excellent antibacterial properties.
Prevalence of Mental Distress and Its Predictors Among Adult Women Attending Court After Experiencing Gender‐Based Violence: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Chafuro Getachew , Desalegn Mitiku , Mamo Hanna , Yohannes Tadele
Published: September 2024

Background: Despite being a universal problem, violence against women is the least acknowledged category of human rights violations worldwide. Long‐term mental health conditions such as anxiety, sadness, and posttraumatic stress disorders are associated with violence against women and girls. Despite its magnitude, severity, and negative consequences, studies on the prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among women who experienced gender‐based violence (GBV) are limited in Ethiopia.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among women who experienced GBV and attended courts in the Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia, from July to September 2023.

Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 426 adult women who experienced GBV and attended the courts. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study subjects. The collected data were entered into EpiData Version 4.6 and then exported to SPSS Version 26 for analysis. A logistic regression model was used to identify independent factors of mental distress. The strength of the associations is presented as odds ratios with 95% CIs, and the results are reported as significant at p values < 0.05.

Results: A total of 420 participants were enrolled for a 99.5% response rate. The prevalence of mental distress was 52.6% (95% CI: 49.65–58.85). Mental distress was associated with rural residence (AOR: 2.753; 95%CI = 1.749, 4.332), being concerned about food insecurity (AOR = 2.808; 95%CI = 1.344, 5.864), having a family history of mental illness (AOR = 2.647; 95%CI = 1.488, 4.708), having a husband ever khat use (AOR = 1.918; 95%CI = 1.192, 3.085), and having a husband who married another wife (AOR = 2.209; 95%CI = 1.199, 4.072).

Conclusion: The prevalence of mental distress among women who experienced GBV and attended the courts of the Hadiya Zone was high. Place of residence, concern about food insecurity, family history of mental illness, ever khat use, and having a husband who marries another wife were found to have statistically significant associations with mental distress among women who experienced GBV and attended the courts of the Hadiya Zone. Women need to be assessed regularly for GBV during health care visits. Regular counseling, facilitating, and adhering to different GBV coping mechanisms during the waiting time is imperative to overcome this problem.
The Innate Immune System and the TRAIL–Bcl-XL Axis Mediate a Sex Bias in Lung Cancer and Confer a Therapeutic Vulnerability in Females
Authors: May Lauren , Hu Bin , Jerajani Preksha , Jagdeesh Akash , Alhawiti Ohud , Cai Lillian , Semenova Nina , Guo Chunqing , Isbell Madison , Deng Xiaoyan , Faber Anthony C. , Pillappa Raghavendra , Bandyopadhyay Dipankar , Wang Xiang-Yang , Neuwelt Alexander , Koblinski Jennifer , Bos Paula D. , Li Howard , Martin Rebecca , Landry Joseph W.
Published: September 2024

There is a significant sex bias in lung cancer, with males showing increased mortality compared with females. A better mechanistic understanding of these differences could help identify therapeutic targets to personalize cancer therapies to each sex. After observing a clear sex bias in humanized mice, with male patient-derived xenograft lung tumors being more progressive and deadlier than female patient-derived xenograft lung tumors, we identified mouse tumor models of lung cancer with the same sex bias. This sex bias was not observed in models of breast, colon, melanoma, and renal cancers. In vivo, the sex bias in growth and lethality required intact ovaries, functional innate NK cells and monocytes/macrophages, and the activating receptor NKG2D. Ex vivo cell culture models were sensitized to the anticancer effects of NKG2D-mediated NK cell and macrophage killing through the TRAIL–Bcl-XL axis when cultured with serum from female mice with intact ovaries. In both flank and orthotopic models, the Bcl-XL inhibitor navitoclax (ABT-263) improved tumor growth control in female mice and required NK cells, macrophages, and the TRAIL signaling pathway. This research suggests that navitoclax and TRAIL pathway agonists could be used as a personalized therapy to improve outcomes in women with lung cancer.

Significance: Lung cancers in females are more susceptible to killing through a TRAIL–Bcl-XL axis, indicating that targeting this axis therapeutically could represent a personalized approach to treat female patients with lung cancer.
Targeting SHCBP1 Inhibits Tumor Progression by Restoring Ciliogenesis in Ductal Carcinoma
Authors: Shi Wengui , Li Lianshun , Zhao Huiming , Li Zhengyang , Ma Zhijian , Gu Qianlin , Ye Huili , Jiang Xiangyan , Dong Yuman , Qin Long , Zhou Huinian , Yu Zeyuan , Jiao Zuoyi
Published: September 2024

Primary cilia detect and transmit environmental signals into cells. Primary cilia are absent in a subset of ductal carcinomas characterized by distinctive biological activities, and recovery of cilia with normal functionality has been shown to have therapeutic potential in some cancer types. Therefore, elucidation of the underlying mechanism and clinical significance of ciliary loss in ductal carcinomas could help develop effective treatment strategies. Here, we identified a link between Shc1-binding protein (SHCBP1) and cilia in ductal carcinomas. Shcbp1 knockout in transgenic mice profoundly impeded tumor progression and metastasis, prolonging survival. Single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed a functional connection between SHCBP1 deficiency and increased tumor ciliogenesis. SHCBP1 ablation restored ciliogenesis in unciliated ductal carcinoma by promoting the proximity between the midbody remnant (MBR) and centrosome through enhanced Rab8 GTPase activity and Rab8GTP positioning within the MBR. Inhibition of tumor progression by SHCBP1 loss relied on the recovery of ciliogenesis. Analysis of a large cohort of patients with ductal carcinoma revealed a negative correlation between SHCBP1-induced ciliary loss and patient prognosis. Restoring ciliogenesis via SHCBP1 ablation elicited therapeutic effects in patient-derived xenograft models. Together, this study delineates that induction of MBR-centrosome proximity through SHCBP1-deficiency reactivates ciliogenesis, offering unique opportunities for the treatment of unciliated ductal carcinomas.

Significance: SHCBP1 depletion rescues tumor ciliogenesis by enhancing Rab8 GTPase activity to restore the proximity of the  midbody remnant to the centrosome, which impedes progression of ductal carcinomas and suggests potential therapeutic strategies.
Selective Enhancer Gain-of-Function Deregulates MYC Expression in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Rahmat Mahshid , Clement Kendell , Alberge Jean-Baptiste , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Kodgule Rohan , Fulco Charles P. , Heilpern-Mallory Daniel , Nilsson Katarina , Dorfman David , Engreitz Jesse M. , Getz Gad , Pinello Luca , Ryan Russell J.H. , Ghobrial Irene M.
Published: September 2024

MYC deregulation occurs in the majority of multiple myeloma cases and is associated with progression and worse prognosis. Enhanced MYC expression occurs in about 70% of patients with multiple myeloma, but it is known to be driven by translocation or amplification events in only ∼40% of myelomas. Here, we used CRISPR interference to uncover an epigenetic mechanism of MYC regulation whereby increased accessibility of a plasma cell-type–specific enhancer leads to increased MYC expression. This native enhancer activity was not associated with enhancer hijacking events but led to specific binding of cMAF, IRF4, and SPIB transcription factors that activated MYC expression in the absence of known genetic aberrations. In addition, focal amplification was another mechanism of activation of this enhancer in approximately 3.4% of patients with multiple myeloma. Together, these findings define an epigenetic mechanism of MYC deregulation in multiple myeloma beyond known translocations or amplifications and point to the importance of noncoding regulatory elements and their associated transcription factor networks as drivers of multiple myeloma progression.

Significance: The discovery of a native developmental enhancer that sustains the expression of MYC in a subset of myelomas could help identify predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets to improve the outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma.
Abstract A001: Health expenditure trajectory and gastric cancer incidence in the National Health Insurance Senior Cohort: A nested case-control study
Authors: Lee Minjee , Yoo Ki-Bong , Lee Woo-Ri
Published: September 2024

Background: Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and highly prevalent in South Korea. Given its prolonged disease progression, understanding the impact of health expenditure patterns over time is crucial. This nested case-control study aimed to identify the association between health expenditure trajectory and incidence of gastric cancer. Methods: Data from the National Health Insurance Service Senior Cohort of South Korea were used. Individuals diagnosed with gastric cancer (N = 14,873) were matched to a non-diagnosed group (N = 44,619) in a 1:3 ratio using a nested case-control design. A latent class trajectory analysis was performed to identify the patterns of health expenditure among the matched participants. Furthermore, conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between healthcare expenditure trajectories and gastric cancer incidence. Results: Seven distinct health expenditure trajectories over a 5-year period were identified: consistently lowest (13.9%), rapidly increasing (6.4%), gradually increasing (14.1%), consistently second-highest (22.1%), middle-low (17.8%), gradually decreasing (12.8%), and consistently highest (12.9%). Compared to the Middle-low group, individuals in the rapidly increasing (OR = 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.90–2.25), consistently lowest (OR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.33–1.55), gradually increasing (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.15–1.32), and consistently highest (OR = 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01–1.17) groups exhibited a higher risk of developing gastric cancer. Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the importance of monitoring health expenditures to prevent gastric cancer. The categorization of health expenditure by trajectories allowed the identification of specific risk groups that may be targeted by appropriate interventions.

Citation Format: Minjee Lee, Ki-Bong Yoo, Woo-Ri Lee. Health expenditure trajectory and gastric cancer incidence in the National Health Insurance Senior Cohort: A nested case-control study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A001.
Abstract A022: Glycemic control and risk of prostate cancer morality in Veterans with diabetes
Authors: Marrone Michael , Bishu Kinfe , Batten Macelyn , Gebregziabher Mulugeta
Published: September 2024

This abstract is being presented as a short talk in the scientific program. A full abstract is printed in the Proffered Abstracts section (PR013) of the Conference Program/Proceedings.

Citation Format: Michael Marrone, Kinfe Bishu, Macelyn Batten, Mulugeta Gebregziabher. Glycemic control and risk of prostate cancer morality in Veterans with diabetes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A022.
Abstract A082: Contribution of health insurance to racial and ethnic disparities in advanced stage diagnosis of 10 cancers
Authors: Choudhury Parichoy Pal , Sineshaw Helmneh M. , Freedman Rachel A. , Halpern Michael T. , Nogueira Leticia , Jemal Ahmedin , Islami Farhad
Published: September 2024

For many cancer sites, it is unclear to what extent differences in health insurance coverage contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in stage III-IV diagnoses. Using the National Cancer Database (1,893,026 patients aged 18-64 years, diagnosed between 2013-2019), we investigated a potential mediating role of health insurance (privately insured vs. uninsured) in explaining racial and ethnic disparities in stage at diagnosis of 10 cancers (i.e., breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, cervical, uterine, bladder, head and neck, skin melanoma), detectable early through screening, physical examination, or clinical symptoms. The analyses provided evidence of mediation of non-Hispanic Black vs. White disparities in eight cancers (range of proportions mediated: 4.5%-29.1%); Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic White disparities in six cancers (13.2%- 68.8%); non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander vs. White disparities in three cancers (5.8%- 11.3%). To summarize, health insurance accounts for a considerable proportion of the racial and ethnic disparities in stage III-IV diagnoses across a wide range of cancers.

Citation Format: Parichoy Pal Choudhury, Helmneh M. Sineshaw, Rachel A. Freedman, Michael T. Halpern, Leticia Nogueira, Ahmedin Jemal, Farhad Islami. Contribution of health insurance to racial and ethnic disparities in advanced stage diagnosis of 10 cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A082.