bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Behavioral and psychosocial predictors of depression in Bangladeshi medical students: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Karim Md Rizwanul , Ahmed Helal Uddin , Akhter Shahnaz
Published: July 2022

Background: Depression, stress, and anxiety were found in a large number of medical undergraduate students, indicating a neglected aspect of their psychology that required immediate attention. The goal of this study was to find out the prevalence of depression among medical students, as well as potential psychosocial and behavioral predictors for depression. 

Methods:   This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2021 among 840 randomly selected medical students from four medical colleges using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed through the SPSS v.23 software. Multiple regression was performed to assess the effect of several behavioral and psychosocial factors on depression.  

Results: Among the 840 study participants, 55.7% (n= 468) were female and 44.3% (n= 372) were male. According to the data, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, perceived stress among medical students was found to be 28.8%, 65% and 85% respectively. A strong link was found between depression and anxiety, stress, poor sleep quality, poor academic performance, and a negative social and romantic relationship status.  

Conclusions: A significant number of medical students are depressed. In order to prevent and treat depression, medical students should be screened for depression and its associated factors.
Malaria parasite carriage before and two years after the implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprevention: a case study of the Saraya health district, southern Senegal
Authors: Manga Isaac Akhenaton , BA Mamadou Sarifou , Tairou Fassiatou , Seck Amadou , Kouevidjin Ekoue , Sow Doudou , Sylla Khadime , Ndiaye Magatte , Ba Fall Fatou , Gueye Alioune Babara , Diallo Ibrahima , Ndiop Médoune , Ba Mady , Tine Roger Clément , Gaye Omar , Faye Babacar , Ndiaye Jean Louis Abdourahim
Published: July 2022

Background: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) has been adopted and implemented in the southern regions of Senegal in children aged between three and 120 months since 2013. Scaling up this strategy requires its evaluation to assess the impact. This study was carried out to determine the dynamics of Plasmodium falciparum carriage before and after two years of SMC implementation.

Methods: Four household surveys were conducted in villages in the health district of Saraya, which is a SMC implementation area in Senegal. These villages were selected using probability proportional to size sampling. Each selected village was divided into segments containing at least 50 children. In each segment, a household questionnaire was administered to the parents or legal representatives of children aged three to 120 months. Blood smears were collected to determine P. falciparum prevalence by microscopy one month before the first round of SMC, one month after the last round of the first SMC campaign and two years after the start of the implementation.

Results: A total of 2008 children were included with a mean average age of 4.81 (+/-2.73) years. Of the study population, 50.33% were more than five years old and 50.3% were male. In 2013, mosquito net ownership was 99.4 % before the SMC campaign and 97.4% after. In 2015, it was 36.6% before and 45.8% after the campaign. In 2013, the prevalence of plasmodium carriage was 11.8% before and 6.1% after the SMC campaign. In 2015, the prevalence was 4.9% before the administration of SMC and this increased up to 15.3% after. Malaria prevalence was high among children over five years old and in boys.

Conclusions: The decrease in Plasmodium falciparum parasite prevalence, which subsequently increased after two years of SMC implementation in this study, suggests adding an extra cycle of the SMC or adjusting the administration period.
The genome sequence of the hawthorn shieldbug, Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Mulley John ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: July 2022

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale (hawthorn shieldbug; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hemiptera; Acanthosomatidae). The genome sequence is 866 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.98%) is scaffolded into 7 chromosomal pseudomolecules with the X and Y sex chromosomes assembled. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 18.9 kilobases in length.
BODY COMPOSITION IN PERSONS OF THE FIRST PERIOD OF ADULTHOOD WITH DIFFERENT AGING RATES
Authors: Tyatenkova Nataliya N. , Uvarova Yuliya E. , Bragina Aleksandra M.
Published: July 2022

The aim of the study was to find out the body composition features in persons of the first period of adulthood with different aging rates.

Methods. The 2404 patient (607 men and 1797 women) of the first period of adulthood were observed. Body length, body weight, waist and hip circumferences were recorded according to generally accepted methods. The body composition was studied by the bioimpedance measurement. The biological age and the aging rate were calculated using the formulas of A.G. Gorelkin and B.B. Pinkhasov.

Results. The majority of men (57.5%) had an accelerated aging rate, the majority of women (51.2%) had a delayed aging. The biological age of 19.1% men and 15.2% women coincided with the calendar age. Body composition differed statistically significantly in group with different aging rates and sex groups. The content of the relative fat mass increased and the relative lean, musculoskeletal, active cell masses decrease with increasing aging rate. The proportion of men and women with accelerated aging in the group with increased fat mass was 92.5% and 98.4% respectively. Excess fat mass increases the chances of premature aging by 5.5 times in men and 1.3 times in women in compared to individuals with optimal fat mass.

Conclusion. The aging rate in men was highly correlated with fat, musculoskeletal masses and total body water, in women - with fat mass and total body water. High fat mass contributed to premature aging.
Sunk Cost Bias and Time Inconsistency: A Strategic Analysis of Pricing Decisions
Authors: Jain Sanjay , Chen Haipeng (Allan)
Published: July 2022

It is generally acknowledged that sunk cost bias leads to suboptimal decisions, such as escalation of commitment. Some researchers, however, suggest that sunk cost bias can be beneficial when consumers have self-control problems. In this paper we explore the case when consumers with sunk cost bias have time-inconsistent preferences and, therefore, suffer from self-control problems. We experimentally demonstrate that sunk costs can make subjects better off by inducing higher effort. We then develop an analytical model to explore the implications of sunk cost bias for firm’s pricing strategy. We find that, in the presence of sunk cost bias, higher prices can lead to higher experienced quality. We show that sunk cost bias can sometimes improve firm’s profits, lead to lower prices, and increase welfare. Our results suggest that, when consumers use a product for multiple periods, pricing policies such as 0% financing, which are often viewed as exploitative, can instead lead to lower total prices, higher profits, and higher welfare.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4479 .
Home range and movement ecology of the woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus) in a Neotropical rainforest of Costa Rica
Authors: Muñoz-López Melissa , Villalobos-Chaves David , Rojas-Valerio Emmanuel , Rodríguez-Herrera Bernal
Published: July 2022

Comprender el movimiento de los animales es fundamental para dilucidar cómo las especies no sésiles sobreviven y se reproducen, así como su influencia en los procesos y patrones evolutivos y ecológicos.  Al caracterizar los movimientos espaciales de un mamífero neotropical, nuestro objetivo fue generar información con respecto al ámbito hogareño y a la ecología del movimiento del zorro de balsa, Caluromys derbianus.  El trabajo de campo se realizó en un bosque Neotropical lluvioso de Costa Rica donde los animales fueron capturados y equipados con un transmisor de radio montado en un collar.  Los datos sobre las localizaciones espaciales fueron luego analizados para estimar el ámbito hogareño y las áreas de actividad para los animales.  Las áreas de actividad y área promedio del ámbito hogareño de los zorros de balsa se concentraron en parches pequeños (< 2 ha para el ámbito hogareño, ≤ 1.1 ha para áreas de alimentación y < 0.5 ha para áreas de uso principal).  En general, nuestros resultados contribuyen al conocimiento sobre la historia natural del zorro de balsa neotropical, además de destacar que, como se esperaba, C. derbianus es una especie que probablemente puede cumplir con sus requisitos más críticos dentro de las áreas con una actividad reducida.  Así, argumentamos que una dieta oportunista y omnívora, además de un hábitat bien conservado contribuye a los patrones de movimiento del zorro de balsa observado.  Los siguientes esfuerzos deben centrarse en aumentar el tamaño de la muestra y los períodos de rastreo para así mejorar la comprensión de patrones en el uso del hábitat y de los recursos.
3D photon counting integral imaging by using multi-level decomposition
Authors: Lee Jaehoon , Cho Myungjin , Lee Min-Chul
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we propose three-dimensional (3D) photon counting integral imaging by using multi-level decomposition such as discrete wavelet transform to improve the visual quality and measurement accuracy under photon-starved conditions. Conventional 3D integral imaging can visualize 3D objects and acquire their depth information. However, the amount of irradiated light on the object causes the degradation of visual quality for 3D images under photon-starved conditions. To visualize 3D objects, photon counting integral imaging has been utilized. It can detect photons from 3D scenes by using a computational photon counting model, which is modelled by the Poisson random process. However, photons occur not only from objects but also in areas where objects do not exist. Moreover, photon fluctuation may occur in the scene through shot noise. Since these noise photons are measurement errors, it may decrease the image quality and accuracy. In contrast, our proposed method uses 2D discrete wavelet transform, which can emphasize the object photons effectively. Finally, our proposed method can enhance the visual quality of 3D images and provide more accurate depth information under photon-starved conditions. To prove the feasibility of our proposed method, we implement the optical experiment and calculate various image quality metrics.
Generating high-energy densities by sidelobe suppression in the far-field of phase-locked lasers
Authors: Dev Vasu , Reddy Andra Naresh Kumar , Pal Vishwa
Published: July 2022

Laser beams with high-energy densities are desired for both fundamental research and applied applications. We present a numerical study on the generation of high-energy densities by sidelobe suppression in the far-field intensity distribution of phase-locked lasers. The method relies on modifying the combined field distribution of phase-locked lasers to obtain uniform amplitude and phase distributions in a near-field plane, which enables the formation of a high-energy density main central lobe (zeroth order) in the far field. The method is applied to various one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) array geometries, such as square, triangular, Kagome, random, and 1D ring. The results show that for in-phase-locked lasers in 2D array geometries, the diffraction efficiency of the high-energy density region (zeroth-order lobe) can be increased in the range of 90%–95%. For in-phase-locked lasers in a 1D ring array, the maximum diffraction is found to be

∼

75
%

. Further, the effects of the range of phase locking, system size, as well as topological defects are examined on diffraction efficiency. The method is also applied to an out-of-phase-locked laser in the square array, and a high-energy density output beam is obtained.
On the influence of the Gouy phase on the process of direct-field electron acceleration
Authors: Pelchat-Voyer Shanny , Piché Michel
Published: July 2022

Direct-field laser acceleration of electrons by radially polarized laser pulses with a tunable total Gouy phase variation (TGPV) is investigated. It is shown, using test-particle simulations, that the Gouy phase plays a fundamental role in the synchronization process between the laser pulse and electrons. Simulations reveal that a smaller TGPV is advantageous and can lead to up to 25% increase in the theoretical energy limit, as well as up to 50% more energy yield, within the limits of the parameter space explored in the present work, as compared to the results predicted for a standard

T
M

01

pulse. We also examine the possibility of using direct-field laser acceleration in a cascade configuration using pulses with a TGPV smaller than

2
π

, pointing out the fundamental limitations of that approach.
Temperature and external strain sensing with metal-embedded optical fiber sensors for structural health monitoring
Authors: Bian Qiang , Podhrazsky Alexander , Bauer Constantin , Stadler Andrea , Buchfellner Fabian , Kuttler Rolf , Jakobi Martin , Volk Wolfram , Koch Alexander W. , Roths Johannes
Published: July 2022

An optical fiber with both temperature and strain fiber Bragg grating sensors were embedded into an aluminum cast structure during the casting process. Temperature and strain calibrations were carried out respectively for the metal-embedded sensors. Temperature and external strain decoupling was further demonstrated in a temperature range from 25 to 80 °C and an external strain range from 0 to ∼110 µɛ. With the interpolated temperature measured by two temperature sensors at different positions, the external strain could be decoupled from temperature and thermal strain at the strain sensor. The temperature and external strain values obtained from our embedded optical fiber sensors agreed well with reference values, revealing the good performance of the metal-embedded optical fiber sensors. The difference between the measured values and the reference values are within ±5 µɛ for external strain and ±1 °C for temperature. With only a single fiber, the in-situ temperature and external strain information in the aluminum structure can be monitored in real time, representing an important step towards fiber-optic smart casts. Our investigation demonstrates that embedded optical fiber sensors can be a promising method for structural health monitoring of metallic structures.
Control of localization and optical properties with deep-subwavelength engineered disorder
Authors: Oh Seunghwa , Kim Jungmin , Piao Xianji , Kim Seulong , Kim Kihong , Yu Sunkyu , Park Namkyoo
Published: July 2022

The effect of deep subwavelength disorder in one-dimensional dichromic multilayer films on the optical transmission, localization length, and Goos–Hänchen shift around the critical angle is analyzed using sets of disordered multilayer films with different degrees of order metric τ. For each Gaussian-perturbed multilayer film designed by a Metropolis algorithm targeting the predetermined order metric τ, the numerically obtained localization length and transmission show excellent agreement with the recent theoretical analysis developed for disordered multilayer films, further revealing τ-dependence of the Goos–Hänchen shift across the critical angle. Emphasizing the role of deep subwavelength structures in disorder-induced transmission enhancement, our result thus paves the way toward the inverse design of a deep subwavelength disordered structural landscape for the targeted order metric τ or abnormal optical responses - including the Goos–Hänchen shift.
Self-powered UV photodetectors and imaging arrays based on NiO/IGZO heterojunctions fabricated at room temperature
Authors: Wang Mingyang , Zhang Jiawei , Xin Qian , Yi Lin , Guo Zhaokun , Wang Yiming , Song Aimin
Published: July 2022

Self-powered UV photodetectors and imaging arrays based on p-type NiO/n-type InGaZnO (IGZO) heterojunctions are fabricated at room temperature by using ratio-frequency magnetron sputtering. The p-n heterojunction exhibits typical rectifying characteristics with a rectification ratio of 7.4×104 at a ±4 V applied bias. A high photo-responsivity of 28.8 mA/W is observed under zero bias at a wavelength of 365 nm. The photodetector possesses a fast response time of 15 ms which is among the best in reported oxide-based p-n junction-based UV photodetectors. Finally, recognition of an “H” pattern is demonstrated by a 10×10 photodetector array at zero bias. The results indicate that the NiO/IGZO based photodetectors may have a great potential in constructing large-scale self-powered UV imaging systems.
Preparation and transmission characteristics of seven-core few-mode fiber with low loss and low inter-core crosstalk
Authors: Shao Pengshuai , Wang Luyao , Wang Yan , Li Shuguang , Li Zenghui , Wang Xiaokai , Ma Liling , Meng Xiaojian , Guo Ying , Li Jianshe , Cheng Tonglei , Liang Yongze , Xu Weiwei , Qin Yu , Zhou Hui
Published: July 2022

Seven-core five-mode fiber and single-core five-mode fiber with the same core structure by high and low refractive index double rings are prepared based on plasma chemical vapor deposition. The transmission characteristics of the single-core few-mode fiber and the seven-core few-mode fiber are measured and characterized by building an experimental platform. The prepared single-core few-mode fiber can stably transmit five LP modes at 1550 nm, which not only has low loss characteristics, but also has excellent bending resistance. Furthermore, the transmission loss of the prepared seven-core fiber is lower than 0.4 dB/km, and the inter-core crosstalk is lower than -50 dB/km, which realizes the high-density and low-crosstalk transmission of the multi-core fiber. The prepared seven-core few-mode fiber can solve the capacity limitation of single-mode fiber, which will contribute the development of future communication systems.
Multiple polarization-selective and wideband enhanced optical properties of a cubic quantum dot realized by the multi-physical field
Authors: Li Keyin , Zhu Siqi , Yin Hao , Li Zhen , Chen Zhenqiang
Published: July 2022

The coupling of intense laser field and electric field serves as a new method to achieve the desired electronic states, optical absorption coefficients and refractive index changes of cubic quantum dot for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The stationary Schrödinger equation was derived and calculated by means of the Kramers-Henneberger transformation, the non-perturbative Floquet method, and the finite difference method. The energy-level anticrossing is activated by multi-physical field to transform suitable quantum states, resulting in the multiple-polarization-selective absorption and refractive index changes. The results show that ultra-wideband frequency shift and resonance enhancement characteristics of optical absorption coefficients and refractive index changes strongly depend on the laser-dressed parameter, the amplitude of electric field, and the polarization directions of the intense laser field and electric field.
Laser-written vapor cells for chip-scale atomic sensing and spectroscopy
Authors: Lucivero Vito G. , Zanoni Andrea , Corrielli Giacomo , Osellame Roberto , Mitchell Morgan W.
Published: July 2022

We report the fabrication of alkali-metal vapor cells using femtosecond laser machining. This laser-written vapor-cell (LWVC) technology allows arbitrarily-shaped 3D interior volumes and has potential for integration with photonic structures and optical components. We use non-evaporable getters both to dispense rubidium and to absorb buffer gas. This enables us to produce cells with sub-atmospheric buffer gas pressures without vacuum apparatus. We demonstrate sub-Doppler saturated absorption spectroscopy and single beam optical magnetometry with a single LWVC. The LWVC technology may find application in miniaturized atomic quantum sensors and frequency references.
Multi-focus image fusion with enhancement filtering for robust vascular quantification using photoacoustic microscopy
Authors: Zhou Wangting , He Jiangshan , Li Yu , Sun Zhiyuan , Chen Jiangbo , Wang Lidai , Hui Hui , Chen Xueli
Published: July 2022

Accurate identification and quantification of microvascular patterns are important for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring using optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM). Due to its limited depth of field, conventional OR-PAM may not fully reveal microvascular patterns with enough details in depth range, which affects the segmentation and quantification. Here, we propose a robust vascular quantification approach via combining multi-focus image fusion with enhancement filtering (MIFEF). The multi-focus image fusion is constructed based on multi-scale gradients and image matting to improve image fusion quality by considerably achieving accurate focus measurement for initial segmentation as well as decision map refinement. The enhancement filtering identifies the vessels and handles noise without deforming microvasculature. The performance of the MIFEF were evaluated employing a leaf phantom, mouse livers and brains. The proposed method for OR-PAM can significantly facilitate the clinical provision of optical biopsy of vascular-related diseases.
Quasi-distributed fiber-optic acoustic sensor based on a low coherence light source
Authors: Deng Yuanpeng , Liu Qingwen , Zhao Shuangxiang , Luo Yimin , He Zuyuan
Published: July 2022

A quasi-distributed acoustic sensor using in-line weak reflectors and a low coherence light source is presented. The dynamic strain is retrieved from the phase change of the two interfering light beams reflected by the same weak reflector. In the experiments, two vibrations at different channels along a weak reflector array are successfully detected simultaneously. A strain resolution of 50 pɛ/

H
z

with 20-m interval is achieved in experiments, and no cross talk is observed. With simple system configuration and low cost, this approach provides a new, to the best of our knowledge, solution for quasi-distributed acoustic sensing.
Incoherent computer-generated holography
Authors: Suda Ryutaro , Naruse Makoto , Horisaki Ryoichi
Published: July 2022

We present a method for computer-generated holography (CGH) using spatially and temporally incoherent light. The proposed method synthesizes a hologram cascade by solving an inverse problem for the propagation of incoherent light. The spatial incoherence removes speckle noise in CGH, and the temporal incoherence simplifies the optical setup, including the light source. We demonstrate two- and three-dimensional color image reproductions by a two-layer grayscale hologram cascade with a chip-on-board white light-emitting diode.
nAdder: A scale-space approach for the 3D analysis of neuronal traces
Authors: Phan Minh Son , Matho Katherine , Beaurepaire Emmanuel , Livet Jean , Chessel Anatole
Published: July 2022

Tridimensional microscopy and algorithms for automated segmentation and tracing are revolutionizing neuroscience through the generation of growing libraries of neuron reconstructions. Innovative computational methods are needed to analyze these neuronal traces. In particular, means to characterize the geometric properties of traced neurites along their trajectory have been lacking. Here, we propose a local tridimensional (3D) scale metric derived from differential geometry, measuring for each point of a curve the characteristic length where it is fully 3D as opposed to being embedded in a 2D plane or 1D line. The larger this metric is and the more complex the local 3D loops and turns of the curve are. Available through the GeNePy3D open-source Python quantitative geometry library (https://genepy3d.gitlab.io), this approach termed nAdder offers new means of describing and comparing axonal and dendritic arbors. We validate this metric on simulated and real traces. By reanalysing a published zebrafish larva whole brain dataset, we show its ability to characterize different population of commissural axons, distinguish afferent connections to a target region and differentiate portions of axons and dendrites according to their behavior, shedding new light on the stereotypical nature of neurites’ local geometry.
Landscape analysis of NTD diagnostics and considerations on the development of a strategy for regulatory pathways
Authors: Choi Hye Lynn , Ducker Camilla , Braniff Susie , Argaw Daniel , Solomon Anthony W. , Borisch Bettina , Mubangizi Deusdedit
Published: July 2022

Access to quality-assured, accurate diagnostics is critical to ensure that the 2021–2030 neglected tropical disease (NTD) road map targets can be achieved. Currently, however, there is limited regulatory oversight and few quality assurance mechanisms for NTD diagnostic tools. In attempting to address such challenges and the changing environment in regulatory requirements for diagnostics, a landscape analysis was conducted, to better understand the availability of NTD diagnostics and inform future regulatory frameworks. The list of commercially available diagnostics was compiled from various sources, including WHO guidance, national guidelines for case detection and management, diagnostic target product profiles and the published literature. The inventory was analyzed according to diagnostic type, intended use, regulatory status, and risk classification. To estimate the global need and size of the market for each type of diagnostic, annual procurement data were collected from WHO, procurement agencies, NGOs and international organizations, where available and global disease prevalence. Expert interviews were also conducted to ensure a better understanding of how diagnostics are procured and used. Of 125 diagnostic tools included in this analysis, rapid diagnostic tools accounted for 33% of diagnostics used for NTDs and very few diagnostics had been subjected to regulatory assessment. The number of tests needed for each disease was less than 1 million units per annum, except in the case of two diseases, suggesting limited commercial value. Despite the nature of the market, and presumed insufficient return on commercial investment, acceptable levels of assurance on performance, quality and safety of diagnostics are still required. Priority actions include setting up an agile, interim, stepwise risk assessment mechanism, in particular for diagnostics of lower risk, in order to support national NTD programmes and their partners with the selection and procurement of the diagnostics needed to control, eliminate and eradicate NTDs.
Intraoperative calculus or hemorrhage in transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy as a risk factor for recurrent hemospermia
Authors: Mei Cheng-En , Hu Ju-Chuan , Li Jian-Ri , Chiu Kun-Yuan , Wang Shian-Shiang , Chen Chuan-Shu
Published: July 2022

We have summarized our experience regarding transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy (TUSV) and analyzed both its recurrence status and the risk factors for recurrence. From January 2010 to December 2020, 48 patients with intractable hemospermia received successful TUSV at Taichung Invalids General Hospital. Upon analysis of the intraoperative findings, the five-year disease-free Survival rates (DFS) were 74.1% in the no calculus group compared to 37.1% in the calculus group with a significant difference (log-rank p = 0.015), 75.0% in the no hemorrhage or no blood clot group compared to 43.2% in the hemorrhage or blood clot group with significant difference (log-rank p = 0.032). Univariate analysis showed intraoperative calculus (p = 0.040; HR: 2.94, 95% CI: 1.05–8.21) to be significantly associated with recurrence (p < 0.05). Patients with intractable hemospermia who were diagnosed with stones or blood clots found during TUSV experienced a higher rate of hemospermia recurrence.
Analyzing technology acceptance and perception of privacy in ambient assisted living for using sensor-based technologies
Authors: Wilkowska Wiktoria , Offermann Julia , Spinsante Susanna , Poli Angelica , Ziefle Martina
Published: July 2022

People increasingly use various technologies that enable them to ease their everyday lives in different areas. Not only wearable devices are gaining ground, but also sensor-based ambient devices and systems are increasingly perceived as beneficial in supporting users. Especially older and/or frail persons can benefit from the so-called lifelogging technologies assisting the users in different activities and supporting their mobility and autonomy. This paper empirically investigates users’ technology acceptance and privacy perceptions related to sensor-based applications implemented in private environments (i.e., passive infrared sensors for presence detection, humidity and temperature sensors for ambient monitoring, magnetic sensors for user-furniture interaction). For this purpose, we designed an online survey entitled “Acceptance and privacy perceptions of sensor-based lifelogging technologies” and collected data from N = 312 German adults. In terms of user acceptance, statistical analyses revealed that participants strongly agree on the benefits of such sensor-based ambient technologies, also perceiving these as useful and easy to use. Nevertheless, their intention to use the sensor-based applications was still rather limited. The evaluation of privacy perceptions showed that participants highly value their privacy and hence require a high degree of protection for their personal data. The potential users assessed the collection of data especially in the most intimate spaces of domestic environments, such as bathrooms and bedrooms, as critical. On the other hand, participants were also willing to provide complete data transparency in case of an acute risk to their health. Our results suggest that users’ perceptions of personal privacy largely affect the acceptance and successful adoption of sensor-based lifelogging in home environments.
Assessing small-mammal trapping design using spatially explicit capture recapture (SECR) modeling on long-term monitoring data
Authors: Freeman Chase M. , Barthman-Thompson Laureen , Klinger Robert , Woo Isa , Thorne Karen M.
Published: July 2022

Few studies have evaluated the optimal sampling design for tracking small mammal population trends, especially for rare or difficult to detect species. Spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models present an advancement over non-spatial models by accounting for individual movement when estimating density. The salt marsh harvest mouse (SMHM; Reithrodontomys raviventris) is a federal and California state listed endangered species endemic to the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary, California, USA; where a population in a subembayment has been continually monitored over an 18-year period using mark-recapture methods. We analyzed capture data within a SECR modeling framework that allowed us to account for differences in detection and movement between sexes. We compared the full dataset to subsampling scenarios to evaluate how the grid size (area) of the trap design, trap density (spacing), and number of consecutive trapping occasions (duration) influenced density estimates. To validate the subsampling methods, we ran Monte Carlo simulations based on the true parameter estimates for each specific year. We found that reducing the area of the trapping design by more than 36% resulted in the inability of the SECR model to replicate density estimates within the SE of the original density estimates. However, when trapping occasions were reduced from 4 to 3-nights the density estimates were indistinguishable from the full dataset. Furthermore, reducing trap density by 50% also resulted in density estimates comparable to the full dataset and was a substantially better model than reducing the trap area by 50%. Overall, our results indicated that moderate reductions in the number of trapping occasions or trap density could yield similar density estimates when using a SECR approach. This approach allows the optimization of field trapping efforts and designs by reducing field efforts while maintaining the same population estimate compared to the full dataset. Using a SECR approach may help other wildlife programs identify sampling efficiencies without sacrificing data integrity for long term monitoring of population densities.
LGCA-VHPPI: A local-global residue context aware viral-host protein-protein interaction predictor
Authors: Asim Muhammad Nabeel , Ibrahim Muhammad Ali , Malik Muhammad Imran , Dengel Andreas , Ahmed Sheraz
Published: July 2022

Viral-host protein protein interaction (PPI) analysis is essential to decode the molecular mechanism of viral pathogen and host immunity processes which eventually help to control viral diseases and optimize therapeutics. The state-of-the-art viral-host PPI predictor leverages unsupervised embedding learning technique (doc2vec) to generate statistical representations of viral-host protein sequences and a Random Forest classifier for interaction prediction. However, doc2vec approach generates the statistical representations of viral-host protein sequences by merely modelling the local context of residues which only partially captures residue semantics. The paper in hand proposes a novel technique for generating better statistical representations of viral and host protein sequences based on the infusion of comprehensive local and global contextual information of the residues. While local residue context aware encoding captures semantic relatedness and short range dependencies of residues. Global residue context aware encoding captures comprehensive long-range residues dependencies, positional invariance of residues, and unique residue combination distribution important for interaction prediction. Using concatenated rich statistical representations of viral and host protein sequences, a robust machine learning framework “LGCA-VHPPI” is developed which makes use of a deep forest model to effectively model complex non-linearity of viral-host PPI sequences. An in-depth performance comparison of the proposed LGCA-VHPPI framework with existing diverse sequence encoding schemes based viral-host PPI predictors reveals that LGCA-VHPPI outperforms state-of-the-art predictor by 6%, 2%, and 2% in terms of matthews correlation coefficient over 3 different benchmark viral-host PPI prediction datasets.
Elevational distribution of montane Afrotropical butterflies is influenced by seasonality and habitat structure
Authors: Mtui Devolent T. , Ogutu Joseph O. , Okick Raymond E. , Newmark William D.
Published: July 2022

Determinants of elevational distribution of butterfly species richness and abundance in the tropics are poorly understood. Here we assess the combined effects, both additive and interactive, of seasonality and habitat structure on the elevational distribution of butterflies in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. We sampled butterflies along a 1100 m elevational gradient that extended from 1540 to 2639 m using a time-constrained fixed-area method during the short to long rains and long to short rains transitions, and in habitat structure classified as closed or open. We used semi-parametric generalized linear mixed models to assess the relation between butterfly species richness or abundance, and seasonality, habitat structure, family and elevation. For all species combined, species richness declined with elevation in both open and closed habitats during the long to short rains transition. During the short to long rains transition, species richness displayed a mid-elevation peak across habitats. Among the three focal families (Nymphalidae, Papilionidae and Pieridae) similar patterns in the elevational distribution of species richness were observed. Species abundance declined or remained stable with elevation across seasons and habitat structure; the exception being species abundance in open habitat during the short to long rain transition and increased slightly with elevation. Abundance by family did not vary significantly by habitat structure or season. Our results indicate that seasonality and habitat structure shape species richness and abundance of butterflies along an elevational gradient in the Uluguru Mountains. These patterns are important for informing conservation actions because temperature as well as annual and seasonal variation in precipitation are predicted to increase in East Africa as a result of climate change, important determinants of seasonality, while habitat disturbance may increase due to a projected doubling in Tanzania’s population over the next 27 years.
Micro-hub location selection for sustainable last-mile delivery
Authors: Novotná Michaela , Švadlenka Libor , Jovčić Stefan , Simić Vladimir
Published: July 2022

Sustainable Last-Mile Delivery (LMD) is one of the key phases in city logistics. Micro-hubs in cities are new emerging solutions for an easier and viable last-mile delivery process. The important question in smart and modern cities is the determination of the best micro-hub location for the LMD. This paper solves the micro-hub location selection for sustainable LMD using the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. The main reason for solving the micro-hub location selection is to make the last-mile delivery process in Pardubice as easier and effortless as possible. The Best-Worst Method (BWM), Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, and Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method are coupled to solve the micro-hub location selection for sustainable LMD. First, five criteria and alternatives are identified and discussed with the experts. Second, the hybrid criteria importance is determined by combining the BWM and CRITIC methods. Third, the obtained hybrid weights are integrated within the WASPAS method to rank the micro-hub locations. The findings of the Hybrid BWM-CRITIC-WASPAS model show the Alternative 2 („Hůrka“) as the best possible location for Pardubice in the context of the LMD. In addition, a comparative analysis with some of the existing MCDM approaches is conducted for the same problem and its results show a high level of matching with the applied hybrid BWM-CRITIC-WASPAS method, which means that Alternative 2 („Hůrka“) is strongly recommended as a micro-hub location for sustainable LMD in Pardubice.
The leap to ordinal: Detailed functional prognosis after traumatic brain injury with a flexible modelling approach
Authors: Bhattacharyay Shubhayu , Milosevic Ioan , Wilson Lindsay , Menon David K. , Stevens Robert D. , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Nelson David W. , Ercole Ari ,   the CENTER-TBI investigators participants
Published: July 2022

When a patient is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after a traumatic brain injury (TBI), an early prognosis is essential for baseline risk adjustment and shared decision making. TBI outcomes are commonly categorised by the Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended (GOSE) into eight, ordered levels of functional recovery at 6 months after injury. Existing ICU prognostic models predict binary outcomes at a certain threshold of GOSE (e.g., prediction of survival [GOSE > 1]). We aimed to develop ordinal prediction models that concurrently predict probabilities of each GOSE score. From a prospective cohort (n = 1,550, 65 centres) in the ICU stratum of the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in TBI (CENTER-TBI) patient dataset, we extracted all clinical information within 24 hours of ICU admission (1,151 predictors) and 6-month GOSE scores. We analysed the effect of two design elements on ordinal model performance: (1) the baseline predictor set, ranging from a concise set of ten validated predictors to a token-embedded representation of all possible predictors, and (2) the modelling strategy, from ordinal logistic regression to multinomial deep learning. With repeated k-fold cross-validation, we found that expanding the baseline predictor set significantly improved ordinal prediction performance while increasing analytical complexity did not. Half of these gains could be achieved with the addition of eight high-impact predictors to the concise set. At best, ordinal models achieved 0.76 (95% CI: 0.74–0.77) ordinal discrimination ability (ordinal c-index) and 57% (95% CI: 54%– 60%) explanation of ordinal variation in 6-month GOSE (Somers’ Dxy). Model performance and the effect of expanding the predictor set decreased at higher GOSE thresholds, indicating the difficulty of predicting better functional outcomes shortly after ICU admission. Our results motivate the search for informative predictors that improve confidence in prognosis of higher GOSE and the development of ordinal dynamic prediction models.
The flexibility and adaptation strategy of local filmmakers amid the pandemic: Opportunity and threat
Authors: Suwarto Dyna Herlina , Kulau Febriansyah
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic disturbed the local film industry heavily since most of the film projects were delayed or cancelled. Despite the fragile situation, local filmmakers adopted flexible and adaptive strategies to survive. The flexible strategies related to fighting (the alternative
jobs, project switch) and freezing (work from home). After three months, all film practitioners decided to fight for the new normal as they found job opportunities in social media content, corporate and government service, streaming platforms and film production. The screen industries supported
the local filmmakers to survive. During the emergency period, the closed network was beneficial; nonetheless, they should expand their open network to adapt to a new normality. Apart from the resistance, filmmakers are continuously under precariousness, particularly about health threats and
underpaid work.
Cabinet of precariousness: From the ephemeral image to the eternal image
Authors: Nogueira Luís
Published: July 2022

In this article, precariousness is understood as an intrinsic characteristic of a vast set of images ‐ being them pictorial, sculptural, photographic, cinematographic, digital or other. These images acquire their specific value, most of the time, precisely as a function of this
attribute. Precariousness is, in this case, not an insufficiency or a weakness, but a power, understood in different areas, from aesthetics to ontology. This article is divided into two parts: the first one explores, in various ways, the ephemerality‐eternity polarity based on precariousness;
the second one allows us to know the plural manifestations of the precariousness of the image in multiple forms of expression by identifying a range of arts and media nuclei. Invoking the contribution of different authors, from ancient to contemporary times, the article ends as it begins:
it highlights the intrinsic precariousness of both forms of artistic creation and the modes of academic thinking.
Mi a MOOC jövője a magyar felsőoktatásban?
Authors: Halmai Fanny Adriána
Published: July 2022

A MOOC-ok (Massive Open Online Course) nemzetközileg egyre elterjedtebbek, és a magyarországi felsőoktatási trendekhez is illeszkednek. Az eddigi hazai kezdeményezések azonban nem értek el jelentős eredményt. A szerző kutatása során ennek a kihasználatlan potenciálnak az okát szeretné feltárni. Kutatási kérdése, hogy mi a MOOC-ok jövője a magyar felsőoktatásban. Feltételezése, hogy a MOOC-oknak vannak olyan felhasználási lehetőségei, amelyek Magyarországon is értékesek, ugyanakkor vannak még kihívások és fejlesztendő területek a magyar gyakorlatban. A válasz keresésére kvalitatív kutatást használ, a nemzetközi és magyar szakirodalom elemzése, illetve a hazai MOOC-kezdeményezések áttekintése után szakértői mélyinterjúkat készített. Az eredmények alapján összefoglalja a MOOC-ok hazai felhasználási területeit, illetve az elterjedésüket akadályozó kihívásokat, a fejlesztendő területeket. Végül javaslatokat tesz arra, hogy a hazai ágazati irányításnak és az egyetemeknek milyen stratégiát érdemes követniük a MOOC-okkal kapcsolatban. Úgy találta, hogy alapvetően lehet potenciálja a MOOC-nak a magyar felsőoktatásban, ugyanakkor vannak kihívások, amelyeket le kell küzdeni ehhez.
A Novel Convolutional Neural Network Model as an Alternative Approach to Bowel Preparation Evaluation Before Colonoscopy in the COVID-19 Era: A Multicenter, Single-Blinded, Randomized Study
Authors: Lu Yang-Bor , Lu Si-Cun , Huang Yung-Ning , Cai Shun-Tian , Le Puo-Hsien , Hsu Fang-Yu , Hu Yan-Xing , Hsieh Hui-Shan , Chen Wei-Ting , Xia Gui-Li , Xu Hong-Zhi , Gong Wei
Published: July 2022

INTRODUCTION:

Adequate bowel preparation is key to a successful colonoscopy, which is necessary for detecting adenomas and preventing colorectal cancer. We developed an artificial intelligence (AI) platform using a convolutional neural network (CNN) model (AI-CNN model) to evaluate the quality of bowel preparation before colonoscopy.

METHODS:

This was a colonoscopist-blinded, randomized study. Enrolled patients were randomized into an experimental group, in which our AI-CNN model was used to evaluate the quality of bowel preparation (AI-CNN group), or a control group, which performed self-evaluation per routine practice (control group). The primary outcome was the consistency (homogeneity) between the results of the 2 methods. The secondary outcomes included the quality of bowel preparation according to the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), polyp detection rate, and adenoma detection rate.

RESULTS:

A total of 1,434 patients were enrolled (AI-CNN, n = 730; control, n = 704). No significant difference was observed between the evaluation results (“pass” or “not pass”) of the groups in the adequacy of bowel preparation as represented by BBPS scores. The mean BBPS scores, polyp detection rate, and adenoma detection rate were similar between the groups. These results indicated that the AI-CNN model and routine practice were generally consistent in the evaluation of bowel preparation quality. However, the mean BBPS score of patients with “pass” results were significantly higher in the AI-CNN group than in the control group, indicating that the AI-CNN model may further improve the quality of bowel preparation in patients exhibiting adequate bowel preparation.

DISCUSSION:

The novel AI-CNN model, which demonstrated comparable outcomes to the routine practice, may serve as an alternative approach for evaluating bowel preparation quality before colonoscopy.