bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrological profile observation scheme based on optical fiber sensing for polar sea ice buoy monitoring
Authors: Li Yunzhou , Zhao Qiang , Chen Dongying , Liu Shixuan , Wang Juncheng , Liu Lei
Published: March 2024

The monitoring of hydrological elements in the polar region is the basis for the study of the dynamic environment under the ice. The traditional cross-season subglacial hydrological environment monitoring mainly relies on tether-type vertical profile measurement ice-based buoys, which have the advantages such as high reliability, high measurement accuracy, and real-time communication, while also has disadvantages of high-cost, large volume and weight, high power consumption, and complex layout. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a new type of ice-based profile buoy with low-cost, miniaturization, low power consumption, convenient deployment, and high reliability. In this paper, a novel optical fiber sensing scheme for ice-based buoy monitoring is proposed, which uses arrayed fiber grating to measure seawater temperature and depth profile and uses a dual-conduction mode resonance mechanism to measure seawater salinity. The temperature, depth, and salinity of seawater can be detected by an all-optical fiber technology in real-time. Preliminary experiments show that the temperature accuracy is ±0.1 °C in the range of -5∼35 °C, the salinity accuracy is ±0.03‰ in the range of 30‰∼40‰, and the vertical spatial resolution of depth can be adjusted in the range of 0∼1000 m, which can better meet the requirements of polar hydrological multi-layer profile observation. It can provide an innovative technology and equipment support for studying the spatiotemporal change process of the polar subglacial ocean.
Single-exposure quantitative differential interference contrast microscopy using bandlimited image and its Fourier transform constraints
Authors: Kong Xinyi , Xiao Kang , Zhou Xi , Wang Zhongyang
Published: March 2024

Phase microscopy that records the bandlimited image and its Fourier image simultaneously (BIFT) is a phase retrieval method with unique and rapid convergence. In this paper, we present a single-exposure quantitative differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy based on BIFT method. The contrasts of the recorded DIC image and its Fourier image, analyzed by simulation and experiment, can be largely improved by the initial phase difference between two sheared lights (bias), however their trends with biases are opposite. By adding the optimized bias with the compromise of the contrasts in image and Fourier space, the phase sensitivity can be improved than BIFT method only. We have experimentally demonstrated that a sample of 25 nm height can be successfully recovered from a single exposure. The presented single-exposure quantitative DIC microscopy provides a promising technique for real-time phase imaging.
Enhanced performance of quantum dot light-emitting diodes enabled by zirconium doped SnO2 as electron transport layers
Authors: Zhao Jinxing , Man Zhongwei , Wang Shuaibing , Hao Chaoqi , Yu Zhenzhen , Li Xu , Tang Aiwei
Published: March 2024

Next-generation display and lighting based on quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) require a balanced electron injection of electron transport layers (ETLs). However, classical ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) as ETLs face inherent defects such as excessive electron injection and positive aging effects, urgently requiring the development of new types of ETL materials. Here, we show that high stability SnO2 NPs as ETL can significantly improve the QLED performance to 100567 cd·m−2 luminance, 14.3% maximum external quantum efficiency, and 13.1 cd·A−1 maximum current efficiency using traditional device structures after optimizing the film thickness and annealing the temperature. Furthermore, experimental tests reveal that by doping Zr4+ ions, the size of SnO2 NPs will reduce, dispersion will improve, and energy level will shift up. As expected, when using Zr-SnO2 NPs as the ETL, the maximum external quantum efficiency can reach 16.6%, which is close to the state-of-the-art QLEDs based on ZnO ETL. This work opens the door for developing novel, to the best of our knowledge, type ETLs for QLEDs.
InAs quantum dots with a narrow photoluminescence linewidth for a lower threshold current density in 1.55 µm lasers
Authors: Wang Bin , Yu Xuezhe , Zeng Yugang , Gao Weijie , Chen Wei , Shen Haoyu , Ma Kedi , Li Hongxiao , Liu Zizhuo , Su Hui , Qin Li , Ning Yongqiang , Wang Lijun
Published: March 2024

Uniform quantum dots (QDs) with a narrowed linewidth of photoluminescence (PL) are crucial for developing high-performance QD lasers. This study focuses on optimizing the growth conditions of InAs QDs on (001) InP substrates using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), targeting applications in 1.55 µm QD lasers. By fine-tuning growth parameters such as the V/III ratio, deposition thickness, and growth temperature, we attained a QD density of 4.13 × 1010 cm−2. Further, a narrowed PL full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 40.1 meV was achieved in a five-stack InAs QD layer. This was accomplished using the double-cap technique, which reduced the height dispersion of QDs and shifted the emission wavelength to 1577 nm. Broad-area lasers incorporating a five-stack optimized InAs/InAlGaAs structure demonstrated a low threshold current density of 80 A/cm2 per QD layer, and a saturation power of 163 mW in continuous-wave (CW) mode at room temperature.
Association of virtual end-of-life care with healthcare outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based study
Authors: Lapp John M. , Stukel Thérèse A. , Chung Hannah , Bell Chaim M. , Bhatia R. Sacha , Detsky Allan S. , Downar James , Isenberg Sarina R. , Lee Douglas S. , Stall Nathan , Tanuseputro Peter , Quinn Kieran L.
Published: March 2024

The use of virtual care for people at the end-of-life significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its association with acute healthcare use and location of death is unknown. The objective of this study was to measure the association between the use of virtual end-of-life care with acute healthcare use and an out-of-hospital death before vs. after the introduction of specialized fee codes that enabled broader delivery of virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a population-based cohort study of 323,995 adults in their last 90 days of life between January 25, 2018 and December 31, 2021 using health administrative data in Ontario, Canada. Primary outcomes were acute healthcare use (emergency department, hospitalization) and location of death (in or out-of-hospital). Prior to March 14, 2020, 13,974 (8%) people received at least 1 virtual end-of-life care visit, which was associated with a 16% higher rate of emergency department use (adjusted Rate Ratio [aRR] 1.16, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.20), a 17% higher rate of hospitalization (aRR 1.17, 95%CI 1.15 to 1.20), and a 34% higher risk of an out-of-hospital death (aRR 1.34, 95%CI 1.31 to 1.37) compared to people who did not receive virtual end-of-life care. After March 14, 2020, 104,165 (71%) people received at least 1 virtual end-of-life care visit, which was associated with a 58% higher rate of an emergency department visit (aRR 1.58, 95%CI 1.54 to 1.62), a 45% higher rate of hospitalization (aRR 1.45, 95%CI 1.42 to 1.47), and a 65% higher risk of an out-of-hospital death (aRR 1.65, 95%CI 1.61 to 1.69) compared to people who did not receive virtual end-of-life care. The use of virtual end-of-life care was associated with higher acute healthcare use in the last 90 days of life and a higher likelihood of dying out-of-hospital, and these rates increased during the pandemic.
Trend of estimated participation rate by regional block, gender, and age group in the 1997–2019: National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan
Authors: Ishikawa Midori , Hemmi Osamu , Takimoto Hidemi , Matsumoto Mai , Yokoyama Tetsuji
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to identify the trend of approximate participation rate in Japan’s National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS_J). The proportion of participants among all residents of surveyed districts (estimated participation rate: EPR) was calculated by 12 regional blocks, gender, and age group, and the trend and annual percent change (APC) were clarified. Based on the 1997–2019 NHNS_J data, we created a database classified by prefecture, gender, and age group; in addition to these, the number of people per household by Population Census or population estimates were obtained from e-Stat and added to the database. All analyses were performed by regional block and gender and EPR for each year was calculated by the age group. Trends of EPR, overall and by the age group, were presented using graphs, illustrating the exponential regression curve. The graphs showed APC, standard error, and statistical significance by age group. The EPRs were declining in all the regional blocks. Additionally, the rates of decline in APC in young people under the age of 50 years were higher than those in the older age groups in 9 of 12 regional blocks. The nationwide APC in the age group <50 years was significantly larger than that in the age group ≥50 years. The declining EPR trend in NHNS_J in all regional blocks (especially among younger people) suggests the need for a strategy to improve participation rates in the future.
Impact of genetic background as a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A protocol for a nationwide genetic case-control (CV-GENES) study in Brazil
Authors: Alves de Oliveira Haliton , de Menezes Neves Precil Diego Miranda , de Figueiredo Oliveira Gustavo Bernardes , Moreira Frederico Rafael , Pintão Maria Carolina Tostes , Rocha Viviane Zorzanelli , de Souza Rocha Cristiane , Katz Viviane Nakano , Ferreira Elisa Napolitano , Rojas-Málaga Diana , Viana Celso Ferraz , da Silva Fabiula Fagundes , Vidotti Juliete Jorge , Felicio Natalia Mariana , de Araújo Vitor Leticia , Cesar Karina Gimenez , Araújo da Silva Camila , de Oliveira Alves Lucas Bassolli , Avezum Álvaro
Published: March 2024

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) represents the leading cause of death worldwide, and individual screening should be based on behavioral, metabolic, and genetic profile derived from data collected in large population-based studies. Due to the polygenic nature of ASCVD, we aimed to assess the association of genomics with ASCVD risk and its impact on the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or peripheral artery thrombotic-ischemic events at population level. CardioVascular Genes (CV-GENES) is a nationwide, multicenter, 1:1 case-control study of 3,734 patients in Brazil. Inclusion criterion for cases is the first occurrence of one of the ASCVD events. Individuals without known ASCVD will be eligible as controls. A core lab will perform the genetic analyses through low-pass whole genome sequencing and whole exome sequencing. In order to estimate the independent association between genetic polymorphisms and ASCVD, a polygenic risk score (PRS) will be built through a hybrid approach including effect size of each Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), number of effect alleles observed, sample ploidy, total number of SNPs included in the PRS, and number of non-missing SNPs in the sample. In addition, the presence of pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants will be screened in 8 genes (ABCG5, ABCG8, APOB, APOE, LDLR, LDLRAP1, LIPA, PCSK9) associated with atherosclerosis. Multiple logistic regression will be applied to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), and population attributable risks will be calculated.

Clinical trial registration: This study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05515653).
Atrial fibrillation in middle-aged athletes: Impact on left atrial, ventricular and exercise performance
Authors: Vecchiarelli Emily , Bentley Robert F. , Connelly Kim A. , Dorian Paul , Yan Andrew , Mak Susanna , Sasson Zion , Goodman Jack M.
Published: March 2024

High volume endurance training may increase the risk of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in middle-aged athletes. Limited data are available describing the cardiovascular phenotype of middle-aged endurance athletes, or the impact of AF on atrial function and exercise performance performed in sinus rhythm. The purpose of this study was to characterize LA phasic function at rest and during exercise in athletes with paroxysmal AF, and to determine its impact on exercise performance. Fifteen endurance trained males (EA) (56 ± 5 years) without AF and 14 endurance trained males with paroxysmal AF (EA-AF) (55 ± 8 years) underwent echocardiography during cycle-ergometry at light and moderate intensities. Resting LA maximal volumes were similar between EA and EA-AF (30 ± 4 vs. 29 ± 8 ml/m2, p = 0.50), and there were no differences in atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD). During moderate intensity exercise, EA-AF had reduced LA conduit (30 ± 6 vs. 40 ± 5 ml/m2, p = 0.002) LA booster volumes (17 ± 5 vs. 21 ± 4 ml/m2, p = 0.021), and reduced LV stroke volumes (100 ± 12 vs. 117 ± 16 ml, p = 0.007). These results demonstrate that exercise testing in athletes with AF unmasks evidence of adverse functional cardiac remodelling that may contribute to impaired exercise performance. It is unclear whether these functional alterations are the consequence of AF. Reductions in LA conduit volume, LA booster volume, and LV stroke volume during exercise may be helpful in clinical management and distinguishing pathologic from physiologic remodelling.
Melatonin serves as a novel treatment in bladder fibrosis through TGF-β1/Smad and EMT
Authors: Zhang Yang , Gong Sun , He Weixin , Yuan Jie , Dong Di , Zhang Jialong , Wang Haomin , Chen Binghai
Published: March 2024

Background

Melatonin (MEL) is an indole amine molecule primarily produced in the pineal gland. Melatonin has been shown in numerous studies to have antifibrotic effects on the kidney, liver, and other organs. However, it is still unclear how melatonin works in bladder fibrosis. We explored how melatonin affects animals with bladder fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and methods

MEL was used to treat human bladder smooth muscle cells (HBdSMCs) after they were stimulated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in vitro. Proteomic analysis and bioinformatic analysis of the altered expression of these proteins were subsequently performed on HBdSMCs from the different processing methods. To construct an in vivo bladder fibrosis model, we injected protamine sulfate (PS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) twice a week into the rat bladder for six weeks. After two weeks of PS/LPS treatment, the mice in the treatment group were treated with MEL (20 mg/kg/d) for 4 weeks. Finally, we detected the expression of fibrosis markers from different perspectives. The TGF-β1/Smad pathway and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cell and bladder tissues were also identified. Further proteomic analysis was also performed.

Results

In vitro, we found that TGF-β1 treatment enhanced the expression of the fibrosis markers collagen III and α-SMA in HBdSMCs. E-cadherin expression decreased while the TGF-β1/Smad pathway was activated. Vimentin and N-cadherin expression was also elevated at the same time. Similar findings were observed in the LPS group. After MEL treatment, the expression of collagen III and α-SMA decreased, the expression of E-cadherin increased, and the expression of vimentin and N-cadherin also decreased. According to our quantitative proteomics analysis, CCN1 and SQLE may be important proteins involved in the development of bladder fibrosis. MEL decreased the expression of these genes, leading to the relief of bladder fibrosis. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the extracellular space structure related to metabolic pathways, actin filament binding, and stress fibers can serve as a pivotal focus in the management of fibrosis.

Conclusion

Melatonin attenuates bladder fibrosis by blocking the TGF-β1/Smad pathway and EMT. CCN1 appears to be a possible therapeutic target for bladder fibrosis.
Impact of maintaining serum potassium concentration ≥ 3.6mEq/L versus ≥ 4.5mEq/L for 120 hours after isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery on incidence of new onset atrial fibrillation: Protocol for a randomized non-inferiority trial
Authors: Campbell Niall G. , Allen Elizabeth , Evans Richard , Jamal Zahra , Opondo Charles , Sanders Julie , Sturgess Joanna , Montgomery Hugh E. , Elbourne Diana , O’Brien Benjamin
Published: March 2024

Background

Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery (AFACS) occurs in about one in three patients following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). It is associated with increased short- and long-term morbidity, mortality and costs. To reduce AFACS incidence, efforts are often made to maintain serum potassium in the high-normal range (≥ 4.5mEq/L). However, there is no evidence that this strategy is efficacious. Furthermore, the approach is costly, often unpleasant for patients, and risks causing harm. We describe the protocol of a planned randomized non-inferiority trial to investigate the impact of intervening to maintain serum potassium ≥ 3.6 mEq/L vs ≥ 4.5 mEq/L on incidence of new-onset AFACS after isolated elective CABG.

Methods

Patients undergoing isolated CABG at sites in the UK and Germany will be recruited, randomized 1:1 and stratified by site to protocols maintaining serum potassium at either ≥ 3.6 mEq/L or ≥ 4.5 mEq/L. Participants will not be blind to treatment allocation. The primary endpoint is AFACS, defined as an episode of atrial fibrillation, flutter or tachycardia lasting ≥ 30 seconds until hour 120 after surgery, which is both clinically detected and electrocardiographically confirmed.

Assuming a 35% incidence of AFACS in the ‘tight control group’, and allowing for a 10% loss to follow-up, 1684 participants are required to provide 90% certainty that the upper limit of a one-sided 97.5% confidence interval (CI) will exclude a > 10% difference in favour of tight potassium control. Secondary endpoints include mortality, use of hospital resources and incidence of dysrhythmias not meeting the primary endpoint (detected using continuous heart rhythm monitoring).

Discussion

The Tight K Trial will assess whether a protocol to maintain serum potassium ≥ 3.6 mEq/L is non inferior to maintaining serum potassium ≥ 4.5 mEq/L in preventing new-onset AFACS after isolated CABG.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04053816. Registered on 13 August 2019. Last update 7 January 2021.
Large language models are able to downplay their cognitive abilities to fit the persona they simulate
Authors: Milička Jiří , Marklová Anna , VanSlambrouck Klára , Pospíšilová Eva , Šimsová Jana , Harvan Samuel , Drobil Ondřej
Published: March 2024

This study explores the capabilities of large language models to replicate the behavior of individuals with underdeveloped cognitive and language skills. Specifically, we investigate whether these models can simulate child-like language and cognitive development while solving false-belief tasks, namely, change-of-location and unexpected-content tasks. GPT-3.5-turbo and GPT-4 models by OpenAI were prompted to simulate children (N = 1296) aged one to six years. This simulation was instantiated through three types of prompts: plain zero-shot, chain-of-thoughts, and primed-by-corpus. We evaluated the correctness of responses to assess the models’ capacity to mimic the cognitive skills of the simulated children. Both models displayed a pattern of increasing correctness in their responses and rising language complexity. That is in correspondence with a gradual enhancement in linguistic and cognitive abilities during child development, which is described in the vast body of research literature on child development. GPT-4 generally exhibited a closer alignment with the developmental curve observed in ‘real’ children. However, it displayed hyper-accuracy under certain conditions, notably in the primed-by-corpus prompt type. Task type, prompt type, and the choice of language model influenced developmental patterns, while temperature and the gender of the simulated parent and child did not consistently impact results. We conducted analyses of linguistic complexity, examining utterance length and Kolmogorov complexity. These analyses revealed a gradual increase in linguistic complexity corresponding to the age of the simulated children, regardless of other variables. These findings show that the language models are capable of downplaying their abilities to achieve a faithful simulation of prompted personas.
Study on coupling effect of soil structure and overconsolidation on mechanical properties of loess
Authors: Kong Dequan , Li Hailong , Zhang Songda , Qu Feijie , Wan Rong , Han Zhengchao , Li Shuai , Khan Muhammad Usama Ahmad
Published: March 2024

Soil structure and overconsolidation are two important factors that affect soil strength. Current research studies have primarily focused on the influence of single factors, and relatively few studies have studied the coupling effect of the two. In this paper, the effects of structure and overconsolidation on the mechanical properties of loess under certain conditions have been studied by compression tests and direct shear tests. Undisturbed loess, remolded loess, overconsolidated undisturbed loess, and overconsolidated remolded loess were investigated in this work. The results indicate that structure and overconsolidation can enhance the overall strength of the soil, but the effects of these two factors also interfere and weaken each other. The combined effect of structure and overconsolidation can lead to higher soil shear strength. Compared with remolded normally consolidated soil, when the vertical pressure is 50kPa, 100kPa, and 200kPa, the structure increases the strength of the original normally consolidated soil by 35%, 21%, and 7%, respectively. Overconsolidation increases the strength of the remolded overconsolidated soil by 51.3%, 40.9%, and 17.7%, respectively. The combined effect of structure and overconsolidation increases the strength of the original overconsolidated soil by 89%, 72.5%, and 32.7%, respectively. The increase in soil strength caused by the coupling effect is smaller than the sum of the strength increase caused by the two factors. The main reason is that the soil structure can reduces the compaction effect of overconsolidation, and the compaction load applied during the process of overconsolidation can also damage the soil structure, and the scanning electron microscopy observation is consistent with the experimental results and analysis. Finally, an empirical relation was developed for the effect of overconsolidation, structural properties, and their coupling on soil strength. The calculated results of the formula are highly consistent with the experimental data, and have good rationality and accuracy.
Data-driven analytics for student reviews in China’s higher vocational education MOOCs: A quality improvement perspective
Authors: Li Hongbo , Gu Huilin , Hao Xue , Yan Xin , Zhu Qingkang
Published: March 2024

Higher vocational education is the core component of China’s national education system and shoulders the mission of cultivating high-skilled and applied talents. The wide application of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has effectively improved the curriculum system of China’s higher vocational education. In the meantime, some MOOCs suffer from poor course quality. Therefore, from the perspective of sustainable course quality improvement, we propose a data-driven framework for mining and analyzing student reviews in China’s higher vocational education MOOCs. In our framework, we first mine multi-level student demands hidden in MOOC reviews by combining web crawlers and text mining. Then we use an artificial neural network and the KANO model to classify the extracted student demands, thereby designing effective and sustainable MOOC quality improvement strategies. Based on the real data from China’s higher vocational education MOOCs, we validate the effectiveness of the proposed data-driven framework.
Can corporate ESG performance improve audit efficiency?: Empirical evidence based on audit latency perspective
Authors: Zhang Li , Guo Caixia
Published: March 2024

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is closely related to the "dual carbon" objective and the concept of sustainable development. The impact of ESG performance on audit efficiency, especially on audit delays, is still an issue to be studied in depth. Drawing on stakeholder theory, sustainable development theory, shared value concept and corporate social responsibility theory, this study adopts regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate the impact of ESG on audit efficiency based on the data of A-share listed companies in the period of 2015–2022, with a focus on audit delay. The results of regression analysis show that ESG performance has a significant effect on reducing audit delay, and audit delay is reduced by 0.007 on average for each unit increase in ESG performance. In structural equation modeling, the effect of ESG performance on audit delay is more significant, with an estimated value of -0.555 and a standard error of 0.097. In addition, the study shows that the corporate ESG performance on audit efficiency has a positive impact is more pronounced among firms with stronger ESG practices, especially among non-state-owned firms with lower institutional investor ownership and firms audited by "Big Four" firms. These results not only demonstrate the importance of ESG performance in improving audit efficiency, but also provide important guidance for corporate management and policy making. This study enriches the existing literature on corporate ESG performance and audit efficiency and provides new perspectives and directions for future research.
SAQ training on sprint, change-of-direction speed, and agility in U-20 female football players
Authors: Lee Young-Soo , Lee Dayoung , Ahn Na Young
Published: March 2024

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week speed, agility, and quickness (SAQ) training on performance changes in linear sprint speed, change-of-direction (COD) speed, and reactive agility of U-20 female football players. Nineteen female football players randomly served as either experimental (n = 9) or control groups (n = 10). The players were tested for physical fitness tests: linear sprint speed including both short and long distances (5- and 10-m sprints without a ball and 20- and 30-m sprints with and without dribbling), COD speed (arrowhead agility test with and without dribbling a ball, Southeast Missouri [SEMO] agility test, and 22-m repeated slalom dribbling test), and reactive agility. Significant group × time interactions were observed for sprint over long distances and COD speed but not for short sprint and reactive agility performances. Paired t-tests revealed considerable improvements in all performances from the pre-test to post-test for the SAQ group, except for the arrowhead agility (left; p = .07). The control group only exhibited significant improvements in 10-m sprint performance after general football training. Eight weeks of SAQ training were effective at enhancing acceleration, maximum sprint speed, and agility performances amongst highly trained U-20 female football players.
Efficacy of a single session mindfulness based intervention: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Rubin Mikael , Fischer Caitlin M. , Telch Michael J.
Published: March 2024

Loneliness, perceived stress, depression, and anxiety have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of existing mindfulness and compassion-based intervention are effective, but are time-intensive, decreasing overall accessibility and scalability. Single-session interventions (SSIs) serve as a promising alternative. The current pre-registered randomized clinical trial evaluated a newly developed, manualized, mindfulness-based single-session intervention. 91 adults were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) one-hour mindfulness only telehealth intervention; (b) one-hour mindfulness and compassion telehealth intervention; or (c) one-week waitlist control (before randomization to an active intervention). Intervention sessions were conducted by graduate students in clinical psychology. The primary outcome was self-reported loneliness; secondary outcomes were self-reported perceived stress, depression, and anxiety. Using Bayesian multilevel models, we found that compared to the waitlist-control, the inclusion of a compassion component led to meaningful reductions in perceived stress b = -3.75, 95% HDI [-6.95, -0.59], anxiety b = -3.79, 95% HDI [-6.99, -0.53], and depression b = -3.01, 95% HDI [-5.22, -0.78], but not loneliness at the 1-week follow-up. Results suggest that a single-session mindfulness and compassion intervention may lead to meaningful reductions in perceived stress, symptoms of anxiety, and symptoms of depression, but not loneliness. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Weather or not—Global climate databases: Reliable on tropical mountains?
Authors: Hemp Andreas , Hemp Judith
Published: March 2024

Global, spatially interpolated climate datasets such as WorldClim and CHELSA, widely used in research, are based on station data, which are rare in tropical mountains. However, such biodiversity hotspots are of high ecological interest and require accurate data. Therefore, the quality of such gridded datasets needs to be assessed. This poses a kind of dilemma, as proving the reliability of these potentially weakly modelled data is usually not possible due to the lack of stations. Using a unique climate dataset with 170 stations, mainly from the montane and alpine zones of sixteen mountains in Tanzania including Kilimanjaro, we show that the accuracy of such datasets is very poor. Not only is the maximum amount of mean annual precipitation drastically underestimated (partly more than 50%), but also the elevation of the precipitation maximum deviates up to 850m. Our results show that, at least in tropical regions, they should be used with greater caution than before.
Cost-effectiveness of screening for chronic kidney disease using a cumulative eGFR-based statistic
Authors: Zafarnejad Reyhaneh , Chen Qiushi , Griffin Paul M.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Routine screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) could enable timely interventions to slow down disease progression, but currently there are no clinical guidelines for screening. We aim to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of screening for CKD using a novel analytical tool based on a cumulative sum statistic of estimated glomerular filtration rate (CUSUMGFR).

Methods

We developed a microsimulation model that captured CKD disease progression, major complications, patients’ awareness, and treatment adherence for a nationally representative synthetic cohort of age ≥ 30 years in the United States. In addition to the status quo with no screening, we considered four CUSUMGFR-based universal screening policies by frequency (annual or biennial) and starting age (30 or 60 years), and two targeted annual screening policies for patients with hypertension and diabetes, respectively. For each policy, we evaluated the total discounted disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and direct health costs over a lifetime horizon and estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). We further performed one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of parameter uncertainty.

Results

Compared with the status quo, all the CUSUMGFR-based screening policies were cost-effective under the willingness-to-pay (WTP) range of $50,000 –$100,000, with the estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) ranging from $15,614/DALYs averted to $54,373/DALYs averted. Universal annual screening with starting age of 30 was the non-dominated policy on the cost-effectiveness frontier under the WTP of approximately $25,000. Adding more recent treatment option of sodium–glucose cotransporter–2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to the treatment regimen was found to be cost-saving. Among the most influential model parameters, variation in the CKD progression rate, adherence, and testing cost resulted in the highest variability in model outcomes.

Conclusions

CUSUMGFR-based screening policies for CKD are highly cost-effective in identifying patients at risk of end stage kidney disease in early stages of CKD. Given its simple requirement of a basic blood test, the CUSUMGFR-based screening can be easily incorporated into clinical workflow for disease monitoring and prevention.
Asymmetric modeling of regional tourism economic disparity in China
Authors: Ling Huan , Qiu Xiaoyue
Published: March 2024

China’s tourism economy has experienced significant regional disparities. However, little attention has been paid to understanding the intricate mechanisms through which the interplay of influential factors gives rise to such disparities. Utilizing statistical data from the tourism economy of 31 provinces in mainland China, this study investigates regional tourism economic disparity through the asymmetric modeling of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The findings reveal that the causes of regional tourism economic disparity exhibit asymmetry; varying approaches contribute to the formation of high and low levels of tourism economy; the functioning of the most influential factors is impacted by other antecedent conditions, presenting an asymmetric non-linear effect; favorable transportation convenience is a necessary condition for a high level of tourism economy, while poor tourism attraction is a necessary condition for a low level of tourism economy. This research not only introduces a fresh perspective on regional tourism economic disparities, enabling an in-depth comprehension of the complex interactions and nonlinear functional mechanisms of influential factors, but also explores a region-based tourism development model, offering valuable practical guidance for policymakers in the tourism sector.
A longitudinal study of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on mental health in ophthalmic personnel and students
Authors: Pang Yi , Robbs Connor , Wang Jingyun
Published: March 2024

Background

Our previous study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic posed mental health challenges to eye care professionals and students. The intent of this study was to identify the longitudinal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among ophthalmic personnel and students. Additionally, the potential risk factors for mental health problems were investigated.

Methods

A two-phase survey among eye care professionals and students in the USA and Canada was conducted. Phase 1 was administrated from June 23 to July 8, 2020, and has been published; Phase 2 was conducted from January 21 to February 2, 2021. A total of 824 eye care professionals and students participated in Phase 2, with a response rate of 44.1%. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were measured and calculated.

Results

Compared with Phase 1, stress scores in Phase 2 were significantly reduced (P<0.001) although they were still higher than the pre-COVID level (P < .001). Scores for depression (P = 0.20) and anxiety (P = 0.40) showed no change, comparing Phase 2 to Phase 1. Reduction of stress scores significantly differed among occupations (P = 0.005); students had less reduction of stress than other eye care professionals (all P<0.05). Vaccination status was significantly associated with a reduction in stress scores (P = 0.04).

Conclusions

With the continuing COVID pandemic, although stress level was reduced at 7-month follow-up, the mental health of eye care professionals was still impacted. In this population, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with fewer stress symptoms. These results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic continues impacting mental health among eye care professionals, especially students. These study results warrant future interventions for eye care personnel and students to prevent or treat mental health disorders.
Joint optimization of headway and number of stops for bilateral bus rapid transit
Authors: Guo Rongrong , Antunes Francisco , Zhang Jin , Yu Jingcai , Li Wenquan
Published: March 2024

The bilateral Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is a kind of BRT system in which the stops are located in the middle of the transit lane. By simultaneously serving transit lines in opposite directions, it is particularly designed to save space resources and enhance service quality. To improve the operational efficiency of the bilateral BRT, this paper optimizes the operational performance of bilateral BRT with elastic demand. The objective is to minimize the generalized time cost per passenger of the system by jointly optimizing the headway and number of stops of bilateral BRT. The cost includes the agency operating and user travel. The optimal design model is formulated as a mixed-integer program and solved using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and a genetic algorithm (GA). We conduct a case study and sensitivity analysis to show the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed approach. We conclude that the optimized minimum generalized cost per passenger is lower than the actual case for all demand levels, especially at off-peak hours, by about 22.5%. In addition, we find that the weights of agency and user costs have the most significant impact on headway, whereas the influence of walking, vehicle speed, and route length is minimal. In contrast, the optimal number of BRT stops is mostly influenced by the route length, and walking speed has essentially no effect on the optimal number of stops. Finally, we find that the generalized cost per passenger at peak hours is 10% to 15% smaller than at off-peak hours in various scenarios.
Misoginia e rettilizzazione femminile: un espediente estetico e poetico
Authors: De Stasio Loreta
Published: March 2024

ella letteratura italiana, il mito della donna rettile è diffuso, soprattutto con le connotazioni negative imposte dalla cristianità, anche se non sempre, oppure non completamente. Alcuni autori hanno colto l’ambivalenza arcaica di questa figura e ne hanno tratto un espediente narrativo particolarmente efficace che si propone come mezzo per avversare la misoginia latente di questo topico. In questo studio mettiamo in relazione le strutture tematiche e retoriche della «Griselda» di Boccaccio –che, per il suo tema, si offre come racconto che rappresenta la misoginia– con La donna serpente di Carlo Gozzi, che, nel xviii secolo, aveva aggiornato e ricomposto una raccolta di fiabe tradizionali antiche di origini orientali ed europee. Infine, si faranno alcuni riferimenti alle metamorfosi ofidiche novecentesche, per raccontare il femminile, proposte da Bontempelli e ne L’Iguana di Anna Maria Ortese.
Bona sforza, Isabella Sforza e Ippolita Borromeo, dedicatarie delle Rime diverse d’alcune nobilissime, et virtuosissime donne di Lodovico Domenichi
Authors: Duraccio Caterina
Published: March 2024

Fin dalla prima pubblicazione veneziana della raccolta delle Rime diverse d’alcune nobilissime, et virtuosissime donne (1544), Domenichi accosta il suo nome a quello di donne importanti nel tentativo di aumentare il suo prestigio di neo-letterato. Quest’opera rappresenta un vero proprio biglietto da visita per il mondo intellettuale e in essa sono incluse tre lettere indirizzate a tre famose dame: la regina di Polonia Bona Sforza, la nobildonna Isabella Sforza e la contessa Ippolita Borromeo. Il presente articolo analizza il contenuto di queste lettere nel contesto del dibattito filosofico de la Querelle des Femmes e delle idee filogine del suo autore, illustrando le costruzioni simboliche intorno all’eccellenza delle donne e le relazioni con le idee religiose riformiste.
Le Scrittrici italiane nei programmi universitari: Proposte di didattica
Authors: Licameli Chiara
Published: March 2024

Il contributo propone una riflessione sull’inclusione delle scrittrici nei programmi universitari maturata a partire da una esperienza di insegnamento di letteratura italiana presso il corso di laurea in Scienze della formazione primaria di Sapienza Università di Roma e mediante la stesura dell’antologia Scrittrici italiane tra Otto e Novecento. Al centro della discussione ci sono considerazioni sulle criticità che si riscontrano nella didattica delle scrittrici e riflessioni sulle strategie utilizzabili per incoraggiare gli studenti universitari a ripensare il canone della letteratura italiana.
Ripartire dal lessico. Il Piccolo dizionario dell’inuguaglianza femminile di Alice Ceresa: uno spazio femminile per contrastare l’inuguaglianza di genere
Authors: Vanacore Eva
Published: March 2024

Il seguente articolo illustra l’esperienza del seminario realizzato presso l’Università di Siviglia in occasione del progetto Erasmus+ Mobility for traineeships e dedicato all’analisi della forma narrativa utilizzata da Ceresa nel Piccolo dizionario dell’inuguaglianza femminile, con l’obiettivo di proporre la valorizzazione dell’intera opera dell’autrice nei programmi scolastici e nei curricula accademici.
Gestational age, birth weight, and blood culture microbial patterns in late-onset neonatal sepsis
Authors: Ramadhika Muhammad , Iskandar Stephen Diah , Yapiy Ivana , Susanti Yurika Elizabeth , Wijaya Marcella Amadea , Rohsiswatmo Rinawati
Published: March 2024

Background The three main  causes of neonatal deaths in Indonesia according to the WHO are sepsis, prematurity, and asphyxia. A suboptimal hospital environment increases the risk of late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS), which in turn can prolong hospital stays.

Objective To assess for possible associations  of bacterial patterns in neonates with LONS, prematurity, and/or low birth weight.

Methods Medical record data of 1,706 hospitalized neonates who were treated for sepsis or other disease in the Neonatal Unit, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (CMH), Jakarta in 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 262 neonates had proven LONS. We assessed for possible risk factors such as gestational age, birth weight, and cultured blood microbes.

Results Out of a total of 1,706 neonates admitted to the neonatal unit, the incidence of proven LONS was 15.4%. LONS was more prevalent (58.4%) in preterm than in full-term (41.6%) neonates. The majority (67.6%) of subjects with proven LONS were neonates with low birth weight (LBW) (<2,500 grams), and the largest percentage of them (35.1%) was in the 1,500-2,500-gram group. Gram negative bacteria emerged as the predominant pathogens of LONS patients in our hospital; the most common were Klebsiella pneumonia, Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Conclusion The proportion of LONS among LBW and preterm neonates is significantly higher compared to normal birth weight and  neonates. In our unit, LONS was mostly caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The antibiotic susceptibility of the various pathogens causing LONS in CMH should be tested and compared to the current empirical antibiotic guidelines used in CMH.
World-quantum Theory and Time Travel
Authors: Tian Ming
Published: March 2024

This paper points out that the universe is a set. The universe set contains the universe of every moment; the universe of a moment contains every single world-quantum at this moment; each single world-quantum contains a spiritual world-quantum and a material world-quantum. The author expounds the mathematical relationship between these physical quantities and establishes a new theory, that is, world-quantum theory. According to the viewpoint of the universe set, the author reveals the principle of time travel by applying perception function. This paper demonstrates that a person can travel back to the past by focusing on reminiscing and travel forth to the future with single-minded visualization.
Security Challenges and Solutions in SD-WAN Deployments
Authors: Oluyede Michael Sanya , Mart Joseph , Olusola Akinbusola , Olatuja Gabriel
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Enterprise wide area network (WAN) is a private network that connects the computers and other devices across an organisation’s branch locations and the data centers. It forms the backbone of enterprise communication. Currently, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) is commonly used to provide this service. As a recent alternative to MPLS, software-defined wide area networking (SDWAN) solutions are being introduced as an IP based cloud-networking service for enterprises. SD-WAN virtualizes the networking service and eases the complexity of configuring and managing the enterprise network by moving these tasks to software and a central controller. The introduction of new technologies causes concerns about their security. Also, this new solution is introduced as a replacement for MPLS, which has been considered secure and has been in use for more than 16 years. Thus, there is a need to analyze the security of SDWAN, which is the goal of this thesis.

In this thesis, we perform a security analysis of a commercial SD-WAN solution, by finding its various attack surfaces, associated vulnerabilities and design weaknesses. We choose Nuage VNS, an SD-WAN product provided by Nuage Networks, as the analysis target. As a result, many attack surfaces and security weaknesses were found and reported, especially in the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). In particular, we found vulnerabilities in the CPE’s secure bootstrapping method and demonstrated some attacks by exploiting them. Finally, we propose mitigation steps to avoid the attacks.

The results of this thesis will help both the service provider and the SD-WAN solution vendor to know about the attack surfaces and weaknesses of SD-WAN before offering it to their customers. We also help in implementing the temporary countermeasures to mitigate the attacks. The results have been presented to the service provider and the vendor of the SDWAN product.
The Role of Hospital Characteristics in Clinical and Quality Outcomes for Gastrointestinal Bleeding in a National Cohort
Authors: Siddique Shazia Mehmood , Hettinger Gary , Dash Anwesh , Neuman Mark , Mitra Nandita , Lewis James D.
Published: March 2024

INTRODUCTION:

There is substantial variability in patient outcomes for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) across hospitals. This study aimed to identify hospital factors associated with GIB outcomes.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized for GIB from 2016 to 2018. These data were merged with the American Hospital Association Annual Survey data to incorporate hospital characteristics. We used generalized linear mixed-effect models to estimate the effect of hospital-level characteristics on patient outcomes after adjusting for patient risk factors including anticoagulant and antiplatelet use, recent GIB, and comorbidities. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, and secondary outcomes included length of stay and a composite outcome of 30-day readmission or mortality.

RESULTS:

Factors associated with improved GIB 30-day mortality included large hospital size (defined as beds >400, odds ratio [OR] 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.90–0.97), greater case volume (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96–0.98), increased resident and nurse staffing (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.83–0.94), and blood donor center designation (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88–0.99). Patients treated at a hospital with multiple advanced capabilities, such as availability of advanced endoscopy, advanced intensive care unit (ICU) capabilities (both a medical-surgical ICU and cardiac ICU), blood donor center, and liver transplant center, had a 22% reduction in 30-day mortality risk, compared with those hospitalized in a hospital with none of these services (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68–0.91). However, length of stay increased with additional services.

DISCUSSION:

Patients hospitalized for GIB at hospitals with multiple advanced specialized capabilities have lower mortality but longer lengths of stay. Further research should examine the processes of care linked to these services that contribute to improved mortality in GIB.