bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute stress and multicellular development alter the solubility of the
Dictyostelium
Sup35 ortholog ERF3
Authors: Williams Felicia N. , Travis Kanesha L. , Haver Holly N. , Umano Anna D. , Guerra-Hernandez Yaneli , Scaglione K. Matthew
Published: September 2024

Among sequenced organisms, the genome of
Dictyostelium discoideum
is unique in that it encodes for a massive amount of repeat-rich sequences in the coding region of genes. This results in the
Dictyostelium
proteome encoding for thousands of repeat-rich proteins, with nearly 24% of the
Dictyostelium
proteome encoding Q/N-rich regions that are predicted to be prion like in nature. To begin investigating the role of prion-like proteins in
Dictyostelium
, we decided to investigate ERF3, the
Dictyostelium
ortholog of the well-characterized yeast prion protein Sup35. ERF3 lacks the Q/N-rich region required for prion formation in yeast, raising the question of whether this protein aggregates and has prion-like properties in
Dictyostelium
. Here, we found that ERF3 formed aggregates in response to acute cellular stress. However, unlike
bona fide
prions, we were unable to detect transmission of aggregates to progeny. We further found that aggregation of this protein is driven by the ordered C-terminal domain independently of the disordered N-terminal domain. Finally, we also observed aggregation of ERF3 under conditions that induce multicellular development, suggesting that this phenomenon may play a role in
Dictyostelium
development. Together, these findings suggest a role for regulated protein aggregation in
Dictyostelium
cells under stress and during development.

IMPORTANCE

Prion-like proteins have both beneficial and deleterious effects on cellular health, and many organisms have evolved distinct mechanisms to regulate the behaviors of these proteins. The social amoeba
Dictyostelium discoideum
contains the highest proportion of proteins predicted to be prion like and has mechanisms to suppress their aggregation. However, the potential roles and regulation of these proteins remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that aggregation of the
Dictyostelium
translation termination factor ERF3 is induced by both acute cellular stress and by multicellular development. These findings imply that protein aggregation may have a regulated and functional role in the
Dictyostelium
stress response and during multicellular development.
‘Their role has a lot of purpose beyond being just being about exercises’: a qualitative study of patients’ experiences of physiotherapy following a mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Chua Jason , Reid Duncan , Keung Sierra , Jewell Sam , Deadman Olivia , Theadom Alice
Published: September 2024

Following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI; also known as concussion), physiotherapists may be involved in injury identification, assessment and rehabilitation. However, how people perceive and experience the physiotherapist’s role is not well understood. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with patients who saw a physiotherapist individually or as part of a multidisciplinary team following mTBI in New Zealand. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the interpretive descriptive approach. A total of 12 interviews were held with participants aged 19–67 (50% female; mean age 37 (SD=14.8) years) who had a mTBI on average 9 (SD=8) months ago. Thematic coding of interviews generated four themes, each supported by three to five categories representing their experiences: (1) ‘How physiotherapy could help me’—representing how the interventions were delivered; (2) ‘Empower me to manage my mTBI’—representing participants learnings to self-manage; (3) ‘Set me up to get the most out of treatment’—representing considerations needed before, during and after practice to maximise engagement and (4) ‘Get to know me and what’s important to me’—representing the importance of considering the person as a whole, and preferences for assessment, intervention, communication and culture throughout service delivery. Overall, participants reported variable mTBI care experiences yet perceived the physiotherapist as having a key role in supporting self-management and treating headaches, neck pain and balance issues. mTBI physiotherapy care needs to be more attuned to patients’ preferences and circumstances and delivered in a way that maximises rehabilitation outcomes. Building effective therapeutic connections with patients may be key to addressing these concerns simultaneously in practice.
Building allied health professions’ leadership self-efficacy through authentic experiential learning: a participatory evaluation of allied health professions leadership fellow secondments
Authors: Harding Deborah , Lycett Helen , Avery Leila , Kumaresan Tania , Madden Venus
Published: September 2024

Background

NHS England’s Chief Allied Health Profession’s Officer has called for investment in allied health professions (AHPs) leaders and the need to address limited leadership development opportunities for AHPs. We report the evaluation of a small-scale leadership initiative in a UK National Health Service (NHS) provider where part-time, fixed term, project focused AHP leadership fellow posts were established.

Aim

To gain insights about the implementation and benefits of an AHP leadership fellow initiative and to identify learning to inform future AHP leadership development.

Method

A participatory evaluative approach was adopted, involving the associate director for AHPs who established the initiative and the first cohort of AHP leadership fellows.

Findings

There is evidence of organisational value and benefits for AHP leadership fellows which map to mid-career leadership opportunities described in NHS guidance.

Conclusion

AHP leadership fellow posts provide innovative experiential opportunities for authentic and meaningful strategic leadership development consistent with NHS guidance. While small scale, with limited representation from just two of the AHPs recognised in the NHS, there are indications of positive outcomes for both aspiring AHP leaders and employers. The approach could be replicated across healthcare systems, in different settings and with wider representation from other AHPs.
Repeat expansion disorders
Authors: Chen Zhongbo , Morris Huw R , Polke James , Wood Nicholas W , Gandhi Sonia , Ryten Mina , Houlden Henry , Tucci Arianna
Published: September 2024

An increasing number of repeat expansion disorders have been found to cause both rare and common neurological disease. This is exemplified in recent discoveries of novel repeat expansions underlying a significant proportion of several late-onset neurodegenerative disorders, such as CANVAS (cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 27B. Most of the 60 described repeat expansion disorders to date are associated with neurological disease, providing substantial challenges for diagnosis, but also opportunities for management in a clinical neurology setting. Commonalities in clinical presentation, overarching diagnostic features and similarities in the approach to genetic testing justify considering these disorders collectively based on their unifying causative mechanism. In this review, we discuss the characteristics and diagnostic challenges of repeat expansion disorders for the neurologist and provide examples to highlight their clinical heterogeneity. With the ready availability of clinical-grade whole-genome sequencing for molecular diagnosis, we discuss the current approaches to testing for repeat expansion disorders and application in clinical practice.
Planar decomposition of the HOMFLY polynomial for bipartite knots and links
Authors: Anokhina A. , Lanina E. , Morozov A.
Published: September 2024

The theory of the Kauffman bracket, which describes the Jones polynomial as a sum over closed circles formed by the planar resolution of vertices in a knot diagram, can be straightforwardly lifted from $$\mathfrak {sl}(2)$$

sl
(
2
)

to $$\mathfrak {sl}(N)$$

sl
(
N
)

at arbitrary N – but for a special class of bipartite diagrams made entirely from the antiparallel lock tangle. Many amusing and important knots and links can be described in this way, from twist and double braid knots to the celebrated Kanenobu knots for even parameters – and for all of them the entire HOMFLY polynomials possess planar decomposition. This provides an approach to evaluation of HOMFLY polynomials, which is complementary to the arborescent calculus, and this opens a new direction to homological techniques, parallel to Khovanov–Rozansky generalizations of the Kauffman calculus. Moreover, this planar calculus is also applicable to other symmetric representations beyond the fundamental one, and to links which are not fully bipartite what is illustrated by examples of Kanenobu-like links.
Deflection of charged signals in a dipole magnetic field in Kerr background
Authors: Li Zonghai , Jia Junji
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates charged particle deflection in a Kerr spacetime background with a dipole magnetic field, focusing on the equatorial plane and employing the weak field approximation. We employ the Jacobi–Randers metric to unify the treatment of the gravitational and electromagnetic effects on charged particles. Furthermore, we utilize the Gauss–Bonnet theorem to calculate the deflection angle through curvature integrals. The difference between the prograde and retrograde deflection angles is linked to the non-reversibility of metrics and geodesics in Finsler geometry, revealing that this difference can be considered a Finslerian effect. We analyze the impact of both gravitomagnetic field and dipole magnetic field on particle motion and deflection using the Jacobi–Randers magnetic field. The model considered in this paper exhibits interesting features in the second-order approximation of (M/b), i.e., the ratio between the spacetime mass and impact parameters. When $$q\mu =2MaE$$

q
μ
=
2
M
a
E

, where $$q,\,E$$

q
,

E

are the charge and asymptotic energy of the charged particle and $$\mu ,\,a$$

μ
,

a

are the dipole magnetic moment and spacetime spin, the Jacobi–Randers metric possesses reversible geodesics, leading to equal prograde and retrograde deflection angles. In this case, the gravitomagnetic field and dipole magnetic field cancel each other out, distinguishing it from scenarios involving only the gravitomagnetic field or the dipole magnetic field. We also explore the magnetic field’s impact on gravitational lensing of charged particles.
Flavonoids Derived from Chinese Medicine: Potential Neuroprotective Agents
Authors: Li Jinhua , Yu Ye , Zhang Yanjie , Zhou Yilin , Ding Shuxian , Dong Shuze , Jin Sainan , Li Qin
Published: September 2024

Due to their complex pathological mechanisms, neurodegenerative diseases have brought great challenges to drug development and clinical treatment. Studies have shown that many traditional Chinese medicines have neuroprotective pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation properties and have certain effects on improving the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases and delaying disease progression. Flavonoids are the main active components of many traditional Chinese medicines for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. These compounds have a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, regulation of autophagy balance, inhibition of apoptosis, and promotion of neuronal regeneration. This paper focuses on the neuroprotective effects of six common flavonoids: quercetin, rutin, luteolin, kaempferol, baicalein, and puerarin. It then systematically reviews their characteristics, mechanisms, and key signaling pathways, summarizes the common characteristics and laws of their neuroprotective effects, and discusses the significance of strengthening the research on the neuroprotective effects of these compounds, aiming to provide reference for more research and drug development of these substances as neuroprotective drugs.
Astragaloside I from Astragalus Attenuates Diabetic Kidney Disease by Regulating HDAC3/Klotho/TGF-β1 Loop
Authors: Zhang Xiaowei , Wang Jiajun , Xiang Shixie , Zhao Liang , Lv Mingzhen , Duan Yafei , Gao Gai , Wang Pan , Jie Chen Jenny , Xu Jiangyan , Xie Zhishen , Zhang Zhenqiang
Published: September 2024

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has become the primary cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), causing an urgent need for preventive strategies for DKD. Astragaloside I (ASI), a bioactive saponin extracted from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge has been demonstrated to possess a variety of biological activities. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of ASI in DKD and the underlying molecular mechanism using db/db mice in vivo and high glucose (HG)-induced SV40-MES-13 cells in vitro. The results indicated that ASI significantly ameliorated renal dysfunction and mitigated the pathological alterations in the renal tissues of db/db mice. Moreover, ASI was found to reduce the levels of renal fibrosis makers and suppress the activation of TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway in both db/db mice and HG-induced SV40-MES-13 cells. Furthermore, ASI downregulated HDAC3 expression, upregulated Klotho expression, and enhanced Klotho release. ASI is directly bound to HDAC3, and the beneficial effects of ASI on Klotho/TGF-β1/Smad2/3-mediciated renal fibrosis in DKD were reversed by the HDAC3 agonist ITSA-1. In conclusion, ASI attenuates renal fibrosis in DKD, and may act through concurrently inhibiting HDAC3 and TGF-β1, thereby regulating HDAC3-mediciated Klotho/TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway.
An artificial neural network approach to characterizing the behavior of bioconvective nanofluid model using backpropagation of Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm
Authors: Shah Zahoor , Alhazmi Muflih , Khan Waqar Azeem , AlBasheir Nafisa A. , Haider Raja Zaki
Published: September 2024

The study of the behavior of bioconvective nanofluid model (BC-NFM) was explored using bioconvection properties in the computational analysis of magnetized nanofluid flow that was convectively heated, which is critical for applications in energy systems and biomedical devices. We implemented a backpropagated Levenberg–Marquardt neural network approach (BLMNNA) to enhance the analysis and prediction accuracy of such fluid flows. Using the Adams numerical technique, we generated a comprehensive dataset for eight distinct scenarios by variation of thermophoresis parameter, Rayleigh number, Deborah parameter, Hartman number, Prandtl number, bioconvection Lewis number, and Schmidt number to train and test our model. The results demonstrate significant improvements in prediction accuracy and computational efficiency compared to traditional numerical solvers. The steps of training, testing, and validating the developed BLMNNA are used to get the desired numerical solutions of BC-NFM for various instances. The worth and accuracy of the stochastic numerical solutions of BC-NFM are established and authenticated by the outputs of the designed methodology BLMNNA through Adaptation graphs of Mean Square Error, regression studies, plots of error histogram and index of state transition. Excellent measurements of performance in terms of MEAN SQUARE ERROR are achieved at level 9.76E[Formula: see text], 1.41E[Formula: see text], 1.79E[Formula: see text], 1.22E[Formula: see text], 8.49E[Formula: see text], 7.19E[Formula: see text], 9.72E[Formula: see text], and 9.35E[Formula: see text] against 69, 73, 96, 76, 237, 86, 120, and 33 epochs. The significant connection between the proposed and reference findings demonstrates the validity of the BLMNNA based on error analysis, which ranges from E[Formula: see text] to E[Formula: see text] for all situations. The results show that the proposed neural network approach achieves a high level of accuracy, closely matching the outcomes obtained from the numerical solver. The method provides an efficient and precise solution for the analysis of complex fluid flow problems, representing a significant advancement over traditional numerical techniques.
Solvatochromism, preferential solvation and excited state dipole moments of flufenamic acid in different solvent polarities
Authors: Prachalith N. C. , Vibha K. , Suresh Kumar H. M. , Thipperudrappa J. , Khadke U. V.
Published: September 2024

The influence of pure solvent and binary solvent mixtures on the optical properties of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) molecule, specifically flufenamic acid (FLA), has been studied using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. A bathochromic shift is observed in the emission wavelength of FLA with an increase in the solvent polarity of pure solvents, attributed to the highest stability of the excited state. The spectral properties are correlated with Lippert–Mataga, solvent polarity parameter, Kamlet, and Catalan solvent polarity parameters, suggesting that both general and specific solvent effects influence the spectral properties, with general solvent effects dominating over specific solvent effects. Preferential solvation studies have been carried out in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and water solvent mixture, revealing variations in the preference for solvation of FLA as a function of the mole fraction of water. Solvatochromic data are utilized to estimate the excited state dipole moment in pure solvents using different solvatochromic methods, revealing that the excited state dipole moment of FLA is higher than its ground state counterpart. The increase in dipole moment in the excited state compared to the ground state is explained based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), with elaboration and discussion on the possible resonance structure corresponding to ICT, inferring the more polar nature of the excited state compared to the ground state. The effect of solute polarizability on the excited state dipole moment and change in dipole moment is also discussed.
Analysis of FPGA Architecture with Hybrid Logic Blocks Based on ULG and LUT
Authors: Sudhanya P. , Joy Vasantha Rani S. P.
Published: September 2024

This paper analyzes the efficiency of different FPGA architectures consisting of Hybrid logic blocks (HLB) formed with Look-up Tables (LUTs) and Universal Logic Gates (ULGs). Pure LUT-based architectures induce area overhead and a longer delay. A ULG is designed to realize an efficient architecture compared to pure LUT-based architectures. Using this ULG and LUT in different proportions, HLBs are designed. The Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) architectures containing these proposed HLB structures are analyzed using various Microelectronics Centre of North Carolina (MCNC) benchmark circuits and compared with the performance of the existing designs. The result shows that the proposed architecture design can save a tremendous amount of time in overall flow and routing along with area improvements.
Modified Genetic Algorithm for Efficient High-Utility Itemset Mining
Authors: Atmaja Eduardus Hardika Sandy , Sonawane Kavita
Published: September 2024

In pattern mining, high-utility itemset mining (HUIM) is useful for discovering high-utility patterns. The study of HUIM using heuristic techniques reflects issues in producing better offspring. It is ineffective in terms of search space organization, population diversity, and utility calculation, which impact runtime and accuracy. It is observed that very few researchers have experimented with genetic algorithm (GA) and are still facing the same issues as mentioned before. To overcome these problems, a novel approach is proposed for HUIM using modified GA and optimized local search (HUIM-MGALS) with six potential contributions. First is linking the utility with the Bitmap dataset to reduce utility access time, leading to effective search space organization. Second, HUIM-MGALS employs a fitness scaling strategy to avoid redundancy. Third, a high-utility itemset (HUI) revision strategy is employed to explore significant HUIs. Modified population diversity maintenance strategy and iterative crossover help to preserve significant HUIs and improve search capability as fourth and fifth contributions. Sixth, the use of multiple mutations refines the wasted individuals to boost accuracy. Extensive experimentation showed that HUIM-MGALS significantly outperforms the presented algorithms, up to 8.6 times faster. It also demonstrates superior HUI discovery capabilities for both sparse and dense datasets. This is supported by the modified population diversity maintenance strategy, which is proved to be the most impactful modification for HUI discovery in HUIM-MGALS.
BT-Tree: A Reinforcement Learning Based Index for Big Trajectory Data
Authors: Gu Tu , Feng Kaiyu , Yang Jingyi , Cong Gao , Long Cheng , Zhang Rui
Published: September 2024

With the increasing availability of trajectory data, it is important to have good indexes to facilitate query processing. In this work, we propose BT-Tree, which is built through a recursive bi-partitioning approach, for the processing of range and KNN queries for past trajectory data. We first propose a cost function based method (CFBM) to build the BT-Tree. Specifically, we design a novel cost function, which incorporates the characteristics of both the data and historical query workload, to decide how to partition a BT-Tree node. Then we propose a reinforcement learning (RL) based method to address CFBM's limitations, such as making locally optimal decisions that may lead to global suboptimality. Experiments on three real datasets with up to 800 million data points show that the CFBM generally outperforms the baselines in terms of query processing time and the RL based method consistently outperforms the baselines and has more significant advantages on larger datasets.
Discovering Top-k Relevant and Diversified Rules
Authors: Fan Wenfei , Han Ziyan , Xie Min , Zhang Guangyi
Published: September 2024

This paper studies the problem of discovering top-
k
relevant and diversified rules. Given a real-life dataset, it is to mine a set of
k
rules that are as close to users' interest as possible, and meanwhile, as diverse to each other as possible. It aims to reduce excessive irrelevant rules commonly returned by rule discovery. As a testbed, we consider Entity Enhancing Rules (REEs), which subsume popular data quality rules as special cases. We train a relevance model to learn users' prior knowledge, rank rules based on users' need, and propose four diversity measures to assess the diversity between rules. Based on these measures, we formulate a new discovery problem. We show that the bi-criteria discovery problem is NP-complete and hard to approximate. This said, we develop a practical algorithm for the problem, and prove its approximation bounds under certain conditions. Moreover, we develop optimization techniques to speed up the process, and parallelize the algorithm such that it guarantees to reduce runtime when given more processors. Using real-life data, we empirically verify that on average, the top-10 REEs discovered by our algorithm is able to catch 77.5% of errors detected by the entire set Σ
all
of REEs and achieve F_1 = 0.74 for real error detection; moreover, discovering top-ranked REEs is 62.4X faster than mining Σ
all
.
On the Feasibility and Benefits of Extensive Evaluation
Authors: Hui Yujie , Yu Miao , Qi Hao , Gan Yifan , Li Tianxi , Li Yuke , Ren Xueyuan , Ma Sixiang , Lu Xiaoyi , Wang Yang
Published: September 2024

Benchmark and system parameters often have a significant impact on performance evaluation, which raises a long-lasting question about which settings we should use.

This paper studies the feasibility and benefits of extensive evaluation. A full extensive evaluation, which tests all possible settings, is usually too expensive. This work investigates whether it is possible to sample a subset of the settings and, upon them, generate observations that match those from a full extensive evaluation. Towards this goal, we have explored the incremental sampling approach, which starts by measuring a small subset of random settings, builds a prediction model on these samples using the popular ANOVA approach, adds more samples if the model is not accurate enough, and terminates otherwise.

To summarize our findings: 1) Enhancing a research prototype to support extensive evaluation mostly involves changing hard-coded configurations, which does not take much effort. 2) Some systems are highly predictable, which means that they can achieve accurate predictions with a low sampling rate, but some systems are less predictable. 3) We have not found a method that can consistently outperform random sampling + ANOVA. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations to improve artifact predictability and strategies for selecting parameter values during evaluation.
CAMAL: Optimizing LSM-trees via Active Learning
Authors: Yu Weiping , Luo Siqiang , Yu Zihao , Cong Gao
Published: September 2024

We use machine learning to optimize LSM-tree structure, aiming to reduce the cost of processing various read/write operations. We introduce a new approach CAMAL, which boasts the following features: (1)
ML-Aided
: CAMAL is the first attempt to apply active learning to tune LSM-tree based key-value stores. The learning process is coupled with traditional cost models to improve the training process; (2)
Decoupled Active Learning
: backed by rigorous analysis, CAMAL adopts active learning paradigm based on a decoupled tuning of each parameter, which further accelerates the learning process; (3)
Easy Extrapolation
: CAMAL adopts an effective mechanism to incrementally update the model with the growth of the data size; (4)
Dynamic Mode
: CAMAL is able to tune LSM-tree online under dynamically changing workloads; (5)
Significant System Improvement
: By integrating CAMAL into a full system RocksDB, the system performance improves by 28% on average and up to 8x compared to a state-of-the-art RocksDB design.
SketchQL: Video Moment Querying with a Visual Query Interface
Authors: Wu Renzhi , Chunduri Pramod , Payani Ali , Chu Xu , Arulraj Joy , Rong Kexin
Published: September 2024

Localizing video moments based on the movement patterns of objects is an important task in video analytics. Existing video analytics systems offer two types of querying interfaces based on natural language and SQL, respectively. However, both types of interfaces have major limitations. SQL-based systems require high query specification time, whereas natural language-based systems require large training datasets to achieve satisfactory retrieval accuracy.

To address these limitations, we present SketchQL, a video database management system (VDBMS) for offline, exploratory video moment retrieval that is both easy to use and generalizes well across multiple video moment datasets. To improve ease-of-use, SketchQL features a
visual query interface
that enables users to sketch complex visual queries through intuitive drag-and-drop actions. To improve generalizability, SketchQL operates on object-tracking primitives that are reliably extracted across various datasets using pre-trained models. We present a learned similarity search algorithm for retrieving video moments closely matching the user's visual query based on object trajectories. SketchQL trains the model on a diverse dataset generated with a novel simulator, that enhances its accuracy across a wide array of datasets and queries. We evaluate SketchQL on four real-world datasets with nine queries, demonstrating its superior usability and retrieval accuracy over state-of-the-art VDBMSs.
Tao: Improving Resource Utilization while Guaranteeing SLO in Multi-tenant Relational Database-as-a-Service
Authors: Liu Haotian , Li Runzhong , Zhang Ziyang , Tang Bo
Published: September 2024

It is an open challenge for cloud database service providers to guarantee tenants' service-level objectives (SLOs) and enjoy high resource utilization simultaneously. In this work, we propose a novel system Tao to overcome it. Tao consists of three key components: (i) tasklet-based DAG generator, (ii) tasklet-based DAG executor, and (iii) SLO-guaranteed scheduler. The core concept in Tao is tasklet, a coroutine-based lightweight execution unit of the physical execution plan. In particular, we first convert each SQL operator in the traditional physical execution plan into a set of fine-grained tasklets by the tasklet-based DAG generator. Then, we abstract the tasklet-based DAG execution procedure and implement the tasklet-based DAG executor using C++20 coroutines. Finally, we introduce the SLO-guaranteed scheduler for scheduling tenants' tasklets across CPU cores. This scheduler guarantees tenants' SLOs with a token bucket model and improves resource utilization with an on-demand core adjustment strategy. We build Tao on an open-sourced relational database, Hyrise, and conduct extensive experimental studies to demonstrate its superiority over existing solutions.
Why Would Professionals Choose to Use a Robot with Their Clients with Autism? Applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Determine Professionals’ Intentions
Authors: Charpiot Louise , Costa Andreia Pinto , Steffgen Georges
Published: September 2024

Robots are thought to be able to address some of society’s challenges in autism care and education. Robots may extend services and provide them in personalised, repeated, and playful ways. However, it is still largely unknown to what extent professionals intend to use robots and what determines their intentions. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour framework, we aimed to better understand the determinants behind professionals’ intentions to use robots with their clients with autism. We conducted an online survey, to which 447 professionals (e.g., psychologists) working with people with autism answered. Our results indicate moderate and well-predicted intentions for the enquired professionals to use a robot with their clients with autism. We found that attitude and perceived social norms are the main predictors of their intentions. Our results also point to the significant and positive influence of moral norms on the attitudes of professionals. Additionally, our preliminary analysis of underlying beliefs to the assessed predictors of intention enables a better understanding on how professionals perceive the place of robots in their work. These results can inspire roboticists who want to build assistive robots for the real world and guide stakeholders when implementing such robots in the health and education sectors.
Fast Candidate Screening for Post-diagnosis Refinement
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Bian Longyun , Xiong Hongcan , Jin Hai
Published: September 2024

Oftentimes fault candidates produced by logic diagnosis are too many to effectively guide the follow-on failure analysis. In this work, we propose a novel two-stage fast screening method to sift through a large of candidates in the fault callout outputted by the commercial diagnosis tool. Candidates that are unlikely to be true ones are re-assigned lower ranks or discarded as diagnosis noise. Experimental results based on benchmark designs from various sources show that within the new categorical ranking list, the number of remaining candidates is only 53.78% of the original ones produced by the diagnosis tool, while ensuring an average accuracy of 91.65%, leading to a 1.98× increase in diagnostic resolution. Our fast screening method only takes seconds of model training and computation, while using no other additional resources besides necessary inputs for generic logic diagnosis.
Categories in Social Interaction: Unlocking the Resources of Conversation Analysis and Membership Categorization for Psychological Science
Authors: Stokoe Elizabeth , Raymond Geoffrey , Whitehead Kevin A.
Published: September 2024

This article reviews two related approaches—conversation analysis (CA) and membership categorization analysis (MCA)—to sketch a systematic framework for exposing how categories and categorial phenomena are (re)produced in naturally occurring social interaction. In so doing, we argue that CA and MCA address recent concerns about psychological methods and approaches. After summarizing how categories are typically theorized and studied, we describe the main features of a CA approach to categories, including how this differs from conventional psychology. We review the core domains of research in CA and how categories can be studied systematically in relation to the basic machinery of talk and other conduct in interaction. We illustrate these domains through examples from different settings of recorded naturally occurring social interaction. After considering the applications that have arisen from CA and MCA, we conclude by drawing together the implications of this work for psychological science.
Structural, Mechanical and Thermal Behaviour of MWCNT-PCS Hybrid Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites: An Extension Study of Graphene-Epoxy Polymer Matrix Nanocomposites
Authors: Awasthi Deepak , Paswan Manikant , Gupta Pallav
Published: September 2024

This study extends previous research on graphene-epoxy nanocomposites by investigating the thermal, mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced polycarbosilane (PCS) hybrid polymer matrix nanocomposites. Building on the foundational work that demonstrated the enhanced performance of graphene-epoxy nanocomposites, this research explores the potential of MWCNTs as a superior reinforcing agent within the PCS matrix. The MWCNT-PCS nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized using a comprehensive suite of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, specific gravity analysis and surface resistance measurements. The results indicate that MWCNT-PCS nanocomposites exhibit improved thermal stability, higher degradation temperatures, and enhanced thermal conductivity, along with significant improvements in mechanical strength and lower surface resistance, indicating superior electrical conductivity. Additionally, the chemical interactions between MWCNTs and the PCS matrix were analyzed to assess the dispersion and bonding quality, contributing to the overall performance of the nanocomposites. These findings suggest that MWCNT-PCS nanocomposites are promising candidates for high-performance applications in aerospace, where thermal stability, mechanical strength, electrical conductivity and chemical stability are critical. This paper not only confirms the benefits of MWCNT reinforcement but also provides a direct comparison with graphene-epoxy nanocomposites, underscoring the advancements made in this ongoing research.
Application of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in True and Pseudo‐Optic Disc Swelling
Authors: Abri Aghdam Kaveh , Aghajani Ali , Zand Amin , Chaibakhsh Samira , Anvari Pasha , Ijadi Fatemeh Zahra , Ghasemi Falavarjani Khalil
Published: September 2024

Purpose. We evaluated the optic disc microvasculature in healthy subjects and patients with optic nerve head drusen (ONHD), active papilledema, and acute nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods. This prospective, comparative case series included sixteen eyes with ONHD, thirty‐one eyes with active papilledema, sixteen eyes with acute NAION, and thirty‐two healthy eyes. The Optovue AngioVue OCT and OCTA Imaging System recorded peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and vessel density maps from the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) slab. Results. Average RNFL thicknesses were greater in eyes with ONHD, papilledema, and NAION compared to control eyes (all Ps < 0.001), but this parameter did not differ among patient groups. The mean peripapillary vessel density did not differ between the ONHD and control groups (P = 1.000), nor between the NAION and papilledema groups (P = 0.216). However, this value in the ONHD and control groups was significantly higher than in the NAION and papilledema groups (all Ps < 0.05). Conclusion. RPC density is influenced during the progression of conditions such as ONHD, papilledema, and NAION. Although a decrease in vessel density values has been observed in cases of true disc edema, further research is necessary to assess the potential of OCTA in differentiating between true and pseudo‐optic disc edema.
The Effect of “Motivational Interviewing” and “Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills Model” Counseling Interventions on the Choice of Delivery Mode in Pregnant Women Using Face‐to‐Face Training vs. Mobile App: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Shirzad Mahboubeh , Shakibazadeh Elham , Sheikhatari Payam , Foroushani Abbas Rahimi , Poursharifi Hamid
Published: September 2024

Objective. To investigate the impact of counseling interventions, using face‐to‐face training vs. mobile app for choosing mode of delivery. Design. A four‐armed, randomized, controlled parallel‐design trial. Setting. Ebnesina Private Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Population. Pregnant women, between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation (n = 120). Methods. Pregnant women were randomly assigned in three psycho‐educational intervention groups: (1) motivational interviewing via face‐to‐face training, (2) information, motivation, and behavioral skills model via face‐to‐face training, (3) the same model via a mobile application, and (4) usual antenatal care (control group). To assess the face‐to‐face and mobile app training method on women’s self‐efficacy and intention in choosing a mode of delivery. Main Outcome Measures. Mode of delivery (Cesarean section). Results. While all three intervention groups showed significant increases in women’s self‐efficacy and intentions to choose vaginal delivery, the increase was particularly noticeable among those using mobile applications: Before the intervention, self‐efficacy and intention Mean ± SD were 77.1 ± 38.6 (CI‐95%: [62.72, 91.60]) and 1.10 ± 0.305 (CI‐95%: [0.99, 1.21]), respectively. After the intervention, these scores increased to 99.7 ± 30.7 (CI‐95%: [88.27, 111.20]) for self‐efficacy and 1.70 ± 0.466 (CI‐95%: [1.53, 1.87]) for intention. Although 56.7% of women in the intervention groups expressed a preference for vaginal delivery, only 37.5% ultimately pursued this birthing method. Conclusions. Brief psycho‐educational interventions, particularly technology‐driven interventions (mobile apps) can increase the likelihood of women choosing vaginal delivery. To enhance the effectiveness of such interventions, they can be conducted in conjunction with interventions for doctors and healthcare providers. This trial is registered with IRCT20151208025431N7.
Advancements and Innovative Strategies in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Shi Xiaoyu , Zhang Kun , Yu Fengshi , Qi Qi , Cai Xiaoyu , Zhang Yu
Published: September 2024

The effectiveness and safety of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy have been substantiated across various diseases. Nevertheless, challenges such as the restricted in vitro expansion capacity of tissue‐derived MSCs and the clinical instability due to the high heterogeneity of isolated cells require urgent resolution. The induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived MSCs (iPSC‐MSCs), which is differentiated from iPSCs via specific experimental pathways, holds considerable potential as a substitute for tissue derived MSCs. Multiple studies have demonstrated that iPSCs can be differentiated into iPSC‐MSCs through diverse differentiation strategies. Research suggests that iPSC‐MSCs, when compared to tissue derived MSCs, exhibit superior characteristics in terms of proliferation ability, immune modulation capacity, and biological efficiency. In this review, we meticulously described and summarized the experimental methods of iPSC differentiation into iPSC‐MSCs, the application of iPSC‐MSCs in various disease models, the latest advancements in clinically relevant iPSC‐derived cell products, and the development strategies for the next generation of iPSC‐derived therapy products (not only cell products but also their derivatives).
Accessibility of Patients With Special Healthcare Needs to Dental Care in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A Multicentre Study From Perspective of Caregiver and Dental Care Providers
Authors: Ezzeldin Tarek , Algahtani Mazin , Alghannam Nadia Abdulrahman , Alsafran Faisal Abdulkareem , Siddiqui Intisar Ahmad , Al-Ghanim Hebah Zaki , Bader Basma Mohamed , Alshubat Abdullah Abdulatif , Almarry Adnan Hamad , IbnAhmed Hussein Hejji , Kanakri Sarah Abdulhadi , Eltayeb Reem Babiker , Almuaybid Mohammed Ibrahim , Al-Wasi Khalaf Ali
Published: September 2024

Dental care accessibility is subject to a dentist’s qualification, practice and intention to treat patients, regardless of whether those patients have special healthcare needs (SCN) and should receive treatment in a dental setting. This multicentre study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of patients with SCN, their access to dental care and behaviour towards dental care from their caregiver’s perspective. In addition, the perspective of dental care providers who care for patients with SCN and the factors affecting the provision of treatment was also appraised. The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia served as the site of this cross‐sectional study from 1 February 2020 to 31 January 2022. Caregivers of 272 patients with SCN, regardless of age and gender, were recruited in the study. The caregiver’s proforma sought information on the demographic characteristics, type of disability, cooperation, medical history, occupation of the parent and patient’s behaviour towards oral hygiene and dental healthcare. The second proforma had the dental care provider’s perspective about the common disabilities, factors that affect the decision to provide treatment, difficulties patients face in getting their dental treatment and, from the dentist’s experience, recommendations to improve the access to dental care for patients with SCN. Statistical analysis was carried out by using SPSS version 22.0. The demographic features, caregiver’s perception about oral healthcare accessibility and dental professional’s point of view were presented as frequencies and percentages. Chi‐square test was applied to compare the proportions. The majority of the caregivers were satisfied with the dental service providers (91.9%) for their patients with SCN. The dental care provider’s survey results indicated a shortage of dentists (54.7%) in the region and other factors that pose challenges to special care, like the severity of the disability of patients with SCN (50%), family structure (46.7%), treatment cost (35.6%) and transportation (32.8%). Patients with SCN in Saudi Arabia had a high appraisal of access to dental care and were very satisfied with dental treatment results. However, the presence of a dental care provider in the same rehabilitation centre was a major concern. The severity of the disability and the patient’s cooperation were the major factors that may have affected the decision of the dental care provider.
Relationship Between the Level of Vitamin D3 Deficiency and Successful Osseointegration: A Prospective Clinical Study
Authors: Al-Quisi Ahmed Fadhel , A. Jamil Firas , M. AL-Anee Auday , Jassim Muhsen Salah
Published: September 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of vitamin D3 levels on bone density, primary dental implant stability, and successful osseointegration.

Materials and Methods: Clinical and radiological examination with a standardized cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) machine and laboratory investigation for serum levels of vitamin D3 were performed for all patients. Only patients in need of single or multiple straightforward dental implant surgery in either jaw with no history of systemic disease or condition that may interfere with bone healing were included in this study to receive the dental implant by the same oral and maxillofacial surgeon, which re‐opened 4 months later to assess the osseointegration and to complete the prosthetic part.

Results: One hundred twenty‐eight dental implants were inserted into 108 patients. Most of the patients in the study had insufficient vitamin D3 levels. The prognosis of dental implants regarding successful osseointegration 4 months after implant placement had a weak positive association with the insertion torque and bone mineral density and a statistically significant positive correlation with the serum vitamin D3 level.

Conclusion: Preoperatively, it is advisable to request the serum vitamin D3 level of the patients along with the standard clinical and radiological examination. Severe vitamin D3 deficiency could be associated with early dental implant failure despite the favorable bone density and primary dental implant stability achieved.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: TCTR20200304001.
Enfoque de género y representación femenina en escuelas de medicina en Chile: ¿qué sabemos?
Authors: Rivera Mercado Solange Tatiana , Garrido Meléndez Genesis , Espinosa Veas Pablo , Prado Pizarro Ester , Santis Lobos Josefa , Bernales Silva Margarita
Published: September 2024

Introducción: el género es una determinante social de la salud de las personas.  Integrar en la educación médica una perspectiva de género permite mejorar habilidades clínicas y pesquisar diferencias biopsicosociales, contribuyendo a la equidad en salud. A pesar de la preocupación global por reducir la brecha de género en educación y sociedad, la incorporación del enfoque de género en salud en las escuelas de medicina en Chile es incierta. El objetivo de este estudio es reportar si las representaciones estudiantiles de las escuelas de medicina de Chile perciben la incorporación de las temáticas de género en sus respectivos currículos y comprender estas percepciones considerando como contexto algunos indicadores de equidad de género de sus facultades de medicina y universidades.  Material y método: se trata de un estudio exploratorio realizado el 2023 que encuestó integrantes de la representación estudiantil de todas las escuelas de medicina acreditadas en nuestro país. Resultados: con una tasa de respuesta del 75%, la mayoría del estudiantado identifica alguna intervención educativa relacionada con enfoque de género en salud en su formación. La revisión de los datos públicos arrojó un notorio avance en la presencia de organismos encargados de velar por la equidad de género en las universidades del país. Estos datos se observan en un momento en que el porcentaje de ingreso femenino es mayor que el masculino. Sin embargo, en la estructura organizacional de la unidad académica, la representación femenina disminuye conforme se asciende en cargos de autoridad. Discusión: existen instancias formativas relacionadas al género en las escuelas de medicina de nuestro país, sin embargo, se necesitan más estudios que exploren la percepción de la comunidad académica acerca de este tema e identifiquen oportunidades curriculares para implementar el enfoque de género en salud.