bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibiofilm activities of lactoferricin-related Trp- and Arg-rich antimicrobial hexapeptides against pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains
Authors: Ramamourthy Gopal , Vogel Hans J.
Published: October 2024

Recently, several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), varying in length from 12 to 37 residues, have been shown to act as antibiofilm agents. Here, we report a study of 23 hexapeptides modeled after four different Trp- and Arg-rich AMPs, including the RRWQWR-NH2 peptide, derived from bovine lactoferrin. They were tested against the pathogenic Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain and a Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus MRSA strain. Both strains were engineered to express the green fluorescent protein (GFP) protein, and fluorescence detection was used to measure the ability of the peptides to prevent biofilm formation (minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC)) or to cause the breakdown of established biofilms (minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC)). Similar antibiofilm activities were obtained with the standard crystal violet dye assay. Most Trp- and Arg-rich hexapeptides displayed a potent antibiofilm activity against the Gram-positive S. aureus MRSA strain. In particular, hexapeptides with 3 Arg and 3 Trp were very effective, especially when they contained the three Trp in sequence. Somewhat unexpectedly, the antimicrobial (MIC) values correlated with the MBIC and MBEC values, which has not been seen for several other AMP/antibiofilm peptides. Our results demonstrate that short Trp- and Arg-rich peptides merit further studies as antibiofilm agents that could be deployed to address part of the antimicrobial resistance problem.
The impact of extreme weather events of projected Canadian regional climate model data on flexible pavement
Authors: Maadani Omran , Shafiee Mohammad , Shirkhani Hamidreza , Hiedra Cobo Juan
Published: October 2024

This paper presents findings about the influence of projected data from the Canadian regional climate model on the performance of flexible pavement, building upon the results from previous work where the data were generated and published, in which a general trend of decreasing the design life was observed. Projected temperature is the most important extreme climate impact on flexible roads. Adopting a conservative approach demonstrated that two extreme events of maximum mean annual air temperature and maximum summer average air temperature resulted in significant reduction of 25 years road design life. The observed trend indicates a severity range of 7%–15% in terms of design service life loss when considering events every year compared to every 5 years. The findings revealed a reduction in pavement design life by 34%, 50%, 73%, and 90% for historical, short, intermediate, and long-term life cycles in the city of Windsor, respectively.
Kerr/CFT correspondence for the extremal accelerating Kerr–Taub–NUT black hole
Authors: Siahaan Haryanto M.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we explore the application of Kerr/CFT correspondence to the accelerating Kerr–Taub–NUT spacetime. We demonstrate that the correspondence can be maintained if the near-horizon angular coordinate is appropriately rescaled. This rescaling allows the Cardy formula to accurately reproduce the extremal Bekenstein–Hawking entropy, a departure from the typical direct recovery of extremal Bekenstein–Hawking temperature in Kerr/CFT literature. This discrepancy is attributed to the presence of multiple sources of conic singularity in the spacetime, specifically the acceleration and NUT parameters. To support the Kerr/CFT holography, we investigate the hidden conformal symmetry in the near-horizon region of the extremal black hole geometry. Our findings confirm that the angular coordinate rescaling does not introduce inconsistencies within the Kerr/CFT framework, as evidenced by the preserved hidden conformal symmetry and consistent entropy matching calculations in the near-horizon geometry of the extremal accelerating Kerr–Taub–NUT black hole.
Thin accretion disk around black hole in Einstein–Maxwell-scalar theory
Authors: Wu Yingdong , Feng Haiyuan , Chen Wei-Qiang
Published: October 2024

We examine the accretion process in a thin disk surrounding a supermassive black hole within the framework of Einstein–Maxwell-scalar (EMS) gravity. Our investigation aims to elucidate how variations in model parameters affect different physical properties of the disk. When keeping EMS parameters $$\beta $$
β
and q constant, we observe a reduction in radiation flux and temperature as $$\alpha $$
α
increases. However, the luminosity and radiative efficiency exhibit relatively minor variation. Conversely, under fixed $$\alpha $$
α
and q, an escalation in $$\beta $$
β
leads to heightened levels of radiation flux, temperature, luminosity, and radiative efficiency. These results underscore the diverse influences of model parameters on observable metrics, providing valuable insights for the astronomical study of distinct black holes.
Thermodynamic potential of the Polyakov loop in SU(3) quenched lattice QCD
Authors: Suganuma Hideo , Ohata Hiroki , Kitazawa Masakiyo
Published: October 2024

Using SU(3) lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD), we study for the first time the effective potential of the Polyakov loop [Formula: see text] at finite temperature, i.e. the thermodynamic potential, in the field-theoretical way. In the framework of the reweighting method in lattice QCD, we express the effective potential [Formula: see text] using the expectation value without a source term. In particular, we consider the most difficult and interesting case of vacuum coexistence at the critical temperature [Formula: see text]. We adopt SU(3) quenched lattice QCD on [Formula: see text] at [Formula: see text], which corresponds exactly to the critical temperature [Formula: see text] of the deconfinement phase transition, and use 200,000 Monte Carlo configurations. After categorizing the gauge configurations into one [Formula: see text]-symmetric and three [Formula: see text]-broken vacua each, we perform a vacuum-associated reweighting method, using the gauge configurations around each vacuum separately. Finally, we obtain the Polyakov-loop effective potential, which is well depicted around the [Formula: see text]-symmetric and [Formula: see text]-broken vacua.
Assessment of the experimental support for differential simultaneity
Authors: Kipreos Edward T.
Published: October 2024

The Lorentz transformation describes differential simultaneity, which reflects the offsetting of time with distance between reference frames. Differential simultaneity is essential for Lorentz invariance. Here, the current experimental support for differential simultaneity is assessed. Differential simultaneity can be mathematically removed from the Lorentz transformation to produce an alternate transformation that describes relativistic effects in the absence of differential simultaneity. Differential simultaneity is shown to be required for Lorentz symmetry. The alternate transformation is used as a contrast for the Lorentz transformation to assess whether relativistic experiments provide definitive evidence for differential simultaneity. If the alternate transformation is compatible with an experiment, then the experiment does not provide definitive evidence for differential simultaneity because it can be explained in the absence of differential simultaneity. Here, the alternate transformation is shown to be compatible with the broad array of current relativistic experiments. This implies that current experiments do not provide definitive evidence for differential simultaneity. Thus, an essential aspect of Lorentz symmetry currently lacks definitive experimental support.
Holographic entanglement negativity for disjoint subsystems in AdSd+1/CFTd
Authors: Basak Jaydeep Kumar , Parihar Himanshu , Paul Boudhayan , Sengupta Gautam
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we propose a construction to compute the holographic entanglement negativity (HEN) for bipartite mixed state configurations of two disjoint subsystems in higher-dimensional conformal field theories (CFTds) dual to bulk AdS[Formula: see text] geometries. Our proposal follows from the corresponding AdS3/CFT2 scenario and involves an algebraic sum of the areas of bulk RT surfaces for certain combinations of subsystems. By utilizing our construction, we compute the HEN at the leading order through a perturbative expansion, for such bipartite mixed states of two disjoint subsystems with long rectangular strip geometries in CFTds dual to bulk pure AdS[Formula: see text] geometries and AdS[Formula: see text]-Schwarzschild black holes.
Real and complex multi solitons, soliton molecules, asymmetric solitons and diverse wave solutions to the (2+1)-dimensional Sawada–Kotera–Kadomtsev Petviashvili equation
Authors: Li Shuai , Chen Xu , Wang Kang-Jia
Published: October 2024

This work explores some exact solutions to the (2[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional Sawada–Kotera–Kadomtsev Petviashvili equation (SKKPe) for the fluid mechanic. First, by taking advantage of the Hirota method, the real and complex multi-soliton solutions (MSSs) are derived. Then, the soliton molecules (SMs) are extracted via taking the velocity resonance condition (VRC) to the real MSSs and the asymmetric solitons (ASs) are developed by selecting the appropriate parameters. In the end, the abundant wave solutions are investigated by utilizing the sub-equation method (SEM). The wave structures of the attained solutions are displayed graphically to unveil the nonlinear physical characteristics. The obtained solutions in this work allow us to investigate the nonlinear dynamics of the (2[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional SKKPe better.
A New Contrastive Learning-Based Vision Transformer for Sentiment Analysis Using Scene Text Images
Authors: Palaiahnakote Shivakumara , Kapri Dhruv , Saleem Muhammad Hammad , Pal Umapada
Published: October 2024

Sentiment analysis using scene text images is complex and challenging because it has an arbitrary background, and the method should rely on only visual features. Unlike most existing methods that use either text or images or both, this study uses only scene text images for sentiment analysis. The intuition to use only scene text images is that sometimes users express their feelings and emotions or convey their messages by writing text in different shapes with diverse background designs. It is noted that the existing methods ignore such vital cues for sentiment analysis. This work explores a vision transformer to extract visual features that represent contextual information about the appearance of the text image. Further, to strengthen the visual features, the proposed work introduces contrastive learning which maximizes the gap between inter-classes and minimizes the gap between intra-classes of positive, negative, and neutral. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, it is tested on our own constructed dataset and benchmark dataset. A comparative study of our method with the existing method shows the proposed method is superior in the classification of positive, negative, and neutral scene text images.
Performance Improvement in MIMO-OFDM VLC Systems Through Combined Adaptive Modulation and Coding with Symbol Decomposition
Authors: Zhang Na , He JianQiang , Liu Jiao , Wang YuanYuan
Published: October 2024

In the visible light communication (VLC) system, adaptive symbol decomposition technology is one of the methods to reduce peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and suppress LED nonlinear distortion. However, at high symbol variances, there still exists a high PAPR, leading to a higher number of decomposed symbols, which in turn reduces the information rate and increases the bit error rate (BER) performance. Therefore, a combined approach of adaptive modulation, adaptive symbol decomposition serial transmission (ASDST), and space–time block code and orthogonal cyclic matrix transform (STBC-OCT) coding is proposed. The characteristics of PAPR, symbol decomposition and BER under different approaches through Monte Carlo simulation were analyzed. The simulation results show that when using 4-Quadrate Amplitude Modulation (4QAM) modulation and CCDF=[Formula: see text], the STBC-OCT-ASDST scheme gains a 5[Formula: see text]dB improvement compared to ASDST alone. At a BER of [Formula: see text], STBC-OCT-ASDST achieves a 10[Formula: see text]dBm gain in symbol variance compared to ASDST. Moreover, when the symbol variance of STBC-OCT-ASDST is less than 34[Formula: see text]dBm, the BER remains below the 7% threshold of forward error correction (FEC) error rate.
Analysis of the proton amplitude of scattering on bounded nuclear nucleons based on proton–nucleus scattering data
Authors: Abdul-Magead I. A. M. , Lukyanov V. K. , Zemlyanaya E. V. , Lukyanov K. V.
Published: October 2024

Based on the microscopic model of proton–nucleus optical potential in which the amplitude of scattering of an incident proton on a bound nuclear nucleon is explicitly revealed, the experimental data of the proton elastic and inelastic scattering on [Formula: see text]C, [Formula: see text]Ca, [Formula: see text]Ni and [Formula: see text]Pb target nuclei at the energy range between 200[Formula: see text]MeV and 1000[Formula: see text]MeV are analyzed. Three parameters of the proton amplitude characterizing the scattering of protons on the bound nuclear nucleons are adjusted to the proton–nucleus scattering data and compared to the same parameters in case of proton scattering on free unbound nucleons to estimate “in-medium” effect on the proton–nucleus scattering process.
STAR results on strangeness and electric charge-dependent splitting of rapidity-odd directed flow
Authors: Sheikh Ashik Ikbal
Published: October 2024

Rapidity-odd directed flow ([Formula: see text]) of multi-strange baryons ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) at mid-rapidity is reported for Au+Au collisions as recorded by the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). We focus on particle species where all constituent quarks are produced, such as [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and demonstrate using a novel analysis method that the coalescence sum rule holds in a common kinematic region for hadron combinations with identical quark content. We examine the coalescence sum rule as a function of rapidity for nonidentical quark content having the same quark-level mass but different strangeness ([Formula: see text]) and electric charge ([Formula: see text]). The difference in the directed flow of different quark and anti-quark combinations, e.g., [Formula: see text], is a measure of coalescence sum rule violation, and we call it directed flow splitting ([Formula: see text]). We measure [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] dependence of the [Formula: see text] slope ([Formula: see text]) between produced quarks and anti-quarks in Au+Au collisions at [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]GeV and 200[Formula: see text]GeV. Measurements have been compared with A Multi-Phase Transport (AMPT) and Parton-Hadron String Dynamics (PHSD) models with electromagnetic field calculations.
Study of evaporation residue cross-sections for the 32S+182,184W reactions
Authors: Vinodkumar A. M. , Sanila S. , Babu B. R. S.
Published: October 2024

The experimental evaporation residue cross-sections for the reactions [Formula: see text]W and [Formula: see text]W show large difference in magnitudes, which is unexpected considering that these reactions only differ by two neutrons. To delve into the dynamics of these reactions, thorough coupled-channels calculations and statistical model calculations were conducted. Notably, the experimental capture cross-sections for both reactions were found to be quite similar and were accurately represented by the coupled-channels calculations. However, a significant discrepancy emerged when examining the experimental evaporation residue cross-sections. In the case of the [Formula: see text]W reaction, the evaporation residue cross-sections were reasonably consistent with the predictions of the statistical model calculations. On the contrary, calculations for the [Formula: see text]W reaction not only failed to reproduce the magnitude but also the shape of the observed excitation function. Despite variations in parameters, the statistical model calculations proved inadequate in consistently predicting the evaporation residue cross-sections for the [Formula: see text]W reaction. This suggests a need for further investigation and refinement of theoretical models to better comprehend the intricate dynamics at play in this specific reaction.
Indecomposable injectives over the Jacobson algebra
Authors: Colpi Riccardo , Mantese Francesca , Tonolo Alberto
Published: October 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be any field. In this paper, we give a complete list of the indecomposable left injective module over the Jacobson algebra [Formula: see text], i.e. the free associative [Formula: see text]-algebra on two (non-commuting) generators, modulo the single relation [Formula: see text]. This is the natural continuation of the paper of the second two authors with Gene Abrams on the characterization of the injective envelope of the simple modules over [Formula: see text].
About the Cohen–Macaulay defect and almost Cohen–Macaulay rings
Authors: Ionescu Cristodor
Published: October 2024

We notice the connection between almost Cohen–Macaulay rings and the Cohen–Macaulay defect. We introduce a Serre-type condition for modules that is connected to the Cohen–Macaulay defect in the same way that the condition [Formula: see text] is connected to the Cohen–Macaulay modules.
Pseudocycles for Borel–Moore homology
Authors: Cattalani Spencer , Zinger Aleksey
Published: October 2024

Pseudocycles are geometric representatives for integral homology classes on smooth manifolds that have proved useful in particular for defining gauge-theoretic invariants. The Borel–Moore homology is often a more natural object to work with in the case of non-compact manifolds than the usual homology. We define weaker versions of the standard notions of pseudocycle and pseudocycle equivalence and then describe a natural isomorphism between the set of equivalence classes of these weaker pseudocycles and the Borel–Moore homology. We also include a direct proof of a Poincaré Duality between the singular cohomology of an oriented manifold and its Borel–Moore homology.
Topological entropy and bulging deformation of real projective structures on surface
Authors: Foulon Patrick , Kim Inkang
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we study the deformation of strictly convex real projective structures on a closed surface. Especially, we study the deformation in terms of the entropy on bulging deformations and show that the topological entropy converges to some positive number as the parameter goes to infinity. As a byproduct we construct a sequence of divergent structures whose topological entropy converges to a designated number between 0 and 1. This result is complementary to the ones in [T. Zhang, Degeneration of Hitchin representations along internal sequences, Geom. Funct. Anal. 25 (2015) 1588–1645; X. Nie, Entropy degeneration of convex projective surfaces, Conform. Geom. Dyn. 19 (2015) 318–322] where they used internal parameter and cubic holomorphic differentials as parameters.
Metacyclic actions on surfaces
Authors: Rajeevsarathy Kashyap , Sanghi Apeksha
Published: October 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be the mapping class group of the closed orientable surface [Formula: see text] of genus [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions under which two torsion elements in [Formula: see text] will have conjugates that generate a finite metacyclic subgroup of [Formula: see text]. This yields a complete solution to the problem of liftability of periodic mapping classes under finite cyclic covers. As applications of the main result, we show that [Formula: see text] is a realizable upper bound on the order of a non-split metacyclic action on [Formula: see text] and this bound is realized by the action of a dicyclic group. Moreover, we give a complete characterization of the dicyclic subgroups of [Formula: see text] up to a certain equivalence that we will call weak conjugacy. Furthermore, we show that every periodic mapping class in a non-split metacyclic subgroup of [Formula: see text] is reducible. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions under which a non-split metacyclic action on [Formula: see text] factors via a split metacyclic action. Finally, we provide a complete classification of the weak conjugacy classes of the finite non-split metacyclic subgroups of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
On the Euler number of quasiregularly elliptic manifolds
Authors: Peng Weimin , Gao Yuting
Published: October 2024

A compact [Formula: see text]-dimensional Riemannian manifold [Formula: see text] is a quasiregularly elliptic manifold if it admits a nonconstant quasiregular map [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we show that the Euler number of a compact quasiregularly elliptic manifold with infinite fundamental group is zero. We also discuss Morse–Novikov cohomology groups of quasiregularly elliptic manifolds.
Trusted Service by Enhancing Wi-Fi Service Quality Assessment with User Feedback Integration: A Cloud Theory-Based Approach
Authors: Le Thinh Vinh , Tran Huan Thien , Bouzefrane Samia
Published: October 2024

In the dynamic field of fog computing, there is a clear trend toward exploiting local, resource-rich nodes to bypass traditional cloud infrastructure limitations. This study introduces an innovative method for enhancing the reliability of Wi-Fi systems, crucial in fog computing, by integrating quality-focused user feedback. Our approach significantly enhances the assessment of Wi-Fi system trustworthiness by emphasizing user perspectives. While traditional metrics such as Availability, Performance, and Security Parameters are crucial for defining Quality of Service (QoS), our research also integrates user feedback as a key, albeit secondary, factor in assessing Wi-Fi node trustworthiness. Designed to improve the evaluation process, this method combines system-generated QoS metrics with user feedback to subtly increase trust assessment objectivity. This not only connects technical service quality with user experiences but also strengthens trust and reliability in fog computing. Utilizing sophisticated cloud theory techniques, our model employs both backward and forward cloud generators — the backward generator converts QoS data into qualitative insights, while the forward generator combines these insights with user feedback to thoroughly evaluate Wi-Fi node service quality. The integration of user feedback allows for a more dynamic and responsive system evaluation, addressing the limitations of previous models by providing a comprehensive assessment that aligns technical service quality with user experiences. This enhancement in trust evaluation is achieved by skillfully blending QoS metrics and user feedback to create a more objective trust value.
A New Tensor Summary Statistic for Real-Time Detection of Stealthy Anomaly in Avatar Interaction
Authors: Zeng Jiuzhen , Yang Laurence T. , Wang Chao , Su Junjie , Deng Xianjun
Published: October 2024

Avatar is one of the most intuitive central components in Metaverse and faces serious security problems, particularly during the interaction with each other. In this article, we consider the problem of timely detecting the stealthy anomaly in the avatar interaction, which is crucial for security and privacy in Metaverse. With this goal, a new tensor summary statistic is proposed first to well depict the statistical discrepancy between normal and anomalous interaction volume samples, even when anomalies are stealthy. The proposed tensor summary statistic is established from the tensor linear representation residual, which naturally implies the statistical probability that an interaction volume sample lies within or deviates from the tensor lateral space. Moreover, a convex optimization programme is introduced to robustly recover the tensor lateral space in the presence of anomalous samples, thereby enhancing the robustness of our tensor summary statistic. On the basis of the tensor summary statistic, a non-parametric statistic framework is developed for the real-time detection of the stealthy interaction volume anomaly. We also provide theoretical analysis concerning its detection performance and parameter selection. Extensive experiments using synthetic and real-world datasets verify our effectiveness and superiority. Compared with benchmark methods, the proposed detection scheme achieves significantly lower detection delay and higher false alarm period, particularly in the detection of stealthy anomalies with a low change rate.
Free Speech vs. Free Ride: Navigating the Supreme Court’s Social Media Paradox
Authors: Van Alstyne Marshall
Published: October 2024

Regulating platforms.
An open and interoperable Knowledge Management framework for Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment
Authors: Androna Christina Maria , Mandilara Ioanna , Fotopoulou Eleni , Zafeiropoulos Anastasios , Papavassiliou Symeon , Ziliaskopoulos Konstantinos , Laspidou Chrysi
Published: October 2024

Climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA) is crucial to understand how different regions, communities, and ecosystems are susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Through the identification of vulnerabilities, policymakers can prioritize adaptation efforts, allocate resources effectively, and develop risk mitigation strategies. Social and environmental scientists can design solutions for the development of climate-resilient regions. Nowadays, various approaches have been made available for CCVA, leading to increased knowledge along with the identification of challenges and pitfalls. Participatory approaches are required for the proper selection of vulnerability indicators and the interpretation of the assessment results, accompanied by the development of quality data assessment processes to reduce inconsistencies and uncertainties in the provided data. Openness and interoperability of data and processes have to be promoted to enable the extensibility, reproducibility and comparability of the produced results. In the current work, we develop a framework to enable open and interoperable CCVA, taking advantage of a knowledge management infrastructure and specifically a Knowledge Graph that tracks information for various indicators around the Sustainable Development Goals. We follow an indicator-based vulnerability assessment approach for various temporal and spatial scales, while considering hazard-independent and hazard-dependent analysis. Indicative analysis results are provided in national, regional and local scale.
KeYric: Unsupervised Keywords Extraction and Expansion from Music for Coherent Lyrics Generation
Authors: Ma Xichu , Sharma Varun , Kan Min-Yen , Lee Wee Sun , Wang Ye
Published: October 2024

We address the challenge of enhancing coherence in generated lyrics from symbolic music, particularly for creating singing-based language learning materials. Coherence, defined as the quality of being logical and consistent, forming a unified whole, is crucial for lyrics at multiple levels—word, sentence, and full-text. Additionally, it involves lyrics’ musicality—matching of style and sentiment of the music. To tackle this, we introduce KeYric, a novel system that leverages keyword skeletons to strengthen both coherence and musicality in lyrics generation. KeYric employs an innovative approach with an unsupervised keyword skeleton extractor and a graph-based skeleton expander, designed to produce a style-appropriate keyword skeleton from input music. This framework integrates the skeleton with the input music via a three-layer coherence mechanism, significantly enhancing lyric coherence by 5% in objective evaluations. Subjective assessments confirm that KeYric-generated lyrics are perceived as 19% more coherent and suitable for language learning through singing compared to existing models. Our analyses indicate that integrating genre-relevant elements, such as pitch, into music encoding is crucial, as musical genres significantly affect lyric coherence.
Rolling in Fun, Paying the Price: A Thematic Analysis on Purchase and Play in Tabletop Games
Authors: Tu Joseph , Wang Derrick , Choong Lydia , Abistado Aj , Suarez Ally , Hallifax Stuart , Rogers Katja , Nacke Lennart
Published: October 2024

The tabletop games industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. A deeper exploration of the factors motivating players to invest time and money in these games would help game companies better cater to their target audience and increase profits. We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of 20 semi-structured interviews with tabletop game players. Our analysis revealed five themes concerning purchasing decision influences: (1) childhood past experiences and cultural norms, (2) representation and inclusivity, (3) social connections and shared fun, (4) overcoming gameplay hindrances with digital assistance, and (5) economic constraints. These findings suggest that game companies should focus on presenting easily understandable information, minimizing idle time, and exploring opportunities for inclusivity in digital interactions to effectively engage players and drive sales. Based on our valuable insights into player motivations, we offer actionable recommendations for the tabletop games industry.
Integrating Content Moderation Systems with Large Language Models
Authors: Franco Mirko , Gaggi Ombretta , Palazzi Claudio E.
Published: October 2024

Online Social Networks (OSNs) rely on content moderation systems to ensure platform and user safety by preventing malicious activities, like the spread of harmful content. However, there is a growing consensus suggesting that such systems are unfair to historically marginalized individuals, fragile users, and minorities. Additionally, OSN policies are often hardcoded in AI-based violation classifiers, making personalized content moderation challenging. In addition, there is a need for more communication between users and platform administrators, especially in case of disagreement about a moderation decision. To address these issues, we propose integrating content moderation systems with Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance support for personal content moderation and improve user-platform communication. We also evaluate the content moderation capabilities of GPT 3.5 and LLaMa 2, comparing them to commercial products, as well as discuss the limitations of our approach and the open research directions.
Overview of Multimodal Machine Learning
Authors: Al-Zoghby Aya M. , Al-Awadly Esraa Mohamed K. , Ebada Ahmed Ismail , Awad Wael A.
Published: October 2024

Human nature is fundamentally driven by the need for interaction and attention, which are fulfilled through various sensory modalities, including hearing, sight, touch, taste, and smell. These senses enable us to perceive, understand, and engage with the world around us. The quality and depth of our interactions change considerably when we use multiple senses simultaneously, highlighting the importance of multimodal interactions in our daily lives. In the realm of technology, multimodal integration offers immense value, as it aims to create systems that can replicate or complement these natural human abilities for enhanced interaction.

This article explores the significance of spatial multimodalities in machine learning, highlighting their role in improving model performance in applications such as autonomous driving, healthcare, and virtual assistants. It addresses challenges like the complexity of fusing diverse sensory data types and proposes solutions such as advanced data fusion techniques, adaptive learning algorithms, and transformer architectures. The goal is to provide an overview of state-of-the-art research and future directions for advancing human–computer interaction.
Maternal malnutrition in mice impairs nephrogenesis by disrupting DNA methylation of regulatory regions
Authors: Makayes Yaniv , Abergel Eden , Amleh Athar , Varshavsky Dan Binyamin , Fok Rimma , Azria Batia , Ansari Ihab , Bergman Yehudit , Nechama Morris , Volovelsky Oded
Published: October 2024

Our study establishes a direct link between maternal caloric restriction, DNA methylation patterns in nephron progenitor cells, and kidney development. We reveal consistent alterations in methylation patterns, coupled with corresponding shifts in the expression of genes related to kidney development and cell proliferation. Methionine supplementation emerges as a promising intervention, effectively restoring disrupted DNA methylation patterns. These findings pave the way for potential therapeutics, optimizing kidney development and mitigating the burden of chronic kidney disease in adulthood.
Breathlessness, but not breathing instability, varies with posttraumatic stress symptoms in university students
Authors: Tjondrorahardja Eugenia Janice , Poon Teng Teng Sophia , Avraam Joanne , Schenker Maya , Felmingham Kim L. , Jordan Amy S.
Published: October 2024

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is more common in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general population for unknown reasons. This study assessed one of the key contributors to OSA, respiratory control instability, in young students with a range of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Although individuals with high PTSD symptoms reported increased subjective breathlessness, objectively measured breathing instability was not altered, suggesting respiratory instability is unlikely to increase the risk of OSA in PTSD.
Exercise cardiovascular magnetic resonance shows improved diastolic filling by atrioventricular area difference in athletes and controls
Authors: Edlund Jonathan , Östenson Björn , Heiberg Einar , Arheden Håkan , Steding-Ehrenborg Katarina
Published: October 2024

This study is the first to assess hydraulic force during exercise, a novel mechanism shown to augment diastolic filling at rest. Our results indicate hydraulic force to further aid in diastolic filling during moderate exercise compared with rest in athletes and sedentary controls, providing new insights into the mechanism by which the left ventricle increases diastolic function during exercise.
Intravenous bolus injection of fentanyl triggers an immediate central and upper airway obstructive apnea via activating vagal sensory afferents
Authors: Zhuang Jianguo , Gao Xiuping , Shi Shan , Xu Fadi
Published: October 2024

Intravenous bolus injection of fentanyl triggers an immediate apnea, but the nature of apnea and relevant mechanisms remain unknown. Results in this study reveal that this fentanyl injection concurrently triggers an immediate central and upper airway obstructive apnea associated with chest wall rigidity via activating vagal sensory C-fibers.
Exploring Trends: Five‐Year Analysis of Suicide Rates in Nepal
Authors: Bhandari Ganesh , Nath Laxman , Bhatt Prakash Raj , Mishra Rima , Bhatt Ashish
Published: October 2024

Background: Suicide is a global, preventable public health issue, with nearly more than 700,000 people dying by suicide annually. The majority of suicides occur in developing countries, including Nepal. This study is aimed at examining the trends and patterns of suicide in Nepal over the past 5 years in the federal context.

Methods: Using the Nepal Police suicide database, we analyzed data from 2019 to 2023 based on age, gender, methods of suicide, and provincial distribution. Trends in suicide rates over the past 5 years were examined, with graphs and tables created to represent the observed trends and patterns visually. Excel was used to support the data analysis.

Results: Overall, the suicide rate was found to be higher among males (59.1%). However, the suicide rate varied by gender and age group, with females having a higher suicide rate below 18 years of age, while males had a higher suicide rate above 18 years of age. Hanging has consistently been the preferred method of suicide over the past 5 years. The national suicide rate showed an increasing trend. Similarly, an increasing trend in suicide was observed in all seven provinces of Nepal, with Koshi, Madhesh, and Gandaki provinces showing significant growth over the past 5 years.

Conclusion: The increasing trend in suicide rates at both the national and provincial levels highlight the necessity to prioritize this issue and it is imperative for all levels of government to formulate targeted policies, programs, and strategies to prevent suicide.
Mitochondrial Quality Control Orchestrates the Symphony of B Cells and Plays Critical Roles in B Cell‐Related Diseases
Authors: Li Wuhao , Cai Peiyang , Xu Ye , Tian Weihong , Jing Licong , Lv Qiaoyi , Zhao Yangjing , Wang Hui , Shao Qixiang
Published: October 2024

B cells are essential for humoral immune response due to their ability to secrete antibodies. The development of B cells from the bone marrow to the periphery is tightly regulated by a complex set of immune signals, and each subset of B cells has a unique metabolic profile. Mitochondria, which serve as cellular energy powerhouses, play an essential role in regulating cell survival and immune responses. To maintain metabolic homeostasis, mitochondria dynamically adjust their morphology, distribution, and mass via biogenesis, fusion and fission, translocation, and mitophagy. Despite its extreme importance, the role of mitochondrial quality control (MQC) in B cells has not been thoroughly summarized, unlike in T cells. This article aims to review the mechanism of MQC that shapes B cell fate and functions. In addition, we will discuss the physiological and pathological implications of MQC in B cells, providing new insights into potential therapeutic targets for diseases associated with B cell abnormalities.
Modified Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection—An Alternative Modality for the Treatment of Sporadic Duodenal Papillary Adenomas
Authors: Han Zelong , Li Qingyuan , Chua Chanelle Yeh , Wang Zhenjiang , Zhong Jun , Huang Ying , Huang Shaohui , Li Aimin , Liu Side , Luo Xiaobei
Published: October 2024

Background and Aim: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is commonly employed in the treatment of epithelial gastrointestinal tumors, but few studies have explored ESD for treatment of duodenal papillary adenomas (PAs). In this study, we aim to evaluate the feasibility of a modified ESD method as an alternative modality in the resection of PAs.

Methods: We evaluated potential advantages of modified ESD for resection of sporadic duodenal PAs through retrospective analysis of 10 PAs resected via ESD compared to paired lesions undergoing endoscopic papillectomy (EP).

Results: All lesions undergoing ESD were resected en bloc with negative margins, compared to 60% of lesions undergoing EP. Within the experimental group, there was one case each of melena and pancreatitis compared to four bleeds and one case of pancreatitis in the control group. No recurrence was detected within the ESD group after a mean follow‐up time of 11.2 months compared to three recurrences within a mean follow‐up time of 27.7 months.

Conclusions: From our preliminary experience, ESD is a promising alternative in the treatment of superficial duodenal PAs; however, further investigation is needed.
Approximate Time‐Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Tavan Saber , Rad Mohammad Jahangiri , Shamloo Ali Salimi , Mahmoudi Yaghoub
Published: October 2024

This study introduces an indirect approach to find the solutions of the fractional Bessel differential equation using fractional Bernoulli functions and Caputo’s fractional derivative. This method transforms the problem into a nonlinear system of algebraic equations. The existence and uniqueness of the solution for the problem are proved. Moreover, operational matrices for fractional derivatives and time‐fractional integration are constructed. These operational matrices, together with the least square approximation technique, are used to reduce the problem to a nonlinear system of algebraic equations. Newton’s iterative method is applied to solve the nonlinear algebraic equations. The convergence analysis and the error estimate of the proposed method are also provided. This study demonstrates the effectiveness and the significance of the proposed method for obtaining approximate fractional solutions and for researchers in related fields or specific areas. Four examples are given to illustrate the accuracy and the performance of the proposed method.
Development and Evaluation of an Orodispersible Tablet Formation for the Delivery of a Hydrophobic Drug
Authors: Haddad Razan , Gardouh Ahmed R.
Published: October 2024

Orodispersible tablet (ODT) is a promising avenue for drug delivery, offering a dosage form that can be disintegrated instantaneously in the mouth and released the drug that dissolves or disperses in the saliva without the addition of water. ODT can effectively boost the dissolution rate and consequently the bioavailability of several hydrophobic drugs. Additionally, ODT is very attractive and suitable for specific patients who are unable to swallow the traditional tablet. The basic approach in the fabrication of oral tablets for hydrophobic drugs relies on the utilization of superdisintegrants which allow prompt disintegration of tablets after swallowing. In the present investigation, escitalopram oxalate was chosen as a model drug, which is a hydrophobic, antidepressant, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drug. Nine formulas of escitalopram oxalate ODTs were prepared by varying the concentrations of three different superdisintegrants: sodium starch glycolate, croscarmellose sodium, and crospovidone to improve the dissolution and release of escitalopram oxalate. Each was used in three different concentrations (2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%), and all the ODTs were prepared by the direct compression method. The micrometric characterization of the powder blend used in the formulations was investigated such as angle of repose, bulk and tapped densities, compressibility percent (Carr’s index), and Hausner ratio. Furthermore, the prepared ODTs were characterized in terms of weight variation, thickness, diameter, hardness, friability, in vitro disintegration, wetting time, water absorption ratio, drug content, in vitro dissolution, and accelerated stability study. The results showed that the formula (ODT9) that contained 7.5% of the superdisintegrant sodium starch glycolate had superior characteristics in almost all the tests, with a dissolution rate of 100% after 6 minutes. Also, it was stable under the accelerated stability conditions.
Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis Mimicking Temporal Arteritis
Authors: Dehghan Ali , Meybodi Mahya Sadat Emami , Fooladmotlagh Shokoofeh , Zaremehrjardi Mohsen , Soltani Hamidreza
Published: October 2024

This case represents the first diagnosis of pachymeningitis due to granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in an elderly Iranian man who initially presented with persistent daily headaches. PCR tests of cerebrospinal fluid for tuberculosis, brucellosis, and fungal infections all yielded negative results. Given the pachymeningitis pattern observed on brain MRI and the absence of infectious and lymphoma diseases, along with positive anti‐PR3 and proteinuria (793 mg in a 24‐h urine sample), a diagnosis of GPA was established. The patient was treated with five doses of pulse methylprednisolone and one dose of pulse cyclophosphamide (1 g). Additionally, prednisolone 60 mg daily, monthly pulse cyclophosphamide, a daily calcium‐D tablet, and alendronate 70 mg weekly were prescribed. Subsequently, the patient’s headaches, hearing loss, and vision loss were completely resolved. GPA should be considered in older individuals with persistent daily headaches, especially when pachymeningitis is evident. The use of contrast‐enhanced brain MRI is an essential diagnostic tool in such cases.
Identifying Measures for Understanding and Addressing County-Level Disparities in Adolescent HPV Vaccination Coverage in North Carolina
Authors: Grabert Brigid K. , McKeithen Mary Catharine , Trogdon Justin G. , Spees Lisa P. , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Myers Jenny K. , Spencer Jennifer C. , Gilkey Melissa B.
Published: October 2024

Background:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage is characterized by geographic disparities in the United States, with national studies finding lower coverage in rural versus nonrural areas. To direct quality improvement efforts in North Carolina, we sought to understand how different rurality measures characterize these disparities.

Methods:

We used separate negative binomial regression models to test associations between five dichotomized county-level rurality measures and HPV vaccination coverage (≥1 dose) among North Carolina adolescents, aged 11 to 12 years (n = 326,345). Rurality measures were derived from: Office of Management and Budget’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Rural–Urban Continuum Codes, Index of Relative Rurality, US Census Bureau classifications, and North Carolina Rural Center classifications. Models controlled for Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) percentile and rate of pediatricians per county. Vaccination data came from the North Carolina Immunization Registry.

Results:

HPV vaccination coverage was 29% across North Carolina’s 100 counties (range: 13%, 46%). Agreement between rurality measures ranged from 54% to 93% of counties. In adjusted analyses, none of the five rurality measures were correlated with HPV vaccination coverage, but higher SVI and higher rate of pediatricians were positively associated with coverage (P < 0.01). Exploratory moderation analyses suggested regional variation in the relationship between rurality and coverage, with a positive association in one region, a negative association in one region, and no association in four regions.

Conclusions:

County-level rurality measures did not identify disparities in HPV vaccination coverage in North Carolina.

Impact:

Measures related to social vulnerability and access to pediatricians may be better suited for understanding and addressing the state’s substantial county-level vaccination disparities.