bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of geographical parameters on PM10 pollution in European landscapes: a machine learning algorithm-based analysis
Authors: Sohrab Seyedehmehrmanzar , Csikós Nándor , Szilassi Péter
Published: August 2024

Background

PM10, comprising particles with diameters of 10 µm or less, has been identified as a significant environmental pollutant associated with adverse health outcomes in European cities. Understanding the temporal variation of the relationship between PM10 and geographical parameters is crucial for sustainable land use planning and air quality management in European landscapes. This study utilizes Conditional Inference Forest modeling and partial correlation to examine the impact of geographical factors on monthly average concentrations of PM10 in European suburban and urban landscapes during heating and cooling periods. The investigation focuses on two buffer zones (1000 m and 3000 m circle radiuses) surrounding 1216 European air quality monitoring stations.

Results

Results reveal importance and significant correlations between various geographical variables (soil texture, land use, transportation network, and meteorological) and PM10 quality on a continental scale. In suburban landscapes, soil texture, temperature, roads, and rail density play pivotal roles, while meteorological variables, particularly monthly average temperature and wind speed, dominate in urban landscapes. Urban sites exhibit higher R-squared values during both cooling (0.41) and heating periods (0.61) compared to suburban sites (cooling period R-squared: 0.39; heating period: R-squared: 0.51), indicating better predictive performance likely attributed to the less heterogeneous land use patterns surrounding urban PM10 monitoring sites.

Conclusion

The study underscores the importance of investigating spatial and temporal dynamics of geographical factors for accurate PM10 air quality prediction models in European urban and suburban landscapes. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and environmental scientists, guiding efforts toward sustainable and healthier urban environments.
The effect of single versus multiple piezocisions on the rate of canine retraction: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Eid Farah Y. , El-Kalza Ahmed R.
Published: August 2024

Background

Piezocision is a minimally invasive surgical method aiming to accelerate tooth movement. However, its effect was found to be transient, appertaining to the regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP). Hence, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of single and multiple piezocisions on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Moreover, the impact of both protocols on canine tipping and orthodontically induced inflammatory root resorption (OIIRR) has been assessed.

Methods

Thirty indicated patients for the therapeutic extraction of maxillary first premolars were enlisted in this split-mouth study, and they were randomly split into two equal groups, each including 15 subjects. In the Single Application Group (SAG), one side of the maxillary arch arbitrarily received a single piezocision before the onset of canine retraction, whereas in the Multiple Application Group (MAG), piezocisions were randomly performed on one side, three times on a monthly basis, over the 12-week study period. The contralateral sides of both groups served as the controls. Canine retraction was carried out bilaterally using nickel-titanium closed-coil springs, delivering 150 g of force, and the rate of tooth movement, as well as canine tipping were evaluated on a monthly basis, over a 3-month period. Cone-bean computed tomography scans were also conducted pre- and post- canine retraction, and OIIRR was assessed using Malmgren Index.

Results

The reported outcomes revealed a significant increase in the amount of canine retraction, canine tipping, as well as root resorption scores on the experimental sides in both groups SAG and MAG post-retraction (p < 0.001). However, upon comparing the experimental sides in both groups, non-significant differences have been observed between them regarding all the assessed outcomes (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Single and multiple piezocisions effectively accelerate OTM in comparison to conventional orthodontic treatment, with relative outcomes reported by both intervention frequencies. Accordingly, single piezocision is recommended as an adjunct to OTM. Furthermore, significant tooth tipping as well as a significantly higher root resorption risk accompanies both single and multiple piezocision applications in conjunction with OTM.

Name of the Registry

Clinicaltrials.gov

Trial Registration Number

NCT05782088

Date of Registration

23/03/2023 “Retrospectively registered”.

URL

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05782088
A qualitative exploration of harm reduction in practice by street-based peer outreach workers
Authors: Owczarzak Jill , Martin Emily , Weicker Noelle , Evans Imogen , Morris Miles , Sherman Susan G.
Published: August 2024

Background

Despite the widespread use of the phrase “harm reduction” and the proliferation of programs based on its principles during the current opioid epidemic, what it means in practice is not universally agreed upon. Harm reduction strategies have expanded from syringe and needle exchange programs that emerged in the mid-1980s primarily in response to the HIV epidemic, to include medication for opioid use disorder, supervised consumption rooms, naloxone distribution, and drug checking technologies such as fentanyl test strips. Harm reduction can often be in tension with abstinence and recovery models to address substance use, and people who use drugs may also hold competing views of what harm reduction means in practice. Street-based outreach workers are increasingly incorporated into harm reduction programs as part of efforts to engage with people more fully in various stages of drug use and nonuse.

Method

This paper explores how peer outreach workers, called “members,” in a street-based naloxone distribution program define and practice harm reduction. We interviewed 15 members of a street-based harm reduction organization in an urban center characterized by an enduring opioid epidemic. Inductive data analysis explored harm reduction as both a set of principles and a set of practices to understand how frontline providers define and enact them.

Results

Analysis revealed that when members talked about their work, they often conceptualized harm reduction as a collection of ways members and others can “save lives” and support people who use drugs. They also framed harm reduction as part of a “path toward recovery.” This path was complicated and nonlinear but pursued a common goal of life without drug use and its residual effects. These findings suggest the need to develop harm reduction programs that incorporate both harm reduction and recovery to best meet the needs of people who use drugs and align with the value systems of implementers.
Co-delivery of camptothecin and MiR-145 by lipid nanoparticles for MRI-visible targeted therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Rong Jing , Liu Tongtong , Yin Xiujuan , Shao Min , Zhu Kun , Li Bin , Wang Shiqi , Zhu Yujie , Zhang Saisai , Yin Likang , Liu Qi , Wang Xiao , Zhang Lei
Published: August 2024

Background

Camptothecin (CPT) is one of the frequently used small chemotherapy drugs for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its clinical application is limited due to severe toxicities and acquired resistance. Combined chemo-gene therapy has been reported to be an effective strategy for counteracting drug resistance while sensitizing cancer cells to cytotoxic agents. Thus, we hypothesized that combining CPT with miR-145 could synergistically suppress tumor proliferation and enhance anti-tumor activity.

Methods

Lactobionic acid (LA) modified lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) were developed to co-deliver CPT and miR-145 into asialoglycoprotein receptors-expressing HCC in vitro and in vivo. We evaluated the synergetic antitumor effect of miR-145 and CPT using CCK8, Western blotting, apoptosis and wound scratch assay in vitro, and the mechanisms underlying the synergetic antitumor effects were further investigated. Tumor inhibitory efficacy, safety evaluation and MRI-visible ability were assessed using diethylnitrosamine (DEN) + CCl4-induced HCC mouse model.

Results

The LA modification improved the targeting delivery of cargos to HCC cells and tissues. The LA-CMGL-mediated co-delivery of miR-145 and CPT is more effective on tumor inhibitory than LA-CPT-L or LA-miR-145-L treatment alone, both in vitro and in vivo, with almost no side effects during the treatment period. Mechanistically, miR-145 likely induces apoptosis by targeting SUMO-specific peptidase 1 (SENP1)-mediated hexokinase (HK2) SUMOylation and glycolysis pathways and, in turn, sensitizing the cancer cells to CPT. In vitro and in vivo tests confirmed that the loaded Gd-DOTA served as an effective T1-weighted contrast agent for noninvasive tumor detection as well as real-time monitoring of drug delivery and biodistribution.

Conclusions

The LA-CMGL-mediated co-delivery of miR-145 and CPT displays a synergistic therapy against HCC. The novel MRI-visible, actively targeted chemo-gene co-delivery system for HCC therapy provides a scientific basis and a useful idea for the development of HCC treatment strategies in the future.
Policy brief Belgian EBCP mirror group ‘prevention’ and ‘early detection & screening’ in cancer
Authors: Simoens Cindy , Schittecatte Gabrielle ,   Belgian EBCP mirror group ‘Prevention and Early detection & Screening’
Published: August 2024

The availability and linkage of comprehensive data on cancer mortality, incidence, screening and vaccination (HPV/HB) are essential for monitoring the process and impact of all screening and vaccination programmes, and to generate evidence to improve prevention policies. Linkage of data registries will allow better exploitation of real-world data. Simplification of data sharing for epidemiological research is of utmost importance. Human, as well as technical/technological and legal/regulatory barriers need to be tackled in Belgium to aid actors involved in screening, to facilitate organised linkage of data. Rapid advances in technologies for early detection and screening for a broad range of cancer types provide significant opportunities. Such tests are not yet ready for adoption in screening programmes. Emerging evidence should be monitored to ensure that promising innovations can transition to implementation studies in a timely manner. More and sustained research is needed to generate the necessary scientific relevance for new screening techniques in relevant cancer types.
Prevalence of alcohol use disorders documented in electronic health records in primary care across intersections of race or ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status
Authors: Ellis Robert L. , Hallgren Kevin A. , Williams Emily C. , Glass Joseph E. , Rhew Isaac C. , Oliver Malia , Bradley Katharine A.
Published: August 2024

Background

Diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in primary care is critical for increasing access to alcohol treatment. However, AUD is underdiagnosed and may be inequitably diagnosed due to societal structures that determine access to resources (e.g., structural racism that limits opportunities for some groups and influences interpersonal interactions in and beyond health care). This study described patterns of provider-documented AUD in primary care across intersections of race, ethnicity, sex, and community-level socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods

This cross-sectional study used EHR data from a regional healthcare system with 35 primary care clinics that included adult patients who completed alcohol screenings between 3/1/2015 and 9/30/2020. The prevalence of provider-documented AUD in primary care based on International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) and ICD-10 diagnoses was compared across intersections of race, ethnicity, sex, and community-level SES.

Results

Among 439,375 patients, 6.6% were Latine, 11.0% Asian, 5.4% Black, 1.3% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NH/PI), 1.5% American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), and 74.2% White, and 58.3% women. The overall prevalence of provider-documented AUD was 1.0% and varied across intersecting identities. Among women, the prevalence was highest for AI/AN women with middle SES, 1.5% (95% CI 1.0–2.3), and lowest for Asian women with middle SES, 0.1% (95% CI 0.1–0.2). Among men, the prevalence was highest for AI/AN men with high and middle SES, 2.0% (95% CI 1.1–3.4) and 2.0% (95% CI 1.2–3.2), respectively, and lowest for Asian men with high SES, 0.5% (95% CI 0.3–0.7). Black and Latine patients tended to have a lower prevalence of AUD than White patients, across all intersections of sex and SES except for Black women with high SES. There were no consistent patterns of the prevalence of AUD diagnosis that emerged across SES.

Conclusion

The prevalence of provider-documented AUD in primary care was highest in AI/AN men and women and lowest in Asian men and women. Findings of lower prevalence of provider-documented AUD in Black and Hispanic than White patients across most intersections of sex and SES differed from prior studies. Findings may suggest that differences in access to resources, which vary in effects across these identity characteristics and lived experiences, influence the diagnosis of AUD in clinical care.
Artificial intelligence-driven mobile interpretation of a semi-quantitative cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay
Authors: Bermejo-Peláez David , Alastruey-Izquierdo Ana , Medina Narda , Capellán-Martín Daniel , Bonilla Oscar , Luengo-Oroz Miguel , Rodríguez-Tudela Juan Luis
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Cryptococcosis remains a severe global health concern, underscoring the urgent need for rapid and reliable diagnostic solutions. Point-of-care tests (POCTs), such as the cryptococcal antigen semi-quantitative (CrAgSQ) lateral flow assay (LFA), offer promise in addressing this challenge. However, their subjective interpretation poses a limitation. Our objectives encompass the development and validation of a digital platform based on Artificial Intelligence (AI), assessing its semi-quantitative LFA interpretation performance, and exploring its potential to quantify CrAg concentrations directly from LFA images.

Methods

We tested 53 cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) concentrations spanning from 0 to 5000 ng/ml. A total of 318 CrAgSQ LFAs were inoculated and systematically photographed twice, employing two distinct smartphones, resulting in a dataset of 1272 images. We developed an AI algorithm designed for the automated interpretation of CrAgSQ LFAs. Concurrently, we explored the relationship between quantified test line intensities and CrAg concentrations.

Results

Our algorithm surpasses visual reading in sensitivity, and shows fewer discrepancies (p < 0.0001). The system exhibited capability of predicting CrAg concentrations exclusively based on a photograph of the LFA (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.85).

Conclusions

This technology's adaptability for various LFAs suggests broader applications. AI-driven interpretations have transformative potential, revolutionizing cryptococcosis diagnosis, offering standardized, reliable, and efficient POCT results.
The politics of heritage in a river-city: imperial, hyper-colonial, and globalising Tianjin
Authors: Marinelli Maurizio
Published: August 2024

The intent of this article is to analyse the interconnectedness between urban transformation and eco-heritage value over time in Tianjin from a river-city perspective. The focus is on the Hai River’s (海河) contribution to the mechanisms of space and power in imperial, hyper-colonial, and globalising Tianjin. After an analytical excursus of the Haihe’s historical-political-economic roles, attention is given to the Haihe as the fulcrum of Tianjin's creation as a spectacle city in present times. The objectives are to elucidate the Tianjin Municipal Government-led urban ‘beautification’ strategy and analyse the aims and objectives of the 2002 ‘Comprehensive Reconstruction and Redevelopment Plan of the Haihe’s Riversides’ while also considering the actual experience of this transformation. The premise of this article is that the Haihe River has helped determine Tianjin’s politics of design via heritagisation: the historical processes through which cultural heritage is adapted to strategically promote favourable imagery of the river-city for political management purposes.
The application of GATEM in tunnel geologic risk survey based on complex terrain
Authors: Cheng Wangsheng , Sun Naiquan , Qi Zhipeng , Cao Huake , Li Xiu
Published: August 2024

Geologic risk assessment and prediction are vital processes preceding the design and construction of tunnels, offering crucial insights for ensuring the safe and efficient execution of tunnel projects. The geologic challenges posed by water inrush and mud bursts in tunnel engineering are often associated with low-resistance karst fracture zones and karst fissures controlled by structural and stratigraphic trends, providing a robust geophysical foundation for the application of electromagnetic methods. In recent years, the rise of numerous deep, lengthy, and challenging tunnel projects in mountainous regions with intricate terrains has significantly heightened the complexity of tunnel exploration. Traditional geophysical detection methods and geologic survey techniques are constrained by site limitations and complex terrains, falling short in effectively detecting geologic disasters within operational tunnels. The flexibility and convenience of the ground-airborne transient electromagnetic method (GATEM) make it particularly suitable for operations in complex terrain areas. Taking the application of GATEM in the Daji Tunnel in Guangxi, China as an example, a background investigation of the topography and lithology of the tunnel area was conducted. A series of data preprocessing, full-field apparent resistivity definition, terrain correction, depth definition, and terrain offset processes were applied to the GATEM field data to obtain the electrical distribution in the tunnel area. By analyzing the electrical variations on the elevation surface above and below the tunnel, we inferred the potential water inflow paths, and the karst positions above the tunnel were mapped. Also, suggestions are made for the complex situations that may occur during the tunnel construction process. Ultimately, the findings are highly congruent with the actual excavation outcomes of the construction unit, which ensured the safe and efficient construction of the tunnel. Thus, the reliability and superiority of the GATEM in the geologic risk investigation of complex terrain tunnel engineering are validated.
The Banality of Good
Authors: Faier Lieba
Published: August 2024

In The Banality of Good, Lieba Faier examines why contemporary efforts to curb human trafficking have fallen so spectacularly short of their stated goals despite well-funded campaigns by the United Nations and its member-state governments. Focusing on Japan’s efforts to enact the UN’s counter-trafficking protocol and assist Filipina migrants working in Japan’s sex industry, Faier draws from interviews with NGO caseworkers and government officials to demonstrate how these efforts disregard the needs and perspectives of those they are designed to help. She finds that these campaigns tend to privilege bureaucracies and institutional compliance, resulting in the compromised quality of life, repatriation, and even criminalization of human trafficking survivors. Faier expands on Hannah Arendt’s idea of the “banality of evil” by coining the titular “banality of good” to describe the reality of the UN’s fight against human trafficking. Detailing the protocols that have been put in place and evaluating their enactment, Faier reveals how the continued failure of humanitarian institutions to address structural inequities and colonial history ultimately reinforces the violent status quo they claim to be working to change.
Soldier’s Paradise
Authors: Daly Samuel Fury Childs
Published: August 2024

In Soldier’s Paradise, Samuel Fury Childs Daly tells the story of how Africa’s military dictators tried and failed to transform their societies into martial utopias. Across the continent, independence was followed by a wave of military coups and revolutions. The soldiers who led them had a vision. In Nigeria and other former British colonies, officers governed like they fought battles—to them, politics was war by other means. Civilians were subjected to military-style discipline, which was indistinguishable from tyranny. Soldiers promised law and order, and they saw judges as allies in their mission to make society more like an army. But law was not the disciplinary tool soldiers thought it was. Using legal records, archival documents, and memoirs, Daly shows how law both enabled militarism and worked against it. For Daly, the law is a place to see decolonization’s tensions and ironies—independence did not always mean liberty, and freedom had a militaristic streak. In a moment when militarism is again on the rise in Africa, Daly describes not just where it came from but why it lasted so long.
Negative equity – the value of reporting negative results
Authors: Sansom Owen , Bogani Debora , Reichenbach Linus , Wells Sara
Published: August 2024

A pervasive discussion point within the scientific community is the value of unpublished or unavailable data. Researchers, funders, ethical review bodies, editors and publishers have all highlighted the need to make more data available to enhance experimental planning and interpretation and to prevent others from repeating similar experiments. This is particularly important in the context of experimentation involving animals and efforts towards replacement, refinement and reduction. However, despite this broad agreement, sharing data that show inconclusive, statistically insignificant or unremarkable results is still not common practice. In this Editorial, we will highlight the value of what are often coined negative (or null) data and outline some emerging initiatives to address the gap between data generated in laboratories and data available to the wider scientific community.
Σχεδίαση και υλοποίηση προηγμένων αλγορίθμων μηχανικής μάθησης για την ανάλυση και πρόγνωση χρονοσειρών
Authors: Λιναρδάτος Παντελής
Published: August 2024

Η διατριβή αυτή επικεντρώνεται στην εφαρμογή και ανάπτυξη προηγμένων αλγορίθμων Μηχανικής Μάθησης για την ανάλυση και πρόβλεψη χρονοσειρών, με εφαρμογές σε διάφορους τομείς όπως οι έξυπνες πόλεις, η δημόσια υγεία και η χρηματοοικονομική τεχνολογία. Οι κύριοι στόχοι της διατριβής είναι η εφαρμογή υπαρχόντων τεχνικών Μηχανικής Μάθησης σε νέα σύνολα δεδομένων χρονοσειρών και η ανάπτυξη καινοτόμων αλγορίθμων για την βελτίωση της ανάλυσης και πρόβλεψης αυτών των δεδομένων. Αρχίζει με μια εμπεριστατωμένη επισκόπηση των τεχνικών Βαθιάς Μηχανικής Μάθησης σε πολυμεταβλητές χρονοσειρές, εξερευνώντας εφαρμογές για έξυπνες πόλεις. Σ' αυτή τη μελέτη, κλείνεται ένα κενό στη βιβλιογραφία παρέχοντας μια σαφή εικόνα των ευκαιριών και των προκλήσεων που συναντώνται στην εφαρμογή αυτών των μεθόδων. Η ανάλυση και πρόβλεψη της πανδημίας COVID-19 μέσω πολυμεταβλητών χρονοσειρών αποτελεί την επόμενη εστίαση. Μέσα από τη σύγκριση Παραδοσιακών Στατιστικών μεθόδων και προηγμένων μοντέλων Μηχανικής Μάθησης, η διατριβή προσφέρει μια βαθύτερη κατανόηση της δυνατότητας των αλγορίθμων στη διαχείριση των δεδομένων της υγείας. Στον τομέα της χρηματοοικονομικής τεχνολογίας, η διατριβή εξετάζει την πρόβλεψη της τιμής του Bitcoin με την ενσωμάτωση ανάλυσης συναισθημάτων από tweets, παρουσιάζοντας τις δυνατότητες της Βαθιάς Μηχανικής Μάθησης στην ανάλυση σύνθετων και νέων πηγών δεδομένων. Η διατριβή εστιάζει επιπλέον στην εφαρμογή της τεχνικής της Αλληλουχίας (Cascade) για την επεξεργασία δεδομένων χρονοσειρών με πολλαπλές μεταβλητές. Αυτή η προσέγγιση αποδεικνύεται ιδιαίτερα αποτελεσματική στη βελτίωση της ακρίβειας των προβλέψεων, συνδυάζοντας διάφορες μεθόδους Μηχανικής Μάθησης για να επιτύχει την καλύτερη δυνατή απόδοση. Τέλος, η ανάπτυξη ενός Υβριδικού αλγορίθμου που συνδυάζει τη στατιστική μέθοδο ARIMA με τον προηγμένο αλγόριθμο Βαθιάς Μηχανικής Μάθησης Temporal Fusion Transformer αποδεικνύει την αξία της καινοτομίας στην ανάλυση περιβαλλοντικών δεδομένων και ενισχύει την εφαρμογή των τεχνικών Μηχανικής Μάθησης. Η διατριβή αυτή παρουσιάζει μια συνολική προσπάθεια για τη βελτίωση της ικανότητας της Μηχανικής Μάθησης ν' αντιμετωπίζει πολύπλοκες και διαφορετικού τύπου χρονοσειρές, αξιοποιώντας υφιστάμενες τεχνικές και αναπτύσσοντας καινοτόμες λύσεις. Με την ενσωμάτωση προηγμένων μεθόδων ανάλυσης και τη δημιουργία νέων προσεγγίσεων, η εργασία αυτή επιχειρεί να επιφέρει σημαντικές βελτιώσεις στην πρόβλεψη και ερμηνεία των χρονοσειρών, προσφέροντας επιπλέον εφαρμογές στην πραγματική ζωή και βοηθώντας στην αντιμετώπιση πρακτικών προκλήσεων σε πολυάριθμους επιστημονικούς και τεχνολογικούς τομείς.
Analisis Pengukuran Kinerja Pelayanan Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak dengan Metode BSC (Balance Scorecard) Menurut Perspektif Proses Bisnis Internal RSUD Mokoyurli Kabupaten Buol
Authors: Firman Firman , Marwati Triyani , Widi Siti Kurnia , Andini Sari
Published: August 2024

Measuring the performance of Maternal and Child Health services is one of the key elements of the hospital which is an evaluation process as well as an obligation for the hospital every certain period. As a health service facility, performance is important to measure considering that MCH services include mandatory basic medical services. In order to analyze the performance of the Mokoyurli General Hospital, a Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is needed as a measuring tool. The problem of MCH in Indonesia is also a priority for the government. Maternal, Neonatal and Infant Mortality Rates obtained from the Buol District Health Office have a trend that is still fluctuating during 2017-2020.
This type of research is qualitative research with a case study design. There were 38 research subjects who were divided into 30 questionnaire respondents and 8 interview respondents who represented each perspective, but specifically the internal business process perspective consisted of 5 people. Data analysis was carried out comparatively and using triangulation of sources and methods.
Based on the results of the financial perspective, there are 2 KPIs that have been achieved and 1 that has not been achieved with an average score of 67%. From the consumer perspective, there are 3 KPIs and all three are achieved with an average score of 100%. Internal Business Process Perspective, there are 4 indicators that have been achieved and 1 indicator that has not been achieved with an average score of 80%, with details on the average BOR measurement tool, which is 60%. ALOS 4 days, TOI 3 days, NDR 11%, GDR 14%.
The overall perspective of MCH performance at Mokoyurli Hospital has an average value of 85% where the 13 measuring instrument indicators used are 2 indicators that have not been achieved. Internal business process perspective measurement has an average value of 80% in good criteria as measured by BOR, ALOS, TOI, NDR and GDR.
The challenge of meeting the nutritional needs of older people in the community
Authors: Wilson Neil , Turner Sam
Published: August 2024

Neil Wilson and Sam Turner discuss the human and financial costs of malnutrition in the community, both to patients and healthcare services, emphasising the importance of early identification through screening.
Enhancing the Diagnostic Accuracy of Sacroiliitis: A Machine Learning Approach Applied to Computed Tomography Imaging
Authors: Fu Qingsong , Yuan Xueru , Han Xinyou , Wang Weibin , Zhang Jiakai , Yuan Xinhua
Published: August 2024

Aims/Background Sacroiliitis is a challenging condition to diagnose accurately due to the subtle nature of its presentation in imaging studies. This study aims to improve the diagnostic accuracy of sacroiliitis by applying advanced machine learning techniques to computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods We employed five convolutional neural network (CNN) models—Visual Geometry Group 16-layer Network (VGG16), ResNet101, DenseNet, Inception-v4, and ResNeXt-50—to analyze a dataset of 830 CT images, including both sacroiliitis and non-sacroiliitis cases. Each model's performance was evaluated using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC), and Area Under the Curve (AUC). The interpretability of the models' decisions was enhanced using Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) visualization.

Results The ResNeXt-50 and Inception-v4 models demonstrated superior performance, achieving the highest accuracy and F1 scores among the tested models. Grad-CAM visualizations offered insights into the decision-making processes, highlighting the models' focus on relevant anatomical features critical for accurate diagnosis.

Conclusion The use of CNN models, particularly ResNeXt-50 and Inception-v4, significantly improves the diagnosis of sacroiliitis from CT images. These models not only provide high diagnostic accuracy but also offer transparency in their decision-making processes, aiding clinicians in understanding and trusting Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven diagnostics.
The Value of Bedside Ultrasound Evaluation of Intravenous Ultrasound Grading System Combined with TyG Index in Predicting Acute Renal Injury in Patients with Acute Hyperlipidemic Pancreatitis
Authors: He Lingling , Huang Tinglong , Xie Long
Published: August 2024

Aims/Background Bedside ultrasound evaluation of venous excess ultrasound (VExUS) combined with the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index plays an important role in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with acute hyperlipidemic pancreatitis. VExUS can effectively evaluate the degree of venous congestion, while the TyG index is valuable in predicting severe pancreatitis. The combination of these two methods is expected to provide a more accurate AKI risk assessment tool for clinical practice. This study explores the value of combining bedside ultrasound evaluation using the VExUS grading system with the TyG index in predicting acute renal damage in patients with acute hyperlipidemic pancreatitis.

Methods From January 2021 to December 2023, 110 patients with acute hyperlipidemic pancreatitis were selected. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were complicated with acute kidney injury (AKI): the AKI group (n = 23) and the non-AKI group (n = 87). The general data of the two groups were compared, and the risk factors for AKI in patients with acute hyperlipidemic pancreatitis were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. The predictive value was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis.

Results There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender, outcome, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels at admission, blood nutrition at discharge, creatinine (CREA) at discharge, underlying diseases, start time of enteral nutrition, complications, length of stay, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) days, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, blood glucose level, blood amylase level, CREA, blood urine nitrogen (BUN), blood purification treatment (p > 0.05). However, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the TyG index and the VExUS score, with variables including the TyG index and the VExUS score (included in the logistic regression analysis as variables), and AKI (AKI = 1, non-AKI = 0) as dependent variables. Multiple logistic regression results showed that the TyG index and VExUS score were independent predictors of AKI in patients with acute hyperlipidemia pancreatitis (p < 0.05). The standard error, sensitivity and specificity of the TyG index, VExUS score and combined model for predicting AKI in these patients were 0.064, 73.91 and 87.45; 0.036, 78.16 and 95.65; 0.010, 100.00 and 95.65, respectively (p < 0.05).

Conclusion The VExUS score combined with the TyG index is highly valuable in predicting AKI in patients with acute hyperlipidemic pancreatitis.
Simulation of a two-qubit quantum gate based on classical transverse spatial waveguide mode encoding
Authors: Hongying Liu , Yue Zhang , Xianing Feng , Lianfu Wei
Published: August 2024

We demonstrate the simulation of a classical transverse mode-encoded controlled-NOT (CNOT) gate. Note that this integrated CNOT logic gate is composed of two 1/2 spatial mode beamsplitters and three 1/3 spatial mode beamsplitters, following the scheme proposed by Ralph. We will show how the CNOT gate can be analogously implemented by photonic integrated circuits in the classical regime, focusing on exploring the violation of Bell’s inequality by mode-entangled states. Our work may provide a promising approach to implementing small-scale quantum simulation and has the potential to enable practical and robust optical quantum information processing.
Design of Silicon Traveling-Wave Mach-Zehnder Modulators With Transparent Electrodes
Authors: Yu Zhi Guo , tu donghe , guan huan , Tian Lifei , jiang lei , Li Zhi-Yong
Published: August 2024

High-speed silicon traveling-wave Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) modulators are key components to support optical fiber communication. However, one major challenge with all-silicon MZMs is to achieve efficient high-speed electro-optic (EO) modulation. The reported 3 dB bandwidth of silicon MZMs
are generally below 70 GHz, with half-wave voltage (Vπ) around 5 V or larger, which can not support future 200 Gbaud data transmission. Here we break the voltage–bandwidth trade-off limit in silicon MZMs by replacing the doped silicon slab with CMOS compatible transparent electrodes. Benefit from the measured high conductivity, low extinction coefficient, and low refractive index of indium tin oxide (ITO) materials, the microwave dielectric loss of the traveling wave electrode can be greatly reduced. The bandwidth would potentially increase from 40 GHz to 168 GHz, while Vπ and optical insertion loss remains
almost unchanged. According to Si/ITO interface contact states, three operating mode were found, corresponding to Si/ITO ohmic contact, schottky contact and hybrid schottky/ohmic contact, respectively. We comprehensively analysis the Si/ITO interface characteristic, establish a complete high frequency equivalent circuit model. Our proposed transparent electrodes will open a new window for the high-speed silicon photonics platform.
Living with rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative study
Authors: Oliver Jane , Fualautoalasi-Lam Loudeen , Ferdinand Angeline , Tiatia Ramona , Jones Bryn , Engelman Daniel , Gibney Katherine B. , Steer Andrew C.
Published: August 2024

Background

In Victoria, Australia, children with Pacific Islander (‘Pacific’) ethnicities are overrepresented in acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). In June 2023, ARF and RHD became notifiable in Victoria. To inform public health and clinical practice, we described young Pacific patients’ and their caregivers’ understandings and experiences of ARF/RHD, and identified possible ways to improve the delivery of clinical care.

Methods

We established a project reference group including local Pacific people to guide this research. Pacific patients who attended an ARF/RHD clinic at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, were invited to participate, as were their caregivers. A Samoan researcher conducted qualitative ‘talanoa’ (conversational) interviews with patients and caregivers. A second researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with treating clinicians and other stakeholders. Interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis guided by the Tuilaepa Youth Mentoring Services Pacific Youth Wellbeing Framework.

Results

We interviewed 27 participants. This included nine patients and nine caregivers, all of whom were Samoan. These 18 participants expressed a desire to learn more about ARF/RHD and connect with other affected people. While some shared their experiences of having well-liked and trusted healthcare providers, patients often struggled to have two-way clinical conversations. The need to support clinicians working with high-risk populations to improve their awareness of ARF was identified. Receiving treatment on time was a top priority for affected families, despite injection pain, inconvenience and financial costs. The need to support continuity of care for young adult patients was raised by participants.

Conclusions

Pacific people living with ARF/RHD and their families require additional support to receive high quality management in Victoria. Introducing a patient register and a specialist RHD nurse would enhance access to treatment, as would removing cost barriers, improving clinical awareness of ARF/RHD and creating Victoria-specific patient resources.
Narratives of pregnancy across 19 Countries: Analysis of a 1.5-billion-word news media database
Authors: Sy Kalla Maxine P. , Chow Ting Yu Joanne , Ickovics Jeannette R. , Ng Reuben
Published: August 2024

Pregnancy is a universal experience shaped by sociocultural contexts. News media presents a unique opportunity to analyze public narratives of pregnancy and how it differs across cultures. Our study aims to (1) identify the most prevalent overall themes in news media narratives of pregnancy across 19 English-speaking countries, and (2) compare pregnancy narratives across geographic regions. We used the largest English news media corpus that included over 30 million news articles from more than 7000 news websites across 19 countries, and extracted a one-year data subset (2019; 1.5 billion words). Of the primary search terms ‘pregnant’ and ‘pregnancy’, we collated 240,464 descriptors that met criteria of lexical proximity and semantic bonding. Thereafter, we used topic modelling to identify the five most prevalent pregnancy-related themes: (1) complications and risk, (2) crime, (3) celebration, (4) celebrity births, and (5) contraception. Although there were regional differences, themes of complications and risk were most common, comprising 39.6% of all pregnancy narratives in our big-data corpus. The second-most dominant theme was crime (20.8%). Narratives of contraception were more prevalent in Europe, North America, and Oceania (27.2–31.3%) compared to Africa and Asia (11.9–19.6%). Though the vast majority of pregnancies are healthy, themes of complications and risk dominated the news media discourse; unchecked, this may be an avenue for misinformation, stress, and anxiety. In addition, lower prevalence of contraception narratives in Africa and Asia may reflect a gap that requires the attention of policymakers in building culturally-adapted programs to promote family planning and encourage open discussions about sexual health. Results contribute to the academic repository of societal representations of pregnancy through a big-data lens, providing contextual information for future development, implementation and evaluation of localized pregnancy-related campaigns.
Polish and American preschool children’s preferences for and perceptions of popular music
Authors: Vasil Martina , Kondracka-Szala Marta
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this multiple case study was to examine Polish and American preschool children’s preferences for and perceptions of popular music. The research questions were: (1) What popular music do preschool children prefer from a list of songs teachers typically use in formal instruction? and (2) How do preschool children perceive popular music used by teachers in formal instruction? Participants were fifteen children from Poland and nine children from the United States between the ages of 4 and 6. Data included observation, field notes, guided conversation, drawings and a sound questionnaire. Results indicated that children preferred popular music that they previously knew with a fast tempo and strong beat and music from children’s films, the radio and the internet. Children’s perceptions of popular music centred on lyrics, and they were more able to move and draw about music than describe it verbally. Teachers can learn more about the popular music children prefer and how they perceive it to craft more relevant and engaging music education experiences.
Performing Yan Daudu and transvestiting in selected acting experiments of ABU Studio Theatre
Authors: Ihidero Victor Osae , Gana Emmanuel T.
Published: August 2024

This article re-appropriates the idea of Yan Daudu, a Hausa word for ‘men who act as women’, to actor training in Nigerian college theatre. The term does not only refer to males who play the roles of women in Hausa community but also men who have sexual relations with other men. In another sense, men who cook and perform traditional roles reserved for women in traditional Hausa community are also referred to as Yan Daudu. Within the context of this study, Yan Daudu is deployed as ‘transvestite (cross-dressing) men who perform women's roles’. This study therefore examines the crosscurrents and vortexes of first, cross-dressing and acting, to becoming the woman character, and then playing the woman character in ways that effectively blur the identity of the male actor, and create believability. In this article, we argue against the frame that the body of male actors is a palimpsest and that this is conditioned by cultural norms and beliefs. By this, we mean that the body of male actors, although an empty slate capable of diverse re/inscriptions, may be inhibited by diverse cultural taggings (body shaming) and perceived taboos as with the idea of Dan Daudu or what in general Nigerian lingo is called woman wrapper (an effeminate man). We analyse one of two yearly experimental acting workshops from the Ahmadu Bello University Studio Theatre to argue that the traditional Hausa sense of self, role-playing and relating to the epistemic other places constraints on how men (can) perform women a la acting. We contend that there is a carryover of masculine psyche in playing the woman character and that this is manifested in the actor’s movements and frame. The article finds that there is an ambivalent dis/connection between actors’ dialogue and movements in performing women and that the actors’ frame and awareness of be-ing a character – a woman – infiltrates into the performance, thereby affecting the character roles and believability. We conclude that the male actors in Nigeria must first and foremost resolve his own conflict, both bodily and psychical, before he can effectively play the female or woman character.
A Comprehensive Corrosion Inhibition Behaviour Studies of Leucophyllum frutescens Leaves Extract for Mild Steel
Authors: Manimegalai S. , Prithiba A. , Kanthimathi G. , Mathina A.
Published: August 2024

In an effort to address corrosion in an environmentally conscious manner, a current study has investigated the efficacy of an acid extract derived from Leucophyllum frutescens leaves as a green corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic conditions (1.0 M HCl solution). The investigation, conducted at room temperature using standard mass loss and electrochemical techniques, varied the extract concentration, temperature and immersion time. Through these experiments, an adsorption isotherm was established and kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated. The electrochemical measurements suggested a mixed mode of inhibition. Surface analytical techniques including FT-IR, UV-visible, SEM and 3D optical profilometer were employed to confirm the inhibitor’s effectiveness in preventing corrosion by protecting the mild steel surface and impeding hydrogen evolution and metal dissolution. The findings indicate that L. frutescens leaves extract offers promising corrosion protection while being environmental friendly due to its biodegradability and lack of harmful substances such as heavy metals.
Phytochemical Screening and Quantification of Ellagic Acid in Cliestanthus collinus using RP-HPLC-DAD Method and its Insecticidal Activity against Stored Grain Pests
Authors: Jamunkar Reena , Sinha Deepak , Patel Sanyukta , Jena Vinod , Patle Tarun Kumar
Published: August 2024

This study reports the preliminary phytochemical analysis followed by the quantitative determination of ellagic acid in different parts of Cliestanthus collinus using reverse phase liquid chromatography (HPLC) in association with a diode array detector (DAD). The developed RP-HPLC method achieved separation of ellagic acid within 10 min of run time through gradient elution using methanol and water with 1% acetic acid as mobile phase on a C-18 reverse phase column at room temperature and 365 nm of detection wavelength. The method showed excellent linearity across a range of 0.01 µg mL-1 to 10 µg mL-1 with LOD and LOQ values of 0.027 µg mL-1 and 0.091 µg mL-1, respectively, demonstrating lower precision characterized by RSD% of 0.73% and higher accuracy as recovery of 99.5%. Additionally, the insecticidal activity of ellagic acid obtained by isolation from the leaves, bark and fruits of C. collinus was examined against two stored grain pest, Tribolium castaneum and Corcyra cephalonica larvae. The results indicated that ellagic acid showed significant pesticidal activity against T. castaneun with a mortality rate of 98% than against C. cephalonica larvae with a mortality rate of 76% suggesting its use as a natural biopesticide. To our best of knowledge, this is the first report pertaining to phytochemical screening of the whole part of C. collinus and quantitation of ellagic acid in different parts of C. collinus suggesting this plant as a new natural source of ellagic acid along with pesticidal activity of ellagic acid against stored grain pest.
“A educação nas independências da América”. Uma análise sobre a busca da formação de cidadãos para um novo momento histórico
Authors: Mendonça Tânia Gomes
Published: August 2024

Esta resenha objetiva tecer uma análise a respeito da obra “A educação nas independências da América: a circulação do plano de ensino mútuo (1810–1830)” (OLIVATO, 2023), da historiadora Laís Olivato, fruto de pesquisa de doutorado desenvolvida no Programa de História Social da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Laís Olivato inicia o seu livro com uma importante problematização, ressaltando que o seu trabalho historiográfico tem relação com um tema fundamental nos dias de hoje: os debates acerca das possíveis transformações nas políticas públicas educacionais a fim de solucionar questões estruturais de nossas sociedades latino-americanas. Em sua obra, a autora demonstra que este tema não é recente: desde o período das Independências, no século XIX, esta discussão existe na esfera pública, e o seu trabalho engloba, justamente, uma das proposições que estiveram em voga para lidar com esses problemas sociais profundos, que se relacionam com a formação de cidadãos para a nova fase política da América Latina que despontava.