bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive algorithms for supply chain management: a comprehensive approach to forecasting delivery times and managing risk
Authors: Woźniak Dariusz , Warszycki Michał , Stokłosa Józef , Szrajnert Rafał , Chmura Robert
Published: August 2024

The article delves into the challenges of delivery time management in today's business landscape. The authors underscore the need for precise delivery time forecasts, a key factor in maintaining a competitive edge and meeting customer expectations. They outline various methods for estimating the time of a selected commodity based on historical data, and stress the necessity of modern tools that can adapt to the intricate web of factors influencing delivery times and facilitate swift responses to changes.
The following article presents an innovative delivery time forecasting application that integrates advanced predictive algorithms with historical data, current data, and external factors affecting the delivery process. The application was developed to provide more accurate delivery time forecasts and optimize logistics processes. Through advanced technologies, it can consider even the most complex scenarios and changes, allowing companies to plan and manage their logistics operations more effectively.
Measurement channels’ information relationships in body surface potential mapping
Authors: Przysucha Bartosz , Kowalski Marcin , Oleszek Michał , Sutryk Mariusz
Published: August 2024

Body Surface Potential Mappings (BSPM) measurements allow heart rate monitoring. Based on measurements obtained from BSPM, defects and heart rhythm disorders can be detected. Due to the multitude of data obtained from BSPM measurements, the crucial aspect in the potential test signals analysis on the human body is the automation of the disturbance detection process. This automation process involves the use of advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to analyze the recorded data and identify patterns indicative of heart rhythm disorders. In the article, the information dependencies in the measurement channels were analyzed and presented. PCA analysis was used to determine informational relationships between the channels. The study was carried out on the data from simulations made for the BSPM measuring vest on a simulation system created for this purpose and based on the ECG signal generator. As a result of the conducted research indicated informational relationships between the channels for signals with disturbances: Atrial fibrillation, Brachycardia, Normal signal, PVC, Tachycardia, Ventricular Fibrillation, and Ventricular Tachycardia.
Optimization of diagnostic processes using decision trees in ECG data analysis - lets web system analysis engine
Authors: Jarosz Miroslaw , Kowalski Marcin , Przysucha Bartosz
Published: August 2024

The article presents the capabilities of the LETS Web system, which uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology to analyze medical data to optimize diagnostic processes. The article focuses on implementing decision tree algorithms that analyze electrocardiogram (ECG) data to identify cardiac conditions. The study used three variants of decision trees that differed in structure and ECG parameters. Each variant was tested for its ability to accurately classify cardiac health conditions ranging from simple arrhythmias to complex arrhythmic changes. The study showed that modifications to the structure of the decision trees significantly affected their effectiveness. The most advanced variant of the tree, using multivariate data analysis, showed the highest efficiency in diagnosing complex conditions. The effectiveness of the different variants of decision trees varied, confirming the importance of selecting the suitable diagnostic model for the specifics of the data and clinical goals.
Use of electrical impedance tomography for lung volume reconstruction
Authors: Tchórzewski Paweł , Lalak - Dybała Małgorzata , Przysucha Bartosz , Olszewski Paweł
Published: August 2024

The article presents a study of the application of electro-impedance tomography (EIT) in diagnosing lung capacity using the Tikhonov regularization method. The possibility of reconstructing the lungs to monitor the degree of air filling was investigated. The experiment included a series of tests using a torso phantom designed to simulate different states of the lungs - from fully inflated to fully deflated. Lung-filling states were manipulated in controlled scenarios to test nine main experimental conditions reflecting different lung-filling states. In addition, the quality of reconstruction was checked using various types of reference backgrounds. The results show significant differences in lung volume reconstructions depending on the lung filling state. The most successful reconstructions, which were obtained using the 'No phantom' background, provided the most explicit visualization of the lungs, reassuring the method's reliability. The experiments confirm the potential of EIT to distinguish between different lung states and reconstruct the degree of lung filling. The study also underscores the need to optimize the reference background to increase the precision of the images, especially for the left lung.
Image reconstruction and bladder stimulation using electrical impedance tomography
Authors: Pietrzyk Robert , Mazurek Mariusz , Chałdaś - Majdańska Justyna
Published: August 2024

Impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging technique that harnesses differences in electrical conductivity to visualize the interior of objects. Despite limitations such as low resolution and nonlinearity of current distribution, its potential in medicine and industry is a source of fascination. The research in this work is a step towards unlocking this potential, focusing on improving the quality of EIT image reconstruction, particularly in bladder modeling. A key element is regularization techniques, including Laplace matrices and the iterative Gauss-Newton algorithm, which balance matching accuracy and image smoothness. In the practical part, simulations were conducted on dense and sparse meshes. Modeling the urinary bladder as a rotational ellipse significantly influences the interpretation of data by algorithms, a crucial factor for the accuracy of reconstruction. Various electrode configurations were also analyzed, revealing the impact of their arrangement on electrical properties and imaging quality. Iterative testing led to identifying optimal electrode placement and grid configuration, underscoring the importance of precise modeling for obtaining high-quality images. The results underscore the critical role of appropriately selecting the regularization parameter in minimizing reconstruction errors.
Analysis of medical correlation models using ultrasound tomography and electric impedance tomography
Authors: Kasperek Dariusz , Olszewski Paweł , Jarosz Mirosław
Published: August 2024

Summary

The main goal of the work was to develop a method for the fusion of images from two different measurement techniques. A project has been designed to integrate electrical impedance tomography (EIT) and ultrasonic tomography (UST) data. The next stage was to analyze the correlation between the EIT results and the occurrence of lower urinary tract dysfunctions and establish boundary parameters for visualization and segmentation. Additionally, the relationships between UST data and the dysfunctions were examined, which also required defining parameters for segmentation. The work also involves establishing standards and methods for the arrangement of measurement electrodes, which is crucial for the precision of both techniques. The proposed approach and results constitute an essential step towards implementing more advanced diagnostic tools to improve patient's quality of life by diagnosing lower urinary tract dysfunctions faster and more precisely.
Advanced image analysis for medical diagnostics: a system for segmentation and classification using level set methods and AI algorithms
Authors: Wąsik Edmund , Mazurek Mariusz , Girzelska Joanna
Published: August 2024

This work aims to implement and utilize an advanced computer system for image analysis and processing through artificial intelligence. The system will evaluate images from multiple sources. As a result, a comprehensive e-Medicus system will be developed to capture and analyze X-ray data and classify cancer cells. This innovative tool, with its unique features tailored for medical facilities, will assist them in capturing and analyzing X-ray images and CT scan results. The e-Medicus system offers several benefits for medical facilities, including efficient automation of photo analysis, tracking changes in a patient's condition over time, and facilitating the identification of medical changes and data classification. A multimedia presentation of the change process will use the contour set function, allowing for topological changes in solution properties. The system integrates novel procedures and algorithms from theoretical computer science and numerical mathematics, leveraging neural networks, genetic algorithms, semantic networks, image ontology, rough set theory, contour set methods, and hybrid algorithms. These developed algorithms enhance methods and concepts in image segmentation, gathering, transmitting, storing, extracting, and effectively presenting information.
Tomographic examination of the head model through image reconstruction from measurement data
Authors: Bartnik Grzegorz , Głowacka Magdalena , Gołąbek Michał , Tchórzewski Paweł
Published: August 2024

This study aims to integrate ultrasound tomography with numerical algorithms to significantly enhance brain sensing capabilities for diagnosing critical brain abnormalities. Advanced ultrasound tomography, employing a high-frequency transducer array, captures intricate brain structures. The echoes processed by multi-channel receivers allow for three-dimensional imaging. Deep learning models, particularly convolutional neural networks, undergo rigorous training on extensive datasets. Hyperparameter tuning and regularization are key to model optimization. Algorithms handle large datasets, detecting subtle pathological changes in ultrasound images. The system demonstrates proficient image reconstruction and analysis. Implementing deep learning algorithms rectifies operator-dependent inconsistencies and imaging artifacts. The analysis shows significant improvements in diagnostic accuracy and processing time. The convergence of ultrasound tomography and deep learning faces challenges such as image quality variation, computational demands, and clinical integration. Despite these, the enhanced image clarity and the ability to conduct real-time analytics are promising. The study sets a new standard in neurological diagnostics, indicating the potential for sophisticated diagnostic tools to become accessible in diverse healthcare settings.
High harmonic generation in epitaxially grown zinc oxide films: publisher’s note
Authors: Journigan Troie , Liu Yangyang , Cabello Christian , Novia Berriel S. , Rudawski Nicholas G. , Banerjee Parag , Chini Michael
Published: August 2024

This publisher’s note reports the addition of an author in J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 41, B1 (2024)JOBPDE0740-322410.1364/JOSAB.503550.
Quantum mechanics to classical mechanics boundary:
N-slit heavy-atom interferometer
Authors: Duarte Francisco
Published: August 2024

The question of when quantum mechanics becomes classical mechanics is considered from an N-slit interferometric perspective. In this regard, the design of an N-slit heavy-atom interferometer is depicted and discussed. This work includes a conceptual and experimental discussion of the Diósi-Penrose hypothesis. Such hypothesis is found to be decoupled from the interferometric foundations of quantum mechanics. For the boundary situation beyond which interference, for heavy-atom aggregates, is no longer viable, a minimalist principle is suggested: spontaneous nonsuperposition, at the probability amplitude level. This is proposed as onset for the quantum → classical transition. Further, a more pragmatic highly indeterministic mechanism is also considered.
Cutting consumption without diluting the experience: Preferences for different tactics for reducing alcohol consumption among increasing-and-higher-risk drinkers based on drinking context
Authors: Oldham Melissa , Okpako Tosan , Leppin Corinna , Garnett Claire , Dina Larisa-Maria , Stevely Abigail , Jones Andrew , Holmes John
Published: August 2024

Contexts in which people drink vary. Certain drinking contexts may be more amenable to change than others and the effectiveness of alcohol reduction tactics may differ across contexts. This study aimed to explore how helpful context-specific tactics for alcohol reduction were perceived as being amongst increasing-and-higher-risk drinkers. Using the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy, context-specific tactics to reduce alcohol consumption were developed by the research team and revised following consultation with experts in behaviour change. In four focus groups (two online, two in-person), N = 20 adult increasing-and-higher-risk drinkers in the UK discussed how helpful tactics developed for four drinking contexts would be: drinking at home alone (19 tactics), drinking at home with partner or family (21 tactics), in the pub with friends (23 tactics), and a meal out of the home (20 tactics). Transcripts were analysed using constant comparison methods. Participants endorsed four broad approaches to reducing alcohol consumption which encompassed all the individual tactics developed by the research team: Diluting and substituting drinks for those containing less alcohol (e.g. switching to soft drinks or no- or low-alcohol drinks); Reducing external pressure to drink (e.g. setting expectations in advance); Creating barriers to drinking (e.g. not buying alcohol to keep at home or storing it in less visible places), and Setting new habits (e.g. breaking old patterns and taking up new hobbies). Three cross-cutting themes influenced how applicable these approaches were to different drinking contexts. These were: Situational pressure, Drinking motives, and Financial motivation. Diluting and substituting drinks which enabled covert reduction and Reducing external pressure to drink were favoured in social drinking contexts. Diluting and substituting drinks which enabled participants to feel that they were having ‘a treat’ or which facilitated relaxation and Creating barriers to drinking were preferred at home. Interventions to reduce alcohol consumption should offer tactics tailored to individuals’ drinking contexts and which account for context-specific individual and situational pressure to drink.
Improving accuracy of GPT-3/4 results on biomedical data using a retrieval-augmented language model
Authors: Soong David , Sridhar Sriram , Si Han , Wagner Jan-Samuel , Sá Ana Caroline Costa , Yu Christina Y. , Karagoz Kubra , Guan Meijian , Kumar Sanyam , Hamadeh Hisham , Higgs Brandon W.
Published: August 2024

Large language models (LLMs) have made a significant impact on the fields of general artificial intelligence. General purpose LLMs exhibit strong logic and reasoning skills and general world knowledge but can sometimes generate misleading results when prompted on specific subject areas. LLMs trained with domain-specific knowledge can reduce the generation of misleading information (i.e. hallucinations) and enhance the precision of LLMs in specialized contexts. Training new LLMs on specific corpora however can be resource intensive. Here we explored the use of a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) model which we tested on literature specific to a biomedical research area. OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, GPT-4, Microsoft’s Prometheus, and a custom RAG model were used to answer 19 questions pertaining to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) disease biology and treatment. Eight independent reviewers assessed LLM responses based on accuracy, relevance, and readability, rating responses on a 3-point scale for each category. These scores were then used to compare LLM performance. The performance of the LLMs varied across scoring categories. On accuracy and relevance, the RAG model outperformed other models with higher scores on average and the most top scores across questions. GPT-4 was more comparable to the RAG model on relevance versus accuracy. By the same measures, GPT-4 and GPT-3.5 had the highest scores for readability of answers when compared to the other LLMs. GPT-4 and 3.5 also had more answers with hallucinations than the other LLMs, due to non-existent references and inaccurate responses to clinical questions. Our findings suggest that an oncology research-focused RAG model may outperform general-purpose LLMs in accuracy and relevance when answering subject-related questions. This framework can be tailored to Q&A in other subject areas. Further research will help understand the impact of LLM architectures, RAG methodologies, and prompting techniques in answering questions across different subject areas.
Mapping evidence on the factors contributing to long waiting times and interventions to reduce waiting times within primary health care facilities in South Africa: A scoping review
Authors: Nwagbara Ugochinyere I. , Hlongwana Khumbulani W. , Chima Sylvester C.
Published: August 2024

Background

Globally, reduction of patient waiting time has been identified as one of the major characteristics of a functional health system. In South Africa, 83% of the general population visiting primary healthcare (PHC) facilities must contend with long waiting times, overcrowding, staff shortages, poor quality of care, an ineffective appointment booking system, and a lack of medication. These experiences may, in turn, affect how patients view service quality.

Methods

This scoping review was guided by Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework. The primary literature search of peer-reviewed and review articles was achieved through PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and World Health Organization (WHO) library databases, using waiting times, outpatient departments, factors, interventions, and primary healthcare facilities as keywords. Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and full articles, using the set inclusion and exclusion criteria. We used NVIVO®version 10 software to facilitate thematic analysis of the results from included studies.

Results

From the initial 250 records screened, nine studies were eligible for inclusion in this scoping review. Seven papers identified the factors contributing to waiting time, and five papers mentioned effective interventions implemented to reduce waiting times within PHC facilities. Our analysis produced three (patient factors, staff factors, and administrative systems) and two (manual-based waiting time reduction systems and electronic-based waiting time reduction systems) main themes pertaining to factors contributing to long waiting times and interventions to reduce waiting times, respectively.

Conclusion

Our results revealed that the patients, staff, and administrative systems all contribute to long waiting times within the PHC facilities. Patient waiting times recorded a wider and more evenly spread patient arrival pattern after the identified interventions in our study were implemented. There is a need to constantly strategize on measures such as implementing the use of an electronic appointment scheduling system and database, improving staff training on efficient patient flow management, and regularly assessing and optimizing administrative processes. By continuously monitoring and adapting these strategies, PHC facility managers can create a more efficient and patient-centered healthcare experience.
Association between diet quality and all-cause mortality in a large Dutch cohort
Authors: Kirk Daniel , Baart A. Mireille , McLean Joseph , Feskens Edith J. M.
Published: August 2024

Food-based dietary guidelines are helpful for governments and health agencies to encourage healthy eating at the population level. In order to assess adherence to such guidelines, index scores have been developed, the version in the Netherlands being the Dutch Healthy Diet-index (2015) (DHD2015-index), which reflect adherence to the 2015 Dutch dietary guidelines. Because a higher diet quality, i.e. a higher adherence to the dietary guidelines, is associated with better health outcomes, a higher DHD2015-index score would also mean better outcomes on measures of health, such as all-cause mortality. The present study aimed to elucidate this by investigating the association between DHD2015-index score and mortality in the Dutch population using data from 97 999 participants in the Lifelines cohort study. For the analyses, Cox Proportional Hazards regression was used, whilst accounting for age, sex, physiological measurements, exercise, and biochemical and lifestyle variables. There was a strong negative association between DHD2015-index score and mortality. Hazard ratios for DHD2015-index scores below 60 were approximately 1.2x larger than the mean. Every 10 unit increase in DHD2015-index scores between 60 and 90 led to a 0.1 reduction in hazard ratio, and every 10 unit increase between 90 and the highest DHD2015-index scores led to a reduction in hazard ratios of 0.05. The hazard ratio for the lowest quartile of DHD2015-index scores was 1.14 (95% CI = 1.04–1.26), whereas that for the highest quartile was 0.88 (95% CI = 0.84–0.92). Our results show a clear inverse relationship between DHD2015-index score and all-cause mortality.
Adaptive fixed-time TSM for uncertain nonlinear dynamical system under unknown disturbance
Authors: Ahmed Saim , Azar Ahmad Taher , Wang Haoping
Published: August 2024

For nonlinear systems subjected to external disturbances, an adaptive terminal sliding mode control (TSM) approach with fixed-time convergence is presented in this paper. The introduction of the fixed-time TSM with the sliding surface and the new Lemma of fixed-time stability are the main topics of discussion. The suggested approach demonstrates quick convergence, smooth and non-singular control input, and stability within a fixed time. Existing fixed-time TSM schemes are often impacted by unknown dynamics such as uncertainty and disturbances. Therefore, the proposed strategy is developed by combining the fixed-time TSM with an adaptive scheme. This adaptive method deals with an uncertain dynamic system when there are external disturbances. The stability of a closed-loop structure in a fixed-time will be shown by the findings of the Lyapunov analysis. Finally, the outcomes of the simulations are shown to evaluate and demonstrate the efficacy of the suggested method. As a result, examples with different cases are provided for a better comparison of suggested and existing control strategies.
Computational models for improving surveillance for the early detection of direct introduction of cassava brown streak disease in Nigeria
Authors: Ferris Alex C. , Stutt Richard O. J. H. , Godding David S. , Mohammed Ibrahim Umar , Nkere Chukwuemeka K. , Eni Angela O. , Pita Justin S. , Gilligan Christopher A.
Published: August 2024

Cassava is a key source of calories for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa but its role as a food security crop is threatened by the cross-continental spread of cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) that causes high yield losses. In order to mitigate the impact of CBSD, it is important to minimise the delay in first detection of CBSD after introduction to a new country or state so that interventions can be deployed more effectively. Using a computational model that combines simulations of CBSD spread at both the landscape and field scales, we model the effectiveness of different country level survey strategies in Nigeria when CBSD is directly introduced. We find that the main limitation to the rapid CBSD detection in Nigeria, using the current survey strategy, is that an insufficient number of fields are surveyed in newly infected Nigerian states, not the total number of fields surveyed across the country, nor the limitation of only surveying fields near a road. We explored different strategies for geographically selecting fields to survey and found that early and consistent CBSD detection will involve confining candidate survey fields to states where CBSD has not yet been detected and where survey locations are allocated in proportion to the density of cassava crops, detects CBSD sooner, more consistently, and when the epidemic is smaller compared with distributing surveys uniformly across Nigeria.
Linkages between environmental sustainability, disaggregated emission, renewable energy, and energy efficiency: An evidence from BRI countries
Authors: Meng Fei , Sheng Weiyan , Akbar Muhammad Waqas
Published: August 2024

This paper examines the long-term and short-run causative relationship among environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon emissions from all over sources (coal, oil and fossil fuels) and sector wise division (heat and power, transportation, residential, manufacturing and other sectors. The empirical evidence presented in this study is derived from a balanced panel dataset spanning the annual periods from 2000 to 2021. The dataset specifically focuses on a selection of BRI Countries. The Kao test demonstrates the presence of cointegration across variables such as carbon dioxide emissions, environmental suitability, energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Panel Pooled Mean Group-Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PMG-ARDL) model indicates a statistically significant positive association between the environmental sustainability and disaggregated CO2 emissions over a long-term period. The study found a positive relationship between disaggregated CO2 emissions and environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, with renewable energy sources reducing emissions. It suggests a need for a structural transition from an energy-intensive economy to a decarbonized one, with sectors like heat and power positively impacting sustainability. Implementing measures to reduce emissions is crucial for tackling climate change.
Economic evaluation of lifestyle interventions in infertility management: A systematic review
Authors: Untaaveesup Suvijak , Chongthanadon Brandon , Kositamongkol Chayanis , Phisalprapa Pochamana , Panyakhamlerd Krasean , Titapant Vitaya
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Infertility, a global concern affecting both sexes, is influenced by modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. While the literature predominantly underscores the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in the realm of infertility treatment, a holistic compilation analysing the economic dimensions of such interventions is lacking. This systematic review aimed to fill this gap by evaluating the economic facets of lifestyle interventions in the management of infertility.

Methods

An exhaustive search was conducted within the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases from their inception to February 2024. The aim was to find articles related to the economic aspects of lifestyle interventions in infertility management. These included clinical studies covering economic outcomes and economic evaluations. The Drummond Checklist was used to assess the quality of the included studies.

Results

From an initial yield of 7555 articles, five studies were deemed eligible for inclusion, comprising three cost-effectiveness analyses, one prospective cohort study and a randomized controlled trial, all of which were undertaken in high-income countries (the Netherlands, Australia and Japan). These studies included patients receiving infertility treatments for conditions such as unexplained infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, ovulation disorders, or mild male infertility, inclusive of individuals with and without obesity. The women who participated in these studies were up to 45 years of age. The findings suggested that integrating lifestyle intervention programmes tends to enhance pregnancy and live birth outcomes. These programmes encompass coaching, psychological or behavioural guidance, nutritional adjustments, exercise regimes, weight management, smoking cessation and mindfulness techniques. Moreover, these interventions are likely to be more cost-effective than standard infertility care.

Conclusion

For couples embarking on infertility treatments, the integration of lifestyle interventions into their management strategy not only fosters clinical benefits but also represents a cost-effective alternative to conventional care, particularly within high-income settings.
Analysis of lithium trade patterns and influencing factors in the regions along the "Belt and Road"
Authors: Ruan Ziyun , Du Peng , Jiao Yanan
Published: August 2024

Lithium has broad applications in several emerging industries and fields, including high energy batteries, energy storage, aerospace, and controlled nuclear reactions. Currently, the discrepancy between the supply and demand for lithium resources increases, and its distribution is uneven. Within the framework of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, the lithium trade pattern evolves constantly. However, the trade pattern of lithium in the nations along the "Belt and Road" is likely to face substantial repercussions in modern world of unilateral protectionism and geopolitical conflicts. Taking the social network analysis approach as a tool, this study first examines the characteristics of the lithium trade network structure as it has evolved over the years in the Belt and Road countries, from 2000 to 2022. Additionally, this study uses the quadratic assignment problem approach to analyze the factors influencing the evolution of the lithium trade network. The study shows that: (1) The spatial patterns of import and export trade network of lithium in countries along the route has a certain path dependence. And the market is mainly concentrated in East Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. (2) The network density of the countries along the route has increased year after year, but it remains low. And the fluctuation of the network’s reciprocity has increased, with a huge magnitude of variation. The number of core countries in the network has decreased over time, but the core-periphery structure has stayed largely steady. China, Chile, and South Korea are the network’s main node countries. (3) Regarding the influencing factors, the differences in economic and technological development between these countries have a beneficial impact on the formation of lithium trade; whether or not regional trade agreements have been signed, the differences about average tax rates for mineral products, bordering countries, and similar languages and cultures are all conducive to the establishment of close trade links. The contribution of this essay is of paramount importance for understanding different countries’ role along the Belt and Road in the lithium trade network pattern, and promoting regional trade cooperation.
VT-3DCapsNet: Visual tempos 3D-Capsule network for video-based facial expression recognition
Authors: Li Zhuan , Liu Jin , Wang Hengyang , Zhang Xiliang , Wu Zhongdai , Han Bing
Published: August 2024

Facial expression recognition(FER) is a hot topic in computer vision, especially as deep learning based methods are gaining traction in this field. However, traditional convolutional neural networks (CNN) ignore the relative position relationship of key facial features (mouth, eyebrows, eyes, etc.) due to changes of facial expressions in real-world environments such as rotation, displacement or partial occlusion. In addition, most of the works in the literature do not take visual tempos into account when recognizing facial expressions that possess higher similarities. To address these issues, we propose a visual tempos 3D-CapsNet framework(VT-3DCapsNet). First, we propose 3D-CapsNet model for emotion recognition, in which we introduced improved 3D-ResNet architecture that integrated with AU-perceived attention module to enhance the ability of feature representation of capsule network, through expressing deeper hierarchical spatiotemporal features and extracting latent information (position, size, orientation) in key facial areas. Furthermore, we propose the temporal pyramid network(TPN)-based expression recognition module(TPN-ERM), which can learn high-level facial motion features from video frames to model differences in visual tempos, further improving the recognition accuracy of 3D-CapsNet. Extensive experiments are conducted on extended Kohn-Kanada (CK+) database and Acted Facial Expression in Wild (AFEW) database. The results demonstrate competitive performance of our approach compared with other state-of-the-art methods.
Personality traits and self-control: The moderating role of neuroticism
Authors: Nilsen Fredrik A. , Bang Henning , Røysamb Espen
Published: August 2024

Self-control is important for mental and physical health, and personality traits are vital antecedents for self-control. Previous studies suggest that conscientiousness and extraversion enhance self-control, whereas neuroticism hampers it. However, the link between personality and self-control has mostly been studied using a narrow conceptualization of self-control, as the ability to resist impulses, thus excluding initiatory self-control. Also, no studies have examined whether and how personality traits interact with one another to increase, or reduce, self-control. Data were collected on two occasions from 480 military cadets (31.04% female) to examine the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and self-control (general, inhibitory, and initiatory self-control). Furthermore, the study investigated the moderating role of neuroticism, as a trait and as individual facets, on the relationship between the other personality traits and self-control. Although neuroticism correlated negatively with all self-control dimensions, there were unique relations only with general and inhibitory self-control. Extraversion correlated positively with all self-control dimensions but was only uniquely related to initiatory self-control. Conscientiousness correlated positively with all self-control dimensions and this pattern persisted when we assessed the unique effects. Openness to experience and agreeableness correlated positively with general and inhibitory self-control but had no unique effects on any of the self-control dimensions. Neuroticism negatively moderated the relationship between extraversion and both general and inhibitory self-control, and the relationship between conscientiousness and both general and initiatory self-control. The facet-level analysis confirmed the general patterns and provided further detail on which facets of neuroticism were the most influential as moderators. In conclusion, the study highlights the critical role of different types of self-control, and that neuroticism plays a cardinal role for the effects of conscientiousness and extraversion on self-control.
Increased alertness and moderate ingroup cohesion in bonobos’ response to outgroup cues
Authors: Brooks James , van Heijst Karlijn , Epping Amanda , Lee Seok Hwan , Niksarli Aslihan , Pope Amy , Clay Zanna , Kret Mariska E. , Taglialatela Jared , Yamamoto Shinya
Published: August 2024

In a number of species, including humans, perceived outgroup threat can promote ingroup cohesion. However, the distribution and selection history of this association across species with varied intergroup relations remains unclear. Using a sample of 8 captive groups (N = 43 individuals), we here tested whether bonobos, like chimpanzees, show more affiliative ingroup behaviour following perception of outgroup cues (unfamiliar male long-distance vocalisations). We used comparable methods to our previous study of captive chimpanzees, and found that, although weaker, there was an association for more frequent social grooming in response to the outgroup condition than the control condition, alongside more alert posture and increased self-directed behaviour. This provides preliminary evidence for an ancestral origin to the proximate association between outgroup cues and ingroup cohesion, at least prior to the Pan-Homo split, and suggests the presence of intergroup competition in our last common ancestor.
Detrás de las sombras: Escritoras cinematográficas en el cambio de siglo en México, Maricruz Castro Ricalde and Diego Sheinbaum Lerner (2024)
Authors: Arciniegas Hugo Armando
Published: August 2024

Review of: Detrás de las sombras: Escritoras cinematográficas en el cambio de siglo en México, Maricruz Castro Ricalde and Diego Sheinbaum Lerner (2024)

Mexico City: Instituto de Investigaciones Filológicas UNAM, 328 pp.,

ISBN 978-6-07308-516-8, p/bk, MXN 400, USD 24
Inmigrantes haitianos en Brasil: entre procesos de (des)(re)territorialización y exclusión social
Authors: Dos Santos Sandra , Cecchetti Elcio
Published: August 2024

El presente trabajo objetiva comprender el movimiento migratorio de haitianos para la región sur de Brasil. Por ello, intenta analizar cómo estos inmigrantes llegan al país, cuáles son las motivaciones que llevan los a inmigrar y cómo ocurre el proceso de (des)(re)territorialización de estos en la sociedad brasileña. En su primera parte, presenta reflexiones acerca de las inter-relaciones entre globalización e inmigración en la contemporaneidad. En la secuencia, con base en la lectura crítica de noticias de periódicos, presenta el contexto, las motivaciones, el proceso de adaptación y las relaciones tejidas por los inmigrantes haitianos con los brasileños. Por fin, reflete sobre los intensos procesos de (des)(re)territorización vivenciados por estos inmigrantes, que salieron de su tierra natal en busca de mejores posibilidades y condiciones de vida. Concluí que estos sujetos son obligados a si (re)territorializarem en la sociedad brasileña en la condición de “indeseados”, sea a causa de sus diferencias fenotípicas, sea por sus condiciones económicas o por las diferencias culturales, restándoles ocupar los “vacíos” dejados por los trabajadores nacionales en el mercado de trabajo.
Sobre la recepción de la escritura de Machado en Missa do Galo
Authors: JordÃo De Oliveira Borba Maria Antonieta
Published: August 2024

El trabajo realiza una lectura del cuento "Missa do Galo", a partir de la premisa conceptual de la Teoría del efecto estético de Wolfgang Iser (1978) y su posible articulación con los presupuestos de la Estética de la recepción de Hans Robert Jauss. También caracteriza a la escritura machadiana por la idea de una estética suspensiva en que la indeterminación provoca en el lector la autorreferencialidad de la estructura. Desarrolla, asimismo, una lectura fenomenológica con el fin de analizar actos perceptivos, como si fueran inaugurales. El objetivo es ilustrar cómo se procesan las fases de la mente del lector implícito en contacto con una estructura de suspensión, caracterizada por conceptos iserianos tales como repertorio estratégico, desfamiliarización de la estrategia pragmática, vacío.
Presidencialismo de coalición en Brasil: el estado del debate y apuntes para una nueva agenda de investigación
Authors: Silva Alves Vinícius , Paiva Denise
Published: August 2024

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar el estado del debate de uno de los conceptos más importantes de la ciencia política brasileña: el presidencialismo de coalición. Se pretende ofrecer una visión general sobre las diferentes fases del dicho concepto, acuñado a finales de la década de 1980. También se presentarán las principales ideas y los debates abiertos entre autores brasileños y extranjeros de la literatura sobre el tema. Al final, se apuntarán algunas cuestiones que demandan respuesta de los investigadores en los últimos tiempos. Se espera, por lo tanto, contribuir a una renovación de la agenda de investigación sobre el presidencialismo de coalición, centrándose en los costes políticos para la gestión de esta estrategia gubernamental que ha contribuido a la estabilidad democrática de los países presidencialistas multipartidistas en las últimas dos décadas.
De las palabras a las imágenes y viceversa. Un estudio de la adaptación de la novela Vidas Secas al cine
Authors: Carlos Magno Maria Ignês , Baccega Maria Aparecida
Published: August 2024

En 1938, Graciliano Ramos publicó la novela Vidas Secas. Um “librito sin paisajes, sin diálogos y sin amor”, que se transformó en uno de los clásicos de la literatura. En 1963, Nelson Pereira dos Santos adaptó ese “librito seco” y produjo uno de los clásicos del cine brasileño. La propuesta de este artículo es mostrar cómo Graciliano Ramos percibió y tradujo los paisajes en imágenes literarias y cómo Nelson Pereira leyó las palabras de Graciliano Ramos y las transformó en imágenes cinematográficas. Específicamente, el objetivo es entender cómo la manipulación de las palabras y de las imágenes en la construcción de la narrativa consigue que una obra se mantega actual y provoque al lector y al espectador para que sean siempre leías, vistas y estudiadas.
Presentación
Authors: Berdugo Gómez De La Torre Ignacio , Gambi Giménez Esther
Published: August 2024

Texto de presentación del número 7 (volumen 4) de la Revista de Estudios Brasileños.
Relationship of leptin concentrations as part of cytokine response to hyperlipoproteidemia in practically healthy northerners
Authors: Samodova A. V. , Dobrodeeva L. K. , Pashinskaya K. O. , Geshavets N. P.
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND: Cytokines secrete all cells when there is a threat of damage to it. Leptin, having all the properties of a cytokine, produces fat cells. It was of interest to identify the ratio of leptin concentrations and cytokines activating preventive inflammatory reactions in the blood of practically healthy Northerners with hyperlipoproteidemia.

AIM: To identify the ratio of concentrations of leptin and IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 in the blood of practically healthy Northerners with hyperlipoproteidemia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey of 286 practically healthy people aged 35-55 years living in the Arkhangelsk region was conducted. The body mass index in persons of the first group (n=211) was in the range of 19.5-26.8 kg/m2 and corresponded to the norm; and 75 people of the second group (body mass index 31-40 kg/m2). Concentrations of leptin, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were determined in the blood by ­enzyme immunoassay on an automatic Evolis enzyme immunoassay analyzer from Bio-Rad (Germanytotal ­cholesterol (OH), apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1), apolipoprotein B (ApoV), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides (TG), phospholipids (FL) on the biochemical analyzer «Stat fax 1904 Plus» of the company «Awareness Technology, Inc.» USA.

RESULTS: Fasting hyperlipoproteidemia in practically healthy people is associated with an increase in the concentration of leptin in the blood within the physiological content. The closest relationship between an increase in leptin levels and concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6 was established (r=0.68, 0.74 and 0.83, respectively; p<0.001). The severity of the reaction of proinflammatory cytokines is regulated by a parallel increase in the secretion of anti-inflammatory IL-10 (r=0.62; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: It should be recognized that the stimulation of leptin secretion is provided by the influence of more intense signals initiating a cytokine reaction. In order to ensure the secretion of leptin, compared with that of proinflammatory cytokines, the influence of more pronounced signals associated with an increased need for metabolic energy is required. Higher concentrations of leptin were found with a low plasma content of HDL, ApoA-1 ligands and ApoB; The opinion is substantiated that leptin in physiological concentrations regulates the use of the depot of the energy substrate of adipose tissue by increasing its secretion with a low content of HDL in plasma, ligands of lipid transport forms.
Classification of agricultural priority and reserved areas in Brandenburg under consideration of bio-economic climate simulations
Authors: Von Czettritz Hannah Jona , Uthes Sandra , Schuler Johannes , Steinhäußer Reimund , Kersebaum Kurt-Christian , Zander Peter
Published: August 2024

Ensuring a crisis-proof food supply has become a key political issue. In Germany, official spatial planning allows the use of priority and reserved areas to secure land for agricultural use and regional food supply. The focus should be particularly on climate-resilient areas that also have a stable yield potential in the future. This paper supplements widely used, static approaches for determining priority and reserved areas with a dynamic bio-economic analysis that takes future climate scenarios into account. The results for the German federal state of Brandenburg show a high area equivalence between the static and dynamic approaches. In the case of data gaps, for example, static approaches such as soil quality indices can serve as an adequate proxy for future yield potentials. However, not all climate-robust areas can be classified as potential reserved or priority areas. Furthermore, areas that show low yield potential under future conditions are not released for other land uses. Feedback from stakeholders involved in the study showed that the use of the dynamic approach and a target value using the results of a foodshed model lead to broad acceptance. The method developed here can make a valuable contribution to climate change adaptation in spatial planning instruments.
Platelet aggregation response to cyclooxygenase inhibition and thromboxane receptor antagonism using impedance aggregometry: A pilot study
Authors: Williams Auni C. , Fisher Kat G. , Alexander Lacy M. , Kenney W. Larry
Published: August 2024

Impedance aggregometry is an alternative to light transmission aggregometry that allows analysis of platelet function in whole blood samples. We hypothesized (1) impedance aggregometry would produce repeatable results, (2) inhibition of cyclooxygenase with aspirin would attenuate aggregation responses to collagen and abolish the aggregation response to arachidonic acid (AA), and (3) thromboxane receptor antagonism (terutroban) would attenuate the aggregation response to AA. Venous blood was obtained from 11 participants three times separated by at least 2 weeks. One sample followed 7‐day‐aspirin intervention (81 mg once daily; ASA), the others no intervention (control). Aggregation was induced using 1 μg/mL collagen ([col 1]), 5 μg/mL collagen ([col 5]), and 50 mM AA via impedance aggregometry to determine total aggregation (AUC) analyzed for intra‐test repeatability, inter‐test repeatability, intervention (ASA or control), and incubation (saline or terutroban). [col 1] showed high intra‐test (p ≤ 0.03 visit 1 and 2) and inter‐test repeatability (p < 0.01). [col 5] and AA showed intra‐ ([col 5] p < 0.01 visit 1 and 2; AA p < 0.001 visit 1 and 2) but not inter‐test repeatability ([col 5] p = 0.48; AA p = 0.06). ASA attenuated AUC responses to [col 1] (p < 0.01), [col 5] (p = 0.03), and AA (p < 0.01). Terutroban attenuated AUC in response to AA (p < 0.01). [col 1] shows sufficient repeatability for longitudinal investigations of platelet function. [col 5] and AA may be used to investigate mechanisms of platelet function and metabolism at a single time point.
Animal Models in Research
Authors: Tennis Meredith A. , Fong Derek L. , Habenicht Lauren M. , Fink Michael K. , Manuel Christopher A. , Leszczynski Jori K. , Fordham Shawndra
Published: August 2024

This activity provides students with an introduction to the use of animals in research and activities commonly performed to meet the guidelines for research animal care provided by the U.S. Public Health Service. The lesson includes discussion of animal models in research, explanation of regulations and practice for research animal care, discussion of roles for people in research animal care, a simulated rodent health inquiry activity, and discussion of disease pathways.