bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing and evaluating patient‐focused safety technology on adult acute mental health wards
Authors: Kendal Sarah , Louch Gemma , Walker Lauren , Shafiq Saba , Halligan Daisy , Brierley‐Jones Lyn , Baker John
Published: January 2024

Accessible Summary

What is known on the subject

Mental health wards can feel unsafe. We know that patients and staff have different ideas about what makes a hospital ward safe or unsafe.

Patients are often the first to know when the atmosphere on a ward becomes tense, but often, no one asks them for their views.

Patients and staff are experts and should be included in discussions about how to make wards safer.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

We got together with some service users and staff, and made an app that helps patients to tell staff when they are not feeling safe on a mental health ward. We tried it out on six wards and we asked patients and staff what they thought.

The app was easy to use and most people liked the look of it.

Patients said staff did not talk with them enough and so they liked using the app. However, some staff said they could tell how patients were feeling without an app and so they did not need it. Ward managers told us that staff were often very busy and did not always have time to use the app.

What are the implications for practice

This app could help staff know straightaway when patients do not feel safe on the ward, so that they can act quickly to calm things down.

To make the most of the app, staff need to get used to it and bring it into ward routines.

Introduction

Safety improvement on mental health wards is of international concern. It should incorporate patient perspectives.

Aim

Implementation and evaluation of ‘WardSonar’, a digital safety‐monitoring tool for adult acute mental health wards, developed with stakeholders to communicate patients' real‐time safety perceptions to staff.

Method

Six acute adult mental health wards in England implemented the tool in 2022. Evaluation over 10 weeks involved qualitative interviews (34 patients, 33 staff), 39 focused ethnographic observations, and analysis of pen portraits.

Results

Implementation and evaluation of the WardSonar tool was feasible despite challenging conditions. Most patients valued the opportunity to communicate their immediate safety concerns, stating that staff had a poor understanding of them. Some staff said the WardSonar tool could help enhanced ward safety but recognised a need to incorporate its use into daily routines. Others said they did not need the tool to understand patients' safety concerns.

Discussion

Foreseeable challenges, including staff ambivalence and practical issues, appeared intensified by the post‐COVID‐19 context.

Implications for Practice

The WardSonar tool could improve ward safety, especially from patients' perspectives. Future implementation could support staff to use the real‐time data to inform proactive safety interventions.
Pretransplant malignancy in pediatrics is not a risk factor for renal graft failure
Authors: Mandel Asher , Robinson Samuel G. , Peticca Benjamin , Prudencio Tomas M. , Karhadkar Sunil S.
Published: January 2024

Background

In adults, pretransplant malignancy (PTM) negatively impacts patient survival due to immunosuppression regimens influencing post‐transplantation tumor growth. Few reports investigate the outcomes of pediatric kidney transplantation with PTM. We compare transplant outcomes for pediatric patients with PTM to matched controls, including cancer types extending beyond Wilms tumor.

Methods

The United Network of Organ Sharing Database was queried to identify pediatric transplant recipients with histories of PTM. All PTM patients were matched to non‐PTM patients, at a 1:1 ratio, with 0.001 match tolerance. Matching variables included transplant year, recipient age, recipient gender, recipient race, donor type, and prior transplant. Death‐censored graft and patient survival were analyzed. All statistics were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

After propensity matching, 285 PTM and 285 non‐PTM patients were identified, with transplant dates from 1990 to 2020. Median Kidney Donor Profile Index values were comparable between cohorts, 17% and 12%, respectively (p = .065). Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that PTM patients did not have a significantly different rate of death‐censored graft failure, compared to the non‐PTM group [HR 0.76; 95% CI (0.54–1.1)]. There was also no difference in the overall survival between the two groups of patients [HR 1.1; 95% CI (0.66–2.0)].

Conclusion

A history of pediatric malignancy has minimal independent effect on their post‐transplant survival. Additionally, pediatric patients with PTM demonstrated equivalent rates of graft survival. Thus, in contrast to adults, renal failure in children with history of pediatric malignancies should not be considered a complicating factor for renal transplantation.
Far‐red active unsymmetrical squaraine dyes containing N‐arylated indoline donors for dye sensitized solar cells
Authors: Jadhav Avinash P. , Singh Ambarish Kumar , Pandya Rinu , Vanka Kumar , Krishnamoorthy Kothandam , Jayaraj Nithyanandhan
Published: January 2024

Squaraine dyes possess sharp far‐red active transition with high extinction coefficient and form aggregates on TiO2 surface. Aggregation of dyes on TiO2 has been considered as a detrimental factor for DSSC device performance, which can be controlled by appending alkyl groups to the dye structures. Hence by integrating alkylated (alkyl groups with both in‐plane and out‐of‐plane) aryl group with indoline moiety to make it compatible with other electrolytes and for controlling the dye‐aggregation, a series of squaraine acceptor‐based dyes SQA4‐6 have been designed and synthesized. SQA4‐6 dyes showed absorption between 642 and 653 nm (λmax), photophysical and electrochemical studies indicated that the HOMO energy levels of this sets of dyes are well aligned with the potentials of I−/ and [Co(bpy)3]2+/3+ redox shuttles for better dye regeneration process. DSSC device efficiency of 3% has been achieved for SQA5 dye with iodolyte (I−/) electrolyte in the presence of 0.3 mM of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). The IPCE profile of DSSC device fabricated with SQA4‐6 dyes indicated the contribution of aggregated structures for the photocurrent generation.
Clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of ultraviolet A1 treatment in early‐stage mycosis fungoides
Authors: Keskin Nuray , Temel Berkay , Adışen Esra , Aksakal Ahmet Burhan , Acar Elif , Erdem Özlem
Published: January 2024

Background/Purpose

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common variant of cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas primarily involving the skin. Early‐stage MF is characterised by non‐specific skin lesions and non‐diagnostic biopsies. While skin‐focused treatments, such as PUVA and narrowband UVB (nbUVB), are the most frequently recommended treatments, the UVA1 efficacy has been researched in recent years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects of UVA1 treatment in patients with early‐stage MF.

Methods

The modified severity weighted assessment scale (mSWAT) was used for total skin body scoring before and after treatment. Skin punch biopsies were taken from the patients before and after treatment. UVA1 therapy was performed five times each week.

Results

This study included 26 patients with early‐stage MF. The total number of UVA1 sessions varied between 15 and 34. Complete response was observed in 8 (30.8%) of 26 patients (30.8%). The median mSWAT score decreased statistically significantly from 7.1 to 2.0 after treatment (p < .001). Histopathological complete response was observed in 2 (9.5%) of 21 patients. A statistically significant decrease in dermal interstitial infiltrate was observed on histopathological examination after treatment (p = .039). Epidermal CD4/CD8 levels decreased statistically significantly higher from a median of 2.5–1.2 in the complete clinical response group after treatment (p = .043).

Conclusion

According to our results, UVA1 treatment has an effect on early‐stage MF in terms of clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemistry.
Ecological restoration and water‐related ecosystem services, one step ahead: a reply to Dib et al. (2023)
Authors: Durigan Giselda , Honda Eliane A.
Published: January 2024

Water‐related ecosystem services are the most expected benefits from ecological restoration worldwide, because they directly improve the quality of life of human populations around and downstream the restored areas. However, the poor comprehension of how the vegetation drives the hydrological processes has resulted in some major ecological disasters. Dib et al. (2023) tried to “shed light on the complex relationship between forest restoration and water‐related ecosystem services.” However, while mentioning the decrease in water yield and highlighting the great benefits to water quality generally observed after forest restoration, they (1) overstated the contribution of planting forests to increase rainfall, and (2) omitted the substantial losses due to rain interception by the canopies when explaining the forest–water relationships. This reply aims to complement or rectify the arguments from Dib et al. (2023), clarifying some hydrological issues which are crucial for restoration planning and implementation.
International trade and income distribution: The effect of corporate governance regimes
Authors: Egger Hartmut , Egger Peter H. , Nelson Douglas
Published: January 2024

This paper introduces a model of corporate governance into the general oligopolistic equilibrium theory of international trade. Corporate governance defines the influence of workers and capital owners on manager contract and, through this contract, the scope of these two groups for subsequent rent extraction in the wage/employment negotiation between firms and unions. If capital owners have dictatorship over the manager contract, they can extract the full bargaining surplus and eliminate the union wage premium. If workers have dictatorship over the manager contract they can achieve a wage premium, driving the income of capital owners down to zero. In this setting, opening up to trade is to the detriment of the income group whose interests are decisive for the manager contract. This shows that distributional conflicts materializing from trade can be considerably different for countries with differing corporate governance regimes. Foreign investment allows capital owners in unionized industries to flee from disadvantageous corporate governance regimes at home, eliminating union wage premia and lowering manager remuneration in countries with corporate governance regimes that give workers dictatorship over manager contracts.
No evidence that belief in conspiracy theories is negatively related to attitudes toward transhumanism
Authors: Lantian Anthony , Rose Michael
Published: January 2024

Transhumanism is a movement that emphasizes the improvement of the human condition by developing technologies and making them widely available. Conspiracy theories regularly refer to the allegedly transhumanist agenda of elites. We hypothesized that belief in conspiracy theories would be related to more unfavorable attitudes toward the transhumanist movement. We examined this association through two pre‐registered studies (based on two French samples, total N after exclusion = 550). We found no evidence of a negative relationship between belief in conspiracy theories and attitudes toward transhumanism. This null result was further corroborated by Bayesian analysis, an equivalence test, and an internal mini meta‐analysis. This work plays a precursory role in understanding attitudes toward an international cultural and intellectual movement that continues to grow in popularity and influence.
Exploring the comorbidity mechanisms between psoriasis and obesity based on bioinformatics
Authors: Gao Changyong , Li Jianhong
Published: January 2024

Background

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, immune‐mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by erythematous scaly lesions. Obesity is currently a major global health concern, increasing the risk of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Since the correlation between psoriasis and obesity, as well as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, has been clinically evidenced, it is of certain clinical significance to explore the mechanisms underlying the comorbidity of psoriasis with these conditions.

Materials and methods

Gene targets for both diseases were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) comprehensive gene expression database. Differential gene analysis, intersection gene analysis, construction and visualization of protein‐protein interaction networks (PPI) using R software, Cytoscape 3.8.2 software, online tools such as String, and enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed, with relevant graphics generated.

Results

Analysis identified 29 intersecting genes between the two diseases, with 10 key targets such as S100A7 and SERPINB4. Enrichment analysis indicated their involvement in regulating biological processes such as leukocyte chemotaxis, migration, and chronic inflammatory responses through cellular structures such as intracellular vesicles and extracellular matrix. Molecular functions, including RAGE receptor binding, Toll‐like receptor binding, and fatty acid binding, were found to simultaneously regulate psoriasis and obesity.

Conclusion

Psoriasis and obesity may mutually influence each other through multiple targets and pathways, emphasizing the importance of considering comorbidity treatment and daily care in clinical practice.
Museomics, molecular phylogeny and systematic revision of the Eurepini crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae), with description of two new genera
Authors: He Shilin , Su You Ning , Tan Ming Kai , Zwick Andreas , Warren Ben H. , Robillard Tony
Published: January 2024

Natural history collections worldwide house billions of specimens, representing one of the most globally important biobanks. In recent years, the advent of next‐generation sequencing has significantly reduced the challenges of obtaining considerable genetic information from historical museum specimens. Crickets in the Australian tribe Eurepini Robillard are a good example of a taxon in which such museomic data have particularly strong potential to advance systematic knowledge, because comprehensive sampling requires decades of work over a very wide area. The tribe currently comprises 64 described species in five genera. Previous studies conflict in the generic relationships inferred for this tribe, all of which are poorly resolved, being based on limited data and sampling. In addition, there has so far been no systematic research for this tribe with extensive taxon sampling, and therefore, the consequence for genus boundaries remains to be investigated. To investigate phylogenetic relationships within Eurepini, we first applied the genome skimming approach to obtain molecular data from a comprehensive sample of Eurepini museum specimens. Of the 69 specimens sampled representing 61 described species, mainly including holotype specimens, we obtained 50 complete and 11 partially complete mitogenomes. Three nuclear genes (H3, 18S, and 28S) were also partially recovered for nearly all of these specimens. Phylogenetic analyses performed with mitogenomes plus three nuclear genes using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference generated well‐supported and highly congruent topologies. Eurepini was strongly recovered monophyletic with eight well‐defined groups. These groups are used to revise the systematics of the tribe based on a combination of molecular phylogenetics and morphology. The phylogenetic results support the current definition of three genera (Eurepa Walker, Arilpa Otte & Alexander and Eurepella Otte & Alexander), lead us to redefine three genera (Salmanites Chopard, Napieria Baehr and Piestodactylus Saussure), and define and describe two new genera: Miripella Robillard, Tan & Su gen.nov. and Arrakis Robillard, Tan & Su gen.nov. Our results reinforce the importance of natural history collections as a repository for information on biodiversity and genetics, and provide the first comprehensive and robust phylogenetic framework for future systematic and evolutionary studies of Eurepini.
Actinic keratoses and squamous cell carcinoma limited to photo-exposed skin in vitiligo vulgaris in pigmented skin type
Authors: Sirka Chandra Sekhar , Sethy Madhusmita , Rout Arpita Nibedita
Published: January 2024

Vitiligo skin has a lesser number of photoprotective melanocytes—theoretically, there is a higher risk of development of non-melanoma skin cancers in such patients. But most studies in Caucasian patients have shown decreased incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers in patients with vitiligo. In Indian patients, there is a paucity of literature on such adverse events. We report a case of actinic keratoses, cutaneous horn with dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma developing exclusively over photo-exposed vitiligo lesions in an Indian woman in her 60s (housewife, Fitzpatrick skin type V and average daily photo-exposure time 2–4 hours) of long-standing vitiligo vulgaris without any history of phototherapy. The photoprotected lesional skin was completely normal with no clinically appreciable enlarged regional lymph nodes. Shave and elliptical excision of the suspicious lesions were done, and histopathology showed various degrees of malignant transformation in various lesions. The patient was started on topical imiquimod for the lesions of actinic keratoses and was referred for staging and wide excision of squamous cell carcinoma lesion. We report this case for its rarity and to emphasise the fact that there is a need for counselling for lifestyle modification in patients with vitiligo as the use of sunscreens is often not practised by Indian patients due to financial constraints and physical measures such as using full sleeves, high-collared dresses and scarves should be encouraged.
Mental Imagery to Reduce Alcohol-related harm in patients with alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related liver damaGE: the MIRAGE randomised pilot trial results
Authors: Dhanda Ashwin , Andrade Jackie , Allende Hannah , Allgar Victoria , Bailey Matthew , Callaghan Lynne , Cocking Laura , Goodwin Elizabeth , Hawton Annie , Hayward Christopher , Hudson Ben , Ingram Wendy , Jeffery Alison , King Angela , Lavers Victoria , Lomax Joe , McCune C Anne , Musicha Crispin , Parker Richard , Rollinson Christopher , Wilks Jonny , Creanor E Siobhan
Published: January 2024

Objective

The healthcare burden of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) is increasing. ARLD and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is best managed by reduction or cessation of alcohol use, but effective treatments are lacking. We tested whether people with ARLD and AUD admitted to hospital could be recruited to and retained in a trial of Functional Imagery Training (FIT), a psychological therapy that uses mental imagery to reduce alcohol craving. We conducted a multicentre randomised pilot trial of treatment as usual (TAU) versus FIT+TAU in people admitted to hospital with ARLD and AUD.

Design

Participants were randomised to TAU (a single session of brief intervention) or FIT+TAU (TAU with one hospital-based FIT session then eight telephone sessions over 6 months). Pilot outcomes included recruitment rate and retention at day 180. Secondary outcomes included fidelity of FIT delivery, alcohol use, and severity of alcohol dependence.

Results

Fifty-four participants (mean age 49; 63% male) were recruited and randomised, 28 to TAU and 26 to FIT+TAU. The retention rate at day 180 was 43%. FIT was delivered adequately by most alcohol nurses. 50% of intervention participants completed FIT sessions 1 and 2. There were no differences in alcohol use or severity of alcohol dependence between treatment groups at day 180.

Conclusion

Participants with ARLD and AUD could be recruited to a trial of FIT versus FIT+TAU. However, retention at day 180 was suboptimal. Before conducting a definitive trial of FIT in this patient group, modifications in the intervention and recruitment/retention strategy must be tested.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN41353774.
Odd-parity gravity waves from the Regge–Wheeler gauge perspective in the f(R, T) theory
Authors: Salti M. , Aydogdu O.
Published: January 2024

We mainly intend to discuss the odd-parity (or axial) modes of gravity (or gravitational) waves (GWs) in the Regge–Wheeler formalism. Since, there are plenty of astrophysical data that lead us to a space-time structure entered in a speedy expansion epoch, we perform our analysis in the f(R, T) theory of gravity, where the gravitational Lagrangian is written as an arbitrary function of the Ricci scalar R and the trace of the stress-energy tensor T, from the rainbow formalism of gravity perspective. In our study, we start with perturbing the background metric, background material distribution and the four-velocity components via the Regge–Wheeler gauge. Subsequently, formulating the corresponding field equations for both unperturbed and perturbed forms of the spatially flat conformal Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker metric, we solve them simultaneously to find out exact expressions of the unknown perturbation functions. Also, we focus our attention on Huygens’ principle to discuss additional features of the odd-parity modes of GWs.
Browder operators on quaternionic Hilbert space
Authors: Kumari Sarita , Dharmarha Preeti
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we study the notions of Browder operator and Browder S-spectrum of bounded right linear operator defined over the right quaternionic Hilbert space. Some properties of Browder operator and stability of the ascent, descent and Browder S-spectrum have been investigated in the right quaternionic setting. We also characterize the property of invariant Browder operators and study the spectral mapping theorem of Browder S-spectrum for self-adjoint operators in quaternionic setting. This investigation concludes by exploring the Browder S-spectrum of the sum of two bounded linear operators.
Analytical solutions to the 1D compressible isothermal Navier–Stokes equations with Maxwell’s law
Authors: Dong Jianwei , Bo Lijuan
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we present some analytical solutions to the one-dimensional compressible isothermal Navier–Stokes equations with Maxwell’s law in the real line. First, we construct two analytical solutions by using a self-similar ansatz, one blows up in finite time and the other exists globally-in-time. Second, we construct two global analytical solutions with different large initial data by using a non-self-similar ansatz.
A result about the classification of quantum covariance matrices based on their eigenspectra
Authors: Avagyan Arik
Published: January 2024

The set of covariance matrices of a continuous-variable quantum system with a finite number of degrees of freedom is a strict subset of the set of real positive-definite matrices (PDMs) due to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. This has the implication that, in general, not every orthogonal transform of a quantum covariance matrix (CM) produces a PDM that obeys the uncertainty principle. A natural question thus arises, to find the set of quantum covariance matrices consistent with a given eigenspectrum. For the special class of pure Gaussian states the set of quantum covariance matrices with a given eigenspectrum consists of a single orbit of the action of the orthogonal symplectic group. The eigenspectrum of a CM of a state in this class is composed of pairs that each multiply to one. Our main contribution is finding a non-trivial class of eigenspectra with the property that the set of quantum covariance matrices corresponding to any eigenspectrum in this class are related by orthogonal symplectic transformations. We show that all non-degenerate eigenspectra with this property must belong to this class, and that the set of such eigenspectra coincides with the class of non-degenerate eigenspectra that identify the physically relevant thermal and squeezing parameters of a Gaussian state.
The degree 2 part of the LMO invariant of cyclic branched covers of knots obtained by plumbing the doubles of two knots
Authors: Yamaguchi Kouki
Published: January 2024

The LMO invariant is a universal quantum invariant of closed oriented 3-manifolds. In this paper, we present the degree 2 part of the LMO invariant of cyclic branched covers of knots by using the 3-loop invariant of knots, and we calculate it concretely for knots obtained by plumbing the doubles of two knots.
Thermal effects on overdamped systems of repulsive particles
Authors: Gomes Marciel C. , Andrade José S. , Vieira César M. , Moreira André A.
Published: January 2024

Physical systems comprised of repulsive particles in dissipative media are ubiquitous. The dynamics of the local concentration of repulsive particles can be modeled by a nonlinear diffusion-like equation. To construct these coarse-grained models, it is necessary to determine, based on the local concentration and gradient, the expected force over the dispersed particles. In this work, we consider how the parametrization of the coarse-grained model can be obtained simply by investigating the properties of the steady state of systems presenting a constant concentration profile. We do this through Monte Carlo simulations for these homogeneous states at given temperatures. We use results from molecular dynamics numerical simulations to successfully test the predictions of our continuum model.
Analyzing single-lane roundabout traffic and environmental impacts through cellular automaton: A focus on U-turn effects
Authors: Ez-Zahar A. , Lakouari N. , Oubram O. , Marzoug R. , Ez-Zahraouy H.
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we examine the impact of vehicles executing a full turn or U-turn in a single-lane roundabout system using a cellular automaton model. We investigate how increasing the number of these U-turning vehicles affects traffic flow characteristics and energy dissipation. Our findings reveal that as the prevalence of U-turning vehicles rises, the phase diagram undergoes significant changes; the maximum current phase expands, detrimentally impacting the free flow and congestion phases, while giving rise to a jamming phase. This shift results in a gradual increase in capacity at circulating lanes and a steady decline at entry/exit lanes. We also explore the role of aimless vehicles — those circulating without a fixed destination. As the proportion of such vehicles augments, it fosters an enlargement of the maximum current phase at the expense of the free flow and congestion phases. Furthermore, these vehicles influence energy dissipation across the three lanes of a roundabout. Significantly, we elucidate that variations in the percentage of these specific vehicular groups critically affect CO2 emissions. Our research unravels vital insights into optimizing roundabout management to enhance traffic flow and reduce environmental impact.
The quantum model of spinning black holes
Authors: Neznamov V. P. , Sedov S. Yu. , Shemarulin V. E.
Published: January 2024

We propose a quantum model of spinning black holes with integrable ring singularities. For the charged Kerr–Newman quantum metric, the complete regularization takes place at fixing of the maximal (cut-off) energy of gravitons, [Formula: see text]. The domains of existence of one, two and several event horizons [Formula: see text] are shown depending on the parameters of modified Kerr and Kerr–Newman metrics.
Leveraging Sampling Schemes on Skewed Class Distribution to Enhance Male Fertility Detection with Ensemble AI Learners
Authors: GhoshRoy Debasmita , Alvi P. A. , Santosh KC
Published: January 2024

Designing effective AI models becomes a challenge when dealing with imbalanced/skewed class distributions in datasets. Addressing this, re-sampling techniques often come into play as potential solutions. In this investigation, we delve into the male fertility dataset, exploring 14 re-sampling approaches to understand their impact on enhancing predictive model performance. The research employs conventional AI learners to gauge male fertility potential. Notably, five ensemble AI learners are studied, their performances are compared, and their results are evaluated using four measurement indices. Through comprehensive comparative analysis, we identify substantial enhancement in model effectiveness. Our findings showcase that the LightGBM model with SMOTE-ENN re-sampling stands out, achieving an efficacy of 96.66% and an F1-Score of 95.60% through 5-fold cross-validation. Interestingly, the CatBoost model, without re-sampling, exhibits strong performance, achieving an efficacy of 86.99% and an F1-Score of 93.02%. Furthermore, we benchmark our approach against state-of-the-art methods in male fertility prediction, particularly highlighting the use of re-sampling techniques like SMOTE and ESLSMOTE. Consequently, our proposed model emerges as a robust and efficient computational framework, promising accurate male fertility prediction.
DAGAN: A GAN Network for Image Denoising of Medical Images Using Deep Learning of Residual Attention Structures
Authors: Tong Guoxiang , Hu Fangning , Liu Hongjun
Published: January 2024

Medical images are susceptible to noise and artifacts, so denoising becomes an essential pre-processing technique for further medical image processing stages. We propose a medical image denoising method based on dual-attention mechanism for generative adversarial networks (GANs). The method is based on a GAN model with fused residual structure and introduces a global skip-layer connection structure to balance the learning ability of the shallow and deep networks. The generative network uses a residual module containing channel and spatial attention for efficient extraction of CT image features. The mean square error loss and perceptual loss are introduced to construct a composite loss function to optimize the model loss function, which helps to improve the image generation effect of the model. Experimental results on the LUNA dataset and “the 2016 Low-Dose CT Grand Challenge” dataset show that DAGAN achieves the best results in root mean square error (RMSE), structural similarity (SSIM) and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) when compared to the state-of-the-art methods. In particular, PSNR reaches 31.2308 dB and 27.5265 dB, SSIM reaches 0.9115 and 0.7895, while RMSE is 0.0082 and 0.0112, respectively. This indicates that our method performs better than the state-of-the-art methods in the task of CT image denoising.
Residual Network for Image Compression Artifact Reduction
Authors: hu Jianhua , Luo Guixiang , Wang Bo , Wu Weimei , Yang Jiahui , Guo Jianding
Published: January 2024

This paper proposes an image compression algorithm based on Swin Transformer and residual network (STRN), aiming to reduce blurring and distortions in traditionally compressed images. The algorithm utilizes a dual-channel mechanism to remove artifacts from the image, which takes advantage of the complementary features of the transform and residual networks. The Swin Transformer networks address the issue of long-range dependency, leading to an enhanced and improved reconstructed image quality. The residual network is an effective network that mitigates gradient loss and recovers image details during the image compression process. The paper demonstrates that image compression can be achieved by training a convolutional network based on a transformer and residuals network, which significantly reduces artifacts and provides better reconstructed image quality compared to previously used and current mainstream methods based on traditional convolutional neural networks. The proposed approach can remove blocking artifacts by subtracting estimated artifacts from the input image, while still preserving most of the original details. Therefore, our proposed method is highly effective in improving image quality and reducing visual artifacts caused by traditional compression methods. Moreover, this method is useful for enhancing image transmission and storage efficiency in various computer vision systems that employ digital visual codecs.
Cross-sections for nuclear transmutation of long-lived fission product 126Sn using (p,n) reaction
Authors: Churi K. , Singh P. , Hinge S. , Hemalatha M.
Published: January 2024

For a sustainable nuclear energy program using fission reactors, the reduction or elimination of long-lived radioactive waste is essential. The hazardous Long-Lived Fission Products (LLFP), which are by-products of the operation of nuclear reactors, need to be converted to short-lived or stable nuclei. For nuclear transmutation, the knowledge of reaction cross-sections is important. The cross-section and half-life for the proton-induced transmutation of the LLFP, [Formula: see text]Sn, produced as nuclear waste from the reactor have been calculated. The cross-section for the (p,n) reaction on unstable [Formula: see text]Sn has been calculated using phenomenological as well as microscopic models of optical potentials and level densities in the framework of the statistical nuclear model using the latest version of the code TALYS-1.96. The Koning–Delaroche (KD) and Jeukenne–Lejeune–Mahaux–Bruyeres (JLMB) optical models, as well as back-shifted Fermi gas model (BFM) and Hartree–Fock (HF) level density, based on the Skyrme force from Gorielys tables, have been used. The renormalized optical model parameters and level density models obtained by comparing cross-sections with data for protons incident on stable [Formula: see text]Sn isotopes were extended to make a prediction of (p,n) cross-section on unstable [Formula: see text]Sn isotope. The excitation function obtained using JLMB-HF calculation for [Formula: see text]Sn reveals a peak at an incident proton energy of 8.5[Formula: see text]MeV with a corresponding cross-section of 269[Formula: see text]mb. It would be of interest to perform experiments for measurements of cross-section where data are unavailable, especially in the peak regions and beyond, to validate the predictions of this work. It is found that for a proton flux of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text], and a peak cross-section calculated using JLMB-HF calculation, the effective half-life of transmutation of [Formula: see text]Sn is about 65 years, thus justifying its feasibility.
INVESTIGATION ON ENHANCED CONCRETE PERFORMANCE THROUGH THE INCORPORATION OF NANOMATERIALS AND NATURAL FIBERS
Authors: MAGUTEESWARAN R. , KESHAV LAKSHMI , BRITTO A. SAGAI FRANCIS , DHAVASHANKARAN D.
Published: January 2024

This study delves into the realm of M70, high-performance concrete (HPC) with a focus on enhancing its mechanical and sustainable properties through the incorporation of nanomaterials, specifically nanosilica, and organic composites derived from abaca fibers. HPC is pivotal in contemporary construction for its superior durability, strength, and resistance to environmental factors. The integration of nanosilica aims to refine the microstructure of the concrete at the nanoscale, enhancing its strength and durability. Simultaneously, the introduction of organic composites from abaca fibers seeks to impart eco-friendly characteristics to the concrete mix, addressing sustainability concerns. The research methodology involves systematically varying the proportions of nanosilica (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%) as a partial replacement for cement in the concrete and additionally, abaca fibers (0%, 0.25% and 0.5%) were used to enrich the durability. Mechanical testing will be conducted to assess the impact of these additives on the concrete’s structural performance, while durability testing will focus on resistance to environmental factors such as moisture and chemical exposure. The outcomes of this study enriching the concrete performance and optimization of high-performance concrete (1% of nanosilica and 0.25% of abaca fiber) is the superior quality compared to all other mixes.
Representations of quantum toroidal superalgebras and plane s-partitions
Authors: Bezerra Luan , Mukhin Evgeny
Published: January 2024

We construct Fock and MacMahon modules for the quantum toroidal superalgebra [Formula: see text] associated with the Lie superalgebra [Formula: see text] and parity [Formula: see text]. The bases of the Fock and MacMahon modules are labeled by super-analogs of partitions and plane partitions with various boundary conditions, while the action of generators of [Formula: see text] is given by Pieri-type formulas. We study the corresponding characters.
Para-Kähler and pseudo-Kähler structures on Lie–Yamaguti algebras
Authors: Zhao Jia , Feng Yuqin , Qiao Yu
Published: January 2024

For a pre-Lie–Yamaguti algebra [Formula: see text], by using its sub-adjacent Lie–Yamaguti algebra [Formula: see text], we are able to construct a semidirect product Lie–Yamaguti algebra via a representation of [Formula: see text]. The investigation of such semidirect Lie–Yamaguti algebras leads us to the notions of para-Kähler structures and pseudo-Kähler structures on Lie–Yamaguti algebras, and also gives the definition of complex product structures on Lie–Yamaguti algebras. Furthermore, a Levi–Civita product with respect to a pseudo-Riemannian Lie–Yamaguti algebra is introduced and we explore its relation with pre-Lie–Yamaguti algebras.
Analyzing omics data based on sample network
Authors: Sheng Meizhen , Qi Yanpeng , Gao Zhenbo , Lin Xiaohui
Published: January 2024

Identifying valuable features from complex omics data is of great significance for disease diagnosis study. This paper proposes a new feature selection algorithm based on sample network (FS-SN) to mine important information from omics data. The sample network is constructed according to the sample neighbor relationship at the molecular (feature) expression level, and the distinguishing ability of the feature is evaluated based on the topology of the sample network. The sample network established on a feature with a strong discriminating ability tends to have many edges between the same group samples and few edges between the different group samples. At the same time, FS-SN removes redundant features according to the gravitational interaction between features. To show the validation of FS-SN, it was compared on ten public datasets with ERGS, mRMR, ReliefF, ATSD-DN, and INDEED which are efficient in omics data analysis. Experimental results show that FS-SN performed better than the compared methods in accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in most cases. Hence, FS-SN making use of the topology of the sample network is effective for analyzing omics data, it can identify key features that reflect the occurrence and development of diseases, and reveal the underlying biological mechanism.
Effects of the Temperature-Dependent Behavior of the Gap-Filling PDMS on the Response of a Capacitive MEMS to the Electrostatic Actuation
Authors: Valizadeh Samira , Fathalilou Mohammad , Rezazadeh Ghader
Published: January 2024

In recent years, researchers have shown interest in using elastomers with high dielectric constant and good elasticity in capacitive MEMS. This paper aims to investigate how the performance of capacitive sensors/actuators is affected by the temperature-dependent behavior of gap-filling Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). As a case study, a model is created, consisting of a proof mass with two attached flexible microbeams parallel to a stationary electrode, under electrostatic actuation. The actuation is directly proportional to the temperature-dependent dielectric constant. To reduce resistance stiffness, the bulk PDMS was assumed to have porosity, resulting in a nonlinear displacement-dependent Young’s modulus. The system’s static and dynamic responses were obtained by solving the governing nonlinear equations using Galerkin-based numerical procedures. Additionally, a physically gradient-descent-based learning method was used to predict the nonlinear frequency response of the system. The results have shown that using PDMS instead of an air gap significantly reduces the required actuation voltage, although this difference is less pronounced at higher temperatures. In addition, the inclusion of PDMS alters the resonance behavior of the system and also reducing the temperature diminishes the nonlinear softening behavior of the system under specific bias and AC voltages.
Maps preserving sums of triple products on ∗-algebras
Authors: Ferreira João Carlos da Motta , Marietto Maria das Graças Bruno
Published: January 2024

Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be two unital complex ∗-algebras. This paper is concerned with characterizations of bijective maps [Formula: see text] preserving sum of triple products [Formula: see text], where the scalars [Formula: see text] are complex numbers satisfying some conditions. As a consequence, maps preserving mixed product, of Jordan [Formula: see text]-product and Jordan [Formula: see text]-∗-product, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are two nonzero complex numbers, are also characterized.
Eco-Conscious Silver Nanoparticles via Quassia indica: Characterization and Multifaceted Applications
Authors: Scaria Shilpa Susan , Sebastian Joseph Kadanthottu
Published: January 2024

This research work explores the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Quassia indica (QI-Ag NPs), a natural plant extract, as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The synthesized QI-Ag NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques, including UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED). The UV-Visible analysis revealed a characteristic peak at 430 nm, indicating the successful formation of AgNPs. XRD analysis unveiled the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles, with four distinctive peaks corresponding to the silver crystallographic planes. SEM and EDX provided insights into the morphology and chemical composition of the QI-AgNPs. Moreover, TEM and SAED elucidated the structural attributes and crystallinity of the nanoparticles. The Ag NPs exhibited a spherical structure and crystalline nature, as supported by both SAED and XRD findings. The zeta potential of QI-Ag NPs exhibited a value of −24.2 mV. The synthesized QI-Ag NPs were evaluated for their photocatalytic potential, demonstrating a remarkable 97% degradation of Crystal Violet dye. Furthermore, comprehensive studies encompassing antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity assessments were conducted, showcasing the multifaceted applications of these nanoparticles. This research underscores the promising potential of Q. indica-mediated silver nanoparticles as environmentally benign and versatile nanomaterials.
Verifying Correctness
Authors: Hoffmann Leah
Published: January 2024

Yael Tauman Kalai on her career, proof systems, and certifying correctness.
FiFrauD: Unsupervised Financial Fraud Detection in Dynamic Graph Streams
Authors: Khodabandehlou Samira , Golpayegani Alireza Hashemi
Published: January 2024

Given a stream of financial transactions between traders in an e-market, how can we accurately detect fraudulent traders and suspicious behaviors in real time? Despite the efforts made in detecting these fraudsters, this field still faces serious challenges, including the ineffectiveness of existing methods for the complex and streaming environment of e-markets. As a result, it is still difficult to quickly and accurately detect suspected traders and behavior patterns in real-time transactions, and it is still considered an open problem. To solve this problem and alleviate the existing challenges, in this article, we propose FiFrauD, which is an unsupervised, scalable approach that depicts the behavior of manipulators in a transaction stream. In this approach, real-time transactions between traders are converted into a stream of graphs and, instead of using supervised and semi-supervised learning methods, fraudulent traders are detected precisely by exploiting density signals in graphs. Specifically, we reveal the traits of fraudulent traders in the market and propose a novel metric from this perspective, i.e., graph topology, time, and behavior. Then, we search for suspicious blocks by greedily optimizing the proposed metric. Theoretical analysis demonstrates upper bounds for FiFrauD's effectiveness in catching suspicious trades. Extensive experiments on five real-world datasets with both actual and synthetic labels demonstrate that FiFrauD achieves significant accuracy improvements compared with state-of-the-art fraud detection methods. Also, it can find various suspicious behavior patterns in a linear runtime and provide interpretable results. Furthermore, FiFrauD is resistant to the camouflage tactics used by fraudulent traders.
Genetic Parameters of Semen Traits and Their Correlations with Conformation Traits in Chinese Holstein Bulls
Authors: Wang Xiao , Yang Jian , Xue Jie , Zhang Miao , Zhang Fan , Wang Kun , Li Yanqin , Zhang Yuanpei , Wu Xiaoping , Wang Feng , Zhao Xiuxin , Ni Junqing , Ma Yabin , Li Rongling , Wang Lingling , Su Guosheng , Gao Yundong , Li Jianbin
Published: January 2024

The elite bull plays an extremely important role in the genetic progression of the dairy cow population. The previous results indicated the potential positive relationship of large scrotal circumference (SC) with improved semen volume, concentration, and motility. In order to improve bull’s semen quantity and quality by selection, it is necessary to estimate the genetic parameters of semen traits and their correlations with other conformation traits such as SC that could be used for an indirect selection. In this study, the genetic parameters of seven semen traits (n = 66,260) and nine conformation traits (n = 3,642) of Holstein bulls (n = 453) were estimated by using the bivariate repeatability animal model with the average information‐restricted maximum likelihood (AI‐REML) approach. The results showed that the estimated heritabilities of semen traits ranged from 0.06 (total number of motile sperm, TNMS) to 0.37 (percentage of abnormal sperm, PAS) and conformation traits ranged from 0.23 (pin width, PW) to 0.69 (hip height, HH). The highest genetic correlations were found between semen volume per ejaculation (SVPE), semen concentration per ejaculation (SCPE), total number of sperm (TNS), and TNMS traits that were 0.97, 0.98, 1.00, and 0.99, respectively. Phenotypic correlations between SC and SVPE, SCPE, TNS, and TNMS were 0.35, 0.35, 0.48, and 0.42, respectively. In summary, the moderate or high heritability of semen traits indicates that genetic improvement of semen quality by selection is feasible, where SC could be a useful trait for indirect selection or as correlated information to improve semen quantity and production in the practical bull breeding programs.