bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thirty Years of Research on Fine Motor Skills in Preschool and School-Aged children: A Scientometric Analysis of Trends
Authors: Zhang Bai-fa , Lin Zhi-Cheng , Chen Jie-Bo , Li Chao
Published: November 2024

Research on fine motor skills in children has evolved considerably over the last 30 years. However, a scientometric analysis of these changes over time, along with an assessment of researchers’ networks and scientific productivity, is currently lacking. We conducted a scientometric analysis of the scientific literature on fine motor skills in preschool and school-aged children to evaluate key themes and trends over the past decades, thereby informing future research directions. We conducted a search in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1994 to 2024 utilizing pertinent keywords. The evolution of co-reference clusters and the performance of research networks across countries, institutions, and authors were analyzed using the Bibliometrix R package (v4.3.0) and CiteSpace (v6.4.R3). There has been an exponential growth in publications, showing a 7.5% annual increase from 2006 to 2021, and a positive correlation (R² = 0.89) between the publication year and output, indicating a promising trend in the field. The co-cited reference network analysis revealed 10 clusters in a well-structured network (Q = 0.835) with strong clustering reliability (S = 0.94). The primary research trends identifiedare: 1) the link between fine motor skills and academic achievement; and 2) the traits of fine motor impairment in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The latest research trends in fine motor skills for children include developing assessment tools and interventions for both typically developing children and those with neurodevelopmental disorders.These findings can inform future directions for funding agencies and research groups.
The Curiosity of Madeleine Hachard: Ursuline Missionaries and the Company of the Indies in Colonial Louisiana
Authors: Kostroun Daniella Jane
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This article proposes that the printed letters attributed to Madeleine Hachard (Rouen, 1728), one of the founding mothers of the Louisiana Ursulines in 1727, are a parody and not authentic primary sources as commonly thought. Drawing on new archival evidence and the methodologies of cultural history, literary analysis, and book history, it posits that an anonymous parodist purloined letters sent to France by other Ursulines, altered them, and then published them falsely under Hachard’s name. The parodist’s motive was to use the eighteenth-century trope of the ingénue to critique the disruptions of the Law System (also known as the “Mississippi Bubble”) (1718–1720) to the French Church.
Ethnographic Notes on a Trailer Park Community in Rural America
Authors: Hui Yew-Foong
Published: December 2024

Abstract: While Jim Siegel is best known for his work on Indonesia, his anthropological reflections have included other contexts where he has lived and worked, such as Japan, Paris and Cornell. His intellectual curiosity encompasses the quotidian and intimate, and it was his passion for understanding America anthropologically that motivated this study on a trailer park in upstate New York. Through these raw ethnographic notes on what is considered the "underbelly" of America, this article tangentially reflects on anthropology's approach to otherness and difference, a theme that Jim Siegel was revisiting toward the end of his teaching career at Cornell.
The Unlooked-For
Authors: Johnson Andrew
Published: December 2024

Abstract: James Siegel's work is exemplary in its search for the surprising. He, like the theorists, psychologists, conspiracy theorists and magicians that he draws from, makes unexpected and often unrepeated connections – the hypnotist and the tsunami; the New Order and its witches. These reflect a way of thinking about anthropology that seeks deeper but temporary truths rather than one authoritative decoding of culture. It is a way to create resonances, not sense, and in so doing reflects the magic of poetry more than social science. It is an attempt too often lost in contemporary anthropology, in its search for certainty and truth. Rather, here there is a more fundamental truth in the temporary senselessness of moments that throw the everyday into stark relief, and which bring out the weird, the unsettling, the unlooked-for.
Floquet topological physics in photonics
Authors: Fleury Romain , ZHANG Zhe , Wang Junda , Qin Haoye
Published: November 2024

Floquet topological physics, an area exploring periodically driven systems and leveraging degrees of freedoms in the temporal dimension, has opened new avenues in photonics by enabling the creation of novel topological phases, new mechanisms, and intriguing phenomena that are inaccessible or challenging to realize in static systems. These include anomalous Floquet topological insulators, anomalous Floquet Anderson insulators, and topological phases with broken time-reversal symmetry without the need for magnetic fields. Unlike general topological photonics, which relies on fixed structural or material properties to induce topological states, Floquet topological photonics leverages time-periodic modulation to access a broader range of topological effects, introducing flexibility in tuning topological transitions and wave dynamics. This Review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Floquet topological phases in photonic systems, explaining the theoretical basics, highlighting experimental platforms, the interplay with disorder as well as the latest advancements beyond linear, Hermitian, Euclidean-space photonic systems and recent progresses on applications.
Complete model identification using laser impulse response for measuring the data age of photodetector in dynamic interferometry
Authors: Sun Yunke , Zhang Zhaoyang , Xing Xu , Hu Peng-Cheng , Tan Jiubin
Published: November 2024

We present a model identification technique for measuring the photodetector data age, with great potential for compensating and eliminating non-real-time and nonlinear errors in dynamic interferometry. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed method identifies the most complete photodetector model, consisting of a transfer function and a fixed delay. The model is constructed by analyzing impulse response sequences with Hankel matrix and phase spectrum analysis, based on which the phase shift and integral time delay of the photodetector are accurately determined. Experimental outcomes indicate that the proposed method achieves a model reliability of 95% and a measurement uncertainty of 51 ps (k=2) for the data age of a photodetector with a bandwidth of 400 MHz. Compared to existing methods, this approach significantly improves the accuracy, continuity, and practicality of measuring data age in photodetectors.
Truth set size prediction by Newton’s cooling law
Authors: Fujita Yuji , Usami Noritaka , Fujii Toshiaki , Nagai Hiroaki
Published: December 2024

Precision and recall are useful indices to evaluate an operation, algorithm, system, and other subjects from two different facets. However, they are not readily available when the subject is still in progress because the truth set, which is required to calculate recall, is unknown. In this study, a method to predict the size of the truth set of an inquiry still in progress is presented, which consists of a classical 18th century mechanics found and formulated by Isaac Newton, today known as “Newton’s cooling law”, with some set-theoretical trick and executed by Markov Chain Monte Carlo. The developed method is applied to nation-wide scale collections of identifications of the authors of academic articles as the affiliation data of Japanese national research organizations, and obtain recall values, as a part of objective, evidence-based policy for science and technology of the Japanese government. The author identification result is naturally represented as a bipartite directed graph, from the set of authors to the set of affiliation data. We conduct a sort of network prediction, not on the bipartite graph itself but on its vertices size and obtain the true graph size by using a simple and straightforward probabilistic model, which is implemented by also a classical, yet recently developing probabilistic inference method.
Rules, hypergraphs, and probabilities: The three-level analysis of chemical reaction systems and other stochastic stoichiometric population processes
Authors: Smith Eric , Smith Harrison B. , Andersen Jakob Lykke
Published: December 2024

We consider problems in the functional analysis and evolution of combinatorial chemical reaction networks as rule-based, or three-level systems. The first level consists of rules, realized here as graph-grammar representations of reaction mechanisms. The second level consists of stoichiometric networks of molecules and reactions, modeled as hypergraphs. At the third level is the stochastic population process on molecule counts, solved for dynamics of population trajectories or probability distributions. Earlier levels in the hierarchy generate later levels combinatorially, and as a result constraints imposed in earlier and smaller layers can propagate to impose order in the architecture or dynamics in later and larger layers. We develop general methods to study rule algebras, emphasizing system consequences of symmetry; decomposition methods of flows on hypergraphs including the stoichiometric counterpart to Kirchhoff’s current decomposition and work/dissipation relations studied by Wachtel et al.; and the large-deviation theory for currents in a stoichiometric stochastic population process, deriving additive decompositions of the large-deviation function that relate a certain Kirchhoff flow decomposition to the extended Pythagorean theorem from information geometry. The latter result allows us to assign a natural probabilistic cost to topological changes in a reaction network of the kind produced by selection for catalyst-substrate specificity. We develop as an example a model of biological sugar-phosphate chemistry from a rule system published by Andersen et al. It is one of the most potentially combinatorial reaction systems used by biochemistry, yet one in which two ancient, widespread and nearly unique pathways have evolved in the Calvin-Benson cycle and the Pentose Phosphate pathway, which are additionally nearly reverses of one another. We propose a probabilistic accounting in which physiological costs can be traded off against the fitness advantages that select them, and which suggests criteria under which these pathways may be optimal.
A global scoping review of the circumstances of care seeking for abortion later in pregnancy
Authors: Jacobson Laura E. , Darney Blair G. , Johnston Heidi Bart , Ganatra Bela
Published: December 2024

Understanding the circumstances of abortions later in pregnancy provides insight about the barriers and delays to timely care. Limited synthesized information is available on these circumstances, especially from low and middle incomes countries. Reviewing what is reported in the literature about the circumstances of abortion later in pregnancy and the methodological approaches used to study this is needed to reveal evidence gaps. The purpose of this study is to describe what is documented and methodological approaches used in existing literature on the circumstances and characteristics associated with seeking care for abortion later in pregnancy reported in population and facility-based studies. We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed research in OVID/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, SocIndex, and LILACs from 2007–2024 that described the circumstance, sociodemographic characteristics, population- or facility-based proportion of abortion later in pregnancy (≥12 weeks of gestation or “second trimester”) reported in the literature. We screened 2598 records by title and/or abstract and 668 of those by full text. We included 78 studies that described the circumstances around seeking care for abortion later in pregnancy from qualitative data (12 studies); included information on associated characteristics from quantitative data (15 studies); reported a population- (17 studies) or facility-based (45 studies) proportion of abortion later in pregnancy. Prominent themes included health system challenges, late pregnancy recognition, financial challenges, and delayed decision making. Low economic status and adolescence were commonly associated characteristics. Population and facility-based studies lacked standardization when reporting durations of gestation. Facility studies reported a wide variety of populations and number of facilities. Circumstances surrounding abortions later in pregnancy include health system challenges, late pregnancy recognition, financial issues, and delayed decision-making, which intersect to compound and extend delays. More research guided by clear methods and standard definitions when reporting on population and facility-based proportions of abortions later in pregnancy is needed to reveal evidence gaps and better inform policies and programs.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a supertyphoon: A quantitative study in Cebu, Philippines
Authors: Ylade Michelle , Adhikari Bipin , Crisostomo Maria Vinna , Daag Jedas Veronical , Cuachin Anna Maureen , Lopez March Helena , Macasero Angela , Agrupis Kristal An , Deen Jacqueline
Published: December 2024

Pandemics and natural disasters are recognized to cause major disruptions. The main objective of this study was to explore the impacts of COVID-19 and supertyphoon Odette in Cebu, Philippines. A total of 2630 participants were interviewed exploring the impacts of COVID-19 and supertyphoon Odette. The majority of the respondents (2486/2630; 94.5%) had financial problems due to COVID-19. Almost three out of four respondents (1962/2630; 74.6%) experienced moderate to severe impact on their mental health. Almost a third of the respondents (874/2630; 33.2%) reported moderate to severe impact on their physical well-being, mostly related to weight-related disorders. Almost half of the respondents (1248/2630; 47.5%) experienced moderate to severe impacts on their relationships with family members, relatives, friends and neighbors. More than two-thirds of the respondents (1673/2360; 63.6%) reported moderate to severe financial problems due to supertyphoon Odette. Households who were financially impacted by Supertyphoon Odette were more likely not have recently migrated to their current residence (p<0.001), and to have lower monthly expenditure (p = 0.020). The specific financial problems reported by the majority (1671/2360; 64.5%) were increased expenses, followed by inability to work (623/2360; 23.7%). Almost two-thirds of the respondents (1680/2360; 63.9%) reported having mental health problems. The majority of respondents (1853/2360; 70.5%) had moderate to severe impacts on their living conditions, disrupted by interruption in electricity, water supplies, and house damage. The COVID-19 pandemic and supertyphoon Odette had multi-faceted effects with immediate and long-term implications and greater impacts among poorer households. Public health measures to counteract the consequences of both of these incidents require a multi-pronged and targeted approach.
Research progress toward arthropod salivary protein vaccine development for vector-borne infectious diseases
Authors: Wang Yuchen , Ling Lin , Jiang Lijie , Marin-Lopez Alejandro
Published: December 2024

Hematophagous arthropods, including mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, are responsible for the transmission of several pathogens to vertebrates on whom they blood feed. The diseases caused by these pathogens, collectively known as vector-borne diseases (VBDs), threaten the health of humans and animals. In general, attempts to develop vaccines for pathogens transmitted by arthropods have met with moderate success, with few vaccine candidates currently developed. Nowadays, there are vaccine candidates under clinical trials, including different platforms, like mRNA, DNA, recombinant viral vector-based, virus-like particles (VLPs), inactivated-virus, live-attenuated virus, peptide and protein-based vaccines, all of them based on the presentation of pathogen antigens to the host immune system. A new approach to prevent VBDs has arose during the last decades, based on the design of vaccines that target vector-derived antigens. The salivary secretions of arthropods, in addition of causing allergic reactions and harbor pathogens, are also involved in the transmission and infection establishment in the host, altering its immune responses. In this review, we summarize the achievements in the arthropod salivary-based vaccine development for different vector-borne infectious diseases. This provides a rationale for creating vaccines against different types of arthropod salivary proteins, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies. Using salivary proteins of clinically important vectors might contribute to achieve protection against and control multiple arthropod-borne infection diseases.
Rapid high-throughput isolation and purification of chicken myoblasts based on deterministic lateral displacement microfluidic chips
Authors: Gu Lihong , Liu Hongju , Wang Long , Fan Haokai , Zheng Xinli , Xu Tieshan , Jiang Qicheng , Zhou Teng , Shi Liuyong
Published: December 2024

Myoblasts are defined as stem cells containing skeletal muscle cell precursors. However, there are some challenges associated with the purification of myoblast samples, including long culture times and ease of bacterial contamination. In this study, we propose a microfluidic myoblast cell enrichment and purification platform based on the principle of deterministic lateral displacement (DLD). To achieve this, we designed a DLD chip with three outlets and tested it on 11-day-old (E11) Wenchang chicken pectoral muscle tissue. A cell suspension was prepared using the collagenase method, pretreated, and then passed into the designed DLD chip for myoblast enrichment and purification. In this study, the number of myoblasts and the diameter of myoblasts increased slowly before E9, and the diameter of myofibers decreased and the number of myofibers increased rapidly after E9. The period when the muscle fibers are most numerous is on the E12, and the period when the diameter of the muscle fibers begins to increase again after reaching its lowest point is also on the E12. After E12, the diameter of the muscle fibers increased and the number of muscle fibers decreased. At E12, myoblasts clustered and fused, and the proliferation of myoblasts was greatly reduced. E12 is both intact myoblasts and the most vigorous proliferation period, so the best time to determine isolation is E12. We attained a myoblast cell recovery rate of 80%, a target outlet collection purity of 99%, and a chip throughput of 50 μ m/min. In this paper, we innovate chips design according to specific geometries and functions for Wenchang chicken pectoral muscle tissue, so as to optimize the isolation and purification process of myoblasts. This study provides a novel and effective method for the isolation and purification of skeletal muscle myoblasts.
Pregnancy with mixed connective tissue disease: Exploration of factors influencing live birth outcomes
Authors: Yoshida Tsukasa , Takeda Jun , Ishii Sumire , Matsushita Masakazu , Tamura Naoto , Itakura Atsuo
Published: December 2024

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) predominantly affects women in their reproductive age (30–40 years). This study is aimed to analyze a case series of MCTD-complicated pregnancies. The study design utilized a combined case-series and case–control approach. Pregnant women with MCTD were included and categorized into two groups: the live-birth and non-live birth (encompassing miscarriages at <12 weeks and stillbirths at ≥12 weeks) groups. Primary outcomes included delivery outcomes and factors associated with live births. A total of 57 pregnancies from 34 mothers (median age: 33.0 years) were included. Regarding delivery outcomes, the rates for live birth, miscarriage, and stillbirth were 64.9, 29.8, and 5.3%, respectively. Additionally, the respective rates of preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction (FGR), and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) were 18.9, 18.9, and 27.0%. Higher steroid usage (62.2 vs. 30.0%, p = 0.02) and lower prednisolone dosage in the live birth group (median dose: 7 vs. 10 mg, p = 0.03) were found to be significant factors contributing to live births. MCTD during pregnancy was associated with increased risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm delivery, FGR, and SGA. Notably, low-dose steroid therapy was identified as a contributing factor to successful live births.
Diagnostic ability of confocal scanning ophthalmoscope for the detection of concurrent retinal disease in eyes with asteroid hyalosis
Authors: Park Su Hwan , Chey Ji Hyoung , Heo Jun , Han Kwang Eon , Park Sung Who , Byon Iksoo , Kwon Han Jo
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic capacity of a color fundus camera (CFC), ultra-wide-field bicolor confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (BC-cSLO; OPTOS), and true-color confocal scanning ophthalmoscope (TC-cSO; EIDON) in detecting coexisting retinal diseases in eyes with asteroid hyalosis (AH).

Methods

The medical records of consecutive patients with AH who were referred to a tertiary hospital for subsequent assessment by a vitreoretinal specialist were retrospectively reviewed. Fundus images obtained simultaneously using CFC, BC-cSLO, and TC-cSO were classified into four grades based on their obscuration by asteroid bodies. The proportion of Grade 1 images (minimal obscuration group) was assessed for each imaging modality. The diagnostic and screening abilities for concurrent retinal diseases were compared in terms of the accuracy and sensitivity of each device.

Results

Among the 100 eyes with AH, 76 had coexisting retinal diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal vascular occlusion, age-related macular degeneration, epiretinal membrane, and retinitis pigmentosa. TC-cSO had the highest ratio of Grade 1 images (94%, P<0.001), followed by CFC (67%) and BC-cSLO (63%). CFC and BC-cSLO exhibited a 5.3-fold higher rate of significant obscuration than TC-cSO (P<0.001, 95% confidence intervals = 2.4~11.6 folds). TC-cSO demonstrated the highest accuracy and sensitivity (95% and 81%, respectively) compared with CFC (89% and 43%, respectively) and BC-cSLO (89% and 39%, respectively) for all retinal diseases. BC-cSLO showed the best performance for DR diagnosis.

Conclusions

TC-cSO images showed minimal obscuration and a superior ability for diagnosing retinal diseases accompanied by AH over other imaging devices. TC-cSO can be a valuable alternative screening tool for detecting retinal diseases when AH impedes fundus imaging.
High-power and high-beam-quality with unstable resonator in a Yb:YAG slab laser
Authors: Lei Jian , Jiang Wei , Dong Ruihan , Yang Gaozinan , Li Jie , Deng Xueshuang
Published: December 2024

The development and implementation of an unstable resonator laser system were explored in the present study, employing dual-end pumping of a Yb:YAG slab laser via laser diode (LD) arrays. The proposed system exhibited significant improvements in both power output and beam quality. The experimental design and execution of the laser oscillator were conducted under controlled conductive cooling conditions. Operating at a current of 90 A, the system achieved a total output power of 3823 W, with continuous-wave laser emission at 1030 nm observed bidirectionally. The measured beam qualities were 1.737 and 2.085, indicating that the system maintained good beam quality while achieving high power output. Additionally, an investigation into the optical-to-optical conversion efficiency was conducted, yielding a value of 35%. The findings underscore the exceptional performance of the devised unstable resonator within Yb:YAG slab lasers, with anticipated pivotal contributions to the broader laser domain. Novel approaches towards attaining high power output and superior beam quality laser sources were introduced, marking substantial advancements in Yb:YAG slab laser technology. The implications of these findings extend beyond the realm of laser technology, providing valuable insights applicable to a diverse range of optical, thus allowing the study’s impact to transcend its immediate field.
The relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and self-efficacy among adolescent students: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Shahrbabaki Parvin Mangolian , Zeidabadinejad Somayeh , Abolghaseminejad Parniya , Dehghan Mahlagha , Asadilari Marzieh , Zakeri Mohammad Ali , Shahrour Ghada , Lari Leyla Ahmadi
Published: December 2024

Background

The spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as its high contagiousness, increased students’ anxiety and stress. Anxiety may affect individuals’ functioning and undermine their self-efficacy. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and self-efficacy among adolescent students.

Method

This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study was conducted on 306 adolescent students in southern Iran. The research tools were the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale consisting of physical and psychological dimensions of anxiety and the Self-Efficacy Scale composed of three subscales: academic, social, and emotional self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25. Pearson correlation was used to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and self-efficacy using the total score of both scales and their dimensions as well. T-Test and one-way ANOVA were used to see whether sociodemographic variables of participants significantly varied in self-efficacy and COVID-19 anxiety.

Results

The mean score of COVID-19 anxiety was 11.70 ± 9.25, representing mild anxiety, and the mean score of the psychological dimension was higher than that of the physical dimension. The mean self-efficacy score was 81.29 ± 12.98 indicating high level of self-efficacy. In addition, the mean score of academic self-efficacy was higher than that of social and emotional self-efficacy. There was an inverse, significant, and mild to moderate relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and the total score of self-efficacy (r = -.28, p < .001) and all its dimensions (r = -. 18, p = .002 for social and academic self-efficacy; r = -.32, p <. 001 for emotional self-efficacy). While the physical dimension of COVID-19 anxiety correlated significantly and negatively with self-efficacy total and subscale scores, the mental subscale of COVID-19 anxiety only correlated with the self-efficacy total score (r = -.20, p < .001) and emotional self-efficacy (r = -.28, p < .001).

Conclusion

The study results revealed that the higher the COVID-19 anxiety, the lower the self-efficacy among adolescents. It is important to prioritize the enhancement of self-efficacy among adolescents to ensure their success across various life domains including managing stressors brought about by pandemics like COVID-19. This requires a collaborative effort from parents and teachers as they are a primary source of reassurance and information. Parents and teachers can also serve as role models in showcasing resilience and positive coping with the pandemic and allow adolescent students to master adaptive coping and provide positive reinforcement for effective behaviors.
Prevalence and predictors of suicide ideation among university and high-school students during India’s 2nd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Frey L. M. , Venugopal Devi , Dev Varsha S.
Published: December 2024

Student suicide ideation increased globally during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. There is scarce literature addressing suicide ideation during global health crises. Therefore, this study investigates prevalence and predictors of suicide ideation during India’s COVID-19 Second Wave. We also examine the 3-Step Theory’s assertion that both pain and hopelessness are necessary to have suicidal thoughts. Sample recruitment was through an online anonymous questionnaire. Inclusion criteria included students aged 18 or older, living in India during the time of the study (N = 535). Data collection was through the online questionnaire. Three categories of variables were investigated as potential predictors of suicide ideation: Sociodemographic (e.g., age, gender, education, economic status), COVID-19-specific (e.g., online classes, fear of virus contagion, vaccination status) and Clinical (e.g., sad mood, fear, loneliness, hopelessness). Data analysis (using SPSS-26) included descriptive statistics for describing data characteristics, Spearman Rho Correlation (assess the strength and direction of association between variables), and Binary Logistic Regression to help identify predictors of suicide ideation. Ordinal variables were measured using Likert scales with some recoded into binomial variables for the Regression analysis. Clinical variables predicted suicidal ideation, including fear of failure (OR = 4.17, 95% CI:2.51–6.94; p < .001), sleep disturbance (OR = 3.04, CI:1.67–5.52; p < .001), loneliness (OR = 2.77, CI:1.21–6.32; p < .01), sadness (O = 2.89, CI:1.59–5.32), and loss of interest (OR = 2.60, CI:1.37–4.93). Suicidal thoughts were reported by 48.7% of the student-participants. The Three-Step Theory was partially supported, as students feeling psychological pain but not hopelessness still reported suicidal ideation. Anticipating future global health crises, policy-supported mental health mitigation strategies are critically needed for youth, designed to reduce suicidal ideation, enhance resiliency, and to foster mental skills. These should enable them to successfully manage unexpected life challenges.
Food insecurity and psychological stress among migrants and refugees in high-income countries: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Berhe Resom , Arora Amit , Ekanayake Kanchana , Agho Kingsley E.
Published: December 2024

Background

Numerous studies have established a correlation between Food Insecurity (FI) and diminished physical and psychological well-being. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding this association among migrant and refugee populations. Migrants and refugees face difficulties, such as a lack of legal clarity and employment opportunities, which can exacerbate FI and psychological well-being issues. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the existing body of literature, followed by a meta-analysis of the results, where appropriate, to examine how common food insecurity is among migrants and refugees living in high-income countries and whether it might be linked to mental distress.

Methods

The inclusion of studies will be contingent upon providing quantitative data on migrants and refugees in developed countries. This criterion encompasses all pertinent observational study designs and has been published in English. The review will specifically include cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies that utilize standardized and validated measurement tools for food insecurity (e.g., Food Insecurity Experience Scale) and psychological stress (e.g., 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)), excluding non-standard or non-validated measures. A systematic search will be conducted across electronic databases such as Ovid Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, and Web of Science, containing peer-reviewed journal papers in health, psychology, and social sciences from January 1, 2008, to the present for relevant studies. Prevalence estimates will be generated using meta-analysis with a 95% CI, 95% prediction intervals, and I2 statistics for heterogeneity. The studies incorporated in the review will be analysed using meta-analysis, as deemed suitable for the characteristics of the data obtained.

Discussion

This study has practical implications for policies and interventions, offering insights for evidence-based initiatives targeting food security and mental health among migrants and refugees, thus improving resource allocation.

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024525690.
Research on stroke patients’ perception of recurrence risk: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Zhu Shanshan , Sun Xueting , Guo Xin , Xu Meiqi , Li Dingding , Wang Shuaiyou , Shi Yage , Liu Chenjun , Wang Hongru , Zhang Huimin
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Stroke, a major global cause of death and disability, has a high recurrence rate that significantly affects patients’ physical, psychological, and economic well-being. Despite the importance of health risk perception in preventive measures, most stroke patients struggle to accurately assess the risk of recurrence. Current research on stroke recurrence risk perception is still exploratory, with a lack of systematic understanding of the influencing factors. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the current state of stroke recurrence research and the factors that influenced recurrence and assess the effectiveness and limitations of various assessment tools to guide future research and intervention strategies.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review will follow Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework as well as the updated scoping review methodology guidance by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Review results will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. The search strategy will be developed via keywords, such as stroke, recurrence risk perception, and influencing factors. We will systematically search seven English databases, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, and MEDLINE, as well as four Chinese databases, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure for Biomedical Literature. Studies published in both English and Chinese will be included. Data will be extracted via a standardized form and summarized through quantitative (frequency) and qualitative analyses (narrative synthesis). Furthermore, the findings will be reported.

Ethics and dissemination

Since this review involves collecting data from existing literature and does not involve human participants, ethical approval is not required. Research findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Registration details

This protocol has been registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF). Relevant materials and potential following updates are available at https://osf.io/7kq5t.
RT-Sort: An action potential propagation-based algorithm for real time spike detection and sorting with millisecond latencies
Authors: van der Molen Tjitse , Lim Max , Bartram Julian , Cheng Zhuowei , Robbins Ash , Parks David F. , Petzold Linda R. , Hierlemann Andreas , Haussler David , Hansma Paul K. , Tovar Kenneth R. , Kosik Kenneth S.
Published: December 2024

With the use of high-density multi-electrode recording devices, electrophysiological signals resulting from action potentials of individual neurons can now be reliably detected on multiple adjacent recording electrodes. Spike sorting assigns these signals to putative neural sources. However, until now, spike sorting can only be performed after completion of the recording, preventing true real time usage of spike sorting algorithms. Utilizing the unique propagation patterns of action potentials along axons detected as high-fidelity sequential activations on adjacent electrodes, together with a convolutional neural network-based spike detection algorithm, we introduce RT-Sort (Real Time Sorting), a spike sorting algorithm that enables the sorted detection of action potentials within 7.5ms±1.5ms (mean±STD) after the waveform trough while the recording remains ongoing. RT-Sort’s true real-time spike sorting capabilities enable closed loop experiments with latencies comparable to synaptic delay times. We show RT-Sort’s performance on both Multi-Electrode Arrays as well as Neuropixels probes to exemplify RT-Sort’s functionality on different types of recording hardware and electrode configurations.
Predicting adverse pregnancy outcome in Rwanda using machine learning techniques
Authors: Kubahoniyesu Theogene , Kabano Ignace Habimana
Published: December 2024

Background

Adverse pregnancy outcomes pose significant risk to maternal and neonatal health, contributing to morbidity, mortality, and long-term developmental challenges. This study aimed to predict these outcomes in Rwanda using supervised machine learning algorithms.

Methods

This cross-sectional study utilized data from the Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS, 2019–2020) involving 14,634 women. K-fold cross-validation (k = 10) and synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) were used to manage dataset partitioning and class imbalance. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the prevalence and risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Seven machine learning algorithms were assessed for their accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and area under the curve (AUC).

Results

Of the pregnancies analyzed, 93.4% resulted in live births, while 4.5% ended in miscarriage, and 2.1% in stillbirth. Advanced maternal age(>30 years),women aged 30–34 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.755; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.085–10.074; p < 0.001), 35–39 years (AOR = 8.458; 95% CI = 4.507–10.571; p < 0.001), 40–44 years (AOR = 11.86; 95% CI = 6.250–21.842; p < 0.001), and 45–49 years (AOR = 14.233; 95% CI = 7.359–25.922; p < 0.001), compared to those aged 15–19 years, and multiple unions (polyandry) (AOR = 1.320; 95% CI = 1.104–1.573, p = 0.002), and women not visited by healthcare provider during pregnancy (AOR = 1.421; 95%CI = 1.300–1.611, p<0.001) were factors associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In contrast, being married (AOR = 0.894; 95% CI = 0.787–0.966) and attending at least two antenatal care (ANC) visits (AOR = 0.801; 95% CI = 0.664–0.961) were linked to reduced risk. The K-nearest neighbors (KNN) model outperformed other ML Models in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes, achieving 86% accuracy, 89% precision, 97% recall, 93% F1 score, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.842. The ML models constantly highlighted that woman with advanced maternal age, those in multiple unions, and inadequate ANC were more susceptible to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusions

Machine learning algorithms, particularly KNN, are effective in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes, facilitating early intervention and improved maternal and neonatal care.
An internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy program for anxious affect, depression, and wellbeing: A randomized, parallel, two-group, waitlist-controlled trial in a Middle Eastern sample of college students
Authors: Vally Zahir , Shah Harshil , Varga Sabina-Ioana , Hassan Widad , Kashakesh Mariam , Albreiki Wafa , Helmy Mai
Published: December 2024

Background

College students during the young adult years are at elevated risk for the development of anxiety and depressive difficulties. Moreover, a preliminary body of evidence suggests that, for those who reside in Middle Eastern contexts, despite an established need, sociocultural impediments prevent active psychological help-seeking. Internet-delivered, self-directed mental health programs may hold significant promise to alleviate these difficulties in contexts where individuals would otherwise not enlist the support of a mental health practitioner.

Method

The present study developed a bespoke, 4-module, internet-delivered program based upon acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) principles and tested its feasibility and efficacy within the context a randomized controlled trial. A total of 129 participants were randomized to receive either the ACT program or to a waitlist control condition. Assessments of generalized anxiety, social anxiety, depressive affect, and wellbeing were administered at baseline and at post-intervention.

Results

Analyses indicated that the intervention was efficacious in mitigating both generalized and social anxiety and in improving wellbeing.

Conclusion

These results provide preliminary evidence of the feasibility and efficacy of internet-delivered ACT in a Middle Eastern context.
Application of style transfer algorithm in the integration of traditional garden and modern design elements
Authors: Huang Bei , Mo Lequn , Tang Xiaojiang , Luo Ling
Published: December 2024

With the development of society, modern design elements are increasingly integrated into traditional garden design, forming a novel style fusion that improves both aesthetics and the sustainability of the social-ecological system. This study explores the application of style transfer algorithms to seamlessly integrate the aesthetics of traditional landscape paintings with virtual scenes of classical private gardens. The effectiveness of the method is verified through a series of experiments using virtual scenes of the Humble Administrator’s Garden and various landscape paintings representing different artistic styles. The experimental results demonstrate that the style transfer technique can accurately replicate the aesthetic features of traditional paintings and integrate them into the virtual garden environment. This approach highlights the potential of combining cultural heritage with advanced technological methods, indicating that the technology has great potential to innovate garden design by promoting the synergy between cultural heritage and technological innovation. By promoting the integration of traditional aesthetics and modern design principles, we contribute to the sustainability and richness of the social-ecological system and provide a framework for future digital preservation and restoration applications of urban cultural heritage. The code for implementing TRD-Net is available at https://github.com/huangbei029/Hybrid-Garden-StyleNet-dd/tree/main.
Restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) of tea plant (Camellia sinensis) in Sichuan province, China, provides insights into free amino acid and polyphenol contents of tea
Authors: Wang Xiaoping , Sun Minshan , Xiong Yuanyuan , Liu Xiao , Li Chunhua , Wang Yun , Tang Xiaobo
Published: December 2024

Worldwide, tea is a popular beverage; within the realm of Chinese tea, Sichuan tea holds particular significance for its role in the origin and composition of Chinese tea cultivars. Sichuan tea is noted for its rich content of free amino acids (FAAs) and tea polyphenols (TPs), which has made it an important subject for studying genetic diversity and the genes regulating these compounds. In this study, 139 varieties of tea were collected from areas in Sichuan Province, China, with similar geographical and climatic conditions. The FAA content was approximately 3% and the TP content was approximately 17%. Using RAD sequencing, 5,656,224 variant loci were identified, primarily comprising SNPs (94.17%) and indels (5.83%). Evolutionary analysis revealed that genetic divergence was not closely linked to the collection location. Population structure analysis confirmed a division into two main populations having a similar composition to the phylogenetic clusters. Screening for FAA-related SNPs identified significant loci associated with 33 genes that potentially regulate FAA content. Similarly, TP-related analysis pinpointed 8 SNPs significantly linked to 20 candidate genes. Notably, genetic associations hinted at the genes involved in the stress response and the accumulation of phenolic compounds, enhancing the understanding of determinants of tea quality. This research underscores the potential for molecular breeding based on genetic insights, suggesting pathways to improve the FAA and TP contents in tea. These findings not only provide a solid foundation for exploring gene–chemical interactions but also offer practical strategies for improving the nutritional and sensory attributes of tea cultivars through informed breeding practices.
Characteristics of the effects of Polygonati Rhizoma on gut microbiota and metabolites in vitro associated with poor dietary habits in pregnant women
Authors: Xu Zhiwei , Li Jiabin , Hong Lue , Zhang Yangli , Wang Chunyu , Yang Hailong , Zhao Lisha , Qiu Ping , Du Zhi , Wang Hui
Published: December 2024

Poor dietary habits have been associated with dysbiosis and microbial imbalance in pregnant women. Such imbalances can pose health risks during pregnancy. This study aimed to explore the impact of Polygonati Rhizoma on the gut microbiota of pregnant women through In vitro simulated fermentation. Interestingly, significant differences in microbial community richness and structure were found between the control and the treatment with Polygonati Rhizoma. Analysis of composition and variability indicated that the treatment with Polygonati Rhizoma group showed higher levels of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, but lower levels of Parabacteroides and Lachnoclostridium. The study also investigated specific genera differences between groups using the co-occurrence network analysis and their correlations with microbial metabolites by the redundancy analysis (RDA), Mantel-test network heatmap, and heatmap highlighting the relationships among gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and gases in the absence or presence of Polygonati Rhizoma supplementation. Functional predictions from BugBase phenotype prediction indicated changes in potentially pathogenic and aerobic bacteria in Polygonati Rhizoma supplementation. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into the influence of Polygonati Rhizoma on the gut microbiota in pregnant women associated with poor dietary habits.
Metabolome and transcriptomics analyses reveal quality differences between Camellia tachangensis F. C. Zhang and C. sinensis (L.) O. Kunzte
Authors: Xu Yunfei , Zhou Qihang , Wang Xinglin , Meng Xingpan , Zhang Zhengdong , Zhang Xu , Zhang Ximin , Niu Suzhen , Chen Guiping , Liu Lunxian , Shen Tie
Published: December 2024

Tea ranks among the top three most beloved non-alcoholic beverages worldwide and boasts significant economic and health benefits. In addition to Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze, and other Camellia plants in China are consumed by residents as tea drinks, which also have important economic value. The present study introduces one of the wild tea species, namely, Camellia tachangensis F. C. Zhang. We analyzed changes in metabolite abundance and gene expression patterns of C. tachangensis and C. sinensis using metabonomics and transcriptomics. We found 1056 metabolites, including 256 differential metabolites (67 upregulated and 189 downregulated). Additionally, transcriptome analysis revealed 8049 differentially expressed genes, with 4418 upregulated and 3631 downregulated genes. C. sinensis boasts a notable abundance of Amino acids, which can be attributed to its specific genetic makeup. In Theanine and Caffeine metabolic pathways, the levels of the majority of amino acids and caffeine tend to decrease. In Flavonoid biosynthesis, the levels of the Flavanone Fustin and Epicatechin are higher in C. tachangensis, while Epigallocatechin and Gallocatechin levels are higher in C. sinensis. This indicates that the metabolic components of C. sinensis and C. tachangensis are not identical, which may result in a unique flavor.