bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Investigation into the Utility of Large Language Models in Geotechnical Education and Problem Solving
Authors: Chen Liuxin , Tophel Amir , Hettiyadura Umidu , Kodikara Jayantha
Published: May 2024

The study explores the capabilities of large language models (LLMs), particularly GPT-4, in understanding and solving geotechnical problems, a specialised area that has not been extensively examined in previous research. Employing a question bank obtained from a commonly used textbook in geotechnical engineering, the research assesses GPT-4’s performance across various topics and cognitive complexity levels, utilising different prompting strategies like zero-shot learning, chain-of-thought (CoT) prompting, and custom instructional prompting. The study reveals that while GPT-4 demonstrates significant potential in addressing fundamental geotechnical concepts and problems, its effectiveness varies with specific topics, the complexity of the task, and the prompting strategies employed. The paper categorises errors encountered by GPT-4 into conceptual, grounding, calculation, and model inherent deficiencies related to the interpretation of visual information. Custom instructional prompts, specifically tailored to address GPT-4’s shortcomings, significantly enhance its performance. The study reveals that GPT-4 achieved an overall problem-solving accuracy of 67% with custom instructional prompting, significantly higher than the 28.9% with zero-shot learning and 34% with CoT. However, the study underscores the importance of human oversight in interpreting and verifying GPT-4’s outputs, especially in complex, higher-order cognitive tasks. The findings contribute to understanding the potential and limitations of current LLMs in specialised educational fields, providing insights for educators and researchers in integrating AI tools like GPT-4 into their teaching and problem-solving approaches. The study advocates for a balanced integration of AI in education to enrich educational delivery and experience while emphasising the indispensable role of human expertise alongside technological advancements.
Changes in MRI Workflow of Multiple Sclerosis after Introduction of an AI-Software: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Rathmann Eiko , Hemkemeier Pia , Raths Susan , Grothe Matthias , Mankertz Fiona , Hosten Norbert , Flessa Steffen
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of the integration of machine learning into daily radiological diagnostics, using the example of the machine learning software mdbrain® (Mediaire GmbH, Germany) in the diagnostic MRI workflow of patients with multiple sclerosis at the University Medicine Greifswald. The data were assessed through expert interviews, a comparison of analysis times with and without the machine learning software, as well as a process analysis of MRI workflows. Our results indicate a reduction in the screen-reading workload, improved decision-making regarding contrast administration, an optimized workflow, reduced examination times, and facilitated report communication with colleagues and patients. Our results call for a broader and quantitative analysis.
The Scabbard of Excalibur: An Allegory on the Role of an Efficient and Effective Healthcare System under Universal Health Coverage during the Pandemic Response
Authors: Noda Hiroyuki
Published: May 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, while some countries succeeded in reducing their rate of death after SARS-CoV-2 infection via vaccination by the end of 2021, some of them also faced hospital capacity strain, leading to social anxiety about delays in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with other diseases. This essay presents an allegory to explain the situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an allegory and Le Morte d’Arthur (Arthur’s Death), this essay indicates that “the scabbard of Excalibur” that we are looking for is an efficient and effective healthcare system that can diagnose patients who might become severely ill due to COVID-19 and to treat them without hospital capacity strain. In Le Morte d’Arthur, the scabbard of Excalibur was lost, and we have not been able to find any alternatives to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We can choose a future in which “the scabbard of Excalibur” exists, providing a different ending for the next pandemic.
The Role of Place Attachment in the Relationship between Attitudes toward Aging and Subjective Well-Being among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Jia-Jen , Liu Li-Fan , Chen She-Ming
Published: May 2024

Subjective well-being presents a societal challenge for vulnerable older adults. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of place attachment in the relationship between attitudes toward aging and subjective well-being among community-dwelling older adults in Taiwan. Two waves of investigations were conducted to examine the interplay between attitudes toward aging, subjective well-being, and place attachment among older adults. In Wave I, 1190 participants were enrolled, revealing predominantly younger cohorts with substantial educational levels. The subsequent Wave II involved 483 participants, maintaining continuity in characteristics. Subjective well-being remained moderate across waves, with prevalent positive attitudes toward aging. Place attachment scores indicated moderate to high associations. After controlling for demographics, structural equation modeling (SEM) in both waves revealed significant positive associations: attitudes toward aging influenced well-being, attitudes toward aging were positively associated with place attachment, and place attachment was positively related to well-being. Mediation testing confirmed the mediating role of place attachment in the relationship between attitudes toward aging and well-being. These findings underscore the important role of place attachment. It is evident that improving attitudes toward aging is an effective intervention which can lead to a better sense of well-being by enhancing place attachment to empower civil society.
A Data-Driven Approach to Defining Risk-Adjusted Coding Specificity Metrics for a Large U.S. Dementia Patient Cohort
Authors: Richardson Kaylla , Penumaka Sankari , Smoot Jaleesa , Panaganti Mansi Reddy , Chinta Indu Radha , Guduri Devi Priya , Tiyyagura Sucharitha Reddy , Martin John , Korvink Michael , Gunn Laura H.
Published: May 2024

Medical coding impacts patient care quality, payor reimbursement, and system reliability through the precision of patient information documentation. Inadequate coding specificity can have significant consequences at administrative and patient levels. Models to identify and/or enhance coding specificity practices are needed. Clinical records are not always available, complete, or homogeneous, and clinically driven metrics to assess medical practices are not logistically feasible at the population level, particularly in non-centralized healthcare delivery systems and/or for those who only have access to claims data. Data-driven approaches that incorporate all available information are needed to explore coding specificity practices. Using N = 487,775 hospitalization records of individuals diagnosed with dementia and discharged in 2022 from a large all-payor administrative claims dataset, we fitted logistic regression models using patient and facility characteristics to explain the coding specificity of principal and secondary diagnoses of dementia. A two-step approach was produced to allow for the flexible clustering of patient-level outcomes. Model outcomes were then used within a Poisson binomial model to identify facilities that over- or under-specify dementia diagnoses against healthcare industry standards across hospitalizations. The results indicate that multiple factors are significantly associated with dementia coding specificity, especially for principal diagnoses of dementia (AUC = 0.727). The practical use of this novel risk-adjusted metric is demonstrated for a sample of facilities and geospatially via a U.S. map. This study’s findings provide healthcare facilities with a benchmark for assessing coding specificity practices and developing quality enhancements to align with healthcare industry standards, ultimately contributing to better patient care and healthcare system reliability.
Targeted Tick-Borne Disease Recognition: Assessing Risk for Improved Public Health
Authors: Kim Pyung , Maxwell Sarah , Parijat Nabila , Kim Dohyeong , McNeely Connie L.
Published: May 2024

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a rapidly growing threat to public health. The incidence of TBDs is on the rise, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors beyond demographic considerations. This brief report combines a preliminary review of the literature with geographical case mapping to identify the various factors influencing TBD risk. The report highlights the vulnerability of outdoor workers, the importance of outdoor activities, and the role of education in adopting preventive behaviors. Pet ownership and interactions with animals are also associated with an increased risk. The state of Illinois is used as a case study for this report, revealing regional variations in TBD incidence, and linking them to agricultural practices, forested areas, and park accessibility. These findings inform recommendations for targeted prevention strategies, emphasizing the need for detailed geographical data to enhance public health efforts in curbing TBD incidence and risk.
Reduction of Ferric Chloride in Yeast Growth Media, by Sugars and Aluminum
Authors: Mažeika Kęstutis , Melvydas Vytautas , Čepukoit Dovilė
Published: May 2024

Iron compounds can be used in antimicrobial applications by exploiting the toxicity of divalent iron to living organisms due to the Fenton reaction. In this study, the growth inhibitory effects of ferrous sulfate FeSO4·7H2O and ferric chloride FeCl3·6H2O were observed on Metschnikowia clade and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells. The relatively high amount of reduced Fe3+ to Fe2+ in the growth medium determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy may contribute to the antimicrobial activity of ferric chloride. In order to test the reducing ability of sugars in the growth media of yeasts, the reaction of ferric chloride FeCl3·6H2O with sugars was investigated. In mixtures of FeCl3·6H2O and fructose, approximately two thirds of Fe3+ can be reduced to Fe2+. When the mixture of FeCl3·6H2O and fructose is placed on the surface of aluminum foil, an iron film is formed on the surface of the aluminum due to the reduction by both fructose and aluminum. The relative amount of Fe3+ which was reduced to Fe0 reached 68%.
Carotid Plaques and Hypertension as Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in Middle-Aged Adults
Authors: Dženkevičiūtė Vilma , Adomavičius Tadas , Tarutytė Gabrielė , Rinkūnienė Egidija , Kasiulevičius Vytautas , Badarienė Jolita
Published: May 2024

Background/Objectives: Both hypertension and carotid atherosclerosis are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We aim to investigate the synergistic effects of hypertension and carotid plaques on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Methods: A follow-up study was conducted at the Preventive Cardiology Department of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos between 2012 and 2021. The study recruited participants aged 40–65 who did not have overt cardiovascular disease (CVD) and were part of the Lithuanian High Cardiovascular Risk primary preventive program. The study collected demographic and clinical data, including an ultrasound assessment of carotid plaque. Results: The participants were monitored for 4–10 years for CVD events and all-cause mortality. Among 6138 participants, 954 (16%) experienced CVD events. The presence of carotid plaque on both sides was significantly associated with CVD events, myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality. However, the combination of hypertension and carotid plaque did not significantly increase the risk for CVD events or all-cause mortality. Conclusions: The risk of CVD events or all-cause mortality was not significantly increased by the combination of hypertension and carotid plaque. Cardiovascular events depend on the extent of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries.
Geometry and Symmetry of Willis’ Circle and Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms Development
Authors: Sturiale Carmelo Lucio , Scerrati Alba , Ricciardi Luca , Rustemi Oriela , Auricchio Anna Maria , Norri Nicolò , Piazza Amedeo , Raneri Fabio , Benato Alberto , Albanese Alessio , Mangiola Annunziato , Zotta Donato Carlo , D’Andrea Giancarlo , Picotti Veronica , Raco Antonino , Volpin Lorenzo , Trevisi Gianluca
Published: May 2024

Background: A relationship between the geometry and symmetry of Willis’ circle and intracranial aneurysms was reported for anterior communicating and posterior communicating (PCom) aneurysms. A similar association with the middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms instead appeared weaker. Methods: We reviewed 432 patients from six Italian centers with unilateral MCA aneurysms, analyzing the relationship between the caliber and symmetry of Willis’ circle and the presence of ruptured and unruptured presentation. CT-angiograms were evaluated to assess Willis’ circle geometrical characteristics and the MCA aneurysm side, dimension and rupture status. Results: The hypoplasia of the first segment of the anterior cerebral artery (A1) was in approximately one-quarter of patients and PCom hypoplasia was in almost 40%. About 9% had a fetal PCom ipsilaterally to the aneurysm. By comparing the aneurysmal and healthy sides, only the PCom hypoplasia appeared significantly higher in the affected side. Finally, the caliber of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the first segment of MCA (M1) caliber were significantly greater in patients with unruptured aneurysms, and PCom hypoplasia appeared related to the incidence of an ipsilateral MCA aneurysm and its risk of rupture. Conclusions: Although according to these findings asymmetries of Willis’ circle are shown to be a risk factor for MCA aneurysm formation and rupture, the indifferent association with ipsilateral or contralateral hypoplasia remains a datum of difficult hemodynamic interpretation, thereby raising the concern that this association may be more casual than causal.
Clinicopathological Differences between Right and Left Colorectal Cancer by Sex
Authors: Ra Hannah , Jeong Soyeon , Lee Hannah , Chung Jun-Won , Kim Kyoung Oh , Lee Won-Suk , Kim Jisup , Kwon Kwang An , Kim Jung Ho
Published: May 2024

Background: Until now, studies on colorectal cancer (CRC) have focused on clinicopathological characteristics based on location without considering sex differences. However, as men and women have fundamentally different physiological characteristics, research results in the clinical field are limited. We aimed to elucidate the differences in the clinicopathological characteristics between right-sided CRC (RCC) and left-sided CRC (LCC) according to sex. Methods: We classified 1492 South Korean patients with no history of colon surgery between July 2005 and June 2015 based on tumor location and sex. For these patients, differences in the clinical characteristics according to sex were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Of the 1269 patients, 951 (74.9%) had LCC, and 318 (25.1%) had RCC, making LCC approximately three times more common than RCC. When sex was not taken into account, patients with RCC had significantly higher rates of anemia and undifferentiated cancers than the rates in those with LCC. Even considering sex, anemia and undifferentiated cancer were more prevalent in RCC than in LCC in both men and women. In contrast, age over 65 years and abnormal white blood cell count differed between RCC and LCC only in women. Conclusions: The clinicopathologic characteristics of CRC vary according to the location and sex. Therefore, sex must be considered as a fundamental characteristic of personalized treatment.
A Scoping Review of the Effect of EEG Neurofeedback on Pain Complaints in Adults with Chronic Pain
Authors: Schuurman Britt B. , Lousberg Richel L. , Schreiber Jan U. , van Amelsvoort Therese A. M. J. , Vossen Catherine J.
Published: May 2024

Background and Aim: Non-pharmacological treatments such as electroencephalogram (EEG) neurofeedback have become more important in multidisciplinary approaches to treat chronic pain. The aim of this scoping review is to identify the literature on the effects of EEG neurofeedback in reducing pain complaints in adult chronic-pain patients and to elaborate on the neurophysiological rationale for using specific frequency bands as targets for EEG neurofeedback. Methods: A pre-registered scoping review was set up and reported following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The data were collected by searching for studies published between 1985 and January 2023 in PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO. Results: Thirty-two studies on various types of chronic pain were included. The intervention was well-tolerated. Approximately half of the studies used a protocol that reinforced alpha or sensorimotor rhythms and suppressed theta or beta activity. However, the underlying neurophysiological rationale behind these specific frequency bands remains unclear. Conclusions: There are indications that neurofeedback in patients with chronic pain probably has short-term analgesic effects; however, the long-term effects are less clear. In order to draw more stable conclusions on the effectiveness of neurofeedback in chronic pain, additional research on the neurophysiological mechanisms of targeted frequency bands is definitely worthwhile. Several recommendations for setting up and evaluating the effect of neurofeedback protocols are suggested.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Obesity, Metabolic Parameters and Clinical Values in the South Korean Adult Population
Authors: Kim Anna , Kim Eun-yeob , Kim Jaeyoung
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on obesity, metabolic parameters, and clinical values in the South Korean population. Data from the seventh and eighth National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed, comprising 3560 participants in 2018 (pre-COVID-19) and 3309 participants in 2021 (post-COVID-19). The study focused on adults aged 19 years and older who were overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). The results showed a significant increase in waist circumference (approximately 2 cm), BMI (approximately 0.11 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar (1.76 mg/dL higher), and glycated hemoglobin (0.14% higher) in the post-COVID-19 group compared to the pre-COVID-19 group. Additionally, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia increased by 4% after the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggest an increased risk of obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic disorders, such as blood sugar disorders, in the post-COVID-19 period. Urine analysis revealed abnormal findings, including occult blood, urobilinogen, hematuria, proteinuria, ketone urea, glycosuria, and bacteriuria. The study highlights the negative impact of lifestyle changes, such as reduced physical activity and social gatherings, on physical vital signs and clinical values during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Two Eyes Don’t Suffice—Learning Difficult Hyperfluorescence Segmentations in Retinal Fundus Autofluorescence Images via Ensemble Learning
Authors: Santarossa Monty , Beyer Tebbo Tassilo , Scharf Amelie Bernadette Antonia , Tatli Ayse , von der Burchard Claus , Nazarenus Jakob , Roider Johann Baptist , Koch Reinhard
Published: May 2024

Hyperfluorescence (HF) and reduced autofluorescence (RA) are important biomarkers in fundus autofluorescence images (FAF) for the assessment of health of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), an important indicator of disease progression in geographic atrophy (GA) or central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR). Autofluorescence images have been annotated by human raters, but distinguishing biomarkers (whether signals are increased or decreased) from the normal background proves challenging, with borders being particularly open to interpretation. Consequently, significant variations emerge among different graders, and even within the same grader during repeated annotations. Tests on in-house FAF data show that even highly skilled medical experts, despite previously discussing and settling on precise annotation guidelines, reach a pair-wise agreement measured in a Dice score of no more than 63–80% for HF segmentations and only 14–52% for RA. The data further show that the agreement of our primary annotation expert with herself is a 72% Dice score for HF and 51% for RA. Given these numbers, the task of automated HF and RA segmentation cannot simply be refined to the improvement in a segmentation score. Instead, we propose the use of a segmentation ensemble. Learning from images with a single annotation, the ensemble reaches expert-like performance with an agreement of a 64–81% Dice score for HF and 21–41% for RA with all our experts. In addition, utilizing the mean predictions of the ensemble networks and their variance, we devise ternary segmentations where FAF image areas are labeled either as confident background, confident HF, or potential HF, ensuring that predictions are reliable where they are confident (97% Precision), while detecting all instances of HF (99% Recall) annotated by all experts.
Transfer Learning-Based Artificial Neural Network for Predicting Weld Line Occurrence through Process Simulations and Molding Trials
Authors: Baruffa Giacomo , Pieressa Andrea , Sorgato Marco , Lucchetta Giovanni
Published: May 2024

Optimizing process parameters to minimize defects remains an important challenge in injection molding (IM). Machine learning (ML) techniques offer promise in this regard, but their application often requires extensive datasets. Transfer learning (TL) emerges as a solution to this problem, leveraging knowledge from related tasks to enhance model training and performance. This study explores TL’s viability in predicting weld line visibility in injection-molded components using artificial neural networks (ANNs). TL techniques are employed to transfer knowledge between datasets related to different components. Furthermore, both source datasets obtained from simulations and experimental tests are used during the study. In order to use process simulations to obtain data regarding the presence of surface defects, it was necessary to correlate an output variable of the simulations with the experimental observations. The results demonstrate TL’s efficacy in reducing the data required for training predictive models, with simulations proving to be a cost-effective alternative to experimental data. TL from simulations achieves comparable predictive metric values to those of the non-pre-trained network, but with an 83% reduction in the required data for the target dataset. Overall, transfer learning shows promise in streamlining injection molding optimization and reducing manufacturing costs.
Liquid Biopsy Profiling with Multiple Tests in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Higa Nikki , Welter Lisa , Xu Liya , Kolatkar Anand , Bramlett Kelli S. , Gjoerup Ole V. , Graf Ryon , Huang Richard S.P. , Leary Rebecca J. , Lee Young , Perkins Jeremy G. , Riker Adam I. , Singh Angad P. , Tafra Lorraine , Tweed Carol K. , Shriver Craig D. , Hicks James , Kuhn Peter
Published: May 2024

The chief goal of the Blood Profiling Atlas in Cancer (BloodPAC) consortium is to promote collaborative efforts that support the development and implementation of liquid biopsy tests. Here, we report the results of a pilot study conducted by three BloodPAC members that aimed to demonstrate a multisite liquid biopsy testing framework using longitudinal blood specimens from 38 patients with metastatic breast cancer. Three laboratories receiving identical samples from two clinical sites each applied a different targeted sequencing platform to analyze mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA). The resulting mutational profiles reflected common breast cancer alterations, including clinically actionable mutations for 40% of hormone- receptor-positive patients. In 12 genes with shared target regions across sequencing panels, perfect inter-assay concordance was also observed for mutations detected above the lowest common assay limit of detection. Whole-genome copy number profiling of cfDNA and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) further revealed marked heterogeneity in copy number alterations and cfDNA tumor fractions across patients. Additionally, comparison of tumor fraction and CTC abundance demonstrated the complementary nature of cfDNA and CTC analyses. Overall, the framework described in this study may serve as a resource for future trials aiming to identify multimodal liquid biopsy biomarkers to guide clinical care.
Implementation of a Far-Field Water Quality Model for the Simulation of Trace Elements in an Eastern Mediterranean Coastal Embayment Receiving High Anthropogenic Pressure
Authors: Mazioti Aikaterini Anna , Kolovoyiannis Vassilis , Krasakopoulou Evangelia , Tragou Elina , Zervakis Vassilis , Assimakopoulou Georgia , Athiniotis Alexandros , Paraskevopoulou Vasiliki , Pavlidou Alexandra , Zeri Christina
Published: May 2024

Water quality modeling is a key element for the support of environmental protection and policymaking. The aim of this work is to describe the application of a far-field water quality model for the simulation of marine pollution occurring from heavy metals (cadmium, lead, nickel, copper, and zinc). The highly stressed marine area of the Saronikos Gulf (Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean) was chosen for investigation. Major pollution sources were identified, loads were estimated, and the model was parameterized to reproduce the local seawater conditions. The distribution of the pollutants between the dissolved and particulate phases was examined. The performance of the model set-up was evaluated using field concentration measurements. The described implementation succeeded in reproducing the observed levels of pollution and therefore can be used as a baseline configuration to examine the cumulative impact of future pollution sources; for example, accidental pollution events.
The Impact of Online Reviews on Consumers’ Purchase Intentions: Examining the Social Influence of Online Reviews, Group Similarity, and Self-Construal
Authors: Ahn Yunjeong , Lee Jieun
Published: May 2024

Consumers often rely on evaluations such as online reviews shared by other consumers when making purchasing decisions. Online reviews have emerged as a crucial marketing tool that offers a distinct advantage over traditional methods by fostering trust among consumers. Previous studies have identified group similarity between consumers and reviewers as a key variable with a potential impact on consumer responses and purchase intention. However, the results remain inconclusive. In this study, we identify self-construal and group similarity as key factors in the influence of online review ratings on consumers’ purchase intentions. We further investigate the role of consumers’ self-construal in shaping consumers’ perceptions of online reviews in terms of belongingness and diagnosticity. To test the hypothesis, we conducted a 2 (online review rating) × 2 (group similarity) × 2 (self-construal) ANOVA on 276 subjects collected through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), and contrast analysis and PROCESS macro model 12 were used for the interaction effect analysis and moderated mediation analysis. Our findings reveal that consumers with an interdependent self-construal are sensitive to both review ratings and group similarity with regards to their purchase intentions. They demonstrate a positive purchase intention when both group similarity and online review ratings are high. However, their purchase intention is not influenced by review ratings when group similarity is low. Conversely, consumers with an independent self-construal exhibit a more positive purchase intention when the online review rating is high, irrespective of group similarity. Additionally, our study highlights the mediating roles of perceived diagnosticity and belongingness in the relationship between online review ratings, group similarity, self-construal, and purchase intentions. Results show significant indirect effects for perceived diagnosticity and belongingness, meaning that the impact of online review ratings on purchase intention is mediated by these two variables. The outcomes of our research offer theoretical and practical implications concerning online reviews and suggest new avenues for future research in the area of online consumer behavior.
Spatiotemporal Evolution of Land Cover and Landscape Ecological Risk in Wuyishan National Park and Surrounding Areas
Authors: Liu Yuzhi , Cao Wenping , Wang Fuyuan
Published: May 2024

Previous research on national park conservation has predominantly concentrated on their internal regions, with scant attention given to the parks and their adjacent areas as integrated entities. Therefore, the investigation of land cover and landscape ecological risks in national parks and surrounding areas is essential for overall ecosystem protection and regional sustainable development. This study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of land cover and its landscape ecological risk in Wuyishan National Park, China, and its surrounding areas (WNPSA) from 1990 to 2020. The results show that (1) the land cover of WNPSA from 1990 to 2020 predominantly exhibited a consistent decline in forested areas, paralleled by an augmentation in farmland and impervious surface areas. The center of standard deviation ellipse of impervious surfaces has been progressively moving further south in tandem with the expansion of these surfaces, primarily located within the county town of Fujian Province. (2) The Wuyishan National Park (WNP) areas were dominated by low values of landscape index, and the high value areas in the park were mainly located at the provincial boundary area, with a gradual narrowing during 1990–2020, suggesting a decrease in landscape heterogeneity within the park. High value areas in the surrounding areas mainly occurred in areas with clustered impervious surfaces (e.g., the county town), where part of them located in Wuyishan City have spread to the edge area southeast of WNP. (3) From 1990 to 2020, the lowest-risk areas continue to expand. However, as the medium-risk zone of the adjacent region extends into the edge of the national park, the low risk zone within the national park exhibits a trend from continuous to separate with the neighboring low risk zone. This led to an escalating stress effect on the ecological security of both the adjacent regions and the national park’s boundary areas due to land cover changes.
Positive or Negative: The Heterogeneities in the Effects of Urban Regeneration on Surrounding Economic Vitality—From the Perspective of Housing Price
Authors: Yuan Meng , Wu Hongjuan
Published: May 2024

Urban regeneration is a sound, sustainable urban development strategy globally. In China, promoting urban regeneration has become the national sustainable urban strategy. Under the resource constraint, it is necessary to understand what benefits different types of urban regeneration projects can contribute to urban development. Much research has contributed to evaluating the benefits of urban regeneration on the project scale. The systematic investigation of their effects on surrounding economic vitality, especially the comparison between different types of projects, is relatively downplayed. This paper aims to evaluate and compare the effects of urban regeneration projects on surrounding economic vitality by calculating the change in housing prices. Chongqing is selected as the case city. Based on the housing transaction data from 2015 to 2021, a staggered difference-in-difference method is employed to capture the results. The finding shows that the overall effects are significantly negative, especially within a 400–800 m radius. Higher investment or better project location relates to stronger negative effects. Moreover, the differences in effects among the three types of urban regeneration projects are clearly revealed from diverse perspectives. It provides a valuable reference for policymakers and urban planners to make urban regeneration planning better by considering comprehensive benefits.
Seasonal Scale Climatic Factors on Grassland Phenology in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones
Authors: Dong Tong , Liu Jing , Shi Mingjie , He Panxing , Li Ping , Liu Dahai
Published: May 2024

Influenced by climate change, significant alterations in vegetation phenology have been observed globally. Grassland phenology is highly sensitive to climate change. However, research on the variations in grassland phenology and its responses to seasonal climatic changes in arid and semi-arid regions remains scarce. This study, utilizing Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) data, meteorological station data, and grassland type data, employs trend analysis and time series analysis to explore the trends of seasonal climatic variability and the sensitivity response of grassland phenology in Xinjiang to seasonal climates. The findings reveal the following: (1) The region experiences more pronounced warming in winter and spring than in summer and autumn, with ground temperature increments outpacing those of air temperatures. The summer season registers the peak in precipitation volume and rate of increase, where mountainous zones accrue more rainfall compared to basins and plains. The distribution of sunshine duration is characterized by higher values in eastern areas than in the west and more in the plains than in mountainous regions, potentially due to escalating cloudiness, which has contributed to a diminishing trend in sunshine hours across Xinjiang over the past 20 years. (2) Over the past two decades, the perennial greening phase of Xinjiang grasslands has predominantly occurred in early May, showing an overall trend of occurring earlier by approximately 5.47 days per decade, while the yellowing phase mainly occurs at the end of September and the beginning of October, demonstrating a delaying trend (6.61 days/decade). The average length of the growing season is 145 days, generally showing a slightly increasing trend (11.97 days/decade). (3) In spring, the rise in air and ground temperatures, along with increased sunshine duration, all promote grassland growth, leading to an earlier greening phase. Conversely, in autumn, increases in air temperature, ground temperature, and sunshine duration can inhibit grassland growth, resulting in an earlier yellowing phase. Increased precipitation in summer and autumn can delay the yellowing phase and extend the length of the grassland growing season. This research provides new insights into the factors influencing large-scale grassland phenology and offers references for grassland adaptation to future climate changes.
An Ecological Perspective on Agency: L2 Learners’ Sociopragmatic Interpretations and Strategies in a Study Abroad Context
Authors: Jun Hae Ree , Mu Bing
Published: May 2024

In applied linguistics, there has been a growing body of L2 pragmatics studies that investigate the intricate relationship between language learners’ subjective pragmatic choices and various contextual factors. The current study contributes to the understanding of language learner agency by illustrating the complex processes through which language learners enact their agency in response to varying contextual factors when making their sociopragmatic interpretations and strategies. To capture the ecological nature of agency, this study conceptualizes agency as contextually, interpersonally, intrapersonally, spatially, and temporally embedded. Through the in-depth examination of the accounts of three L2 learners of Japanese regarding their interactions with religious group members during their study abroad in Japan, this study demonstrates language learners’ divergent ways of enacting their agency, stemming from their orientations to the unique configurations of various contextual attributes in the L2 interactions. Such differences were rooted in and guided by their past experiences, present environments, and future aspirations that impacted their sociopragmatic perceptions, expectations, and choices. This study provides a complicated picture of language learner agency as a dialogic and reflexive process in which learners interact with contextual factors and adapt their sociopragmatic choices. Thus, it calls for an ecological, processual, and holistic approach to language learner agency through the close examination of the ways in which various contextual factors come together in L2 interactions, the process of how language learners orient to dynamic configurations of contextual factors, and what guides such orientations.
The Winding Road from Origin to Emergence (of Life)
Authors: Nitschke Wolfgang , Farr Orion , Gaudu Nil , Truong Chloé , Guyot François , Russell Michael J. , Duval Simon
Published: May 2024

Humanity’s strive to understand why and how life appeared on planet Earth dates back to prehistoric times. At the beginning of the 19th century, empirical biology started to tackle this question yielding both Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the paradigm that the crucial trigger putting life on its tracks was the appearance of organic molecules. In parallel to these developments in the biological sciences, physics and physical chemistry saw the fundamental laws of thermodynamics being unraveled. Towards the end of the 19th century and during the first half of the 20th century, the tensions between thermodynamics and the “organic-molecules-paradigm” became increasingly difficult to ignore, culminating in Erwin Schrödinger’s 1944 formulation of a thermodynamics-compliant vision of life and, consequently, the prerequisites for its appearance. We will first review the major milestones over the last 200 years in the biological and the physical sciences, relevant to making sense of life and its origins and then discuss the more recent reappraisal of the relative importance of metal ions vs. organic molecules in performing the essential processes of a living cell. Based on this reassessment and the modern understanding of biological free energy conversion (aka bioenergetics), we consider that scenarios wherein life emerges from an abiotic chemiosmotic process are both thermodynamics-compliant and the most parsimonious proposed so far.
Non-Cicatricial Alopecia and Its Association with Anthropometric Measurements and Nutritional Laboratory Markers
Authors: Wróblewska-Kończalik Katarzyna , Pawlaczyk Mariola , Kolasiński Jerzy , Kolenda Małgorzata , Miechowicz Izabela , Seraszek-Jaros Agnieszka , Kroma-Szal Anna , Gornowicz-Porowska Justyna
Published: May 2024

Alopecia constitutes one of the most common dermatological disorders, and its steadily increasing prevalence is a cause for concern. Alopecia can be divided into two main categories, cicatricial/scarring and non-cicatricial/non-scarring, depending on the causes of hair loss and its patterns. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric and nutritional laboratory parameters in Caucasian adult women and men with non-cicatricial alopecia. A total of 50 patients (37 with non-cicatricial alopecia and 13 healthy controls) were included in the study. Clinical examination and scalp trichoscopy were performed. The anthropometric and nutritional laboratory parameters were collected and analyzed. No statistically significant differences in the laboratory findings were found. The patients with non-cicatricial alopecia were statistically significantly younger as compared to the controls. An elevated risk of hair loss, which was detected among the younger participants, might be associated with a modern lifestyle and the so-called ‘Western diet’. It seems safe to assume that suboptimal nutrition and poor eating habits during childhood might constitute risk factors for early hair loss.
Fertility Preservation in BRCA1/2 Germline Mutation Carriers: An Overview
Authors: Silvestris Erica , Cormio Gennaro , Loizzi Vera , Corrado Giacomo , Arezzo Francesca , Petracca Easter Anna
Published: May 2024

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are responsible for a higher incidence of breast and ovarian cancer (from 55% up to 70% vs. 12% in the general population). If their functions have been widely investigated in the onset of these malignancies, still little is known about their role in fertility impairment. Cancer patients treated with antineoplastic drugs can be susceptible to their gonadotoxicity and, in women, some of them can induce apoptotic program in premature ovarian follicles, progressive depletion of ovarian reserve and, consequently, cancer treatment-related infertility (CTRI). BRCA variants seem to be associated with early infertility, thus accelerating treatment impairment of ovaries and making women face the concrete possibility of an early pregnancy. In this regard, fertility preservation (FP) procedures should be discussed in oncofertility counseling—from the first line of prevention with risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) to the new experimental ovarian stem cells (OSCs) model as a new way to obtain in vitro-differentiated oocytes, several techniques may represent a valid option to BRCA-mutated patients. In this review, we revisit knowledge about BRCA involvement in lower fertility, pregnancy feasibility, and the fertility preservation (FP) options available.
Enhancing Global Blockchain Privacy via a Digital Mutual Trust Mechanism
Authors: Peng Sheng , Zhu Linkai , Hu Shanwen , Cai Zhiming , Liu Wenjian
Published: May 2024

Blockchain technology, initially developed as a decentralized and transparent mechanism for recording transactions, faces significant privacy challenges due to its inherent transparency, exposing sensitive transaction data to all network participants. This study proposes a blockchain privacy protection algorithm that employs a digital mutual trust mechanism integrated with advanced cryptographic techniques to enhance privacy and security in blockchain transactions. The contribution includes the development of a new dynamic Byzantine consensus algorithm within the Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance framework, incorporating an authorization mechanism from the reputation model and a proof consensus algorithm for robust digital mutual trust. Additionally, the refinement of homomorphic cryptography using the approximate greatest common divisor technique optimizes the encryption process to support complex operations securely. The integration of a smart contract system facilitates automatic and private transaction execution across the blockchain network. Experimental evidence demonstrates the superior performance of the algorithm in handling privacy requests and transaction receipts with reduced delays and increased accuracy, marking a significant improvement over existing methods.
Time-Optimal Motions of a Mechanical System with Viscous Friction
Authors: Kamzolkin Dmitrii , Ternovski Vladimir
Published: May 2024

Optimal control is a critical tool for mechanical robotic systems, facilitating the precise manipulation of dynamic processes. These processes are described through differential equations governed by a control function, addressing a time-optimal problem with bilinear characteristics. Our study utilizes the classical approach complemented by Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle (PMP) to explore this inverse optimal problem. The objective is to develop an exact piecewise control function that effectively manages trajectory control while considering the effects of viscous friction. Our simulations demonstrate that the proposed control law markedly diminishes oscillations induced by boundary conditions. This research not only aims to delineate the reachability set but also strives to determine the minimal time required for the process. The findings include an exact analytical solution for the stated control problem.
Associated Factor and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes for Patients with Postoperative Rotational Malreduction in Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures
Authors: Seo Kyu Bum , Kim Byung Suk , Park Yong-Geun , Lim Chaemoon
Published: May 2024

Background and Objectives: Long-term outcomes of immediately postoperative rotational malreduction in the axial plane after operative treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures (SCHF) are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes and associated factors for immediately postoperative rotational malreduction of SCHF. Materials and methods: In this retrospective case–control study, 88 patients who underwent surgery for Gratland type III SCHF were enrolled between January 2012 and January 2020. Among them, 49 patients had immediately postoperative malrotational reduction (rotational malreduction group) and 39 patients had no rotational deformity (control group). To evaluate the associated factors for immediately postoperative rotational malreduction, demographic data, fracture patterns, physical examination signs, and preoperative radiological parameters were analyzed. To compare the clinical outcomes, operation time, range of motion of the elbow, time from operation to full range of motion, and Flynn criteria were evaluated. The Oxford elbow score was used to investigate long-term clinical outcomes for patients five years after operation. Results: The mean age was 5.7 ± 2.3 years and mean follow-up period was 15.7 ± 4.0 months. The rotational malreduction group had significantly more patients with oblique fracture pattern (p = 0.031) and Pucker sign (p = 0.016) and showed a significantly longer operative time (p = 0.029) than the control group. Although there was no significant difference in the range of elbow motion and the Flynn criteria, the Kaplan–Meier survival curve showed a longer time to recover the full range of elbow motion in the rotational malreduction group (p = 0.040). There were no significant differences in the long-term clinical outcomes assessed using the Oxford elbow score (p = 0.684). Conclusions: Oblique fracture pattern and Pucker sign may be associated with immediately postoperative rotational malreduction in the axial plane. Although patients with immediately postoperative rotational malreduction showed favorable results of long-term clinical outcomes, they required more weeks to recover the full range of elbow motion.