bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations between sleep quality, fatigue, social isolation, and depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure: a parallel mediation analysis
Authors: Zhang Aiping , Wang Yuxuan , Tang Baizan , Wang Yuwei
Published: June 2024

Background
Depression is a common comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF) which could lead to increased mortality and morbidity. Meanwhile, a majority of patients with HF suffer from poor sleep quality which has negative impacts of patients’ physical, social, and mental health, leading to a risk of fatigue, social isolation, and depressive symptoms. However, the interrelationships among the four factors remain unclear in the literature. This study aimed to assess the rate of depressive symptoms and the interrelationships among sleep quality, fatigue, social isolation, and depressive symptoms in patients with HF in China.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted at a general hospital in China. A convenience sample of 300 patients with HF was recruited from January to March 2024. Self-reported instruments were used to measure sleep quality, fatigue, social isolation, and depressive symptoms. Descriptive, Pearson correlation, and parallel mediation analyses were conducted via SPSS 26.0.
Results
Results showed that 72.3% of the participants had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Fatigue and social isolation performed parallel mediation effects on the relationship between sleep quality and depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
These findings highlight the prevention and management of depressive symptoms in patients with HF. Future studies are needed to design and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions that incorporate multiple components on improving sleep quality, social isolation, and fatigue in patients with HF.
Experience of self-regulated fatigue among type 2 diabetes patients in China : a qualitative study
Authors: Wang Yao , Guan Yuxiang , XU Juan , Wu Qionghua , Liu Minchen , Chu Lingxin
Published: June 2024

This qualitative study aimed to understand the real experience of self-regulated fatigue (SRF) in Chinese patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), increase the awareness of SRF from the patient's perspective to inform the development of targeted interventions. A qualitative research design was used to conduct individual semi-structured interviews to investigate SRF among T2DM in Anhui Province, all interviews were conducted from February to May 2024, and the interview data were collated and analyzed by using NVIvo 12 software. A total of four themes, including multidimensional perceived SRF, negative impact on patients, coping strategies and desire for multiple supports were distilled. The experience of SRF in T2DM is multidimensional, and negative coping strategies can result in multiple adverse effects, healthcare professionals should meet their diverse needs and enhance multifaceted support to promote positive coping behaviors and improve quality of life.
Anatomical variations of the extracranial internal carotid artery: prevalence, risk factors, and imaging insights from CT-angiography
Authors: Barfzadeh Aida , Saba Mohammad , Pourzand Pouria , Jalalifar Mohammad-Rasoul , Alizadeh Seyed Danial , Mirkamali Hanieh , Rukerd Mohammad Rezaei Zadeh
Published: June 2024

Purpose
To determine the prevalence of different EICA variations in CT angiography (CTA) of the neck and its predisposing factors.
Methods
In this prospective study from 2021 to 2023 that was conducted in the radiology department of Shafa Hospital, Kerman, Iran, all patients who had undergone neck CTA were invited to participate in the study. Expert radiologists blindly examined each CTA image for the following: EICA variations—coiling, kinking, straight morphology, and tortuosity—and the distance between the internal carotid artery with the apex of the epiglottis and the C2 lower margin.
Results
Of the 106 patients, the mean age of the participants was 55.9 ± 16.9 years. 64.2% of the participants were men, and 35.8% were women. The frequency of EICA variations was equal to 70.27%. Tortuosity, kinking, and coiling variation were found in 61.79%, 4.24%, and 4.24% of arteries, respectively. Also, 54.7%, 1.8%, and 0.94% of the participants had bilateral tortuosity, kinking, and coiling separately. There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of EICA variations and female, age, and hypertension.
Conclusion
The frequency of EICA variations in arteries and patients was equal to 70.27% and 73.5%, respectively. Tortuosity variation was present in 131 (61.7%) arteries, which was the most common variation. Females, old age, and hypertension were risk factors for EICA variations. There was no significant relationship between diabetes, tinnitus, ICA to the apex of the epiglottis, and ICA to the C2 Lower Margin distance with the occurrence of EICA variations.
Anthropogenic influence on excess warming in Europe during recent decades
Authors: Dong Buwen , Sutton Rowan
Published: June 2024

Over the period 1979–2022, European surface air temperatures warmed around three times faster than global mean temperatures in both winter and summer. Here we define “excess” European warming as the difference between the rate of European regional warming and the rate of global warming and investigate the causes. We estimate that about 40% (in winter) and 29% (in summer) of excess European warming is “dynamical” - attributable to changes in atmospheric circulation. We show that the rate of European warming simulated in CMIP6 models compares well with the observations, but only because these models warm too fast in the global mean; excess European warming is underestimated, particularly in winter. The CMIP6 models simulate well the magnitude of the thermodynamic component of excess European warming since 1979 in both winter and summer, but do not simulate the dynamical contribution. The models suggest greenhouse gas induced warming made the largest contribution to excess thermodynamic warming in winter, whereas changes in anthropogenic aerosols made the largest contribution in summer. They also imply a substantially reduced future rate of excess European warming in summer. However, the failure of current models to simulate observed circulation trends also implies large uncertainty in future rates of European warming.
Study of the establishment of a guinea pig model of ocular accommodative spasm by carbachol eye drops
Authors: Li Feifei , Ding Yanhong , Wang Jie , Zhang Xin , Miao Wanhong
Published: June 2024

Objective: To explore a method for establishing a model of ocular accommodative spasm in guinea pigs by using different concentrations of carbachol eye drops and different frequency of administration.
Methods: Eighteen healthy guinea pigs were selected to establish models for both eyes. Guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was modeled with carbachol eye drops at a concentration of 2 ml:0.1 mg, and group B was modeled with carbachol eye drops at a concentration of 4 ml:0.1 mg. The two groups were further randomly divided into three groups according to the random number table method. Three groups of guinea pigs were established: In the A1, B1 group, the drug was administered one time/day; in the A2, B2 group, the drug was administered two times/day; and in the A3, B3 group, the drug was administered three times/day. Before modeling, retinoscopy optometry was performed on the guinea pigs without mydriasis and mydriasis, and a refractive state was recorded.On subsequent days, modeling was performed again, and carbachol eye drops were administered using the same administration times. Retinoscopy was performed in a dark room without mydriasis on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21, and the data were recorded. After optimizing the modeling method, the ciliary muscle tissue of the model guinea pig and normal guinea pig were obtained for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of paraffin sections to compare the morphological differences under a light microscope.
Results: (1) There was no statistical significance in the interaction of time*0 d and time*drug frequency between group A and group B (P > 0.05). However, the main effect of different dose times varied between group A and group B (P < 0.05), and the modeling effect of three drops was better. (2) The overall modeling methods of groups A and B were not affected by the time factor, but three doses of carbachol eye drops achieved the best modeling effect on the 7th day, and the diopter of guinea pigs stabilized on the 14th and 21st days.(3) To further optimize the medication, the A and B groups were given three drops. On the 7th day, the refractive data of guinea pigs were compared between the groups, and the refractive status of the two groups of guinea pigs before modeling was compared within the groups. There was no statistical difference between the groups (P > 0.05), and there was a statistical difference within the groups (P < 0.05). (4) In the H&E staining of paraffin sections, the color of the ciliary muscle of the guinea pig withspasm of accommodation was darker than that of the normal guinea pig, and the myofilaments were more closely arranged.
Conclusion: (1) Carbachol has the effect of contracting the ciliary muscle; (2) Three drops of 2 ml:0.1 mg or 4 ml:0.1 mg of carbachol eye drops can be selected for seven days for modeling.
AW-YOLO: a multi-object detection network for autonomous driving under all weather conditions
Authors: Yue Xiangdi , Gu Qian , Huang Siming , Pan Jiaji , Zhang Yihuan , He Miaolei
Published: June 2024

Over the years, object detection technology based on deep learning has attracted extensive research in autonomous driving. Achieving a robust object detection network under all weather conditions (e.g., sunny, fog, nighttime, rain, and snow) is highly significant for autonomous driving systems, which ensure safety by recognizing pedestrians, vehicles, traffic lights, etc. This paper proposes a robust multi-object detection network named AW (All Weather)-YOLO based on YOLOv8, with a trade-off between precision and lightweightness. Considering the blurring or absence of the salient object features of the image under all weather conditions, we propose a developed dilation-wise residual (D-DWR) module. Specifically, it combines the dilatation-wise residual module with the dilated re-param block using a large kernel convolution to see wide without going deep, greatly improving the feature extraction ability. Moreover, we introduce an efficient dynamic upsampler (DySample) that formulates upsampling from the viewpoint of point sampling and avoids dynamic convolution, which can improve the network's ability to feature fusion. Lightweight is an essential requirement for autonomous driving. To this end, we adopt a multi-scale shared detection head (MSSD-Head) to achieve lightweight deployment in autonomous vehicle. Experimental results show that the mAP50-95 values of AW-YOLO on the KITTI and ACDC datasets exceed the baseline model YOLOv8 by 1.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, the parameters and model size of AW-YOLO have decreased by 21.4% and 20.4%, respectively.
Effect of Sr2+ on the properties of Roddlesden-Popper Structured, Ca3Ti2O7 based ceramics
Authors: Hayat Sarriruddin , Nouman Muhammad , Ali Nisar , Alotaibi Nouf , Mohammad Saikh
Published: June 2024

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskite-like slabs are a class of materials that are structurally identical but have one direction of reduced dimensionality, giving the material a layered or sheet-like structure. Such materials have outstanding dielectric properties in ceramics. Such ceramic compositions of (SrxCa1−x)3Ti2O7 (0.2 ≤ x ≥ 0.8) were synthesized using the solid-state technique. The phase, microstructural and microwave dielectric properties of dense sintered (SrxCa1−x)3Ti2O7 ceramics (0.2 ≤ x ≥ 0.8) were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and impedance analysis. All the samples have a Tetragonal phase structure with a space group of I4/mmm formation and the crystalline size, dislocation density and lattice strain changes with respect to Sr2+ doping were observed in the XRD analysis. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra (FT-IR) confirmed the bonding characteristics of CaCO3, TiO2 with SrCO3. The dielectric constant (εr) increased from 6.02 to 42.5 while minimum tangent loss (tan δ) observed was 0.0015.
Prognostic role of HIST1H4C expression and neoadjuvant therapy efficacy in breast cancer
Authors: Qian Li , Ge Rui , Cairong Zhu , Haihu Zhong , Yuanxuan Cai , Yongdong Liao , Xiaofeng Zhu , jingjing Li , Xuan Ye , Kai Chen , Jie Li
Published: June 2024

Purpose
breast cancer is a common and highly malignant, currently, HIST1H4C was found to be associated with several human malignancies. The purpose of this study is to investigate tissue HIST1H4C expression in breast cancer and explore its role in disease progression and its interaction with neoadjuvant therapy efficacy.
Methods
we analyzed tissue HIST1H4C mRNA expression in BC tissue samples from 105 patients received with neoadjuvant therapy using qPCR between 2019–2022.
Results
Statistical analysis showed that a high expression of HIST1H4C before neoadjuvant therapy was positively related to good responder (CR + PR), while high expression of HIST1H4C after neoadjuvant therapy was negatively related good responder. And HIST1H4C expression was significantly decreased in patients with good responder. In addition, high HIST1H4C expression was also related to ER negative, PR negative, high KI67 expression, high level of histological grade, large tumor size and more lymph node metastases in Curtis database. Furthermore, high HIST1H4C expression before and after-treatment in our center or in database has a positively correlation with poor prognosis.
Conclusions
HIST1H4C is the potential biomarker of neoadjuvant therapy and prognosis for breast cancer.
Human Papilloma Virus and Male Infertility: An Analysis Following World Health Organization 2021 Guidelines
Authors: Notari Tiziana , Buttà Michela , Serra Nicola , Sucato Arianna , Rizzo Giovanni , Capra Giuseppina , Bosco Liana
Published: June 2024

Male infertility is a complex and multifaceted issue, which can be influenced by multiple environmental and pathological factors. In this context, the impact of Human papillomavirus (HPV) male infection remains controversial. The introduction of new WHO 2021 evaluation criteria, i.e. DNA fragmentation index (DFI), slow and rapid progressive motility, could provide additional information about this debated correlation. In this regard, 121 semen samples of male partners of HPV-positive women attending In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) were evaluated following WHO 2021 and HPV-DNA test. Comparing HPV-negative and positive samples for rapid progressive motility and slow progressive motility showed significantly different results (p = 0.0018, p = 0.0004), contrary to what observed for total progressive motility. Regarding sperm DFI, only high-risk HPV infections appear to affect DNA integrity. In addition, the correlation between the different semen parameters has brought out a statistically significant correlation between midpiece morphological defects and rapid progressive motility in the HPV-positive group. We can conclude that WHO 2021 provides additional information about the impact of HPV on male infertility. Moreover, the correlation between HPV positivity, midpiece defects and a higher rapid progressive motility opens new lines of research that may help unravel the issues surrounding the role of HPV in compromising sperm quality.
A Novel Multi-population Optimization Algorithm: Adaptive Differential Evolution Integration Algorithm with Dynamic Tracking Strategy
Authors: Zhao Zhibiao , Li Zhen , Hao Xiayi , Zhou Wuzhou
Published: June 2024

In response to the limitations observed in existing single intelligent optimization algorithms, particularly their shortcomings in global search capability and population diversity, we propose the Adaptive Differential Evolution Integral (ADEI) algorithm. Drawing inspiration from collective behaviors observed in social organisms, this algorithm introduces four roles: "leaders," "followers," "contemplators," and "rationalists," employing a dynamic following strategy to effectively integrate these diverse particles and populations. Specifically, individuals in the Differential Evolution algorithm serve as the leader population, with tailored trial vector generation strategies implemented to enhance global search capability. Concurrently, improvements are made to the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm to facilitate its role as the evolution strategy for other populations. By adopting this approach, the algorithm's population diversity is enhanced, striking a balance between global and local search performance, thereby augmenting search efficiency and convergence accuracy. To evaluate its performance, extensive testing was conducted using the CEC2013 test function suite. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm achieved superior performance in over half of the 28 tested problems, demonstrating robust convergence accuracy and speed across unimodal, multimodal, and composite problem domains.
A neuromorphic electronic artist for robotic painting
Authors: Schürmann Lioba , D'Angelo Giulia , Indiveri Giacomo , Bartolozzi Chiara , Grayver Liat
Published: June 2024

Recent advances in computer vision and deep learning have led to a surge of interest in the field of AI-generated art, including digital image creation and robot-assisted painting. Traditional painting machines rely on static images and offline processing to incorporate visual feedback into their painting process. However, this approach does not consider the dynamic nature of painting and fails to decompose complex overlapping patterns into individual strokes. As an alternative to frame-based RGB cameras, neuromorphic cameras capture changes in light intensity within a scene via asynchronous event streams, promising to overcome some of the inherent limitations of traditional computer vision techniques. In this project, a robotic system for physical painting is presented which utilizes event-based visual input from a Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS) camera. To take advantage of the camera's ultra-low latency and sparse encoding, the proposed system also employs event-based information processing, implemented with spiking neural networks on the neuromorphic DynapSE-1 processor. The robotic system receives DVS sensory data which represents the trajectory of a brush stroke and computes the required joint velocities to recreate the stroke with a 6-DOF robotic arm in a closed-loop manner. The controller additionally integrates tactile feedback from a force-torque sensor to dynamically adjust the end-effector’s distance towards the canvas depending on the brush’s deformation. Within the scope of the project, it was further demonstrated how speed information about a perceived brush stroke can be extracted from DVS data. The system was tested in a real-world setting and successfully generated a collection of physical brush strokes. The proposed network is a first step towards a fully spiking robotic controller with the ability to seamlessly incorporate event-based sensory feedback, providing ultra-low latency responsiveness. Beyond its utility in robot-assisted painting, the developed network is applicable to any robotic task requiring real-time adaptive control.
Seismic Response of Multi-span Suspension Bridge under Multi-Support Excitation
Authors: Chauhan Yogesh J. , Chandrasekaran Srinivasan , Datta Tushar K. , Jain Arvind K. , Gohel Harshal
Published: June 2024

The multi-span suspension bridge, a novel bridge system, has emerged as an economically viable alternative for sea-crossing bridges with extensive spans. However, as bridge length increases, the complex correlation between support excitation becomes apparent due to the coherency effect in the underlying soil and the seismic wave-passage effect, termed Multi-Support Excitation (MSE). This study focuses on the seismic responses of Multi-span Suspension Bridge (MSB) under MSE, taking into account incoherence and wave-passage effects. The study conducts a time history analysis of “Cheon-Sa Bridge” to investigate the responses of girder and pylons under three different types of homogenous soil conditions: soft, medium, and firm, with three different apparent wave velocities of 600 m/s, 900 m/s, and 1200 m/s. The responses obtained for different MSE cases are compared with a uniform seismic excitation of recorded earthquake ground motion of El-Centro 1940, Imperial Valley: 180 deg. Results show that MSE significantly affects the longitudinal and vertical responses of MSB. The girder exhibits 3.3 times higher deflections under soft and medium soil MSE cases. The MSE cases significantly increase the girder axial force by about 6 times that of the uniform excitation case. The side pylons exhibit a 30% – 38% increase in transverse responses and approximately 10–12 times higher longitudinal responses. It is concluded that the local site conditions and corresponding acceleration spectral density of bedrock motion significantly influence the response of MSB. Merely considering the wave-passage effect may underestimate the actual response.
Application of Exogenous Jasmonic Acid Enhances the Resistance of Pak Choi (Brassica chinensis L.) to High Levels of Selenium-Toxicity in the Soil
Authors: Chen Jinping , Xing Ying , Huang Taiqing , Pan Liping , Liao Qing , Zeng Chengcheng , Liu Yongxian
Published: June 2024

Background and Aims
Enhancing selenium (Se) accumulation in crops is an important way to overcome human Se deficiency. However, increasing the Se content in the soil can produce toxic effects in crops. This study aimed to clarify the role of exogenous foliar JA on alleviating Se toxicity of pak choi exposed to high levels of Se-Toxicity in the Soil.
Methods
Here, subject a model crop, pak choi (Brassica chinensis L.) to high levels of soil Se stress and evaluate the physiological response, variation of Se accumulation and root exudates of plants treated with JA compared to those untreated under soil Se stress.
Results
We found that Se stress severely inhibits pak choi growth and biomass accumulation by reducing their photosynthetic capacity of photosystem II and inducing a heavy lipid peroxidation. When we sprayed plants with JA, we found lower levels of lipid peroxidation, but enhanced photochemical reactions of PSII, catalase activity, and shoot biomass, as well as higher Se content in the shoots. We found 53 metabolic compounds were altered by JA application compared to Se group (21 upgraded and 32 downgraded). Of those, JA application induced increased in secondary metabolites of root secretions, including organoheterocyclic compounds, lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and benzenoids, which may be crucial for defense against Se stress defense and Se accumulation.
Conclusions
This study provides us novel insights to understand the potential for JA to enhance Se tolerance and accumulation in pak choi, as well as its underlying mechanisms.
Unveiling Genome Plasticity as a Mechanism of Non-Antifungal-Induced Antifungal Resistance in Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Zheng Lijun , Xu Yi , Wang Chen , Dong Yubo , Guo Liangsheng
Published: June 2024

Cryptococcus neoformans, designated as a "critical priority" pathogen by the World Health Organization, poses significant therapeutic challenges with only three drug classes currently available for cryptococcosis treatment. The emergence of antifungal resistance, compounded by cross-resistance, further limits therapeutic efficacy. Aneuploidy, known for its potential to induce diverse traits, including antifungal resistance, remains poorly documented in C. neoformans. Utilizing tunicamycin, a well-established ER stress inducer, we investigated its impact on aneuploidy formation in C. neoformans. Our findings reveal that both mild and severe ER stress induced by tunicamycin result in the formation of aneuploidy in C. neoformans. These aneuploid strains exhibit diverse karyotypes, with select karyotypes conferring resistance or cross-resistance to fluconazole and 5-flucytosine. Additionally, these aneuploid strains display instability, spontaneously losing extra chromosomes in the absence of stress. Transcriptome analysis unveiled simultaneous upregulation of multiple drug resistance-associated genes in aneuploid strains, highlighting the genome plasticity of C. neoformans as a major mechanism contributing to non-antifungal-induced antifungal resistance.
TMCD: Threshold multi-channel prior-based defogging algorithm for underground coal mine images
Authors: Fan Yingbo , Mao Shanjun , Li Mei , Kang Jitong , Yang Yinglu
Published: June 2024

With the rapid development of image dehazing algorithms, the demand for effective dehazing solutions across various industries has markedly increased. However, the application effectiveness of most existing image dehazing algorithms within coal mine environments remains suboptimal. Consequently, this paper proposes an image dehazing algorithm based on a threshold multi-channel inspection method. The algorithm detects fog density using an enhanced color attenuation prior method, followed by image enhancement in fog-free areas and dehazing in foggy areas through threshold multi-channel inspection. During fog density detection, the algorithm incorporates texture information and illumination invariance features from the HSV space, enhancing adaptability and robustness to different lighting conditions. In the dehazing process, segregating foggy and fog-free images facilitates more accurate and reliable dehazing outcomes. Moreover, by constructing a multi-scale pyramid and employing a guided filtering approach, the algorithm achieves more precise estimation of the image transmittance, mitigates the blocky artifacts common in traditional methods. For video dehazing, a parameter reuse mechanism based on inter-frame similarity is designed, improving the real-time performance of video dehazing. The algorithm was tested on a coal mine dataset and on partial public datasets such as NH-Haze2 and Dense-Haze, achieving experimental results that surpass other algorithms.
The effect of nutrition education based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on food intake in pregnant Afghan immigrant women: a semi-experimental study
Authors: Riazi Somaye , Ghavami Vahid , Sobhani Seyyed Reza , Shoorab Nahid Jahani , Mirzakhani Kobra
Published: June 2024

Background
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, immigrants are at increased risk of malnutrition. Nutritional deficiencies in pregnancy are a public health concern and around 20 to 30 percent of pregnant women suffer from it worldwide. There has not been any investigation about the effect of any intervention on improving nutritional intake in pregnant Afghan immigrant women. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of nutrition education based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on food intake in pregnant Afghan immigrant women.
Methods
a semi-experimental study was conducted on 116 Afghan immigrant pregnant women who have the inclusion criteria, were referred to health center No. 2 in Mashhad in 2022, and were randomly assigned to the intervention (56) and control (56) groups. The demographic and the standard 24-hour food reminder questionnaire were the research tools. The intervention consisted of four sessions of 45–60 minutes of nutrition education based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) in groups of 8–10 people. The questionnaires were completed before, immediately, and one month after the intervention by the research units. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 21 software and chi-square, Fisher's exact, independent t, Mann-Whitney, Shapiro-Wilk, repeated measures, Friedman and GEE model tests.
Results
The intake of energy, protein, carbohydrates, and micronutrients such as iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin D increased in the intervention group immediately and one month after the intervention significantly compared to before the intervention (P < 0.05). Although all these nutrients intake had a significant decrease in control group women (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Nutrition education based on the health belief model is effective in the nutritional intake of Afghan immigrant pregnant women. According to the importance of getting enough nutrients in pregnancy and its effects on the mother and fetus's health, nutrition education based on the HBM model is suggested for these mothers.
Trial registration:
It is registered in the Iranian clinical trials database (IRCT) under the code: IRCT20220629055312N1, Date of first registration: 25/07/2022
Integrated optimization of train schedules and cotransportation plans for a passenger-freight metro line
Authors: Di Zhen , Zuo Hanqi , Zhou Housheng , Qi Jianguo , Zhang Shenghu
Published: June 2024

Against the backdrop of developing metro-based passenger and freight cotransportation plans, this study investigates the integrated optimization problem of train schedules and flow control for a metro line shared by passenger and freight transport, in which passengers and freight share trains. Given a set of time-dependent passenger and freight demands, this problem requires determining the space--time trajectories and passenger/freight capacities for trains while also assigning the demands to these trains. By introducing the train selection variables, carriage arrangement variables and flow assignment variables, the problem of interest is formulated as an integer linear programming model for minimizing the weighted sum of the number of freight carriages, the waiting time of all passengers and the delay of all freights. The primal model has good mathematical properties, i.e., it is equivalent to a mixed-integer linear programming model, which allows the commercial solver to find the exact solution of the model more efficiently. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, several numerical examples with different scales are tested. The relevant results show that only by integrating the optimization of train schedules and cotransportation plans can the efficiency of the whole cotransportation system be improved to the greatest extent.
Spatial distribution of human brucellosis in mainland China, 2012-2018 ， A Kriging interpolation and spatial-temporal scanning analysis
Authors: Zhao Yuan , Pan Dongfeng , Chen Chen , Zhang Yanfang , Ma Lixu , Li Hong , Liu Shanghong , Guo Zhongqin , Liang Peifeng
Published: June 2024

Background
Brucellosis is now a public health problem that cannot be ignored in China. However, a detailed study of its spatial distribution is still lacking. This paper aims to understand the spatial distribution of brucellosis in China and provide new research tools and bases for its prevention and treatment.
Methods
Data on the incidence rate of brucellosis from 2012 to 2018 was obtained from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System (CDCIS). ArcGIS 10.6 software was used to perform kriging interpolation analysis and create a distribution prediction map for brucellosis. Additionally, SaTScan software was utilized to conduct spatial-temporal scanning analysis in order to identify potential spatial changes in China's brucellosis incidence rate.
Results
There is a seasonal trend in the incidence of brucellosis in China, with a higher incidence in the warm season, especially the highest incidence in May. The results of exploratory analysis of kriging data show that the average incidence map, using the second-order Gaussian semi-variance model-log kriging interpolation method, has the highest accuracy. The results of spatial and temporal clustering show that there is a first-level clustering area centered on Heilongjiang and three second-level clustering areas centered on Tibet, Shanxi, and Hubei. The results of China's brucellosis predictive distribution map and the analysis of the scanning statistic show that the high incidence area of brucellosis is located in the northwest part of our country, but there is a tendency to shift to the south.
Conclusion
There are clear spatial patterns of brucellosis in China. In high-incidence areas, it is important to allocate additional prevention and control resources to effectively contain the spread of brucellosis epidemics. In low-incidence areas, it is crucial to promptly identify favorable factors that can help reduce the occurrence of brucellosis.
G9a/GLP inhibitor UNC0642 induces growth arrest in colorectal cancer via induction of ROS generation, coordinated overexpression of GADD genes, and the JNK/p38 MAPK pathway
Authors: Cheng Xiaoyan , Zhang Xiaoli , Hong Tian , Yang Ling , Tu Chenxiao , Yang Shuang , An Yunhe
Published: June 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Hence, new therapeutic agents are urgently needed to manage colorectal cancer effectively. The epigenetic abnormalities of chromatin drive the initiation and progression of human cancers. Therefore, DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors have been developed for clinical use, but no inhibitors of histone methyltransferase are under development for human cancer therapy. H3K9 methyltransferase G9a/G9a-like protein (GLP) is overexpressed in various human cancers, and its knockdown inhibits cancer cell growth, suggesting the cancer-suppressing potential of G9a/GLP inhibitors. UNC0642 is a potent and selective G9a/GLP inhibitor that suppresses breast cancer cell survival and tumorigenesis. In this study, we first tested the anticancer activity of UNC0642 in CRC in vitro and in the mouse xenograft model and further explored the underlying molecular mechanism. We found that UNC0642 inhibited CRC cell proliferation, induced G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest, increased reactive oxygen species level and expression of growth arrest– and DNA damage–inducible genes (GADD), activated p38, and JNK/MAPK signaling pathway. The findings of this study provided new evidence for exploring the potential of UNC0642 for tumor suppressor drug development and might help further explore the biological functions of G9a/GLP in CRC.
Diagnostic Accuracies of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy Criteria in the First Thai Pathologically Confirmed Cohort
Authors: Smitasiri Thachamai , Pongpitakmetha Thanakit , Thanprasertsuk Sekh
Published: June 2024

Backgrounds
The gold standard of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) diagnosis are surgical pathology or postmortem examination, which are scarcely done in clinical practice. Thus, the current diagnostic criteria are mainly based on clinic-radiological characteristics, including modified Boston criteria v1.5 [Linn J, et al. 2010] and Boston criteria v2.0 [Charidimou A, et al. 2022], which are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based, as well as simplified [Sembill JA, et al. 2022] and full [Rodrigues MA, et al. 2018] Edinburg criteria, which are computerized topography (CT)-based. These criteria had been developed based on patients in western countries. Therefore, the application of these criteria in Asian population, especially in South-East Asian, is limited. This study aimed to explore the clinico-radiological characteristics and the accuracy of the current diagnostic criteria among Thai CAA patients.
Methods
Congo Red staining brain histopathological specimens in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand during 2011–2021 were reviewed. Patients’ characteristics were gathered from the best available data in electronic medical records. Each clinical event was analyzed separately. Radiological biomarkers in brain CT and MRI which had been done closet to the pathological confirmed date were systematically rated by trained investigators. Level of diagnosis was assessed based on the modified Boston criteria v1.5, Boston criteria v2.0, and simplified Edinburg criteria.
Results
Eight patients had pathological-confirmed CAA and 11 clinical events from these patients were reviewed. The clinico-radiological characteristics are shown in Table 1. Comparisons of the level of diagnosis between the criteria are shown in Table 2 and the diagnostic accuracy of the criteria using the Boston criteria v1.5 and v2.0 as reference standards are summarized in Table 3. The Boston criteria v2.0 revealed the better sensitivity compared with v1.5 (probable CAA, 63.6% vs 54.4%), likely due to an inclusion of non-hemorrhagic biomarkers; whereas the simplified Edinburgh criteria showed lower sensitivity compared with Boston criteria. The AUC of probable CAA in Boston criteria v1.5 using v2.0 as a reference standard was 0.93 (95%CI [0.76-1.00], sensitivity 85.7%, and specificity 100%).
Conclusions
We performed the application of most recent current diagnostic criteria in CAA Thai population. The larger and well-designed confirmatory study in Asian cohort is needed.
The 9-item Academic Self-Efficacy (ASE) scale: Validity, reliability and measurement invariance across sexes and six Arab nations
Authors: Hemade Ali , Malaeb Diana , Alhuwailah Amthal , Helmy Mai , Barakat Muna , Hallit Rabih , Khatib Sami El , Rahal Mohamad , Rabbani Syed Arman , Alzayer Reem , Farrag Nada H. , Hajjar Rita El , Mallouh Jinan , Obeid Sahar , Hallit Souheil , Fekih-Romdhane Feten
Published: June 2024

Background: Academic self-efficacy (ASE), the belief in one's ability to succeed in academic tasks, plays a crucial role in student motivation, learning, and performance. Reliable measurement of this construct is essential for identifying students' strengths and areas for improvement. This study aims to translate and validate the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale for use among university students from six different Arab countries.
Methods: Using the Snowball sampling technique, participants (n=2131), university students six Arab countries (i.e., KSA, UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Oman, and Kuwait), answered the demographic questions and completed the Arabic Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-8, and the Multidimensional Social Support Scale.
Results: Confirmatory Factor Analysis proved a one-factor solution for the ASE scale. Adequate composite reliability was found (ω = .96; α = .96). Convergent and concurrent validity was assessed and proven by a negative correlation with measures of psychological distress and positive correlation with measures of social support. Our translation of the ASE scale was invariant across sexes and countries, with females scoring significantly higher than males.
Conclusion: Our Arabic version of the ASE scale is a validated and reliable tool for assessing ASE in Arabic speaking populations, and shall provide means for assessing students’ confidence in their academic abilities and help improve student support.
Development of Molecular Diagnostic Protocols for Simultaneous Identification of Common Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius) and Tropical Bed Bugs (Cimex hemipterus)
Authors: Han Jeong Heum , Choi Junhyeong , Cho Susie , Lee Si-Hyeock , Kim Ju Hyeon
Published: June 2024

Background
The resurgence of two bed bug species, the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, 1758) and tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus Fabricius, 1803), in the same geographical regions has been frequently reported recently. Consequently, the rapid identification of these species at infestation sites is crucial for implementing targeted control measures, owing to differences in genetic and physiological traits.
Methods
To develop molecular diagnostic methods, distinct protocols were established for multiplex PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) using species-specific primers based on species-specific segments of internal transcribed spacer 2 sequences. These methods were optimized for rapid and accurate identification of the two bed bug species.
Results
Both multiplex PCR and LAMP protocols were effective in simultaneously identifying the two bed bug species, even when utilizing DNA released from dead specimens. Notably, the straightforward procedure and minimal time commitment of LAMP make it highly applicable for rapid and accurate diagnosis of bed bugs at infestation sites. The diagnostic accuracy of these methods was validated through a blind test.
Conclusions
The multiplex PCR and LAMP protocols enable rapid and accurate on-site identification of bed bug species, facilitating the timely implementation of species-specific control strategies. This approach ensures effective management tailored to the unique characteristics of each bed bug species.
Is it worth using the Comprehensive Complication Index over the Clavien-Dindo Classification in elderly patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy?
Authors: Danilovic Alexandre , Perrone Gustavo , Dias Lucas , Marchini Giovanni , Torricelli Fabio , Batagello Carlos , Vicentini Fabio , Nahas William C , Mazzucchi Eduardo
Published: June 2024

Purpose
To compare the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) to the Clavien-Dindo Classification (CDC) in an elderly population who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and to identify predictors of postoperative complications in this population.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study involving patients 60 years and older who underwent standard PCNL at our Institution between 2009 and 2020. Postoperative complications were considered up to 30 days after surgery. Both CDC and CCI were calculated to assess patient outcomes. Length of stay (LOS) and admission to the emergency room (ER) were used as surrogates of postoperative complications.
Results
We included 239 patients with a median age of 65 [63–70] years. 15.5% presented complications and multiple complications occurred in 2.9% of the patients. LOS had a correlation coefficient of 0.291 (p < 0.001) with both CDC and CCI. Admission to the ER had a coefficient of 0.284 (p < 0.001) with CDC and 0.286 (p < 0.001) with CCI. Higher American Anesthesiology Association (ASA) physical status (p = 0.04), higher Guy’s Hospital Kidney Stone Classification (p = 0.02) and lower post-surgery hematocrit level (p = 0.046) exhibited significant univariate correlations with complications. After multivariate analysis, only a higher ASA physical status (p = 0.01) showed independent correlation with complications.
Conclusion
A higher ASA physical status arose as an independent predictor of complications following PCNL in the elderly population. The use of the CCI following this procedure in this population did not yield benefits over the widely used CDC.
Intelligent Irrigation System Based on Humidity and Temperature Predictions for Cocoa Crops in Piedecuesta Santander
Authors: Ortega Rocio Cazes , García Aldo Pardo , Rojas Luis Guillermo Hernández , Pelayo Jorge Saul Fandiño
Published: June 2024

Insufficient water, below 70%, limits cocoa growth, reduces production and affects quality due to water stress. On the other hand, excess moisture, above 85%, obstructs air channels in the soil and causes root rot, reducing nutrient absorption and crop yield. These unfavorable water conditions negatively impact both cocoa quantity and quality. Accurate irrigation management, staying within an optimal range of 70-85%, is essential to maximize cocoa production and quality. The project proposes a smart irrigation system for cocoa using Edge Impulse and artificial intelligence to analyze air temperature and humidity, as well as predict rainfall with cloud data. Sensors measure soil moisture in real time near each plant. The system compares the rain prediction with soil moisture, triggering drip irrigation only when moisture is predicted to be lacking and rain is not expected. This integration of Edge Impulse improves efficiency and provides high-performance real-time data analysis.
A smart irrigation system was implemented, combining data from DTH11 sensors and hygrometer with Edge Impulse, and the algorithm was transferred to an Arduino Uno to control the drip irrigation motor pump in real time. Irrigation is activated only under optimal conditions, considering air and soil moisture. This efficient approach reduces water consumption and optimizes the energy used in irrigation. Integration with Raspberry Pi and Firebase for remote control establishes a scalable and sustainable model for precision agriculture, highlighting the effectiveness of Edge Impulse in modern agricultural resource management.
Improving Performance of Hybrid Zn-Ce Redox Flow Battery by Controlling Ion Crossover and Use of Mixed Acid Positive Electrolyte
Authors: Yu Hao , Pritzker Mark , Gostick Jeff
Published: June 2024

In this study, the crossover of the electroactive species Zn(II), Ce(III), Ce(IV) and H+ across a Nafion 117 membrane was measured experimentally during the operation of a bench-scale hybrid Zn-Ce redox flow battery containing 0.8 mol/L cerium methanesulfonate in 4 mol/L methanesulfonic acid (MSA) or 2 mol/L MSA–0.5 mol/L H2SO4 mixed acid on the positive side and 1.5 mol/L ZnMSA in 1 mol/L MSA on the negative side. As much as 36% of the initial Zn(II) ions transferred from the negative to the positive electrolyte and 42.5% of the H+ in the positive electrolyte crossed over to the negative electrolyte after 30 charge-discharge cycles. Both of these phenomena contributed to the steady fade in battery performance over the course of operation. Based on these findings, additional experiments were conducted in which different amounts of Zn(II) were intentionally added to the positive electrolytes. This action was shown to have several beneficial effects: by reducing the crossover of Zn(II) from the negative electrolyte to the positive electrolyte, the battery coulombic and voltage efficiencies both improved, the decay of battery performance over the 30 charge-discharge cycles was reduced, the kinetics of the Ce(III)/Ce(IV) redox couple were enhanced, and inhibition of O2 evolution was observed. The average energy efficiency over 30 charge-discharge cycles was increased by 19.7% by adding 0.6 mol/L Zn(II) to 4 mol/L MSA positive supporting electrolyte and 6.4% by adding 0.4 mol/L Zn(II) to 2 mol/L MSA–0.5 mol/L H2SO4.
Assessment of Gamified Mixed Reality Environments for Upper Limb Robotic Rehabilitation: Pilot Study on Healthy Adults
Authors: Garcia-Hernandez Nadia , Buccelli Stefano , De Angelis Agnese , Taglione Elisa , laffranchi matteo , deMichieli lorenzo
Published: June 2024

Exoskeletons for rehabilitation have the potential to aid movement and promote intensive, task-oriented, and personalized motor training. However, robotic-assisted training and user experience could be further improve by including Mixed Reality Environments (MREs) and using a gamification approach. This paper presents the design and evaluation of a MR solution based on Microsoft Hololens 2 for robot-assisted bilateral shoulder training. It is based on gamified MREs designed to guide and encourage bilateral synchronous and asynchronous movements of the upper extremities while a 6 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) ex-oskeleton (FLOAT) provides motor assistance only to the impared limb. The robotic-assisted bimanual tasks involve the use of rehabilitative tools (such as a dowel rod), as a means to interact with the virtual world and to enable the intact limb guide and control the motions of the disable limb. The gamified MR training solution generates meaningful performance metrics from the kinematic analysis of hands movement, captured by Hololens. The subjective evaluation of the gamified MR solution focused on usability, cognitive load, and user experience. Meanwhile, the objective evaluation encompassed the analysis of the robot-assisted movements with and without gamified MREs, a comparative analysis between metrics obtained from Hololens and Vicon data, and the collection of reference data and trajectories. There were twenty-one healthy adults involved in the evaluation of the system. The results with the gamified MREs highlight 1 excellent system usability, low cognitive load, and high user experience. Additionally , integrating gamified MREs into robot-assisted movements enhances shoulder movements. Data collection with Hololens demonstrated to be reliable and consistent. Furthermore, the normal reference values, paths, and velocity profiles obtained from healthy individuals offer a foundation for assessing the performance of individuals with disabilities. In summary, the introduction of gamified MREs for robot-assisted bilateral shoulder movements marks a significant and promising advancement in rehabilitation technology.