bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What are practitioners' views of how digital health interventions may play a role in online child sexual abuse service delivery?
Authors: Quayle Ethel , Schwannauer Matthias , Varese Filippo , Cartwright Kim , Hewins Will , Chan Cindy , Newton Alice , Chitsabesan Prathiba , Richards Cathy , Bucci Sandra
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Online child sexual abuse (OCSA) affects considerable numbers of children globally and is associated with a variety of mental health problems. Existing practitioner studies suggest that young people are infrequently asked about online abuse and practitioners have a fragmented understanding of the problems experienced or how they might approach them. There are very few evidence-based interventions that guide clinical assessment or practice. Digital Health Interventions (DHIs) have the potential to be an effective option where children and young people's services are challenged, including accessibility and anonymity. The aim of this study was to explore mental health practitioners' views of how DHIs may play a role in supporting young people who have experienced OCSA, and the role they can play in healthcare delivery.

Method

In-depth qualitative interviews and one focus group were conducted with 25 child mental health professionals across two sites (Manchester and Edinburgh). Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Three overarching themes and 9 sub-themes were identified: (1) feeling a little bit lost; (2) seeing potential problems; and (3) knowing what works. Practitioners expressed interest in a DHI to support this client group and saw it as a way of managing waiting lists and complementing existing therapies. They felt that many young people would see this as a preferred medium to in-person therapy, would be empowering, and offers new ways of learning how to stay safe online. However, there were concerns about how much time would be needed by staff to deliver a DHI, anxieties about safety issues in relation to content and data protection, some of which may be unique to this population of young people, and concerns about the absence of a therapeutic relationship with vulnerable children.

Discussion

Our findings indicated that practitioners were uncertain about working with children subjected to OCSA but were receptive to the possibility of using a DHI to support their practice and to reduce waiting lists. Concerns were expressed about the time needed for staff training and support as well as concerns over patient safety and the lack of evidence about the effectiveness of an unsupported DHI.
Bacteroides and NAFLD: pathophysiology and therapy
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zhou Jing , He Zheyun , Li Hongshan
Published: March 2024

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver condition observed globally, with the potential to progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any drugs for the treatment of NAFLD. NAFLD is characterized by histopathological abnormalities in the liver, such as lipid accumulation, steatosis, hepatic balloon degeneration, and inflammation. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and its metabolites significantly contribute to the initiation and advancement of NAFLD. Bacteroides, a potential probiotic, has shown strong potential in preventing the onset and progression of NAFLD. However, the precise mechanism by which Bacteroides treats NAFLD remains uncertain. In this review, we explore the current understanding of the role of Bacteroides and its metabolites in the treatment of NAFLD, focusing on their ability to reduce liver inflammation, mitigate hepatic steatosis, and enhance intestinal barrier function. Additionally, we summarize how Bacteroides alleviates pathological changes by restoring the metabolism, improving insulin resistance, regulating cytokines, and promoting tight-junctions. A deeper comprehension of the mechanisms through which Bacteroides is involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD should aid the development of innovative drugs targeting NAFLD.
Comparative analysis of the gut bacteria and fungi in migratory demoiselle cranes (Grus virgo) and common cranes (Grus grus) in the Yellow River Wetland, China
Authors: Li Ziteng , Duan Tianfeng , Wang Lin , Wu Jiawei , Meng Yajie , Bao Dulan , Gao Li , Liu Li
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Gut microbiota are closely related to the nutrition, immunity, and metabolism of the host and play important roles in maintaining the normal physiological activities of animals. Cranes are important protected avian species in China, and they are sensitive to changes in the ecological environment and are thus good environmental indicators. There have been no reports examining gut fungi or the correlation between bacteria and fungi in wild Demoiselle cranes (Grus virgo) and Common cranes (Grus grus). Related research can provide a foundation for the protection of rare wild animals.

Methods

16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing techniques were used to analyze the gut bacterial and fungal diversity of Common and Demoiselle cranes migrating to the Yellow River wetland in Inner Mongolia.

Results

The results revealed that for gut bacteria α diversity, Chao1 index in Demoiselle cranes was remarkably higher than that in Common cranes (411.07 ± 79.54 vs. 294.92 ± 22.38), while other index had no remarkably differences. There was no remarkable difference in fungal diversity. There were marked differences in the gut microbial composition between the two crane species. At the phylum level, the highest abundance of bacteria in the Common crane and Demoiselle crane samples was Firmicutes, accounting for 87.84% and 74.29%, respectively. The highest abundance of fungi in the guts of the Common and Demoiselle cranes was Ascomycota, accounting for 69.42% and 57.63%, respectively. At the genus level, the most abundant bacterial genus in the Common crane sample was Turicibacter (38.60%), and the most abundant bacterial genus in the Demoiselle crane sample was Catelicoccus (39.18%). The most abundant fungi in the Common crane sample was Penicillium (6.97%), and the most abundant fungi in the Demoiselle crane sample was Saccharomyces (8.59%). Correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant correlation between gut bacteria and fungi.

Discussion

This study provided a research basis for the protection of cranes. Indeed, a better understanding of the gut microbiota is very important for the conservation and management of wild birds, as it not only helps us to understand their life history and related mechanisms, but also can hinder the spread of pathogenic microorganisms.
A review of chemotherapeutic drugs-induced arrhythmia and potential intervention with traditional Chinese medicines
Authors: Li Weina , Cheng Xiaozhen , Zhu Guanghui , Hu Ying , Wang Yunhan , Niu Yueyue , Li Hongping , Aierken Aikeremu , Li Jie , Feng Ling , Liu Guifang
Published: March 2024

Significant advances in chemotherapy drugs have reduced mortality in patients with malignant tumors. However, chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity increases the morbidity and mortality of patients, and has become the second leading cause of death after tumor recurrence, which has received more and more attention in recent years. Arrhythmia is one of the common types of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, and has become a new risk related to chemotherapy treatment, which seriously affects the therapeutic outcome in patients. Traditional Chinese medicine has experienced thousands of years of clinical practice in China, and has accumulated a wealth of medical theories and treatment formulas, which has unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of malignant diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine may reduce the arrhythmic toxicity caused by chemotherapy without affecting the anti-cancer effect. This paper mainly discussed the types and pathogenesis of secondary chemotherapeutic drug-induced arrhythmia (CDIA), and summarized the studies on Chinese medicine compounds, Chinese medicine Combination Formula and Chinese medicine injection that may be beneficial in intervention with secondary CDIA including atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia and sinus bradycardia, in order to provide reference for clinical prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced arrhythmias.
A comparative analytical investigation for some linear and nonlinear time-fractional partial differential equations in the framework of the Aboodh transformation
Authors: Noor Saima , Albalawi Wedad , Shah Rasool , Shafee Ahmad , Ismaeel Sherif M. E. , El-Tantawy S. A.
Published: March 2024

This article discusses two simple, complication-free, and effective methods for solving fractional-order linear and nonlinear partial differential equations analytically: the Aboodh residual power series method (ARPSM) and the Aboodh transform iteration method (ATIM). The Caputo operator is utilized to define fractional order derivatives. In these methods, the analytical approximations are derived in series form. We calculate the first terms of the series and then estimate the absolute error resulting from leaving out the remaining terms to ensure the accuracy of the derived approximations and determine the accuracy and efficiency of the suggested methods. The derived approximations are discussed numerically using some values for the relevant parameters to the subject of the study. Useful examples are thought to illustrate the practical application of current approaches. We also examine the fractional order results that converge to the integer order solutions to ensure the accuracy of the derived approximations. Many researchers, particularly those in plasma physics, are anticipated to gain from modeling evolution equations describing nonlinear events in plasma systems.
Significant correlation between leaf vein length per unit area and stomatal density: evidence from Red Tip and Chinese photinias
Authors: He Ke , Niklas Karl J. , Niinemets Ülo , Wang Jinfeng , Jiao Yabing , Shi Peijian
Published: March 2024

The vascular veins in photosynthetic leaves play an important role in transporting water and sugars throughout the plant body, and their venation pattern and vein density determine the hydraulic efficiency of the leaf. Likewise, stomatal density (SD) can influence photosynthetic gas exchange. However, the correlation between leaf vein density and SD is seldom reported. Herein, we examined 16 leaves from the hybrid Photinia × fraseri and 16 leaves from one of its parents, P. serratifolia, to explore the correlation between leaf vein density and SD. For each leaf, equidistant lamina quadrats were excised along two longitudinal transects (one along the midrib and another along the leaf margin). For each quadrat, micrographs of 1.2 mm × 0.9 mm stomatal imprints, and 2.51 mm × 1.88 mm micrographs of leaf veins were used to measure total vein area per leaf unit area (VAA) and total vein length per unit area (VLA), as indicators of leaf vein density, to determine the correlation between SD and leaf vein density. For each taxon, there was no significant correlation between SD and VAA, but there was a significant correlation between SD and VLA. The data indicate that SD is not positively correlated with VAA but positively correlated with VLA for both the hybrid and the parent species. This study indicates that future work should focus on the relationships between SD and total vein length per unit area rather than on total leaf vein area per unit area within and across species.
Searching for bacterial plastitrophs in modified Winogradsky columns
Authors: Olabemiwo Fatai A. , Kunney Claudia , Hsu Rachel , De Palo Chloe , Bashaw Thaddeus , Kraut Kendall , Ryan Savannah , Huang Yuting , Wallentine Will , Kalra Siddhant , Nazzaro Valerie , Cohan Frederick M.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Plastic pollution has surged due to increased human consumption and disposal of plastic products. Microbial communities capable of utilizing plastic as a carbon source may play a crucial role in degrading and consuming environmental plastic. In this study, we investigated the potential of a modified Winogradsky column (WC) to enrich Connecticut landfill soil for plastic-degrading bacteria and genes.

Methods

By filling WCs with landfill soil and inorganic Bushnell Haas medium, and incorporating polyethylene (PE) strips at different soil layers, we aimed to identify bacterial taxa capable of degrading PE. We employed high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing to identify the microbes cultivated on the plastic strips and the intervening landfill soil. We used PICRUSt2 to estimate the functional attributes of each community from 16S rRNA sequences.

Results and discussion

After 12 months of incubation, distinct colors were observed along the WC layers, indicating successful cultivation. Sequencing revealed significant differences in bacterial communities between the plastic strips and the intervening landfill-soil habitats, including increased abundance of the phyla Verrucomicrobiota and Pseudomonadota (néé Proteobacteria) on the strips. Based on inferred genomic content, the most highly abundant proteins in PE strip communities tended to be associated with plastic degradation pathways. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences showed novel unclassified phyla and genera enriched on the plastic strips. Our findings suggest PE-supplemented Winogradsky columns can enrich for plastic-degrading microbes, offering insights into bioremediation strategies.
Patient experiences and perceptions of kidney stone surgery: what lessons can be learned from TikTok?
Authors: Juliebø-Jones Patrick , Tzelves Lazaros , Beisland Christian , Roth Ingunn , Somani Bhaskar K.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The aim of this study was to perform an evaluation of patient experiences and perceptions regarding kidney stone surgery on the social media platform TikTok. An increasing number of the public use social media (SoMe) as a platform to share their views regarding their experiences related to surgical treatment.

Methods

Using the hashtag #kidneystonesurgery, the 100 most recent video posts as of 01.01.2024 on TikTok were included. As well as demographic data such as gender and location, thematic content was also collected. To achieve this, a previously published framework was used and adapted for application in the setting of kidney stone surgery. This was piloted on 20 sample videos to assess its feasibility before revision and establishment of the final framework. This included the following key areas: Pain, Complications, Anxiety, Recovery, Return to work, Finances, Treatment delays, Diet and Prevention and stent complaints.

Results

The majority of posts (95%) were from North America, 80% by females and the mean number of video views was 92,826 (range: 261–2,000,000). 76% of the videos discussed ureteroscopy (URS). 49% were filmed at the hospital, which was named in 9% of the videos. Top three topics discussed were: Recovery (65%), pain (62%) and stents (55%). This was followed by anxiety (39%) and complications (24%). 12% of these videos uploaded by lay people included basic medical information that was wholly incorrect. More than half of the posts (51%) were negative in tone. Treatment delays (5%) and a lack of sufficient preoperative information (4%) were also raised, that appeared to contribute to the negative reports. However, the main cause for negative tone owed to the 80% of the patients (n = 44) who discussed stents that focused their video on the pain suffered from the post operative stent.

Conclusion

There is a high level of usership and engagement on TikTok on the subject of kidney stone surgery. The proportion of negative videos is high and much of this is related to the bothersome stent symptoms and complications. This could easily lead to misperceptions among potential patients about the true burden of such adverse events.
Self-Stabilizing Control Strategy of Stabilized Platform for Rotary Steerable Drilling System Based on Adaptive Backstepping Control
Authors: Li Shuoyu , Wang Yuelong , Wu Xiaoxiong , Mao Yanhui , Chen Jia , Yang Yi
Published: March 2024

To enhance the robustness of the toolface angle control in a fully rotary steerable drilling tool, a backstepping control law and a drilling fluid flow adaptive law are devised based on the dynamic model of the stable platform. The Lyapunov function is constructed, and it is proven that the adaptive backstepping control system of the stabilized platform is stable. Furthermore, in order to address problems such as the friction dead zone and excessive rotational kinetic energy in the stabilized platform system, which could cause toolface angle oscillations and the rapid rotation of the stabilized platform, we additionally propose an online estimation method for the balancing torque and velocity-angle control switching strategy. By combining the backstepping control law, drilling fluid flow adaptive law, and velocity-angle control switching strategy, a self-stabilizing control strategy for the stabilized platform is established. In comparison with the PID control method, the simulation results show the superiority of the proposed scheme under complex disturbances from a downhole environment. And the drilling simulation experiment results indicate that the proposed control method has a good anti-interference capability under various conditions, including drilling fluid flow rate, inclination angle, and drill collar rotational speed. Therefore, the proposed control method can improve the robustness of the stabilized platform control system.
Combinations of Feature Selection and Machine Learning Models for Object-Oriented “Staple-Crop-Shifting” Monitoring Based on Gaofen-6 Imagery
Authors: Cao Yujuan , Dai Jianguo , Zhang Guoshun , Xia Minghui , Jiang Zhitan
Published: March 2024

This paper combines feature selection with machine learning algorithms to achieve object-oriented classification of crops in Gaofen-6 remote sensing images. The study provides technical support and methodological references for research on regional monitoring of food crops and precision agriculture management. “Staple-food-shifting” refers to the planting of other cash crops on cultivated land that should have been planted with staple crops such as wheat, rice, and maize, resulting in a change in the type of arable land cultivated. An accurate grasp of the spatial and temporal patterns of “staple-food-shifting” on arable land is an important basis for rationalizing land use and protecting food security. In this study, the Shihezi Reclamation Area in Xinjiang is selected as the study area, and Gaofen-6 satellite images are used to study the changes in the cultivated area of staple food crops and their regional distribution. Firstly, the images are segmented at multiple scales and four types of features are extracted, totaling sixty-five feature variables. Secondly, six feature selection algorithms are used to optimize the feature variables, and a total of nine feature combinations are designed. Finally, k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), and Decision Tree (DT) are used as the basic models of image classification to explore the best combination of feature selection method and machine learning model suitable for wheat, maize, and cotton classification. The results show that our proposed optimal feature selection method (OFSM) can significantly improve the classification accuracy by up to 15.02% compared to the Random Forest Feature Importance Selection (RF-FI), Random Forest Recursive Feature Elimination (RF-RFE), and XGBoost Feature Importance Selection (XGBoost-FI) methods. Among them, the OF-RF-RFE model constructed based on KNN performs the best, with the overall accuracy, average user accuracy, average producer accuracy, and kappa coefficient reaching 90.68%, 87.86%, 86.68%, and 0.84, respectively.
The Impact of Light Intensities on the Phenotypic Parameters of Cucumber Seedlings at Three Developmental Stages
Authors: Li Bin , Wei Xinyu , Lu Huazhong , Chen Xi , Zhou Xingxing , Yang Fengxi , Zhao Junhong
Published: March 2024

Industrialized seeding production is one of the most important methods used to raise seedlings in a standardized and efficient manner. However, its consumption of light energy limits its development. In this paper, we studied the effects of LED light intensities (30 (L1), 60 (L2), 90 (L3), 120 (L4), 150 (L5), 180 (L6), and 210 (L7) µmol·m−2·s−1) on the phenotypic parameters and health index of seedlings during different growth stages (cotyledon flattening (CF), one bud and one leaf (OBOL), and one bud and two leaves (OBTL)). Ten out of sixteen plants were selected to measure the parameters in every treatment. The control group was treated with 150 µmol·m−2·s−1 all the time. The results show that the height of the L1-treated plants was greatest during the cotyledon flattening stage. The L7 treatment produced the largest stem diameter, the greatest biomass, the largest leaf area, and the largest leaf circumference, the values of which were 2.61 mm, 3.3 g, 60.67 cm2, and 39.71 cm, respectively. During the one bud and one leaf stage, the L1 treatment produced the tallest plants. The L7 treatment resulted in the largest stem diameter, the greatest biomass, the largest leaf area, and the largest leaf circumference. During the one bud and two leaves stage, the plant height, stem diameter, leaf circumference, and biomass produced of the L6 treatment were the greatest, with values of 68.37 mm, 3.09 mm, 51.54 cm, and 4.47 g. L5 resulted in the largest leaf area (63.91 cm2). The seedling index of the three stages showed an inflection point at the L4 level. The experimental results showed that the light intensity required by the cucumber seedlings was 120 µmol·m−2·s−1, 150 µmol·m−2·s−1, and 120 µmol·m−2·s−1 during the three stages, from the cotyledon flattening stage to the one bud and two leaves stage. The results provide references regarding the light required during the cultivation of cucumber seedlings.
Equivalence Trial of the Non-Bismuth 10-Day Concomitant and 14-Day Hybrid Therapies for Helicobacter pylori Eradication in High Clarithromycin Resistance Areas
Authors: Georgopoulos Sotirios D. , Xirouchakis Elias , Liatsos Christos , Apostolopoulos Pericles , Kasapidis Panagiotis , Martinez-Gonzalez Beatriz , Laoudi Fotini , Stoupaki Maria , Axiaris Georgios , Sgouras Dionysios , Mentis Andreas , Michopoulos Spyridon
Published: March 2024

Background and aim: We conducted an equivalence trial of quadruple non-bismuth “concomitant” and “hybrid” regimens for H. pylori eradication in a high clarithromycin resistance area. Methods: There were 321 treatment-naïve H. pylori-positive individuals in this multicenter clinical trial randomized to either the hybrid (esomeprazole 40 mg/bid, amoxicillin 1 g/bid for 7 days, then 7 days esomeprazole 40 mg/bid, amoxicillin 1 g/bid, clarithromycin 500 mg/bid, and metronidazole 500 mg/bid) or the concomitant regimen (all medications given concurrently bid for 10 days). Eradication was tested using histology and/or a 13C-urea breath test. Results: The concomitant regimen had 161 patients (90F/71M, mean 54.5 years, 26.7% smokers, 30.4% ulcer) and the hybrid regimen had 160 (80F/80M, mean 52.8 years, 35.6% smokers, 31.2% ulcer). The regimens were equivalent, by intention to treat 85% and 81.8%, (p = 0.5), and per protocol analysis 91.8% and 87.8%, (p = 0.3), respectively. The eradication rate by resistance, between concomitant and hybrid regimens, was in susceptible strains (97% and 97%, p = 0.6), clarithromycin single-resistant strains (86% and 90%, p = 0.9), metronidazole single-resistant strains (96% and 81%, p = 0.1), and dual-resistant strains (70% and 53%, p = 0.5). The side effects were comparable, except for diarrhea being more frequent in the concomitant regimen. Conclusions: A 14-day hybrid regimen is equivalent to a 10-day concomitant regimen currently used in high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance areas. Both regimens are well tolerated and safe.
Risk Factors and Outcomes of Community-Acquired Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection in Elderly Patients
Authors: Chen Yen-Chou , Tsai I-Ting , Lai Chung-Hsu , Lin Kuo-Hsuan , Hsu Yin-Chou
Published: March 2024

The increasing prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections is a global concern. Elderly patients have a diminished immune response and functional reserve, and are thus more vulnerable to bacterial infection. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and outcomes in elderly patients with community-acquired CRKP infections. We performed a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary medical center between 1 January 2021, and 31 December 2021. All elderly patients who visited the emergency department during this period with culture-positive K. pneumoniae were enrolled, and their baseline demographics, laboratory profiles, management strategies, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. We identified 528 elderly patients with K. pneumonia infection, and the proportion of patients with CRKP infection was 10.2% (54/528). Recent intensive care unit (ICU) admission and prior carbapenem use are independent risk factors for CRKP infection in elderly patients. Compared to patients with carbapenem-sensitive K. pneumoniae infection, those with CRKP infection had a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes, including ICU care, respiratory failure, septic shock, and 90-day mortality. CRKP infection was also identified as an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality. Clinicians should be aware of the increasing prevalence of CRKP infections in elderly patients and judiciously choose appropriate antibiotics for these patients.
Optimized Two-Tier Caching with Hybrid Millimeter-Wave and Microwave Communications for 6G Networks
Authors: Sheraz Muhammad , Chuah Teong Chee , Roslee Mardeni Bin , Ahmed Manzoor , Iqbal Amjad , Al-Habashna Ala’a
Published: March 2024

Data caching is a promising technique to alleviate the data traffic burden from the backhaul and minimize data access delay. However, the cache capacity constraint poses a significant challenge to obtaining content through the cache resource that degrades the caching performance. In this paper, we propose a novel two-tier caching mechanism for data caching on mobile user equipment (UE) and the small base station (SBS) level in ultra-dense 6G heterogeneous networks for reducing data access failure via cache resources. The two-tier caching enables users to retrieve their desired content from cache resources through device-to-device (D2D) communications from neighboring users or the serving SBS. The cache-enabled UE exploits millimeter-wave (mmWave)-based D2D communications, utilizing line-of-sight (LoS) links for high-speed data transmission to content-demanding mobile UE within a limited connection time. In the event of D2D communication failures, a dual-mode hybrid system, combining mmWave and microwave μWave technologies, is utilized to ensure effective data transmission between the SBS and UE to fulfill users’ data demands. In the proposed framework. the data transmission speed is optimized through mmWave signals in line-of-sight (LoS) conditions. In non-LoS scenarios, the system switches to μWave mode for obstacle-penetrating signal transmission. Subsequently, we propose a reinforcement learning (RL) approach to optimize cache decisions through the approximation of the Q action-value function. The proposed technique undergoes iterative learning, adapting to dynamic network conditions to enhance the content placement policy and minimize delay. Extensive simulations demonstrate the efficiency of our proposed approach in significantly reducing network delay compared with benchmark schemes.
Influence of the Supply Voltage Variation on the Conducted Emission in the Frequency Range up to 150 kHz Injected into the Power Grid by CFL and LED Lamps—Case Study
Authors: Frydlewicz Wojciech , Michalec Łukasz , Kostyła Paweł , Kaczorowska Dominika , Sikorski Tomasz
Published: March 2024

In normal operating conditions, the mains voltage level provided by low-voltage distribution networks follows time-varying patterns within permissible limits. The statistical characterisation of disturbances inserted into the power grid by nonlinear electrical devices is useful since operators are able to establish power quality limits and assess the residual capacity of networks for new smart installations, which may include a multitude of power electronic devices. Existing standards related to emission tests recommend using a power supply source in the measurement circuit with a nominal voltage parameter. However, the range of permissible variations of relevant supply voltage parameters may have an impact on conducted emissions. It can also be considered that the symptoms of supply voltage variations may manifest themselves differently depending on the equipment’s architecture and also the range of frequency observation with reference to harmonics and supraharmonics. The purpose of this study is to measure and analyze non-intentional conducted emissions injected into the power grid by lighting devices, methodically, by numbers of studies under different supply voltage conditions within two frequency bands. The emission is evaluated separately in two ranges: up to 2 kHz and 9-150 kHz. Obtained results show that the level of conducted emission introduced into the low voltage network by modern lighting sources like fluorescent and LED lamps varies with the supply voltage level compared to the emission generated in the nominal voltage level condition. Additionally, in the case of a spectrum of higher frequencies, some trends of shifting of the characteristic frequency bands are recorded. The potential of the obtained results is to complement the knowledge of the emission of modern lighting sources, which can be further used for digital models of these devices and to estimate the impact on the grid under real working conditions.
Exploring Cost Stickiness in the Textile Industry: A Comparative Analysis between the Nordic Countries and Spain through Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Bona-Sánchez Carolina , Salokangas Heidi , Sorsa Kaisa
Published: March 2024

This study explores the complexities of cost behavior in the textile industry, conducting a comparative analysis between firms in the Nordic countries and Spain. Our main goal is to examine how distinct economic and corporate governance models impact the cost management strategies of textile firms. Utilizing a panel dataset from the Orbis database covering the years 2017 to 2022, we reveal significant differences in cost stickiness between these regions. Notably, Nordic textile firms demonstrate a stronger tendency toward cost stickiness compared to their Spanish counterparts. This difference is largely attributed to the Nordic textile firms’ more cautious approach to adjusting costs in response to decreases in revenue, potentially motivated by a commitment to sustainability, eco-friendly technologies, and long-term business success. Our analysis not only highlights the complex interaction between the global challenges confronting the textile sector and the unique economic and governance environments but also maps out how these elements shape cost management strategies. By offering insights to both academics and practitioners, this study advocates for a comprehensive cost management approach, capable of navigating demand volatilities and strategic complexities faced by textile firms.
Risk Assessment for Linear Regression Models in Metrology
Authors: Božić Dubravka , Runje Biserka , Razumić Andrej
Published: March 2024

The conformity assessment of products or a measured value with the given standards is carried out based on the global risk of producers and consumers’ calculations. A product may conform to specifications but be falsely rejected as non-conforming. This is about the producer’s risk. If a product does not meet the requirements but is falsely accepted as conforming, that poses a risk to the consumer. The conventional approach to risk assessment, which yields only a single numerical value for the global risk of producers and consumers, is naturally extended and utilized for assessing risk in measurement models with linear regression. The outcomes of the two-dimensional extension, along a moderate scale, are the parabolas with upwards openings. Risk surfaces were obtained through three-dimensional extension over the area limited by the moderate scale and guard band axes. Four models with different ranges of tolerance intervals were used to test this innovative method of risk assessment in linear regression. The corresponding standard measurement uncertainties were determined by applying a simplified measurement model with the use of comprehensive data on the measurement performance and by determining measurement uncertainty derived from consideration of the functional relationship obtained by linear regression analysis. Models that utilize information from linear regression analysis to determine measurement uncertainty are biased towards risks at the edges of the moderate scale. Testing the model’s performances with metrics related to the confusion matrix, such as the F1 score, further substantiated this assertion. The diagnostic odds ratio has been proven to be extremely effective in identifying the curve along the guard band axis, along which the global risks of producers and consumers are at their lowest.
Rapid Visual Screening Feature Importance for Seismic Vulnerability Ranking via Machine Learning and SHAP Values
Authors: Karampinis Ioannis , Iliadis Lazaros , Karabinis Athanasios
Published: March 2024

Structures inevitably suffer damage after an earthquake, with severity ranging from minimal damage of nonstructural elements to partial or even total collapse, possibly with loss of human lives. Thus, it is essential for engineers to understand the crucial factors that drive a structure towards suffering higher degrees of damage in order for preventative measures to be taken. In the present study, we focus on three well-known damage thresholds: the Collapse Limit State, Ultimate Limit State, and Serviceability Limit State. We analyze the features obtained via Rapid Visual Screening to determine whether or not a given structure crosses these thresholds. To this end, we use machine learning to perform binary classification for each damage threshold, and use explainability to quantify the effect of each parameter via SHAP values (SHapley Additive exPlanations). The quantitative results that we obtain demonstrate the potential applicability of ML methods for recalibrating the computation of structural vulnerability indices using data from recent earthquakes.
Optimizing Retention Bunkers in Copper Mines with Numerical Methods and Gradient Descent
Authors: Bortnowski Piotr , Król Robert , Suchorab-Matuszewska Natalia , Ozdoba Maksymilian , Szczerbakowicz Mateusz
Published: March 2024

This study examines the optimization of ore receiving bins in underground copper mines, targeting the reduction of rapid wear and tear on bin components. The investigation identifies the primary wear contributors as the force exerted by the accumulated ore and the velocity at which ore particles move. By altering design and operational parameters, the objective is to decrease wear at key points such as transfer areas, thereby improving the efficiency and service life of retention bunkers. A Discrete Element Method (DEM) model of the bin was created and validated against actual mining conditions to study the impact of material flow on wear. The optimization approach used a constrained gradient descent algorithm to minimize factors like particle velocity and pressure force, while maintaining the efficiency of the bin. The findings provide valuable insights for the future design enhancements, potentially improving the operational performance of retention bunkers in the mining industry.
Document Retrieval System for Biomedical Question Answering
Authors: Bolat Harun , Şen Baha
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we describe our biomedical document retrieval system and answers extraction module, which is part of the biomedical question answering system. Approximately 26.5 million PubMed articles are indexed as a corpus with the Apache Lucene text search engine. Our proposed system consists of three parts. The first part is the question analysis module, which analyzes the question and enriches it with biomedical concepts related to its wording. The second part of the system is the document retrieval module. In this step, the proposed system is tested using different information retrieval models, like the Vector Space Model, Okapi BM25, and Query Likelihood. The third part is the document re-ranking module, which is responsible for re-arranging the documents retrieved in the previous step. For this study, we tested our proposed system with 6B training questions from the BioASQ challenge task. We obtained the best MAP score on the document retrieval phase when we used Query Likelihood with the Dirichlet Smoothing model. We used the sequential dependence model at the re-rank phase, but this model produced a worse MAP score than the previous phase. In similarity calculation, we included the Named Entity Recognition (NER), UMLS Concept Unique Identifiers (CUI), and UMLS Semantic Types of the words in the question to find the sentences containing the answer. Using this approach, we observed a performance enhancement of roughly 25% for the top 20 outcomes, surpassing another method employed in this study, which relies solely on textual similarity.
A Data-Driven Constitutive Model for 3D Lattice-Structured Material Utilising an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Hussain Arif , Sakhaei Amir Hosein , Shafiee Mahmood
Published: March 2024

A new data-driven continuum model based on an artificial neural network is developed in this study for a new three-dimensional lattice-structured material design. The model has the capability to capture and predict the nonlinear elastic behaviour of the specific lattice-structured material in the three-dimensional continuum description after being trained through the appropriate dataset. The essential data as the input ingredients of the data-driven model are provided through a hybrid method including experimental and unit-cell level finite element simulations under comprehensive loading scenarios including uniaxial, biaxial, volumetric, and pure shear loading. Furthermore, the lattice-structured samples are also fabricated using SLA additive manufacturing technology and the experimental measurements are performed and used for validation of the model. This then illustrates that the current model/methodology is a robust and powerful numerical tool to conduct the homogenization in complex simulation cases and could be used to accelerate the analysis and optimization during the design process of new lattice-structured materials. The model could also easily be used for other engineered materials by updating the dataset and re-training the ANN model with new data.
Distribution Model Reveals Rapid Decline in Habitat Extent for Endangered Hispid Hare: Implications for Wildlife Management and Conservation Planning in Future Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Abedin Imon , Mukherjee Tanoy , Kim Ah Ran , Kim Hyun-Woo , Kang Hye-Eun , Kundu Shantanu
Published: March 2024

The hispid hare, Caprolagus hispidus, belonging to the family Leporidae is a small grassland mammal found in the southern foothills of the Himalayas, in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Despite having an endangered status according to the IUCN Red List, it lacks studies on its distribution and is threatened by habitat loss and land cover changes. Thus, the present study attempted to assess the habitat suitability using the species distribution model approach for the first time and projected its future in response to climate change, habitat, and urbanization factors. The results revealed that out of the total geographical extent of 188,316 km2, only 11,374 km2 (6.03%) were identified as suitable habitat for this species. The results also revealed that habitat significantly declined across its range (>60%) under certain climate change scenarios. Moreover, in the present climate scenario protected areas such as Shuklaphanta National Park (0.837) in Nepal exhibited the highest mean extent of habitat whereas, in India, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (0.631) is found to be the most suitable habitat. Notably, two protected areas in Uttarakhand, India, specifically Corbett National Park (0.530) and Sonanandi Wildlife Sanctuary (0.423), have also demonstrated suitable habitats for C. hispidus. Given that protected areas showing a future rise in habitat suitability might also be regarded as potential sites for species translocation, this study underscores the importance of implementing proactive conservation strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on this species. It is essential to prioritize habitat restoration, focused protection measures, and further species-level ecological exploration to address these challenges effectively. Furthermore, fostering transboundary collaboration and coordinated conservation actions between nations is crucial to safeguarding the long-term survival of the species throughout its distribution range.
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: From Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Long Dingpei
Published: March 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a non-specific autoimmune condition impacting the gastrointestinal tract, encompassing Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) [...]
Short-Term Periodic Fasting Reduces Ischemia-Induced Necrosis in Musculocutaneous Flap Tissue
Authors: Weinzierl Andrea , Coerper Maximilian , Harder Yves , Menger Michael D. , Laschke Matthias W.
Published: March 2024

Periodic fasting (PF) as a form of dietary restriction has been shown to induce tissue-protective effects against ischemic injury in several different tissues. Accordingly, in this study we analyzed whether a short-term 24 h fast is suitable to prevent necrosis of musculocutaneous flap tissue undergoing acute persistent ischemia. C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into a PF group (n = 8) and a control group that was given unrestricted access to standard chow (n = 8). The PF animals underwent a 24 h fast immediately before flap elevation and had unrestricted access to food for the rest of the 10 day observation period. Musculocutaneous flaps with a random pattern design were dissected on the animals’ backs and mounted into dorsal skinfold chambers. On days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 after surgery, nutritive tissue perfusion, angiogenesis and flap necrosis were evaluated using intravital fluorescence microscopy. Thereafter, the flap tissue was excised and fixed for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. The flaps of PF-treated animals exhibited a higher functional capillary density and more newly formed microvessels, resulting in a significantly increased flap survival rate. Moreover, they contained a lower number of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-positive neutrophilic granulocytes and cleaved caspase-3-positive apoptotic cells in the transition zone between vital and necrotic flap tissue. These findings indicate that short-term PF improves tissue survival in ischemically challenged musculocutaneous flaps by maintaining nutritive blood perfusion and dampening ischemia-induced inflammation.
BGOA-TVG: Binary Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm with Time-Varying Gaussian Transfer Functions for Feature Selection
Authors: Li Mengjun , Luo Qifang , Zhou Yongquan
Published: March 2024

Feature selection aims to select crucial features to improve classification accuracy in machine learning and data mining. In this paper, a new binary grasshopper optimization algorithm using time-varying Gaussian transfer functions (BGOA-TVG) is proposed for feature selection. Compared with the traditional S-shaped and V-shaped transfer functions, the proposed Gaussian time-varying transfer functions have the characteristics of a fast convergence speed and a strong global search capability to convert a continuous search space to a binary one. The BGOA-TVG is tested and compared to S-shaped and V-shaped binary grasshopper optimization algorithms and five state-of-the-art swarm intelligence algorithms for feature selection. The experimental results show that the BGOA-TVG has better performance in UCI, DEAP, and EPILEPSY datasets for feature selection.
ADHD-AID: Aiding Tool for Detecting Children’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder via EEG-Based Multi-Resolution Analysis and Feature Selection
Authors: Attallah Omneya
Published: March 2024

The severe effects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adolescents can be prevented by timely identification and prompt therapeutic intervention. Traditional diagnostic techniques are complicated and time-consuming because they are subjective-based assessments. Machine learning (ML) techniques can automate this process and prevent the limitations of manual evaluation. However, most of the ML-based models extract few features from a single domain. Furthermore, most ML-based studies have not examined the most effective electrode placement on the skull, which affects the identification process, while others have not employed feature selection approaches to reduce the feature space dimension and consequently the complexity of the training models. This study presents an ML-based tool for automatically identifying ADHD entitled “ADHD-AID”. The present study uses several multi-resolution analysis techniques including variational mode decomposition, discrete wavelet transform, and empirical wavelet decomposition. ADHD-AID extracts thirty features from the time and time–frequency domains to identify ADHD, including nonlinear features, band-power features, entropy-based features, and statistical features. The present study also looks at the best EEG electrode placement for detecting ADHD. Additionally, it looks into the location combinations that have the most significant impact on identification accuracy. Additionally, it uses a variety of feature selection methods to choose those features that have the greatest influence on the diagnosis of ADHD, reducing the classification’s complexity and training time. The results show that ADHD-AID has provided scores for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1-score, and Mathew correlation coefficients of 0.991, 0.989, 0.992, 0.989, and 0.982, respectively, in identifying ADHD with 10-fold cross-validation. Also, the area under the curve has reached 0.9958. ADHD-AID’s results are significantly higher than those of all earlier studies for the detection of ADHD in adolescents. These notable and trustworthy findings support the use of such an automated tool as a means of assistance for doctors in the prompt identification of ADHD in youngsters.
Biocompatible Composite Filaments Printable by Fused Deposition Modelling Technique: Selection of Tuning Parameters by Influence of Biogenic Hydroxyapatite and Graphene Nanoplatelets Ratios
Authors: Mocanu Aura-Cătălina , Constantinescu Andreea-Elena , Pandele Mădălina-Andreea , Voicu Ștefan Ioan , Ciocoiu Robert-Cătălin , Batalu Dan , Semenescu Augustin , Miculescu Florin , Ciocan Lucian-Toma
Published: March 2024

The proposed strategy for the extrusion of printable composite filaments follows the favourable association of biogenic hydroxyapatite (HA) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) as reinforcement materials for a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix. HA particles were chosen in the <40 μm range, while GNP were selected in the micrometric range. During the melt–mixing incorporation into the PLA matrix, both reinforcement ratios were simultaneously modulated for the first time at different increments. Cylindrical composite pellets/test samples were obtained only for the mechanical and wettability behaviour evaluation. The Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy depicted two levels of overlapping structures due to the solid molecular bond between all materials. Scanning electron microscopy and surface wettability and mechanical evaluations vouched for the (1) uniform/homogenous dispersion/embedding of HA particles up to the highest HA/GNP ratio, (2) physical adhesion at the HA-PLA interface due to the HA particles’ porosity, (3) HA-GNP bonding, and (4) PLA-GNP synergy based on GNP complete exfoliation and dispersion into the matrix.