bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-Decision-Making Criteria Approach for Choosing Trenchless Construction and Renewal Method: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Zhang Wei
Published: August 2024

Trenchless technologies are utilized for installing new pipes or repairing and replacing old ones, categorized into construction and rehabilitation/replacement methods. With rapid urbanization, new pipe networks must be established in proportion to population growth. Additionally, due to issues like corrosion and aging, a significant portion of storm sewers, waste sewers, gas, and water pipes need annual replacement or rehabilitation. Traditional open-cut methods are no longer viable due to traffic disruption, safety concerns, environmental impacts, and high costs. Trenchless construction methods address these issues effectively. Construction trenchless methods include horizontal earth boring (no worker entry), pipe jacking, and utility tunneling (worker entry). Horizontal earth boring is further divided into horizontal auger boring, horizontal directional drilling, pipe ramming, microtunneling, pilot tube microtunneling, and compaction methods. The first part of the current study reviews and discusses the design criteria for horizontal auger boring, horizontal directional drilling, pipe jacking, pipe ramming, and microtunneling. Based on these unique project requirements, the optimal trenchless technology can be proposed. In the second part of the research, a hierarchical algorithm is proposed, based on literature concepts, to serve as a decision-making tool for selecting the optimal trenchless construction method. Sometimes, multiple methods may be proposed, with the best one chosen based on equipment availability, skilled teams, budget, and sustainability principles. Although trenchless renewal methods are not the focus of this study, their design criteria are provided in the appendices to offer a comprehensive collection of design requirements for all trenchless technologies.
Character Building through Boarding School for Inland and Outermost Students: A Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Sobon Kosmas , Herwin Herwin , Ohoitimur Johanis , Anay Zhuldiz
Published: August 2024

Many children who live in the interior and mountainous areas of Papua-Indonesia do not get the right of education. This research aims to formulate a theoretical concept of boarding school-based character education by implementing Papuan cultural contextual education in the process of education. The method used is a qualitative method with a grounded theory approach. The research participants were 14 people. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and textual analysis of the interview results. The data analysis technique uses the Atlas.ti application by using three levels of coding: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The research results show that there are six main concepts as a model of boarding school character education: personal development, spiritual development, extracurricular activities, clean and healthy lifestyles, learning from inspirational figures, and academic development. These six theoretical concepts can be divided into internal and external character building. One of the uniqueness of character education is the integration of local cultural values in the whole process of character education of the children, both in the school environment and in the dormitory. The results of the study provide insights for educators, schools, and government on different forms of character education models.
Oil Distribution around Ball-Raceway Local Contact Region in Under-Race Lubricating Ball Bearing
Authors: Yu Qingcheng , Gao Wenjun , GONG Ping , Li Yuanhao , Li Can
Published: August 2024

The distribution of oil and gas phases around ball-raceway local regions is an important basis and foundation for determining whether a bearing is sufficiently lubricated. To obtain the oil phase distribution law in the inner raceway-ball contact local region (IBCR) and outer raceway-ball contact local region (OBCR) of the under-race lubrication ball bearing, the numerical simulation method is used. The effects of bearing rotation speed, oil flow rate, oil viscosity and oil density on these two regions are studied. The results indicate that the oil phase exhibited significant periodic changes in both time and space. Compared with that in the IBCR, the oil phase distribution in the OBCR is more uniform. Increasing the bearing rotation speed and reducing the oil flow rate made the IBCR and OBCR more uniform. Changing the oil viscosity only alters the distribution pattern of the OBCR. The oil density may not affect the fluid flow state or the oil phase distribution in the bearing.
Computing Unified Atomic Mass Unit and Avogadro Number with Various Nuclear Binding Energy Formulae Coded in Python
Authors: U.V Satya Seshavatharam , S Lakshminarayana
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we make an attempt to estimate the famous Avogadro number with programming logics written in Python associated with advanced nuclear binding energy formulae. Average rest mass of nucleon, nuclear binding energy per nucleon and electron rest mass seem to play a vital role in estimating the unified atomic mass unit and Avogadro number. Interesting point to be noted is that, Avogadro number seems to be the inverse of the Unified atomic mass unit. With further study, it seems possible to estimate the unified atomic mass unit and Avogadro number accurately. Our interesting observation is that, short range strong nuclear force seems to have a vital role in deciding the accuracy of Avogadro number. For that purpose one may consider AI techniques along with newly observed atomic nuclides and their nuclear binding energies. For Z=6 to 118 and Alow=2Z and Aupper=3.5Z, estimated average value of Avogadro number is $N_{Average} \cong 6.01938 \times 10 ^{26}$. Considering the saturation of nuclear binding energy, at Z=26, $N_{Z=26} \cong \left(6.02229 \textrm{to} 6.02285\right) \times 10 ^{26}$. At academic level, our proposal can be given a chance as a case study. It is planned to develop a web application for this purpose.
Reducing Cogging Torque in V-Shaped BLDC Motors: A FEA Simulation Study on the Impact of Skew Angle
Authors: Mandasari Dewi Rianti , Sudiarto Budi , Amelia Lia , Suryandi Asep Andi
Published: August 2024

This study thoroughly investigated the impact of stator skew angles on cogging torque in V-shape Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motors, focusing on electric vehicle applications. Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with ANSYS Maxwell, the research assessed how variations in stator core skewness affect torque performance, prioritizing the reduction of cogging torque known for inducing undesirable fluctuations during rotor movement, impacting motor smoothness and noise levels. FEA calculations reveal a significant reduction in cogging torque with the introduction of skew angles to the stator core, enhancing motor efficiency. The study introduces novelty by analyzing the magnetic flux distribution resulting from skew angle variations. Simulation results, particularly on no-load characteristics based on D-axis flux linkage data, offer a comprehensive overview of the motor’s response under no mechanical load. Observations showed that D-axis flux linkage values decreased with increasing stator skew angle, indicating a shift in winding angle. This decline in D-axis flux linkage under no-load conditions demonstrates how variations in stator core skew angles impacted magnetic flux distribution, resulting in different values and promoting a more uniform flux linkage waveform. Increased stator core skew angles correlated with reduced flux linkage values, contributing to decreased cogging torque fluctuations and smoother BLDC motor operation.
Coupling coordination between digital village construction and agricultural carbon emissions in China
Authors: Wang Keliang , Peng Jia-Hui , Miao Zhuang
Published: August 2024

Exploring the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between digital village construction (DVC) and agricultural carbon emissions (ACE) is crucial for promoting village revitalization and sustainable agricultural development. Analyzing data from 30 provinces in China in 2011–2020, this paper employes the CCD model, the Dagum Gini coefficient, and the geographic detector for in-depth analysis. The results show that the overall level of CCD gradually increases over time, but the national CCD still remains in a state of “low coordination” and there are apparent spatial differences in the CCD among provinces. In addition, the overall difference in CCD shows a decreasing trend, and the contribution of inter-regional differences has gradually become the most critical source of CCD’s regional difference. Finally, the spatial differences of CCD are the result of two factors interaction, among which the innovation level is the most core driving factor. The above findings provide important implications for China and other developing countries to fully leverage the interaction between village digitalization and agricultural decarbonization to promote sustainable agricultural development.
Efficacy and Safety of Supraciliary Dexamethasone Implantation in Patients with Macular Edema: Preliminary and Comparative Study
Authors: Doganay Selim , Gunduz Gamze Ucan , Kiristioglu Mehmet Omer , Kacmaz Elif , Yalcinbayir Ozgur
Published: August 2024

Purpose
To investigate the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone implantation (DEXI) in the supraciliary (SC) region, a potential new implantation site, compared to intravitreal (IVi) application.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study enrolled 39 eyes of 38 patients with macular edema who received DEXI between January and August 2023. Patients were randomized into SC and IVi treatment groups. All patients were followed up for 3 months after DEXI. The maximum retinal thickness (MRT) and central retinal thickness change (ΔCRT), intraocular pressure (IOP), and visual acuity (VA) were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.
Results
The SC treatment group showed a significant reduction in MRT at 1st and 3rd month visits (p = 0.0002, p = 0.0002). IVi group showed a significant reduction at all postoperative visits (p = 0.0002, p = 0.0004, p = 0.0003). ΔCRT showed no significant difference between SC and IVi groups at any visit (p > 0.05). No significant IOP changes were observed (p > 0.05). No ocular hypertony or hypotony cases on day one post-SC DEXI. VA improved significantly in the SC group compared to the IVi group in the first week (p = 0.014). Subconjunctival hemorrhage was observed in all patients after IVi. No perioperative or postoperative complications were observed in any patients in either group other than subconjunctival hemorrhage.
Conclusion
SC DEXI appears to be a suitable alternative for managing macular edema. It offers comparable effectiveness to IVi administration with potentially fewer complications. Further larger-scale research is needed to validate its long-term safety and efficacy. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography can demonstrate SC DEXI.
Accurate prediction of the 2022 MS 6.9 Menyuan and MS 6.8 Luding earthquake epicentres
Authors: Zhu Yiqing , Yang Xiong , Zhao Yunfeng , Wei ShouChun , Zhang Guoqing , Liu Fang
Published: August 2024

In 2022, the MS6.9 Menyuan (Qinghai Province) and MS 6.8 Luding (Sichuan Province) earthquakes occurred successively on China's North–South seismic belt. Both earthquakes caused serious property losses, and the Luding earthquake caused 100 + casualties. Gravity observations performed in the North–South Seismic Belt before the two earthquakes indicate that gravity changes occurred near the epicentres and exhibited four-quadrant distributions. In this study, We reviewed the successful prediction of these two earthquakes by using gravity data. The distances between the actual and predicted epicenters of the two earthquakes were < 56km in 2022 and < 10 km in 2021. Before both earthquakes, gravity changes first showed as a gradient zone consistent with the strike of seismogenic fault, and then subsequently exhibited a four-quadrant distribution around the epicentral regions. The earthquakes occurred near the centres of the four-quadrant change and the zero isoline of gravity change. In summary, the gravity data reflected both earthquakes well. The findings indicate that such four-quadrant distributions and gravity change high-gradient zone may be precursor information of earthquake preparation. The results of this study provide a reference for future earthquake monitoring and prediction, with implications for earthquake hazard assessment.
Evaluation of the diagnostic capabilities of artificial intelligence in the cardiology department of the Bogodogo University Hospital Center using CHAT GPT
Authors: NACANABO Wendlassida Martin , SEGHDA Taryètba André Arthur , BAYALA Yannick Laurent Tchenadoyo , MILLOGO Georges , THIAM Anna , YAMEOGO Nobila Valentin , SAMADOULOUGOU Koudnoaga André , ZABSONRE Patrice
Published: August 2024

Introduction: ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence developed by OpenAI. It can be used to generate positive and differential diagnoses. However, its effectiveness in a cardiology department in Africa has not been studied. Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ChatGPT4 in the cardiology department of the Bogodogo University Hospital Center. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted from 1st April to 30 May 2024 in the cardiology department of the Bogodogo University Hospital. Our primary endpoint was whether the main diagnosis of ChatGPT corresponded to the final diagnosis made by the cardiologists. Results: Out of 50 patients collected, ChatGPT found the diagnosis on the basis of clinical data in 35.19%. In 81.48% of cases, ChatGPT's diagnosis was one of the cardiologist's three hypotheses and in 64.81% of cases the diagnosis was found with certainty by ChatGPT. The differential diagnosis listed by ChatGPT was score 5 in 46 patients. All the diagnoses of the aetiological groups were found by ChatGPT in 100% of cases except in the hypertensive and ischaemic cardiomyopathy groups. Conclusion: ChatGPT demonstrated a variable ability to generate accurate diagnoses, with a significant improvement when paraclinical data was included.
Biocarrier selection for the attachment of specific microorganisms in wastewater treatment
Authors: Chang Ting-Ting , Liu Yi-Hong , Jheng Yu-Jhan , Chiu Sheng Yi , Chang Wang-Kuan , Chang Kuan-Foo , Sean Wu-Yang , Chen Po-Yu
Published: August 2024

With the growing global awareness of sustainable water resource management, biological treatment technologies play a crucial role in the transformation and removal of pollutants in wastewater treatment, water reclamation, and resource recovery. Biofilm technology is particularly promising due to its high efficiency, capacity, and stability. Given the complex sources of wastewater, designing suitable carrier materials is essential to enhance treatment efficiency by supporting various microorganisms growth. In nitrogen-containing wastewater treatment systems, slow-growing autotrophic nitrifying bacteria or anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria require carriers to extend their retention time, facilitating nitrogen removal. Recent studies show that the smaller the surface energy difference (γbv-γsv) between bacteria and materials, the greater the adhesion. Most commercial bio-carriers are made of HDPE, which has a large surface energy difference (11.26 mJ/m²) with nitrifying bacteria, resulting in low adhesion (< 1.3 nN) and slow biofilm growth. This study developed a new biocarrier using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), known for its bio-affinity. Further modification on PVA reduced the surface energy difference with ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (7.69 mJ/m²) and increased adhesion (6.37 nN), making the target bacteria's adhesion 2.3 times higher than on commercial HDPE carriers. In continuous biocarrier system tests over 50 days, the effluent of ammonia nitrogen from the treatment system with modified PVA carrier was approximately 3.6–7.8 mg/L, while the effluent of ammonia nitrogen from the treatment system with HDPE carrier system was range from 7.3 to 13.2 mg/L. HDPE carriers failed to meet Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration's ammonia nitrogen discharge standard for public sewage systems (< 10 mg/L) within 50 days. In addition, the result of real-time PCR quantification showed that the microorganisms on the modified PVA carriers had an ammonium-oxidizing bacteria adhesion amount of 3.73*108 copies/mL, over 60 times higher than those on HDPE carriers. In summary, the PVA-modified bio-carrier developed in this study enhances the adhesion and growth of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria, leading to rapid biofilm formation, shorter start-up times, and stable water quality. This innovation has broad applicability for high-load secondary biological treatment units, significantly improving current wastewater treatment plant efficiency.
Understanding Tourists Repurchase Intention on Airbnb from the Perspective of Low Carbon and Extended Expectation-Confirmation Model
Authors: Wang Liming , Hu Jinhao , Wang Bei , Chen HongBin , Xu Ning
Published: August 2024

Airbnb is a popular and low-carbon platform for tourism in the sharing economy. This paper utilized the extended expectation-confirmation model (ECM) and collected 330 valid data through a questionnaire survey to analyze the psychological behavior of tourists during their Airbnb experience. The results demonstrate that the service quality, the concept of low-carbon service, friendly communication with the host, and platform security significantly impact consumers' satisfaction. Highly satisfied consumers are more likely to continue using Airbnb with low-carbon consciousness and engage in electronic word-of-mouth communication. Therefore, ensuring customer satisfaction and low-carbon consciousness are critical to win on the Airbnb platform and attracting more hosts and guests. This study contributes to the existing literature on Airbnb and offers practical implications for the platform and hosts to attract more guests and generate positive word-of-mouth.
An electrochemical sensor based on N-doped hollow carbon sphere@ZIF-8 composite for luteolin detection
Authors: 程 昊
Published: August 2024

In the study, a composite carbon nanomaterial (NC@ZIF-8) based on N-doped hollow carbon spheres and a metal-organic framework (ZIF-8) material was developed to prepare an electrochemical sensor for the detection of luteolin, a natural flavonoid with favorable pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Owing to its high specific surface area, high conductivity, and abundant active sites, the NC@ZIF-8 composite exhibited excellent luteolin detection performance, including a wide linear range, good repeatability, and immunity to interference. The synthesis and characterization of the material and the fabrication and optimization of the electrochemical sensor are described. The NC@ZIF-8/GCE sensor exhibited good recovery and stability in detecting luteolin in real samples, demonstrating its effectiveness in the rapid and accurate detection of luteolin.
Automatic image registration provides superior accuracy compared to surface matching in cranial navigation
Authors: Frisk Henrik , Jensdottir Margret , Coronado Luisa , Conrad Markus , Hager Susanne , Arvidsson Lisa , Bartek Jiri , Burström Gustav , El-Hajj Victor Gabriel , Edström Erik , Elmi-Terander Adrian , Persson Oscar
Published: August 2024

Objective
The precision of neuronavigation systems relies on the correct registration of the patient’s position in space and aligning it with radiological 3D imaging data. Registration is usually performed by acquisition of anatomical landmarks or surface matching based on facial features. Another possibility is automatic image registration using intraoperative imaging. This could provide better accuracy especially in rotated or prone positions where the other methods may be difficult to perform.
The aim of this study was to validate automatic image registration (AIR) using intraoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for cranial neurosurgical procedures and compare the registration accuracy to the traditional Surface Matching (SM) registration method, based on preoperative MRI. The preservation of navigation accuracy throughout the surgery was also investigated.
Methods
Adult patients undergoing intracranial tumor surgery were enrolled after consent. A standard SM registration was performed, and reference points were acquired. An AIR was then performed, and the same reference points were acquired again. Accuracy was calculated based on referenced and acquired coordinates of the points for each registration method. The reference points were acquired before and after draping and at the end of procedure to assess persistency of accuracy.
Results
In total, 22 patients were included. The mean accuracy was 6.6 ± 3.1 mm for SM registration and 1.0 ± 0.3 mm for AIR. The AIR was superior to the SM registration (p<0.0001), with a mean improvement in accuracy of 5.58 mm (3.71-7.44 mm 99% CI). The mean accuracy for the AIR registration pre-drape was 1.0 ± 0.3 mm. The corresponding accuracies post-drape and post-resection were 2.9± 4.6 mm and 4.1± 4.9 mm respectively. Although a loss of accuracy was identified between the preoperative and end of procedure measurements, there was no statistically significant decline during surgery.
Conclusions
AIR for cranial neuronavigation consistently delivered greater accuracy than SM and should be considered the new gold standard for patient registration in cranial neuronavigation. If intraoperative imaging is a limited resource, AIR should be prioritized in rotated or prone positions procedures, where the benefits are the greatest.
Assessing Plant Growth-Promoting Activities of Bacillus pumilus: Quantification of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) and Tryptophan by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
Authors: Swarnakar Shambhu , Chakraborty Arka Pratim
Published: August 2024

Background
Microbial-mediated plant growth promotion has gained significant attention in agriculture due to its potential to improve crop yield and sustainability. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and tryptophan are key compounds synthesized by certain bacteria, known to positively influence plant development. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a robust analytical technique capable of accurately quantifying these compounds, enabling a deeper understanding of plant-microbe interactions.
Results
In this study, bacterial isolates designated as MUSRH-5 were investigated for their plant growth-promoting activities. Cultured bacterial strains were assessed for their efficacy in promoting plant growth. Through HPLC analysis, varying concentrations of IAA and tryptophan were observed among the bacterial isolates, indicating differing metabolic capabilities. Significant variations in plant growth-promoting activities were also noted, with certain strains demonstrating notable effectiveness.
Conclusion
The findings of this study highlight the potential of selected bacterial isolates, particularly MUSRH-5 strains, to enhance plant growth through the production of growth-promoting compounds. The utilization of HPLC for precise quantification provided valuable insights into the metabolic capabilities of these bacteria and their impact on plant development. This research underscores the importance of microbial-mediated plant growth promotion in sustainable agriculture and environmental management, emphasizing the role of bacterial isolates as valuable assets in enhancing agricultural productivity and mitigating environmental challenges.
Unveiling the Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Determinants of Antenatal Care Utilization in Bangladesh: Insights from the 2017-18 BDHS
Authors: Sakib Md. Mojammel Haque , Alam Muhammad Khairul , Yasmin Mst. Nilufar , Rois Rumana
Published: August 2024

Background
Antenatal care (ANC) is indispensable for supervising and enhancing the health of both the mother and the baby during pregnancy. It helps to reduce the risks of complications and ensures better pregnancy outcomes. This study investigates the aspects that influence antenatal care (ANC) visits in Bangladesh, focusing on sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors.
Methods
The study used the most current, nationally representative data from the 2017–18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were conducted for bivariate analysis. The Boruta algorithm was utilized for variable selection. After employing various regression models, including Poisson Regression (PR), Negative Binomial Regression (NBR), and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), we evaluated their performance and selected Negative Binomial Regression for parameter estimation and interpretation.
Results
Our results reveal that less than 50% of women meet the WHO-recommended minimum number of ANC visits. Women with secondary and higher education (IRR 1.42 & 1.46, 95% CI 1.28–1.56 & 1.31–1.64), Rich wealth status (IRR 1.13, 95% CI 1.07–1.19), Cesarian section (IRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.23–1.34), media coverage (IRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14–1.25) were more likely to have frequent ANC visits. Conversely, women with higher birth order (IRR 0.94 & 0.82, 95% CI 0.89–0.99 & 0.75–0.91), unintentional pregnancy (IRR 0.92 & 0.85, 95% CI 0.87–0.97 & 0.79–0.92) were less likely to have ANC vists.
Conclusion
Given that the majority of women in Bangladesh do not receive adequate antenatal care, achieving national and international maternal and child health goals will be challenging. This study identified factors hindering access to high-quality prenatal care, which the Bangladeshi administration should address through focused actions.
Inverting Vertical Gravity Anomaly Gradients Using Multidirectional Data from Mean Sea Surface Model: A Case of Arabian Sea
Authors: Zhou Ruichen , Liu Xin , Guo Jinyun , Hwang Cheinway , Jia Jinyun , Chang Xiaotao , Sun Heping
Published: August 2024

Advancements in satellite altimetry have significantly enhanced high-resolution mean sea surface (MSS) models, enabling the computation of high-resolution vertical gravity anomaly gradient (VGAG) models. This study focused on the methodology for computing VGAG models using MSS models, introducing innovative improvements to established techniques. Using the SDUST2020 MSS model within the Arabian Sea research area, the DTU22 and CNES-CLS22 mean dynamic topography (MDT) models, and the XGM2019e_2159 Earth gravity field model for the remove-restore process, the short-wavelength geoid was derived. To harness the extensive marine gravity field information within the MSS model, the study considered the complex marine environment and calculated the second-order derivatives of the geoid in multiple directions. These derivatives were then used to determine their north-south and east-west components through the least squares method, resulting in the computation of the short-wavelength vertical gravity anomaly gradient. By restoring the long-wavelength vertical gravity anomaly gradient, a VGAG model for the study area was established. Finally, the results were analyzed using the SIO V32.1 vertical gravity anomaly gradient model. Experimental results demonstrated that this approach effectively extracted marine gravity field information from the MSS model using multidirectional data, mitigating the amplification of geoid uncertainties caused by second-order derivatives.
Resilience Assessment of Historic Districts Affected by Natural Disturbances: The Old City of Kashigar in Xinjiang,China
Authors: Yan Jiaxing , Wu Wenli , Du Chunlan
Published: August 2024

With the intensification of global climate change and the threat of natural disasters, urban resilience has become the key to assessing the ability of cities to cope with unknown perturbations. This paper took the historic district of Kashgar Old City, an important node city on the Silk Road, as the research object. It made full use of remote sensing technology and GIS advantages and selected 44 key natural disturbance factors closely related to its toughness in response to natural disturbances to construct a PSR model. It evaluated the toughness level of Kashgar Old City in response to natural disturbances in a three-dimensional hierarchy. The results of this study showed that (1) the natural disturbance toughness of the historic district of Kashgar Old City had a toughness grade of II (1.84), meaning its ability to cope with the risk of natural disturbance is low, and the comprehensive ability of the affected area to cope with the risk of natural disturbance is weak. (2) Using the PSR model, it was found that the sudden stress capacity represented by the pressure layer in each criterion layer score was not a critical factor affecting the resilience of the historic district to natural disturbances. The state layer showed a stronger self-regulation capacity in the face of rain flooding and high temperatures, but the response layer's ability to manage the disaster after it occurred was weaker in terms of facing the response to earthquakes and fire prevention. (3) According to the frequency of the main natural disturbance resilience factors in the historic district of Kashgar, we can conclude that rain flooding problems, the scale and density of streets and alleys, and the thermal environment of the district are the main problems faced by the indicator layer.
Identification of important genes related to ferroptosis in early missed abortion based on WGCNA
Authors: Zeng Yulu , Gan Jayi , Cheng Jinlian , Wei Changqiang , Zhu Xiangyun , Wei Shisi , Pang Lihong
Published: August 2024

Early missed abortion is defined as a pregnancy of ≤ 12 weeks in wherein there is a cessation of life in the developing embryo or fetus, leading to its retention within the uterine cavity", failing to be expelled spontaneously in a timely manner. This is a commonly observed and significant pathological state that has an impact on the overall well-being of human reproductive health. The aim of this study was to identify key genes related to ferroptosis that could serve as novel biomarkers for early missed abortion. Relevant findings from gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicate a correlation between iron DEFRGS in key modules and the p53 signaling, mitophagy-animal, as well as protein digestion and absorption pathways. An analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was conducted on DEFRGS, resulting in the identification of five central genes (TP53, EZH2, TIMP1, SLC3A2, and GABARAPL2) through the utilization of STRING and Cytohubba ROC curves.The expression of pivotal genes in the missed-abortion and control groups was verified by RT-qPCR. CIBERSORT analysis revealed a notable increase in the infiltration levels of CD8 T lymphocytes and M2 macrophages among individuals in the early missed abortion group. Ultimately, a ceRNA network was established in order to anticipate the connections between mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA of the central genes. However, the interacting miRNAs predicted by SLC3A2 in the miRanda, miRDB, and TargetScan databases were hsa-miR-661, hsa-miR-4311. There were no interacting lncRNAs in the spongeScan database. This research has discovered novel genes that can be targeted for the early detection and management of miscarriages.
Causal associations between sarcopenia-related traits and obstructive sleep apnea: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Sun Huixian , Zeng Xin , Gao Wei , Lu Xiang
Published: August 2024

Background
Evidence for a causal relationship between sarcopenia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the causal association between sarcopenia-related traits and OSA utilizing Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses.
Methods
MR analyses were conducted using genetic instruments for sarcopenia-related traits, including hand grip strength, muscle mass, fat mass, water mass, and physical performance. Data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were utilized to identify genetic variants associated with these traits. Causal associations with OSA were assessed using various MR methods, including the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, MR-Egger, and weighted median approaches. Pleiotropy and heterogeneity were evaluated through MR-PRESSO and other sensitivity analyses.
Results
Low hand grip strength in individuals aged 60 years and older exhibited a positive correlation with the risk of OSA (IVW, OR = 1.190, 95% CI = 1.003–1.413, p = 0.047), while no significant causal effects were observed for grip strength in the left and right hands. Muscle mass, fat mass, and water mass were significantly associated with OSA, even after adjusting for multiple testing. Notably, higher levels of body fat percentage, trunk fat percentage, and limb fat percentage were strongly correlated with increased risk of OSA. Physical performance indicators such as walking pace demonstrated an inverse association with OSA, while a higher risk of OSA was observed with increased log odds of falling risk and greater frequency of falls in the last year. Additionally, a causal effect was found between long-standing illness, disability, or infirmity and OSA.
Conclusions
This comprehensive MR analysis provides evidence supporting a causal relationship between sarcopenia-related traits, including hand grip strength, muscle mass, fat mass, and physical performance, and the risk of OSA. These findings underscore the importance of addressing sarcopenia-related factors in the management and prevention of OSA.
Learning together when feeling alone: The experience of parents with chronically ill children in a self-compassion program
Authors: Franco Phoebe , Knox Marissa , Gulbas Lauren , Gregory Krista
Published: August 2024

Objectives
Parents of children with chronic illnesses face unique stressors that put them at risk for mental health disorders, such as anxiety, stress, and depression. In the U.S., 20% of families care for a child with a chronic health condition. Because self-compassion is a protective factor for parents against distress, this study examined the processes through which parents may become open to attending a self-compassion-based support program and acquiring self-compassion skills.
Methods
Eight parents who attended a six-week self-compassion training were interviewed about their experiences during the program. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
Parents were motivated to attend the program because they were open to change and trusted the program would be valuable. Learning self-compassion involved developing a kinder relationship with themselves and embracing their common humanity, which helped them recognize the existing strengths they have had to develop in order to care for their children. They also experienced greater emotional acceptance and reported learning self-compassion had impacted the quality of care they provided for their children.
Conclusions
Results demonstrate the importance of acquiring trust from potential participants and combining social support (which can reduce feelings of isolation) with evidence-based training. Findings also provide insight for future researchers to examine the mechanisms of engagement in a program and to better understand the processes through which self-compassion supports positive mental health outcomes for parents of chronically ill children.
Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy versus sub-endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy for acute appendicitis
Authors: Cao Shouli , Li Song , Yan Jinming , Xue Dongyun , Meng Fanlu , Li Junshan , Li Xiaopei
Published: August 2024

Objective
This study aims to compare the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) with sub-endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (SERAT) in treating acute appendicitis.
Method
This retrospective study analyzed 40 patients undergoing ERAT and 43 undergoing SERAT for acute appendicitis at Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, China, from November 2021 to November 2023. The analysis included patient clinicopathological characteristics, technical aspects of ERAT and SERAT, clinical success (symptom resolution and laboratory test normalization), length of hospital stay, complications, and recurrence rates.
Results
No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of age, gender, complications, clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging data, Alvarado score, etc. (P > 0.05); The SERAT group had significantly shorter operation and intubation times compared to the ERAT group (43.9 min vs. 20.8 min, P < 0.001; 257 sec vs. 103 sec, P < 0.001). No significant differences were found in stent implantation, fecalith removal, postoperative temperature normalization, VAS score 6 hours post-treatment, days to normal temperature and white blood cell count, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization costs (P > 0.05); The recurrence rate was significantly lower in the SERAT group (2.3%) compared to the ERAT group (17.5%) (P = 0.019).
Conclusion
SERAT is an effective and safe approach for the diagnosis and treatment of acute appendicitis, offering shorter operation and intubation times, a lower recurrence rate, and minimally invasive treatment.
Automated Stenosis Detection in Coronary Artery Disease Using YOLOv9c: Enhanced Efficiency and Accuracy in Real-Time Applications
Authors: AKGÜL Muhammet , KOZAN Hasan İbrahim , AKYÜREK Hasan Ali , TAŞDEMİR Şakir
Published: August 2024

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a prevalent cardiovascular condition and a leading cause of mortality. An accurate and timely diagnosis of CAD is crucial for treatment. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel stenosis detection algorithm using the YOLOv9c model to automate the detection of CAD for real-time applications. The dataset consisted of angiographic imaging series obtained from 100 patients with confirmed one-vessel CAD, comprising a total of 8,325 grayscale images. The YOLOv9c model was trained, tested, and validated using the Python API for YOLO and the ultralytics library, with fine-tuning and augmentations applied to improve detection accuracy. By automating the detection of multivessel disease, the proposed algorithm has the potential to enhance the workflow of operators. The proposed YOLOv9c model demonstrated superior performance in processing speed and detection accuracy, achieving an F1-score of 0.98 and an mAP@0.5 of 0.98, outperforming established models. The model had a weight of 25.3M, significantly lower than others, leading to reduced training time (11 hrs), fine-tuning time (3.5 hrs) and inference time (18 ms). Additionally, compared with SSD MobileNet V1, F1-score and mAP@0.5 improved by 1.36x and 1.42x, respectively. The proposed stenosis detection algorithm represents a significant advancement in the field of cardiovascular imaging and diagnostic algorithms. The integration of advanced algorithms in cardiovascular imaging represents a critical aspect of optimizing diagnostic efficiency and accuracy, emphasizing the need for ongoing advancements in medical imaging research and technology.
Attention-Based Sample Adaptation Few-Shot Learning for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Zhao Yuefeng , Sun Jingqi , Zai Chengmin , Han Yanwei , Hu Nannan
Published: August 2024

Few-shot learning (FSL) uses prior knowledge and supervised experience to effectively classify hyperspectral images (HSIs), thereby reducing the cost of large numbers of labeled samples. However, existing few-shot methods ignore the correlation between cross-domain feature channels, and the feature representation ability is insufficient. To address above issue, this paper proposes a novel Attention-based Sample Adaptation Few-Shot Learning method (ASA-FSL) for hyperspectral image classification (HSIC), which can capture and enhance cross-domain dependencies through multi-layer residual connection and random-based feature recalibration. Specifically, a Deep Residual Feature Channel Attention Mechanism (DRFCAM) is designed to obtain cross-domain dependencies by residual concatenation, and further the residual structure is stacked for mining depth discrimination information. Furthermore, a new Random-based Feature Recalibration Module (RFRM) is proposed to reassign the feature weights via random matrix, which fully explore feature weight relationships to guide the sample adaptation process. Besides, we design a joint loss function with combining the FSL loss and domain adaptive loss for further optimization model. Experiments conducted on several standard hyperspectral datasets demonstrate that the proposed ASA-FSL is superior to other FSL techniques in both quantitative and qualitative aspects.
The Evaluation Of Ketones Intensive measurement in women with Gestational diabetes (EVOKING) study
Authors: Pintaudi Basilio , Giunta Loretta , Vieste Giacoma Di , Vergani Michela , Conti Matteo , Pani Arianna , Corrado Francesco , D'Anna Rosario , Benedetto Antonino Di
Published: August 2024

Purpose. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are frequently asked to check their ketones levels by measuring ketonuria before breakfast. However, ketosis could be present even before lunch and dinner. Furthermore, blood ketones measurement could be a more accurate test. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of a blood ketones intensive measurement in the detection of ketosis in women with GDM with negative urinary ketone test.
Methods. This was a single center, observational, prospective study involving consecutive women with GDM. Only women with negative fasting urinary ketone tests were included. During the same gestational weeks (30-32 weeks) to all women was suggested to perform a blood ketones test before main meals. Ketosis was defined as the presence for at least 25% of the time of fasting blood ketones levels >0.1 mmol/L and >0.2 mmol/L before lunch and dinner.
Results. Overall, a total of 101 women (mean age 34.7±4.8 years, pre-pregnancy BMI 28.2±5.2 kg/m2) were studied. Blood ketones were present in 37.6% of the cases before breakfast, 13.9% before lunch and 11.9% before dinner. Women with at least one daily presence of blood ketones were 40.6% of the sample. Fasting blood ketones presence was correlated with ketones presence before lunch (r=0.63, p<0.0001) and before dinner (r=0.55, p<0.0001) and with one hour after breakfast mean glucose levels (r=0.23, p=0.02).
Conclusions. Blood glucose ketones testing in women with GDM can detect a great number of ketosis episodes that urinary ketones test. Intensive blood ketones measurement should be recommended to women with GDM.
CASCADE: A Community-Engaged Action Model for Generating Rapid, Patient-Engaged Decisions in Clinical Research
Authors: Kelleher Bridgette L.
Published: August 2024

Background
Integrating patient and community input is essential to the relevance and impact of patient-focused research. However, specific techniques for generating patient and community-informed research decisions remain limited. Here, we describes a novel CASCADE method (Community-Engaged Approach for Scientific Collaborations and Decisions) that was developed and implemented to make actionable, patient-centered research decisions during a federally funded clinical trial.
Methods
The CASCADE approach includes 7 key pillars: (1) identifying a shared, specific, and actionable goal; (2) centering community input; (3) integrating both pre-registered statistical analyses and exploratory “quests”; (4) fixed-pace scheduling, supported by technology; (5) minimizing opportunities for cognitive biases typical to group decision making; (6) centering diversity experiences and perspectives, including those of individual patients; (7) making decisions that are community-relevant, rigorous, and feasible. Here, we implemented these pillars within a three-day CASCADE panel, attended by diverse members of a research project team that included community interest-holders. The goal of our panel was to identify ways to improve an algorithm for matching patients to specific types of telehealth programs within an active, federally funded clinical trial.
Results
The CASCADE panel was attended by 27 participants, including 5 community interest-holders. Data reviewed to generate hypotheses and make decisions included (1) pre-registered statistical analyses, (2) results of 12 “quests” that were launched during the panel to answer specific panelist questions via exploratory analyses or literature review, (3) qualitative and quantitative patient input, and (4) team member input, including by staff who represented the target patient population for the clinical trial. Panel procedures resulted in the generation of 18 initial and 12 final hypotheses, which were translated to 19 decisional changes.
Conclusions
The CASCADE approach was an effective procedure for rapidly, efficiently making patient-centered decisions during an ongoing, federally funded clinical trial. Opportunities for further development will include exploring best-practice structural procedures, enhancing greater opportunities for pre-panel input by community interest-holders, and determining how to best standardize CASCADE outputs.
Trial registration:
The CASCADE procedure was developed in the context of NCT05999448.
Nomograms for the Prognosis Prediction Model of Early-stage Triple- negative Breast Cancer - Based on SEER Database
Authors: Wang Yaxue , Li Fengyan
Published: August 2024

Purpose
Triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC) is highly aggressive and insensitive to hormone therapy. As a result, the treatment and prognosis of TNBC have received widespread attention. The purpose of this study was to summarize the prognosis of early-stage TNBC, construct nomograms to accurately predict patient survival and advanced treatment model.
Methods
The modeling group consisted of early-stage TNBC patients in the SEER database. Prognostic factors were examined using Cox regression, and the nomograms were created by R(4.3.2) software. Patients with the same screening conditions were collected from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center to form the validating group, and validation were performed using the Concordance index, Receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration curves.
Results
There were 14,389 patients in the modeling group and 1,146 patients in the validating group. Age and 7 other factors in the modeling group were independent predictors (P<0.05), which were used to build nomograms. The Concordance indices for disease-free survival in the modeling and validating groups were 0.884 (95% confidence interval(CI), 0.876-0.892) and 0.686 (95% CI, 0.653-0.719). The Concordance indices for overall survival were 0.873 (95% CI, 0.863-0.883) and 0.741 (95% CI,0.702-0.780), respectively.Most of the value of the Area under the curve were above 0.7. All calibration curves were close to the 45° reference line.
Conclusions
Age, TNM stage, histologic grading, plastic surgery, and radiotherapy were independent predictors of prognosis in patients with early TNBC. The nomograms constructed in this study had good predictive value, yet the accuracy still needs to be verified by large-sample multicenter studies.