bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Impact of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease on the Risk of Oral Cavity and Pharyngeal Cancer Using Mendelian Randomization
Authors: Wang Chuanlei , Shen Zixiong , Cao Chunli , Wang Guangyi
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Previous observational studies have yielded inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the risk of oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer (OCPC). This study aims to employ Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore whether a causal relationship exists between GERD and the risk of OCPC and its subtypes.
Methods:Using summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we conducted MR analyses to assess the causal relationship between GERD and OCPC (comprising oral cavity cancer (OCC) and oropharynx cancer (OPC)). We performed univariable MR analyses with GERD as the exposure and OCPC, OCC, and OPC as outcomes. Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), and type 2 diabetes (T2D) were adjusted for in the multivariable MR analysis to refine causal estimates.
Results: Univariable MR analysis revealed that genetically predicted GERD increased the risk of OCPC (IVW: discovery, OR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.30-3.37, P = 0.0023; validation, OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.26-2.87, P = 0.0020) and OCC (IVW: discovery, OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.21-3.33, P = 0.0066; validation: OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.47-4.59, P = 0.0010). The association between GERD and OPC was significant only in the discovery analysis (IVW: discovery, OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.08-4.89, P = 0.0307; validation: OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.67-1.97, P = 0.6199). Multivariable analysis, adjusting for smoking, alcohol, BMI, and T2D, produced consistent results.
Conclusions: This MR study indicates a connection between GERD and an overall increased risk of OCPC. The association between GERD and OCC is also significant. This association is independent of CigDay, DrnkWk, BMI, and T2D. However, the link between GERD and OPC is limited and requires further investigation for confirmation. These findings could have significant public health implications and may aid in the prevention and treatment of oral and pharyngeal cancers. Exploring the specific mechanisms behind GERD increasing the risk of OCPC is necessary.
YAP-Driven Malignant Reprogramming of Epithelial Stem Cells at Single Cell Resolution
Authors: Gutkind J. Silvio , Faraji Farhoud , Ramirez Sydney , Clubb Lauren , Sato Kuniaki , Quiroz Paola Anguiano , Galloway William , Mikulski Zbigniew , Hoang Thomas , Medetgul-Ernar Kate , Marangoni Pauline , Jones Kyle , Officer Adam , Molinolo Alfredo , Kim Kenneth , Sakaguchi Kanako , Califano Joseph , Smith Quinton , Klein Ophir , Tamayo Pablo
Published: October 2023

Tumor initiation represents the first step in tumorigenesis during which normal progenitor cells undergo cell fate transition to cancer. Capturing this process as it occurs in vivo, however, remains elusive. Here we employ cell tracing approaches with spatiotemporally controlled oncogene activation and tumor suppressor inhibition to unveil the processes underlying oral epithelial progenitor cell reprogramming into cancer stem cells (CSCs) at single cell resolution. This revealed the rapid emergence of a distinct stem-like cell state, defined by aberrant proliferative, hypoxic, squamous differentiation, and partial epithelial to mesenchymal (pEMT) invasive gene programs. Interestingly, CSCs harbor limited cell autonomous invasive capacity, but instead recruit myeloid cells to remodel the basement membrane and ultimately initiate tumor invasion. CSC transcriptional programs are conserved in human carcinomas and associated with poor patient survival. These findings illuminate the process of cancer initiation at single cell resolution, thus identifying candidate targets for early cancer detection and prevention.
Inactivation of the trypsin inhibitory activity of ovomucoid by ultrasound treatment
Authors: Ding Lixian , Ji Shengnan , Cai Zhaoxia , Huang Xi
Published: October 2023

Ovomucoid (OVM) is considered the major antidigestive protein in egg white as a trypsin inhibitor, which makes eggs become one of the most common allergenic foods. This study investigated the influence and underling mechanisms of ultrasound treatment under 100–400 W on the activity of ovomucoid trypsin. The lowest activity was occurred after 400 W, 40 min ultrasound treatment, which was reduced to 30% of the control group. Results of zeta potential, particle size, circular dichroism indicated that the negative charge on the surface of protein molecules increased after ultrasound treatment. Content of β-sheet in OVM decreased by 35.7%, while the disordered structure increased by nearly 17.4%. The average protein size decreased from 696.3 nm to about 200 nm. The hydrolytic resistance to digestive enzymes and the thermal stability of OVM was also significantly reduced. The results of this study show the deactivation effects of ultrasound on tryspin inhibitory activity of OVM and reveal preliminarily the relationship between the inhibitory activity and protein structure of OVM.
Safety and feasibility study of a novel robotic system in an in vivo porcine vascular model
Authors: Moschovaki-Zeiger Ornella , Arkoudis Nikolaos-Achilleas , Spiliopoulos Stavros
Published: October 2023

Purpose The goal of this preclinical study is to assess the functionality, technical feasibility, and safety of a new vascular robotic LIBERTYR3 System, in the catheterization of vascular targets using a range of guidewires and microcatheters. Material and Methods An anesthetized pig served as an arterial model for the robotic device (LIBERTYR3; Microbot Medical Ltd, Yoqneam, IL). The primary efficacy endpoint was the evaluation of its capability to catheterize predetermined distal arterial branches in the liver, kidneys, and mesenteric arteries (technical success), under fluoroscopy guidance. The primary safety endpoint was the occurrence of angiographic acute catheterization-related complications (dissection, thrombosis, embolism, perforation). The catheterizations were conducted by two interventional radiologists that present different work experience in endovascular procedures (18 and 2 years respectively), using a variety of microcatheters and wires. Various procedural parameters such as functionality, practicality, ease of use, and time required for catheterization, were evaluated, and recorded. Results All pre-determined arteries were successfully catheterized (100% technical success), by both operators. No angiographic acute complications occurred. The catheters and wires were manipulated using the remote portable console in an effortless manner that maintained a high level of accuracy. Mean time for selective catheterization was 126 ± 51 seconds. The robot's conversion function to manual operation was successfully demonstrated. Conclusion Robotic navigation and catheterization of selected target arteries were accomplished without observable vascular damage, suggesting that the LIBERTYR3 robotic system is a reliable and safe tool for robotic-assisted endovascular navigation. Further experimental studies are required to evaluate safety and efficacy prior to introduction into clinical practice.
Assessment of climate change impacts on floods with a hybrid data-driven and conceptual model across a data-scarce region
Authors: Zarei Erfan , Nobakht Afsaneh , Saleh Farzin Nasiri
Published: October 2023

In an era marked by unprecedented environmental shifts, comprehensively assessing the repercussions of climate change has become a paramount concern. This study investigates the impact of climate change on floods in the Kashkan watershed, located in western Iran, for the near future (2030–2059) and far future (2060–2089). First, a HEC-HMS model was developed for the study area, with a calibration period from January 1997 to December 2012 and a validation period from January 2013 to August 2019. Subsequently, to enhance the precision of our simulation, we employed long short-term memory (LSTM) as a methodological improvement. LSTM improved the ability of HEC-HMS to simulate maximum flows, reducing the annual average error peak flow (AEPFy) from 23.62–9.49% during the testing period. Then, 8 general circulation models (GCMs) were selected using a Taylor diagram for three climatic variables: cumulative daily precipitation, maximum daily temperature, and minimum daily temperature. These selected models were bias corrected using the quantile mapping method. The annual maximum cumulative 5-day precipitation was calculated for the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios in the near and far future, revealing the potential for substantial increases. The result of the streamflow simulation with the hybrid model showed a significant increase in annual maximum discharge under both the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios for the near and far future. Maximum discharge (mean ensemble of selected GCMs) is projected to increase by 45.08% and 37.59% in the near and far future for SSP126 and by 54.34% and 73.27% for SSP585. Most years will experience maximum flows exceeding the average baseline values. This increase, based on SSP126, will occur in most months, especially autumn, while SSP585 has similar patterns but with higher magnitudes. A 3-way ANOVA was employed to assess uncertainty in both the near and far future. The results suggest that individual factors such as Model, GCM, and SSP have limited influence, with the primary driver of uncertainty stemming from the interactions among these factors. The outcomes of this research will aid policymakers in integrating necessary measures to mitigate financial and human losses caused by the effects of climate change.
Isolation, identification and herbicidal potential of Fusarium avenaceum HY-041 from the Qing-Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhu Haixia , Li huan , Ma Yongqiang
Published: October 2023

In order to screen a biocontrol strain with broad-spectrum and high herbicidal activity, potential herbicidal strain HY-041 isolated from the leaves of naturally diseased Cephalanoplos setosum was tested. Based on the morphological characteristics and gene sequence analysis, the fungus was identified asFusarium avenaceum. Herbicidal activity to 9 target weeds were tested, the results showed that the pathogenicity of strain HY-041 to different weeds invitrowas as follows:Polygonum lapathifolium>Malva verticillata>Avena fatua>Chenopodium album>Polygonum aviculare>Elsholtzia densa>Amaranthus retroflexus>Thlaspi arvense>Galium aparine, the pot experiment showed that the fermentation filtrate was highly pathogenic toC. album,E. densaandA. fatuaby spray inoculation. The safety evaluation results showed that the strain was moderately susceptible toBrassica napusL., slightly infectedTriticum aestivumL. andHordeum vulgare, relatively safe toPisum sativumL. andVicia fabaL.. The scanning electron microscope observation showed that strain HY-041 hyphae destroyed the epidermis tissue, invadedA. fatuatissue from the stoma and parasites, and propagated in the tissue to produce spores. The results showed that strain HY-041 had the potential to develop microbial biocontrol herbicide.
Stream Water Age Reveals Hydrological and Human Drivers of Inland Freshwater Salinization
Authors: Grant Stanley , Bhide Shantanu , McGuire Kevin , Prestegaard Karen , Kaushal Sujay , Sekellick Andrew , Webber James , Jastram John , Rippy Megan , Schenk Todd , Curtis Shannon , Gomez-Velez Jesus , Hotchkiss Erin , Vikesland Peter , Saksena Siddharth
Published: October 2023

The salinity of inland freshwaters is rising globally, particularly in human dominated landscapes that receive deicers in the winter. Here we show that the salinization of an urban stream in Northern Virginia (USA) can be linked to salt sources using stream water age as a master variable. Younger stream water is associated with either low salinity rain or high salinity snow melt, while older stream water is associated with a geology-specific groundwater salinity. Long-term deicer use increases salinity of the groundwater over time, transforming an acute snow melt problem into a chronic groundwater problem. Framing freshwater salinization relative to stream water age clarifies relevant physical processes, highlights long-term threats, opens the door to monitoring catchment-scale deicer application rates, and informs potential engineering and policy solutions.
Association between childhood trauma and Internet gaming disorder: a moderated mediation analysis of depression as a mediator and psychological resilience as a moderator
Authors: Liu Qian , Ouyang Lijun , Fan Lejia , Liao Aijun , Li Zongchang , Chen Xiaogang , Yuan Liu , He Ying
Published: October 2023

Background
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a severe mental health disorder. The effect of childhood trauma on IGD is currently unclear. Therefore, this study examined the association between childhood trauma and IGD among Chinese students. Additionally, we explored the potential roles of psychological resilience and depression in the association.
Methods
In total, 8,579 students from the Hunan province, China, provided information regarding their socio-demographic factors, childhood trauma, depression, psychological resilience, and traits of IGD. The impact of childhood trauma on IGD and the extent to which it was mediated by depression and moderated by psychological resilience was evaluated.
Results
Depression had a partial mediating effect on IGD resulting from childhood trauma (B = 0.2324, t = 18.3941, P < 0.001); psychological resilience provided a buffer against this effect (B = -0.0017, SE = 0.0006, P ＜ 0.0001). Psychological resilience also moderated the association between childhood trauma and depression (B = -0.0025, SE = 0.0005, P < 0.001). Our moderated mediation model elucidated the psychosocial mechanisms, highlighting the underlying link between childhood trauma and IGD. It also demonstrated the partial mediating role of depression and the modulating role of psychological resilience among Chinese students.
Conclusions
Education and interventions should be provided to enhance students’ psychological resilience and alleviate depression with effective social support.
Social Media Use Is Associated With Suicidal Ideation in Early Adolescence: The Role of Visual Cybervictimization
Authors: Marengo Davide , Settanni Michele , Mastrokoukou Sofia , Longobardi Claudio
Published: October 2023

This study delves into the critical issue of suicidal ideation among early adolescents aged 10 to 14, where suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death globally. Suicidal ideation is closely linked to other psychological distress indicators and high-risk behaviors, particularly among early adolescents. These individuals are also vulnerable to cyberbullying, and the rise of visual social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube has transformed their social interactions. The study involved 1143 middle-school students in Northern Italy with a mean age of 12.34 (SD = 0.97; females 53.2%), using a self-report questionnaire to gather data on social media usage, bullying behaviors, and suicidal ideation. Statistical analyses included Spearman rank-order correlations, Shapiro-Wilk test, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Fisher's exact tests, and mediation models. The findings revealed significant correlations between daily use of specific visual social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram was positively associated with both visual cyberbullying and suicidal ideation. Gender differences were observed in the associations, and mediation analysis confirmed that the relationship between social media use and suicidal ideation was mediated by involvement in visual cyberbullying episodes.This study underscores the intricate relationships between visual social media use, visual cyberbullying, and suicidal ideation among early adolescents. It emphasizes the responsibility of social media platforms in creating safer digital environments for young users.
Efficient Automatic Estimation of Soil Constitutive Model Parameters by Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Sakai Takayuki , Nakano Masaki
Published: October 2023

Performance design is important for soil structures, and detailed analyses are performed using the finite element method and other methods. Parameters for such analysis are often estimated from soil test results. In this study, we proposed a method to estimate the parameters of the modified Cam-Clay model using dynamic multiswarm PSO (DMS-PSO). To examine the validity of the proposed method, we examined whether constitutive model parameters can be correctly estimated from the results computed by the model (consideration (1)) and whether the proposed methods can always obtain the same parameters when reproducing the experiment (consideration (2)). In the consideration (1), the search success rate was clearly increased by using DMS-PSO compared to ordinary PSO. In addition, the search was successfully conducted if the number of ‘particles’ was more than 400 and the number of ‘islands’ was more than 40. When two experiments were conducted, the search was quicker and more stable than when targeting a single experiment. In the consideration (2), parameters were able to be estimated from the experimental results automatically and reproduce the experimental results well. Since the coefficient of variation of the parameters obtained through 100 times estimation was at most 1%, this method was able to estimate almost the same parameters each time. Narrowing the solution search range of the physical properties reduced the variation in the parameters obtained. Additionally, the parameters can be estimated by at least 2 mechanical experiments.
Pulmonary Thrombosis in Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia. Is It Really a True Pulmonary Thromboembolism?
Authors: Castillejo Carla Suarez , Calvo Néstor , Preda Luminita , Toledo-Pons Nuria , Pons Aina Rosa Millán , Martínez Joaquín , Ramón Luisa , Iglesias Amanda , Morell-García Daniel , Bauça Josep Miquel , Núñez Belén , Sauleda Jaume , Sala-Llinas Ernest , Alonso-Fernández Alberto
Published: October 2023

Background
Mechanisms of pulmonary thrombosis (PT) in COVID-19 are unknown. Thromboembolism and local pulmonary inflammation have been suggested as the main factors. However, robust evidence is still lacking because this was mainly based on retrospective studies, in which patients were included when PT was suspected. On the other hand, the number of thrombi within lung opacification, and the association with percentage of pulmonary involvement (TLI) related to COVID-19 were not evaluated. The main objective was to determine the number and percentage of thrombi surrounded by lung opacification (TSO) in each patient, as well as their relationship with TLI.
Methods
Consecutive patients with COVID-19 pneumonia performed computed tomography pulmonary angiography. We determined TLI and TSO in patients with PT. TLI was automatically calculated by artificial intelligence analysis. TSO was defined when there was lung opacification ≤ 10 mm from each pulmonary vessel with a thrombus. Analyses at patient level (TLI and percentage of TSO) and at thrombi level (TLI and TSO) were performed.
Results
We diagnosed PT in 70 out of 184 patients. Three (2–8) thrombi/patient were detected. The median percentage of TSO was 100% per patient (75–100%), and TLI was 19.9% (4.6–35.2) in all patients. Sixty-five patients (92.9%) were above the random scenario (in which the percentage of TSO should correspond to the percentage of lung involvement in each patient), and had more percentage of TSO than TLI in each patient. Most thrombi (n = 299, 75.1%) were TSO. When evaluating by TLI (< 10%, 10–20%, 20–30%, and > 30%), percentage of TSO was higher in most groups. Thrombi were mainly in subsegmental/segmental arteries, and percentage of TSO was higher in all locations.
Conclusion
Thrombi in COVID-19 pneumonia complicated with PT were found within lung opacities in a higher percentage than lung involvement, regardless of the proportion of pulmonary infiltrates and clot location, supporting the hypothesis that COVID-19 could promote local pro-thrombotic phenomena rather than “classic thrombo-embolism”. These data expand understanding of PT in COVID-19 and support a partial justification for why thromboprophylaxis does not prevent PT. Further studies should focus on new strategies to reduce the thrombotic risk.
Widespread drastic reduction in brain myelin content upon marathon running
Authors: Ramos-Cabrer Pedro , Cabrera-Zubizarreta Alberto , Padró Daniel , Matute-González Mario , Rodríguez-Antigüedad Alfredo , Matute Carlos
Published: October 2023

Recent evidence suggests that myelin lipids may act as glial energy reserves when glucose is lacking, a hypothesis yet to be solidly proven. Hereby, we examined the effects of running a marathon on myelin content by MRI. Our findings show that marathon runners undergo widespread robust myelin decrease at completion of the effort. This reduction involves white and gray matter and includes primary motor and sensory cortical areas and pathways, as well as the entire corpus callosum and internal capsule. Notably, myelin levels partially recover within two weeks after the marathon. These results reveal that myelin use and replenishment is an unprecedented form of metabolic plasticity aimed at maintaining brain function during extreme conditions.
Comparative analysis of organic and inorganic compounds conferring ISR to combat Phomopsis vexans
Authors: Kumar Adesh , Vaghasiya Tushar P , Goutam Etalesh , Kumar Vipul
Published: October 2023

Previous studies have shown the role of several organic & inorganic compounds in boosting plant growth and restricting the disease spread by conferring induced systemic resistance (ISR). Among, biochar is an organic input that has its proven role to improve soil fertility and impart disease resistance. As brinjal is encountered by several biotic and abiotic factors, Phomopsis vexans being one of them which caused phomopsis blight disease and hampered crop performance adequately. In this experiment, the evaluation of different concentrations of inorganic compounds (calcium & zinc salts, fungicides) individually or in combination with biochar were employed to combat the disease and results were analyzed on the basis of improved soil health and biochemical changes. Out of which, a combination of Biochar with Amistar29.6a.i. provided the best results. In addition, a negative correlation was also reported between disease severity and the level of soluble proteins & total phenols.
A novel approach to removing pollutant particles from natural gas in town border station (TBS) using nano filters
Authors: Bagheri Hamid , Mousavi Seyed Borhan , Nami Shamin Hosseini , Heris Saeed Zeinali
Published: October 2023

This article presents a comprehensive comparative study between nano filter elements, focusing on two key aspects: pressure drop and pollutant elimination efficiency. The objective was to determine the performance superiority of nano filter elements and their potential as a viable alternative for TBS (Town Border Station). The study involved a six-month investigation, during which the filter elements were subjected to regular pressure checks, structural analysis, and particle characterization. After a standard six-month placement period, the filters underwent imaging analysis using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results showed significant differences between the two filter types. Nano filters demonstrated higher adsorption of aluminum, indicating improved pollutant capture attributed to the cartridge material. They also exhibited the presence of phosphorus, sulfur, and copper, elements absent in conventional filters, while conventional filters had higher carbon content. The smaller mesh size of nano filters facilitated the capture of smaller-sized pollutants. Silicon content was negligible in nano filters, which raised concerns compared to the small presence observed in conventional filters. Surprisingly, despite having 19 more pleats, the nano filters caused no significant pressure drop in the gas flow line while effectively retaining a greater quantity of particles. The obtained results shed light on the advantages of nano filter elements in terms of reduced pressure drop and enhanced pollutant removal capability.
Enhancing Deep Learning-Based Antenna Array Coefficient Reconstruction through Optimized Data Management
Authors: Masoodi Mehdi , Omrani Naser , Catapano Ilaria , Soldovieri Francesco
Published: October 2023

Complex array coefficients are essential parameters for designing planar antennas with desired radiation patterns. However, reconstructing these coefficients from nearfield phaseless measurements is a challenging inverse problem that requires a large amount of data and a robust optimization algorithm. In this paper, we propose a novel method that combines an optimal non-uniform sampling strategy and a U-Net model, a convolutional neural network (CNN) that has shown high accuracy in image segmentation, to achieve this purpose. In this scheme, the most informative measurements are collected and discards the redundant ones, reducing the data size and enhancing the data quality. Furthermore, we exploit a U-Net model to learn the mapping from the measurements to the array coefficients, avoiding the difficulties of solving a non-linear inverse problem. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method through numerical simulations, showing that our method can accurately reconstruct the array coefficients with a reduced number of measurements and outperform existing classic methods.
Chemical and boron isotopic composition of tourmaline from the Yixingzhai gold deposit, North China Craton: Proxies for ore fluids evolution and mineral exploration
Authors: Zhao Shao-Rui , Hu Hao , Jin Xiao-Ye , Deng Xiao-Dong , Robinson Paul T. , Gao Wen-Sheng , Zhang Li-Zhong
Published: October 2023

Tourmaline is common in magmatic-hydrothermal deposits, and its composition and boron isotope geochemistry have been widely used to fingerprint the source and evolution of hydrothermal fluids and associated metals. However, whether these chemical or boron isotopic compositions or their combinations can be used as vectors for mineral exploration remains to be explored. In this study, we documented the major and trace element compositions and boron isotopic values of tourmaline along a vertical extension (i.e., 510, 830, 1230 m above sea level, a.s.l.) of the newly discovered porphyry Au mineralization in the Hewan feldspar quartz porphyry, Yixingzhai deposit, to shed light on the evolution of the ore-forming fluid, the mechanisms of Au deposition, and potential indicators for Au exploration. Field observations showed that tourmaline in the Hewan porphyry occurred mainly as orbicules or veins and intergrew with Au-bearing pyrite, hydrothermal quartz, and some clay minerals, indicating a magmatic-hydrothermal origin. Tourmaline sampled from 510 m a.s.l. showed δ11B values (–11.5 to –9.3‰) consistent with those of the average continental crust and tourmaline in magmatic systems, which suggests that the ore-forming fluid was most likely exsolved from the host Hewan porphyry. The δ11B values became heavier upward, reaching –9.9 to –1.5‰ at 830 m and –8.0 to +6.8‰ at 1230 m a.s.l. This boron isotopic variation, integrated with increasing Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, Li, Co, and Sr but decreasing Al, U, Th, REE, Zn, and Pb contents of the tourmaline samples from deep to shallow levels, implies that the initial magmatic fluids were gradually mixed with circulating meteoric water that contained materials leached from peripheral Archean metamorphic rocks and Mesoproterozoic marine sedimentary rocks. Considering the spatial distribution of the Au grade of the porphyry, we propose that a suitable mixing proportion of magmatic and meteoric fluids caused Au deposition and accumulation. We note that tourmaline samples collected from the economic Au zones had much lower and more concentrated δ11B (–11.5 to –3.0‰), Co/(Pb+Zn) (<0.01), and Sr/(Pb+Zn) (0.27 to 1.07) values than those in low-grade or barren zones. Coeval plutons and breccia pipes, where tourmaline also occurs, are well developed inside and outside the Yixingzhai Au mine. We suggest that the obtained parameters can potentially be used as proxies for further Au exploration in this region. This study highlights the feasibility of using the chemical and isotopic compositions of tourmaline for mineral exploration.
Emotion Intensity Value Prediction with Machine Learning Approach on Twitter
Authors: Setiawan Rindy Claudia , Chowanda Andry
Published: October 2023

Recognizing the intensity of the emotions is a paramount task for an affective system. By recognizing the intensity of the emotions, the system can have better human-computer interaction. The research explores several machine learning approaches with several different feature extraction method combinations to solve the emotion intensity prediction task while also analyzing and comparing it with several previous related papers. The research uses the dataset provided through theWASSA 2017 and SemEval 2018 competition. The dataset utilizes four of the eight basic emotions that Plutchik defines (anger, fear, joy, and sadness). The total data result in 19,736 rows of entry, with a total of 10,715 (54.3%) for training, 1,811 (9.17%) for validation, and 7,210 (36.53%) for testing. Three feature extraction methods are used and compared: N-gram, TFIDF, and Bag-of-Words. Meanwhile, machine learning algorithms are Linear Regression, Ridge Regression, KNearest Neighbor for Regression, Regression Tree, and Support Vector Regression (SVR). The results show that SVR with TF-IDF features has the best result of all attempted experiments, with a Pearson correlation score of 0.755 for all data and 0.647 for gold labels data. The final model also accepts newly seen data and displays the corresponding emotion label and intensity.
Classifying Customer Attributes with Importance Performance Analysis and Fuzzy Kano
Authors: Oey Elia , Putri Nyimas Revita Permaisuri , Rahardjo Benyamin Suwito
Published: October 2023

Analyzing what consumer needs remains every day’s challenge for every business. Every business entity requires continuous effort as consumers become more demanding and have more access to product/service offerings, leading to more competitive market dynamics and the necessity for more innovative ways of offering products/services. The research aims to recommend a set of customer attributes for the studied company and analyze the selected attributes using a combination of Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) and fuzzy Kano. The research is a case study of a company selling gift vouchers for individual and corporate consumers. The research combines literature study and affinity diagram workshop to identify the required consumer attributes, which are analyzed using the integration of IPA and fuzzy Kano. The results suggest that the studied company should concentrate on several attributes, such as A7-simple requirement during the purchasing process, A10-no administration fee during purchase, A14-cross promotion with various sister brands, and A15-no minimum purchase. The attributes fall under “concentrate here” in the IPA grid while at the same time, those are considered as “effective improving area” in the fuzzy Kano grid. The studied company is also recommended to keep their good work on the attribute of A5-expiry date longer than one year so that it remains their competitive attribute and does not fall into the other inferior quadrants.
Understanding Participation in Value Co-Creation and Acceptance of iPosyandu by Extending UTAUT among Community Health Workers
Authors: Lathifah Azmii , Putro Utomo Sarjono , Rinawan Fedri Ruluwedrata , Novani Santi , Hasyimi Valid , Tiara Adhya Rare
Published: October 2023

Digitalization is inevitable, including in the health sector. The iPosyandu, a mobile digital platform, is introduced to help the report of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and monitor the Pos Pelayanan Terpadu (Posyandu - Integrated Healthcare Center) data online. Unfortunately, CHWs still report data manually using paper, which takes a long time to store because some are still reluctant to change to digital services. Therefore, it is necessary to study CHWs’ intention to create new values and accept technology to sustain the application. The research aims to determine the factor influencing the intention to participate in value co-creation and use iPosyandu by extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) among CHW. A Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) is conducted with a cross-sectional survey involving 222 CHWs in Purwakarta, Indonesia. The research finds that effort expectancy and perceived policy support significantly affect the intention to participate in value co-creation and usage of iPosyandu. The findings highlight that the critical role of intention to participate in value co-creation significantly affects the intention to use iPosyandu. The findings also suggest that policymakers and application developers should increase the use of iPosyandu by improving the effort systems, providing policy support, and facilitating CHWs to cocreate the value of the application to encourage them to use iPosyandu.
Web Server Load Balancing Mechanism with Least Connection Algorithm and Multi-Agent System
Authors: Rahmika Afiyah Rifkha , Tahir Zulkifli , Paundu Ady Wahyudi , Zainuddin Zahir
Published: October 2023

Demands for information over the Internet massively increase through the continuous expansion of website applications. Therefore, generating powerful and efficient server architecture for web servers is a must to satisfy Internet users and avoid the overloaded system. The research focuses on developing a new mechanism for load balancing to distribute incoming HTTP requests in website applications by combining the Least Connection algorithm and Multi-Agent System (LC-MAS). The proposed mechanism distributes the request based on load condition and the fewest number of active connections. The research applies virtualization technology to build servers on this proposed mechanism. The architecture is built inside a physical server with Proxmox as virtualization management and Linux Debian 7.11 as an operating system. Then, the research is tested in two scenarios (LCMAS and LC) using 500, 1,000, and 1,500 requests. The performance of this proposed mechanism is measured through the values of average response time, throughput, and error percentage. The results show that the proposed mechanism (LC-MAS) distributes the workload more equally than LC, with an average response time for 1,500 requests of 1338.8 milliseconds, 20.07% error, and 125 transactions per second. The LC-MAS makes the website application performance much better when the request increases. The LC-MAS helps in the utilization of system resources and improves system robustness.
The application of fault diagnosis techniques and monitoring methods in building electrical systems – based on ELM algorithm
Authors: Liu Guanghui
Published: October 2023

The reliability of modern building electrical systems are receiving increasing attention as they become more intelligent and complex. As the majority of building electrical systems use neutral point grounding, earth faults or short circuits can get worse over time and damage both the distribution system and the electrical equipment. To this end, the corresponding three phases and four categories, namely three-phase voltage, three-phase current after fault, three-phase voltage distortion rate, three-phase current distortion rate, a total of 12 dimensional fault feature vectors and 10 fault simulation types, were summarised and extracted in conjunction with the actual operating conditions of the system. Using traditional fault identification ideas and neural network algorithm as reference, a 12-dimensional fault feature vector is used as the model input to construct a building electrical fault diagnosis and detection model based on ELM algorithm. Results showed that the ELM-based model’s classification accuracy for this experimental sample was 97.56 %, its AUC was 0.92, and its RMSE was 0.3521. These figures were higher than the classification accuracy and performance of the BP algorithm and GA-BP algorithm fault diagnosis models, and they also demonstrate better robustness and generalizability. The model also has a 97.27 % correct rate in fault discrimination, while the computation time is only 0.201 s, and its fault identification and diagnosis speed is faster than other algorithmic models. At the same time, this research model has a good fault monitoring accuracy of up to 98.6 % for building electrical systems. The research can provide a more sensitive, accurate and rapid fault monitoring method for the current building electrical system. It also improves the reliability of the building electrical system in a complex environment and achieves better protection of the system. This has a certain significance for the development of the building electrical industry.
Quantitative estimation and fusion optimization of radar rainfall in the Duanzhuang watershed at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains
Authors: Zhang Ting , Li Yi , Li Jianzhu , Li Zhixia , Wang Congmei , Liu Jin
Published: October 2023

The temporal and spatial resolutions of rainfall data directly affect the accuracy of hydrological simulation. Weather radar has been used in business in China, but the uncertainty of data is large. At present, research on radar data and fusion in small and medium-sized basins in China is very weak. In this paper, taking the Duanzhuang watershed as an example, based on station data, Shijiazhuang's radar data are preprocessed, optimized and fused. Eleven rainfall events are selected for fusion by three methods and quality evaluation, and three flood simulations are used to test their effect. The results show that preprocessing and initial optimization have poor effects on radar data improvement. The rainfall proportional coefficient fusion method performs best in rainfall spatial estimation, where the R2 values of the three inspection stations are increased to 0.51, 0.78 and 0.82. Three fusion datasets in the peak flow and flood volume of flood simulation perform better than station data. For example, in the No.20210721 flood, the NSE of the three fusion data increased by 39, 30 and 48%. This shows that the fusion method can effectively improve the data accuracy of radar and can obtain high temporal and spatial resolution rainfall data.
Discharge estimation in a compound channel with converging and diverging floodplains using ANN–PSO and MARS
Authors: Shekhar Divyanshu , Das Bhabani Shankar , Devi Kamalini , Khuntia Jnana Ranjan , Karmaker Tapas
Published: October 2023

The discharge estimation in rivers is crucial in implementing flood management techniques and essential flood defence and drainage systems. During the normal flood season, water flows solely in the main channel. During a flood, rivers comprise a main channel and floodplains, collectively called a compound channel. Computing the discharge is challenging in non-prismatic compound channels where the floodplains converge or diverge in a longitudinal direction. Various soft computing techniques have nowadays become popular in the field of water resource engineering to solve these complex problems. This paper uses a hybrid soft computing technique – artificial neural network and particle swarm optimization (ANN–PSO) and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) to model the discharge in non-prismatic compound open channels. The analysis considers nine non-dimensional parameters – bed slope, relative flow depth, relative longitudinal distance, hydraulic radius ratio, angle of convergence or divergence, flow aspect ratio, relative friction factor, and area ratio – as influencing factors. A gamma test is carried out to determine the optimal combination of input variables. The developed MARS model has produced satisfactory results, with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of less than 7% and an R2 value of more than 0.90.
Estimation of change in terrestrial water storage for Abbay River Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Yoshe Agegnehu Kitanbo
Published: October 2023

Access to freshwater resources has become more limited. Correspondingly, water monitoring methods in sensitive or critical areas interims of terrestrial water storage are becoming increasingly important. The monitoring of the water storage in this area, using appropriate methods and datasets, is highly effective in preventing possible future water crises. This paper aims to estimate terrestrial water storage of the Abbay River Basin with available data and tools where hydro climatological studies are scarce due to limited observation. The data obtained from Global Land Assimilation System (GLDAS), gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE), and TerraClimate were used for the analysis of terrestrial water storage in the river basin. The result shows that there was a varying trend of terrestrial water storage for the study time. We have observed water shortages during the dry season and surplus water during the wet season. The monitoring of changes in terrestrial water storage is crucial for optimal water resource utilization and our results confirm the major role of such monitoring in decision-making processes and management.
Assessment of climate change impacts on hydrological processes in the Usangu catchment of Tanzania under CMIP6 scenarios
Authors: Mollel Gift Raphael , Mulungu Deogratias M. M. , Nobert Joel , Alexander Augustina C.
Published: October 2023

Climate change is anticipated to have long-term effects on hydrological processes and patterns, leading to water stress in agroecological catchments. Climate change escalates water scarcity in the Usangu catchment, as evidenced by the drying up of rivers during the dry season. Therefore, this study was undertaken to assess climate change impacts on hydrology by utilizing the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and an ensemble mean of five Global Circulation Models (GCMs) under two shared socio-economic pathway (SSP) emission scenarios. Downscaling of GCMs was performed by the LARS-WG statistical downscaling tool. In comparison to the baseline period, short rain intervals are expected to occur between 2030 and 2060, with a mean annual precipitation increase of 7 and 17% in SSP 2–4.5 and SSP 5–8.5, respectively. Maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to rise by 0.6–2 °C. Corresponding to future temperature increases, evapotranspiration would increase to about 30% and decrease water yield and groundwater recharge by 7 and 26% in SSP 2–4.5 than in SSP 5–8.5. However, the effect of precipitation increase is shown by increased surface runoff and streamflow during wetter months. These findings provide watershed managers with crucial information for planning and managing the catchment in light of a changing climate.
Delineation of groundwater potential zones using electrical resistivity technique in Obudu basement terrain of Cross River State, Southeastern Nigeria
Authors: Ebong Ebong Dickson , Emeka Chimezie Ndunagum , Melouah Oualid , Illa Ullah Rose , Ita Anthony Edet , Asfahani Jamal
Published: October 2023

Groundwater exploration in basement terrain can be somewhat challenging. Aquifer parameters like hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity can help in predicting groundwater potential zones in basement terrains. The vertical electrical sounding investigation that involved the Schlumberger configuration was employed to map the subsurface layers within the crystalline basement of the Obudu Complex, southeastern Nigeria. Secondary electrical resistivity data (Dar Zarrouk parameters) and a few pumping test-derived hydraulic parameters (i.e., transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity) were employed to develop empirical models. These models were used to predict hydraulic parameters at locations where only geoelectrical parameters (i.e., aquifer layer thickness and electrical resistivity) exist. Results showed that the northeastern part of the study area and areas located within zones of major faults displayed relatively higher values of hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity. The study area was classified into good, moderate, and poor groundwater potential aquifer zones. This integrated approach can be adopted in other areas with similar geology, where pumping test information is scarce or limited, as an alternative means of predicting aquifer properties and delineating groundwater potential zones for sustainable development and management of groundwater resources.
Photocatalytic and antioxidant potential of silver nanoparticles biosynthesized using Artemisia stelleriana leaf extracts
Authors: Puthukulangara Jaison Juhi , Kadanthottu Sebastian Joseph
Published: October 2023

The antioxidant and photocatalytic activity of Artemisia stelleriana-based silver nanoparticles (AS-AgNPs) was investigated in this study. Microscopic, X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic studies were used to characterize the synthesized AS-AgNPs. UV–visible spectrophotometric examination revealed a peak at 425 nm. The phytocompounds involved in the transformation of silver ions into AS-AgNPs were confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The crystalline nature of the AS-AgNPs was verified using the X-ray powder diffraction technique. Spherical-shaped AS-AgNPs with a size of 22.7 nm were proved using field emission scanning electron microscopy. The AS-AgNPs were top-notch photocatalysts for the degradation of Reactive Blue-222A (RB-222A) and Reactive Blue-220 (RB-220) dyes. After 80 min of UV light exposure, AS-AgNPs degraded RB-222A and RB-220 dyes by 94.6 and 90.8%, respectively. The phytotoxicity investigation in Vigna radiata and Artemia salina indicated that the hazardous dye can be degraded into innocuous chemicals by AS-AgNPs. The results suggest that AS-AgNPs are an excellent antioxidant and photocatalyst for the degradation of synthetic dyes.
Association Between Body Image and Mental Health in Adolescents: A Social Issue
Authors: Legey Sandro , Sá Filho Alberto Souza , Inacio Pedro Augusto , Mendes Talita Rodrigues , Lima João Lucas , Papini Daianne , Nardi Antônio Egídio , Leonardo Patricia Sardinha , Lopes-Martins Rodrigo Alvaro Brandão , Machado Sérgio
Published: October 2023

The construct of esthetic beauty is culturally and socially determined and widely disseminated by the media. The body image dissatisfaction (BID) is considered a public health problem, it is an important risk factor for disorders related to mental health, which is highly prevalent in adolescents and has an impact on social behavior. We aimed to evaluate the possible association between BID and the mental health aspects of depression and risk of eating disorders and identify the prevalence in adolescent boys and girls. The sample consisted of 308 adolescent students: 167 girls (54.2%) and 141 boys (45.8%). BID was identified by the silhouette scale. The Childhood Depression Scale (CDS) and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) were used to assess MH. The chi-squared contingency test showed an association between body image and mental health variables in both sexes. Results: 70.1% of the girls and 76.6% of the boys exhibited BID. The girls demonstrated a significant association between body image and depressive symptoms (X(1) = 8.523; p = 0.004) and the risk of ED (X(1) = 14.281; p = 0.000). However, the boys exhibited no interactions between body image and mental health-related factors. Although BID was high in adolescents of both sexes, it may be a marker for depression and eating disorders in girls.