bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One Raman DTS Interrogator Channel Supports a Dual Separate Path to Realize Spatial Duplexing
Authors: Yao Cheng-Kai , Peng Chun-Hsiang , Chen Hung-Ming , Hsu Wen-Yang , Lin Tzu-Chiao , Manie Yibeltal Chanie , Peng Peng-Chun
Published: August 2024

Deploying distributed fiber-optic sensor (DFOS) technology to gather environmental parameters over expansive areas is an essential monitoring strategy in the context of comprehensive searches for anomalous places. This study utilizes a single temperature measurement channel within a commercial Raman-based distributed temperature sensing (RDTS) interrogator and divides it into two separate, uncorrelated paths to enable spatial duplex temperature measurements. The distinction between temperature events corresponding to each path in the dual separate path (DSP) in RDTS can be achieved when temperature events are concurrently occurring in the DSP. Additionally, the RDTS–DSP solution may integrate free space optics (FSO) into its fiber path, which serves to enhance the user-friendliness, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of DFOS technology. An RDTS measurement channel can effectively function as a DSP, thus doubling the RDTS measurement pathway, and can be combined with FSO to significantly improve RDTS performance.
A Study on the Development of the Stainless Steel Tube Bundle Structure Detecting System Using Ultrasonic Guided Wave
Authors: Kim Jeongnam , Zhang Jiannan , Malikov Azamatjon Kakhramon ugli , Cho Younho
Published: August 2024

In this study, an ultrasonic guided wave system that can be used to detect broken tubes in stainless steel tube bundle structures (e.g., heat exchangers) with fairly narrow spacing between the tubes was designed. The interval between the tubes was 1.5 mm, and the thickness of the strip with a transducer that can be inspected by passing between the tubes was designed to be 1 mm. The damaged specimen was filled with water, and it was confirmed that the signal amplitude was smaller than that of the normal specimen filled with air. The ultrasonic properties of stainless steel were analyzed using the developed system, and it is expected that this will contribute to breakage inspection for tube bundles with narrow spacing.
A Bayesian Tensor Decomposition Method for Joint Estimation of Channel and Interference Parameters
Authors: Sun Yuzhe , Wang Wei , Wang Yufan , He Yuanfeng
Published: August 2024

Bayesian tensor decomposition has been widely applied in channel parameter estimations, particularly in cases with the presence of interference. However, the types of interference are not considered in Bayesian tensor decomposition, making it difficult to accurately estimate the interference parameters. In this paper, we present a robust tensor variational method using a CANDECOMP/PARAFAC (CP)-based additive interference model for multiple input–multiple output (MIMO) with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. A more realistic interference model compared to traditional colored noise is considered in terms of co-channel interference (CCI) and front-end interference (FEI). In contrast to conventional algorithms that filter out interference, the proposed method jointly estimates the channel and interference parameters in the time–frequency domain. Simulation results validate the correctness of the proposed method by the evidence lower bound (ELBO) and reveal the fact that the proposed method outperforms traditional information-theoretic methods, tensor decomposition models, and robust model based on CP (RCP) in terms of estimation accuracy. Further, the interference parameter estimation technique has profound implications for anti-interference applications and dynamic spectrum allocation.
Prototype Implementation of a Digitizer for Earthquake Monitoring System
Authors: Helal Emad B. , Saad Omar M. , Soliman M. Sami , Dousoky Gamal M. , Abdelazim Ahmed , Samy Lotfy , Kanaya Haruichi , Hafez Ali G.
Published: August 2024

A digitizer is considered one of the fundamental components of an earthquake monitoring system. In this paper, we design and implement a high accuracy seismic digitizer. The implemented digitizer consists of several blocks, i.e., the analog-to-digital converter (ADC), GPS receiver, and microprocessor. Three finite impulse response (FIR) filters are used to decimate the sampling rate of the input seismic data according to user needs. A graphical user interface (GUI) has been designed for enabling the user to monitor the seismic waveform in real time, and process and adjust the parameters of the acquisition unit. The system casing is designed to resist harsh conditions of the environment. The prototype can represent the three component sensors data in the standard MiniSEED format. The digitizer stream seismic data from the remote station to the main center is based on TCP/IP connection. This protocol ensures data transmission without any losses as long as the data still exist in the ring buffer. The prototype was calibrated by real field testing. The prototype digitizer is integrated with the Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN), where a commercial instrument is already installed. Case studies shows that, for the same event, the prototype station improves the solution of the ENSN by giving accurate timing and seismic event parameters. Field test results shows that the event arrival time and the amplitude are approximately the same between the prototype digitizer and the calibrated digitizer. Furthermore, the frequency contents are similar between the two digitizers. Therefore, the prototype digitizer captures the main seismic parameters accurately, irrespective of noise existence.
A Symmetrical Quasi-Synchronous Step-Transition Folded Waveguide Slow Wave Structure for 650 GHz Traveling Wave Tubes
Authors: Xu Duo , He Tenglong , Zheng Yuan , Lu Zhigang , Gong Huarong , Wang Zhanliang , Duan Zhaoyun , Wang Shaomeng
Published: August 2024

For the purpose of improving performance and reducing the fabrication difficulty of terahertz traveling wave tubes (TWTs), this paper proposes a novel single-section high-gain slow wave structure (SWS), which is named the symmetrical quasi-synchronous step-transition (SQSST) folded waveguide (FW). The SQSST-FW SWS has an artificially designed quasi-synchronous region (QSR) to suppress self-oscillations for sustaining a high gain in an untruncated circuit. Simultaneously, a symmetrical design can improve the efficiency performance to some extent. A prototype of the SQSST-FW SWS for 650 GHz TWTs is designed based on small-signal analysis and numerical simulation. The simulation results indicate that the maximum saturation gain of the designed 650 GHz SQSST-FW TWT is 39.1 dB in a 34.3 mm slow wave circuit, occurring at the 645 GHz point when a 25.4 kV 15 mA electron beam and a 0.43 mW sinusoidal input signal are applied. In addition, a maximum output power exceeding 4 W is observed at the 648 GHz point using the same beam with an increased input power of around 2.8 mW.
Human Fall Detection with Ultra-Wideband Radar and Adaptive Weighted Fusion
Authors: Huang Ling , Zhu Anfu , Qian Mengjie , An Huifeng
Published: August 2024

To address the challenges in recognizing various types of falls, which often exhibit high similarity and are difficult to distinguish, this paper proposes a human fall classification system based on the SE-Residual Concatenate Network (SE-RCNet) with adaptive weighted fusion. First, we designed the innovative SE-RCNet network, incorporating SE modules after dense and residual connections to automatically recalibrate feature channel weights and suppress irrelevant features. Subsequently, this network was used to train and classify three types of radar images: time–distance images, time–distance images, and distance–distance images. By adaptively fusing the classification results of these three types of radar images, we achieved higher action recognition accuracy. Experimental results indicate that SE-RCNet achieved F1-scores of 94.0%, 94.3%, and 95.4% for the three radar image types on our self-built dataset. After applying the adaptive weighted fusion method, the F1-score further improved to 98.1%.
Secure PUF-Based Authentication Systems
Authors: Tun Naing Win , Mambo Masahiro
Published: August 2024

The Internet of Things faces significant security challenges, particularly in device authentication. Traditional methods of PUF-based authentication protocols do not fully address IoT’s unique security needs and resource constraints. Existing solutions like Identity-Based Encryption with Physically Unclonable Functions enhance security but still struggle with protecting data during transmission. We show a new protocol that leverages PUFs for device authentication by utilizing Paillier homomorphic encryption or the plaintext equality test to enhance security. Our approach involves encrypting both the challenge–response pairs (CRPs) using Paillier homomorphic encryption scheme or ElGamal encryption for plaintext equality testing scheme. The verifier does not need access to the plaintext CRPs to ensure that sensitive data remain encrypted at all times and our approach reduces the computational load on IoT devices. The encryption ensures that neither the challenge nor the response can be deciphered by potential adversaries who obtain them during the transmission. The homomorphic property of the Paillier scheme or plaintext equality testing scheme allows a verifier to verify device authenticity without decrypting the CRPs, preserving privacy and reducing the computational load on IoT devices. Such an approach to encrypting both elements of the CRP provides resistance against CRP disclosure, machine learning attacks, and impersonation attacks. We validate the scheme through security analysis against various attacks and evaluate its performance by analyzing the computational overhead and the communication overhead. Comparison of average computational and communication time demonstrates Paillier scheme achieves approximately 99% reduction while the plaintext equality test achieves approximately 94% reduction between them.
Heart Diseases Recognition Model Based on HRV Feature Extraction over 12-Lead ECG Signals
Authors: Wang Ling , Bi Tianshuo , Hao Jiayu , Zhou Tie Hua
Published: August 2024

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) refers to the capability of the heart rhythm to vary at different times, typically reflecting the regulation of the heart by the autonomic nervous system. In recent years, with advancements in Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal processing technology, HRV features reflect various aspects of cardiac activity, such as variability in heart rate, cardiac health status, and responses. We extracted key features of HRV and used them to develop and evaluate an automatic recognition model for cardiac diseases. Consequently, we proposed the HRV Heart Disease Recognition (HHDR) method, employing the Spectral Magnitude Quantification (SMQ) technique for feature extraction. Firstly, the HRV signals are extracted through electrocardiogram signal processing. Then, by analyzing parts of the HRV signal within various frequency ranges, the SMQ method extracts rich features of partial information. Finally, the Random Forest (RF) classification computational method is employed to classify the extracted information, achieving efficient and accurate cardiac disease recognition. Experimental results indicate that this method surpasses current technologies in recognizing cardiac diseases, with an average accuracy rate of 95.1% for normal/diseased classification, and an average accuracy of 84.8% in classifying five different disease categories. Thus, the proposed HHDR method effectively utilizes the local information of HRV signals for efficient and accurate cardiac disease recognition, providing strong support for cardiac disease research in the medical field.
Distributed Estimation of Fields Using a Sensor Network with Quantized Measurements
Authors: Jayasekaramudeli Chethaka , Leong Alex S. , Skvortsov Alexei T. , Nielsen David J. , Ilaya Omar
Published: August 2024

In this paper, the problem of estimating a scalar field (e.g., the spatial distribution of contaminants in an area) using a sensor network is considered. The sensors are assumed to have quantized measurements. We consider distributed estimation algorithms where each sensor forms its own estimate of the field, with sensors able to share information locally with its neighbours. Two schemes are proposed, called, respectively, measurement diffusion and estimate diffusion. In the measurement diffusion scheme, each sensor broadcasts to its neighbours the latest received measurements of every sensor in the network, while in the estimate diffusion scheme, each sensor will broadcast local estimates and Hessians to its neighbours. Information received from its neighbours will then be iteratively combined at each sensor to form the field estimates. Time-varying scalar fields can also be estimated using both the measurement diffusion and estimate diffusion schemes. Numerical studies illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithms, in particular demonstrating steady state performance close to that of centralized estimation.
Quality Assessment and Application Scenario Analysis of AGRI Land Aerosol Product from the Geostationary Satellite Fengyun-4B in China
Authors: Wang Nan , Li Bingqian , Jin Zhili , Wang Wei
Published: August 2024

The Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) sensor on board the geostationary satellite Fengyun-4B (FY-4B) is capable of capturing particles in different phases in the atmospheric environment and acquiring aerosol observation data with high spatial and temporal resolution. To understand the quality of the Land Aerosol (LDA) product of AGRI and its application prospects, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the AGRI LDA AOD. Using the 550 nm AGRI LDA AOD (550 nm) of nearly 1 year (1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023) to compare with the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), MODIS MAIAC, and Himawari-9/AHI AODs. Results show the erratic algorithmic performance of AGRI LDA AOD, the correlation coefficient (R), mean error (Bias), root mean square error (RMSE), and the percentage of data with errors falling within the expected error envelope of ±(0.05+0.15×AODAERONET) (within EE15) of the LDA AOD dataset are 0.55, 0.328, 0.533, and 34%, respectively. The LDA AOD appears to be overestimated easily in the southern and western regions of China and performs poorly in the offshore areas, with an R of 0.43, a Bias of 0.334, a larger RMSE of 0.597, and a global climate observing system fraction (GCOSF) percentage of 15% compared to the inland areas (R = 0.60, Bias = 0.163, RMSE = 0.509, GCOSF = 17%). Future improvements should focus on surface reflectance calculation, water vapor attenuation, and more suitable aerosol model selection to improve the algorithm’s accuracy.
A Theoretical Study on Static Gas Pressure Measurement via Circular Non-Touch Mode Capacitive Pressure Sensor
Authors: Wu Ji , He Xiao-Ting , Sun Jun-Yi
Published: August 2024

A circular non-touch mode capacitive pressure sensor can operate in both transverse and normal uniform loading modes, but the elastic behavior of its movable electrode plate is different under the two different loading modes, making its input–output analytical relationships between pressure and capacitance different. This suggests that when such a sensor operates, respectively, in transverse and normal uniform loading modes, the theory of its numerical design and calibration is different, in other words, the theory for the transverse uniform loading mode (available in the literature) cannot be used as the theory for the normal uniform loading mode (not yet available in the literature). In this paper, a circular non-touch mode capacitive pressure sensor operating in normal uniform loading mode is considered. The elastic behavior of the movable electrode plate of the sensor under normal uniform loading is analytically solved with the improved governing equations, and the improved analytical solution obtained can be used to mathematically describe the movable electrode plate with larger elastic deflections, in comparison with the existing two analytical solutions in the literature. This provides a larger technical space for developing the circular non-touch mode capacitive pressure sensors used for measuring the static gas pressure (belonging to normal uniform loading).
Camera-Radar Fusion with Radar Channel Extension and Dual-CBAM-FPN for Object Detection
Authors: Sun Xiyan , Jiang Yaoyu , Qin Hongmei , Li Jingjing , Ji Yuanfa
Published: August 2024

When it comes to road environment perception, millimeter-wave radar with a camera facilitates more reliable detection than a single sensor. However, the limited utilization of radar features and insufficient extraction of important features remain pertinent issues, especially with regard to the detection of small and occluded objects. To address these concerns, we propose a camera-radar fusion with radar channel extension and a dual-CBAM-FPN (CRFRD), which incorporates a radar channel extension (RCE) module and a dual-CBAM-FPN (DCF) module into the camera-radar fusion net (CRF-Net). In the RCE module, we design an azimuth-weighted RCS parameter and extend three radar channels, which leverage the secondary redundant information to achieve richer feature representation. In the DCF module, we present the dual-CBAM-FPN, which enables the model to focus on important features by inserting CBAM at the input and the fusion process of FPN simultaneously. Comparative experiments conducted on the NuScenes dataset and real data demonstrate the superior performance of the CRFRD compared to CRF-Net, as its weighted mean average precision (wmAP) increases from 43.89% to 45.03%. Furthermore, ablation studies verify the indispensability of the RCE and DCF modules and the effectiveness of azimuth-weighted RCS.
Visibility for Indigenous Students and Their Languages: Analysis of Home Language Data in Federal Reports across Seven U.S. States
Authors: Zyskind Karen , Dorman Meagan , Medina Yessenia , Pérez Báez Gabriela
Published: August 2024

There is an increasing number of children in the U.S. classified as English Learners (ELs). Accurately identifying and supporting ELs in their academic settings entails understanding their non-English language experiences. This study presents findings from language reporting practices from seven U.S. states by examining how states account for the linguistic diversity of Indigenous Mesoamerican languages. Our findings reveal varied state approaches and underscore the limitations of current federal guidance, which limits the recognition of students’ non-English language experiences. We advocate for updating language identification practices and policies and propose a new framework for accurate language identification and continuous monitoring of student linguistic diversity.
Classifying Cockroaches According to Forewings: Pitfalls and Implications for Fossil Systematics
Authors: Li Xin-Ran
Published: August 2024

A reliable character system is crucial to taxonomy and systematics, and it promises valid downstream inferences, e.g., estimates of diversity and disparity, reconstruction of evolutionary history, and even stratigraphic correlations. Modern taxonomy and systematics of extant cockroaches requires an integrative study involving multiple lines of evidence with emphasis on genital and reproductive characteristics and molecular data. In contrast, many fossil cockroach taxa published recently are based solely on forewings. Many studies have shown that forewing-based taxa are questionable. In order to find out how much of the phylogenetic signal we could ascertain from venational similarity, and how confident we could be, this study used forewing characters to reconstruct phylogenies of the genera of well-recognized family-group taxa. The intuitively reconstructed phylogeny of 75 extant genera failed to recover those taxa or their relationships. Parsimony analyses of various datasets all yielded strong polyphyly and chaotic relationships. In conclusion, the forewing of cockroaches is not a universally competent character system. The underlying causes are the complicated nature of veins and the limitations of current analytical techniques. The uncertainty in forewing-based taxonomy and systematics has been underestimated in the literature. Forewing-based fossil taxa warrant re-evaluation; some of them are herein deemed nomina dubia in their current state.
Sociodemographic Determinants of Adherence and Treatment Efficacy in Paediatric Thalassemia Patients from Sarbaz-Rask, Iran
Authors: Babamohammadi Atousa , Wang QiYuee , Mohajeri Elham , Esmaeilian Saeid
Published: August 2024

Background: The effective management of iron overload in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) requires adherence to iron chelation therapy (ICT). However, adherence rates among pediatric thalassemia patients remain suboptimal. This study aimed to evaluate adherence levels and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors impacting ICT adherence in pediatric TDT patients from Sarbaz-Rask, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 58 pediatric TDT patients aged 2–18 years at a thalassemia clinic from April 2021 to March 2022. Adherence was evaluated using the medication possession ratio. Logistic regression and correlation analyses identified predictors of adherence and treatment efficacy based on serum ferritin levels. Results: Adherence was satisfactory in 58.6% of patients and associated with younger maternal age (93.8% for 18–30 years, p = 0.008) and urban residency (p = 0.02). Logistic regression identified urban residency (OR = 20.265, p = 0.073) and a maternal age of 18–30 years (OR = 39.236, p = 0.005) as key predictors of adherence. Adherence was not significantly influenced by having a sibling with thalassemia or the maternal educational level. Treatment efficacy was observed in 27.6% of patients. Maternal age impacted adherence in poorly controlled patients (p = 0.007). Urban residents showed higher adherence rates, particularly with poor control (p = 0.017). Conclusions: Younger maternal age and urban residency emerged as positive predictors of adherence and treatment efficacy in pediatric thalassemia patients from Sarbaz-Rask. Targeted interventions supporting rural families and those with older maternal caregivers may improve adherence and outcomes in this population.
The Evolving Theme of Health-Promoting Urban Form: Applying the Macrolot Concept for Easy Access to Open Public Green Spaces
Authors: Trojanowska Monika
Published: August 2024

Making cities health-promoting places is an evolving theme. Numerous studies confirm the health-promoting qualities of contact with nature and problems resulting from the deprivation of access to public green spaces. Easy access to safe and inclusive public green spaces is still one of the long-lasting problems of urbanized areas around the globe. It is one of the sustainable development goals, SDGs, proposed by the UN: 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Point 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. The major question is how to implement this goal in practice and design cities to provide easy access to safe and inclusive public green spaces. One of the important concepts for sustainable urban development is the urban block, Macrolot, coined by Christian de Portzamparc, which led to the new urban morphology of eco-neighborhoods in France. It combines the traditional, walkable urban grid with the Le Corbusier vision for a healthy modernist city offering daylight, fresh air, and greenery for everyone. Among the advantages of this particular urban morphology are the increased presence of green spaces and possibilities for placemaking. Studying the effects of the urban form of the Macrolot is of great significance for sustainable urban development. In this study, five neighborhoods—three eco-neighborhoods from France designed according to the open urban block, Macrolot urban morphology, ZAC Massena, ZAC Trapeze, and ZAC Clichy-Batignolles, and two award-winning developments from Poland, Riverview and Ostoja Wilanów—were chosen as case studies. The application of the Macrolot concept to sustainable urban planning and design and the possibilities for operationalization of the SDG—11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable—are discussed. This study offers valuable evidence to inform urban planning and design.
Understanding Students’ Vaccination Literacy and Perception in a Middle-Income Country: Case Study from Kazakhstan
Authors: Nukeshtayeva Karina , Yerdessov Nurbek , Zhamantayev Olzhas , Takuadina Aliya , Kayupova Gaukhar , Dauletkaliyeva Zhaniya , Bolatova Zhanerke , Davlyatov Ganisher , Karabukayeva Aizhan
Published: August 2024

Vaccination is a critical public health measure for preventing infectious diseases, but its acceptance varies globally, influenced by factors like vaccine hesitancy. This study examines attitudes and vaccination literacy among Kazakh students, providing insights into global immunization strategies. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 3142 students from various Kazakh universities. The HLS19-VAC instrument assessed vaccination literacy, while additional questions evaluated beliefs and attitudes toward vaccines. Data were analyzed to determine associations between vaccine-related beliefs and literacy. The mean vaccination literacy score was 84.74. Most students agreed on the importance (83.4%), safety (79.1%), effectiveness (80.9%), and religious compatibility (77.8%) of vaccines. Positive beliefs significantly correlated with higher literacy scores. Past vaccination behavior, age, gender, and location showed varied associations, with past vaccination status and higher age showing a positive correlation. Positive beliefs about vaccinations were strongly associated with higher vaccination literacy among Kazakh students. Educational interventions that reinforce positive beliefs may improve vaccination literacy and increase vaccination rates. This study underscores the importance of understanding vaccination attitudes to enhance public health strategies in middle-income countries.
Attitudes towards the Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine among Children’s Guardians: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study in Poland
Authors: Ates Furkan , Dyszkiewicz Marta , Witkiewicz Julia , Toczylowski Kacper , Lewandowski Dawid , Sulik Artur
Published: August 2024

This cross-sectional survey study aimed to assess the attitudes and knowledge of children’s guardians in Poland towards tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and its vaccine, as well as to compare these attitudes to those regarding other infectious diseases and their vaccines. Data were collected through anonymous questionnaires, both paper-based and online, from 3030 respondents across Poland, with the majority being from TBE-endemic areas. The survey included questions on demographic characteristics, general vaccination beliefs, and specific perceptions of TBE and its vaccine. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between willingness to vaccinate against TBE and factors such as general vaccination attitudes, information sources, vaccine safety ratings, and perceptions of disease severity. Results indicated that guardians from larger cities and those with fewer children were more likely to vaccinate. Additionally, parents who supported general vaccinations were significantly more willing to vaccinate against TBE. The study concludes that enhancing public awareness about the safety and importance of the TBE vaccine, especially in endemic regions, is crucial for improving vaccination rates. Targeted public health interventions addressing misconceptions and providing accurate information are essential strategies to increase TBE vaccine uptake and protect children from this serious disease.
Correction: Suleman et al. Immunoinformatics and Immunogenetics-Based Design of Immunogenic Peptides Vaccine against the Emerging Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV) and Its Validation through In Silico Cloning and Immune Simulation. Vaccines 2021, 9, 1210
Authors: Suleman Muhammad , Tahir ul Qamar Muhammad , Kiran  , Rasool Samreen , Rasool Aneela , Albutti Aqel , Alsowayeh Noorah , Alwashmi Ameen S. S. , Aljasir Mohammad Abdullah , Ahmad Sajjad , Hussain Zahid , Rizwan Muhammad , Ali Syed Shujait , Khan Abbas , Wei Dong-Qing
Published: August 2024

The authors would like to make the following correction to this published paper [...]
Intranasal Administration of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus Expressing SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Protects hACE2 TG Mice against Lethal SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Kim Deok-Hwan , Lee Jiho , Lee Da-Ye , Lee Seung-Hun , Jeong Jei-Hyun , Kim Ji-Yun , Kim Jiwon , Choi Yang-Kyu , Lee Joong-Bok , Park Seung-Young , Choi In-Soo , Lee Sang-Won , Youk Sungsu , Song Chang-Seon
Published: August 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged as a global outbreak in 2019, profoundly affecting both human health and the global economy. Various vaccine modalities were developed and commercialized to overcome this challenge, including inactivated vaccines, mRNA vaccines, adenovirus vector-based vaccines, and subunit vaccines. While intramuscular vaccines induce high IgG levels, they often fail to stimulate significant mucosal immunity in the respiratory system. We employed the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vector expressing the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant (rK148/beta-S), and evaluated the efficacy of intranasal vaccination with rK148/beta-S in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice. Intranasal vaccination with a low dose (106.0 EID50) resulted in an 86% survival rate after challenge with the SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant. Administration at a high dose (107.0 EID50) led to a reduction in lung viral load and 100% survival against the SARS-CoV-2 Beta and Delta variants. A high level of the SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific IgA was also induced in vaccinated mice lungs following the SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Our findings suggest that rK148/beta-S holds promise as an intranasal vaccine candidate that effectively induces mucosal immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
A Method for Land Vehicle Gravity Anomaly Measurement Combining an Inertial Navigation System, Odometer, and Geo-Information System
Authors: Zhang Kefan , Zhao Junyang , Zhang Zhili
Published: August 2024

Land vehicle gravity anomaly measurement relies heavily on global navigation satellite system (GNSS). However, when gravity measurement is carried out in special environments such as forests, valleys and tunnels, GNSS observation quality will inevitably decline, which directly affects the accuracy of gravity anomaly measurement. From the point of view of the gravity anomaly measurement principle, obtaining accurate elevation information of the test line is the premise to ensure the accuracy of gravity anomaly measurement. Thus, this paper proposes a strapdown land vehicle dynamic gravity anomaly measurement method combining an odometer and a geo-information system. In this method, strapdown inertial navigation errors are suppressed by observing the velocity of the odometer output. Then, the position information obtained by the combined navigation is entered into the geo-information system to obtain the elevation. The results of a single test line show that the external coincidence accuracy of the proposed method is 1.65 mGal, and the accuracy is comparable to the traditional GNSS assisted land vehicle gravimetry method. In addition, compared with the odometer assisted land vehicle gravimetry method, the external coincidence accuracy is increased by 30%.
Improved Taillight Detection Model for Intelligent Vehicle Lane-Change Decision-Making Based on YOLOv8
Authors: Li Ming , Zhang Jian , Li Weixia , Yin Tianrui , Chen Wei , Du Luyao , Yan Xingzhuo , Liu Huiheng
Published: August 2024

With the rapid advancement of autonomous driving technology, the recognition of vehicle lane-changing can provide effective environmental parameters for vehicle motion planning, decision-making and control, and has become a key task for intelligent vehicles. In this paper, an improved method for vehicle taillight detection and intent recognition based on YOLOv8 (You Only Look Once version 8) is proposed. Firstly, the CARAFE (Context-Aware Reassembly Operator) module is introduced to address fine perception issues of small targets, enhancing taillight detection accuracy. Secondly, the TriAtt (Triplet Attention Mechanism) module is employed to improve the model’s focus on key features, particularly in the identification of positive samples, thereby increasing model robustness. Finally, by optimizing the EfficientP2Head (a small object auxiliary head based on depth-wise separable convolutions) module, the detection capability for small targets is further strengthened while maintaining the model’s practicality and lightweight characteristics. Upon evaluation, the enhanced algorithm demonstrates impressive results, achieving a precision rate of 93.27%, a recall rate of 79.86%, and a mean average precision (mAP) of 85.48%, which shows that the proposed method could effectively achieve taillight detection.
X. Yüzyıl Arap Seyahatnamelerinde Türk Mitolojisinin İzleri
Authors: Tunç Emrah
Published: August 2024

Tarihsel süreç içerisinde X. yüzyılı kapsayan periyot; hem Arap yazın geleneğinde farklı türde eserlerin verildiği hem de Türk kültür tarihinde İslam’ın yeni yeni tanınmaya başlandığı bir dönem olması dolayısıyla özel bir öneme sahiptir. Bu yüzyılda Arapça olarak kaleme alınan seyahatnamelerden bazıları, Türk folkloru ve özellikle de Türk mitolojisine dair ayrıntılı veriler barındırmaktadır. Bu itibarla makalede, X. yüzyıl Türk ülkeleri hakkında çeşitli gözlemlerin sunulduğu İbn Fadlan Seyehatnamesi, Mesûdî’nin Murûc ez-Zeheb’i ve Ebu Dülef’in İran Seyahatnamesi ele alınmış ve adı geçen eserlerde Türk mitolojisinin izleri aranmıştır. Elde edilen veriler; mitoloji çalışmalarında sıklıkla kullanılan bir tasniften yararlanarak 8 ana başlık altında toplanmış ve literatürdeki diğer çalışmalarla ilişkilendirilip bütüncül bir yaklaşımla yorumlanmaya çalışılmıştır. İnceleme sonucunda Türk kültürüne ait teogonik, antropogonik, kozmogonik ve eskatolojik tasarımlara ek olarak epik kahramanların, belli başlı kültlerin, fetişlerin ve ritüellerin Arap seyyahlarca ayrıntılı bir biçimde kaydedildiği tespit edilmiştir. Söz konusu seyyahların notları; İslam öncesi Türk kültüründe bulunan ve kaynağını doğadan alan kadim kültlerin, X. asırda birçok mitolojik tasarımın merkezinde yer aldıklarına işaret ederken kimi ritüel ve fetişlerin de -biçimsel olarak farklı bir doğaya sahip olmalarına rağmen- benzer örüntüleri canlı bir şekilde yansıttıklarını göstermektedir. Diğer taraftan Arap seyyahlara ait söz konusu kayıtların, İslam öncesi mitolojik tasarımların günümüz Türk folklorundaki kimi inanç ve tabulara kaynak teşkil etikleri savını doğruladığı anlaşılmaktadır. Bu açıdan söz konusu kayıtların tarih boyunca ortaya çıkan din, coğrafya ya da siyasî organizasyon değişikliklerine karşın Türk kültür tarihindeki sürekliliğe açık bir biçimde işaret ettiklerini söylemek mümkün gözükmektedir.
Colangite esclerosante secundária a colecistectomia: relato de caso
Authors: Farah Luiz Fernando Virmond , Bastos Talita do Vale , Raimundi Lilliam Zampier , Santos Maria Caroline , Bortolozzo Ketully Nayara , Didoné Filho Celso Nilo
Published: August 2024

A Colangite Esclerosante é uma doença caracterizada por um processo progressivo de esclerose e inflamação que obstrui os ductos biliares intra e/ou extra-hepáticos, o qual pode progredir a complicações graves como obstrução biliar completa, cirrose biliar secundária, insuficiência hepática ou hipertensão portal com varizes hemorrágicas. O seu diagnóstico é baseado na identificação de estenoses multifocais difusas nos ductos biliares, com áreas de permeabilidade normal ou dilatadas. Pacientes que apresentam CEP frequentemente apresentam dor abdominal no quadrante superior direito, prurido, icterícia ou colangite aguda (Loscalzo et al, 2017).
HIV e Tuberculose na população idosa brasileira: análise da correlação e incidência na última década
Authors: Souza Laura Oliveira Silva e , Moutinho Júnior João Antonio , Serenato Luiza Sarti , Hueb Lara Rocha , Oliveira Arthur Gomes Afonso , Barreto Ingrid Araujo Ribeiro , Leal Catarina Alves de Castro , Santos Júlia Silva Batista Barbosa dos , Variani Camila , Inushi Mayra Emi Guinoza , Costa Karen Eduarda de Souza Barbosa , Nicolau Vitória Guedes Rodrigues Nunes , Fernandes Mariana Araújo , Brito Inês Beatriz Caldas Sendas do Nascimento , Sátiro Vitória Leitão Marins , Sousa Diego Jacinto de Oliveira , Oliveira Fabiane Nunes de , Lima Francisca Layane Albuquerque Conceição , Pivatto Alanna Rosa Mota Carvalho , Freitas Ana Clara Lacerda , Tavares Ivna Gardênia Vieira , Pivatto Felipe Ian Mota , Santos José Victor Dantas dos , Lima Ricardo Ferreira
Published: August 2024

O envelhecimento traz mudanças fisiológicas que aumentam a vulnerabilidade dos idosos a doenças transmissíveis como tuberculose e HIV, muitas vezes devido à falta de informação sobre fatores que afetam o sistema imunológico e ao tabu em torno da sexualidade na terceira idade. Este estudo investigou a incidência de coinfecção por tuberculose e HIV em idosos, considerando variáveis temporais, de gênero e regionais. Utilizando dados do Sistema de Informação de Internações e Mortalidade do Ministério da Saúde (SIM/MS) de outubro de 2023, foram analisados casos confirmados de tuberculose e HIV em pessoas com mais de 60 anos entre 2013 e 2022. Durante esse período, foram registrados 4.567 casos de coinfecção em idosos no Brasil, com redução observada em 2015 e 2020, e pico em 2022, sendo 2013 o ano com menor incidência. A maioria dos casos ocorreu em homens (3.240) comparado a mulheres (1.327), com 2022 destacando-se como o ano com maior número de casos para ambos os sexos. Regionalmente, o Sudeste liderou com 1.789 casos, seguido pelo Nordeste (1.136), Sul (935), Norte (456) e Centro-Oeste (251). O estudo enfatiza a necessidade de abordagens específicas para enfrentar a coinfecção por tuberculose e HIV entre idosos no Brasil, priorizando áreas e gêneros mais afetados. Políticas de saúde pública devem considerar variações temporais, diferenças de gênero e disparidades regionais, enquanto a vigilância contínua é essencial para compreender as causas subjacentes das tendências e desenvolver estratégias eficazes para enfrentar este desafio de saúde pública.
Fabrication of 3D Biomimetic Smooth Muscle Using Magnetic Induction and Bioprinting for Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Luo Yang , Hu Zeming , Ni Renhao , Xu Rong , Zhao Jianmin , Feng Peipei , Zhu Tong , Chen Yaoqi , Yao Jie , Yao Yudong , Yang Lu , Zhang Hua , Zhu Yabin
Published: August 2024

Smooth muscles play a vital role in peristalsis, tissue constriction, and relaxation but lack adequate self-repair capability for addressing extensive muscle defects. Engineering scaffolds have been broadly proposed to repair the muscle tissue. However, efforts to date have shown that those engineered scaffolds focus on cell alignment in 2-dimension (2D) and fail to direct muscle cells to align in 3D area, which is irresolvable to remodel the muscle architecture and restore the muscle functions like contraction and relaxation. Herein, we introduced an iron oxide (Fe
3
O
4
) filament-embedded gelatin (Gel)-silk fibroin composite hydrogel in which the oriented Fe
3
O
4
self-assembled and functioned as micro/nanoscale geometric cues to induce cell alignment growth. The hydrogel scaffold can be designed to fabricate aligned or anisotropic muscle by combining embedded 3D bioprinting with magnetic induction to accommodate special architectures of muscular tissues in the body. Particularly, the bioprinted muscle-like matrices effectively promote the self-organization of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and the directional differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into SMCs. This biomimetic muscle accelerated tissue regeneration, enhancing intercellular connectivity within the muscular tissue, and the deposition of fibronectin and collagen I. This work provides a novel approach for constructing engineered biomimetic muscles, holding significant promise for clinical treatment of muscle-related diseases in the future.
Through the Fog of Inflation: Examining the Mediating Role of Consumer Uncertainty on Purchase Intentions in Pakistani Smartphone Market
Authors: Mawra Hussain  , Akhtar Sidra , Malik Fahad
Published: August 2024

In this work, the impact of heuristic availability bias on financial decisions is attempted to be As inflation casts a shadow over Pakistan's economy, the smartphone industry shines as both a source of new ideas and a place where people have to make tough choices. This study examines the impact of perceived inflation on consumer purchase intentions in the context of the smartphone industry in Pakistan. As inflation rises globally, customers face uncertainty in making purchasing decisions, especially for high-end technology products. The research incorporates the Reactance Theory to understand how consumer uncertainty mediates the relationship between perceived inflation and purchase intentions. The study employs a sample of 400 respondents using convenience sampling and utilizes scales to measure perceived inflation, consumer uncertainty, and purchase intentions. The findings indicate a significant relationship between perceived inflation and purchase intentions, with consumer uncertainty partially mediating this relationship. The study contributes valuable insights for businesses operating in economically challenged environments, emphasizing the importance of addressing consumer uncertainty through strategies like transparent pricing and brand trust-building. While the study has strengths, such as relevance to the current economic situation, it also acknowledges limitations, suggesting avenues for future research.
Simulacra of mass consciousness as a new means of conducting armed struggle
Authors: ПЕТРЯКОВ К.С.
Published: August 2024

В статье рассматривается феномен симулякров, то, как они создают образы-копии и формируют сознание масс. Автор показывает, как видоизменялись симулякры в различные исторические отрезки в решении вопросов человеческого жизнебытия, и как они используются в настоящий момент времени акторами общественного развития в решении своих геополитических и стратегических целей достижения национальных интересов. В качестве примера приведены события в период проведения Россией специальной военной операции на территории Украины.

The article discusses the phenomenon of simulacra, how they create image copies and form the consciousness of the masses. The author shows how simulacra has been modified in various historical periods in solving issues of human existence, and how they are currently being used by actors of social development in solving their geopolitical and strategic goals of achieving national interests. As an example, the events during the period of Russia's special military operation on the territory of Ukraine are given.
MONOGRAPHIC ARTICLE: HYSTERIA AND FEMALE SEXUALITY.
Authors: Micaela Ardid Pardo , Rubén Aced Magaña , Isabel Cólera Gómez , Ana María Morón Esteban , Teresa Peón Sánchez , Ana Saide Gabro Marcén
Published: August 2024

Desde sus orígenes en el año 1900 A.C. pasando por el Renacimiento y los siglos XVIII y XIX hasta su eliminación en el año 1933 por la OMS y pasando a ser llamado trastorno somatomorfo y disociativo, se creía de la existencia de la enfermedad histeria, asociada al útero y relacionada estrechamente con la sexualidad femenina. Aunque a día de hoy esta enfermedad ya no existe, los resquicios históricos de su existencia persisten en la sexualidad, el lenguaje y el pensamiento colectivo social actual; por lo que es importante que conozcamos la historia y su pasado para poder entender el presente.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION DUE TO BLADDER CATHETERISATION
Authors: Rubén Aced Magaña , Isabel Cólera Gómez , Ana María Morón Esteban , Ana Saide Gabro Marcén , Micaela Ardid Pardo , Teresa Peón Sánchez
Published: August 2024

Las infecciones del tracto urinario (ITU) asociadas al sondaje vesical son una complicación frecuente en pacientes hospitalizados, que representan un desafío significativo para la salud pública. Este artículo revisa la etiología, los factores de riesgo, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de las ITU relacionadas con el cateterismo vesical. Mediante una revisión bibliográfica, se analizaron estudios recientes para identificar las mejores prácticas y las estrategias de prevención más eficaces. Los resultados indican una alta incidencia de ITU en pacientes sondados y subrayan la importancia de la higiene y el manejo adecuado del catéter para reducir las infecciones. La conclusión destaca la necesidad de protocolos estrictos y la educación del personal de salud para mejorar los resultados clínicos.
МОРФОФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ МАТОЧНОЙ ТРУБЫ У ВИЧ-ИНФИЦИРОВАННЫХ
Authors: Литвиненко М.В. , Васильев В.В. , Сивий С.М. , Кошельник Е.Л. , Качайло И.А. , Качайло И.А. , Бондаренко А.В. , Плитень О.М.
Published: August 2024

Данная работа посвящена тканевой трансформации маточной трубы при наличии ВИЧинфекции и выполнена на секционном материале женщин репродуктивного возраста с проведением макроскопических измерений, гистологического изучения с морфометрическим анализом, иммуногистохимического исследования (Hsp70, Hsp90, Bcl-2, BAX, p53). В результате исследования установлено, что у ВИЧ-инфицированных тканевая трансформация маточной трубы характеризуется ускорением инволютивных процессов с выраженными склеротическими изменениями, активацией белков семейства шаперонов и активацией апоптотических процессов. На фоне уменьшения размеров органа, относительный объем соединительной ткани в мышечном слое увеличивается с 5,61±1,01% до 21,33±2,82%, высота эпителиального слоя уменьшается с 92,01±4,03 х10-6 м до 67,30±3,83 х10-6 м. Таким образом, можно констатировать, что у женщин с ВИЧ-инфекцией в маточной трубе формируются тканевые предпосылки для неопластической трансформации.