bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial Regulation and Corporate ESG Performance: Evidence from the Chinese Capital Market
Authors: Xu Kun , Cheng Zhewei
Published: May 2024

Financial regulation plays a crucial role in fostering corporate ESG performance, particularly in the context of China’s economy aiming for high-quality development. This paper utilizes the panel data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2020 to empirically investigate the impact and mechanism of local financial regulation on corporate ESG performance. We find that local financial regulation promotes corporate ESG performance, ‘financing constraints’ and ‘risk-taking’ are two mechanisms through which local financial regulation affects corporate ESG performance, and heterogeneity analysis shows that it has a stronger impact on the ESG performance of private enterprises and non-high-tech enterprises. Further analysis reveals that local financial regulation in the categories of ‘fee violations’ and ‘interbank violations’ has a more significant impact on corporate ESG performance. This paper helps to realize the role of credit market in building corporate ESG performance.
Comparative Analysis of Extensive Form Zero-Sum Games Solving Algorithms: Evaluating Optimal Algorithms in Poker-Like Games
Authors: Keshavarzi Behbod , Navidi Hamidreza
Published: May 2024

The solving of extensive form zero-sum games has been accomplished by the implementation of a number of algorithms, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. The selection of an ideal algorithm is one of the most important challenges, and it has been investigated in this paper by applying the categories of famous algorithms that are currently in existence. Initially, the optimal parameters of each algorithm have been chosen, and then evaluation has been carried out by using Poker-like games. The exploitability and the utility average of the algorithms have been compared via the use of two measures. In general, there are two primary stage involved in comparing algorithms. In the first stage, the algorithms are assessed in the order of Kuhn, Leduc, and Royal Poker while playing in the two-player format. The second stage involves evaluating the Kuhn Poker algorithm with three players, four players, and five players, and then analyzing the findings that result from this evaluation. As a consequence of this comparison, the four algorithms that are considered to be the most optimum are DCFR, RCFR, CFR+, and FSP accordingly.
High-Precision Continuous FBG Interrogator based on an AWG
Authors: Yao Kun , Yao Kun , Jiao Yunjing , Jiao Yunjing , Lin Qijing , Lin Qijing , Zhao Na , Zhao Na , XIAN DAN , XIAN DAN , Zhang Fuzheng , Zhang Fuzheng , Meng Qingzhi , Meng Qingzhi , Han Feng , Han Feng , Jiang Zhuangde , Jiang Zhuangde
Published: May 2024

Although arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs) are widely used in fibre Bragg grating (FBG) demodulation systems, their applications in real environments have been limited due to their narrow dynamic range and inability to continuously demodulate FBGs because of the finite bandwidth of AWG channels. Here, we developed a wide-dynamic-range, high-precision, continuous-demodulation FBG interrogator utilizing a dual-input channel on-chip silicon AWG. The introduction of two input channels in the AWG allowed two spectral peaks in each channel; therefore, staggered spectral peaks were realized. A joint-peak demodulation method based on this spectrum is proposed to improve the dynamic range and demodulation precision. With the proposed structure and method, we achieved continuous interrogation with a demodulation precision of 25.58 pm and a dynamic range of 24.5 nm in the 1537.5-1565.3 nm wavelength region. The relative demodulation accuracy within the full range reaches 0.1%. The dynamic range of adjacent channels is 5.4 nm, which is approximately 4 times greater than the dynamic range of an FBG conventional demodulation system using an AWG, and the relative demodulation accuracy is 0.47%. To our knowledge, the relative demodulation accuracy is currently the highest reported. This developed interrogator, with a core size of 420 µm × 300 µm, theoretically explained and experimentally verified the possibility of the accurate measurement of an arbitrary FBG wavelength with high demodulation accuracy in the measurement range. This work achieved continuous monitoring of external temperature by FBGs and demonstrated their significant potential in expanding the application field of FBGs.
Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Translation of the Physical Appearance Comparison Scale- Revised (PACS-R) in Adults
Authors: Khoury Marie Anne El , Malaeb Diana , Fawaz Mirna , Chammas Nancy , Soufia Michel , Fekih-Romdhane Feten , Obeid Sahar , Hallit Souheil
Published: May 2024

background
Physical comparison may be a factor in body dissatisfaction and related issues, like eating disorders and depression. The Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R) is a scale developed to assess the frequency of physical comparison. Because there is no validated scale for body comparison in Arabic, this study aims to address this gap by validating the PACS-R in the Arabic language.
methods
The PACS-R was translated to Arabic following a conventional forward-backward translation procedure, and was administered to a sample of 359 Lebanese adults along with The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES) for convergent validity. The factor structure was studied by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and composite reliability was assessed using McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha.
results
Results suggested a one-factor structure of the Arabic PACS-R, with good internal consistency (McDonald’s ω = .97 / Cronbach α = .97). Measurement invariance was established across sex groups, with no significant difference being reported between males and females in terms of PACS-R scores (15.42 ± 10.64 vs 13.16 ± 11.88; t(357) = 1.84; p = .066). Finally, adequate convergent validity was tested and found to be adequate, with PACS-R scores found to be correlated negatively with self-esteem and positively with psychological distress.
conclusion
The present findings preliminarily establish the Arabic PACS-R as an effective instrument for researchers and practitioners aiming to explore the physical comparison among Arabic-speaking populations, thus contributing to research and clinical work in the Arabic community.
Comparison of Assessment by Teacher Standard Patients and Peer Role Play of Medical Students’ History-Taking Skills
Authors: Wei Yingying , Deng Na , Zheng Hongmei , Guo Haijun , Zhang Huiling , Li Bing , Wu Daiqin , si Xiaoyun , Li Wei
Published: May 2024

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare the differences between the teaching models of teacher standardized patient (TSP) and peer role play (pRP) in training students’ history-taking skills and to further analyze the differences between scripted and non-scripted pRP. METHODS From May to June 2023, 630 undergraduate third-year medical students majoring in clinical medicine participated in the study. Students were randomly divided into either the TSP or pRP group (both scripted pRP (spRP) and non-scripted pRP (non-spRP)). All groups participated in the same half-hour theory lecture before practicing history taking. After class, we analyzed students’ course behavior and recorded their writing performance and patient history-taking scores when consulting with real patients. Students’ satisfaction with the course was analyzed through a questionnaire. Pre- and post-course self-assessment forms enabled understanding of students’ cognition and self-perceived confidence in their interview skills. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences in the scores of the TSP, spRP, and non-spRP groups in group-based consultation assessment (p < 0.05), whereas there were no statistically significant differences in the scores of medical record writing (p > 0.05). The mean scores of students' overall attitudinal evaluation of the course had no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). The mean scores of students' attitudes toward clinical skills development had no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05); the mean scores of students' attitudes towards teamwork had a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). The pre-simulation self-assessment of all three groups was higher than their post-simulation elf-assessment, and the differences were statistically significant (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION RP is more suitable for a history-taking practical course for junior students, which can mobilize the classroom atmosphere, increase students' interest and motivation, and develop students' sense of teamwork; spRP’s performance on the interrogation skills test was higher. Students' self-confidence and attention to the course had an impact on their self-assessment evaluation.
Brain Region-specific Gain Modulation of Place Cells by VIP Neurons
Authors: Vervaeke Koen , Lenkey Nora , Garvert Anna Christina , Neubrandt Mate
Published: May 2024

Gain modulation allows neurons to dynamically adjust their responsiveness to sensory inputs without changing selectivity. While this process is well-characterized in sensory areas, its role in higher-order brain regions, like those governing spatial navigation and memory, is unclear. Here, we used all-optical methods in mice performing a spatial task to demonstrate that vasoactive-intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing neurons selectively control the gain of place fields in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC) through disinhibition. Optogenetic manipulation revealed that this disinhibition selectively amplifies in-field activity, improving spatial coding accuracy. In contrast, VIP neurons in the hippocampus have minimal impact on place field gain. Notably, simulations indicate that the benefit of gain modulation for RSC place cells is exceptionally large compared to hippocampal place cells due to their much higher out-of-field activity and, therefore, lower signal-to-noise ratio. These findings reveal an area-specific specialization of VIP-mediated gain control, enhancing spatial coding and, potentially, the formation of new spatial memories.
Electropenetrography Study of Euschistus heros (F.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) Nymphs Feeding on Vegetative Soybean Structures
Authors: Lucini Tiago , Panizzi Antônio Ricardo , Marsaro Alberto , Semeão Altair Arlindo , Stubbins Frankie
Published: May 2024

The study aimed to understand the feeding behavior of Neotropical brown stink bug nymphs Euschistus heros (F.) on soybean plants through electropenetrography (EPG) technique. Three distinct phases were identified: non-feeding, pathway, and ingestion. Waveforms representing these phases were consistent across nymphal instars and plant structures, and named Np, Eh1 and Eh2, respectively. Biological interpretations of the waveforms were proposed by integrating visual observations, comparisons with adult waveforms, and histological studies. The waveforms Np, Eh1, and Eh2 were associated with resting/walking, initial stylet-plant contact, and xylem sap ingestion, respectively. Notably, nymphs showed a higher number of Eh1 events and longer durations when feeding on petioles compared to leaves, particularly in younger instars. However, differences between instars diminished in older nymphs. Fifth instars consistently exhibited the highest Eh1 values. Second instars demonstrated increased xylem ingestion events on petioles compared to leaves. Moreover, fifth instars consistently displayed longer xylem ingestion durations compared to other instars. Across plant structures, on petioles, nymphs generally showed longer xylem ingestion durations than on leaf surfaces. Fifth instar consistently had the longest ingestion durations overall. Additionally, statistical differences in xylem ingestion duration were observed between instars within each plant structure, with fifth instars displaying the longest durations. These findings offer valuable insights into the feeding behavior of E. heros nymphs, which could inform the development of more effective pest management strategies for soybean crops.
Profiles of psychological flexibility and influencing factors among operating room nurses: A latent profile analysis
Authors: Sun Xiangzhi , Miao Yanmei , Wang Jing , Li Run , Yang Lin , Hu Rong , Chen Guilan
Published: May 2024

Background
In the nursing workforce, operating room(OR) nurses are at high risk for psychological issues due to the unique challenges of their work environment. Psychological flexibility(PF), as a protective element of mental health, is important for promoting the acceptance and adjustment of nurses. This study used the latent profile analysis(LPA) to identify latent profiles of PF among OR nurses and further explored the associated influencing factors.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 403 operating room nurses in Southwest China from November 2023 to April 2024 (effective rate of 91.18%). PF was measured by the Simplified Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory(MPFI-24), social support was measured by the Social Support Rating Scale(SSRS), and coping style was measured by the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire(TCSQ). We used LPA by Mplus.8.3 to identify latent profiles of PF. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the factors relevant to the different profiles.
Results
The PF of OR nurses can be identified into 4 groups: high PF group(14.1%), medium PF group-high engagement type(33.7%), lower-middle PF group(32.6%), low PF goup(19.6%). Gender, birthplace, whether you like the OR nursing, social support scores, and coping styles scores can be the predictors of PF among different profiles.
Conclusions
Our findings identified 4 latent profiles of PF among OR nurses, showing the heterogeneity of PF among nurses in the OR. Gender, birthplace, whether you like the operating room nursing, social support scores and coping styles scores can predict the latent profile of OR nurses. Our findings may can provide reference for the development of targeted interventional strategies to improve PF of OR nurses.
Trajectory Optimization for AoI-Minimized Data Collection in Multi-UAV-Aided Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: An Ning , Hong Yi , Luo Chuanwen , Li Deying , Fan Xin , Chen Zhibo
Published: May 2024

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been extensively utilized in numerous scenarios where freshness of information is paramount. Due to the limited endurance of a single UAV, multiple UAVs can ensure the freshness of sensor node information while completing data collection tasks. Therefore this paper focuses on the multi-UAV-aided collaborative data collection problem, aiming to enhance the freshness of information. We use Age of Information (AoI) to measure information freshness, primarily including the sensors’ data aggregation time within clusters, the UAVs’ data collection time and flight time. Firstly, we employ a simulated annealing-based algorithm to construct data aggregation trees within clusters, determining the scheduling order of sensor nodes. Secondly, we assign tasks to the UAVs and establish the association between clusters and UAVs. Finally, based on the results of the previous two steps, we optimize the flight 1 trajectory of UAVs using two schemes, 2-opt Heuristics via Deep Reinforcement Learning and greedy-based multi-trajectory planning. Simulation results demonstrate that this strategy can optimize the average AoI of sensor networks and improve the information freshness.
Cesarean sections in Suriname using Robson classification: a two-year nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors: Prüst Zita D. , Dupont Josephine A.I. , Liesdek Safir , Bloemenkamp Kitty W.M. , Akker Thomas van den , Verschueren Kim J.C. , Kodan Lachmi R
Published: May 2024

Background – Cesarean Section (CS) rates are increasing concerningly. Optimizing CS performance is a global health priority, given the maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with both underuse and overuse. This nationwide study in Suriname aims to (1) determine the national, facility-based CS rate and explore which women are at highest risk and (2) use the WHO Robson classification to enhance understanding drivers and outcomes of CS to develop tailored interventions.
Methods – An observational, cross-sectional study in Suriname, using nationwide birth registry data that included all hospital births in 2020 and 2021. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess maternal and perinatal characteristics associated with CS. We described caesarean births according to the Robson-10 classification and used descriptive statistics to analyze CS frequencies and neonatal outcomes.
Results – We analyzed the 18,917 women who gave birth in Surinamese hospitals, with an overall 23.9% CS rate (n=4522). The highest CS rates were seen among women with a previous CS(69.3%, aOR 16.2, 95% CI 14.4 – 18.2), BMI > 40 (47.0%, aOR 5.1, 95% CI 4.0 – 6.5), newborn with a birth weight above 4000 grams (37.3%, 2.2, 95% CI 1.6 – 3.0) and women giving birth at hospital IV (38.5%, aOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6 – 2.0). Hindustani women were more likely to give birth by CS compared to maroon women (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4 – 2.0). Robson group 5 (i.e. multiparous, term women with a previous CS and cephalic presentation), contributed to 30.5% of the CS cases (n=1378). Robson group 2 and 4 (i.e. pre-labor CS, or CS after induction, among term women without previous CS and cephalic presentation) contributed to 21.8% (n=985) of all CS performed. Robson group 1 and 3 (i.e. during spontaneous labor CS among term women without previous CS and cephalic presentation) accounted for 23.3% (n=1052) of the CS cases.
Conclusion – The CS rate in Suriname is 24%, with substantial intra-country and inter-hospital variations. These disparities underscore the need for targeted interventions addressing both overuse and underuse of CS. Preventative measures should prioritize promoting safe VBAC, preventing first-time CS and ongoing monitoring of trends and regular case audits.
Socioeconomic Disparities in Multimorbidity of Non-Communicable Diseases: findings from the RaNCD cohort study
Authors: Faramani Roya Safari , Samian Keyvan , Najafi Farid , Salimi Yahya , Darbandi Mitra
Published: May 2024

Background
There is limited understanding of socioeconomic inequality in multimorbidity in Iran. This study aims to investigate socioeconomic inequality in multimorbidity among adults in western Iran.
Methods
Data from the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study were used in this cross-sectional study. A sample of 10,047 adults aged 35–65 years was analyzed. Principal component analysis was utilized to determine socioeconomic status (SES). The normalized concentration index (CIn) was used to assess the extent of socioeconomic disparities in multimorbidity. Decomposition analysis was conducted to identify and calculate the factors contributing to multimorbidity inequality.
Results
In this study, the prevalence of having at least two NCDs was 9.07%, while the prevalence of having at least three NCDs was 2.87%, and four or more NCDs was 1.25%. The CIn for multimorbidity was − 0.061 (P < 0.001), indicating a higher concentration of multimorbidity among individuals with low SES. Age (52.5%), body mass index (BMI) (29.4%), gender (27.5%), physical activity (25.1%), and SES (15%) were identified as significant factors contributing to the increased inequality in multimorbidity.
Conclusion
The study findings demonstrate a pro-poor disparity in multimorbidity. Age, BMI, gender, physical activity, and SES were highlighted as key factors driving the heightened inequality in multimorbidity. Policy interventions targeting the reduction of socioeconomic disparities in multimorbidity should prioritize low-SES groups, particularly women, obese individuals, and older subjects.
Effect of salt substitute and medication use among high cardiovascular risk patients
Authors: Qi Zijing , Tang shuai , Hao Yubing , Li Yanxing , Hao Tianyou , Yang Hongmei , Shen Yijing , Huang Liping , Tian Maoyi , Feng Xiangxian , Li Zhifang
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that the protective effect of salt substitute varied between the hypertensive population and the normotensive population, but it was not clear whether it was related to cardiovascular drugs. The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of salt substitutes and anti-hypertensive drugs on blood pressure and adverse cardiovascular events.
Methods: 4211 people with a history of stroke or hypertension from 120 villages in Shanxi Province who participated in an open-label cluster randomized controlled trial (SSaSS) were included in this study. Generalized linear mixed models and linear mixed models were used to explore the effect of salt substitute on blood pressure and adverse cardiovascular events in different group of population respectively, adjusting for the stratification variables at randomization (village) as well as potential confounding variables.
Results: Salt substitute reduced the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in participants who took anti-hypertensive drugs(28.63 events vs. 35.96 events per 1000 person-years; rate ratio, 0.75, 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.95; P=0.016) while no significant effect among the participants who did not take any anti-hypertensive drugs. Salt substitute reduced the blood pressure in participants who took anti-hypertensive drugs with a mean SBP difference of -4.38mmHg (95% CI: -6.08 to -2.67, P<0.001) and a mean DBP difference of -1.31mmHg (95% CI: -2.42 to -0.21, P=0.020), while no significant blood pressure difference among the participants who did not take any anti-hypertensive drugs.
Conclusions: Combining salt substitute with anti-hypertensive drugs could reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular events.
Effect of deflector and crest geometry on submerged flow in a shaft spillway
Authors: Esmaeili Soroush , Lashkar-Ara Babak
Published: May 2024

In this study, the impacts of a deflector located in the throat and inlet geometry of the crest on improving the hydraulic performance of a shaft spillway were investigated, and the hazards induced by the lack of timely drainage of floods in dam reservoirs were decreased to some extent. To investigate the deflection effect, three constriction specimens in the shaft throat with constriction area-to-shaft area ratios (Ad/Ai) of 0.75, 0.5 and 0.25 were considered as scenarios. In each scenario, the flow conditions through 12 different spillway specimens with crown wheel inlets were tested, and the results were compared with the flow conditions in crown wheel spillways without a deflector (reference model). The results showed that the use of a deflector has an important role in reducing vortex flows, stabilizing changes in the water level of the reservoir and increasing the discharge coefficient of the flow. Studies on reference models have also shown that crown wheel inlets (C.W.) improve shaft spillway performance, with C.W. spillways having an average discharge coefficient 32% greater than that of shaft spillways. Finally, considering the optimal deflector factors and C.W. geometry, an optimal model was proposed for flood reservoir conditions.
A modified multiple-criteria decision-making approach based on a protein-protein interaction network to diagnose latent tuberculosis
Authors: Ayalvari Somayeh , Kaedi Marjan , Sehhati Mohammadreza
Published: May 2024

Background
DNA microarrays provide informative data for transcriptional profiling and identifying gene expression signatures to help prevent progression from latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) to active disease. However, constructing a prognostic model for distinguishing LTBI from active tuberculosis is very challenging due to the noisy nature of data and lack of a generally stable analysis approach.
Methods
In the present study, we proposed an accurate predictive model with the help of data fusion at the decision level. In this regard, results of filter feature selection and wrapping feature selection techniques were combined with multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to select 26 genes from six microarray datasets that can be the most distinctive genes for diagnosing tuberculosis cases. As the main contribution of this study, the final ranking function was constructed by combining protein-protein interaction (PPI) network with an MCDM method (DEMATEL) to improve our feature ranking approach pointedly.
Results
The best fusion of classifiers is determined to detect different types of tuberculosis with a sensitivity of 0.949514, specificity of 0.885872 and accuracy of 0.922368. By applying data fusion at the decision level on the 26 introduced genes in terms of fusion of classifiers of random forests (RF) and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) regarding Yager's theory, the proposed algorithm reached an accuracy of 0.922368. Finally, with the help of cumulative clustering, the pairs of genes involved in the diagnosis of latent and activated tuberculosis have been introduced.
Conclusions
So far, a combination of MCDM methods and PPI networks have not been used to diagnose different states of tuberculosis.
A Study on Role and Status of Hajong Healers of Assam
Authors: Kousik Suman
Published: May 2024

Since time immemorial field of indigenous knowledge has provided devised ways to treat an ill health conditions. The term ‘healer’ describes a person who uses their extensive indigenous knowledge to treat the community. The present chapter comprises the administration of local knowledge by the healers of the Hajong community. Being geographically and culturally rich, the people of Barabhuyan village of Dhemaji district exhibit a tremendous array of traditional knowledge. Every society has a long history of the disease, whether it be a contagious or natural version, and as a result, different ethnic communities around the world frequently apply various forms of indigenous knowledge. The tribal societies of India, particularly the rural areas of North-east India, provide an intriguing scenario with the use of indigenous healthcare systems, and some of them living in adjacent urban areas have formed contacts with the allopathic systems of medicine that are encroaching on them.This is borne out through the present research work that the healer treated their patients whenever they are in need. They rendered their service in different parts of Assam and Meghalaya. They treat all kinds of diseases like the natural, supernatural as well reproductive problems of the society .The healers category found to be in both male and female category. The Hajong has a strong belief in traditional healers, which is reflected in the highest use of folk medicine in rural areas. People can access therapy in simple ways, and traditional healing systems are also less expensive. However, among the Hajong community healthcare providers are known as a healer (dao/kabiraj) who treats medicinal flora and faunal resources, shaman (ojha), who perform the healing practice associated with spiritual healing, and priests (adhikari) who perform the religious activities and provide a minimal amount of medical treatment. In addition, among the Hajong, traditional birth attendants (dhaimao) also provide some medical care.
Modeling and optimizing plant growth regulators for in vitro culture and antioxidant activity of Thymus daenensis
Authors: samadi saba
Published: May 2024

Denaian thyme, also known as Thymus daenensis (Lamiaceae), is an endangered and endemic medicinal plant in Iran. It is commonly utilized in traditional remedy for its antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and insecticidal effects. The aerial parts of this plant include a variety of bioactive compounds. for instance, flavonoid, phenolic acids, and high levels of terpenoids. until now, wild plants are the primary source of these compounds. However, if harvesting methods are not altered soon, they may become endangered. Alternative production methods for medicinal plants using tissue culture are gaining more interest. no protocol for in vitro culture of T. daenensis has been reported so far. To address this, we carried out a study to investigate the impact of various auxins and cytokinins, both in isolation and in combination, on cell growth, development, and secondary metabolite accumulation. The objective was to assess how certain factors affect the accumulation of phenolic compounds and biomass growth in T. daenensis tissue culture. The response surface methodology modeling outcomes have shown that the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and their combinations significantly impacts the in vitro culture of T. daenensis. g plots summarized results showing that the best accumulation of biomass and secondary metabolites can be achieved by using 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) followed by 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2-4-D). Optimizing the induction of secondary metabolites and large-scale biomass production could greatly benefit this species.
UBMR:A low-power and low-area multicastrouter with unified buffers forNetwork-on-Chips
Authors: Ouyang Yiming , wang jiaxin , Xu Dongyu , Huang Zhengfeng
Published: May 2024

Network-on-Chip(NoC) has become a promising communicationparadigm for Multi-Processors System-on-Chip (MPSoC) due to its highcommunication efficiency, good scalability, and high reliability. In prac-tice, in addition to one-to-one unicast traffic in NoC, there is also a largeamount of one-to-many multicast traffic. The traditional unicast-basedmechanism for handling multicast traffic leads to a large number of repet-itive and redundant packets in the network, which rapidly consumes thenetwork bandwidth and dramatically reduces the performance of the net-work. Meanwhile, with the continuous scaling of the chip fabrication pro-cess, the power consumption increases dramatically, which also makes theNoC design face great challenges. To mitigate these problem, we proposea tree-based multicast routing algorithm to ensure that multicast pack-ets and their copies reach the destination router all through the shortestpath. For better compatibility with our proposed routing algorithm, wealso propose a unified buffer multicast router architecture, which not onlysimplifies the multicast routing algorithm, but also reduces the powerconsumption and the area overhead of the router. Detailed simulationresults show that the number of packets transmitted in the networkis reduced by 28%, and the area and power consumption are reducedby 40.6% and 38.6%, respectively, compared to conventional routers.
Mechanism of critical current density in water electrolysis utilizing analogous relation with critical heat flux at boiling system
Authors: Park Haekyun
Published: May 2024

The boiling and hydrogen evolving systems both exhibit an N-shaped curve, which includes the peak point representing the critical heat flux (CHF) in boiling system and the critical current density (CCD) in hydrogen evolving system. Since the CCD can be regarded as a maximum manageable current density, it would be an obstacle limiting the hydrogen generation rate in a water electrolysis. However, none of previous work proposed a mechanism leading to the CCD and tried to establish a correlation so far. In the nuclear industry, tremendous efforts have been invested to develop the CHF model so that the correlations were developed, which predict the CHF well. Based on the analogous relation between the two systems, the present study explores compatibility of the CHF correlation to the CCD phenomenon. The critical superficial velocity converted from the CHF correlation was compared with that from the measured CCD. The result shows that the critical superficial velocity from the experiment was about 100 times smaller than that from the CHF correlation due to the remarkably higher active nucleation site density of the hydrogen evolving system. In a phenomenological perspective, the critical number of bubbles, which hinders the heat or mass transfer was estimated within similar value between the two systems. It is concluded that the CCD phenomenon is governed by the hydrodynamic behavior of the bubbles adjacent to the cathode surface, which depends strongly on the active nucleation site density, while the CHF can be predicted only by the physical properties of the fluid.
Effect of Capsular Tension Ring Implantation on Intraocular Lens Calculation Formula Selection for Long Axial Myopia
Authors: Liang Jiaojiao , Yan Hong , Xie Xue , Zhang Jian , Zhang Yaping , Qu Laiqiang
Published: May 2024

Purpose
The study investigated the effect of capsular tension ring (CTR) implantation on postoperative refractive stability and accuracy of intraocular lens (IOL) formulas for axial length (AL) ≥ 27.0 mm patients.
Methods
Prospective case series. The eyes of patients underwent phacoemulsification extraction combined with IOL implantation were classified as CTR implantation (A-CTR) and without CTR implantation (B-CON) groups. Refractive outcome and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were recorded at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-operation. Prediction refractive error (PE) and absolute refractive error (AE) of each formula were calculated.
Results
Comparison of refraction at different postoperative times of the CTR group showed no statistical difference (all P > .05). The ACD in the A-CTR group gradually deepened, and that in the B-CON group gradually shallowed (all P > .05). The formulas’ AE showed statistically significant differences in CTR and CON groups (P < .001). The PE of Hill-RBF 2.0 and EVO formulas in the A-CTR group were more hyperopic than that in the B-CON group (all P > .05), the other five formulas were more myopic in A-CTR group than that in the B-CON group (all P > .05).
Conclusion
Patients with CTR implantation tended to have stable refraction at 1 week post-surgery and 1 month for those without it. CTR had no effect on the selection of formulas. Additionally, it is found that Kane and EVO formulas were more accurate for patients with AL ≥ 27.0 mm.
Climate change concern and discourse among nature lovers
Authors: Seiler Lisa
Published: May 2024

One barrier to action on climate change is not talking about it. The majority of Americans and Canadians are concerned about climate change1,2 but are reluctant to discuss it with family and friends1,3,4,5. Finding comfortable opportunities to promote conversation about climate change would help increase the acceptability of climate actions6. In this study, 32 semi-structured interviews were held with representatives of nature-related organizations in Ontario, Canada, including hiking groups, naturalists, preservation and conservation groups, cross-country skiers, and hunters and anglers, to ascertain how they perceive and talk about climate change and whether those organizations would constitute welcoming spaces. This article adds to the literature on laypeople’s understanding of climate change7,8. Most interviewees noticed local effects of climate change and were either Alarmed or Concerned about climate change, referencing Global Warming’s Six Americas3. Some were quite concerned about the effects on their chosen activity. Others were worried for their offspring. This suggests that these groups might be safe spaces for talking about climate change. More generally, it suggests that nature lovers across North America who distance themselves from the environmental movement9 might be amenable to discussing climate change as the issue becomes more salient.
Identification of novel cholesterol metabolism-related biomarkers for thyroid cancer to predict the prognosis, immune infiltration, and drug sensitivity
Authors: Li Xixi , Shi Pei , Wu Fei-Fei , Li Dai
Published: May 2024

Cholesterol metabolism plays a vital role in tumor proliferation, regulation of tumor immune escape, and drug resistance. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of cholesterol metabolism-related genes in thyroid cancer (THCA) and the relationship between immune invasion and drug sensitivity. Methods: Cholesterol metabolism-related genes were obtained from the molecular signatures database, and univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) were used to construct a predictive model of cholesterol metabolism-related genes based on the TCGA-THCA dataset. The TCGA dataset was randomly divided into a training group and a validation group to verify the model's predictive value and independent prognostic effect. We then constructed a nomogram and performed enrichment analysis, immune cell infiltration, and drug sensitivity analysis. Finally, TCGA-THCA and GSE33630 datasets were used to detect the expression of signature genes, which was further verified by the HPA database. Result: Six CMRGs (FADS1, NPC2, HSD17B7, ACSL4, APOE, HMGCS2) were obtained by univariate Cox and LASSO regression to construct a prognostic model for 155 genes related to cholesterol metabolism. Their prognostic value was confirmed in the validation set, and a perfect stable nomogram was constructed combined with clinical features. We found a significant reduction in immune cell infiltration in the high-risk group and obtained sensitive drugs for different risk groups through drug sensitivity analysis. The GSE33630 dataset verified the expression of six CMRGs, and the HPA database verified the protein expression of the NPC2 gene. Conclusion: Cholesterol metabolism-related features are a promising biomarker for predicting THCA prognosis and can potentially guide immunization and targeted therapy.
The Impact of Diagnostic Errors and Malpractice Claims on Anxiety and Diagnostic Accuracy in Clinical Reasoning Education of General Practitioners
Authors: Sassen Charlotte van , Mamede Silvia , Hooftman Jacky , Broek Walter van den , Bindels Patrick , Zwaan Laura
Published: May 2024

Purpose
Erroneous and malpractice claim cases reflect knowledge gaps and complex contextual factors. Incorporating such cases into clinical reasoning education (CRE) can enhance learning and diagnostic skills. However, they may also elicit anxiety among learners, potentially hindering learning. As a result, the optimal utilization of such cases in CRE remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the effect of erroneous and malpractice claim case vignettes on diagnostic accuracy and anxiety in CRE, compared to neutral cases.
Methods
In this three-phase experiment, GP residents and supervisors were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: neutral (without reference to an error), erroneous (involving a diagnostic error), or malpractice claim (involving a diagnostic error along with a malpractice claim description). During the first session, participants solved six cases exclusively in the version of their assigned condition, with anxiety levels measured before and after. In the second session, they solved six different cases with identical diagnoses, along with four fillers, allowing to compare diagnostic accuracy and confidence between case versions. The third session measured the longer-term impact on the participants.
Results
There were no significant differences in anxiety levels and diagnostic accuracy scores between the conditions. Additionally, the long-term impact scores did not differ significantly between conditions.
Conclusion
Case vignettes with an error or malpractice claim were as effective as neutral case vignettes, yielding similar diagnostic accuracy and without inducing more anxiety. This suggests these cases can be integrated into CRE programs, offering a valuable source of diverse, context-rich examples without causing anxiety in learners.
Genome Evolution and Diversity of Wild and Cultivated Rice Species
Authors: Long Weixiong , He Qiang , Wang Yitao , Wang Yu , Wang Jie , Yuan Zhengqing , Wang Meijia , Chen Wei , hua Lihua , Luo Laiyang , Xu Weibiao , Li Yonghui , Li Wei , Yan Longan , Cai Yaohui , Du Huilong , Xie Hongwei
Published: May 2024

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a vital staple food globally, but its genetic diversity has decreased due to extensive breeding. However, research on genome evolution and diversity of wild rice species, particularly those with BB, CC, BBCC, CCDD, EE, FF, and GG genome types, is limited, impeding their potential in rice breeding1,2. This study presents chromosome-scale genomes of thirteen representatives wild rice species from the Oryza genus. By integrating these genomes with four previously published ones, a total of 101,723 gene families were identified across the genus, including 9,834 (9.67%) core gene families. Additionally, 63,881 new gene families absent in cultivated rice species were discovered. Comparative genomic analysis among Oryza genomes reveals potential mechanisms underlying genome size variation, centromere evolution, and gene number and expression influenced by transposable elements. Extensive structural rearrangements, large scale sub-genomes exchanges, and widespread allelic variations and regulatory sequence variations were discovered in wild rice. We noticed an inversion that are pervasive occurred in Oryza rufipogon and Oryza sativa japonica, which is tightly linked to a locus that might contributed to the expansion of geographical range. Interestingly, a notable expansion but less diversity in disease resistance genes in cultivated genomes was observed, likely due to the random loss of some R genes and extensive amplification of others for specific diseases during domestication and artificial selection. This comprehensive study not only provide previously hidden legacy accessible to genetic studies and breeding but also deepens our understanding of rice evolution and biology.
Construction and application of evaluation indicator system for homogenous medical services in multi-campus management of public hospitals
Authors: Hao-Yu Wang , Yan Yang , Manchen Lu , Yaoyao Liu , Yu Zhang , Tongbin Xue , Xuezhen Liu , Wanying Zhao , Di Tian , Yuan Zhou , Ye Wu , Dian Zhou
Published: May 2024

Background
To organize the concepts and research progress of multi-campus management and homogeneity in Chinese public hospitals; construct a systematic, rational, and scientific evaluation indicator system and assessment method; and conduct an empirical analysis. This study aims to provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the practice of multicampus development in public hospitals.
Methods
The Donabedian model was used to construct an evaluation framework and the Delphi method was used to establish a set of evaluation indicators for the homogeneous management of public hospitals with multiple campuses. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to determine the weights of various indicators and perform consistency checks. The TOPSIS + RSR method was used for comprehensive evaluation.
Results
This study identified 3 primary indicators (resource input, operational efficiency, and quality of care), 9 secondary indicators (infrastructure, talent support, revenue and expenditure structure, cost control, medical services, service volume, technical safeguards, patient safety, and rational use of medications), and 41 tertiary indicators. During weighting as part of the analytic hierarchy process, the consistency ratio of the judgment matrices was found to be less than 0.100. Eleven clinical departments were included in the empirical study, and the results of the TOPSIS method of analysis showed that the highest level of homogeneous management was in Department B (gynecology) and the lowest in Department I (neurosurgery). The results of the RSR method showed that the management levels could be graded as high, medium, or low, with a statistically significant linear regression equation between Ci and the corresponding Probit probability (F = 402.1, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
The evaluation indicator system constructed in this study was based on XX, with comprehensive indicators and reliable results. Empirical research has demonstrated its effectiveness in assessing the homogeneous management level of the same department across different campuses. To further optimize the homogeneous management of public hospitals with multiple campuses, the following two strategies could be considered: (1) improving the precision of resource allocation and (2) enhancing the quality and efficiency of sustained coordination.
Distal esophageal spasm and gastroesophageal reflux disease: debunking myths and associations
Authors: Seltzer Emily S. , Sehmbhi Mantej , Sandhu Robinderpal , Cavaliere Kimberly , Luo Yuying , Smith Michael S. , Jodorkovsky Daniela
Published: May 2024

Background
Distal esophageal spasm (DES) is a rare motility disorder presenting with dysphagia or chest pain. Although studies suggest a link between DES and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), data supporting a distinct GERD-related phenotype are limited.
Aims
This study aims to investigate demographic, symptomatic, and physiologic differences between DES subjects with and without GERD.
Methods
A retrospective cohort analysis of DES patients determined by high resolution manometry (HRM) was conducted between 2/2020-1/2023. Demographics, medications, symptoms, and quantitative reflux testing data were collected. DES subjects with reflux (R-DES) were defined by presence of Los Angeles Grade B/C/D esophagitis, Barrett’s metaplasia, or abnormal pH testing. DES subjects without reflux (NR-DES) had normal parameters. Statistical analysis employed two-sided or Wilcoxon Rank-Sum, Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests, and multivariate logistic regression.
Results
Of 69 DES subjects, 32 (46.3%) had GERD. R-DES and NR-DES patients had similar demographic variables except for higher BMI in R-DES (30.41 vs 26.88, p = 0.01). R-DES and NR-DES shared similar symptom profiles (heartburn p = 0.67, dysphagia p = 0.448, chest pain p = 0.32). Proton pump inhibitor use was similar between groups (78.1% vs 91.9%, p = 0.202). HRM metrics were comparable except for basal LES tone (20.7 mmHg vs 32.99 mmHg, p = 0.03) and median IRP 11.82 mmHg vs 17.20 mmHg, p = 0.017).
Conclusions
This study found no distinguishing clinical or physiologic differences between DES patients with and without GERD, challenging the historical emphasis of GERD in DES pathogenesis. The impact of GERD management on the natural history of DES remains uncertain.