bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sargassum sp. extract improve hematological profile of tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Gazali Mohamad , Effendi Irwan , Husni Amir , Nurjanah Nurjanah , Wahyuni Sri , Kurniawan Ronal
Published: August 2023

Background: Strategies to increase body resistance and prevent disease in aquaculture include using vaccines, antibiotics, and probiotics. Today, the use of antibiotics with natural ingredients is becoming a trend. One of the natural ingredients that contain high antioxidants and antibiotics is Sargassum sp.

Methods: This research was conducted from March to May 2022 at the Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Universitas Riau, in two stages: 1) the sensitivity of extracts of Sargassum sp. and 2) the application of Sargassum sp. extract orally in tilapia (O. niloticus). The parameters measured were clear zone, minimum inhibitory concentration, LD50 test of leaf extract of Sargassum sp. in tilapia (O. niloticus), hemoglobin levels, hematocrit, total leukocytes, total erythrocytes, leukocyte differentiation, and survival rate. Data on hematology parameters were tabulated and analyzed using a One-Way ANOVA followed by a Student Newman Keuls (SNK) test when deemed necessary.

Results: The results showed that the extract of Sargassum sp. inhibited the growth of Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria with a clear zone of 6.5-15.0 mm, which is classified as resistant. At doses of 2000, 2500, and 3000 ppm, it did not cause death in fish for 96 hours (LD50). Hematological parameters can be a sign of the health status of fish. Tilapia given Sargassum sp. in different doses gave an effect between treatments, both after 30 days of rearing and post-test against A. hydrophila bacteria (p<0.05). The results showed that the hematology of fish fed with Sargassum sp. extract was in the normal or healthy range. Healthy tilapia had erythrocyte counts ranging from 1.34-2.11×106 cells/mm3, hematocrit 26.17-33.19%, hemoglobin 6.26-11.2 g/dL and total leukocytes 1.01-1.50×104 cells/mm3 and total erythrocytes 5.88-9.13×104 cells/ mm3.

Conclusions: A dose of 3000 ppm provided the highest health improvement against A. hydrophila bacterial infection.
Changes in brain structure in people with gaming disorder. A review of neuroimaging studies
Authors: Wojtczak Mateusz , Walenda Anna , Kucharska Katarzyna
Published: August 2023

Niniejszy przegląd ma na celu podsumowanie aktualnej wiedzy na temat strukturalnych zmian mózgu wśród osób z diagnozą zaburzenia używania gier komputerowych oraz wynikających z nich klinicznych implikacji. W przeglądzie zostaną ukazane modele teoretyczne psychologiczno-neurobiologiczne zaburzenia używania gier komputerowych w połączeniu z wynikami badań strukturalnych neuroobrazowania jak również związane z tym implikacje kliniczne. Dotychczasowe badania epidemiologiczne wskazują, że rozpowszechnienie zaburzenia używania gier w populacji może sięgać ok. 2%. Badacze wskazują, że etiopatogeneza zaburzenia używania gier komputerowych jest złożona i obejmuje czynniki psychologiczne, społeczne jak również neurologiczne oraz hormonalne. Z perspektywy badań psychologicznych eksplorujących zaburzenie używania gier można wnioskować, że człowiek posiada pewne określone cechy i/lub objawy psychopatologiczne, które poprzez czynniki mediujące, takie jak np. nieumiejętność radzenia sobie ze stresem, czy negatywnymi emocjami wpływają na kształtowanie się objawów zaburzenia. W kontekście neurobiologii uzależnień behawioralnych badacze zwracają uwagę na zaburzenia w obrębie mezokortykolimbicznego układu nagrody, który pozostaje pod wpływem dysfunkcjonalnych neuronalnych mechanizmów regulacji emocji oraz stresu. Badacze opisując zmiany struktrualne mózgu najczęściej raportują różnice w objętości istoty szarej, które obejmują obszary grzbietowo-bocznej kory przedczołowej, kory skroniowo-potylicznej, górne i tylne obszary kory ciemieniowej, przednią część kory zakrętu obręczy, móżdżek, korę wyspy, układ limbiczny i jądra podstawne.
Strategic Pricing in Volatile Markets
Authors: Gryglewicz Sebastian , Kolb Aaron
Published: August 2023

Dynamic Strategic Pricing

Firms use pricing strategically to influence entry and exit of competitors. A key form of strategic pricing is limit pricing, whereby a market incumbent sets low prices to deter a potential entrant. In practice, strategic pricing takes place in dynamic, stochastic environments: An incumbent that uses prices to signal unprofitable entry, in reality, has to do so repeatedly and under changing market conditions. In “Strategic Pricing in Volatile Markets,” Gryglewicz and Kolb study dynamic entry deterrence through limit pricing in markets subject to persistent demand shocks. The primary insight is that when the market is subject to persistent shocks, the incentive to signal disappears in some market conditions. In equilibrium, pricing and entry decisions exhibit path dependence, depending not only on the market’s current size, but also its historical minimum. When prices are used as signals to deter entry, prices can increase for strategic reasons over an interval of time during which demand falls.
Doctoral Student Perceptions of Faculty Advisors: Four Supportive Behaviors to Promote Doctoral Completion
Authors: Roy Kelly , McGill Craig M. , Bloom Jennifer L.
Published: August 2023

The number of doctoral recipients per year in the United States has grown considerably, yet on average, half of all students do not persist to degree completion or far exceed the expected completion timeline. Attrition and extended time to degree negatively impact both doctoral students and institutions and costs each time, money, and effort. Advisor-advisee relationship quality significantly affects degree completion. This study explores experiences of 17 full-time working professionals who had recently completed a doctoral degree in education within 6 consecutive years at a regionally accredited institution in the United States. Our findings revealed four faculty advisor behaviors that contribute to doctoral completion: encouragement, accessibility, dependability, and expertise. We offer recommendations for advisors to improve the student doctoral journey.
Cooling Out Vs. Warming Up: History of the Debate
Authors: Provost Adrienne
Published: August 2023

A cursory review of scholarly articles concerning community colleges will undoubtedly result in references to the “cooling out” function of academic advising. This theory remains among one of the most cited critiques of these institutions to date. Many scholars have debated the accuracy of the assertion, arguing that community college advisors warmed up rather than cooled out their student aspirations. Interestingly, despite the prevalence of references in community college literature, few studies have considered the roots of this debate. This study explores the historical origins of this dichotomy by examining two foundational discourses that inspired the controversy (Provost, 2023).
Battery Tech Investment
Authors: Excell Jon
Published: August 2023

£23m challenge to focus on electric vehicles
Wireless Sensing to Test the Waters
Authors: Knight Helen
Published: August 2023

Cryoegg to study Greenland’s ice sheets amid climate change concerns
Valve Treatment at Heart of the Matter
Authors: Knight Helen
Published: August 2023

Diseased parts could be replaced with 3D-printed prosthetic devices
Recurrent ventricular arrhythmia due to aconite intoxication successfully treated with landiolol: A case report
Authors: Matsuo Chiaki , Yamamoto Koji , Fukushima Hidetada , Yajima Daisuke , Inoue Hiroyuki
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Ventricular arrhythmias, such as ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, are the main causes of death in patients with aconite poisoning.

CASE SUMMARY

A 51-year-old man presented to our emergency department because he was vomiting after ingesting aconite root to attempt suicide. On arrival, the patient was hemodynamically unstable, and his electrocardiogram revealed polymorphic ventricular extrasystoles and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Amiodarone was immediately administered for ventricular arrhythmia. However, the patient remained unresponsive. We administered continuous intravenous landiolol as the ventricular arrhythmia worsened, gradually suppressing it. The patient returned to sinus rhythm 16 h after arriving at the hospital. Some aconitum alkaloids act on voltage-gated Na+- channels and induce ventricular or supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Landiolol suppresses sympathetic nerve activity through its blocking effect, preventing arrhythmia.

CONCLUSION

Landiolol can be a therapeutic option for amiodarone-refractory ventricular arrhythmias caused by aconite intoxication.
Koigoromo (Robe of Love) Part 1: An Introduction and Translation of Yamakawa Tomiko’s “White Lily” / 『恋衣』英訳(１) ：解説、山川登美子の「白百合」
Authors: Albertson Nicholas
Published: August 2023

Abstract: Robe of Love ( Koigoromo , 1905) is a collection of 393 tanka and six shintaishi (new-style poems) by Yamakawa Tomiko, Masuda Masako, and Yosano Akiko, three of the leading female poets who wrote for the literary magazine Morning Star ( Myōjō ). Part One provides a historical and critical overview of Robe of Love and brief portraits of the three poets, followed by a complete English translation of the 131 tanka in Yamakawa Tomiko’s section “White Lily.” The rest of Robe of Love will appear in subsequent issues of the journal.
976 nm and 808 nm dual-GSA-wavelength pumped 3 µm erbium-doped solid-state laser
Authors: Shi Chengjin , Huang Haitao , Chen Wenjie , Li Zihan
Published: August 2023

A dual-wavelength pumping scheme at 976 nm and 808 nm is proposed to improve the performance of 3 µm Er:YAP laser. 976 nm and 808 nm correspond to the ground state absorption processes of 4I15/2→I11/2 and 4I15/2→I9/2, respectively. The experimental results indicate that the introduction of 808 nm pumping not only increases the total inversion population, but also can adjust the population distribution among the sublevels in the upper and lower manifold, thus supporting higher output power and multiple wavelengths emissions. Under the single-wavelength pumping, the maximum output powers of 1.192 W and 0.223 W are obtained for 976 nm and 808 nm pumping, respectively. With regard to the 976/808 nm dual-wavelength pumping, the achievable maximum output power is 1.398 W, increased by 17.3% compared to the case of single-wavelength pumping at 976 nm. The dual-wavelength pumped Er:YAP laser can also operate in a state of multi-wavelength emissions at 2.79 µm, 2.82 µm and 2.92 µm with different dual-wavelength pump power combinations. Considering the broadband absorption characteristics of ground state absorption and the convenience of obtaining near-infrared laser diodes pumping sources, the proposed dual-wavelength pump scheme shows great potential to realize high-power, high-efficiency 3 µm erbium-doped solid-state lasers with better cost-effectiveness and more compact structure.
Optical design of a telescopic objective lens system with a wide range of zooming without mechanical movement
Authors: LI Zhicong , Ma Xiaolong , Yang Jianfeng
Published: August 2023

The optical design involves a zoom optical system, specifically involving a telescopic objective lens system with a wide range of zooming without mechanical motion, which is used to solve the shortcomings of existing zoom telescopic objective lens systems that either require multiple liquid lens combinations for focusing, or need to change the mechanical distance between lens components for focusing. The telescopic objective lens system with a wide range of zooming without mechanical motion includes a double-liquid lens, a fixed-focus telescopic objective, focal surface photosensitive element, and electronic control device. The optical design adjusts the curvature of the middle interface of the dual liquid lens through an electronic control device, and changes the optical focal power of the double liquid lens to achieve high-efficiency and large-range focusing of the telescopic objective lens system.
Efficient option pricing with a unary-based photonic computing chip and generative adversarial learning
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wan Lingxiao , Ramos-Calderer Sergi , Zhan Yuancheng , Mok Wai-Keong , Cai Hong , Gao Feng , Luo Xianshu , Lo Guo-Qiang , Kwek Leong Chuan , Latorre José Ignacio , Liu Ai Qun
Published: August 2023

In the modern financial industry system, the structure of products has become more and more complex, and the bottleneck constraint of classical computing power has already restricted the development of the financial industry. Here, we present a photonic chip that implements the unary approach to European option pricing, in combination with the quantum amplitude estimation algorithm, to achieve quadratic speedup compared to classical Monte Carlo methods. The circuit consists of three modules: one loading the distribution of asset prices, one computing the expected payoff, and a third performing the quantum amplitude estimation algorithm to introduce speedups. In the distribution module, a generative adversarial network is embedded for efficient learning and loading of asset distributions, which precisely captures market trends. This work is a step forward in the development of specialized photonic processors for applications in finance, with the potential to improve the efficiency and quality of financial services.
A previously unrecognized superfamily of macro-conotoxins includes an inhibitor of the sensory neuron calcium channel Cav2.3
Authors: Hackney Celeste M. , Flórez Salcedo Paula , Mueller Emilie , Koch Thomas Lund , Kjelgaard Lau D. , Watkins Maren , Zachariassen Linda G. , Tuelung Pernille Sønderby , McArthur Jeffrey R. , Adams David J. , Kristensen Anders S. , Olivera Baldomero , Finol-Urdaneta Rocio K. , Safavi-Hemami Helena , Morth Jens Preben , Ellgaard Lars
Published: August 2023

Animal venom peptides represent valuable compounds for biomedical exploration. The venoms of marine cone snails constitute a particularly rich source of peptide toxins, known as conotoxins. Here, we identify the sequence of an unusually large conotoxin, Mu8.1, which defines a new class of conotoxins evolutionarily related to the well-known con-ikot-ikots and 2 additional conotoxin classes not previously described. The crystal structure of recombinant Mu8.1 displays a saposin-like fold and shows structural similarity with con-ikot-ikot. Functional studies demonstrate that Mu8.1 curtails calcium influx in defined classes of murine somatosensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. When tested on a variety of recombinantly expressed voltage-gated ion channels, Mu8.1 displayed the highest potency against the R-type (Cav2.3) calcium channel. Ca2+ signals from Mu8.1-sensitive DRG neurons were also inhibited by SNX-482, a known spider peptide modulator of Cav2.3 and voltage-gated K+ (Kv4) channels. Our findings highlight the potential of Mu8.1 as a molecular tool to identify and study neuronal subclasses expressing Cav2.3. Importantly, this multidisciplinary study showcases the potential of uncovering novel structures and bioactivities within the largely unexplored group of macro-conotoxins.
Modeling suggests that virion production cycles within individual cells is key to understanding acute hepatitis B virus infection kinetics
Authors: Hailegiorgis Atesmachew , Ishida Yuji , Collier Nicholson , Imamura Michio , Shi Zhenzhen , Reinharz Vladimir , Tsuge Masataka , Barash Danny , Hiraga Nobuhiko , Yokomichi Hiroshi , Tateno Chise , Ozik Jonathan , Uprichard Susan L. , Chayama Kazuaki , Dahari Harel
Published: August 2023

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection kinetics in immunodeficient mice reconstituted with humanized livers from inoculation to steady state is highly dynamic despite the absence of an adaptive immune response. To recapitulate the multiphasic viral kinetic patterns, we developed an agent-based model that includes intracellular virion production cycles reflecting the cyclic nature of each individual virus lifecycle. The model fits the data well predicting an increase in production cycles initially starting with a long production cycle of 1 virion per 20 hours that gradually reaches 1 virion per hour after approximately 3–4 days before virion production increases dramatically to reach to a steady state rate of 4 virions per hour per cell. Together, modeling suggests that it is the cyclic nature of the virus lifecycle combined with an initial slow but increasing rate of HBV production from each cell that plays a role in generating the observed multiphasic HBV kinetic patterns in humanized mice.
Evaluating leishmanicidal effects of Lucilia sericata products in combination with Apis mellifera honey using an in vitro model
Authors: Sherafati Jila , Dayer Mohammad Saaid , Ghaffarifar Fatemeh , Akbarzadeh Kamran , Pirestani Majid
Published: August 2023

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by an intracellular parasite from the genusLeishmania. Lack of safe and effective drugs has increasingly promoted researches into new drugs of natural origin to cure the disease. The study, therefore, aimed to investigate the anti-leishmanial effects ofLucilia sericatalarval excretion/secretion (ES) in combination withApis melliferahoney as a synergist onLeishmania majorusing anin vitromodel. Various concentrations of honey and larval ES fractions were tested against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes ofL.majorusing macrophage J774A.1 cell line. The inhibitory effects and cytotoxicity of ES plus honey were evaluated using direct counting method and MTT assay. To assess the effects of larval ES plus honey on the amastigote form, the rate of macrophage infection and the number of amastigotes per infected macrophage cell were estimated. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were 21.66 μg/ml, 43.25 60 μg/ml, 52.58 μg/ml, and 70.38 μg/ml for crude ES plus honey, ES >10 kDa plus honey, ES <10 kDa plus honey, and honey alone, respectively. The IC50for positive control (glucantime) was 27.03 μg/ml. There was a significant difference between viability percentages of promastigotes exposed to different doses of applied treatments compared to the negative control (p≤ 0.0001). Microscopic examination of amastigote forms revealed that dosages applied at 150 to 300 μg/ml significantly reduced the rate of macrophage infection and the number of amastigotes per infected macrophage cell. Different doses of larval products plus honey did not show a significant toxic effect agaist macrophage J774 cells. The larval ES fractions ofL.sericatain combination withA.melliferahoney acted synergistically againstL.major.
Assessing population dynamics in the Central Salish Sea, Pacific Northwest Coast of North America
Authors: Rorabaugh Adam
Published: August 2023

Recent developments in radiocarbon dating have enabled archaeologists to re-examine the question of population dynamism in the Salish Sea. This study expands on Taylor and colleagues (2011) using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and an expanded data set of 538 radiocarbon dates from academic and cultural resource management literature. The expanded sample suggests a pattern of population growth from 3200–2800 cal BP in coastal Northwestern Washington, with population growth in the San Juan islands during 2600–2200 cal BP. A subsequent decrease in radiocarbon frequencies and large sites suggests shifts in use of the San Juan Islands, followed by peak large-scale occupation from 650–300 cal BP. This pattern is robust whether marine or terrestrial dates are considered. However, marine dates are less sensitive to questions at smaller temporal scales. The broad scale radiocarbon frequency patterns observed are also consistent with those observed in southwest coastal British Columbia (Ritchie et al., 2016; Morin et al., 2018).
Lexical-semantic properties of verbs and nouns used in conversation by people with Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Williams Eric , Theys Catherine , McAuliffe Megan
Published: August 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is accompanied by language impairments and communicative breakdowns. Research into language processing by people with AD (pwAD) has focused largely on production of nouns in isolation. However, impairments are consistently found in verb production at word and sentence levels, and comparatively little is known about word use by pwAD in conversation. This study investigated differences between pwAD and cognitively healthy controls in conversational use of nouns, verbs, and pronouns. Speech samples produced by 12 pwAD and 12 controls for the Carolinas Conversations Collection were analysed for noun, verb and pronoun counts and ratios, lexical diversity overall and among nouns and verbs, copula use, and frequencies and ages of acquisition (AoA) of nouns and verbs produced. pwAD used fewer nouns and a narrower range of words than controls, exhibiting signs of increased reliance on pronouns and decreased noun diversity. Age affected noun frequencies differently within each group—pwAD produced nouns of lower frequencies with age, while controls produced nouns of higher frequencies. pwAD produced nouns of higher AoA than controls. Verb use differed little by group. These findings highlight the need to account for differences between nouns and verbs, including in frequency, AoA, proportion of all words spoken, and context-dependent processing demands, when drawing conclusions on language use by pwAD. They also suggest potential for communicative interventions targeting contextual use of both nouns and verbs.
Identification of genes critical for inducing ulcerative colitis and exploring their tumorigenic potential in human colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Patra Ritwik , Dey Amit Kumar , Mukherjee Suprabhat
Published: August 2023

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease leading to continuous mucosal inflammation in the rectum extending proximally towards the colon. Chronic and/or recurrent UC is one of the critical predisposing mediators of the oncogenesis of human colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Perturbations of the differential expression of the UC-critical genes exert an intense impact on the neoplastic transformation of the affected tissue(s). Herein, a comprehensive exploration of the UC-critical genes from the transcriptomic profiles of UC patients was conducted to study the differential expression, functional enrichment, genomic alterations, signal transduction pathways, and immune infiltration level encountered by these genes concerning the oncogenesis of CRC. The study reveals that WFDC2, TTLL12, THRA, and EPHB3 play crucial roles as UC-CRC critical genes and are positively correlated with the molecular transformation of UC to CRC. Taken together, these genes can be used as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for combating UC-induced human CRC.
Organization of the macroinvertebrate community in a tropical annual agroecosystem into modules
Authors: Andow David A. , Fontes Eliana M. G. , Pires Carmen S. S. , Paula Débora P.
Published: August 2023

The structure of macroinvertebrate communities in agroecosystems has been assumed to be modular and organized around key herbivore pests. We characterized the macroinvertebrate community in the annual organic brassica agroecosystem in tropical central Brazil to determine if the community was a random assemblage of independent populations or was organized into repeatable multi-species components. We sampled 36 macroinvertebrate taxa associated with six organic brassica farms at biweekly intervals during the dry season during two years in the Distrito Federal, Brazil. We used an unconstrained ordination based on latent variable modeling (boral) with negative binomial population counts to analyze community composition independent of variation in sample abundance. We evaluated observed community structure by comparing it with randomized alternatives. We found that the community was not a random assemblage and consistently organized itself into two modules based around the major herbivores; one with lepidoptera and whiteflies and their associated natural enemies which was gradually replaced during the season by one with brassica aphids, aphid parasitoids and coccinellids. This analysis suggests that the historical and present-day focus on pest herbivores and their associated species in agroecosystems may be justified based on community structure.
Sense of coherence and religion/spirituality: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on a methodical classification of instruments measuring religion/spirituality
Authors: Jeserich Florian , Klein Constantin , Brinkhaus Benno , Teut Michael
Published: August 2023

The coherence hypothesis assumes that sense of coherence (SOC) explains the positive link between religion/spirituality (R/S) and mental health. The aim of our meta-analysis is to evaluate the evidence for the association between SOC (sensu Antonovsky) and different aspects of R/S and thus to contribute to the verification of the coherence hypothesis. Eighty-nine English- and German-language primarily cross-sectional studies with 67,913 participants met the inclusion criteria. The R/S scales of all included studies were subjected to item-by-item qualitative content analysis in order to determine whether scales do actually measure religion or spirituality and which R/S aspects dominated the instrument. Based on this classification, overall and subgroup meta-analyses were conducted using a random effects model. The adjusted effect size between SOC and all positive R/S measures was r+ = .120, 95% CI [.092, .149]. Particularly significant (r+ < -.180 or > .180) were correlations with negative R/S scales (r+ = -.405, 95% CI [-.476, -.333]), R/S instruments measuring primarily positive emotions (r+ = .212, 95% CI [.170, .253]) or meaning-making (r+ = .196, 95% CI [.126, .265]). Both sample characteristics (age, culture, gender, health status, religious affiliation) and study characteristics (e.g., publication year) had a moderating effect on the R/S-SOC connection. The correlation was particularly high in studies from Southern Asia (r+ = .226, 95% CI [.156, .297]), the African Islamic cultural value zone (r+ = .196, 95% CI [.106, .285]), and in a small subgroup of Iranian studies (r+ = .194, 95% CI [.117, .271]). The results confirm that R/S and SOC are clearly associated and suggest that there are different religious/spiritual pathways to a strong SOC. The strength of the associations presumably depends not only on individual differences, but also on cultural embeddedness and social plausibility of R/S. Trial registration. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021240380. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID = CRD42021240380.
Secure transmission for IoT wireless energy-carrying communication systems
Authors: Wang Pingxin , Jing Zhen , Zhang Zhi , Wang Qing , Li Congcong , Zhu Hongxia
Published: August 2023

The wireless energy-carrying communication method for the Internet of Things (IoT) presents several difficulties for information security such as eavesdropping or data loss. To solve these issues, this paper presents a new secure transmission method for IoT wireless energy-carrying communication systems. In this method, first the secret message is turned into a word, delivered to the intended recipient and unlawful listener, respectively, and the received message is characterized as an entropy function. The message is iteratively solved using the block coordinate descent technique, and for each iteration, a digital baseband signal containing the receiver’s secret message symbol and the matching beamforming vector is delivered. By concurrently optimizing the transmit beamforming vector, the noise covariance matrix, and the receiver power allocation factor based on a design that complies with the security rate and energy acquisition limitations for each receiver, the overall system transmit power is reduced. The Lagrangian method is used to solve the secure transmission problem of the communication system based on an iterative block coordinate descent algorithm, as well as to change the nonconvex problem into a convex problem and precisely derive the upper and lower bounds of the original transmission problem. In comparison to the conventional policy transmission scheme, the experimental results demonstrate that the DIPS (Digital Image Processing System) scheme can increase the STP (Signaling Transfer Point) by approximately 34.16 percent in the eavesdropper independent eavesdropping and joint eavesdropping scenarios. The usefulness of the secure transmission strategy for wireless energy-carrying communication systems is confirmed by this investigation.
Construction of a questionnaire based on the Health Action Process Approach for psycho-social cognitive determinants of parents in brushing children’s teeth in the Netherlands
Authors: van Nes Karin Alexandra , van der Ark L. Andries , van Loveren Cor , Aartman Irene Helena Adriana
Published: August 2023

Background

The health action process approach (HAPA) model is promising to increase the frequency of brushing children’s teeth by parents to improve their children’s oral health. A validated HAPA questionnaire is needed as one of the measures of the effects of such an intervention.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether our data, based on a translated and adopted version of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)-based questionnaire on dental flossing, supported the constructs of the HAPA model. If so, a next aim was to assess whether these constructs could be measured reliably.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 269 questionnaires filled out in dental offices by parents of children 1–10 years old were analysed. Scale validation was performed according to the 6-step protocol of Dima, including Mokken scale analyses (MSA), graded response model (GRM), factor analyses and reliability measures. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to identify divergent validity and test-retest reliability.

Results

MSA showed a unidimensional, medium total scale. Three items were removed based on this analysis. The total scale with the remaining 26 items did not fit the GRM. Factor analysis extracted five factors and two components for the total scale. The separate subscales, except the ‘intention’ construct, fitted the MSA and did not fit the GRM. The data fitted a seven-factor model better than a one-factor model. Reliability measures varied from acceptable to excellent, but were poor for ‘action control’. Test-retest reliability (r’s 0.60–0.83) was questionable to good.

Conclusion

Our results did not fully support the constructs of the HAPA model. To support the HAPA constructs, modification to the subscales risk perceptions, intention, action planning, action control and self-reported behaviour are suggested. With these adjustments, the reliability and validity of the questionnaire could be significantly improved”.
Substance use, psychiatric symptoms, personal mastery, and social support among COVID-19 long haulers: A compensatory model
Authors: Tam Cheuk Chi , Qiao Shan , Garrett Camryn , Zhang Ran , Aghaei Atefeh , Aggarwal Abhishek , Litwin Alain H. , Li Xiaoming
Published: August 2023

Background

Substance use has become a critical health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, and emerging attention has been paid to people with the persistent symptoms of COVID-19 (COVID-19 long haulers) due to their high vulnerability. However, scant research has investigated their substance use and relevant psychosocial factors. The current study was to (1) examine substance use behaviors (i.e., legal drug use, illicit drug use, and non-medical use of prescription drugs); and (2) assessed their associations with psychiatric symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder) and psychosocial factors (i.e., personal mastery and social support) among COVID-19 long haulers.

Methods

In January–March 2022, 460 COVID-19 long haulers (50% female), with an average age of 32, completed online surveys regarding their demographics, substance use, psychiatric symptoms, and psychosocial factors.

Results

In the past three months, the most commonly used or non-medically used substances were tobacco (82%) for legal drugs, cocaine (53%) for illicit drugs, and prescription opioids (67%) for prescription drugs. Structural equation modeling suggested that psychiatric symptoms were positively associated with substance use behaviors (βs = 0.38 to .68, ps < 0.001), while psychosocial factors were negatively associated with substance use behaviors (βs = -0.61 to -0.43, ps < 0.001).

Conclusion

Substance use is common in COVID-19 long haulers and psychiatric symptoms are the risk factors. Personal mastery and social support appear to offer protection offsetting the psychiatric influences. Substance use prevention and mental health services for COVID-19 long haulers should attend to personal mastery and social support.
Modifiable risk factors of major depressive disorder: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zheng Xiaofei , Tong Li , Zhang Chong , Zhang Chaoyang , Zhang Chao , Wan Bangbei
Published: August 2023

Identifying modifiable risk factors early on is essential to prevent major depressive disorder (MDD). This study systematically investigated the causal relationship between 19 modifiable risk factors and MDD. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with 19 potentially modifiable risk factors were screened via the genome-wide association study (GWAS) enrolling individuals of European descent. Summary-level data for MDD (59,851 cases and 113,154 controls) were extracted from the UK Biobank. The inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) method was utilized as the primary analysis. Sensitivity analyses were performed using the MR-Egger method, the Maximum likelihood method, the MR-pleiotropy residual sum outlier (MR-PRESSO) method, and MR-robust adjusted profile score (MR-RAPS) method. MR-Egger regression, heterogeneity tests, pleiotropy tests, and leave-one-out tests were also performed to analyze sensitivity. The MR Steiger test was used to verify the directionality of the exposure to the outcome. Genetically predicted smoking initiation increased the risk of MDD (P = 6.00E-09), while smoking status: never and past tobacco smoking decreased the risk of MDD (all P < 0.01). In addition, education level was inversely associated with MDD risk (all P < 0.01). Genetically instrumented sleeplessness/insomnia, daytime naps, and nap during the day were positively related to the risk of MDD (all P < 0.01). Personal feelings, including guilt, hurt, tension, and worry too long after an embarrassing experience, had a suggestive increased risk for MDD (all P < 0.000). The remaining five modifiable risk factors were all causally associated with the risk of MDD, including neuroticism, neuroticism scores, body mass index (BMI), average total household income before tax, and types of physical activity in the last 4 weeks (all P < 0.01). All 19 potentially modifiable risk factors were causally associated with the risk of MDD. The main hypothesis of this MR study was that identifying and intervening in these 19 potentially modifiable risk factors could be beneficial to the prevention and treatment of MDD and further reduce mortality and economic burden.
Study on characteristics of soil and nutrient losses in Sunjiagou small watershed in cold black soil area
Authors: Dai Taoyan , Wang Liquan , Li Tienan , Qiu Pengpeng , Wang Jun , Wang Zhengjun
Published: August 2023

Investigating the impact of different factors on soil and nutrient loss and suggesting viable control measures is currently a significant concern. This study aims to examine the variations in soil erosion, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus loss, in the core area of the typical hilly diffuse Blackland erosion control. To achieve this, runoff plots with slopes of 3° and 5° were set up in the Sunjiagou sub-basin, located in the upper reaches of the Feiketu River. These plots were subjected to various soil and water conservation measures, along with different levels of vegetation cover. This study aims to analyze the soil and nutrient loss patterns and characteristics in each runoff plot during the natural rainfall events occurring between 2020 and 2022. The results show that soil and nutrient losses are highly significantly and positively correlated with rainfall intensity. The RUSLE model demonstrates a better fit for both cross ridge tillage and bare ground. The loss of nitrogen was much more significant than that of phosphorus, and nitrate nitrogen is the main form of nitrogen loss. Nitrogen loss is mainly dominated by nitrate nitrogen (NN), which is easily soluble in water and constantly migrates with runoff due to the negatively charged NN (NN accounted for 45.2% ~ 81.8% of total nitrogen (TN)). In contrast, the positively charged ammonia nitrogen (AN) is more stable in combination with the soil; large losses only occur under severe sediment erosion. Phosphorus is easily attached to sediment, and the high sediment production leads to a more serious loss of total phosphorus (PP) in the particulate state (PP accounts for 72.7% ~ 96.2% of total phosphorus (TP)). Changing longitudinal ridge tillage to cross ridge tillage and planting vegetation with better water retention and sediment fixation as plant hedges can effectively prevent the loss of soil, runoff, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Approach to standardized material characterization of the human lumbopelvic system—Specification, preparation and storage
Authors: Kurz Sascha , Gebhardt Marc , Grundmann Fanny , Heyde Christoph-Eckhard , Steinke Hanno
Published: August 2023

The complexity of the osseo-ligamentous lumbopelvic system has made it difficult to perform both, the overall preparation as well as specimen harvesting and material testing with a reasonable amount of time and personnel. The logistics of such studies present a hurdle for reproducibility. A structured procedure was developed and proved, which allows all necessary steps to be carried out reproducibly and in a reasonable time. This enables the extraction of 26 soft tissue, 33 trabecular and 32 cortical bone specimens from this anatomical region per cadaver. The integrity of the specimens remains maintained while keeping requirements within manageable limits. The practicability of the intended five-day specimen harvesting and testing procedure could be demonstrated on five test and two pre-test sequences. The intended minimization of physical, biological, and chemical external influences on specimens could be achieved. All protocols, instructions and models of preparation and storage devices are included in the supporting information. The high grade of applicability and reproducibility will lead to better comparability between different biomechanical investigations. This procedure proven on the human pelvis is transferable to other anatomical regions.
Cauchy combination omnibus test for normality
Authors: Meng Zhen , Jiang Zhenzhen
Published: August 2023

Testing whether data are from a normal distribution is a traditional problem and is of great concern for data analyses. The normality is the premise of many statistical methods, such ast-test, HotellingT2test and ANOVA. There are numerous tests in the literature and the commonly used ones are Anderson-Darling test, Shapiro-Wilk test and Jarque-Bera test. Each test has its own advantageous points since they are developed for specific patterns and there is no method that consistently performs optimally in all situations. Since the data distribution of practical problems can be complex and diverse, we propose a Cauchy Combination Omnibus Test (CCOT) that is robust and valid in most data cases. We also give some theoretical results to analyze the good properties of CCOT. Two obvious advantages of CCOT are that not only does CCOT have a display expression for calculating statistical significance, but extensive simulation results show its robustness regardless of the shape of distribution the data comes from. Applications to South African Heart Disease and Neonatal Hearing Impairment data further illustrate its practicability.
Purchasing decisions on date palm fruits: A quantitative analysis of the Khalas cultivar
Authors: Al-Mahish Mohammed , Almulhim Tarifa , Alali Maryam
Published: August 2023

This study examines the attributes of date palm fruits that influence consumer purchasing decisions and measures the attributes’ relative importance weights for understanding consumption patterns relative to the cultivation areas. A case study was conducted for a selected date fruit, Khalas, which is cultivated in Saudi Arabia and ranked first in the world in exported dates. Our empirical investigation is based on utilizing a proposed quantitative analysis that integrated the entropy weighting method and binary logit models. With this survey design, 486 questionnaires were collected. Analysis results revealed a ranking list of preferred attributes, with size, mellowness, price, and color being the most valued. However, this ranking list fluctuates when different cultivated types of Khalas dates are available. The results also showed that consumption patterns may change in terms of preference index and shopping location. The paper concludes with a discussion of managerial implications, limitations, and future research directions.
Collaborative measurement of data opening policy in China’s municipal government data management system: Taking a regional central city as an example
Authors: Li Yan , Yang Qian , Wang Chunzi , Sun Yinhe
Published: August 2023

In the current era of big data, the exponential increase in the volume of social data has exerted a significant influence on the government and all sectors of society, with the opening of government data becoming an irresistible trend. In this paper, several regional central cities are selected as the representatives of municipal governments to analyze the characteristics and weaknesses of their data-opening policies from various perspectives including policy effectiveness, policy tools, and policy targets. This is of reference significance for the municipal governments of an individual country in the formulation of data opening policies. To be specific, with 2015–2021 as the timeline, based on the six regions of the country, the central cities of each region are selected as representatives of municipal cities, and the text coding of 85 data opening policies implemented in regional central cities are performed. On this basis, a “policy tool-policy targets-policy effectiveness” collaborative measurement model is constructed through the policy tool theory, and the co-evolution analysis of the relevant policies is conducted. The research results are as follows. Firstly, there is a positive correlation between the total policy effectiveness and its quantity, indicating that the number of data-opening policies plays a positive role to a certain extent. However, the average effectiveness shows no significant increase, indicating the inadequate specificity of each policy. Secondly, the degree of synergy between policy tools fluctuates periodically, indicating that the government is constantly trying new methods, with more importance attached to the synergy between government capacity cultivation and positive incentive tools. Thirdly, policy targets continue to show new connotations over time, and there has been new progress made in the coordination between the other three objectives driven by data opening. However, it is imperative to enhance the synergy between the objectives of building a smart city and improving the services related to livelihood. Finally, some targeted suggestions are put forward on how to further improve the data opening policy implemented by municipal governments from three perspectives.
The GLA:D® Canada program for knee and hip osteoarthritis: A comprehensive profile of program participants from 2017 to 2022
Authors: Young James J. , Perruccio Anthony V. , Veillette Christian J. H. , McGlasson Rhona A. , Zywiel Michael G.
Published: August 2023

Background

The Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark (GLA:D®) program was implemented in Canada in 2017 with the aim of making treatment guideline-recommended care available to the 4 million Canadians with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA). This report describes the GLA:D® Canada program, registry and data collection procedures, and summarizes the sociodemographic and clinical profile of participants with knee and hip OA to inform the scientific research community of the availability of these data for future investigations and collaborations.

Methods

The GLA:D® program consists of three standardized components: a training course for health care providers, a group-based patient education and exercise therapy program, and a participant data registry. Patients seeking care for knee or hip OA symptoms and enrolling in GLA:D® are given the option to provide data to the GLA:D® Canada registry. Participants agreeing to provide data complete a pre-program survey and are followed up after 3-, and 12-months. Data collected on the pre-program and follow-up surveys include sociodemographic factors, clinical characteristics, health status measures, and objective physical function tests. These variables were selected to capture information across relevant health constructs and for future research investigations.

Results

At 2022 year-end, a total of 15,193 (11,228 knee; 3,965 hip) participants were included in the GLA:D® Canada registry with 7,527 (knee; 67.0%) and 2,798 (hip; 70.6%) providing pre-program data. Participants were 66 years of age on average, predominately female, and overweight or obese. Typically, participants had knee or hip problems for multiple years prior to initiating GLA:D®, multiple symptomatic knee and hip joints, and at least one medical comorbidity. Before starting the program, the average pain intensity was 5 out of 10, with approximately 2 out of 3 participants using pain medication and 1 in 3 participants reporting a desire to have joint surgery. Likewise, 9 out 10 participants report having previously been given a diagnosis of OA, with 9 out 10 also reporting having had a radiograph, of which approximately 87% reported the radiograph showed signs of OA.

Conclusion

We have described the GLA:D® Canada program, registry and data collection procedures, and provided a detailed summary to date of the profiles of participants with knee and hip OA. These individual participant data have the potential to be linked with local health administrative data registries and comparatively assessed with other international GLA:D® registries. Researchers are invited to make use of these rich datasets and participate in collaborative endeavours to tackle questions of Canadian and global importance for a large and growing clinical population of individuals with hip and knee OA.
‘We prefer protégé’: The temporal function of sidekicks in Young Justice and Titans
Authors: Hatchell Rusty
Published: August 2023

Over the past four decades, since the transition of Robin into the Nightwing superhero persona in DC’s Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (July 1984), sidekick characters have become increasingly relevant in their narrative function for DC’s overall superhero storytelling and world-building strategies. By examining the comic book and television narratives across Teen Titans and Young Justice titles, this article argues for a critical examination in how sidekicks mature into independent superheroes and how this impacts the broader storytelling paradigm for DC and their related media. The animated Young Justice and live-action Titans series highlight the progression in a sidekick’s temporal function, guiding not only their own maturation into independent superheroes but also the overall evolution of the superhero storytelling genre, allowing the passage of time, the inevitable death of the superhero and the renaissance of the sidekick-turned-superhero.