bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A real-world data analysis of electronic health records to investigate the associations of predominant negative symptoms with healthcare resource utilisation, costs and treatment patterns among patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Patel Rashmi , Dembek Carole , Won Yida , Kadakia Aditi , Huang Xueyan , Zeni Courtney , Pikalov Andrei
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are associated with significant illness burden. We sought to investigate clinical outcomes for patients with schizophrenia who present with predominant negative symptoms (PNS) vs without PNS.

Design

Retrospective analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data.

Setting

25 US providers of mental healthcare.

Participants

4444 adults with schizophrenia receiving care between 1999 and 2020.

Exposure

PNS defined as ≥3 negative symptoms and ≤3 positive symptoms recorded in EHR data at the time of the first recorded schizophrenia diagnosis (index date). Symptom data were ascertained using natural language processing applied to semistructured free text records documenting the mental state examination. A matched sample (1:1) of patients without PNS was used to compare outcomes. Follow-up data were obtained up to 12 months following the index date.

Primary outcome measure

Mean number of psychiatric hospital admissions.

Secondary outcome measures

Mean number of outpatient visits, estimated treatment costs, Clinical Global Impression – Severity score and antipsychotic treatments (12 months before and after index date).

Results

360 (8%) patients had PNS and 4084 (92%) did not have PNS. Patients with PNS were younger (36.4 vs 39.7 years, p<0.001) with a greater prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities (schizoaffective disorders: 25.0 vs 18.4%, p=0.003; major depressive disorder: 17.8 vs 9.8%, p<0.001). During follow-up, patients with PNS had fewer days with an antipsychotic prescription (mean=111.8 vs 140.9 days, p<0.001). Compared with matched patients without PNS, patients with PNS were more likely to have a psychiatric inpatient hospitalisation (76.1% vs 59.7%, p<0.001) and had greater estimated inpatient costs ($16 893 vs $13 732, p=0.04).

Conclusions

Patients with PNS were younger and presented with greater illness severity and more psychiatric comorbidities compared with patients without PNS. Our findings highlight an unmet need for novel therapeutic approaches to address negative symptoms to improve clinical outcomes.
Latent profile analysis of mindful self-care and associations with mental health among nurses in China
Authors: Yang Zhongfu , Zhou Yehong , Wan Weiwei , Li Mingdan , Yan Weiping , Jiang Hu
Published: August 2024

Background

Despite the crucial role of mindfulness and self-care in nurses’ physical and mental health, as well as their professional well-being, most nurses exhibit low levels of self-care. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding of the diverse subgroups of mindful self-care among nurses.

Objectives

The present study delved into the diverse groups of mindful self-care among nurses and investigated the correlation between these groups and their mental health.

Methods

Convenience sampling was used to select nurses from Guizhou province, China, from August to September 2023. A total of 1020 nurses were investigated, and 1001 questionnaires were included, for an effective return rate of 98.1%. The demographic characteristics questionnaire, Chinese version of the Brief Mindful Self-Care Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 and Perceived Stress Scale were used. Latent profile analysis was performed on the characteristics of nurses’ mindful self-care, and the correlations between the latent profiles, demographic characteristics and mental well-being were identified using chi-square tests, Spearman correlation analyses and non-parametric tests.

Results

A total of 1001 nurses were included, and they were divided into four heterogeneous subgroups: the Inconsistent Mindful Self-Care Group (4.40%), Balanced Development Group (43.36%), Moderate Mindful Self-Care Group (39.36%), and High Mindful Self-Care Group (12.89%). Results of single factor analysis showed that the nurses’ department and average monthly income were the factors influencing the potential profiles. Mindful self-care negatively correlated with anxiety and depression but was not correlated with perceived stress. There were significant differences in perceived stress, anxiety and depression between different mindful self-care groups.

Conclusion

The present study used latent profile analysis to identify four distinct subgroups of hospital nurses based on their mindful self-care and revealed varying levels of anxiety, depression and perceived stress between groups. These results emphasise the need for tailored mindful self-care strategies to promote nurses’ well-being.
Work-related road traffic accidents: emergence of new modes of personal journey – analysis based on data from a register of road traffic accidents in France
Authors: Fort Emmanuel , Connesson Nicolas , Brière Julien , Ndiaye Amina , Gadegbeku Blandine , Charbotel Barbara
Published: August 2024

Introduction

According to the 2018–2019 People Mobility Survey, work-related journeys (commuting and on-duty journeys) account for approximately 25% of all journeys. The use of non-motorised (nm) and motorised (m) personal mobility devices (PMDs) has steadily increased since their introduction into the French market in the last decade.

Objective

This study aimed to describe the characteristics of work-related road accidents and their evolution since the introduction of new PMDs in France and the increase in the use of scooters.

Materials and methods

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study using data from the Rhône Road Trauma Registry. Data were collected from 2015 to 2020. We included the data for the victims aged 18–70 years who were injured in work-related road accidents.

Results

We identified 11 296 individuals aged 18–70 years who experienced work-related road accidents. An injury report was provided for a total of 11 277 patients. A total of 546 passengers and 78 drivers of other motorised vehicles (buses/trams, construction equipment and tractors) were excluded from the analysis. Seven patients died at the time of the accident and seven died after hospitalisation. Of the 10 653 (94.4%) victims, there were pedestrians (5.1%) or riders of bicycles (16.9%), scooters (3.8%), other PMDs (roller blades, skateboards, monowheels, gyropods and hoverboards; 0.4%) and motorised two wheelers (21.4%), or drivers of car (45.3%), and truck (1.5%). More than half of the scooter riders and 80% of other PMD riders were men. More than 60% of other PMD riders and 53% of scooter riders were under 34 years of age. Most scooter road accidents occurred during commuting (95.6%). 65% of the scooter accidents and 50% of other PMD accidents did not have opponents. Overall, one-quarter of the victims experienced accidents without opponents. Most scooter riders had injuries to their upper limbs (59.2%), lower limbs (46.8%), face (21.2%) or head (17.9%).

Discussion

This original study on work-related road accidents allowed us to characterise the increase in work-related road accidents associated with new modes of travel, particularly scooters. The results observed for users of scooters and other PMDs in this study were generally consistent with those found in the scientific literature. Despite limited data, the results suggest that accidents involving scooters or other PMDs are of low severity.

Conclusion

Many head injuries could be prevented with more widespread use of helmets, among scooter and other PMD users and bicycle users.
Meeting report: patient and caregiver recommendations for a mobile health application for paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Guardino Katrina , Gaerlan Malaya , Pinotti Caitlan S , Burnett Kimberly R , Kofoed Deborah , Schanberg Laura Eve , Hightow-Weidman Lisa B , Randell Rachel L
Published: August 2024

Paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) management and research could be enhanced by a mobile health application (app); however, no app designed for pSLE is currently available. A development and design committee comprising of patients, parents/caregivers and other stakeholders met to inform development and design of an app specific for pSLE. This meeting report summarises the group’s discussions and recommendations that could help create a useful and desirable app or mobile health tool for the pSLE community.
Mycoplasma genitaliumtreatment outcomes among a cohort failing macrolide resistance-guided treatment across three London sexual health clinics
Authors: Johnson Kate , Buluwela Ella , McDonald Gemma , Golden John , Dickinson Molly , Jones Rachael , Girometti Nicolo , Jagjitsingh Gurmit , Rayment Michael
Published: August 2024

Objective

British guidelines advise treatment ofMycoplasma genitalium(Mgen) infection using the results of macrolide resistance-associated mutation (MRAM) assays. Limited data informs management when patients fail MRAM-guided treatment. This study evaluates current management strategies employed for cases ofMgeninfection with MRAM-guided treatment failure.

Design

This retrospective analysis reviewed laboratory and clinical data pertaining to all positiveMgenresults between 28 May 2020 and 05 November 2022 across three London sexual health clinics. Treatment failure was defined as microbiological or clinical failure, despite appropriate MRAM-guided treatment with full compliance and no re-infection risk. Where MRAM status was unable to be determined, samples were excluded.

Results

340 samples were included from mostly male (74.4%) patients with a mean age of 30 years. The majority of tests were sent for urethritis (63.8%), and most infections were present without concurrent STIs (83.5%). 183 (53.8%) samples were MRAM positive; 157 (46.1%) were wild type. 152/183 (83.1%) received MRAM-guided treatment. 49/152 (32.2%) cases of MRAM-guided treatment failure were identified. 32/49 (65.3%) achieved either microbiological or clinical cure through a variety of treatment regimens. 66.6% of nine patients who received pristinamycin achieved microbiological cure; two patients were cured by minocycline. Many patients received multiple courses of moxifloxacin despite previous failures.

Conclusion

Whilst high compliance with recommended MRAM-guided therapy was identified, there were also high rates of quinolone therapy failure (32.2%). Barriers to appropriate treatment include a lack of quinolone resistance assays and the non-availability of sitafloxacin in Europe, along with the limited availability of pristinamycin and minocycline in the UK during the study dates. We recommend developing a standardised management pathway for treatment resistant cases.
High early mortality after percutaneous liver biopsy in metastatic cancer: national analysis
Authors: King Dominic Stephen , Coupland Benjamin , Mytton Jemma , Speakman John , Lock Anna , Sanyal Nikhil , Nelms Louisa , Rayner Sophie , Nanton Veronica , Dosanjh Amandeep , Patel Prashant , Trudgill Nigel
Published: August 2024

Objective

The study aimed to assess outcomes in patients undergoing liver biopsy for metastatic cancer, focusing on mortality rates and chemotherapy following their biopsy.

Methods

Hospital Episode Statistics data from 2010 to 2019 identified 30 992 patients with metastatic cancer who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy. Primary outcomes included 14-day and 30-day mortality rates, as well as the proportion receiving chemotherapy within 6 months.

Results

30 992 patients were studied (median age of 69 (IQR 59–74) years, 52% female). 28% underwent inpatient biopsy with 8% dying within 14 days and 26% within 30 days. Outpatient biopsies had lower mortality rates: 2.2% at 14 days and 8.6% at 30 days.

30-day mortality was associated with: inpatient biopsy (OR 3.5 (95% CI 3.26 to 3.76)) and increasing comorbidity (Charlson score 1–4: 1.21 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.32)); but negatively with all ages under 70 (eg, for 18–29 years 0.35 (95% CI 0.20 to 0.63)) and biopsy at a radiotherapy centre (0.88 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.95)).

46% of patients received chemotherapy within 6 months of biopsy (53% with outpatient biopsies but only 33% with inpatient biopsies). Receiving chemotherapy was associated with: all ages under 70 (eg, 18–29 years 3.3 (95% CI 2.62 to 5.30)), female sex (1.06 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.11)) and medium (1.13 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.22) and high (1.49 (95% CI 1.38 to 1.62)) volume liver biopsy providers; but negatively with inpatient biopsy (0.45 (95% CI 0.43 to 0.48)) and increasing comorbidity (Charlson score 1–4: 0.85 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.91)).

Conclusions

Mortality rates following liver biopsy for metastatic cancer are notably higher among patients undergoing emergency inpatient procedures. Clinicians should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of biopsy in elderly, comorbid or poor performance status patients. Multidisciplinary approaches involving palliative care may aid in decision-making for these patients.
Repeated intrathecal phenol injections for cancer pain
Authors: Pallot John Michael , Young Steve , Egler Christian
Published: August 2024

Intrathecal phenol neurolysis is a treatment of last resort for specific refractory cancer pains. However, there is a paucity of evidence in the academic literature and no recent documented evidence of repeat injections on the same patient. We aim to present our experience and learning from repeat interventions on the same patient in order to further the evidence base for medical professionals managing pain in a palliative care setting.
Global Texts, Unified Action: Tackling Cyberbullying Across Multiple Languages
Authors: Faraj Azhi , Utku Semih
Published: August 2024

Cyberbullying, a widespread issue in digital communication, involves using online platforms to harass or demean individuals. Addressing it effectively requires understanding its manifestations across different linguistic contexts. This study presents a novel approach to cyberbullying detection, exploring its manifestations in seven languages through two distinct research paradigms: monolingual and multilingual scenarios. The monolingual approach focuses on developing and testing detection models within a single language framework. In contrast, the multilingual approach, which has shown superior performance, integrates data from multiple languages to train a unified model. This innovative strategy aims to harness broader linguistic diversity and enhance the model’s generalizability. We utilized three computational models: SONAR[Formula: see text]DNN, MUSE[Formula: see text]CNN-BiLSTM, and XLM-RoBERTa, with the SONAR[Formula: see text]DNN architecture demonstrating the most effective performance. This model combines SONAR’s sentence-level embeddings with the nuanced understanding of DNN, making it particularly adept at handling the complex variations of cyberbullying across languages. Our results indicate that multilingual models perform better, particularly in languages with significant representation, such as Arabic and English. Our evaluation shows that our models consistently outperform the best-recorded results on seven diverse datasets, achieving superior performance in six. This significant achievement underscores the robustness of our approach and marks an essential advancement in cyberbullying detection.
An Image Dataset and an Effective Detection Algorithm for Human Body Acupoints
Authors: Zhang Yugui , Feng Anyi , Zhang Liping , Li Bin , Zhang Lu , Cao Fengcai , Li Weijun , Wang Linpeng , Liu Xu , Zhou Mingliang
Published: August 2024

With the development of artificial intelligence, computer vision technology has been widely used in the fields of security monitoring, automatic driving and wisdom city. However, there has not been a research on the detection of the meridians in human bodies by using the computer vision technology. In order to promote the use of the computer vision technology in human meridian detection, this paper first releases a dataset based on human meridians, which makes up for the gap in the field of human meridian detection using image processing technology. Moreover, the human meridian detection dataset is manually annotated and proofread by experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners according to the position and direction of the human meridians, so that the annotated human meridians are as accurate as possible. The released human meridian dataset label’s 12 meridians, including spleen meridian, pericardium meridian, stomach meridian, lung meridian, heart meridian, kidney meridian, gallbladder meridian, liver meridian, triple energizer meridian, bladder meridian, large intestine meridian and small intestine meridian. A total of 296 acupoints were labeled. At last, this paper proposes a method for data augmentation, especially for datasets with a small amount of data, wherein the data amount can be augmented by enhancing the underlying edge visual features of the data. Experimental results show that human meridians can be detected by using image processing technology, and the proposed method for data augmentation can effectively improve the detection accuracy of human meridians. The dataset can be downloaded from https://www.zksylf.com/col.jsp?id=127 .
Review on Response Amplification Technology for Shock Absorption
Authors: Xu Fei , Ji Jinbao , Zhang Yutong , Liu Shuang
Published: August 2024

The response amplification technology, which enhances the efficiency of shock absorption apparatuses, has been widely applied in the field of shock absorption control for engineering structures. Researchers have proposed and verified through numerical analysis and experiments more structural forms of this technology as applicable. The functions are also more comprehensive, such as increased utilization rate of structural space and economy. The development of its theoretical foundation has progressed from constant solutions based on small deformations to solutions that reflect the time-varying characteristics of the amplification factor of the brace-damping system. Simultaneously, the influencing factors of the amplification factor have been analyzed in detail to provide better theoretical guidance for engineering practice. This paper provides a detailed discussion on the research overview of the response amplification technology and the influencing factors of the amplification factor. The conclusion introduces the significance of using this technology, comprehensively analyzes the deficiencies and limitations of existing response amplification technology, and points out the research and development direction, with the expectation of providing ideas for further development.
Penetration Resistance Mechanism and Damage Characteristics of Polyurea-Coated B4C Ceramic Plates
Authors: Wang Ziyi , Guo Ce’an , Zhao Shuang , Wang Jipeng , Cheng Chun , Yu Qiuchi
Published: August 2024

A 12-mm caliber gas gun was used to launch a high-strength steel cylindrical projectile to impact a polyurea-coated B4C ceramic target plate to investigate the effects of the polyurea coating position and the thickness of the polyurea coating on the protective ability of the ceramic composite target plate, reveal the penetration resistance mechanism of the polyurea-coated B4C ceramic plate and protection mechanism of polyurea coating. The result showed that the ceramic cone top diameter of the composite target plate coated with polyurea on the front side was 52.4–60.5% lower than that of the uncoated ceramic target plate, and the ceramic cone bottom diameter was 0.2–4% lower than that of the uncoated ceramic target plate. For the same area density, the ceramic target plate coated with polyurea on both sides had the largest percentage of mass remaining and the smallest mass of dislodged ceramic fragments. In addition, composite target plates coated with polyurea on the back side and both sides significantly reduced the head velocity of the post-target debris cloud. The polyurea coating on the front of the target plate utilizes the strain rate effect to dissipate the kinetic energy of the projectile and inhibit the spallation of ceramic fragments toward the front of the target plate. The polyurea coating on the back of the target plate utilizes bulge deformation to dissipate the kinetic energy of the projectile and intercepts the scattering of the post-target debris cloud. The polyurea coating effectively reduces ceramic target plate damage and improves composite target plate integrity level and resistance penetration.
Revolutionizing the Electronic Industry: A Comprehensive Exploration of 3D Printing and Its Application
Authors: Karlekar Vaishnavi , Kulkarni Venkatesh , Tiwary Vivek , Malik Vinayak R. , Arunkumar P.
Published: August 2024

The market for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) printed electronics has expanded significantly in recent years, and there is a growing need for diverse printing methods in electronics for a range of applications. This review paper presents an overview of the currently available 3D printing techniques that could be employed for printing electronics, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of each method. The paper goes on further to highlight a few of the significant applications of the technology in the domain of electronics, specifically related to 3D printing of wearable sensors and oximeters, strain sensors, 5G polymer antennas, and power electronic converters. For instance, 3D-printed wearable devices with integrated force and temperature sensors mimic human skin, while 3D-printed strain sensors enhance motion tracking in wearable electronics. The review also covers case studies, such as Nano Dimension’s DragonFly LDM system for rapid PCB prototyping and New Balance’s smart insoles with embedded electronics. Notable results include the significant volume reduction of 3D-printed inductors in power converters and the successful integration of sensors in smart insoles for real-time biomechanical monitoring. Finally, the paper ends with the technological difficulties as well as the potential applications for 3D-printed electronics in the near future. After reading this review paper, one will have a better knowledge of how the electronics industry may make use of the specialized technology of 3D printing for its applications.
Analysis of Hasse–Weil L-function and associated entire functions applied in mathematical physics
Authors: Yang Xiao-Jun
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we study the analytic ranks of the Hasse–Weil [Formula: see text]-function. We consider the products for the completed Hasse–Weil [Formula: see text]-function in the framework of the theory of modular forms. We propose the new conjectures for the deformed Fourier sine and cosine integral formulas related to the completed Hasse–Weil [Formula: see text]-functions and Mittag-Leffler function. We show the entire-function solutions for the fractional diffusion equations in mathematical physics. We also discuss the trivial zeros of the Hasse–Weil [Formula: see text]-function.
Global insights into a stochastic SIRS epidemic model with Beddington–DeAngelis incidence rate
Authors: Tang Ruoshi , Wang Hao , Qiu Zhipeng , Feng Tao
Published: August 2024

This study develops a stochastic SIRS compartmental model for exploring the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases, integrating the Beddington–DeAngelis incidence rate and vaccination. In the deterministic case, the reproduction number [Formula: see text] is derived, and the global dynamics is analyzed using the Lyapunov function with respect to [Formula: see text]. The outcomes underscore that [Formula: see text] completely governs the overall dynamics of the system. In the stochastic case, the primary challenge arises from the two-dimensional boundary system, preventing the Fokker–Planck equation from obtaining the density function of the invariant measure. To address the weak convergence property regarding the invariant measure for both the stochastic system and its corresponding two-dimensional boundary system, the concept of limit measures is introduced. The theoretical results indicate that the persistence and extinction of the infectious disease are entirely determined by the Lyapunov exponent [Formula: see text], representing the long-term growth rate. Numerical simulations further support these findings.
Dynamics of the nonlocal diffusive model for a single species with incorporation of natural death rate into distribution function
Authors: Wu Haihui , Shen Xiaoqin , Xu Jinhu , Li Qian
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of solutions to diffusive nonlocal Nicholson’s blowflies equations, wherein a natural death rate of the immature population is included in the distribution function. We first prove the positivity and boundedness of positive solutions in the model by using the minimum principle and the method of lower and upper solutions. Subsequently, we conduct a detailed bifurcation and stability analysis to obtain conditions on all the diffusion coefficients and the death rate coefficient of the immature population required for the emergence of spatiotemporal patterns, including spatially nonhomogeneous time periodic orbits. Our results indicate that the model can undergo Hopf bifurcation when the diffusion rate of the mature population passes through a sequence of critical values. Additionally, we examine the dependence of Hopf bifurcation points and bifurcated oscillations on model parameters, including the diffusion rate and death rate of the immature population. Finally, we report numerical simulations based on the bifurcation analysis to demonstrate the theoretical results, and it will help us better understand the ecological characteristics and behavioral patterns of the blowfly population.
Analysis of control measures inducing the evolution of infectious viral diseases
Authors: Yin Kaiqian , Meng Xinzhu
Published: August 2024

With the continuation of the infectious disease, pathogens mutate and interact with the resident pathogen. In this paper, we develop an SIR model that considers the evolution of viral virulence under the regulation of different defense strengths. By using infectious disease dynamics and evolutionary adaptive dynamics, we obtain the evolutionary criteria allowing for evolutionary branching and continuously stable strategy across varying intensities of prevention and control measures. Our study finds that robust prevention and control measures can contribute to a rapid evolutionary trend toward higher virulence. We perform a critical function analysis to reveal the evolutionary consequences of trade-offs of arbitrary shape and analyze a diverse range of evolutionary dynamics. Furthermore, we investigate the coexistence of two different strains and construct an evolutionary model to obtain their invasion fitness functions and the evolutionarily singular coalition of the dimorphism. We contemplate the presence of secondary branching on a significantly extended evolutionary time scale. Last, we conduct the numerical simulations to prove our theoretical findings. This reveals the law that the evolutionary state of pathogens is affected by the intensity of prevention and control strategies. The results and methods can be used as references for studying the effects of other factors on virus evolution.
Impact of social media and word-of-mouth on the transmission dynamics of communicable and non-communicable diseases
Authors: Rai Rajanish Kumar , Pal Kalyan Kumar , Tiwari Pankaj Kumar , Martcheva Maia , Misra Arvind Kumar
Published: August 2024

This study delves into the intricate interplay between social media platforms, interpersonal word-of-mouth communication, and the transmission dynamics associated with non-communicable diseases, with a particular emphasis on type 2 diabetes. Leveraging advanced mathematical modeling and epidemiological methodologies, our objective is to furnish a comprehensive understanding of how information dissemination through digital and interpersonal networks can impact the proliferation of such diseases within populations. We conduct sensitivity analysis to discern the pivotal model parameters that can wield a substantial influence on the dynamics of disease transmission and control. Moreover, we endeavor to explore the capacity of these model parameters to elicit stability or instability within the system. Our focus lies in the rigorous examination of Hopf and transcritical bifurcations within the system. Furthermore, we consider the influence of seasonal fluctuations in the growth rate of social media advertisements with an aim to discern its role in potentially instigating chaotic dynamics within the context of disease progression. In sum, this research seeks to offer a comprehensive and scientifically robust understanding of the patterns of type 2 diabetes and associated communicable diseases within the context of evolving digital communication landscapes.
COVID-19 dynamics and mutation: Linking intra-host and inter-hosts dynamics via agent-based modeling approach
Authors: Adewole Matthew O. , Okposo Newton I. , Abdullah Farah A. , Ali Majid K. M.
Published: August 2024

The study addresses the global impact of COVID-19 by developing a mathematical model that combines within-host and between-host factors to better understand the disease’s dynamics. It begins by describing SARS-CoV-2 dynamics within individual human hosts using fractional-order differential equations. The model is shown to be Ulam–Hyers stable, ensuring reliable predictions. The research then investigates virus transmission from infected to susceptible individuals using agent-based modeling (ABM). This approach allows us to capture the diversity and heterogeneity among individuals, including variations in internal state of individuals, immune response and responses to interventions, making the model more realistic compared to aggregate models. The agent-based model places individuals on a square lattice, assigns health states (susceptible, infectious, or recovered), and relies on infected individuals’ viral load for transmission. Parameter values are stochastically generated via Latin hypercube sampling. The study further explores the impact of viral mutation and control measures. Simulations demonstrate that vaccination substantially reduces transmission but may not eliminate it entirely. The strategy is more effective when vaccinated individuals are evenly distributed across the population, as opposed to concentrated on one side. The research further reveals that while reducing transmission probability decreases infections by implementing prevention protocols, it does not proportionally correlate with the reduction magnitude. This discrepancy is attributed to the intervention primarily addressing inter-host transmission dynamics without directly influencing intra-host viral dynamics.
Body Movement Mirroring and Synchrony in Human–Robot Interaction
Authors: Stoeva Darja , Kriegler Andreas , Gelautz Margrit
Published: August 2024

This review article provides an overview of papers that have studied body movement mirroring and synchrony within the field of human-robot interaction. The papers included in this review cover system studies, which focus on evaluating the technical aspects of mirroring and synchrony robotic systems, and user studies, which focus on measuring particular interaction outcomes or attitudes towards robots expressing mirroring and synchrony behaviors. We review the papers in terms of the employed robotic platforms and the focus on parts of the body, the techniques used to sense and react to human motion, the evaluation methods, the intended applications of the human-robot interaction systems and the scenarios utilized in user studies. Finally, challenges and possible future directions are considered and discussed.
“I Want It That Way”: Enabling Interactive Decision Support Using Large Language Models and Constraint Programming
Authors: Lawless Connor , Schoeffer Jakob , Le Lindy , Rowan Kael , Sen Shilad , St. Hill Cristina , Suh Jina , Sarrafzadeh Bahareh
Published: August 2024

A critical factor in the success of many decision support systems is the accurate modeling of user preferences. Psychology research has demonstrated that users often develop their preferences during the elicitation process, highlighting the pivotal role of system-user interaction in developing personalized systems. This paper introduces a novel approach, combining Large Language Models (LLMs) with Constraint Programming to facilitate interactive decision support. We study this hybrid framework through the lens of meeting scheduling, a time-consuming daily activity faced by a multitude of information workers. We conduct three studies to evaluate the novel framework, including a diary study to characterize contextual scheduling preferences, a quantitative evaluation of the system’s performance, and a user study to elicit insights with a technology probe that encapsulates our framework. Our work highlights the potential for a hybrid LLM and optimization approach for iterative preference elicitation, and suggests design considerations for building systems that support human-system collaborative decision-making processes.
SECON: Maintaining Semantic Consistency in Data Augmentation for Code Search
Authors: Zhang Xu , Lin Zexu , Hu Xiaoyu , Wang Jianlei , Lu Wenpeng , Zhou De-Yu
Published: August 2024

Efficient code search techniques are crucial in accelerating software development by aiding developers in locating specific code snippets and understanding code functionalities. This study investigates code search methodologies, focusing on the emerging significance of semantic consistency in data augmentation techniques. While existing approaches predominantly enhance raw data, often requiring additional preprocessing and incurring higher training costs, this research introduces a pioneering method operating at the code and query representation levels. By bypassing the need for extensive data processing, this novel approach fosters an interactive alignment between code and query, augmenting the semantic coherence crucial for effective code search. An extensive empirical evaluation of a diverse dataset across multiple programming languages substantiates the efficacy of this approach in significantly enhancing code search model performance compared to traditional methodologies. The implementation is publicly available on GitHub,

1

offering an accessible resource for further exploration and application.
Stochastic Optimal Reconfiguration and Placement of Photovoltaic Systems in Distribution Networks: A Real Case Study
Authors: Najafi Mohammad , Miveh Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2024

In this paper, a stochastic multi‐objective (MO) modeling for the optimal reconfiguration and placement of photovoltaic (PV) systems in distribution networks (DNs) is presented. The main objectives are to jointly maximize the profit of generating companies (GenCos) as well as to minimize the distribution company’s (DisCo) costs and the expected interruption cost (ECOST). This approach can provide numerous economic and technical advantages for all players in the restructured power system, including GenCos, DisCos, and customers. To attain more practical and accurate results in the simultaneous placement of PVs and reconfiguration, uncertainties are considered in the problem formulation. To cope with the stochastic behavior of PV systems, electricity prices, and demands in the DN, the scenario approach is used. The proposed optimization problem is solved by the dragonfly algorithm (DA) and the best compromise solution is chosen using a fuzzy satisfying criterion. The results are also compared with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. To confirm the effectiveness of the proposed MO model, it is implemented on the IEEE 33‐bus DN and simulated in various case studies. The model is also applied to a real DN. The results confirm that the proposed model gives a more desired schedule than previous approaches, as all players in the DN including the PV owners, DisCo, and customers are satisfied at the same time.
Challenges of Blockchain Implementation in Construction
Authors: Waqar Ahsan , Alharbi Lubna A. , Abdullah Alotaibi Faiz , Alrasheed Khaled A. , Khan Abdul Mateen , Almujibah Hamad
Published: August 2024

The implementation of blockchain techniques in extensive building work undertakings has encountered multiple obstacles. The barriers encompass a variety of areas including technical, functional, economic, social, and standardization concerns. Notwithstanding the growing recognition of the prospective advantages of blockchain technology among the building industry, there exists a paucity of the literature that delves into the obstacles of implementing blockchain technology in extensive building undertakings. The purpose of this study is to check the difficulties attached with the implementation of blockchain technology in extensive building undertakings. This research study uses a mixed‐method technique that combines structural equation modelling (SEM) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess the data gathered from a survey of construction industry experts. The conclusions of this research study recommend that the implementation of blockchain technology in large‐scale building projects is significantly impacted by various barriers, including procedural, technical, functional, standardization, social, and economic factors. This research study reveals that the primary obstacles to standardization, technical integration, and functional implementation are the absence of established norms, barriers to assimilating with current systems, and restricted utilization scenarios, respectively. Furthermore, this research study has revealed that the primary, social, and economic hurdles for implementation of blockchain technology in extensive building projects are stakeholders’ reluctance to change, disputes over ownership, and the challenge of demonstrating a definitive return on investment. The study’s implications indicate that the building industry should establish a uniform methodology for implementing blockchain technology that effectively tackles the barriers brought to light in this study. This study’s results provide great views to different stakeholders in the building industry, such as construction managers, investors, and regulators, regarding the difficulties involved in implementing blockchain technology in extensive building projects. The research implications underscore the necessity for a standardized approach to implement blockchain technology in large‐scale construction projects. This insight is crucial for construction professionals, investors, and regulators, informing strategic decisions to overcome identified barriers and facilitate the seamless integration of blockchain, thereby enhancing efficiency and transparency in the industry.
Using Advanced Convolutional Neural Network Approaches to Reveal Patient Age, Gender, and Weight Based on Tongue Images
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Li Li , Wei Jing , Zhang Pengwei , Turchenko Volodymyr , Vempala Naresh , Kabakov Evgueni , Habib Faisal , Gupta Arvind , Huang Huaxiong , Lee Kang
Published: August 2024

The human tongue has been long believed to be a window to provide important insights into a patient’s health in medicine. The present study introduced a novel approach to predict patient age, gender, and weight inferences based on tongue images using pretrained deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Our results demonstrated that the deep CNN models (e.g., ResNeXt) trained on dorsal tongue images produced excellent results for age prediction with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.71 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 8.5 years. We also obtained an excellent classification of gender, with a mean accuracy of 80% and an AUC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of 88%. ResNeXt model also obtained a moderate level of accuracy for weight prediction, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.39 and a MAE of 9.06 kg. These findings support our hypothesis that the human tongue contains crucial information about a patient. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using the pretrained deep CNNs along with a large tongue image dataset to develop computational models to predict patient medical conditions for noninvasive, convenient, and inexpensive patient health monitoring and diagnosis.
Dynamic Assessment of the Use of Natural Resources in an Agricultural Production Chain
Authors: Cortés María C. , Vargas Dayhanna S. , Osorio Juan C.
Published: August 2024

Agriculture is fundamental to people’s food sustainability. One of the current challenges is the proper use of resources, mainly nonrenewable resources such as land and water. In this regard, having simulation tools is crucial for assessing how these resources are impacted by agricultural activities and their implications for the long‐term development of such economic activities. System dynamics (SD) is a valuable simulation tool that allows the evaluation of complex system behaviours in the long term, so that the possible impact of decision‐making can be studied and thus contribute to the development of policies in fields as important as agriculture. One of the main agricultural products in Colombia is the bulb onion, which is an important product for food, and therefore, its cultivation is widespread in some areas of the country, such as the department of Boyacá. In this department, soil degradation and salinization are evident due to the extensive use of natural resources, deforestation, and excessive use of chemical fertilizers, which also affect water quality due to irresponsible land management practices in agricultural areas. This, in turn, impacts crop yield, increases production costs, and leads to further land degradation. That is why a dynamic simulation model is proposed to study the behaviour of soil and water resources in crops; in this case, the model has been applied to the cultivation of bulb onion in Colombia, but it can be easily replicated for other types of crops. The result of the simulation makes it possible to show great impacts on the crop associated with practices such as fertilization plans and irrigation systems that result in valuable resources such as soil and water. It is therefore important to continue evaluating scenarios and involve more resources in the model that allow the definition of policies associated with the sustainable practice of agriculture within a framework of food security and considering the elements of climate change.
Supplementary Figure S8 from HTS384 NCI60: The Next Phase of the NCI60 Screen
Authors: Kunkel Mark W. , Coussens Nathan P. , Morris Joel , Taylor Ronald C. , Dexheimer Thomas S. , Jones Eric M. , Doroshow James H. , Teicher Beverly A.
Published: August 2024

Representative conc/resp mTor-targeting agents.
Supplementary Video 5 from Human 3D Ovarian Cancer Models Reveal Malignant Cell–Intrinsic and –Extrinsic Factors That Influence CAR T-cell Activity
Authors: Joy Joash D. , Malacrida Beatrice , Laforêts Florian , Kotantaki Panoraia , Maniati Eleni , Manchanda Ranjit , Annibaldi Alessandro , Hopkins Sarah , Garrobo-Calleja Ianire , Gautrot Julien , Balkwill Frances R.
Published: August 2024

Microvasculature formed within fibrin gel penetrated the OvCAR3 collagen gel
Supplementary Video 1 from Human 3D Ovarian Cancer Models Reveal Malignant Cell–Intrinsic and –Extrinsic Factors That Influence CAR T-cell Activity
Authors: Joy Joash D. , Malacrida Beatrice , Laforêts Florian , Kotantaki Panoraia , Maniati Eleni , Manchanda Ranjit , Annibaldi Alessandro , Hopkins Sarah , Garrobo-Calleja Ianire , Gautrot Julien , Balkwill Frances R.
Published: August 2024

Behavior of CAR-T cells in OvCAR3/FB gels
Figure 5 from Human 3D Ovarian Cancer Models Reveal Malignant Cell–Intrinsic and –Extrinsic Factors That Influence CAR T-cell Activity
Authors: Joy Joash D. , Malacrida Beatrice , Laforêts Florian , Kotantaki Panoraia , Maniati Eleni , Manchanda Ranjit , Annibaldi Alessandro , Hopkins Sarah , Garrobo-Calleja Ianire , Gautrot Julien , Balkwill Frances R.
Published: August 2024

Dense ECM prevented CAR T-cell migration and cytotoxicity in G164/FB collagen gels. A, CD3+ CAR T cells at the peripheral and core regions of OvCAR3/FB and G164/FB collagen gels. Two different CAR T-cell and FB donors were used in this experiment. B, IHC staining and quantification for caspase-3 (Casp3) on OvCAR3/FB and G164/FB collagen gels. C, Behavior of CAR T cells in OvCAR3/FB and G164/FB collagen gels. Representative images from three repeats. Blue, fibronectin; green, CAR T cells; red, EpCAM. Scale bar, 50 μm. Proportion of static (st), wobbling (wob), migrating (mig), and long migrating (Lmig) CAR T cells. Speed and length of movement of wobbling (OvCAR3: 172, G164: 112) and migrating (OvCAR3, 145; G164, 83) CAR T cells. D, Masson’s trichrome (M3C), COL1A1, and fibronectin (FN1) staining and quantification of OvCAR3/FB and G164/FB collagen gels. E, TWOMBLI analysis showing the heatmaps and percentage of HDM for M3C, COL1A1, and FN1 in OvCAR3/FB and G164/FB collagen gels. Scale bar, 100 μm. F, Expression of FAP and αSMA on OvCAR3/FB and G164/FB collagen gels. G, Barplot illustrating significantly enriched canonical pathways (FDR < 0.05) in G164 vs. OvCAR3 cells in monolayer. A, B, D, and F, Data plotted as mean ± SD of three gels per two replicates. Scale bar, 50 μm. Statistics performed using two-way ANOVA (A and B) and unpaired t test (C–F).
Data from Human 3D Ovarian Cancer Models Reveal Malignant Cell–Intrinsic and –Extrinsic Factors That Influence CAR T-cell Activity
Authors: Joy Joash D. , Malacrida Beatrice , Laforêts Florian , Kotantaki Panoraia , Maniati Eleni , Manchanda Ranjit , Annibaldi Alessandro , Hopkins Sarah , Garrobo-Calleja Ianire , Gautrot Julien , Balkwill Frances R.
Published: August 2024

Abstract
In vitro preclinical testing of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is mostly carried out in monolayer cell cultures. However, alternative strategies are needed to take into account the complexity and the effects of the tumor microenvironment. Here, we describe the modulation of CAR T-cell activity by malignant cells and fibroblasts in human three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cell models of increasing complexity. In models combining mucin-1 (MUC1) and TnMUC1 CAR T cells with human high-grade serous ovarian cancer cell spheroids, malignant cell–intrinsic resistance to CAR T-cell killing was due to defective death receptor signaling involving TNFα. Adding primary human fibroblasts to spheroids unexpectedly increased the ability of CAR T cells to kill resistant malignant cells as CCL2 produced by fibroblasts activated CCR2/4+ CAR T cells. However, culturing malignant cells and fibroblasts in collagen gels engendered production of a dense extracellular matrix that impeded CAR T-cell activity in a TGFβ-dependent manner. A vascularized microfluidic device was developed that allowed CAR T cells to flow through the vessels and penetrate the gels in a more physiological way, killing malignant cells in a TNFα-dependent manner. Complex 3D human cell models may provide an efficient way of screening multiple cytotoxic human immune cell constructs while also enabling evaluation of mechanisms of resistance involving cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, thus accelerating preclinical research on cytotoxic immune cell therapies in solid tumors.

Significance: Three-dimensional in vitro models of increasing complexity uncover mechanisms of resistance to CAR T cells in solid tumors, which could help accelerate development of improved CAR T-cell constructs.
Supplemental Table 2 from Age-Specific Cancer Mortality in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March to December 2020
Authors: Shiels Meredith S. , Haque Anika T. , Freedman Neal D. , Kim Hae-Rin , Berrington de González Amy , Albert Paul S.
Published: August 2024

Supplemental Table 2. Adjusted rate ratios comparing cancer death rates during the COVID-19 period (March-December 2020) to the pre-COVID-19 period (March 2011-December 2019, excluding January and February data) age group.