bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cotton pillow samplers for assessment of thirdhand smoke in homes of smokers and nonsmokers with children
Authors: Quintana Penelope J.E. , Lopez-Galvez Nicolas , Matt Georg E. , Merianos Ashley L. , Dodder Nathan G. , Hoh Eunha , Stone Lara , Wullenweber Chase A. , Mahabee-Gittens E. Melinda
Published: November 2023

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a major cause of illnesses in children and leaves a persistent and toxic residue indoors called thirdhand smoke (THS) that adheres to various surfaces, permeates materials, accumulates in household dust, and is subsequently re-emitted into the air. THS, like SHS, has been shown to contain multiple toxic chemicals, including carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). Children are highly susceptible to tobacco smoke pollutants, and simple methods for assessing children’s SHS and THS exposure are needed. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of a cotton pillow used as a passive sampler in homes of children with caregivers who smoke tobacco, with and without home smoking bans, as well as nonsmokers. We deployed a commercially available organic cotton travel pillow, which was left in the home for a median of 9.1 days. Pillow component nicotine levels were significantly higher in homes of smokers without a ban as compared to smokers and nonsmokers who had a ban (e.g., median pillowcase nicotine 337.7 ng/g per day vs. 72.5 ng/g per day and 0.1 ng/g per day, respectively) and differences were similar to those for air nicotine. Pillowcase TSNAs were detected mainly in the homes of smokers without a smoking ban. Pillow component (pillowcase, fabric, and filling) nicotine levels were highly correlated with air nicotine levels (rho = 0.76-0.88, all P < 0.001). Nicotine in the pillow components was also highly correlated with urinary cotinine in the children (rho = 0.65 to 0.81, all P < 0.001) and other measures of tobacco smoke exposure. Pillow performance as a sampler is promising, given the ease and simplicity of sample deployment.
Phytaspase is Capable of Detaching the Endoplasmic Reticulum Retrieval Signal from Tobacco Calreticulin-3
Authors: Teplova Anastasia D. , Pigidanov Artemii A. , Serebryakova Marina V. , Golyshev Sergei A. , Galiullina Raisa A. , Chichkova Nina V. , Vartapetian Andrey B.
Published: November 2023

Soluble chaperones residing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) play vitally important roles in folding and quality control of newly synthesized proteins that transiently pass through the ER en route to their final destinations. These soluble residents of the ER are themselves endowed with an ER retrieval signal that enables the cell to bring the escaped residents back from the Golgi. Here, by using purified proteins, we showed that Nicotiana tabacum phytaspase, a plant aspartate-specific protease, introduces two breaks at the C-terminus of the N. tabacum ER resident calreticulin-3. These cleavages resulted in removal of either a dipeptide or a hexapeptide from the C-terminus of calreticulin-3 encompassing part or all of the ER retrieval signal. Consistently, expression of the calreticulin-3 derivative mimicking the phytaspase cleavage product in Nicotiana benthamiana cells demonstrated loss of the ER accumulation of the protein. Notably, upon its escape from the ER, calreticulin-3 was further processed by an unknown protease(s) to generate the free N-terminal (N) domain of calreticulin-3, which was ultimately secreted into the apoplast. Our study thus identified a specific proteolytic enzyme capable of precise detachment of the ER retrieval signal from a plant ER resident protein, with implications for the further fate of the escaped resident.
Performance Analysis of Single Light Source Bidirectional Visible Light Communication Reverse Reflection Link
Authors: Zhang Ying , Ren Jiawei , Li Kexin , Mou Haibo
Published: November 2023

The LED light source is an important light source for indoor visible light communication. It has the characteristics of a large divergence angle and a high transmission rate. Therefore, using LED as the light source for visible light full-duplex communication can not only satisfy the lighting requirements but also transmit information at high speed. To analyze the factors that affect the optical power of the indoor single-light source visible light communication uplink receiving end, an indoor visible light communication model was established, and mathematical calculation formulas were derived based on the model establishment, and the maximum movable range formula of the retroreflective end under specific conditions was derived; The reliability of the formula was verified with the help of Zemax simulation software. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that increasing the movement range of the retroreflective end can be achieved by increasing the lens diameter, reducing the focal length, and increasing the link distance.
Opioid Analgesia Compared with Non-Opioid Analgesia After Operative Treatment for Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures
Authors: Belardo Zoe E. , Talwar Divya , Blumberg Todd J. , Nelson Susan E. , Upasani Vidyadhar V. , Sankar Wudbhav N. , Shah Apurva S.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Minimal pain and opioid use after operative treatment for pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures have been previously described; however, opioid-prescribing practices in the United States remain variable. We hypothesized that children without an opioid prescription would report similar postoperative pain compared with children prescribed opioids following closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) of supracondylar humeral fractures.

Methods:

Children who were 3 to 12 years of age and were undergoing CRPP for a closed supracondylar humeral fracture were prospectively enrolled in a multicenter, comparative study. Following a standardized dosing protocol, oxycodone, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen were prescribed at 2 hospitals (opioid cohort), and 2 other hospitals prescribed ibuprofen and acetaminophen alone (non-opioid cohort). The children’s medication use and the daily pain that they experienced (scored on the Wong-Baker FACES Scale) were recorded at postoperative days 1 to 7, 10, 14, and 21, using validated text-message protocols. Based on an a priori power analysis, at least 64 evaluable subjects were recruited per cohort.

Results:

A total of 157 patients were evaluated (81 [52%] in the opioid cohort and 76 [48%] in the non-opioid cohort). The median age at the time of the surgical procedure was 6.2 years, and 50% of the subjects were male. The mean postoperative pain scores were low overall (<4 of 10), and there were no significant differences in pain ratings between cohorts at any time point. No patient demographic or injury characteristics were correlated with increased pain or medication use. Notably, of the 81 patients in the opioid cohort, 28 (35%) took no oxycodone and 40 (49%) took 1 to 3 total doses across the postoperative period. Patients rarely took opioids after postoperative day 2. A single patient in the non-opioid cohort (1 [1%] of 76) received a rescue prescription of opioids after presenting to the emergency department with postoperative cast discomfort.

Conclusions:

Non-opioid analgesia following CRPP for pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures was equally effective as opioid analgesia. When oxycodone was prescribed, 84% of children took 0 to 3 total doses, and opioid use fell precipitously after postoperative day 2. To improve opioid stewardship, providers and institutions can consider discontinuing the routine prescription of opioids following this procedure.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Gender Stereotypes in Historical Biographical Novels for Children and Young Adults
Authors: Angelaki Rosy-Triantafyllia
Published: November 2023

Biographical novels for children constitute an interesting case, as authors employ their creative imagination while combining history and factual descriptions to invite young readers to become part of a distant reality rich in social, anthropological and historical significance. This article focuses on the work of Greek writer Kira Sinou titled Anna and Theophano: Princesses Abroad (Άννα και Θεοφανώ, πριγκίπισσες στα ξένα, Κέδρος 2004) and her effort to narrate the life of significant feminine personalities of the Byzantine period in a “truthful” sense, so as to revive literary past-present dialogues. This article aspires to highlight the ways in which the author makes use of the narrative nature of historiography to reveal the Byzantine past to children and adolescents, attempting not only to underline the importance of timeless sociopolitical issues, but also to contribute to the shaping of children’s self-identity and attitudes by using gender stereotypes and critical literacy practices.
Roma in Children’s and Young Adult Literature in Slovakia
Authors: Hlebová Bibiána
Published: November 2023

This paper presents the first systematic overview of the artistic production of Romany authors in literature for children and young people in Slovakia in the context of its three developmental stages – from the 1930s until the end of the 1950s, from the beginning of the 1960s until 1989, and from 1989 to the present. Simultaneously, the study points out the contemporary socio-economic conditions of Roma people’s life in Slovakia that are perceived as causes and consequences of their complicated process of self-identification, emancipation, and cultural self-realisation in Slovak art for children and young people. The paper highlights the beginnings of several Roma authors, who, in their poems, prose, and dramatic creations for children and young people, revived traditional motifs of Romany folklore (songs and folktales) about love and the ancient longings of Roma people for happiness, freedom, and liberty. Thus, they created the conditions for the forming and continuous development of Roma literature for children and young adults in Slovakia.
Interpreted depositional conditions of balanced-fill lake basin strata incorporating vertebrate and invertebrate trace fossils, Triassic Santa Clara sub-basin, Cuyana rift basin, Argentina
Authors: Benavente Cecilia A. , Bohacs Kevin M. , Mancuso Adriana C.
Published: November 2023

The Santa Clara Abajo and Santa Clara Arriba formations host a diverse assemblage of trace fossils that record a wide range of behaviors and a broad array of ecological niches during the Middle Triassic—a critical period in the evolution of continental fauna with the diversification of both synapsids (cynodont and dicynodont) and archosauromorphs (dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and crocodilians) that represent post-Permian faunal recovery. The Santa Clara formations are part of the continental infill of the Cuyana rift basin in Argentina and represent a lacustrine system with fluvial input and delta development. Sedimentological characteristics of these units as well as their stacking patterns characterize a “fluctuating profundal” facies association typical of a balanced-fill lake basin. The lacustrine and associated terrestrial environments preserve a rich record of invertebrate traces with 26 ichnogenera from ethological classes of fodichnia, domichnia, repichnia, pascichnia, and cubichnia occupying all continental tiers (subaerial and subaqueous, surficial, and/or very shallow, shallow, mid, and deeper) and ecological niches (epiterraphilic, terraphilic, hygrophilic, and hydrophilic). In association with invertebrate traces, two taphonomic modes of tetrapod footprints have been found: a moderate-fidelity mode and a high-fidelity mode. Physical sedimentary features, burrows, trails, and tracks, and their stratigraphic positions are integrated to interpret the main factors involved in footprint preservation in these subsettings. The most significant and variable preservational factor found is water-table fluctuation controlled by the paleohydrology of a balanced-fill lake system. These data show that in balanced-fill lake systems, diverse trace assemblages occur in the lake and associated subsettings such as delta plains and lake-margin settings, whereas trace fossils can be totally absent in coeval lake-center strata, particularly if anoxic lake-bottom conditions occur, as probably occurred in the meromictic Santa Clara lake system.
Multi-objective optimization of laser welding parameters for Steel/Al based on Kriging-MSSA
Authors: Zhu Zhiwei , Guo Yonghuan , Zhang Xin-ran , Lu Xiang-ning , Hua Jun-yi
Published: November 2023

In the context of automotive lightweighting strategy, steel/aluminum hybrid structures are widely used in the automotive industry. To address the reliability of steel/aluminum dissimilar metal joints, this study conducted steel/aluminum dissimilar metal laser welding tests by Taguchi's design of experiments method and obtained relevant data. Based on the test results, a Kriging model with laser power, welding speed and defocusing amount as inputs, and base material deformation and welded joint tensile strength as outputs was established. In this paper, with the amount of deformation of base material and tensile strength of welded joints after welding as the optimization objectives, the optimization analysis is carried out by combining the Kriging model and the multi-objective bottled sea-sheath swarm optimization algorithm (MSSA). The results show that under the conditions of laser power of 450.47W, welding speed of 11.88mm/s, and defocusing amount of 5.34mm, the optimization objective reaches the optimal level, the base material warpage deformation is reduced by 22.33% compared with the pre-optimization, and the tensile strength of the welded joints is improved by 18.01%.
Molecular Characteristics and Prognostic Role of EPHA2 in Human Tumors via Pan-cancer Analysis
Authors: Wang Guoqiang , Liang Zhipan , Guo Fen , Zhang Luyao
Published: November 2023

Background: The tyrosine kinase ephrin type-A receptor 2（EPHA2）is remarkably elevated expressed in various tumors and plays a crucial role in cancer tumorigenesis and progression, while pan-cancer analyses (PCA) are currently lacking. This study was designed to analyze the expression status and prognostic significance of EPHA2 in pan-cancer.
Methods: By mining The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, we performed a comprehensive and systematic characterization of EPHA2 across more than 10,000 samples of 33 types of cancer.
Results: EPHA2 expressions were substantially different in most of the normal control and tumor tissues and considerably associated with the prognosis of tumor patients. In addition, the missense mutation is more prevalent in EPHA2 genetic modification in malignancies. Moreover, a notable association has been developed between EPHA2 expressions and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in most TCGA cancers. Furthermore, Functional enrichment analysis showed that the biological role of EPHA2 in tumors is mainly involved in some noticeably pro-oncogenic pathways, such as the Ras signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, etc.
Conclusions: This study provides the first PCA with the extensive role of EPHA2 in various tumors, and EPHA2 is potentially involved in many cancer types and can be developed as candidates for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic biomarkers.
Study on the oxidized gas production characteristics and spontaneous combustion tendency of pre-oxidized water-soaked coal in lean-oxygen environments
Authors: Niu Hui-yong , Yang Xi , Sun Qing-qing , Sun Siwei , Wang Haiyan , Yu Xiaodong
Published: November 2023

In order to study the oxidation characteristics and spontaneous combustion (SC) tendency of pre-oxidized long-term water-soaked coal under different oxygen concentrations, raw long-flame coal (RC), water-soaked 200-day coal (S200), pre-oxidized water-soaked coal at 200 ℃ (O200S200), and pre-oxidized water-soaked coal at 300 ℃ (O300S200) coals were used for the study. The coal spontaneous combustion(SC) program heating test system was adopted to conduct experimental analyses at 21%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 3% oxygen concentration(OC) for experimental analysis. The results show that pre-oxidation water-soaked treatment(PWT) promotes the coal-oxygen complex reaction and increases the rate of coal oxygen consumption(OCR) and the rate of carbon and oxygen compounds production. The rate of CO and CO2 production of the water-soaked(WS) coal increased by 0.329 mol·(cm3·s)−1 and 0.922 mol·(cm3·s)−1, respectively, compared with that of the original coal sample. PWT reduces the activation energy of coal in the low-temperature oxidation stage (the maximum difference can be up to 110.99 KJ/mol) and enhances the oxidizing and heat-releasing capacity. There is a large amount of water in the WS coal, and its cross-point temperature and SC propensity index increased. There was a synergistic effect between the pre-oxidation(PO) and WS treatment, and the lowest comprehensive determination index of the SC propensity of coal in O200S200 samples was 831.92 which was 4.72 lower than that of RC samples, presenting a more SC tendency. Low oxygen concentration has inhibitory effect on the oxidation characteristic parameters of coal, and the apparent activation energy of low-temperature oxidation stage of pre-oxidized water-soaked coal(PWC) increased to 206.418 KJ/mol at 3% oxygen concentration. Both WS and PWT can improve the oxidation activity of coal, and the S200 samples have the most carbon oxides production in the anoxic environment, and the SC risk of the O200S200 samples is the highest. The lower the oxygen concentration of the anoxic environment, the lower the risk of SC of the coal samples. The oxidation characteristics and SC tendency of the PWC under different oxygen concentrations revealed in the study can provide theoretical guidance for the identification and prevention of SC disasters in coal seams with shallow burial and close spacing.
Application of machine learning models to identify serological predictors of COVID-19 severity and outcomes
Authors: Klein Sabra , Dhakal Santosh , Yin Anna , Escarra-Senmarti Marta , Demko Zoe , Pisanic Nora , Johnston Trevor , Trejo-Zambrano Maria , Kruczynski Kate , Lee John , Hardick Justin , Shea Patrick , Shapiro Janna , Park Han-Sol , Parish Maclaine , Caputo Christopher , Ganesan Abhinaya , Mullapudi Sarika , Gould Stephen , Betenbaugh Michael , Pekosz Andrew , Heaney Christopher D , Antar Annukka , Manabe Yukari , Cox Andrea , Karaba Andrew , Andrade Felipe , Zeger Scott
Published: November 2023

Critically ill people with COVID-19 have greater antibody titers than those with mild to moderate illness, but their association with recovery or death from COVID-19 has not been characterized. In 178 COVID-19 patients, 73 non-hospitalized and 105 hospitalized patients, mucosal swabs and plasma samples were collected at hospital enrollment and up to 3 months post-enrollment (MPE) to measure virus RNA, cytokines/chemokines, binding antibodies, ACE2 binding inhibition, and Fc effector antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2. The association of demographic variables and >20 serological antibody measures with intubation or death due to COVID-19 was determined using machine learning algorithms. Predictive models revealed that IgG binding and ACE2 binding inhibition responses at 1 MPE were positively and C1q complement activity at enrollment was negatively associated with an increased probability of intubation or death from COVID-19 within 3 MPE. Serological antibody measures were more predictive than demographic variables of intubation or death among COVID-19 patients.
Event-triggered adaptive fault estimation and fault-tolerant control for strict-feedback nonlinear systems with full state constraints
Authors: Liu Ming-Rui , Wu Li-Bing , Wu Meng , Ma Wen-Chao
Published: November 2023

This paper addresses the problem of eventbased adaptive fault estimation (FE) and fault-tolerant control (FTC) for a class of strict-feedback nonlinear systems with full state constraints. The unknown fault and the to-be-tested states of the system are estimated by an innovative adaptive fault observer based on a modified intermediate variable update law with fault switching function. In addition, an event-triggered mechanism and adaptive fault-tolerant controller co-design scheme is proposed according to backstepping algorithm and constrained technique, which not only eliminates the effect of fault presence but also leads to a significant reduction of communication resources. Through theoretical analysis, the constructed controller ensures that all signals within the system are ultimately bounded, and the state errors converge to the desired neighborhoods. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is illustrated by a simulation example of a single-link robot system.
Novel antimicrobial peptides against Cutibacterium acnes designed by deep learning
Authors: Dong Qichang , Wang Shaohua , Miao Ying , Luo Heng , Weng Zuquan , Yu Lun
Published: November 2023

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Cutibacterium acnes (C.acnes) requires the search for alternative therapeutic strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising avenue for the development of new treatments targeting C.acnes. In this study, to design peptides with the specific inhibitory activity against C.acnes, we employed a deep learning pipeline with generators and classifiers, using transfer learning and pretrained protein embeddings, trained on publicly available data. To enhance the training data specific to C.acnes inhibition, we constructed a phylogenetic tree. A panel of 42 novel generated linear peptides was then synthesized and experimentally evaluated for their antimicrobial selectivity and activity. Five of them demonstrated their high potency and selectivity against C.acnes with MIC of 2-4 µg/mL. Our findings highlight the potential of these designed peptides as promising candidates for anti-acne therapeutics and demonstrate the power of computational approaches for the rational design of targeted antimicrobial peptides.
Efficient Wideband Transmission and Direction-Finding Implementation Scheme in Noisy Rician Channels for Wearable Monitoring
Authors: Aldelemy Ahmad , Oguntala George , Gadhafi Rida , Amar Ahmed , Shuaieb Wafa S. , Abd-Alhameed Raed
Published: November 2023

This paper proposes a new technique for wideband transmission and direction-finding using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) for wearable devices in noisy Rician channels. The technique uses a coded OFDM signal combined with a pseudo-random permutation and a Walsh sequence to mitigate inter-carrier interference, peak-to-average power ratio, and frequency offset. The technique also inserts a pilot symbol into each OFDM block and uses it for frequency offset estimation, channel estimation, message detection, and angle of arrival estimation. The technique employs a delay discrimination algorithm to extract the first arriving impulse from each antenna channel and then applies a direction-finding algorithm to estimate the angle of arrival. The technique is evaluated through rigorous simulations using MATLAB. It shows superior performance and reliability compared to existing methods in terms of signal-to-noise ratio, bit error rate, and angle error.
Curve-Skeleton Extraction from 3D Objects Using Spiral Patch
Authors: SAYED Abdul Rahman EL , Chakik Abdallah El , Samad Mahmoud , ALABBOUD hassan
Published: November 2023

The process of extracting a curve-skeleton from a 3D object is critical for various computer vision applications, including 3D object matching and recognition, 3D object segmentation, 3D animation, and 3D surface reconstruction. In this paper, we present a novel and efficient method for extracting the skeleton from general 3D objects based on a weight graph representation. Our method defines a unique spiral patch for each graph vertex, representing the shortest loop over the surface contour starting from the vertex. We construct a curve skeleton graph (CSG) using these spiral patches, which accurately represents the skeleton. We demonstrate the robustness of our method through various experiments, including noise reduction and different transformations. Furthermore, we showcase two practical applications based on our method: shape partitioning and gesture recognition. Our approach outperforms existing methods, demonstrating superior accuracy and efficiency. Overall, our proposed method presents a robust and efficient solution for extracting a curve-skeleton from general 3D objects, with promising applications in various computer vision fields.
A Software Architecting for Quantum Machine Learning Platform in Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Era
Authors: Yu Wenbin , Chen Yuhao , Zhang Chengjun , Chen Yadang , Wei Hongyu , Chen Zongyuan , Zhang Yifan
Published: November 2023

In the current Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) era, despite quantum computing is challenged by scale limitations and noise, it still holds immense potential to accelerate machine learning for specific problems. However, we have found that existing machine learning platforms do not adequately take into account the properties of quantum computing, resulting in a lack of an integrated quantum machine learning environment. Therefore, this article proposes a software architecture specifically designed for quantum machine learning platform, which aims to provide development tools that offer full life-cycle support for quantum machine learning. We first analyze the software requirements of quantum machine learning platform by using user story method, and then construct the platform architecture blueprint by using multi-view software architecture method. To validate the effectiveness of the architecture we proposed, we used this architecture as a specification to implement quantum reinforcement learning (QRL) and construct a quantum convolutional neural network (QNN). The results indicate that our architecture can effectively support the fusion of quantum computing and machine learning. We believe that this software architecture will propel the development of quantum machine learning in the NISQ era, bringing new opportunities to quantum computing.
An Occupational Mechanical Job Exposure Index based on five Norwegian nationwide Surveys of Living Conditions on work environment
Authors: Hermansen Åsmund
Published: November 2023

Objectives
Nordic register data are not collected for research purposes, and various dimensions of working conditions are typically missing in register-based research. One way to address the issue of missing information on the work environment in register data is to utilize a job exposure matrix (JEM). The purpose of this paper is to document and provide access to a Mechanical Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) and a validated Occupational Mechanical Job Exposure Index based on the constructed JEM, allowing researchers to utilize the index in register-based research. The JEM and the Occupational Mechanical Job Exposure Index were created using data from five nationwide Surveys of Living Conditions on work environment conducted in Norway in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2019, encompassing a total of 43,977 respondents. The ultimate aim of constructing the index was to create a comprehensive measure of mechanical job exposures for use in future analyses of Norwegian register data.
Data description
This paper provides the scripts documenting the construction of the Mechanical Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) and the Occupational Mechanical Job Exposure Index, as well as a data file including the matrix and the index. A script for merging the matrix and index to register data is also provided.
A Randomized Ensemble Based on Distinguishing Output Labellings]{A Randomized Ensemble Based on Distinguishing Output Labellings
Authors: Calle-Romero Mario , Martínez-Muñoz Gonzalo
Published: November 2023

This article proposes and analyzes a novel classification model trained to distinguish correctly from incorrectly labeled instances. The proposed method transforms any classification problem from a task of producing the correct label to a task of deciding if a given label is correct. To do so, a new dataset is created in which an attribute is added with a randomized label suggestion for each instance. The model then learns if the suggested labels are correct or not.The method builds an ensemble of decision trees trained on different randomized versions of this classification task.The proposed ensemble is validated with several experiments with the aim of giving some insights on the algorithm performance, especially its hyper-parameters, and to compare its performance with benchmark models. The experiments, carried on a variety of datasets, real-world and synthetic,shows that the proposed model achieves competitive results with respect to state-of-the-art learning models of the literature such as Random Forest.
Is cyber hygiene a remedy to IPTV infringement? A study of online streaming behaviours and cybersecurity practices
Authors: Shah Rajiv , Cemiloglu Deniz , Yucel Cagatay , Ali Raian , Katos Vasilis
Published: November 2023

Spurred by the rapid modernisation of the sector and advent of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), Audio visual (AV) piracy is at epidemic levels, with interventions having limited effect. The dominant theme in interventions to date have been around personal deterrence (i.e., the threat of legal action) and have not considered other factors that may influence an individual’s decision to consume infringing content. In this paper, we consider psychological factors, including perceptions around risk-taking, security behaviours, problematic internet use and personality traits to gain a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing engagement with IPTV, and the potential implications for cybersecurity. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with 283 participants living in the UK (age range 18 - 74, male 104), and an integrated structural equation model was constructed. Our findings showed a positive relationship between security behaviours and the perceived risk of viewing IPTV, and a negative relationship between the dark personality triad and perceived risk of viewing IPTV. They suggest that security behaviours fully mediate the relationship between problematic internet use and IPTV risk taking, indicating a potential new path forward for anti-piracy interventions with greater efficacy.
Evaluating a Sigmoid Dark Energy Model to Explain the Hubble Tension
Authors: Torres-Arzayus Sergio , Delgado-Correal Camilo , Higuera-G. Mario-A. , Rueda-Blanco Sebastian
Published: November 2023

In this study we analyze Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) data sourced from the Pantheon+ compilation \citep{pantheon} to investigate late-time physics effects influencing theexpansion history, \(H(z)\) , at redshifts \((z < 2)\) . Our focus centers on a time-varying dark energy (DE) model that introduces a rapid transition in the equation of state, at a specific redshift, \(z_a\) , from the baseline, \(\Lambda = -1\) , value to the present value, \(w_0\) , through the implementation of a sigmoid function.The constraints obtained for the DE sigmoid phenomenological parametrization have broad applicability for dynamic DE models that invoke late-time physics.Our analysis indicates that the sigmoid model provides a slightly better, though not statistically significant, fit to the SNe Pantheon+ data compared to the standard \lcdm\alone. The fit results, assuminga flat geometry and maintaining \(\Omega_m\) constant at the 2018-Planck value of $0.3153$, are as follows: \(H_0 = 73.3^{+0.2}_{-0.6} \) \ksmpc\, \(w_{0} = -0.95^{+0.15}_{-0.02} \), \(z_a = 0.8 \pm 0.46\). The errors represent statistical uncertainties only.The available SN dataset lacks sufficient statistical power to distinguish between the baseline \lcdm\and the alternative sigmoid models.A feature of interest offered by the sigmoid model is that it identifies a specific redshift, $z_a = 0.8$, where a potential transitionin the equation of state could have occurred. The sigmoid model does not favor a DE in the phantom region ($w_0 < -1$). Further constraints to the dynamic DE model have been obtained using CMB data to compute the distance to the last scattering surface. While the sigmoid DE modeldoes not completely resolve the $H_0$ tension, it offers a transition mechanismthat can still play a role alongside other potential solutions.
Predictive Model Suggests Increase of Blue Streamer Discharges due to Climate Change
Authors: Husbjerg Lasse Skaaning , Chanrion Olivier , Neubert Torsten , Li Dongshuai , Stendel Martin , Kaas Eigil , Reglero Victor
Published: November 2023

Blue streamer discharges are corona flashes usually originating from the upper part of thunderclouds and are associated with more severe weather systems than lightning. When observed from space they present with strong 337.0 nm emissions and essentially no 777.4 nm component. We built a model based on measurements by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) on the International Space Station (ISS) which allows us to predict where these events occur with only ERA5 reanalysis data as inputs. Running the model for even years in the period 1980 to 2022 we show that the production of blue streamer discharges increases in a warming climate at a rate of \((7 \pm 2)% K^{-1}\). Changes in the geographical distribution of the events show that the increase is centered mainly in central Africa with smaller increases in Australia, eastern North America and eastern Europe.
Research on fire early warning index system of coal mine goaf based on multi-parameter fusion
Authors: Wang Beifang , Lv Yuanhao , Liu Chunbao
Published: November 2023

In order to effectively prevent and control goaf fire in coal mines, a goaf fire early warning index system based on multi-parameter fusion was established. So that the temperature characteristic index for early fire warning in Goaf could be found, thermogravimetric tests and programmed heating tests must be used to see how often coal spontaneously burns. Additionally, combined the temperature characteristic index and the Graham coefficient yields the primary gas index. The auxiliary gas index, which exhibits a significant correlation with goaf fire, was calculated through the utilisation of the grey correlation methodology. Furthermore, the integration of the early warning temperature index and other gas indicators was accomplished through the use of the D-S evidence theory. Additionally, the outcome of the integration process involved the establishment of a multi-parameter integration-based system that served as an early fire warning signal for coal mining sites. The validation of the early warning index system's effectiveness was then conducted by a programmed heating test. The results suggested that the process of coal spontaneous combustion could be divided into six discrete phases, specifically the latent phase, oxidation phase, critical phase, pyrolysis phase, fission phase, and combustion phase. The identification of these stages was based on the distinctive temperatures associated with spontaneous combustion of coal, which have been observed at 31.7°C, 54.8°C, 153.7°C, 204.5°C, and 241.6°C. 100Δ(CO)/ΔO2(%) can be used as the principal indicator of gas within the Goaf region, hence facilitating the prompt identification of fires. The compounds C3H8/CH4, C3H8/C2H6, C2H4/C2H6, and C2H2 possess the capability to function as additional gas indicators for the timely identification of goaf fires. The utilisation of the D-S evidence theory in weight distribution provides support for the creation of an early warning index system for goaf fires, which relied on the fusion of many parameters. The reliability of the early warning index system was shown by means of a controlled heating experiment.
Total intracorporeal laparoscopic ileal ureter replacement in a single position for ureteral stricture based on membrane anatomy
Authors: Wu Guohao , Li Haomin , Luo Feng , Zheng Handa , Yuegao Yuanzhi , Xie Lishan , Luo Huilan , Chen Zhihui , Ye Dongming , Lai Caiyong
Published: November 2023

Purpose The aim of this study was to present our initial experience and prove the feasibility of total intracorporeal laparoscopic ileal ureter replacement (TILIUR) in a single position for ureteral stricture based on membrane anatomy.
Materials and methods Between January 2021 and April 2023, six patients underwent TILIUR in a single position for ureteral strictures based on membrane anatomy. All patients with a past medical history underwent radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection as well as extensive ureteral stricture due to radiotherapy. The procedure is performed completely laparoscopically. Dissection of the digestive system as well as ureteral stricture or renal pelvis is based on membrane anatomy. The surgery is performed in a single position.
Results TILIUR in a single position for ureteral stricture based on membrane anatomy was successfully performed without open conversion in all patients. Among the 6 patients, 3 patients underwent combined ileal ureter replacement (IUR) and abdominal wall ostomy, 2 underwent unilateral IUR, and 1 underwent bilateral IUR. The mean length of the ileal substitution was 22.83 cm (range: 15-28). The average operative time was 458 ± 72.77 minutes (range 385-575 minutes), and the average intraoperative blood loss was 158 mL (range 50-400 mL). The median postoperative hospital stay was 15.1 d (range: 8–32). The median duration of postoperative follow-up was 15 months (range: 3-29 days). The success rate was 100%.
Conclusions TILIUR in a single position may be a promising option for ureteral stricture based on membrane anatomy in selected patients. Moreover, it has a positive effect on patients with renal insufficiency and urinary incontinence. Although IUR is difficult and risky, proficient surgeons can perform the procedure safely and effectively.
Independent Travelers’ Knowledge-Sharing Willingness in Travel Social Networking Sites
Authors: Chen Yi-Fen , Chou Shu-Hui , Jou Tzu-I
Published: November 2023

Purpose
With the rise of the Internet and the emergence of the global social community, independent travelers are increasingly engaging in real-time interaction and knowledge sharing through travel social networking sites. Existing studies on travel social networking sites has primarily focused on the community’s willingness to use them. Therefore, this study explored independent travelers’ intention to share knowledge using travel social networking sites by examining their innovative personality traits and community identity.
Methods
The study employed an online questionnaire, and 480 valid questionnaire surveys were analyzed using structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis.
Results
The results show that independent travelers’ innovative personality traits affect subjective knowledge and perceived risk; community identification affects trust and sense of belonging; trust affects perceived risk, sense of belonging, and subjective knowledge; and sense of belonging affect tourism knowledge-sharing willingness.
Conclusion
These results are beneficial for travel industry managers in developing marketing strategies and managing travel social networking sites.
Effects of salt concentration on top wall bubble injection in a turbulent channel flow: Bubble dynamics and wall drag reduction
Authors: Biswas Subhajit , Govardhan Raghuraman N.
Published: November 2023

Most applications related to bubble drag reduction (BDR) occur in contaminated environments where the presence of different surface active agents modify bubble coalescence and hence, affect flow drag. Although there have been studies on bubble drag modifications with salt/surfactant, the effects of systematic variation in salt/surfactant concentration on bubble dynamics and drag remain relatively unexplored. Driven by this motivation, in the present work, we experimentally investigate the effects of salt concentration on the bubble dynamics and drag modification in a fully developed horizontal turbulent channel flow for top wall bubble injection, over a wide range of salt concentrations (0< M <0.08, moles/liter), channel Reynolds number (22,500< Re <65,000), and injected bubble void fraction (0< α <0.16). The injected bubbles interact with the flow in the turbulent channel and as they move downstream reach an equilibrium state between the bubbly phase and the fully developed carrier phase that persists further downstream. The equilibrium state of the bubble dynamics is captured by high-speed visualizations and the corresponding drag is obtained from stream-wise pressure drop measurements within the channel. Increasing salt concentration levels is seen to lead to reduction in bubble coalescence and consequently in bubble size that modifies bubble deformability, migration, and distribution near the top wall, with the changes being dependent on the Re and α values. At low Re ≈ 22, 500, the addition of salt leads to a dramatic reduction in bubble sizes (∼ 100 microns) from the very large coalesced bubbles (∼ cm) seen in the no-salt cases, with consequent changes in the bubble dynamics and increased drag (up to 70%). The reduction in bubble sizes with salt addition leads to an increase in drag with salt concentration, which saturates beyond a critical salt concentration (MCritical). With increasing Re, due to smaller time available for coalescence, the bubbles are relatively small even in the absence of salt and hence, the bubble dynamics is found to be less susceptible to modifications by the addition of salt, unlike at low Re, and hence, results in a smaller increase in drag and a lower MCritical. At the largest Re of about 65,000, both the bubble dynamics and drag are found to be very similar in both the no-salt and salt cases indicating that MCritical ≈ 0. Our observations suggest that at low Re, the experiments in typical laboratory freshwater conditions will not predict the bubble dynamics aspects and flow modifications in contaminated environments, while it can be a good indicator at large Re. The present results can thus help deepen our understanding on bubbly flow applications in contaminated environments, such as those that occur in bubble induced drag reductions in ships and pipelines.
Medical Improvisation: Impact of Training on Medical Students’ Experience with Communication on Clinical Rotations - A Single-Center Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Kukora Stephanie , Batell Brittany , Ravi Nithin , Zikmund-Fisher Brian J. , Thompson Christopher , Mullan Patricia B.
Published: November 2023

Background: Effectively preparing medical students to communicate with patients, families, and teams remains a challenge in medical education. Although techniques from medical improvisation have been introduced to teach communication skills in this context, limited evidence exists regarding how such training elicits student involvement, impacts clinical students’ communication skills, and affects medical students’ authentic clinical care interactions.
Objective: To implement a medical improvisation-based educational training in the pre-clinical year and gather medical students’ reflections following one year of clinical rotations.
Methods: We recruited medical student volunteers to participate in an established medical improvisation curriculum, complete course evaluations, and provide progressive reflections as they began and continued their clinical medical training. Course duration was 2 hours per week for 5 weeks, prior to beginning clinical rotations. Participants completed anonymous, electronic evaluations via Qualtrics software before and after the course, which included structured (closed-ended) and open-ended questions. One year later, after students completed core clinical rotations, we conducted semi-structured interviews and performed thematic analysis on transcripts.
Results: 23 of 24 recruited students completed the course and surveys. Pre/post-course comparison survey data show significant improvements in reported comfort with different communication situations. 11 students (48%) participated in follow-up interviews. All interviewees reported they found the course valuable and, universally, would recommend it. In interviews, students noted that skills improved by medical improvisation included flexibility, “yes, and” approach, accepting mistakes, listening, and confidence in unknown situations. Many interviewees felt medical improvisation was helpful to their professional development, gave them strategies for challenging conversations in real-life practice, and supported personal growth and wellness and building friendships.
Conclusion: Medical students exposed to medical improvisation prior to clinical rotations noted both immediate benefits in communication skills and long-lasting improvement in specific domains of communication.
SSADLog: Whole Lifecycle Tuning Anomaly Detection with Small Sample Logs
Authors: Zhou Zhisheng , Zhou Meixiu , Wu Axin , Xia Jie , Liu Weiping
Published: November 2023

Log messages play a critical role in system analysis and issue resolution, particularly in complex software-intensive systems that demand high availability and quality assurance. However, log-based anomaly detection faces three major challenges. Firstly, millions of log data poses a significant labeling challenge. Secondly, log data tends to exhibit a severe class imbalance. Thirdly, the task of anomaly detection in such massive datasets requires both high accuracy and efficiency. Numerous deep learning based methods have been proposed to tackle those challenges. Yet, a comprehensive solution that effectively addresses all these issues has remained elusive. Through careful examination of log messages from stable systems, we find a consistency principle: the number of unique anomaly logs is consistently small. Based on this principle, we present a novel framework called ''Whole Lifecycle Tuning Anomaly Detection with Small Sample Logs'' (SSADLog). SSADLog introduces a hyper-efficient log data pre-processing method that generates a representative subset of small sample logs. It leverages a pre-trained bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) language model to create contextual word embeddings. Furthermore, a semi-supervised fine-tuning process is employed for enhancing detection accuracy. A distinctive feature of SSADLog is its ability to fine-tune language models with small samples, achieving high-performance iterations in just approximately 30 minutes. Extensive experimental evaluations show that SSADLog greatly reduces the effort to detect anomaly log messages from millions of daily new logs and outperforms the previous representative methods across various log datasets in terms of precision, recall, and F1 score.