bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mental illness stigma and its influential factors among psychiatrists in China
Authors: Zhao Xinyi , Wang Ju , Shi Jingyu , Chen Wenhao , Zhou Wei , Wang Yue
Published: February 2024

Purpose
Mental illness stigma is a global health issue, and psychiatrists themselves may be stigmatisers of mental illness. Research on psychiatrists’ mental illness stigma has primarily been conducted in developed regions, while China, a country with a large number of people with mental illness, has a dearth of research. This study is aimed to investigate the mental illness stigma and its correlates among psychiatrists in China.
Methods
An online questionnaire survey was conducted among registered psychiatrists in 2022. A total of 2,442 participants were included in this study. Mental illness stigma was measured by the Perceived Devaluation-Discrimination (PDD) scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of stigma. Linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the influential factors of mental illness stigma.
Results
The scores of the PDD scale, the Perceived Devaluation subscale, and the Perceived Discrimination subscale were 3.60, 3.48, and 3.69, respectively, which were higher than the mid-point (i.e. 3). Participants with higher professional titles, younger age, lower income satisfaction, and lower job satisfaction had higher scores in the PDD scale and its two subscales. Participants who had experienced a violent attack in the past year reported higher scores in the PDD scale and the Perceived Devaluation subscale. Women reported lower scores in the Perceived Devaluation subscale than men.
Conclusion
Psychiatrists should be considered as a vital target group in anti-stigma endeavours. Organizing anti-stigma campaigns, increasing resources in mental health care system, and improving vocational safety, can be taken to reduce mental illness stigma among psychiatrists in China.
Commercial Real-Time PCR Kit Results for the Detection of Helicobacter pylori and Clarithromycin Resistance in Stool Samples
Authors: İnal Neşe , Şahin Tevhide , Balaban H. Yasemin , Şimşek Cem , Şimşek Halis , Akyön Yakut
Published: February 2024

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that infects half of the world's population and unless treated, colonization usually persists lifelong. Non-invasive tests for the detection of H. pylori infections have indeed been valuable for their ease of use and reduced discomfort for patients. However, many non-invasive tests primarily focus on identifying the presence of bacteria rather than determining the antimicrobial susceptibility. The aims of this study were to detect H. pylori infections and the point mutations that led to clarithromycin resistance by using RT-PCR from gastric biopsy and stool samples; to perform antibiotic susceptibility test and to compare the results of antibiotic susuceptibility tests to the detected point mutations that led to clarithromycin resistance. A total of 73 patients attending to Gastroenterology Department of Hacettepe University Hospital between January 2021 and July 2022 were included in the study. For various reasons 10 of the patients were excluded from the study. Thus, consent forms were obtained from all 63 patients. Stool samples were collected from each participant within 1–7 days following gastroduodenal endoscopy. Subsequently, the samples were homogenized and stored at -20°C for further examination using RT-PCR. Gastric biopsy culture, rapid urease test, histopathological examination, HpSA and gastric biopsy RT-PCR methods were performed for the diagnosis of H. pylori. In the study, a combination of two positive methods were accepted as the reference standard. Among the 63 patients included in the study, 42.9% tested H. pylori positive, while 57.1% tested H. pylori negative. When the reference results were compared to stool RT-PCR; for H. pylori detection, the sensitivity was 66.6%, specificity was 100%, positive predictive value was 100%, negative predictive value was 80.0%, and the diagnostic accuracy was 85.7%. In the detection of clarithromycin point mutations from stool samples with RT-PCR, the overall agreement was 65% when compared to the results obtained from gastric biopsy RT-PCR. In conclusion, the outcomes of this study indicate that utilizing RT-PCR from stool samples holds potential as a diagnostic tool for detecting H. pylori. This is especially relevant in circumstances where invasive tests present challenges, such as in pediatric patients, pregnant women, and during the follow-up of treatment.
siRNA treatment targeting integrin α11 overexpressed via EZH2- driven axis inhibits drug-resistant breast cancer progression
Authors: Chaudhary Prakash , Yadav Kiran , Lee Ho Jin , Kang Keon Wook , Mo Jongseo , Kim Jung-Ae
Published: February 2024

Background
Breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide, faces treatment challenges due to drug resistance, posing a serious threat to patient survival. The present study aimed to identify the key molecules that drive drug resistance and aggressiveness in breast cancer cells and validate them as therapeutic targets.
Methods
Transcriptome microarray and analysis using PANTHER pathway and StemChecker were performed to identify the most significantly expressed genes in tamoxifen-resistant and adriamycin-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Clinical relevance of the key genes was determined using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses on The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset of breast cancer patients. Gene overexpression/knockdown, spheroid formation, flow cytometric analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunocytochemistry, wound healing/transwell migration assays, and cancer stem cell transcription factor activation profiling array were used to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of integrin α11 expression. Tumour-bearing xenograft models were used to demonstrate integrin α11 is a potential therapeutic target.
Results
Integrin α11 was consistently upregulated in drug-resistant breast cancer cells, and its silencing inhibited cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) while restoring sensitivity to anticancer drugs. HIF1α, GLI-1, and EZH2 contributed the most to the regulation of integrin α11 and EZH2 expression, with EZH2 being more necessary for EZH2 autoinduction than HIF1α and GLI-1. Additionally, unlike HIF1α or EZH2, GLI-1 was the sole transcription factor activated by integrin-linked focal adhesion kinase, indicating GLI-1 as a key driver of the EZH2-integrin α11 axis operating for cancer stem cell survival and EMT Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset also revealed both EZH2 and integrin α11 could be strong prognostic factors of relapse-free and overall survival in breast cancer patients. However, the superior efficacy of integrin α11 siRNA therapy over EZH2 siRNA treatment was demonstrated by enhanced inhibition of tumour growth and prolonged survival in murine models bearing tumours.
Conclusion
Our findings elucidate that integrin α11 is upregulated by EZH2, forming a positive feedback circuit involving FAK-GLI-1 and contributing to drug resistance, cancer stem cell survival and EMT. Taken together, the results suggest integrin α11 as a promising prognostic marker and a powerful therapeutic target for drug-resistant breast cancer.
Influence of Ice Skeleton on the Mechanical Behavior of Frozen Soil under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Yang Ningyu , Zheng Hao , Si Junling , Ma Chongqian , Kanie Shunji
Published: February 2024

The formation of multi-layer horizontal ice lenses in frozen soil significantly alters its internal structure, leading to changes in its mechanical properties. To quantitatively analyze the impact of multi-layer ice lenses on mechanical properties, a series of freezing tests were conducted with frost-susceptible clay materials at varied freezing ratios. Then, the uniaxial compression tests were conducted to investigate the deformation and strength properties of frozen soil at different freezing ratios and temperatures. The experimental results indicate that the unique ice skeleton structure formed by horizontal ice lenses and inclined ice wedges can significantly improve the strength of the samples, leading to the peak stress and secant modulus \({E}_{50}\) increase with the freezing ratio, and the presence of an ice skeleton makes the strength more sensitive to temperature changes. The frozen soil samples exhibit two failure modes (bulging failure and shearing failure), which significantly affect the mechanical parameters of the soil. Based on the test results, a frost heave-induced damage coefficient is introduced into the viscoelastic-plastic model to account for the initial stiffness reduction caused by microcracks generated during the ice skeleton growth. This modified model effectively predicts the stress-strain relationship of soils with varying ice skeleton structures. These findings have practical implications for predicting the properties of frozen soil constructed using artificial freezing methods.
Comparison of metatranscriptomics and targeted-sequencing methods for integrative analysis of the whole microbiome
Authors: Destras G , Sabatier M , Bal A , Simon B , Semanas Q , Regue H , Boyer T , Ploin D , Gillet Y , Lina B , Anani H , Josset L
Published: February 2024

Background: Targeted-sequencing sequencing methods, such as 16S-rRNA profiling, viral metagenomics, and human mRNA sequencing are mainly used for the exploration of the microbiome, yet their combination can be expensive and time-consuming. Metatranscriptomics snapshots the entire active microbiome trough bulk RNA sequencing in one test, but lacks adequate comparisons with targeted-sequencing approaches.
Results: We compared metatranscriptomics and targeted sequencing methods for bacterial, viral, and human components, using 20 nasopharyngeal aspirates from infants under 1 year old and hospitalized for bronchiolitis at the Hospices Civils de Lyon.RNA microbiome concordance reached 86% and 78% for RNA viruses and human coding genes, respectively. Patient clustering was similar using 2650 host transcripts sequenced with metatranscriptomics and mRNA-Seq. Metatranscriptomics detected RNA of eukaryotic and prokaryotic DNA viruses, indicating potential for discerning replicative from latent DNA microbiome. Transcriptionally active bacteriome corresponded to 82% of bacteria exceeding 0.5% relative abundance, showing different transcriptional profiles depending on bacterial species.
Conclusion: Multi-omics technologies enhance epidemiology, investigate trans-kingdom interactions, and provide opportunities to establish microbiome biomarkers. With sufficient depth of sequencing, metatranscriptomics complements and aligns with various aspects of targeted-sequencing approaches. Further clinical studies are essential to position metatranscriptomics in critical acute situations and cases of diagnostic uncertainty.
Performance-related structural, thermal, and gamma-ray shielding properties for newly fabricated Ni 0.9 Zn 0.1 Fe 2 O 4 nano composite doped polypropylene films
Authors: Tharwat Mohamed , Taha T. A. , A Mahmoud K.
Published: February 2024

This article explores the processing of structural and thermal for polypropylene (PP) modified with Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticles. The PP/Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanocomposites are manufactured by melt processing method. The structural investigations ensure the good incorporation of Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 on the PP matrix. It is noticed that adding Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticles to the PP polymer matrix enhances the polymer's thermal stability. Additionally, the impacts of the addition of the Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticles on the radiation shielding properties of fabricated PP-based composites were examined using the Monte Carlo simulation. The examination shows an enhancement in the fabricated composites’ linear attenuation coefficient with increased Ni0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4 nanoparticle concentrations. The linear attenuation coefficient increased by 13.12, 3.95, 2.35, 1.55, and 1.16 times at γ-ray energy of 0.033, 0.059, 0.081, 0.122, and 0.662 MeV. Furthermore, the increase in linear attenuation coefficient increases the radiation shielding efficiency for the fabricated composites, reaching 21.84%, 27.27%, 29.03%, and 31.77%, respectively, for 0.0 wt.%, 5.0 wt.%, 10 wt.%, and 15 wt.%, at 0.122 MeV. The study shows that the fabricated composites have suitable γ-ray shielding properties in lower energy than in the intermediate energy interval.
Cost-efficient hierarchical federated edge learning for satellite-terrestrial Internet of Things
Authors: Zhang Zhenjiang , Pei Xintong , Zhang Yaochen
Published: February 2024

With the widespread deployment of dense Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, satellites can serve as an alternative solution to the lack of proximal multi-access edge computing (MEC) servers for mobile Internet of Things (IoT) devices in remote areas. Simultaneously, the implementation of LEO on-board federated learning (FL), which can meet the data privacy requirements of user devices, makes it sensible to offloading data processing tasks to intelligent edge devices equipped with adaptive learning capabilities. However, traditional satellite on-board federated learning may encounter challenges due to the limited satellite resources. Hence, we propose a cost-efficient satellite-terrestrial assisted hierarchical federated edge learning (STA-HFEL) architecture and an innovative communication scheme between satellites based on Intra-plane ISLs in this paper. Accordingly, managing CPU resources for local training and allocating bandwidth for learning information upload among battery-limited mobile devices is crucial. With this in mind, we define a joint computation and communication resource optimization problem for device users to achieve global cost minimization. A distributed Jacobi-Proximal ADMM (JPADMM) algorithm is used to tackle the newly formulated problem iteratively. Extensive performance evaluations demonstrate that the potential of STA-HFEL as a cost-efficient and privacy-preserving approach for machine learning tasks across distributed remote environments.
The Complementarity of Policy Instruments in an Open Economy Subject to Volatile Capital Flows
Authors: Guender Alfred V
Published: February 2024

This paper highlights the complementarity of multiple policy instruments in an open economy subject to volatile capital flows. The central bank operates under a broad mandate and implements optimal policy with discretion. With three policy instruments - the policy rate, an interest equalization measure, and foreign exchange market intervention – the central bank restores the output-inflation trade-off in the canonical closed-economy New Keynesian model. It also achieves perfect stabilization of undesirable hot money flows and insulates the domestic economy from foreign monetary policy and other demand-side shocks.
Sildenafil-induced spinal cord infarction: A case report
Authors: Gholami Mohsen , Fard Maryam , Poursadeghfard Maryam
Published: February 2024

Spinal cord infarction is a rare condition, accounting for only a small percentage of strokes. It can be classified into cervical and thoracolumbar infarctions, with various factors contributing to its occurrence. Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor commonly used for erectile dysfunction, has been associated with cardiovascular side effects, including transient hypotension. In this case report, we present the unusual occurrence of spinal cord infarction in a 65-year-old man who had self-administered high doses of sildenafil without a doctor's prescription. The patient experienced severe radicular pain in the lumbar region and subsequent weakness in the lower limbs. Evaluation revealed an anterior spinal cord infarction in the thoracic region, confirmed by MRI imaging. After excluding other potential causes, it was concluded that the intake of sildenafil likely led to systemic hypotension, resulting in spinal cord infarction. This case highlights the importance of considering sildenafil as a possible contributor to spinal cord infarction, particularly when used at high doses. Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between sildenafil and vascular complications, including spinal cord infarction.
Silent Neonatal Incubators, Prototype NICA+
Authors: Hernández-Molina Ricardo , Puyana-Romero Virginia , Beira-Jiménez Juan Luis , Morgado-Estévez Arturo , Bienvenido-Bárcena Rafael , Fernández-Zacarías Francisco
Published: February 2024

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the noise levels in current incubator models and a prototype designed to improve acoustic comfort in neonatal incubators.Methods The study conducted tests on three different incubator models and a prototype called "Neonatal Incubator Acoustic Comfort Class (NICA+)." The tests measured both internal and external sound pressure levels in laboratory conditions. The prototype was developed through collaboration between the Acoustic Engineering laboratory, the robotics/electronics group, and the Industrial Design research group at the Higher School of Engineering, University of Cádiz.Conclusion The results obtained from the prototype (NICA+) show the effectiveness of the design proposal in improving acoustic comfort in neonatal incubators. The data show that the noise levels generated by the prototype, under normal operating conditions, are significantly lower than international recommendations.
Structure-based in-silico analysis of phytocompounds from Cleistanthus collinus for the development of effective insecticide against Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Sahoo Soma Prasad , Baliyarsingh Bighneswar
Published: February 2024

Effective pest control requires the use of chemicals that are highly specific, safe, and eco-friendly. The richness of phytochemicals in the Cleistanthus collinus, a medicinal plant, indicates its plausibility role in controlling insects. This study aimed to identify potential insecticidal compounds from the leaves of Cleistanthus collinus against four different types of insect receptors of Tribolium castaneum through structure-based virtual screening. Homology modeling was used to generate 3D structures for each receptor, and the compound with the highest binding affinity was identified using Discovery Biovia Studio-2021. The screened phytocompound's insecticidal likeness was further assessed using the Tice rule that exhibit any deviations. Cedrene was found to be the best ligand for the acetylcholinesterase receptor, cytochrome p450 receptor, and GABA receptor, while cedrene and 1,2,3-benzenetriol were found to be the best ligands for the endoglucanase gene receptor. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the selected compounds interacted with the active sites of their respective receptors and, the linear relationship of inhibition constants with binding energy corroborates the insecticidal potential of phytocompounds. This study suggests that phytochemicals from C. collinus have the potential to act as insecticides by interacting with multiple receptors, offering insights for the development of novel and eco-friendly insecticides for pest control.
Thirty-three years follow-up of pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa without surgical treatment: case report and literature review
Authors: Mirhosseini Seyed Mohsen , Rezaei Mahdi , Yarmohammadi Hossein , Soltanipur Masood , Fattah Eisa , Bayat Fariba
Published: February 2024

Background
The pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (PMAIF) is a rare complication of endocarditis or aortic valve surgery. Surgical treatment is often suggested, but the possibility of conservative management remains unclear.
Case presentation
The 33-year follow-up of a PMAIF that developed six years after aortic valve replacement (AVR) is reported. Initially, the patient began experiencing worsening dyspnea, and echocardiography revealed an ejection fraction (EF) of 20% with a PMAIF measuring 7 × 10 mm. Despite being advised to undergo surgery, the patient declined due to fear of high-risk surgical outcomes. Consequently, conservative treatment with close observation but without surgery was initiated. During the 33-year follow-up period, the patient did not exhibit any adverse health effects.
Conclusion
The surgery is not necessary for asymptomatic patients with PMAIF, even in cases of sizable pseudoaneurysms, as long as there are no additional local complications or rapid growth. The conservative and non-surgical approach is particularly applicable to patients with a high risk for surgery, for whom regular clinical and echocardiographic monitoring appears to be safe for handling this condition.
Central Obesity and Associated Factors among Public Service Employees in Adama Town in Ethiopia
Authors: Deybasso Haji Aman , Geda Yoseph Degaga , Gebaba Ebrahim Mohammed
Published: February 2024

Introduction:
The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing, contributing to 678 million obese adults and rapidly increasing in lower-income countries. This study assessed the magnitude of central obesity and associated factors among public service office employees in Adama Town in the Oromia Region in Ethiopia.
Methods
An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to February 26, 2020, among 590 public service employees. The data were collected by using interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. The data were coded, entered, cleaned, and entered into Epi Info version 7, and subsequently exported to SPSS version 26 for statistical analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to check the associations between the explanatory and outcome variables. The adjusted odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval was used to estimate the strength of associations. A P value < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.
Results
The overall prevalence of central obesity among public service office employees was 24.2% (95% CI: 20.9, 27.8), with 29.9% in males and 14.9% in females. The multivariate analysis showed that using motorized transportation (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.147, 4.459), eating food out of the home (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.089, 2.735), drinking alcohol (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.080, 3.038), being aged 33–42 years (AOR = 4.76, 95% CI = 2.513, 9.047), 43–52 years (AOR = 5.56, 95% CI = 2.850, 10.878) and 53 years and above (AOR = 13.25, 95% CI = 5.057, 34.747), not engaging in moderate physical activity (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.507, 3.653) and having a chronic illness (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.154, 3.200) were statistically associated with central obesity among public service office employees in the study area.
Conclusion
Nearly 25% of public service employees in the town had central obesity, which is a risk factor for metabolic syndromes. Mode of transportation, eating food out of home, drinking alcohol, age, level of physical activity, and presence of chronic illnesses were found to be independent predictors of central obesity. The public administration in the town should design a feasible preventive strategy to reduce the burden of obesity among public service employees in the study setting.
An Integrated Theory based-educational Intervention to Change Intention to Have a Child: Study Protocol of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Moridi Maryam , Damghanian Maryam , Keshaverz Sedigheh
Published: February 2024

Background:In high- and low-income countries, declining birth rates have become a global concern. Couples do not have enough information about the complications of delaying and reducing childbearing and this leads them to make inappropriate decisions. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate whether an educational program based on integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM) affects child-free couples’ intention to have children and minimizes the consequences of this decline.Methods:Thirty couples (intervention, n=15; control, n=15) will be enrolled in this cluster randomized controlled trial. After collecting baseline data and separating participants in the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages based on the TTM, the samples were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group will receive 60-minute training based on TPB components for four weeks. The first follow-up assessment was performed immediately after the intervention and the final assessment six months later. For all 3 time assessments, three questionnaires will be used: The knowledge questionnaire, the TTM, and the TPB questionnaire.The most important consequences are changes in knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and stages of intentions to have children.Discussion:Decision-makers will use the results of this study as a basis to design appropriate, transparent, and useful policies and interventions to improve or stop the decline of the fertility rate at the national level. Also, this study will help young couples who wish to have a child in their lifetime by providing relevant information so that they do not miss this opportunity and face the consequences of delaying having a child.Trial registration:This study was approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), Number: IRCT20220618055210N2, Date of registration: 2023- 10- 03.
Exploring the perceptions and experiences of older people on the use of digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study
Authors: Tanhamira Lesley-Anne , Randhawa Gurch , Hewson David
Published: February 2024

Background: Physical inactivity is an ongoing problem throughout the lifespan. For older people, inactivity has a negative impact on wellbeing, which worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital technologies can be employed to encourage uptake of social and physical activity through remotely delivered interventions to improve wellbeing, however, we need to understand older people’s perceptions and experiences of using digital technologies before implementing these interventions.
Aims: To explore the perceptions and experiences of older people on the use of digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 community dwelling older people from Hertfordshire, United Kingdom taking part in a remotely delivered mind-body physical activity programme called Positive Movement. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed and thematic analysis used.
Results: Four themes emerged from the data. The perceived impact of COVID-19 on social contact, perceived impact of COVID-19 on mental wellbeing, using digital platforms for health or exercise and using digital platforms for social contact.
Discussion: Participants reported reduced social contact due to COVID-19. Most participants reported using digital technologies for social inclusion rather than health reasons, and there were mixed views on the willingness to use digital technologies for physical activity.
Conclusion: Digital technologies offered a lifeline during COVID-19 to maintain social contact and their use was found acceptable by older people. Digital platforms such as Zoom can be further employed to conduct remotely delivered interventions with the aim to increase uptake of social and physical activity interventions within this population.
Monte Carlo Simulation on PTFE-Bound MgB4O7:Dy Film for Neutron Dosimetry
Authors: Prastowo Dian Adi , Isnaini Anissa , Abdurrosyid Imam , Junianto Irvan Dwi , Imron Anas Fahmi , Sarpriani Melly Risky
Published: February 2024

Magnesium borate (MgB4O7) is currently being studied as the material for neutron dosimetry. To become a proper dosimeter, magnesium borate is doped with dysprosium as the activator and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is used as the binder. To estimate the response of PTFE-bound MgB4O7:Dy for neutron dosimetry, Monte Carlo simulation was conducted by PHITS (Particle and Heavy Ion Transport Code System) software. The simulation consisted of dosimeter film of said materials attached to a simplified human phantom. The amount of PTFE ranged from 50% to 90% and the thickness of the film was varied from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm. The result showed that this film dosimeter had high response to thermal neutrons and low response to fast neutrons, in contrast with the response of human body. Furthermore, it also suggested that the sample with the highest MgB4O7 content had the lowest absorbed dose due to self-shielding effect while on the thicker film, the effect of self-shielding also reduced the sensitivity of this film dosimeter.
A Contrastive News Recommendation Framework based on Curriculum Learning
Authors: Zhou Xingran , Lin Nankai , Zheng Weixiong , Zhou Dong , Yang Aimin
Published: February 2024

News recommendation is a form of smart technology designed to offer users news content that matches their interests according to their preferences and interests. Nevertheless, current methodologies exhibit significant limitations. Traditional models often rely on simple random negative sampling for training, an approach that insufficiently captures the patterns and preferences of users' clicking behavior, thereby undermining the model's effectiveness. Furthermore, these systems often face challenges in insufficient modeling due to the limited nature of user interactions. Considering these challenges, this paper presents a contrastive news recommendation framework based on curriculum learning(CNRCL). Specifically, we relate the negative sampling process to users’ interests, and employ curriculum learning to guide the negative sampling procedure. To address the issue of insufficient user interest modeling, we propose to use contrastive learning to bring the user closer to news that is similar to the candidate news, thus enhancing the model's accuracy in predicting user interests, compensating for limited click behaviour. Evaluation of our proposed CNRCL model on the MIND benchmark dataset reveals its superiority over existing news recommendation methods.
Priority conservation areas for protected saproxylic beetles in Romania under current and future climate scenarios
Authors: Mirea Marian Dumitru , Miu Iulia Viorica , Popescu Viorel Dan , Brodie Bekka S. , Chiriac Silviu , Rozylowicz Laurentiu
Published: February 2024

Climate change poses an increasing risk to biodiversity and habitats important for saproxylic beetles are likely to experience severe pressure and threats. The diversity of saproxylic beetles is an indicator of healthy forest ecosystems, and thus, the conservation of beetles is now a priority for EU Member States. We developed ensemble species distribution models for five saproxylic beetles for current and three-time future horizons under two emission scenarios and two GCMs. We then used a systematic conservation planning approach to assess the effectiveness and resilience to climate change of Romanian Natura 2000 network for saproxylic beetles while identifying future areas for protected area expansion to meet EU conservation targets. Our study revealed that under all scenarios and time horizons, the saproxylic beetles will lose over 80% of their suitable habitat and restrict their distribution to higher elevations. According to the prioritization analysis, we found that when considering 30% of the landscape as protected, an average of 85% of species distribution is retained with priority areas overlapping the Carpathian Mountains, while for the current conditions (18% of Romania’s terrestrial surface), the existing Natura 2000 network does not perform well, with almost ~30% of the saproxylic species distributions falling inside. Our results support the idea that the distribution of saproxylic beetles could change as a result of climate change, and the effectiveness of the current Natura 2000 network is put into question as it may be insufficient in protecting these species. To achieve the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 of protecting at least 30% of the EU’s land, we urge the expansion of the Natura 2000 sites.
High -Temperature short term / in situ oxidation behaviour of Haynes-230 at 1200 °C
Authors: S Kathiravan , Kaliaraj Gobi Saravanan , Kirubaharan A. M. Kamalan , Kumar Ravi Ranjan , Kamatchi Hariharan
Published: February 2024

The reliability and oxidation kinetics behaviour of the Haynes-230 alloy used in hot combustion components for very long-term applications are of great interest to researchers. To recreate the real-time environment, the in situ surface oxidation behaviour of Haynes-230 alloy at high temperature exposures (800, 1000, and 1200°C) is studied in a customized furnace setup equipped with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The heat-treated samples' phase analysis, surface morphology, and chemical composition were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The various forms of surface oxide layer formation were investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The EIS method was also utilized to evaluate the oxidation behaviour of Haynes-230 at various temperatures and time durations. Furthermore, the oxidation kinetics were investigated under thermal loading and unloading conditions, and capacitive behaviour was observed under unloading conditions.
Morphological characteristics of morphotypes of Solenostemon rotundifolius [(Poir.) J. K. Morton] cultivated in Burkina Faso and Ghana
Authors: BA Aminata Hamidou , NANEMA Kiswendsida Romaric , KIEBRE Zakaria , KUSI Francis
Published: February 2024

Solenostemon rotundifolius, also known as fabirama, frafra potato or pessa, is an annual herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family. It is widely cultivated in tropical regions of Africa and Asia for its edible tubers. S. rotundifolius has significant nutritional, medicinal and socioeconomic potential. Despite its proven potential, S. rotundifolius is one of the minor plants in its cultivation area. As a vegetatively propagated species, the morphotypes characteristics of S. rotundifolius are stable and could be a reference for a clear description and use of landraces. Several studies on the species were based mainly on tuber skin color to identify the morphotypes. However, using this criterion alone can lead to errors in identifying the morphotypes of S. rotundifolius. The present study was carried out to contribute to a better description of the morphotypes of S. rotundifolius cultivated in Burkina Faso and Ghana based on qualitative traits. Twelve accessions of S. rotundifolius, including five from Burkina Faso and seven from Ghana, identified based on leaves and inflorescence aspect, were characterized in Fisher block design with three replications. Thirty qualitative traits related to foliage, flowers, and tubers were recorded. Based on the morphological variability, eight morphotypes were identified. The most discriminating morphological traits were the young plant stem and leaves color, the leaves thickness, the apical leaves color, the flower organs color, the tuber shape, the tuber skin and flesh color. The characteristics of the morphotypes could be a reference for future descriptions of S. rotundifolius morphological variability and for breeding purposes.
Improved Dosimetry in Radiotherapy with Gold-Coated Fiber Optics
Authors: Mohammed Mohammed Sayed , Said Zeinab A , Mohammed Asmaa M S
Published: February 2024

Background: Patients receiving radiotherapy, a clinical treatment process in which radiation ‎is used for the treatment of various types of cancer, utilize a variety of radiation sources with ‎unique characteristics and procedures. In vivo dose measurements can help identify systematic ‎and random errors in delivery of the treatment and therefore play an important role in quality ‎assurance. Recently, the photon response of optical fibers has been investigated by many research ‎groups. The small diameters of optical fibers increase the possibility of producing a dosimeter ‎with high spatial resolution, important in the sense that an accurate value for the absorbed dose in ‎the surrounding tissue of the dosimeter can be more accurately reported. Another important ‎advantage of optical fibers as radiation dosimeters is that, unlike conventional TLDs, optical ‎fibers are impervious to water. The aim of this study is to verify the dosimetric use of fiber ‎optics in interface dosimetry and to investigate a novel enhanced dose technique using different ‎gold thicknesses as a coating for fiber optics.‎
Methods: To achieve this goal, commercially available Ge-doped SiO2 optical fibers (Cor Active, ‎Canada) with a core diameter of 50.9 ± 4.1 µm were irradiated using a 250 kVp superficial X-ray ‎machine and a dose of 3 Gy. Before irradiation, fiber optics were prepared, and the following ‎steps, preheat annealing and reading, were performed.‎
Results: The results show enhancement with increasing gold (Au) thickness, with the highest ‎percentage dose enhancement of approximately 160% obtained at 80 nm. A slight deviation from ‎the enhancement was obtained at 20 nm, the first thickness of gold. Encouraging results from ‎such studies have paved the way for the development of optical fiber radiation dosimeters ‎specifically tailored to the task of dosimetry in radiotherapy.‎
‎ Conclusion: An optical fiber dosimeter can be placed within the tissue of interest, which is ‎applicable due to its flexibility.‎
DGNet: A handwritten mathematical formula recognition network based on deformable convolution and global context attention
Authors: Wen Cuihong , Yin Lemin , Liu Shuai
Published: February 2024

The Handwritten Mathematical Expression Recognition (HMER) task aims to generate corresponding LATEX sequences from images of handwritten mathematical expressions. Currently, the encoder-decoder architecture has made significant progress in this task. However, the architecture based on the DenseNet encoder fails to adequately consider the unique features of handwritten mathematical expressions (HME) and the similarity between different characters. Additionally, the decoder, with its small receptive field during the decoding process, fails to effectively capture the spatial positional information of the targets, resulting in a lack of global contextual information during decoding.To address these issues, this paper proposes a neural network called DGNet based on deformable convolution and global contextual attention. Our network takes into full consideration the sparse nature of handwritten mathematical formulas and utilizes the properties of deformable convolution, allowing the convolution kernel to deform based on the content of the neighborhood. This enables our model to better adapt to geometric changes and other deformations in handwritten mathematical expressions. Simultaneously, we introduce GCAttention in optimizing the feature part to fully aggregate global contextual features of both position and channel.In experiments, our model achieved accuracies of 58.51%, 56.32%, and 56.1% on the CROHME 2014, 2016, and 2019 datasets, respectively. This research introduces a more effective deep learning architecture to the field of handwritten mathematical expression recognition, providing a strong foundation for future research and applications.
Proximity effects in a single- and two-band superconducting heterostructures: time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau approach.
Authors: Aguirre C. A. , Faúndez Julián , Díaz P. , Laroze D. , Barba-Ortega J.
Published: February 2024

In this work, we study the proximity effects in a single-and two-band superconducting three-dimensional heterostructure, described by two condensates (condensate 1 and condensate 2) under the presence of an external magnetic field perpendicular to the heterostructure. The distance between the interface of both condensate is given by the parameter λ ′. We solve the time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations considering a Josephson-like coupling to explore properties such as magnetization, Gibbs free energy and the Abrikosov vortex state. We considered three cases, in the case 1: both condensates are composed by a single-band, case 2: the condensates are composed by two-bands and case 3: the condensate 1 has a single-band and the condensate 2 has two-bands. As a results, we highlight the variation of the first critical field and the novel vortex configuration induced by the proximity effect between the superconducting condensates. This phenomenon exerts a substantial influence on the arrangement of vortex in each of the superconducting bands.
Wide Beam Antenna for MIMO-Based Automotive Radar Applications
Authors: Pillai Jyothishree , Prajapati Jitendra , Upadhayay Madhur Deo
Published: February 2024

In this article, a new microstrip antenna design is proposed that offers a wide half-power beamwidth over a frequency range of 77-81 GHz. The antenna has a size of 7x7x0.508µm³ and is built on a Taconic substrate (εr=2.2). Parasitics are used in the antenna to enhance the beamwidths to 158.6°,149.6°, and 139°, at 77 GHz, 79 GHz, and 81 GHz, respectively. A 2x2 MIMO arrangement is also studied to increase the overall gain of the system up to 12.2 dB, although there is a slight reduction in the beamwidths to 139.9°, 142.7°, and 133.5° at 77 GHz, 79 GHz, and 81 GHz respectively. The single element as well as the MIMO configuration achieve side lobe level suppression of -10.9 dB. The analysis of different MIMO performance metrics, including envelope correlation coefficient, channel capacity loss, diversity gain, mean effective gain, TARC, etc., has shown that they are all within acceptable ranges.
WITHDRAWN: Integration of CNG Engine and Battery-Powered Plug-In Electric Vehicle with In-Wheel Motor and Rooftop Solar Panel System for Green commuting
Authors: KARTHIK MURI
Published: February 2024

The increasing concerns about environmental sustainability and the depletion of fossil fuels have propelled the automotive industry to explore innovative solutions for cleaner and more efficient transportation. In this context, this research paper proposes a concept for a hybrid vehicle that integrates a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine with a battery-powered plug-in electric vehicle (BEV), utilizing an in-wheel motor(s) and rooftop solar panel system. The hybridization of CNG and electric power offers a synergistic approach that combines the benefits of both technologies. The CNG engine serves as a range extender, providing additional power when the battery charge is depleted, thus addressing the issue of range anxiety associated with electric vehicles. Moreover, CNG combustion produces lower emissions compared to conventional gasoline engines, contributing to improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The integration of in-wheel motors enhances the vehicle's efficiency and maneuverability by eliminating the need for traditional drivetrain components such as transmissions, driveshafts, and differentials. This distributed propulsion system enables precise torque control and regenerative braking, further optimizing energy utilization and enhancing driving dynamics. Additionally, the incorporation of a rooftop solar panel system supplements the vehicle's energy supply by harnessing renewable solar energy, reducing reliance on grid electricity and extending driving range. The solar panels are strategically integrated into the vehicle's design to maximize exposure to sunlight while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency.
Overall, this research presents a comprehensive approach towards sustainable transportation by combining multiple advanced technologies in a single vehicle platform. The proposed hybrid CNG-BEV with in-wheel motors and rooftop solar panels offers a promising solution to mitigate environmental impact, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and promote the adoption of renewable energy in the automotive sector.
Synthesis, characterization and electrical properties of polyvinyl chloride doped with zinc oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Al-Shawabkeh Ali F. , Shaheen Adel A. , Elimat Ziad M. , Imran Mousa M. A. , Hamadneh Imad , AlDujaili Ammar
Published: February 2024

This work used AC impedance techniques to investigate the AC electrical properties of the synthesized polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite films. By using the casting method, PVC/ZnO nanocomposite films with weight% concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% ZnO were prepared. Every mixture was prepared in a film and cast into a glass mold measuring 5 cm by 5 cm. The nanocomposites samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the produced film under study, the following electrical properties were examined: AC conductivity ( σac ) real dielectric constant (∈'), imaginary dielectric constant (∈"), real electrical modulus (M''), and imaginary electric modulus (M"). The temperature ranges tested were 293-313 K and the frequency range was 2-6 MHz. The findings demonstrated that the frequency and concentration of ZnO nanoparticles in the PVC polymer matrix affected the behavior and characteristics of the PVC/ZnO nanocomposite films. Furthermore, the study's findings indicate that when temperature rises, σac increases dramatically. The remaining parameters, however, i.e., ∈', ∈", M' and M" are temperature independent.
Hybrid Extraordinary Transmission Structure for Plasmonic Light- Trapping Applications
Authors: Razavizadeh Seyed Mohammadreza
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we numerically studied a hybrid extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) structure including a nanoslit aperture surrounded by a parallel periodic rectangular grooves array in a thick Ag-film when a parallel Au-nanowires array was attached between the grooves. The effects of two types of rectangular and cylindrical nanowires morphology to launch surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) under normal plane wave incidence have been investigated and compared. These proposed hybrid Ag-grooves/Au-nanowires EOT system offer compact platform and could be used as nanolens in future solar cells and similar optical devices which need an efficient light trapping like nano-biosensors.
Enhancing post-traumatic stress disorder patient assessment: Leveraging Natural Language Processing for Research of Domain Criteria Identification using electronic medical records
Authors: Miranda Oshin , Kiehl Sophie , Qi Xiguang , Ryan Neal David , Kirisci Levent , Brannock M. Daniel , Kosten Thomas , Wang Yanshan , Wang LiRong
Published: February 2024

Background
Extracting research of domain criteria (RDoC) from high-risk populations like those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is crucial for positive mental health improvements and policy enhancements. The intricacies of collecting, integrating, and effectively leveraging clinical notes for this purpose introduce complexities.
Methods
In our study, we created an NLP workflow to analyze electronic medical record (EMR) data, and identify and extract research of domain criteria using a pre-trained transformer-based natural language model, all-mpnet-base-v2. We subsequently built dictionaries from 100,000 clinical notes and analyzed 5.67 million clinical notes from 38,807 PTSD patients from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Subsequently, we showcased the significance of our approach by extracting and visualizing RDoC information in two use cases: (i) across multiple patient populations and (ii) throughout various disease trajectories.
Results
The sentence transformer model demonstrated superior F1 macro scores across all RDoC domains, achieving the highest performance with a cosine similarity threshold value of 0.3. This ensured an F1 score of at least 80% across all RDoC domains. The study revealed consistent reductions in all six RDoC domains among PTSD patients after psychotherapy. Women had the highest abnormalities of sensorimotor systems, while veterans had the highest abnormalities of negative and positive valence systems. The domains following first diagnoses of PTSD were associated with heightened cue reactivity to trauma, suicide, alcohol, and substance consumption.
Conclusions
The findings provide initial insights into RDoC functioning in different populations and disease trajectories. Natural language processing proves valuable for capturing real-time, context dependent RDoC instances from extensive clinical notes.