bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of S-L Pedagogy in Affiliated Higher Education Institutions of West Bengal, India
Authors: Roy Varbi , Chatterjee Aniruddha , Bhattacharjee Samrat
Published: April 2024

Service-Learning (S-L) can be explained as a form of experiential learning where students and faculties collaborate with the community to develop learning opportunities. S-L is a worldwide accepted form of community engaging learning pedagogy which combines community service with academic instructions, focusing on critical reflective thinking. In India community-based services are prescribed by the government in the form of National Service Scheme (NSS) or extension activities etc. These are activities wherein community services need not to be aligned with the curriculum and also is not credit bearing. Moreover, summative assessment is also not a part of these programs. The concept of S-L is relatively new in the country and is shaping up as an essential pedagogy of teaching-learning practice. The present study focuses on two aspects. First, to understand the awareness of the concept of S-L in selected institutions across West Bengal) and secondly to study the challenges of S-L implementation in an affiliated college viz. Scottish Church College.
A Concise Guide of AR Features, Types, Key Technologies, and the Dynamic Applications Landscape
Authors: Jingru Zhang , Yahaya Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan , Sanmugam Mageswaran
Published: April 2024

This chapter offers a concise introduction to augmented reality (AR), starting with an overview of its core ideas. The next sections explore the unique features that differentiate AR from other immersive technologies, how AR is classified, and the wide range of applications that AR technology can be applied to. AR's versatility is clear, opening the door for revolutionary effects on user experiences in a variety of industries, including healthcare, education, entertainment, and more. This study envisions a future in which AR becomes more widely integrated, enhancing daily life and creating new opportunities for creativity and discovery as technology continues to erase the lines between the digital and physical worlds.
Immersive Virtual Community Engagement
Authors: van As Janus , Cooke Richard
Published: April 2024

The evolution of technology has paved the way for enhancing educational experiences, including medical education. The faculty of health sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand is in the process of renewing its medical curriculum. This provides an opportunity to introduce innovative learning methods and authentic, community-based learning experiences. However, the need for a feasible, cost-effective course for 250 students tempers these ideals. To address these challenges, a virtual reality environment using Google Street View and AI avatars has been conceptualized, allowing students to virtually explore communities and interact with individuals. The authenticity of this is enhanced through the integration of AI avatars and data from interviews conducted with local community members, including healthcare personnel, feed into this closed LLM. As students engage with characters in the VR environment, responses are formulated from interview data. This chapter explores the conceptualisation of this, aiming to inspire others to embrace technology-driven educational enhancements.
The Impact of Gamified Learning With Kahoot! on Student Motivation and Engagement
Authors: Ye Bei , Wan Yahaya Wan Ahmad Jaafar , Luo Xian Fan
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the effectiveness of gamified learning tools like Kahoot! within a Chinese educational setting, aiming to bridge the research gap in non-Western contexts. Utilizing a pre-test and post-test experimental and control group design with 100 students and employing mixed methods for data collection and analysis, including surveys and semi-structured interviews, the authors found Kahoot! significantly boosts student motivation and engagement. Despite these positive outcomes, challenges such as technological access and engagement disparities were observed. These findings offer evidence-based insights for educators to refine gamification strategies, enhancing learning experiences and outcomes. This research provides valuable guidance for effectively implementing gamified learning tools in non-Western educational contexts.
Towards Implementing Computational Thinking in Problem Solving Through Mobile Application
Authors: Fuzi Mimi Malini Binti Mohmad , Yahaya Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan
Published: April 2024

In the 21st century, problem-solving skills have emerged as a crucial competency for better decision making and increasing creativity. However, there is an unclear strategy to enrich students with problem-solving skills in teaching practices. To address this issue, computational thinking (CT) is suggested as one systematic technique to train students in acquiring problem-solving skills. Considering Generation Z's technological savvy, a mobile application will be developed to foster CT skills for solving problems in science subjects such as chemistry. Therefore, this study explores the design, development, and evaluation of a mobile application to implement CT algorithmic thinking skills, focusing on problem-solving scenarios. The researchers predict that this study can offer insights into the implementation of CT algorithmic thinking in designing future learning materials, thus improving problem-solving skills among students.
Sustainability in the Maritime Industry
Authors: Toygar Arda
Published: April 2024

Automation in ports improves the safety and efficiency of port operations, allowing for more effective planning. Digital twin (DT) technology enables more effective use of autonomous technologies and supports the capacity for rapid assessment and instant decision-making. The integration of these two transformative technologies can create a more sustainable, efficient, and secure port ecosystem by automating port operations and enhancing them through simulations. A port's eligibility for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) depends on digital transformation and infrastructure obligations. The transformation of the ports and ships is expected to play an important role in port operations. This chapter addresses the potential and challenges of DT and autonomous technologies in the maritime industry and aims to provide a deeper understanding of their applications in this industry. The chapter provides valuable insights into the future efficiency, safety, and sustainability of ports and ships, two critical components in the maritime industry.
Integrating AI, ML, Blockchain, and IoT for End-to-End Supply Chain Optimization
Authors: Sowmya G. , Sridevi Rangu , Rao K. S. Sadasiva , Shiramshetty Sri Ganesh
Published: April 2024

This chapter explores the synergistic integration of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), blockchain, and the internet of things (IoT) to achieve comprehensive supply chain optimization. It examines the distinct contributions of AI and ML in predictive analytics, outlines the transformative impact of blockchain on transparency and security, and emphasizes the real-time monitoring capabilities of IoT. Through practical examples and case studies, the chapter illustrates how the combination of these technologies forms a holistic framework, enhancing visibility, enabling adaptive decision-making, and fortifying resilient supply chain ecosystems. The discussion not only highlights the benefits but also addresses challenges and considerations, offering a strategic roadmap for organizations seeking to leverage the combined power of AI, ML, blockchain, and IoT for a more efficient and responsive supply chain.
Determining Consensus on the Acceptance and Actions of Metaverse Marketing in the Portuguese Market
Authors: Teixeira Sara , Oliveira Zaila Maria
Published: April 2024

This research aims to identify, through an expert panel, the variables that may be most relevant in influencing consumer acceptance of Metaverse marketing and which Metaverse marketing actions may have the greatest impact on consumers. A qualitative methodology was used through the Delphi method to solicit the opinion of experts, using two rounds of questionnaires (quantitative). The experts agree that a positive attitude influences the acceptance of Metaverse marketing. It was found that the variables that the experts consider have an impact on the acceptance of Metaverse marketing are trust, perceived ease of use, entertainment, perceived usefulness, and personalization. Metaverse actions that can have the greatest impact on consumers are virtual spaces dedicated to brands; showrooms; digital products; and virtual commerce. The research provides an insight into the acceptance of Metaverse marketing and the actions in Metaverse that will be most accepted by the consumer so that managers can make better decisions and academics can develop new studies based on this research.
International Marketing Strategies for SMEs in the Digital World
Authors: Divrik Bahar
Published: April 2024

Digital technologies have totally changed the business world and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have truly been affected by this change. SMEs, which are the main actors of the world economy as they are main providers of production, employment, and foreign currency. Before the introduction of digital tools, SMEs were not able to compete with multinational companies mainly because of their limited resources. The digital technologies have enabled SMEs to compete with multinational companies in the international markets. Formulating the right international marketing strategies is crucial for SMEs to be successful in international markets in the digital era.
Innovations in Arts Marketing
Authors: Kumorowski Sandra
Published: April 2024

The art market developed from artisanal trading to a 68-billion-dollar behemoth of an industry that pioneered many innovative business practices. Its early stakeholders established simple practices to capitalize on highly transactional cash flow. As the art market grew into a complex system, so did the number of stakeholders and their business and marketing practices. The first part of this chapter will provide a brief background on arts marketing discipline and its evolution. The second part will examine contemporary marketing concepts and practices using examples from two case studies, one focused on art sensationalism and the other on art fairs as experiential marketing systems. Both case studies will also present relevant arts marketing concepts supported by numerous real-life examples to demonstrate the creativity of contemporary marketing strategies in the art world and their applicability to other areas.
Corporate Social Responsibility as Perceived by Business People
Authors: Fu Xiayang , Bernard Prosper , Magan Rhodora G. , Plaisent Michel , Liu Gongzhao
Published: April 2024

Corporate social responsibility is a crucial part of organizational development. This chapter draws attention to the views, policies, and implementation of corporations in two very different countries, stressing a detailed comparison of the similarities and differences in the perception of social responsibility between companies in China and Canada. The growth of this corporate social responsibility in Canada has stabilized. The internal details of their social responsibility have been well developed and staff satisfaction remains high. Surprisingly, China is in advance on this issue despite being seen as a cultural economy with a tendency to be more unified, encouraged and supervised by the government brought to gradually become more aware of the social responsibility of people in business, which has become an invisible controlling force. Business people and other members of the public participate widely in their implementation, forming a controlling force.
Profitability and Expanding Collection Period in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahkam Sharif Nurul , Alom Khairul
Published: April 2024

In this article, the authors investigate the relationship between profitability and receivables management of DSE listed non-financial firms in Bangladesh for the years 2000-2017. A cointegration model is used to examine the relationship between average collection period (ACP), return on assets (ROA), firm size, and debt ratio of firms. Impulse response analysis indicates that while the other variables quickly return to equilibrium, a shock to ACP or profitability seems to have a significant and durable impact on the relationship. A GMM model has also been used to estimate a regression that shows the impact of increasing ACP on profitability. The results strongly point to a cointegrating relationship and the critical role of receivables management on profitability. The article contributes to the existing literature by providing strong evidence that the average collection period is the most critical variable in addressing control of working capital management. However, this variable is the most difficult variable to manage, especially after there is an indication that it is worsening.
ABDpred: Prediction of active antimicrobial compounds using supervised machine learning techniques
Authors: Jana Tanmoy , Sarkar Debasree , Ganguli Debayan , Mukherjee Sandip Kumar , Mandal Rahul Shubhra , Das Santasabuj
Published: April 2024

Background & objectives:

Discovery of new antibiotics is the need of the hour to treat infectious diseases. An ever-increasing repertoire of multidrug-resistant pathogens poses an imminent threat to human lives across the globe. However, the low success rate of the existing approaches and technologies for antibiotic discovery remains a major bottleneck. In silico methods like machine learning (ML) deem more promising to meet the above challenges compared with the conventional experimental approaches. The goal of this study was to create ML models that may be used to successfully predict new antimicrobial compounds.

Methods:

In this article, we employed eight different ML algorithms namely, extreme gradient boosting, random forest, gradient boosting classifier, deep neural network, support vector machine, multilayer perceptron, decision tree, and logistic regression. These models were trained using a dataset comprising 312 antibiotic drugs and a negative set of 936 non-antibiotic drugs in a five-fold cross validation approach.

Results:

The top four ML classifiers (extreme gradient boosting, random forest, gradient boosting classifier and deep neural network) were able to achieve an accuracy of 80 per cent and above during the evaluation of testing and blind datasets.

Interpretation & conclusions:

We aggregated the top performing four models through a soft-voting technique to develop an ensemble-based ML method and incorporated it into a freely accessible online prediction server named ABDpred (
http://clinicalmedicinessd.com.in/abdpred/
).
Evaluation of prescriptions from tertiary care hospitals across India for deviations from treatment guidelines & their potential consequences
Authors: Shetty Yashashri , Kamat Sandhya , Tripathi Raakhi , Parmar Urwashi , Jhaj Ratinder , Banerjee Aditya , Balakrishnan Sadasivam , Trivedi Niyati , Chauhan Janki , Chugh Preeta Kaur , Tripathi C. D. , Badyal Dinesh Kumar , Solomon Lydia , Kaushal Sandeep , Gupta Kanchan , Jayanthi M. , Jeevitha G. , Chatterjee Suparna , Samanta Kalyan , Desai Chetna , Shah Samidh , Medhi Bikash , Joshi Rupa , Prakash Ajay , Gupta Pooja , Roy Atanu , Chandy Sujith , Ranjalkar Jaya , Bright Heber Rew , Dikshit Harihar , Mishra Hitesh , Roy Sukalyan Saha , Kshirsagar Nilima
Published: April 2024

Background & objectives:

Irrational prescribing practices have major consequences on patient safety and also increase the economic burden. Real-life examples of impact of irrational prescription have potential to improve prescribing practices. In this context, the present study aimed to capture and evaluate the prevalence of deviations from treatment guidelines in the prescriptions, potential consequence/s of the deviations and corrective actions recommended by clinicians.

Methods:

It was a cross-sectional observational study conducted in the outpatient departments of tertiary care hospitals in India wherein the 13 Indian Council of Medical Research Rational Use of Medicines Centres are located. Prescriptions not compliant with the standard treatment guidelines and incomplete prescriptions with respect to formulation, dose, duration and frequency were labelled as ‘prescriptions having deviations’. A deviation that could result in a drug interaction, lack of response, increased cost, preventable adverse drug reaction (ADR) and/or antimicrobial resistance was labelled as an ‘unacceptable deviation’.

Results:

Against all the prescriptions assessed, about one tenth of them (475/4838; 9.8%) had unacceptable deviations. However, in 2667/4838 (55.1%) prescriptions, the clinicians had adhered to the treatment guidelines. Two thousand one hundred and seventy-one prescriptions had deviations, of which 475 (21.9%) had unacceptable deviations with pantoprazole (n=54), rabeprazole+domperidone (n=35) and oral enzyme preparations (n=24) as the most frequently prescribed drugs and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and hypertension as most common diseases with unacceptable deviations. The potential consequences of deviations were increase in cost (n=301), ADRs (n=254), drug interactions (n=81), lack of therapeutic response (n=77) and antimicrobial resistance (n=72). Major corrective actions proposed for consideration were issuance of an administrative order (n=196) and conducting online training programme (n=108).

Interpretation & conclusions:

The overall prevalence of deviations found was 45 per cent of which unacceptable deviations was estimated to be 9.8 per cent. To minimize the deviations, clinicians recommended online training on rational prescribing and administrative directives as potential interventions.
Evaluation of molecular diagnostic test for detection of adult pulmonary tuberculosis: A generic protocol
Authors: Jayaprakasam Madhumathi , Pandey Ravindra Mohan , Choudhary Hansraj , Shanmugam Sivakumar , Sivaramakrishnan Gomathi N. , Gupta Nivedita
Published: April 2024

Background & objectives:

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be the second most-leading cause of death due to a single infectious agent as of 2022 after COVID-19. Many affordable new molecular diagnostic tools are being developed for early and more accurate diagnosis, especially for low-resource settings in low- and middle-income countries. In this context, there is a need to develop a standardized protocol for validation of new diagnostic tools. Here, we describe a generic protocol for multi-centric clinical evaluation of molecular diagnostic tests for adult pulmonary TB.

Methods:

This protocol describes a cross-sectional study in TB reference laboratories in India. Adults (>18 yr) visitng the chest clinics or outpatient departments with symptoms of TB need to be enrolled consecutively till the required sample size of 150 culture positives and 470 culture negatives are met. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) culture (mycobacteria growth indicator tube liquid culture) to be used under this protocol as the gold standard and Xpert MTB/RIF molecular test will be used as the comparator. The sputum samples will be tested by smear microscopy, Mtb culture, Xpert MTB/RIF and index molecular test as per the proposed algorithm. The specificity sensitivity, and positive/ negative predictive values are to be calculated for the index test with reference to the gold standard.

Discussion:

TB diagnosis poses many challenges as it differs with type of disease, age group, clinical settings and type of diagnostic tests/kits used. Globally, different protocols are used by several investigators. This protocol provides standard methods for the validation of molecular tests for diagnosis of adult pulmonary TB, which can be adopted by investigators.
Survey of the present health & nutritional status of Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar Island
Authors: Vijayachari Paluru , Awaradi S. , Siddaraju H. M. , Nithin K. , Veerendra S.S. , Babu U. Suresh , Chander M. Punnam , Kartick C. , Anwesh M. , Sugunan A. P.
Published: April 2024

Background & objectives:

Shompens are one of the two mongoloid tribes of Nicobar district. There is little information about their recent health status since the last survey which was conducted in 1998. Hence, a comprehensive health and nutritional survey was conducted in March 2017 to assess the changes. The survey was carried out by a joint team of various organizations including the ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre and Tribal Welfare and Health Department both located in Port Blair.

Methods:

A detailed health and nutrition survey of the Shompen community was planned by deputing a field research team. The survey included demographic data, anthropometric data, clinical examination, screening for the markers of infectious diseases, respiratory pathogens, tuberculosis and haemoglobinopathies.

Results:

About half of the Shompen adults (both males and females) had a body mass index (BMI) of ≥23. However, Shompen children had a good nutritional status with no child suffering from undernutrition. As per BMI for age, none of the children <5 yr were under-nourished, while in the 5-17 yr group, 12 per cent of children were undernourished. Anaemia prevalence was about 48.3 per cent, with 54 per cent prevalence in females and 43.8 per cent in males. Fungal infection of the skin, acute respiratory infection and abdominal pain were the common morbidities observed. None had active pulmonary tuberculosis. Of 38 Shompens screened for IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies, 42.1 and 18.4 per cent were positive for measles and rubella, respectively. Seroprevalence of Leptospira was 35.5 per cent. The prevalence of hypertension was 13.2 per cent, whereas another 28.9 per cent were pre-hypertensive.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The population structure of the Shompen is not skewed and under nutrition was not widely prevalent among the children of <5 yr. The other positive observations were the absence of malaria, filariasis and dengue. However, there was natural infection of measles and rubella. Fungal skin infection and intestinal parasitic infestations were widely prevalent. Although cardiovascular risk profile was low, there were signs of emerging risk of over-weight, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. These together with the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco use may have a serious effect on the cardiovascular disease susceptibility of the Shompen population in the future.
Long-term clinical outcomes of combined modality therapy for advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma in the PET era: A retrospective study
Authors: Chugh Swati , Panda Goutam , Mokal Smruti , Jain Hasmukh , Bagal Bhausaheb , Khanna Nehal , Epari Sridhar , Punatar Sachin , Nayak Lingaraj , Gokarn Anant , Khattry Naveen , Sengar Manju , Laskar Siddhartha , Goda Jayant S.
Published: April 2024

Background & objectives:

The role of consolidation radiation therapy (CRT) after complete metabolic response to chemotherapy in advanced-stage (stage III and IV) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is controversial. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical outcomes in terms of event free survival, local failure free survival and overall survival in individuals with advanced HL treated with chemotherapy and CRT.

Methods:

A retrospective review was conducted to study the long-term clinical outcomes in individuals diagnosed with HL and treated with chemotherapy and CRT from 2012 to 2016 at a tertiary cancer care hospital in India.

Results:

Data from 203 study participants with advanced-stage HL were analyzed. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) was done at baseline and after 2 cycles for response assessment. The median age at presentation was 32 yr [interquartile range (IQR): 26-46]. Early metabolic response (after 2 cycles) and delayed metabolic response (after 4 or 6 cycles) were observed in 74.4 and 25.6 per cent of individuals, respectively. With a median follow up of 52 months (IQR: 40-67), the five-year event-free survival (EFS), local failure-free survival (LFFS) and overall survival (OS) were 83.2, 95.1 and 94.6 per cent, respectively. On univariate analysis, extranodal disease was associated with inferior EFS (P=0.043). Haemoglobin <10.5 g/dl (P=0.002) and Hasenclever index >3 (P=0.00047) were associated with poorer OS. Relapses were observed in 28/203 (13.8%) study participants with predominance at central nodal stations. The median time to relapse was 19.4 months (IQR: 13-33). Local relapse alone (at the irradiated site) was observed in 5/28 study participants, systemic (distant) relapse in 14/28 individuals, while both systemic and local relapse was observed in 9/28 participants. Extranodal disease (P=0.05), bulky disease (P=0.005) and haemoglobin concentration ≤10.5 g/dl (P=0.036) were significant predictors for disease relapse.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Individuals with advanced-stage HL treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy (anthracycline-based chemotherapy with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine regimen) and CRT had excellent long-term outcomes. As isolated infield failures are uncommon, selective consolidation with conformal RT to high-risk sites improves final disease outcomes.
Characteristics & outcomes of tribal & non-tribal neonates admitted to a special newborn care unit in rural Gujarat, India
Authors: Lusk Rachel , Desai Tushar , Modi Dhiren , Desai Shrey , Donda Jignesh Kumar , Raulji Nirav Kumar , Shah Pankaj , Desai Gayatri
Published: April 2024

Background & objectives:

This study aimed to compare the admission characteristics and outcomes of tribal and non-tribal neonates admitted to a level II special newborn care unit (SNCU) in rural Gujarat.

Methods:

This was a retrospective observational study that looked at all neonates admitted to a high-volume SNCU between 2013 and 2021. A series of quality improvement measures were introduced over the study period. Admission characteristics, such as birth weight, gestational age, gender and outcomes for tribal and non-tribal neonates, were compared.

Results:

Six thousand nine hundred and ninety neonates [4829 tribal (69.1%) and 2161 (30.9%) non-tribal] were admitted to the SNCU. Tribal neonates had lower mean birth weight (2047 vs. 2311 g, P<0.01) and gestational week at birth (35.8 vs. 36.7 weeks, P<0.01) compared to non-tribal neonates. Common causes of admissions were neonatal jaundice (1990, 28.4%), low birth weight (1308, 18.7%) and neonatal sepsis (843, 12%). Six hundred and thirty-eight (9.1%) neonates died during the treatment in the SNCU. The odds of death among tribal neonates was similar to non-tribal neonates [adjusted odds ratio: 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89, 1.42)]. The tribal neonates had significantly higher cause-specific case fatality rate from sepsis [relative risk (RR): 2.18 (95% CI: 1.41, 3.37)], prematurity [RR: 1.98 (95% CI: 1.23, 3.17)] and low birth weight [RR: 1.83 (95% CI: 1.17, 2.85)]. The overall case fatality rate in the SNCU decreased from 18.2 per cent during the year 2013-2014 to 2.1 per cent in the year 2020-2021.

Interpretation & conclusions:

There was a reduction in the case fatality rate over the study period. Tribal and non-tribal neonates had similar risk of death. Sepsis prevention and management, mechanical respiratory support and timely referral to a higher centre might help further reduction in mortality for these neonates.
Incidence of needlestick injury among healthcare workers in western India
Authors: Naidu Raji T , Toal Pratibha , Mishra Satish Chandra , Nair Beena , Shejul Yogesh K.
Published: April 2024

Background & objectives:

Injuries occurring from contaminated sharps are a major occupational health hazard. It carries a risk of transmitting blood-borne diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Healthcare workers (HCWs), including personnel handling biomedical waste, are at risk. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and details of needlestick injury (NSI) among HCWs.

Methods:

We analyzed data of all HCWs who reported NSI over the past three years. Demographic details, type and source of injury, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), immediate post-exposure measures, hepatitis B vaccination status and HCWs and source’s HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C serological status were studied.

Results:

Fifty-six cases of NSI were recorded over three years, accounting for an incidence of 10.4/100 occupied beds per year. Maximum cases (73.2%) occurred between the 20 and 40 yr age group. The distribution among the work category was doctors (37.5%), nursing staff (26.8%), phlebotomy technicians (12.5%), housekeeping/subordinate staff (12.5%) and others (10.7%). Appropriate PPE was donned by 66 per cent of the HCWs. The majority of cases (46.4%) occurred in wards and operating rooms (23.2%). Phlebotomy (35.7%), followed by procedures, such as hemoglucotest (HGT) measurement, intravenous cannula insertion and operative procedures (33.9%), were the most common situation during which HCWs suffered NSI. While 64.2 per cent HCWs were vaccinated for hepatitis B, only 5.4 per cent of the HCWs completed post-exposure anti-retroviral regimen.

Interpretation & conclusions:

We conclude that a relative lack of awareness towards preventive measures and inexperience among HCWs may be contributory to high occurrence of NSI events. This study emphasizes upon ensuring active hospital-wide hepatitis B vaccination of all HCWs and supportive therapy to improve compliance towards post-exposure prophylaxis.
A neural network framework based on ConvNeXt for side‐channel hardware Trojan detection
Authors: Gao Yuchan , Su Jing , Li Jia , Wang Shenglong , Li Chao
Published: April 2024

Researchers in the field of hardware security have been dedicated to the study of hardware Trojan detection. Among the various approaches, side‐channel detection methods are widely used because of their high detection accuracy and fewer constraints. However, most side‐channel detection methods cannot make full use of side‐channel information. In this paper, we propose a framework that utilizes the continuous wavelet transform to convert time‐series information and employs an improved ConvNeXt network to detect hardware Trojans. This detection framework first converts one‐dimensional time‐series information into a two‐dimensional time–frequency map using the continuous wavelet transform to leverage frequency information in electromagnetic side‐channel signals. Then, the two‐dimensional time–frequency map is fed into the improved ConvNeXt network, which increases the weight of the informative parts in the two‐dimensional time–frequency map and enhances detection efficiency. The results indicate that the method proposed in this paper significantly improves the accuracy of hardware Trojan detection.
Predictive model for non-malignant portal vein thrombosis associated with cirrhosis based on inflammatory biomarkers
Authors: Nie Guo-Le , Yan Jun , Li Ying , Zhang Hong-Long , Xie Dan-Na , Zhu Xing-Wang , Li Xun
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT), a complication of liver cirrhosis, is a major public health concern. PVT prediction is the most effective method for PVT diagnosis and treatment.

AIM

To develop and validate a nomogram and network calculator based on clinical indicators to predict PVT in patients with cirrhosis.

METHODS

Patients with cirrhosis hospitalized between January 2016 and December 2021 at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University were screened and 643 patients with cirrhosis who met the eligibility criteria were retrieved. Following a 1:1 propensity score matching 572 patients with cirrhosis were screened, and relevant clinical data were collected. PVT risk factors were identified using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Variance inflation factors and correlation matrix plots were used to analyze multicollinearity among the variables. A nomogram was constructed to predict the probability of PVT based on independent risk factors for PVT, and its predictive performance was verified using a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Finally, a network calculator was constructed based on the nomograms.

RESULTS

This study enrolled 286 cirrhosis patients with PVT and 286 without PVT. LASSO analysis revealed 13 variables as strongly associated with PVT occurrence. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed nine indicators as independent PVT risk factors, including etiology, ascites, gastroesophageal varices, platelet count, D-dimer, portal vein diameter, portal vein velocity, aspartate transaminase to neutrophil ratio index, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio. LASSO and correlation matrix plot results revealed no significant multicollinearity or correlation among the variables. A nomogram was constructed based on the screened independent risk factors. The nomogram had excellent predictive performance, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.821 and 0.829 in the training and testing groups, respectively. Calibration curves and DCA revealed its good clinical performance. Finally, the optimal cutoff value for the total nomogram score was 0.513. The sensitivity and specificity of the optimal cutoff values were 0.822 and 0.706, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A nomogram for predicting PVT occurrence was successfully developed and validated, and a network calculator was constructed. This can enable clinicians to rapidly and easily identify high PVT risk groups.
Computed tomography-based radiomics diagnostic approach for differential diagnosis between early- and late-stage pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ren Shuai , Qian Li-Chao , Cao Ying-Ying , Daniels Marcus J , Song Li-Na , Tian Ying , Wang Zhong-Qiu
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

One of the primary reasons for the dismal survival rates in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is that most patients are usually diagnosed at late stages. There is an urgent unmet clinical need to identify and develop diagnostic methods that could precisely detect PDAC at its earliest stages.

AIM

To evaluate the potential value of radiomics analysis in the differentiation of early-stage PDAC from late-stage PDAC.

METHODS

A total of 71 patients with pathologically proved PDAC based on surgical resection who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) within 30 d prior to surgery were included in the study. Tumor staging was performed in accordance with the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. Radiomics features were extracted from the region of interest (ROI) for each patient using Analysis Kit software. The most important and predictive radiomics features were selected using Mann-Whitney U test, univariate logistic regression analysis, and minimum redundancy maximum relevance (MRMR) method. Random forest (RF) method was used to construct the radiomics model, and 10-times leave group out cross-validation (LGOCV) method was used to validate the robustness and reproducibility of the model.

RESULTS

A total of 792 radiomics features (396 from late arterial phase and 396 from portal venous phase) were extracted from the ROI for each patient using Analysis Kit software. Nine most important and predictive features were selected using Mann-Whitney U test, univariate logistic regression analysis, and MRMR method. RF method was used to construct the radiomics model with the nine most predictive radiomics features, which showed a high discriminative ability with 97.7% accuracy, 97.6% sensitivity, 97.8% specificity, 98.4% positive predictive value, and 96.8% negative predictive value. The radiomics model was proved to be robust and reproducible using 10-times LGOCV method with an average area under the curve of 0.75 by the average performance of the 10 newly built models.

CONCLUSION

The radiomics model based on CT could serve as a promising non-invasive method in differential diagnosis between early and late stage PDAC.
Application of texture signatures based on multiparameter-magnetic resonance imaging for predicting microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma: Retrospective study
Authors: Nong Hai-Yang , Cen Yong-Yi , Qin Mi , Qin Wen-Qi , Xie You-Xiang , Li Lin , Liu Man-Rong , Ding Ke
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Despite continuous changes in treatment methods, the survival rate for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remains low, highlighting the importance of diagnostic methods for HCC.

AIM

To explore the efficacy of texture analysis based on multi-parametric magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) in predicting microvascular invasion (MVI) in preoperative HCC.

METHODS

This study included 105 patients with pathologically confirmed HCC, categorized into MVI-positive and MVI-negative groups. We employed Original Data Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Non-LDA (NDA) for texture analysis using multi-parametric MR images to predict preoperative MVI. The effectiveness of texture analysis was determined using the B11 program of the MaZda4.6 software, with results expressed as the misjudgment rate (MCR).

RESULTS

Texture analysis using multi-parametric MRI, particularly the MI + PA + F dimensionality reduction method combined with NDA discrimination, demonstrated the most effective prediction of MVI in HCC. Prediction accuracy in the pulse and equilibrium phases was 83.81%. MCRs for the combination of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), arterial phase, portal venous phase, and equilibrium phase were 22.86%, 16.19%, 20.95%, and 20.95%, respectively. The area under the curve for predicting MVI positivity was 0.844, with a sensitivity of 77.19% and specificity of 91.67%.

CONCLUSION

Texture analysis of arterial phase images demonstrated superior predictive efficacy for MVI in HCC compared to T2WI, portal venous, and equilibrium phases. This study provides an objective, non-invasive method for preoperative prediction of MVI, offering a theoretical foundation for the selection of clinical therapy.
FAM53B promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma metastasis by regulating macrophage M2 polarization
Authors: Pei Xuan-Zeng , Cai Min , Jiang Da-Wei , Chen Song-Hai , Wang Qing-Qing , Lu Hui-Min , Lu Yi-Fan
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Our study investigated the role of FAM53B in regulating macrophage M2 polarization and its potential mechanisms in promoting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) metastasis.

AIM

To further investigate the role of FAM53B in regulating macrophage M2 polarization and its potential mechanism in promoting PDAC metastasis. Our goal is to determine how FAM53B affects macrophage M2 polarization and to define its underlying mechanism in PDAC metastasis.

METHODS

Cell culture and various experiments, including protein analysis, immunohistochemistry, and animal model experiments, were conducted. We compared FAM53B expression between PDAC tissues and healthy tissues and assessed the correlation of FAM53B expression with clinical features. Our study analyzed the role of FAM53B in macrophage M2 polarization in vitro by examining the expression of relevant markers. Finally, we used a murine model to study the role of FAM53B in PDAC metastasis and analyzed the potential underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

Our research showed that there was a significant increase in FAM53B levels in PDAC tissues, which was linked to adverse tumor features. Experimental findings indicated that FAM53B can enhance macrophage M2 polarization, leading to increased anti-inflammatory factor release. The results from the mouse model further supported the role of FAM53B in PDAC metastasis, as blocking FAM53B prevented tumor cell invasion and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

FAM53B promotes PDAC metastasis by regulating macrophage M2 polarization. This discovery could lead to the development of new strategies for treating PDAC. For example, interfering with the FAM53B signaling pathway may prevent cancer spread. Our research findings also provide important information for expanding our understanding of PDAC pathogenesis.
Prognosis value of heat-shock proteins in esophageal and esophagogastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nakamura Eric Toshiyuki , Park Amanda , Pereira Marina Alessandra , Kikawa Daniel , Tustumi Francisco
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that play an important role in cellular protection against stress events and have been reported to be overexpressed in many cancers. The prognostic significance of HSPs and their regulatory factors, such as heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) and CHIP, are poorly understood.

AIM

To investigate the relationship between HSP expression and prognosis in esophageal and esophagogastric cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA recommendations (PROSPERO: CRD42022370653), on Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and LILACS. Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies of patients with esophagus or esophagogastric cancer were included. HSP-positive patients were compared with HSP-negative, and the endpoints analyzed were lymph node metastasis, tumor depth, distant metastasis, and overall survival (OS). HSPs were stratified according to the HSP family, and the summary risk difference (RD) was calculated using a random-effect model.

RESULTS

The final selection comprised 27 studies, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (21), esophagogastric adenocarcinoma (5), and mixed neoplasms (1). The pooled sample size was 3465 patients. HSP40 and 60 were associated with a higher 3-year OS [HSP40: RD = 0.22; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09-0.35; HSP60: RD = 0.33; 95%CI: 0.17-0.50], while HSF1 was associated with a poor 3-year OS (RD = -0.22; 95%CI: -0.32 to -0.12). The other HSP families were not associated with long-term survival. HSF1 was associated with a higher probability of lymph node metastasis (RD = -0.16; 95%CI: -0.29 to -0.04). HSP40 was associated with a lower probability of lymph node dissemination (RD = 0.18; 95%CI: 0.03-0.33). The expression of other HSP families was not significantly related to tumor depth and lymph node or distant metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The expression levels of certain families of HSP, such as HSP40 and 60 and HSF1, are associated with long-term survival and lymph node dissemination in patients with esophageal and esophagogastric cancer.
Neural Network Adaptive Robust Output Feedback Control for Driving Robot
Authors: Shao Lin , Chen Gang
Published: April 2024

To realize the accurate tracking of the vehicle speed in the process of vehicle speed tracking, a neural network adaptive robust output feedback control (NAROFC) method for the driving robot is proposed. Firstly, considering the dynamic modeling error of the mechanical leg and the time-varying disturbance force, the dynamic model of the driving robot is established. Besides, an Extended State Observer (ESO) is designed to estimate the uncertainty and constant disturbance of modeling parameters in the system. In addition, the recurrent neural network (RNN) is used to estimate the time-varying disturbances existing in the system. Finally, the system control rate is redesigned with an ESO-designed adaptive robust controller, and the switching controller is combined to realize output feedback control. The stability of the designed controller is proved by Lyapunov theorem. The experiment results show that the designed mechanical leg controller has higher tracking accuracy of mechanical legs and vehicle speed than traditional fuzzy PID and fuzzy inverse sliding mode control.
A Systematic Approach for Creation of SOTIF’s Unknown Unsafe Scenarios: An Optimization based Method
Authors: Singh Tajinder , van Hassel Edwin , Sheorey Akshay , Alirezaei Mohsen
Published: April 2024

Verification and validation (V&V) of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is a challenging task. AVs must be thoroughly tested, to ensure their safe functionality in complex traffic situations including rare but safety-relevant events. Furthermore, AVs must mitigate risks and hazards that result from functional insufficiencies, as described in the Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF) standard. SOTIF analysis includes iterative identification of driving scenarios that are not only unsafe, but also unknown. However, identifying SOTIF’s unknown-unsafe scenarios is an open challenge. In this paper we proposed a systematic optimization-based approach for identification of unknown-unsafe scenarios. The proposed approach consists of three main steps including data collection, feature extraction and optimization towards unknown unsafe scenarios. In the data collection step, we proposed an efficient way of data collection by focusing on key areas of the Operational Design Domain (ODD) (e.g., intersections). In step 2, the graph-based method is used to model the selected region(s) in the ODD. The generated graph is used to aggregate actor behaviors recorded during data collection in different parameter distributions (e.g. speeds or offset to center of the lane). In step 3, the generated graph for road layout and parameter distributions for actors are used in an optimization algorithm. The objective function for the optimization algorithm consists of a criticality metric, a proprietary KPI to identify unknown scenarios here called unexpectedness, multiplied by probability of scenario calculated from actor probability distributions. Using the objective function, the optimization algorithm can identify unknown-unsafe scenarios with highest probability for the selected region(s) in the ODD. The approach is implemented on an intersection and identified unknown-unsafe scenarios are reported in the paper.
Closed Track Testing To Assess Prototype Level-3 Autonomous Vehicle Readiness for Public Road Deployment
Authors: Rampilla Lokamanya , Freistuhler Cody , Karanjkar Sayali , Seitz Timothy , Tulpule Punit
Published: April 2024

Most of the Automated Driving Systems (ADS) technology development is targeting urban areas; there is still much to learn about how ADS will impact rural transportation. The DriveOhio team deployed level-3 ADS-equipped prototype vehicles in rural Ohio with the goal of discovering technical challenges for ADS deployment in such environments. However, before the deployment on public roads, it was essential to test the ADS-equipped vehicle for their safety limitations. At Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) proving grounds, we tested one such prototype system on a closed test track with soft targets and robotic platforms as surrogates for other road users. This paper presents an approach to safely conduct testing for ADS prototype and assess its readiness for public road deployment. The main goal of this testing was to identify a safe Operational Design Domain (ODD) of this system by gaining better understanding of the limitations of the system. The prototype system uses Apollo-based platform that provided perception, localization, routing, planning, and control modules. In this paper, we present a test matrix specifically designed for testing level-3 ADS-equipped vehicles on a closed test track. The test matrix includes a minimum set of test scenarios and procedures for each functionality of the ADS, for example, localization, routing, planning, object detection and collision avoidance, negotiating traffic at different types of intersections, car-following, etc. Various test parameters are chosen considering the intended public road deployment requirements and limitations. Further, we define safety metrics for various scenarios to objectively assess the limitations of the ADS. We also present sample data analysis results obtained from the testing. The ODD definitions were later used as ADS engagement/disengagement guidelines for the ADS operator to follow during public road deployment. The findings and lessons learned from this study will be useful in safely assessing limitations of future level-3 ADS-equipped prototypes.